All in a Days Work of Ice Fishing!

the smell...there is a certain scent to freshly caught fish waiting to be filleted...the coveted filleting knife...the precision and speed of dad filleting the fish ... the hands...hands of a seasoned fisherman turning his catch into a delicious meal...the black iron frying pan...hearing it sizzle...the smell...mmm...anticipating the consumption of the catch of the day...these are all memories of the times dad went ice fishing...i'm so glad dad still enjoys this pastime and shares it with his family

Crazy Celebrity Stalker!

Yes, I love celebrities and am interested in their lives...I'm not sure why, but I do...I love reading People and British Hello to find out the latest on the celebrity gossip! I am even known to stake out the Toronto International Film Festival in September...and have even been kicked out of the Four Seasons Hotel, well ,I was asked nicely, but before I left, I spotted Pierce Brosnan, Sharon Stone, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Burton, Martin Short and Cheryl Hickey of Entertainment Tonight Canada!!! So, when my friend's daughter posted this celebrity look alike collage on her facebook, I thought I would give it a try!!! What do you think...do I look like any of them really? I have had people come up to me in restaurants and ask me if I am Sarah Mclauglin ( I know I spelled her last name incorrectly..oops!) Well, enjoy this humourous post from "krazy karyne"!:)

Who can you trust?

One last entry today that I need to get off my chest...

I feel sick...sick of people calling themselves Christians and not living like it...not walking the talk. I know as humans we are not perfect and we do sin. And I know God forgives and extends His grace to us. But, that doesn't mean we have licence to keep on sinning. As a teenager growing up in my church, I was deeply affected by one of my youth leaders infidelity and the infidelity of a pastor where I attended youth group on occasion. I wondered how both these men could keep on living a double standard, while still preaching to/teaching us. It made me question my faith and question my trust of our leaders in the church. I thank God it didn't turn me away from Him, nor from my church. ( I do believe my former youth leader has been reconcilled to God and to his family!)

Today, I found out another former leader in my church growing up has been charged with many counts of fraud and basically stealing millions of dollars from innocent, trusting individuals. I looked up to this man and his family as a youth ...I even babysat for them occasionally and taught their kids in Sunday School. I can hardly believe he is now in jail. Wow...I feel sick. I googled his name and am astounded at what I am read. For this man to be a professing Christian, I do not understand how he allowed this to go on with a clear conscience. I feel so angry..angry at these Christian leaders who give us regular - joe Christians a bad name. Is it so hard to live out our faith honestly and with integrity. I'm sorry but there is no excuse for this...sure Satan does a great job at tempting us, but come on, we are all adults here. If you are not willing to walk the talk and pay the price then don't call yourself a Christian...don't shame Jesus' name...we honest living Christians have enough trouble trying to clean up the messes from Christian leaders who have gone astray. Christian parents, make certain you are living out your faith in front of your kids and walking the talk at home . They are watching and don't be fooled...their faith is affected .

I am very conscious of this fact and want people, especially those that come behind me to know I walk the talk. No, I am not perfect, but I refuse to compromise my faith. I want people to know and see that I am a saint who sins, but because of God's amazing grace, love and forgiveness, I am someone who wants to and who will keep reflecting God's love in this crazy world in the most honest, most real way I know how!

Only at Tim Hortons!

Funny how a coffee shop can bring strangers together in the most unlikely places! I was sitting at a hockey rink with my friends, watching a ringette game, when I spotted a man I thought I recognized from my morning coffee runs to Tim Hortons. He usually was always ahead of me in line and usually parked his white van near my car. The friend I was with seemed to know this man, (he was actually the husband of her best friend) so I asked her if he went to Timmies every morning. Little did I know, his daughter was sitting in front of me and we had conversed several times during the game! Suddenly, she yelled across the way to her dad and asked him if he recognized me from Tim Hortons!!:) Strangers no more...we have a friend in common...only at Tim Hortons!!! I love how this world connects people together! PS I think I need to attach a Tim Hortons travel mug to my backpack when I go to Paris and see if the commercial holds true ... see if I can connect with other Canadian strangers through Tim Hortons!!:)

The Amazing Race All Stars

I am SO excited...a new season of The Amazing Race starts tonight! I LOVE this reality show! I love seeing the different parts of the world they travel to and love their challenges! I guess this season is the All Stars, so it will be very interesting and competitive...Rob and Amber are back:) To all my fellow Amazing Race lovers...let's sit back and enjoy!!:)

Trip to Paris

In celebration of turning 40 this year, I decided to treat myself to a solo travel adventure to Paris, France. I have always wanted to go to Paris. During my year at Bible College in Sweden (www.holsby.org), I was unable to travel to France because visas were required due to some unrest in Paris at that time. In addition, there was a train strike, so our Inter Rail pass would not allow us into the country. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine recommended I read, "Without Reservation," by Alice Steinbach. Alice was ( and still is) a journalist who took a year off to travel Europe. She spent 6 weeks living in Paris. The book is a memoir of her travel journey as a newly discovered independent woman. I found the book inspiring and it made me want to travel to Paris even more. I love her stories of the encounters she has with strangers and the impact they made on her life and her search for who she was away from the people and things that defined her. I am a romantic at heart and long to explore this city, filled with such a rich history. I decided to travel alone. I never thought I would ever want to travel alone, but here I am, embarking on a solo travel journey! I guess I want to prove to myself that I can do it like I did when I was nineteen. I also want to face my fears that have crept up on me with age. I long to just be able to be me with no expectations put on me. I long to walk and explore with no particular agenda and allow all my senses to be awakened. I long to meet the locals and meet visitors like me from around the world, who are all on a journey and have a story to tell. I want to hear their stories. I long to live in the moment and cherish it for what it is not worrying about tomorrow. Like Alice, I want to "learn how to stop rushing from place to place, always looking ahead to the next thing while the moment in front of me slipped away unnoticed." (p.13) As I enter my 40's, I too realize, " in the end, what adds up to a life is nothing more than the accumulation of small daily moments." (p.13) I am excited for God to reveal more of Himself to me in those daily moments!

Yesterday afternoon, I drove downtown Oshawa to pick up my plane ticket at Kemp Travel. ( www.kemptravel.com. Just a side note, if you need a travel agent, Ranka Matejic at Kemp Travel is amazing!) Downtown Oshawa is not the downtown I once knew, but is slowly changing thanks to some new business' such as Isabellas Chocolate Cafe ( www.isabellas.ca ). There are some interesting people on the streets of downtown Oshawa! I clung tightly to my hangbag and walked at a brisk pace as I headed to Isabellas for a coffee and to look over my itinerary. As I waited for the light to turn green, I saw a drug deal take place on the corner and saw a homeless man head into Isabellas too! I finally arrived at this quaint cafe and ordered my coffee. The homeless man was off to the side talking, I thought to the owner, but apparently not. He was holding a red rose in his hand and muttering something about lost love. My coffee in hand, my Paris itinerary in the other, I was ready to immerse myself in the moment and allow my thoughts to drift away to my impending holiday. I sat at a wooden table near the window where the sunlight was streaming in and warming me up on this extremely cold day! I quickly took out all of my Paris paraphenalia and let my mind wander off to that distant land ( I told you I was a romantic at heart!) when my thoughts were interupted by the homeless man's conversation with the owner. He apparently wanted to return his red rose that he bought at Isabellas because the woman he bought it for turned him down and told him it was too much!! He continued to ramble and the owner was gracious in his dealings with him. Unfortunately, he could not return the rose, so I spoke up and told him he can treat himself to the lovely flower!! Eventually this man stopped talking about his lost love and began chatting it up with his friend, who also appeared to be homeless. I was very distracted and was unable to get back into my romantic space, so I decided to pack up and leave. At first I was ticked because I wanted to just enjoy this moment in this quaint cafe, but then I realized it was selfish of me to have those expectations. These men were just enjoying this sunny, cold winter day in February too!! I guess I was just uncomfortable with who they were. I needed to let go of those preconceived notions I had and needed to see those homeless men for who they were- who God created them to be - and enter their world. ( while being safe and smart:)) Isn't that how I want people to see me...for who I am, quirks and all, with no expectations placed upon me, allowing me to be me, the me God created! Here's to my travel adventure in Paris and to an unforgettable voyage of self discovery as I enter a new stage in my life!

My Valentine Adventure...

Thank you to my dear friend Lisa for making my time at her "spa" an envigorating experience! (even though I had to intervene with the kiddies to help them solve their conflict!!:)) I look and feel like a million bucks! I LOVE to be pampered and especially LOVED the facial!:) If you haven't tried a facial, I would highly recommend it...my face is glowing!!:) ....Thank you to my dear father for making an incredible gourmet meal for us!! Yummy!! Surprisely, I had a great valentines...it seems when you don't plan ahead that is when the unexpected can happen!!:)

"Orange You Glad" it's Happy Valentine's Day !!

Wishing all of you - single, married or other - a fun- filled, chocolate consuming day!! :) Celebrate in style!!! My "stylish" , orange dress was a Valentine's gift from MY sweethearts at this present moment - Mabs and Wy! Thank you.... I LOVE it!!

I LOVE Newfies!!

Sounds of Newfoundland filled the halls tonight at my parents place!! I was privy to this gathering, made up of mainly Newfoundlanders from the Salvation Army. ( if one grew up in Newfoundland, you were either, Pentecostal, Salvation Army or United!! My dad's family was/is Pentecostal!! ) As I sat and listened to the "yarns" and the music (yes, there were spoons a playin') I reflected on why I LOVE Newfie's:

-- I love their accent and dialect (even when I cannot understand them!)

-- I love their storytelling ("yarns")

-- I love their food, yes, even the wild game AND there is always plenty to go around

-- I love their friendliness and open arms to everyone

-- I love the fact that they will open their homes to strangers and will make sure they feed them

-- I love that anyone can stop by their home any time, any day -- their "doors are always open"

-- I love their music -- guitars, mandolins, spoons, piano, fiddles all come out when company is over and the singing begins until the wee hours of the morning -- I love hearing all the old hymns sung in four - part harmony -- it is beautiful

-- I love their sense of humour

-- I love their "Rock" -- it is an incredibly GORGEOUS province -- breathtaking scenery

-- I love their "Purity" products, especially peppermint knobs and barrel candy ( I always stock up when I go to Newfoundland...my purchases give it away that I am a "mainlander"!!)

I am proud to be the daughter of a Newfoundander and proud/thankful to have such a rich heritage. If you ever have the opportunity, make sure you visit the "Rock"! Check out

www.newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com I am confident you will love Newfies too!!