Summertime!

It's been a fun summer! I've been working from 7-1 at the coffee shop and then spending the rest of the time outside! The weather has been glorious! Here are a few pictures from summer so far.

 

Canoeing with Amy

 

first time "on" Mill Lake

Fun Fun Fun

Genevieve and Jere were in town visiting from Virginia.
It was nice to reconnect and spend time outdoors.

~ Inspiring ~

a good friend

Oh summer days! RELAX and praise God outside!

 

Made a delicious BBQ dinner at the Kaethler house

Charlie's Angels

I've been addicted to Menchie's! FROZEN YOGURT!
Perfect treat for any summer day!



Breanne and I helped at VBS at Church a couple of weeks ago.
Here she is dressed as Esther.

Hope you've had as much fun as I have this summer! Get out and enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoxEsqwJjXM- Summer Nights by Rascal Flatts

The Next Chapter

Hello readers, I realized I said I would post a blog entry last Saturday, but never ended up getting around to it! Sorry if I've kept you in suspense!

To those of you who knew that I had an interview a few weeks ago, thanks for joining with me in prayer. I stand firm on the prayers of God's people.

Now I am excited to tell you that I have accepted a grade 5 teaching position at the Dasmesh Punjabi School starting in September. HUGE FAVOR was all over the interview. It was actually a very short interview, simply because they just stated that they had me in mind for that particular position! Their school is growing and they are adding a third grade 5 classroom. The only thing is that I actually went in there hoping for a kindergarten position... Although this isn't my preferred grade level, the door was WIDE open and I'm supposed to go through it.

 I feel like it's the best of both worlds- I get to work cross- culturally while being here in Abbotsford. While I was driving one day, I was thinking "Am I crazy?" I know it won't always be easy! This is a private school that was established so that  Sikh families would pass on their religious and cultural values to this current generation growing up in Canada. Each morning they start with prayers and readings from Guru Granth Shaib (the principal sacred text of Sikhism contains hymns and poetry as well as the teachings of the first five gurus).  

Risk Taking Obeience for me?  YES! This job doesn't include health benefits, the pay is a little less than average and I will be in an environment where I am not familiar with all the cultural norms. I don't know what it will look like to be a follower of Jesus Christ there. It's not my preferred grade level either. How will it look, Father? How will you reveal yourself more to me and those around me in the year to come?

But I look at this and again, I believe this is an answer to another "heart longing (dream)." Although, I never knew how my life would unfold, I surrendered my degree in education into God's hands so that He would have His way and use my life for His Kingdom.

I look back and remember how in each part of my life He has been equipping me for the next chapter- being in other cultures, being among those who have yet to encounter the love and grace of Jesus, different colours, flavors and food, and  teaching grade five for the last 5 months. I'm right where he wants me to be! I'm looking forward to  the coming year and ask for you to join me in Prayer, that the Holy Spirit would enable me to bear witness to the living God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIC-5fZjKMk

 

~ We live for moments like this! ~

~ Thank you Jesus that you put me exactly where you want me to be! ~

Happy Graduation to my Brother!

We are so proud of you, Brayden! Congratulations on finishing your Criminology Degree.

 

We know you have worked hard these last few years.

 

 

Vulnerability

Does that word scare you?

In Brene Brown's Ted talks lecture titled "The Power of Vulnerability" she shares her research on this topic. She suggests that those who feel the deepest sense of connection with others have chosen to practice vulnerability in the relationships they find themselves in. One may already assume the automatic correlation- the more vulnerable one is, the greater their level of intimacy with another person. Duh! But the point I want to camp on for a minute is what gets someone to become vulnerable? What causes someone to want to be open? What provokes or enables one to share, when the easier thing is to remain surface level and not openly distribute everything in your life like a newsprint? Why do we do what we do? Brown suggests that those who find themselves with the most satisfying relationships have a deep seeded sense of "worth." Those who attest to a sense of worthiness are not afraid to be real. 

I think about how we each require people in our lives to support us, invest in us and speak into our lives. I think about how the time people have sown into my life has spoken to me of my value. I reflect on this with a grateful heart, knowing that many do not have such positive people in their lives to build them up.

But then I push that further and submit to you that my worth does not even come from those people. My sense of worth can't just come from the amount of praise I get or the people who recognize my efforts, achievements or even character qualities. No, my worth doesn't even come from what I do [or don't do]. My worth comes from who Jesus Christ says I am. So I have to go back to His word and remind myself [often] of who Christ says I am. First John 3 says that I am God's child. This speaks volumes to me. There are so many passages that directly speak into my identity, as someone who is worthy.

I love this idea of "worthiness" being central to who we are because when we come to truly view ourselves as Christ views us, we are changed. Sometimes we need to be reminded of our identity. In the Message it says that "in Christ we find out who we really are and what we are living for (Ephesians 1:11)."

Have I invested in many relationships whereby I have chosen to be "real?" Yes! Perhaps when we know we are a "pearl of great value" we begin to view others that way as well. As I have reflected on my life calling, something that has taken root in my heart is precisely what I have been talking about. I've been thinking about how I desire to help others come to the realization that they are someone of great value because God purposely designed them and cares about every detail of their lives. I want to use my life to love others, that through acts of love, individuals would come to know their worth.

When it comes to vulnerability there is always going to be the "fear of exposure." When we are honest, people see our flaws and we allow others to know who we really are. One thing that still scares me is sharing who I am with someone and in return being rejected and hurt. Cynical? Maybe, but a possibility, right? In this scenario, I have to go back and allow God's view to remain the one position that holds the most weight. According to God, does rejection decrease our worth? Do situations increase or decrease our worth? No! So I am reminded to first go to God to be assured of who I am. Apart from Christ I am nothing. Christ loves. Christ's love compels me.

Every good thing

My class is loving this New song by the Afters called "Every Good Thing."

 

~ Thank you Jesus for the good things you put in my life! ~

 

 

We dance and sing and praise God for every good thing!

I don't want to miss the moments like this!

Life is so sweet

This is what You do...

You make me come alive...

I posted the link to this song on my last blog entry and here I am reposting it. "Coming alive" is one of the themes in my life. "Awakening" is one of those words that resonate with my Spirit. I love when you're in a spot and KNOW that's where you are meant to be. It gives life to your whole being.

Last week I got to check off something from "my list." In a post last year, I mentioned several things that I dreamt of doing. One of those things was to participate in the 10 km Vancouver Sun Run. As you may be aware, I have been training and was excited to enter the race this year. There was a sense of anticipation as I saw one of the things from my list become a reality. I had never been in a formal 10 km run before. I was thrilled! I'm so glad I had my friend Michelle to go with. Before running I made a personal goal to run the entire thing. I had heard this run is the biggest 10 km across the country, with sometimes upwards of 50 000 participants registering for it. I had heard there are so many people that you have to dodge people as you run, making it somewhat tricky to get a personal best time- hence, I made my goal to run non-stop, rather than aim for a certain time.

 

We woke up at 5:30 am to take the  sky train into Vancouver.

We arrived at 8am so I could get my shirt and bib and make our way to our starting position.

Here is a picture of the start! We were divided up into colours (different heats)

 determined by our estimated time category.

 

 

I love how this event included all sorts of people- young, old and everyone in between! The man who started beside us had his little grandson cheering for him at the sidelines saying "Go Papa, Go!"

 

 

 I'm so proud to say that I accomplished my goal- I ran the entire thing!

 

Something that stood out for me during the run was all the people standing at the sides cheering us on. Every time someone cheered for me, I took their words as if they were speaking right to me and directly cheering me on. Because of those supporters, I kept going! Honestly, stopping didn't even seem like an option to me because these people motivated me to keep going. They gave me strength and more determination. Around the 5 km mark we got to run over the Burrard Street Bridge. That 1 kilometer was so much fun! The last two kilometers also stand out to me because we could see BC Place, where the finish line was. The end was in sight and again, it was motivating to push forward.

 

 It was an awesome sense of accomplishment to cross that finish line and know that I achieved my goal! I was also impressed that I ended up with a time of1 hour and 1 minute.

 

 

The run was so rejuvenating for me. The three weeks prior were pretty emotional. I had been processing the death of 3 people and was trying to make some big decisions in that time frame as well. After the run I felt like I had been given more life. I was grateful that I could run. I was grateful that God refilled me.

With the picture of all of those "cheerleaders" standing on the sidelines, I have been spending some time sitting on the passage in Hebrews 12 where it says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." I am thinking of the powerful imagery of those people who didn't even know me standing there to encourage me. Although I don't fully understand it, I think there is a parallel here with those Christians who have gone before us. In their lives, they followed Christ as he led them. Sometimes their dreams were fulfilled and other times they had the faith that one day it would be accomplished. Now somehow those who have gone before us join with heaven and cheer us on. We get to be part of some of the things they started. Any other insight into this? We may not realize it, but we are continually being "cheered on." Not only do these saints cheer us on, but also God does too! He knows my name! He gives me all that I need to accomplish His will for me. It's a pretty awesome feeling to know that the God of the universe is cheering us on!

shout out to Michelle (way to go girl! You DID IT!), my Dad (love you), Curtis (cheering me on each Monday and Wednesday. focusing on Jesus), Shantel (my workout partner. persistent. motivating.) Tammy, Virginia and Sandra who join the cloud of witnesses and have gone before us.

Time with the Famjam

Here are some pictures from our Easter Weekend in Powell River

 

The ocean

just hanging out

Is she cute, or what?

ME!

Grandma and I

Our hotel

Enjoying the outdoors

Sisters

and another one

family outing

It's a new season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z482u6Crf84 

- "This is what you do" (Bethel)

 

"b.e.  a.l.i.v.e. !"