P.S. To view more pics from the Spice Girls concert, go to....

Check out my web album to see more pics from my adventure at the Spice Girls concert!
www.picasaweb.google.com/swile67

Peppermint Knobs found in Whitby!!! YAY!!

My dad found Newife peppermint knobs at Price Chopper in Whitby today!! I was sooo excited! It has been way too long since I have indulged in one of my favourite candy. As I opened the package, childhood memories flooded my soul!! Okay, maybe I am a tad bit dramatic, but I "toasted" my Grandma Whalen as I sucked on my peppermint knob!! Here's to you Grandma...I miss you!

SPICE up your life!

Girl Power Rules! "Mission Accomplished!" Yes, I had the privilege of witnessing and partaking in a little piece of history -- the FINAL Spice Girls concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Tuesday night! Surprisingly, for me anyways, i t was an AMAZING stage production! I absolutely LOVED it! I tagged along with one of my best friends, Lisa, her 14 year old daughter and her daughter's friend. We had a wonderful evening together! I think the girls were surprised Lisa and I could rock it with the best of them!!!:) Here's to the end of the Spice Girls era, but Girl Power lives on!!!:):)

Living out Justice...

Another friend of mine is living out "justice." You can check out his blog at www.kenswitzer.blog.com!

That's My Shave - ey!

“Justice means making sure that everyone has the resources and opportunities they need to live out their God given human calling.”

Shave

Shave-ey

shari

follower and lover of Jesus, wife, mother, sister, loyal friend, artist, advocate for the poor and needy, kindred spirit

Inspiration

Shari or Shave as I affectionately call her, has taken a journey this week to a special place where “harassed and helpless” (Mt. 9:36) women have been rescued and given the opportunity for a new life – a WHOLLY life. Justice.

La Tienda

La Tienda means ”the store” in spanish and is a fair trade arts co-op for women located in the Dominican Republic. The women create originally designed items for sale. Beautiful jewellery, bags, candles, lip gloss, soap, paper and more. This co-op, lead by Rachel Sticklee, gives women of the village a way to sustain their own economy by creating gifts of beauty. Working at the Tienda enables these women to have enough money for rice and beans so that they and their children can eat everyday. The Tienda however is not owned by the workers themselves. Often they are threatened of being kicked out of their place of work. If this happens their livelihoods are in serious jeopardy.

Shari, along with “edeva” ( www.edeva.ca) is taking the initiative to make it possible for the women of La Tienda to OWN their own land and building to ensure the sustainability of their economic futures. This will enable them to continue working without the pressures of landlord mood swings, and continue providing for their families. Without the opportunity to work at the Tienda often women are left with the options of rummaging through the dumps or prostitution as ways to provide for their children.

Shave has been inspired by the women of La Tienda. They have touched a deep place in her soul She has been creating gifts of beauty, the women of La Tienda, through her passion and skill of capturing meaningful, magical life moments on canvas.

Shave has never met these women before. Until now.

I know this experience will have a profound affect of my sweet Shave –ey! I know my sweet Shave-ey will have a profound affect on the women in La Tienda! I know Jesus has already had a profound affect on my sweet Shave-ey and the women in La Tienda!

Justice

Joy

Grace

Changed Forever

*****If you want to know more about La Tienda, check out their website at:

www.latienda.moonfruit.com

Contemplating Life

a true canadian icon

How we relieve stress at work!

Our librarian came sauntering into our classroom on Thursday with a look of despair on his face. He was having a bad day. I knew the perfect remedy. A spin in our purple saucer. Most children with autism enjoy movement of some kind thus we use this spinner to help calm and soothe them. I told our librarian to give it a try. Guaranteed to relieve stess! He was a little hesitant, but after some coaxing he climbed in and was ready for the strong spinning hands of moi!! Due to his height, I was having a bit of trouble getting a good grip on the spinner. My "sweet D" was watching with great interest from the other room. She had a big grin on her face and looked like she wanted to help me spin. So, I invited her to come help. She ran right past me and into the lap of our librarian!! She wanted in on the action! I tried my best to spin our purple saucer so my friends could enjoy the benefits. But, I was laughing so hard I almost ended up in our librarians lap too! Just another day at the office! Mission accomplished!

bitterness

bitterness

poison

destroys families

unforgiveness

no grace

destroys families

carries over from one generation to the next

destroys families

it stops with me

life is too short to remain bitter and carry the weight of unforgiveness

it is not fair to pass it on to the generation that comes behind me

forgiveness

grace

builds families strong

reflects God's love, grace and forgiveness

it starts with me

The "Road Rage Babes" new dilemma

Bras.

Horrifed at the prospect of having a teenage employee ( size triple A herself) of a respected lingerie company measure your breast size and tell you they don't make bras in your size. But, possibly could special order one.

Spending exhorborant amounts of money on bras from that same respectable lingerie company that are supposed to provide amazing support yet have some major glitches.

Excited to try new bra gadgets to ease the discomfort of embedded straps only to discover these gadgets like to fall off at the most inopportune times - (ie) in the middle of a business meeting.

All hope is not lost.

Daisyfresh to the rescue. Cheap. Amazing support. Comfortable straps that never fall down and are never inbedded into shoulders. Pretty.

And most importantly, Daisyfresh turns the "Road Rage Babes" into new women!

Dilemma solved!

Update about the murder in my school/work neighbourhood.

I just read in the news that the police have identified the murder victim. He is only 19 years old. They have still not released what happened last Sunday night.