The Holly and the Ivy

Some of my fave things/traditions during the Christmas season:
1. Pumpkin pie (keep the cool whip please!)-it's the BEST when it's sat in the fridge for a while. YUMMY!
2. Lattes-since working at Second Cup, the smell of warm fresh steaming milk combined with creamy espresso...GLORIOUS!
3. Josh Groban's Christmas CD, Charlie Brown's Christmas CD
4. No lights in the living room (aside from the ones off the tree and candles)
5. The Christmas Disney parade on Christmas day
6. Snowy walks, train rides, drives...all warm and cozy, sipping on an apple cider
7. The Christmas Classics (Rudolph, Frosty) I remember the tradition like yesterday. My fam would make a wonderful dinner, sit down and watch the parade on Global TV and then watch the classics :)
8. Late night shopping with mom and refueling over New York Fries and Pepsi
9. CHRISTMAS CAROLS! Especially one's about our Lord and Savior (serious chills)
10. Even the small town Santa Clause Parades- my mom and bro and I would all go together and get some hot chocolate before hand. Even though the floats weren't always the best, the music was always good and we always managed to have fun freezing our butts off!
11. Putting the tree up with my bro and mom while dad sits peacefully and watches
12. Family get-togethers (no matter how broken we all are, there is something nice about seeing everyone again)

I love these traditions and the ones to come...let's see if I can think of a new one for this yr
What are some of your favorite things at this time of year?

It's the most wonderful time of the year

So today I opened up shop (by that I mean Second Cup) and was getting annoyed with the music selection (same songs everyday!). So I decided to flip through and see what I could find. "Contemporary...no"
"Jazz...no" (big shock, I know!)
"Christmas jazz" (umm YES!)

I selected that station and to my delight came on Charlie Brown's Christmas! YES!
As I stacked some java jackets and hummed away I got thinking there is truly something magical about this season. People really seem to come alive (the majority that is).

I had several customers come in when White Christmas was playing and they were all humming away and in good spirits. Definitely fueled my energy for that eaaarly shift and put me in good spirits :)

one day when i'm a mommy...

It sometimes dawns on me of all the fun things I would do with my kids when the day comes :)

1. Be able to carry full out conversation with them in French (better get some more classes under my belt!) I want my kids to be bilingual
2. Make Christmas decorations
3. Bake together
4. Have pj days and watch Christmas cartoons while drinking hot cocoa
5. Sing Christmas carols and decorate the tree together
6. Have little dates with them

Inspiration? I think so!

So this is just one of the photos I took on my trip to Rome in High School and put in black and white. I am thinking of getting it and several others printed and put in some dollar store black frames and hang in the bedroom of my new place. Thinking of doing a whole Audrey Hepburn in Europe theme

And as I went through some more pics on my computer, I got even more inspired by some shots I took this summer while out West (especially at Granville Island in Vancouver).

And the inspiration just keeps coming


I'm off to pick up a few things for dins and take more pics for my kitchen at the market :)
On the Menu tonight:
1. Vegetable potato soup
2. Fresh bread
3. Lemon streusel poppy seed cake for dessert with tea

Also, can't wait to buy a chalkboard for the kitchen to write the days meals on...I am enjoying this waay too much!

on willingness

this fall has really shown me alot
moving to a new city on your own forces you to become an adult fast
especially when you come in hopes that God will provide you with a job and a place to live
thank you Jesus for both!

i think that this transition was so drastic for me, because my university was only a 45min-hr drive from my home
the fam was always a short drive away
and now, that's not the case

i'm off on my own with a place and a job
i will be honest, i went through culture shock
it started with the classic "Montreal is wonderful, who could hate this place?"
to actually despising this place and many tearful nights of wanting to return home

i think alot of my pain came from not having a place to call home
this is HUGE for me
when i am not working or out living life i enjoy being at home, baking something yummy or all curled up with a good book or movie
not having a place, not understanding the language or the culture hurt, alot
i would put on a smile for most as i didn't want to appear whiny, but deep inside, it was hard, i swallowed my tears
i was deeply and still am thankful for those who related and encouraged me
there is nothing like someone being able to relate to you when you are in pain
that's yet another reason why Jesus is awesome! he can relate to anything!
i can't even begin to imagine the pain He endured in being seperated from the Father, there were many times that God was all that i had
those times when there was no one else to talk to, i was forced to turn to God and cry, knowing He understood my pain
my heart was comforted by trusting in His word as i couldn't always feel Him there
other times i felt surrounded in His presence (ie. Summit extended worship or returning to Maranatha a couple of weeks ago at home...my soul was doing cartwheels)

now having a place, has made things easier
its nice to say after church or something "I'm going home for lunch"
or to come home after an early shift at work and crawl into bed for a couple of hours
its soo nice to be able to close my door after a long day and be all alone if that's what i choose
its exciting to look at places (like Ikea) and get inspiration on how to decorate my home (there is something about personalizing your bedroom to your style)
its also nice that my housemate and i have alot of the same tastes in interior design (such a blessing!)

in all this
(this being living on a tight budget, a little bit of free time, i have been challenged to prioritize...to the max)
i am still working on it for sure
but there are many days when i come home and all i want to do is sleep but know that there is work to be done
its funny how much i longed for the day of being an adult, but with it comes many responsibilities
responsibilties that can become so mundane
but with purpose (if i'm willing) can be wonderful
in all this Lord
help me to serve you with a joyful heart and carry out my responsibilites unto your Glory so that no one may miss your grace
remind me daily that you have called me here for that very purpose
let me not take this lightly, give me your eyes when i see the fields
change my heart oh Lord