Kids' Rock by Tim Hawkins

Darrin and I discovered the comedy of Tim Hawkins a couple of years ago.... love it! This has got to be my all time fave.... cracks me up every time... fer shizzle dizzle yo!

What to do with all your post-it notes!

very cool.... how does someone find the time to do this???

I found this on stumbleupon.com and got a real "kick" out of it.... haha.... I know, lame joke but I couldn't help it... =D

Sand Dancer

This is amazing. Pause the music player to the right so you can watch this clip. Unbelievable gift this man has.... inspiring!

A Perfect Moment

You know how every so often you have a moment in life where everything just seems right and you want to capture it and make it last? I love those moments. It seems like they don't happen often enough... which is why I want to write about this one. On Sunday, we were in the Pass for two lacrosse games. We had dropped Brett off to get dressed and warm up for his game and we had some time to kill before the game started. We drove to the Tim Horton's, grabbed a coffee and just drove around for awhile. The weather was warm and sunny, the windows rolled down, good tunes playing, hot coffee... and no rush. I know it is such a small, simple moment, but in that moment I was perfectly happy. And, I think that is worth celebrating.

A "Once in a Lifetime" Opportunity!

We spent the entire long weekend in Calgary for the Canadian Open - a nation-wide volleyball tournament for both boys and girls U15 and U16. So, basically, we were in the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary with thousands of teenagers.

I believe there were 22 courts going at the same time... it was unbelievable! This photo was taken during an early morning game, so the scene is not nearly as busy as it was at other times of the day. But, I think you get the picture.... absolutely amazing!

This was definitely a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for Brett... to participate in a national sports competition like this, competing against teams from all over the country, at 14 years old.... how many people can say they did that?

Here is a shot of Brett jumping up for a hit. He is number 4 at the net. He played for the Lethbridge Volleyball Club and they were called the LVC Heat. He played with a great group of boys and learned so much this season. Brett's ability to anticipate plays and score important points for the team improved so much over the season. He has the height and strength to hit that ball, and it was beautiful to watch! They played some high calibre teams at nationals and did really well! They ended up winning silver for tier 3. I am very proud of Brett and the whole team!

I am also very proud of Darrin, who was the assistant coach for this team. I watched all season as he spent one on one time with these boys, getting to know their individual strengths and weaknesses, and learning how each of them responded best to learning. I watched him not only teach, but mentor these boys. The team would not have been the same without his influence, and I know that he made a huge difference.

Let me just sum it up by saying I was a pretty proud mom and wife this past weekend! :-)

I have some pretty heavy things on my mind today, which makes it hard to find peace. I decided to look at the daily readings from the liturgical calendar. Admittedly, I have not done this for awhile, although I used to find the daily readings a source of much strength and comfort. I am glad I chose to do it today. Today's psalm is one that I have often turned to at other challenging times in my life, and once again, it has brought me comfort:


Psalm 71
1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
*let me never be ashamed.
2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free;
*incline your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe;
*you are my crag and my stronghold.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
*from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5 For you are my hope, O LORD God,
*my confidence since I was young.
6 I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;from my mother's womb you have been my strength;
*my praise shall be always of you.
7 I have become a portent to many;
*but you are my refuge and my strength.
8 Let my mouth be full of your praise
*and your glory all the day long. ...

...17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,
*and to this day I tell of your wonderful works....

...19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens;
*you have done great things;who is like you, O God?
20 You have showed me great troubles and adversities,
*but you will restore my life and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.
21 You strengthen me more and more;
*you enfold and comfort me,
22 Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your faithfulness, O my God;
*I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will sing with joy when I play to you,
*and so will my soul, which you have redeemed. ...

I am so eternally grateful that I was raised in a home that was rooted in a deep, strong faith that shaped and molded me, day by day, to be the woman I am today. I have known the love of my Creator all of my life, and I have my parents to thank for that. Although I have struggled with my own faith journey, as most of us do, I have learned that in my heart-of hearts that deep, abiding faith is still there. Life brings us many things that we cannot change or control, and that is sometimes scarey and overwhelming. And, those are the times when we most need to let go, and trust a loving God. That is most definitely not always easy, at least not for me. But, when that is what is left, we often find out it is more than enough. And, I am grateful.