A Different Way of Seeing.....

I read this today. I think for me, I need to replace "laundry" with "washing dishes". Those who know me well will know that this is THE chore that I dread..... the chore that I will "forget" to do some nights.... the chore I will purposely ignore other nights. If you live with me, you will know that I try to get out of doing this chore as much as I can, most nights. :p Why do I hate it so? Like Andrea, I feel like doing dishes is "a time-consuming job that never ends". You're stuck in the kitchen by yourself, cleaning up everyone else's mess, while they're off doing whatever they'd like. AND as soon as you finish, the late eater or the snacker will deposit another dirty dish in the sink. Arrrrrrrgh. >.<

BUT. This post gave me such perspective, letting me realize that even dirty dishes are something to be thankful for. They are evidence of God's blessings to us.... His gifts of abundant food to nourish our bodies with, a home to cook and eat and wash in, and loved ones to share it with. You can't really hold a grudge when you realize all that you've been given, can you? :)

Head on over to the FlourishingMother blog if you've got time. Andrea writes really thoughtfully, and it's refreshing to read about her life. Also, she's a voracious reader (yay!) and often cites the most interesting and insightful passages. I've been so inspired to pick up books I never would have considered before because of her!

May Showers....

...isn't it supposed to be "April showers, May flowers"??

It's a busy week.... full of individually good things that have added up and multiplied into one heck of a work/thought load. I'm glad to be doing all that I'm doing, but seriously, I can't wait for this to be aaaaaaall over.

Of course, the depressing rain doesn't help. When the weather turns like this, I either get nostalgic and a little melancholy (on a good day), or else I can easily get sulky and grumpy (on a bad/stressful day - like today). And then when it's beautiful out, my spirits are equally light. You know what I mean? I know I'm not the only one whose mood follows the weather! You know, I heard on the news that during the horribly cold and long winter we just had, people's tempers had become increasingly frayed. Even kids. Isn't it amazing how intricately entertwined everything is? But I digress. What I really wanted to do was remedy these rainy-day-blues by posting a reminder of sunnier times:


Taken back in April. The first day that was over 20-degrees this year found me at my favorite place, savouring the sun and just generally happy that spring is back, so that I can enjoy my sweet spot again. It was soooo relaxing to chill there for awhile and read the Word. Couldn't have asked for a better afternoon. Now isn't that so much better than cold and rain?

ps: more photos from the day will be posted here soon!

Don't Congratulate Me Yet......

Today, I picked up a pair of fabulous peep-toe sling-backs for $20 (awesome deal!), just in time for a wedding reception tomorrow. I picked them out and bought them in 10 minutes. Now, those of you who know me, know that this is reason to be proud (and proud we were)! BUT..... look at what happens when I try to be a super-shopper:


'Nuf said.

15 Minutes This Morning

9h42 - En route to the office. I arrive at the MacKenzie King Bridge bus stop for my transfer, get off the bus and am greeted with the sounds of someone bellowing in French. Huh? Turns out to be a woman, marching down the length of the bridge in heels, impassionately (and seemingly very angrily) shouting her cause, glaring at passersby, waving her arm for emphasis. And she wasn't wearing her pants. What?? That's right boys and girls, Ms. Protester's pants were unbuckled and held up with one hand, but otherwise very much swinging free around her knees. Granted she was wearing a black leotard and not some disturbing sous-vêtement, but seeing as she had alot of skin to cover, that really didn't mean much.

Compleeetely mortified and fighting the absolutely unappropriate urge to giggle, I rush into the mall. 11 minutes til my bus. Other commuters, quickly glancing at the kerfuffle, hurry to get out of her warpath. A mom tries to explain what is happening to her young daughter, "She's not happy is she? We don't want to be near unhappy people." Not the most satisfactory explanation, but goodness, how are you supposed to explain that to a 5-year-old??? Poor kid.

9h48 - Pants come off completely (?!??!??!!!) and are used as a flag to punctuate her raving. The shock has somewhat worn off and I'm wondering what has got her so riled up that she needs to make a statement like this? Someone else waiting for a bus (or deliverance?) mentioned that it was something about an election...... huh. Politics. Naturally.

9h51 - Police (municipal and OC Transpo security) arrive. Woman stops shouting and puts her pants on, as well as a bright blue jacket.

9h57 (because busses are almost NEVER on time....) - My bus arrives. As I am whisked away from the scene, I see the woman sitting down and smoking a cigarette. Officers surround her, some with amused looks on their faces. I wonder what they're talking about?

--

Thus marks the end of my *interesting* morning. In somewhat less exciting news (but it's exciting for me!!), I finished filing my tax return!! Yaaaaaaay! ^^ Now I can move on to other, more important things. Like editing and posting pictures, right??

Thinking........

I don't know how anyone could be expected to focus on work when there are far more exciting and important-in-the-long-run things to think about. For the 12365441434357th time..... how do people work in an office position for 20-odd years???

One of Those Days.....

Spring has FINALLY COME TO OTTAWA. Can't describe the feeling of walking out the door into blue skies and sunshine every day this week so far..... the birds singing for all they're worth, tempting me to forget work and grab my camera instead. *sigh* I love spring!

But.... *ugh*

With spring and beautiful days comes more creative ideas for personal/ministry projects, and yearning to be anywhere but in this cubicle. I've been getting more and more of those lately (ideas)..... was hit with a particularly potent idea this morning. Sitting here all day, not satisfying the urge to form ideas into something tangible, has been utter creative agony. And the guilt of not being very productive at work sure doesn't help, or lessen the distraction...... Heh.

Anyway. I really can't (and shouldn't) complain. I'm happy about spring, and thankful for the sun, birds, colours, songs, ideas and creativity -- and most of all for He who created all of it.

--

ps: I haven't made very much of a fuss over my new baby, but suffice it to say I am very very happy with her. I'm hoping she'll have some good friends to play with this summer (aHEM! Chung). I also intend to be more diligent about posting images, dusting off my corner of flickr, and all that other lovely fun stuff.............. as soon as I file my income tax return. :p

Mrs. X

Today at lunch, a bunch of us got to discussing how one properly addresses a woman these days. John - whom I also have the great privilege of calling brother in Jesus - once got in trouble for referring to his host as "madam" multiple times in a presentation where he was an international guest speaker. "Who told you I was married??" she demanded of him afterwards. Apparently you only use "madam" if one is married. We discussed lots of possibilities..... "Ma'am", "Madam", "Miss", "Mrs.", woman, lady..... what is appropriate and the implications of addressing a female a certain way is so complex and is constantly changing with the times.

Who knew?

We finally settled on "Ms." as a safe bet.

Later, I stopped by John's office to discuss work. At the end of the conversation, John put his new knowledge to good use, "Thank you MS. Wong."

I replied, "You're very welcome," and turned to go.

"I'm looking forward to the day when we can call you Mrs. X."

Laughing, I said, "There is no 'X'."

"Not yet, but that's alright. We just need to wait and be patient."

"Yeah."

It feels so good to know that there is someone else dreaming and hoping on my behalf.

Someday....

If it was up to me my life would be a blue print on the table
And every year would have a label
I would know precisely the day that you would come and find me
I'd see your face (the one that I dream of)
I just can't wait ('cause I know)

Someday, someone's gonna change my life
Somehow, someone's gonna make me smile like I never have before
Someday, someday
Somewhere, someone's gonna steal my heart
Somehow, we'll never ever be apart
And I can't wait for that someday
Someday isn't so far away

I've laid awake at night wondering if I had wasted chances
Giving up too soon on small romances
Then I look outside you're under the same midnight sky and
You're waiting too (am I the one that you dream of?)
These dreams come true (and I know)

I guess I'll never know if I passed you on the street the other day
Or maybe you are far across the ocean
Oh but every night I pray to God that somehow
He would send him my way

Someday, someday, someday......

Someday isn't so far away

~PureNRG (C) 2007

Not a good day.

I rarely have bad days.

Most people would say that I am generally a cheery person. Just yesterday a colleague teased me for smiling even as I rant about how much something sucks.

I rarely have bad days.

But somehow, this week is shaping up to be on the dreary side of not-so-great. What a nice way to come home.

Fluffy Scarves & Hot Chocolate......

.....along with music that brings back memories of warm summery days are perfect for chasing away the office chills. :) There's so much more of You that I want to know.

How Your love, it calls to me when I lose my way...
...Got to trust that I'm safe and sound,
Got to trust that it all comes down to You.....
... It's obvious no one could love me more
I'm Yours,
And I'm coming, coming back
(Britt Nicole, 2007)

Exploring....

Oftentimes, I'll admire the works of more advanced photographers. I'll wonder where they come up with their creative concepts, and how they find such interesting locations. It's definitely caused me to look at the world around me through a different lens..... could that garden provide good photo ops? Could that abandoned building? How about that field?

For those of you who've visited my home in Ottawa, you'll know that they're developing the suburban sprawl like CRAZY.... right behind my neighbouhood. It makes shopping really convenient of course, but it makes me sad too, to see all those beautiful fields (that I never particularly appreciated before, btw...) built over. They've built plaza's to the east and west, and now the only patch left is an abandoned property directly behind my house.

All this to say that for the past couple of months I've been inspired to go exploring on that property, and see what there is to see. Seize the day and all that! After an initial 15-minute walk-about several weeks ago (after which my camera batteries died on me.....), I finally went back recently. Here's what there is to see:







I thought the markings on this bug looked neat...

Found this one hiding amongst the grass......

Is this what an ant sees?

Love this......

Last shot of the day..... another favorite. This one's for you, Chungi & txp!!

Productive Delay

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands." (Paul Tripp - Meditation on Psalm 27) - as seen here.

I love this reflection. So often in life we are waiting for something.... waiting in line at the store, waiting to see if we've been accepted into school, waiting for water to boil, waiting to meet that Special Person to share your life with, waiting for God to lead you towards that next step in life.... In our age of instant-everythings, this is one of the worst things that can be imposed on us, but whether the situation be serious or less so, the bottom line is that we spend lots of time waiting. I would even argue that we 20-somethings are in the life-stage of waiting as we stand at a great cross-road, trying to discern God's direction, purpose, and passion for our lives.

So how do you deal?

I like this seemingly revolutionary perspective.... that waiting is not purposeless. For me, I am finding that letting God shape my impatience has turned lonely, directionless, or frustrating times into days where I can hope and smile and serve genuinely. I have come to realize that it's ok to be waiting.... to not be there yet, even when it seems like everyone else is miles ahead of me. I know the end-goal will be worth it, and I have such hope in the promise that my Lord has only good in store for me. But more than that, I look forward to who I'll be when I get there..... someone who started by saying "yes" to God in faith, and is hopefully just a little bit more like Him by the end of the process.

What are you waiting for in your life? May the reflection above encourage your heart and motivate you to seek His.


Sola gratia.

Quiet Friday.....

It's Friday. After a huge rush of a week (meetings, seminars, hotels, hearts, and throw in a couple of foreign countries!), the weekend is finally here! Delicious.... I can hardly wait to sleep in tomorrow. Mebbe I'll actually get around to baking my cookies this weekend. ;) It's pretty quiet around the office this morning..... the quiet murmur of meetings in other cubicles can be heard, and I'm sitting here eating oatmeal for breakfast (Sonja!) and looking over a translation request.

In other words, I will be bored quite soon. :p

Exhilaration.

I haven't felt this way in so long. Maybe never. Have you felt anything like this before? A feeling that comes out of no-where and knocks you off your feet..... something so intense that it can pick you up from the deepest melancholy and make you soar up to the heights.......... It's pure excitement and headiness and giddiness..... It's a buzz in your head. I can hardly sit still. I'm eating but I have no real appetite -- my heart pounds and my tummy tingles. I'm feeling more alive than I have in days, and I'm sure I have a stupid grin on my face.

I don't know why, I don't know how. I don't know what this means. This just is.

Why do I feel this way? Why does this keep resounding in my head, my heart?

Stranded.

POP 40%...... pfft. I should know better than to trust the weather report! Presently I am stuck at the office, because it is thundering and raining in sheets outside. SHEETS. It hasn't rained this hard in awhile. Who would've thought that just a few hours ago I was sitting out in the stuffy sunny hotness, shoes off and eating my lunch? I don't think an umbrella would've done me much good since it's so fierce out..... but I'm regretting forgetting it anyways. How will I make it to the store before prayer meeting in time to get ingredients to make this for tomorrow? Pooey. >.<

It's Been Awhile.........

Wow. End of July already! Isn't it depressing how fast the summer flies..... it's been a packed summer! Flying off to serve again in a foreign country...... building new and old relationships....... getting highly involved at church..... exploring all sorts of new places and events in Ottawa....... so much has been happening in everyone's lives! Not to say that this is summer's end..... there is one month left before things settle down into the regular rhthym of school, and until then I'm sure every moment will be full. :)

Not much time to post anything really worth reading (I'm @ work right now.... it's a slow day but still! Can't spend too much time blogging..... :p), but I intend to soon! I've come across some great articles that I would love to share with you all, and I realize it's been almost exactly a year since I've had this blog lay-out.... might be time for a change. ^^ In the meantime, I've updated a bunch of links (on the right -->); of most note are the new links to photographers that I've become addicted to lately (esp. Pretty In Pink and NicoleVan). Check them out! They do a beautiful job of capturing and immortalizing every moment of the day! *sigh* Oh to take photos like that of the people around me some day........ ^-^

More soon!

Shall I Indeed?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no

Sometimes that's the way it goes

You're not giving any secrets away

Who's to know, who's to say

Sometimes it's hard to live this way

Holding on, letting go

When it's sometimes yes

And sometimes no

Jill Paquette, "Sometimes Yes, Sometimes No" (2003)

Several of you who are wonderfully caring and concerned for me have asked me about that last cryptic blog entry....... *laughs* I never thought I was one who could be cryptic about anything but I guess necessity is the best teacher! Just a word of assurance that I am still alive and I am ok. I think I still have a bit of mulling and thinking to do, and it was a bit of a trip last week emotionally, but even today I think I'm seeing the light. :)

Letting go and letting God..... I don't know why this is a lesson that must be learned the hard way though countless repetitions over our lifetimes. Why doesn't it ever stick? "Doesn't God ever get frusterated at what slow slow learners we are?" I wonder sometimes. But no.... in His infinite grace, He's always there, ready to show us the way back to Him when we are ready. I think I'm finally ready. Already today He assured me of His faithfulness through this blog..... what a chord it strikes with me! How encouraging it is to realize that even the strongest of us has to WORK at trusting our Father, that it isn't some ability that comes naturally with maturity. Have a peek! I hope that you too are encouraged and strengthened by the testimony of Sarah's life -- that you too will be convicted to let go of whatever it is that you've been clinging to, and by doing so, also be a testiment to God's wondeful faithfulness!!

Conversations

"Can I ask you a stupid question?"

".........."

"That wasn't a stupid question."



"Are you busy tonight? Can we go driving and chat?"

"............"

"I'm surprised."

Me too.

The Art of Being a Statue....
(Good Friday, April 6, 2007)

It's FRIGID out. Ouuuuuuuuch -- my fingers are frozen!! What are we doing here, you ask?

Here we are at Dewberry Trail near Mer Bleue birdwatching..... chickadee-feeding to be precise! We brought birdseed, and Mum and Mui are braving the blistering cold and standing as still as they can to try to attract the birds to their hand. I think Mum's better at it than Mui; she's too fidgety. *laughs* Me on the other hand..... I've retreated to the car to try to regain feeling in my poor frozen digits.

Boy, there are so many chickadees! And they are all so cute, especially when they puff up their feathers to keep warm -- they look like little cotton balls!! ^-^ We brought peanuts too, to try and draw out Mum's favorite cardinals and bluejays, but it would seem that the larger passerines are too clever to fall for such ploys. *lol* We did see several bluejays, a cardinal, as well as some blackbirds and mourning doves, but they stayed aloof.

And me being me of course, was more concerned about getting some good shots as opposed to getting them to feed in my hand (although one did perch on my hand for a little while!). Geeez.... birds in the wild sure are hard to capture! They don't stay put for very long. And lets not get me started on the shortfalls of my camera...... darn lagtime to focus, darn lagtime to shoot, darn lens that can't zoom in close enough....!!! *sigh* At least the lighting was good enough to get sharp images. Despite the camera, I managed to get a few good shots. :)

My dear Finepix, you have been a faithful friend, but I really do think it's time you were retired.....

Living statues...... (click here for more pictures!)

Another Spring.....

.....another new beginning. Another post. Wow, I haven't posted in a looooong time. It hasn't been for a lack of desire, I'll say that much in my defence......... I just never seem to be able to sit down and WRITE. :P Even now.... I'm not promising this is well thought-out! I'm just taking a break from the salamanders. *hee*

It's another spring..... I don't think I love any other season more. Spring embodies glorious hope in new life and new beginnings..... I can't help but be lifted as I marvel at the blue skies peeping through between buildings and spectacular sunsets (pretty much all I get to see of the outside nowadays! It's so sad really.....) after missing them all winter; I can't help but hope in the fresh beginning, and hoping that this time I'll reach the High Places that I've had my eye on for so long. Nevermind what people say about muddy sidewalks and spring rains. It's still a beautiful season!

Carrying on my thought about spring and muddiness and new beginnings and reaching your dreams..... you really can't achieve your goals, your dreams, your High Places without a certain amount of messiness and difficulty in between, can you? I would like to think that I might be able to reach those crags without doing the hard work to reach them, but that isn't reality. Reality is daunting, and maybe that's why I've been standing at the foothills for so long, wringing my hands and casting sidelong glances at those majestic peaks.

Maybe this time I'll stop worrying and take that first step. The Good Shepherd has always promised to be there when I need him.... I think it's time to take him at his word. I don't know how to get to those peaks.... what paths to take, what equipment I need, what dangers I need to be aware of..... but perhaps I just don't need to know.



I still miss you..... but there is someone who misses me more right now, and I can't fairly spend any more time wishing for you while he's waiting for me.