tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26154405704911282652024-02-07T01:18:33.468-05:00Running the RaceJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-66376795639868622982016-11-16T14:27:00.001-05:002016-11-16T14:27:25.312-05:00New BlogTo: anyone who is still following this blog.<div>
I have started a new blog over at www.writing-from-the-insife.blogspot.ca If you're interested, head on over and check it out!</div>
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~Justine</div>
Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-85556220344580037462013-09-09T21:42:00.001-04:002013-09-09T21:42:45.716-04:00Pray For Us
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pray for us that we would have strength and courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We who go out into the world every single day
to work and to go to school, we need you to pray for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t do this alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray that the strength would be the right
kind – the kind that comes from the joy of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for us that we would have courage
because our God is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray that
the strength wouldn’t be replaced by brute determination and the courage wouldn’t
be overtaken by angry cynicism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You who
are older and stronger, pray for us who are young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when the days become weeks and the weeks
become months, the months spent among those who don’t love our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when the day by day of this breaks us down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when what we have believed and confessed
seems to retreat to head knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray
when we need God so badly and seem so far from Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when the sin we see becomes normal and
acceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when the cynicism that
we don’t want grows up in us, until it tells us the Sunday services that we so
need and want are just a joke, that the people at church are deluded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when the jokes at work become funny.
Pray when the language we hear becomes the expected, even fitting response to
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You elders, we see what you
do for the church, how you stay out late at meetings instead of being home with
your family, how you deal with hurting people and hard situations, and we thank
you and pray for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fathers and
mothers, we see how you raise your children and how that can be hard and we
thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But please pray for us
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You who stay at home with your
children or work in a Christian workplace, pray for us who go out into the
world every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You who are older, who
have grown up in a Christian country and deplore the way the world is going
now, pray for us who have grown up in this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You to whom the current state of things is shocking and horrifying, pray
for us for whom this is normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray,
because what you see as new developments in human depravity, we see as
normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the world we were born
and raised in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard for us to
believe in beauty and good and love because outside of the church, outside of
our homes, we don’t see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It becomes
easier to believe our people are deluded than that good actually exists, when
we go out into the world every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray
for us at this time, when we feel so close to slipping away from our faith and
the light of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need you so
badly, we need the church, we need the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t try to become “relevant” or “current”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need the traditions and the old songs and
the straight truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need the ties to
our past and to others who have followed Christ before us so that we may walk
in this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for us when grace and
mercy seem irrelevant, when the way to get through life is by creating a shell
around ourselves, glaring at any who may come to interfere. Pray when we cease
to love those around us and shut others out to keep safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when trust is hard because the women we
are surrounded by talk behind each other’s backs and the men talk about women as
objects and not people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray when the
day to day of going to work is easy – the people are friendly and the work is
pleasant enough, but the weeks and months turn into a weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it is hard to believe the sincerity of
anyone who truly loves God, and yet we want so to love Him that much, to be in
close communion with Him, what are we to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pray for us courage and strength, love and joy and peace and light and
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-73402264395818467242013-03-08T17:36:00.001-05:002013-03-08T17:36:24.147-05:00Going PublicYes, I am opening this blog up to anyone again. It is a little scary. However, since my posts have been sporadic, I think I have lost any followers I had. This way maybe people will see it. Anyway this is just an announcement post. :)Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-1708475870324188892013-03-08T17:32:00.001-05:002013-03-08T17:40:46.817-05:00Love and Life RamblingsI am slowly beginning to figure out that some things can't be quantified, defined, predicted, or evaluated. They must be felt. These are things like love, faith, joy. Things you can't make happen, they come from God. I am a very mathematical person. I like to have everything run according to rules. In my "ideal" world, each person's characteristics could be listed. Then, the bad traits could be subtracted from the good, and what was left would be the person's overall personality or worth. When choosing friends, or especially when choosing a life partner, one could simply look at the person's list, at their good and bad points, and then decide who is the best choice. Then, love would be determined by how much each person put into and got out of the relationship. Joy would be gotten by doing certain things... for example, if I cleaned cheerfully, and helped someone else with their work, and got all my school done, I'd feel happy, and I could spend the evening reading a book without feeling guilty. Life would be neat and tidy. If I needed to find out how something would turn out, I'd find a formula, like this: y = 3x<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2 </span><span style="font-size: small;">+ 2x + 5 and I would graph it, and then I would know what to do, what to say, who to talk to. </span><br />
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HOWEVER. Before going on I must define what I meant by "ideal". This is not what I want. This is what I, by nature, aim for. This is what direction I take when my subconscious takes over. The "real" me, ie my conscious, is more sensible. :) My mind tries to categorize, whereas my heart already knows. My heart knows what love is, what joy is, while my mind is trying to define these so that it will know what they are and if they ought to be. My mind does not understand why families love each other. It doesn't seem to make sense. Seriously why would this group of people of different ages and ideas care about each other? Is it because they share DNA? Is it because they always have known each other and lived with each other, so they are used to each other? But then I realize that no, it is none of these things. They love each other because that is the way God made them. God made people to love each other, families to bond and care. He made us with emotions and feelings, and my mind has to accept that it will never know why. My heart whispers, "Don't worry about why. Don't ask questions. Just accept. You love these people. That just is." <br />
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Yes this post leaves a lot of questions. It doesn't have a point or a moral or a conclusion. That is because I am still probing, still looking, still learning. My heart still surprises me. My mind still worries and evaluates and schemes. My heart surprises me when I am holding a baby and my heart is content and happy. My mind says, "Look at what you will have to give up if you have children someday. Look how hard it will be." My heart says "Sshhh. It will be worth it. Just believe." <br />
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I am not saying "Follow your heart." But do listen to it. Sometimes it needs to be scolded or even disciplined. It is sinful and depraved. However it is human and it has human feelings. The mind does not really have human feelings. It can become mechanical, legalistic, and uncaring. If you want to be a compassionate person, allow your feelings to exist and let your mind and heart feel love and joy, and plan and think and evaluate the world. Do not let your members war against each other, but let them be one person. God made you. Trust Him that He knew what He was doing. <br />
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Now don't think I am a horrible person, a sort of subhuman monster, a computer in a girl's body. I'm sure I could develop into that if I tried. But God has renewed me. He is making me new. He is teaching me lessons. He is bringing me into this beautiful, messy, painful world and showing me that I can give up my control and just trust. Just accept that God is, that love is, that people are broken and messed up and worth loving.<br />
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Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-48416247232353413872013-02-26T21:06:00.000-05:002013-02-26T21:06:46.054-05:00Dream BigThese words describe my goal for this year. I did not start off this year with many resolutions or a "Word of the Year". Instead of coming up with a goal, the goal found me. <br />
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I have heard it from several different people... a friend who joined the army wrote a letter to our Bible study group - he said, "Dream big. God can do big things through you. You have to have a dream." He recommended we listen to this song:<br />
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And my other friend, who is off in university, told me, "Don't be afraid to dream big. God can to more than you think." </div>
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It's true. Look at Amy Carmichael, who went to India with a desire to spread the gospel and ended up founding a community that rescued children from temples. Look at George Muller, who rented a house to make a home for a few orphans - eventually he had several large buildings, and helped thousands of children. God can take your little dream and grow it beyond what you can imagine. He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3) </div>
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Here's another song I think of when I think of dreaming big:</div>
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So this year, I am dreaming big. I am refusing to be held back by fear; fear of failing, fear of my life not working out, fear of what people will think. I am daring to think that if God wants me to go to <a href="http://running-the-race-of-faith.blogspot.ca/2012/07/howdy-and-some-ramblings.html" target="_blank">the Philippines</a>, He will get me there in His time. I am daring to dream that He can use even me to make someone's life better. I am daring to dream that my passion will be for Him, and when I wander, He will bring me back, and that because of Him, my life has a purpose. And I will dream. I won't give up. </div>
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(Note: I do not in general listen to Christian rap. and I do not condone country music, though I must say I enjoy it. However, the Lecrae song was recommended by a friend, and the Eli Young Band song is one I heard many times while I was working in the restaurant. Both are ones that have sort of shaped this "Dream Big" goal of mine. So don't you worry about me degenerating. :P) </div>
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Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-74316078323465580542012-08-01T15:49:00.002-04:002012-08-01T16:22:12.903-04:00Words on a Wednesday AfternoonThe other night I heard someone reading a text on the radio. It said, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:11. Then I knew that if He laid down His life for His sheep, there is no way He will ever let one of them go. If one of the sheep strays, He will search him or her out until he or she is found, just like in the parable in Luke 15, when the one sheep strayed and the shepherd left the ninety-nine to search it out. Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am persuaded that neither life nor death, angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor life nor death, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." There is great comfort in this. <br />You should listen to this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKK3m9WOYuo&feature=related">song</a>. There is so much simple joy and praise in it. :)<br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-47344911377069157402012-07-26T22:12:00.002-04:002012-07-26T22:44:32.086-04:00Well now.Because Hi is too boring a title.<br />~I burnt my finger at work tonight. I wanted to know if the stove was still hot. It was.<br />~Consolation for that: I saw a beer ad that said, "It's okay to have a blonde moment."<br />~Someone should start a radio station in this area that plays some of my favourites, such as Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Jamie Soles, Casting Crowns, etc. Then they should get a good strong transmittor so I can get it in a back kitchen sandwiched between two buildings.<br />~Today I chatted with my friend who lives seven hours away via facebook. I miss having her ten minutes away, but I'm glad I could chat with her.<br />~Tonight I worked with a girl who I'd never worked with before. She is taller than me!!! Okay, so I'm not that tall, but most of my coworkers are shorter than me. She's also a lot of fun. So, after working alone two nights this week, it was great working with her.<br />~These last few days it hasn't been humid. I am enjoying it.<br />~My sister is reading "The Help". When she is done I get to read it. I read the first few pages, but I better not keep reading because she won't be very happy.<br /><br />Okay I'm done with point form. :) So we had a sermon on Sunday about friendship, particularily the friendship between David and Jonathan. Now in such a deep friendship, people share the deep things in their lives. My question: how much is right to share? Should we fill our best friend in about all the little details? When we are sharing what is bothering us, what is the line between appropriate sharing and complaining? How do you find a friend who you can open up to like that? Now here's another topic for questions. To what point ought we to express ourselves? Where is the line between being too self-centred/whiny and not bottling it all in? Where is the line between being strong/good/cheerful/caring and showing others the weakness and troubles in our lives? At what point can I stop trying to be a strong big sister and helpful daughter and actually speak of my weakness and messed-up-ness? Ok I better stop before I say too much. lol<br />On a lighter note, we were reading about the creation of Adam and Eve the other day. Mom asked Nadia what God took from Adam to create Eve, and Nadia said, "His ribbons." When Emily was about that age, she said, "He took a piece out of him." <br /><br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-54275536306566569642012-07-07T19:24:00.002-04:002012-08-01T16:25:10.699-04:00What I'm Listening To:<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zSWC7XozVgY?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-84595925365193975122012-07-07T16:57:00.004-04:002012-07-07T19:28:01.447-04:00Howdy... and some ramblingsNo, I'm not American. Howdy is a normal part of our family's vocabulary. It is not unusual for one of my brothers to say 'Howdy' with a perfectly serious look on his face, speaking to someone outside of our family. People may give them an odd look, but they see nothing strange about using the word. :)<br /><br />The last time I posted was January 30. Since then I have: taken part in a play, started working as a cook/waitress in a small town restaurant, finished grade 12, graduated, participated in my last trip with our homeschool group :(, gone camping, and perhaps most importantly, confessed my faith before the church.<br /><br />I am excited to be done school. I am hoping to be able to work full time for a while, and after that I plan to attend <a href="http://www.midwifeschool.org/">New Life Midwifery School</a>. (I'm not sure if their website is working right now as I can't seem to get on to it, but hopefully it will be soon?) This school is in the Philippines! It is run by a mission centre. The funds to run the clinic come from the students' tuition. All the information is on the website. I just found the blog of a woman who went to school there and now works in Sudan, and another blog of a woman who just moved to the Philippines to attend this school. The exciting thing about the second blog is that the woman who writes it will likely be there when I start!! Now I must clarify that these plans are what I believe the Lord is leading me to right now. They may change. Having this goal has given me peace and motivation. It sure helps on a day when I don't want to go work in a busy, hot, steamy kitchen to know that it has a purpose: saving for school. However, I know God has a plan for how I can best serve Him. I hope it includes going to this school, but His will be done.<br /><br />Now for a picture. Two very good things late at night: The Lord of the Rings trilogy and chocolate. ♥<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdgqkwcqd8YgC00v0iSWOuX9lQlr9D9css1LmL3331wGSEwSVwni1nHampx_VpSNWX_Iqkw4QGBoXymYVb44KLXKhOQr3F6I9IGzlVeCmRfKQipKFtLEooD0mJxuwdD462O8YoMDIB2kH/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5762538718839881842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdgqkwcqd8YgC00v0iSWOuX9lQlr9D9css1LmL3331wGSEwSVwni1nHampx_VpSNWX_Iqkw4QGBoXymYVb44KLXKhOQr3F6I9IGzlVeCmRfKQipKFtLEooD0mJxuwdD462O8YoMDIB2kH/s400/IMG_2128.JPG" /></a>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-34156760188426182352012-01-30T19:25:00.002-05:002012-01-30T19:48:27.065-05:00Pretty Pictures (for lack of a better title)<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyvQDEx2CKrPAzsT-A6G8o93R6g9Rb7yfx4-V8LAsXv99jUYfVTJt_KuPezhSOjpZoSf1TSI9LCOEgIF7z0ieZ6zq5Emi31HT37NHTMQXbN-NIzrxWHPq__85pP2-D1n_5BQ0bkXAoSk2/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703588307543458754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyvQDEx2CKrPAzsT-A6G8o93R6g9Rb7yfx4-V8LAsXv99jUYfVTJt_KuPezhSOjpZoSf1TSI9LCOEgIF7z0ieZ6zq5Emi31HT37NHTMQXbN-NIzrxWHPq__85pP2-D1n_5BQ0bkXAoSk2/s400/IMG_1860.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0snpO5pdClrYBKPcfxYQMFIuKbAbFV2AZxKEIza4fudqy9q0TJ3HBduP6AkqxI_GFhN-E8H2swlSYXA6aNRWAs1qEXWeqZQkPwNR5ZJUpalbFJNFurgmZSU5t9wD8kDB35M2P2aJmcW-/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG"></a></p><br /><div align="center">Notice the rainbow in the bottom left corner above. Below is a close-up of the rainbow.</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCDeJUgYJJ3ZyS_bcA6xxPVTfPzfSQ1HF_loja07RH_gLSigS-u96xvhsHelYkkSJG01X0LamD3qUdr_CR9QMdUZKaoAhHPDB2N5V7UoT2V-qhba-Sx2DVuzN1NCL4vvLQBq7HHEdik_X/s1600/IMG_1860.1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 382px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703588320553846306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCDeJUgYJJ3ZyS_bcA6xxPVTfPzfSQ1HF_loja07RH_gLSigS-u96xvhsHelYkkSJG01X0LamD3qUdr_CR9QMdUZKaoAhHPDB2N5V7UoT2V-qhba-Sx2DVuzN1NCL4vvLQBq7HHEdik_X/s400/IMG_1860.1.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFL-TURTmu01eo1TtbjWALStcqUv03aiwhVjlvnk7cdshkvgjSl-rTDbYA0TVrZUEjb8_XDLQwJxT_ea7UkJ8Fhcm60DvsY76tn7gj7mmHFgeWrVIng9fOkyHoarzGSKNIXUfUDW9Ast5/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703588309653638530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFL-TURTmu01eo1TtbjWALStcqUv03aiwhVjlvnk7cdshkvgjSl-rTDbYA0TVrZUEjb8_XDLQwJxT_ea7UkJ8Fhcm60DvsY76tn7gj7mmHFgeWrVIng9fOkyHoarzGSKNIXUfUDW9Ast5/s400/IMG_1869.JPG" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">The picture below is one I took at camp in July.</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0snpO5pdClrYBKPcfxYQMFIuKbAbFV2AZxKEIza4fudqy9q0TJ3HBduP6AkqxI_GFhN-E8H2swlSYXA6aNRWAs1qEXWeqZQkPwNR5ZJUpalbFJNFurgmZSU5t9wD8kDB35M2P2aJmcW-/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703588336769998258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0snpO5pdClrYBKPcfxYQMFIuKbAbFV2AZxKEIza4fudqy9q0TJ3HBduP6AkqxI_GFhN-E8H2swlSYXA6aNRWAs1qEXWeqZQkPwNR5ZJUpalbFJNFurgmZSU5t9wD8kDB35M2P2aJmcW-/s400/IMG_1153.JPG" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">And this is something that hangs on my bulletin board. A friend wrote it out for me. </p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QvWD_7VIOosUyXAaxka2vzO056uJclFt0_sfCvgeH7O6Ep1EVdJPurBSa-aIWxvfrEbz0I2PAMDwmMjUhAvO-CRCR6knnPfn7xbDs-oF8agfsaECYCCL1zDUKZFUW7W96Nyk5VKjYhLG/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703588322680023394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QvWD_7VIOosUyXAaxka2vzO056uJclFt0_sfCvgeH7O6Ep1EVdJPurBSa-aIWxvfrEbz0I2PAMDwmMjUhAvO-CRCR6knnPfn7xbDs-oF8agfsaECYCCL1zDUKZFUW7W96Nyk5VKjYhLG/s400/IMG_1894.JPG" /></a></p>JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-6011537277628929842012-01-20T14:35:00.002-05:002012-01-20T15:10:27.702-05:00Crazy Life in a Big FamilyWe have so much to laugh over, living as we do in a house with 12 people. Some days it seems more like so much to sigh over, but hey, that happens.<br />We have a little girl. That means cute little dresses, dolls, an imaginary world where everyone is some animal or other, Papa Rabbit and Mama Puppy and Grandpa Squeaky (why do <em>I</em> have to be Grandpa Squeaky?). It means excitement over pretty shoes, crying for chocolate at 2 am, and loving going places and seeing people.<br />We have four young boys. Boys mean noise and rowdiness. It means telling lame jokes on the way to church, forming a choir to sing Jingle Bells when a big sister comes in to put them to bed, arguing over Fords and Chevys and Dodges, pretending to be mountain ibexes on the stairs, and always making the sound effects of a whole battalion of artillery.<br />We have five "big girls". We stress over <em>what</em> we are going to do with the rest of our lives (as if it's in our hands), jostle for the mirror on Sunday mornings, have late night conferences sitting on the bed talking about anything, get hyper over card games, and generally have fun. Another thing we do is silent communication. One time our family was at our cousin's place and there were quite a few other people there, most of whom we didn't know. The five of us were hanging out with three other girls whom we had just met. I came in with a coke. Leah raised her eyebrows and gave a little smile. I shook my head. Leah gave me a pleading look. I rolled my eyes and went out to get her a coke. The other girls said, "Whoa, what just happened there?" We thought, "What, we do that all the time."<br />We have two amazing parents. The best thing about them is they are strict but reasonable. We have rules, but they are not arbitrary. They make sense. My parents love each other and us a lot. <br />We have so much to be thankful for in our family.<br /><br />The main floor part of our addition has been finished for quite a while and we are enjoying it. The basement is almost finished and then we can move in! So exciting!<br /><br />I have a new watch. My parents found it in a parking lot. :) Now I have a watch that is fancier than I would have bought myself, and I got it free. :))<br /><br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-68038417131178832802011-11-08T16:00:00.006-05:002011-11-08T16:14:58.528-05:00Quotes from my Brothers (and Sister)<div align="center">Thomas: "I know why people kidnap people - because they want more kids!"<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Thomas: "Is it illegal to fight a robot?"</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Gavin: "If it's a police robot then maybe."<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Thomas: "Dad, do you know what it feels like when I eat Rice Krispies? It feels like I'm having a heart attack." And then, "I just heard my day imagination. I put a bite in my mouth and I heard a bang." </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Nadia is very prompt to say thank-you when she is given something. But if she is not responded to with a "You're welcome" she'll scold, "Say me welcome!"<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Nadia: "Mom, keep me safe!"</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Mom: "From what?"</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Nadia: "From the lion."</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Mom: "The lion?"</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Nadia: "Justine is a lion."</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-60968987657875145132011-10-22T20:24:00.005-04:002011-11-08T16:04:51.928-05:00What I'm Wearing<p align="center">Ah... pictures again! And I'm posting twice in ten days! (You are supposed to cheer here, by the way. lol just kidding)</p><br /><br /><p align="center">So... another blogger was talking about how magazines etc. portray beauty in one specific way, and that way is unrealistic (photoshopped/airbrushed models), and she suggested people should put up pictures of themselves so that we have a more varied and realistic portrayal of what people look like. I thought that was a good idea so here are some pictures of what I am wearing tonight. </p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVFF16XgHZHyx2MsN61Fk-Hpp-HTW-Seuhu4yp645hfvT5QjRY6jYvJlhk4zhHMBT4c34tyejfJbqNA-gMyK_uv4CgBb8y5cqTYCtEMaBUUaEwAaxxdy05t35NoYIfYSoTpckV6vM0fev/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666478002444590818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVFF16XgHZHyx2MsN61Fk-Hpp-HTW-Seuhu4yp645hfvT5QjRY6jYvJlhk4zhHMBT4c34tyejfJbqNA-gMyK_uv4CgBb8y5cqTYCtEMaBUUaEwAaxxdy05t35NoYIfYSoTpckV6vM0fev/s400/IMG_2235.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="center">For most of today I was wearing old clothes. Old clothes are better suited to such activities as cutting the grass and working on the van. :) So after I came inside rather cold and dirty, I had a (hot!) shower and dressed up just for fun.<br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMdoO-t8Tr-URkhxu3r4b3EzTM_haM5auo6LDLQmiGmUGeFecDozrLSCqdY8FW7_yFOPaRWqtKrxYRhsMmA_tZylY-84eDLECxTBV7F4vlf7mmiX1x5u6gpcfR1LIjV70oVwCKLfjSJJR/s1600/IMG_2241.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666477996766067970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMdoO-t8Tr-URkhxu3r4b3EzTM_haM5auo6LDLQmiGmUGeFecDozrLSCqdY8FW7_yFOPaRWqtKrxYRhsMmA_tZylY-84eDLECxTBV7F4vlf7mmiX1x5u6gpcfR1LIjV70oVwCKLfjSJJR/s400/IMG_2241.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="center">This fall I have been working on dressing more nicely. Last winter I usually wore one or other of two cozy warm hoodies. The problem with that was one was too large and the other a bit ragged. All summer I wore clothes suitable for working/being active since we were working on our house, I was working with my dad, and when we went out it was to play soccer or do some other outdoor activity.<br />In August we went to Value Village and found some stuff for winter and I made sure to get dressier, better looking clothes. </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VuXRJH_zrYyeVGdqZyDHNLAOlNEbcotUcNmYcvehI-tgX9oPhE6cxVMXkjvBOywhIJigGskakCMXgDsZA8jBEitbDgQLZKASVFPPIkYbH1yPrafSJ3B6VpjRMosuwFxTgoq1wlV-csUQ/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666477989319042162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VuXRJH_zrYyeVGdqZyDHNLAOlNEbcotUcNmYcvehI-tgX9oPhE6cxVMXkjvBOywhIJigGskakCMXgDsZA8jBEitbDgQLZKASVFPPIkYbH1yPrafSJ3B6VpjRMosuwFxTgoq1wlV-csUQ/s400/IMG_2232.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center">This outfit's info:</p><br /><br /><p align="center">Sweater: Suzy Shier (I think) bought at Value Village</p><br /><br /><p align="center">Jeans: Bluenotes, bought at Value Village (If I keep up with the posting an outfit thing, you'll be seeing a <em>lot </em>of these jeans. I love them and they are my only good pair.)</p><br /><br /><p align="left">Justine</p><br /><br /><p align="left">P.S. Value Village is a great place to shop. If you make sure you leave yourself enough time, you can find some really nice things for a fraction of what they cost new.</p>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-81718725710700862622011-10-13T20:15:00.003-04:002011-10-13T20:35:02.725-04:00My Story Right NowA blog writer, <a href="http://afamiliarpath.com/">here</a>, has been posting lately about writing your story. I actually haven't read many of the posts, but the snippets that come up on the blogger dashboard have been inspiring me. <br />My story. Where shall I start? Maybe with the land I live in.<br />When we moved to this area five years ago, it was ugly. Bare brown fields, November's grey skies, mud, rain. The land was flat. Not perfectly flat, but flat enough to make a girl who'd grown up among hills and forests feel exposed. There were no wild places, only empty fields of corn and soybean stubble with here and there a tame little forest. Worse yet, it was foreign. It held no little remembrances of fun or friends or events that had marked my life before. The road ways were unfamiliar.<br />Fast forward five years. The land is interesting. The next field is planted with soybeans, and we know who owns it and who is buying it from him and why. The field across the road is planted in soybeans too, though according to the rules of crop rotation, it should be corn. Since the spring was so wet, the farmer couldn't plant before June 15, after which one cannot get crop insurance for corn, so he planted soybeans. The roadways are no longer strange, for we can say, "That is so and so's road" or "That's the interesting way to go to soccer." The big openness of this land is actually considered an asset now. I know the joy of standing on a hill under a wide blue sky and seeing all the farms around and turning to see the town three km away. The scenes of this land are tied up with the happenings and milestones of the last five years, and I love this land so that it seems the most beautiful place in the world.<br />Do you have a story?<br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-90527502446273248272011-08-06T19:52:00.003-04:002011-08-06T20:37:48.518-04:00ThankfulTonight I am thankful that God has commanded us to rest on Sundays. The more work we do, especially on Saturdays, the more I realize what a blessing Sunday is. As my mom said today, "If we didn't have to rest, we wouldn't." But we do have to, so we do. It is much easier to work hard on a Saturday when we know that the next day we can go to church and come home and spend a quiet day worshipping God and visiting with friends, then if we knew we'd get up in the morning and work hard and get grimy and tired again.<br />I am also thankful for the work we could get done today - putting in window wells, filling them with gravel, and putting the dirt back around them. It looks much better. :)<br />If you are interested in the military, or in politics, you should watch <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/More_Shows/Make_the_Politician_Work/1747857163/ID=1783913384">this</a>. I think it is a good idea for the high up powers that be to know what the ground workers actually experience. I believe the workers would probably have a lot more respect for their authorities as well. It is pretty hard to respect the ones who give the commands if they are sitting in their city offices without a clue of what is actually going on, and no guts to do the physical hard work. So kudos to Defence Minister Peter MacKay for getting right in there and spending a couple of days in military training.<br />Goodnight!<br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-65859177069556901862011-07-08T15:14:00.003-04:002011-07-08T15:46:44.757-04:00Summer!If I post today, my sisters can't say I haven't posted in a whole month, can they? I'll tell them it's only been 29 days. :) Warning, though. This post is rambly. Each paragraph is about a new and unrelated topic.<br />Right now it is summer and I love it! I like staying up late-ish playing a game because we don't have to get up early anyway. I like not having to do schoolwork. I like playing soccer with our homeschool group on Wednesday evenings. I like the competition, but also that since we pick teams each week, the competition only lasts that evening. We don't end up with rivalries, since we might end up on the other players' team next week. I like that we know everyone on both teams. I played on a town team one year, and while that was fun, I like this better. The best advantage homeschool soccer has over organized team soccer, I have discovered, is that we don't line up, shake hands, and say, "Good game" to the other team at the end. It always seemed to me (being a somewhat independent homeschooler) that adults were imposing on us their ideas of good will and friendliness. Which is one reason I am glad I've never been to public school. But now I'm rambling. :)<br />I'm reading Anne of Green Gables right now. I don't know how many times I've read it, but it is really a good book.<br />I am looking forward to 3 weeks from now! I am planning to go to a Christian youth camp along with some of my friends. The camp starts on a Friday night and goes until the Monday morning on the holiday weekend. It should be fun, at least I'm hoping it will be. :)<br />On Sunday it is my parents' 18th anniversary. 18 years ago they were very young and none of us were even thought of. And now we are a big, noisy, rowdy family. I love you, Dad and Mom!<br />Sisters are amazing. My sisters know alot about me. They are my best friends. We can tease each other and bug each other and tell each other our deep dark secrets. One amazing thing about sisters is they are always around and I for one love having my best friends with me. Who wouldn't love having people around to stay up late playing a game with and then stay up even later laughing over a story about A Mento that Got Swallowed Whole in a Store?<br />My brothers are great, too. Warren has been working like crazy lately, helping with the addition. Brent does not like to have anything to do with tools and dirt. He'd rather read. Gavin and I have almost daily arguments while we are drying the lunch dishes as to whether such work is girls' work or not. (I say not. Boys should be able to clean up after themselves, right? And we older girls also know how to paint, use a hammer, drill, saw, etc...) And as for Thomas and Nadia, they are best friends and when one of them is sad or hurt, they will usually run to hug and comfort each other.<br />How is your summer going?<br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-13400322717146647782011-06-09T16:12:00.005-04:002011-06-09T17:02:10.493-04:00Hello<div align="center">About time for a post, eh?<br /></div><br /><div align="center">It is <em>busy</em> here. Let's see - a bulldozer and backhoe working all day, dumptrucks in and out, the septic pumping truck coming twice, the outhouse company coming to drop off the port-a-potty, the inspector and the builder coming...</div><br /><div align="center">My mind is busy, too. I have been studying worldviews using the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Next-Door-Worldview-Catalog/product-reviews/0830838503/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1"><u>The Universe Next Door</u> </a>by James W. Sire. Thus my mind is full of words like nihilism, theistic existenialism, Eastern pantheistic monism. After a bit I thought, "Why do people keep coming up with impossible ideas? Why would anyone believe in <em>nothing</em>? How can Eastern gurus and such meditate without meditating on something, or contemplate with nothing to contemplate?" So then I went outside for a walk to clear my head. :)</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEr4nIvEtB1avtjoiUskvSEDJYeBzlYZFgmAO1J1MCfFuQUh2ZArCfnC6aCX1oLViNP6cXuPF_VZ-ffn9oWgOZyI7xFIgCp1XCDJTPdQEnaJ1x1KXiKYdS9RIn8hZDYGtUZOQV9P7oBcf/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616322669218041186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEr4nIvEtB1avtjoiUskvSEDJYeBzlYZFgmAO1J1MCfFuQUh2ZArCfnC6aCX1oLViNP6cXuPF_VZ-ffn9oWgOZyI7xFIgCp1XCDJTPdQEnaJ1x1KXiKYdS9RIn8hZDYGtUZOQV9P7oBcf/s400/IMG_0135.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Dad in the hole for the foundation. It is about eight feet deep. Notice the water sitting in the bottom. That will have to be gotten out somehow.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofszlzzR8Q5fXyog-mJIlMLiAmeZrfPr_6gGSHN2hX87hW12AsPf2xOPW5UkNOHQ3DtumjUJUuNcEKp59eSFIVJoAB4SYgfPId9EracOiPz8_X6OVw358-FTPl3TAg8l-AvXcgJJW3rtM/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616322680056593474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofszlzzR8Q5fXyog-mJIlMLiAmeZrfPr_6gGSHN2hX87hW12AsPf2xOPW5UkNOHQ3DtumjUJUuNcEKp59eSFIVJoAB4SYgfPId9EracOiPz8_X6OVw358-FTPl3TAg8l-AvXcgJJW3rtM/s400/IMG_0138.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Gavin and the dumptruck.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Have a good day!</div><br /><div align="left">Justine</div>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-62754667582556778782011-05-30T17:29:00.002-04:002011-05-30T17:34:28.777-04:00Changes...I have decided to go private with my blog. This is only for my own comfort - I do not like writing when I don't know who is reading it. I never know whether I am saying too much or if someone might take something the wrong way. So, when my blog is private I will at least know who has access. :) This will go into effect on Thursday, June 2nd. If you would like access after that, email me at <a href="mailto:justine@bell.net">justine@bell.net</a> and I will send you an invite.Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-53269058524000263442011-05-30T17:17:00.003-04:002011-05-30T17:22:07.593-04:00This boy...<div align="center">...is a joy to work with. :) </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvaI8DdQC7-wwoixfnwtpuPQ47THlffoIPKXIESBbqE984nTJ2TRFHTZ1XcW8uIBXF78H5hAzalCDzysVal4HCMX7ZQ2efl3DbhZ17ek2177iD9adREIKacIy7JZveXTDwqOjM5AwFR7D/s1600/IMG_7414.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612621937047185266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvaI8DdQC7-wwoixfnwtpuPQ47THlffoIPKXIESBbqE984nTJ2TRFHTZ1XcW8uIBXF78H5hAzalCDzysVal4HCMX7ZQ2efl3DbhZ17ek2177iD9adREIKacIy7JZveXTDwqOjM5AwFR7D/s400/IMG_7414.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Love you, Brent!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">P.S. Can you see the happy face he made?<br /></div>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-64457170254480652632011-05-19T19:16:00.002-04:002011-05-19T20:04:44.271-04:00A Post with Pictures :)<p align="center">Today, after many days of clouds and rain, we had a few hours of sunshine. This evening all of us kids took advantage of the sunshine to play outside. </p><br /><p align="center">Outside our dining room window is a robin's nest in a tree. The robins have four babies. We joke that while we are watching them have their breakfast, they are watching us eat ours.</p><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYglrGv9tr8WHTJPCutp2jXSdZbFTJUfZqngO1E0jy_Pm_-1cyEo3-OMUnRlunlFh47eca8L-dimLlUtDO53sZPBG3Kzo2kmo0D9Uiz6h3LjsXrpmDS7xmJtGeS3cvRCc1ie5eMZ9lr4j7/s1600/IMG_7371.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608572788635650386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYglrGv9tr8WHTJPCutp2jXSdZbFTJUfZqngO1E0jy_Pm_-1cyEo3-OMUnRlunlFh47eca8L-dimLlUtDO53sZPBG3Kzo2kmo0D9Uiz6h3LjsXrpmDS7xmJtGeS3cvRCc1ie5eMZ9lr4j7/s400/IMG_7371.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">In a large puddle in the field next to our house live a pair of ducks. The ducks come nearly every year, but usually the puddle dries up pretty quickly. This year we have had so much rain, the ducks are still here. I do not know if they are raising a family though. </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rh6ZfUx3zwzWmNFzKTwD8rGVSpLziTtpL8X5y-Jp1ktfywZjqg0z48lSkbCChnjGI6cJHEL2-JHgxE-nglKjG5s1knT0NJNqBiJFtFx1KGGmoKjRCilYikrizeBcCSQI_7DVddNGEa3S/s1600/IMG_7370.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608572785687477634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rh6ZfUx3zwzWmNFzKTwD8rGVSpLziTtpL8X5y-Jp1ktfywZjqg0z48lSkbCChnjGI6cJHEL2-JHgxE-nglKjG5s1knT0NJNqBiJFtFx1KGGmoKjRCilYikrizeBcCSQI_7DVddNGEa3S/s400/IMG_7370.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Nadia loves the swing. She begs, "Go too higher!" We always ask her, "Is it too high?" because we aren't sure if she will be afraid. Now she thinks "too high" is fun.</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKenU-xXvSH_ZmUbCR_RcV6LIDyYYotY0-RK3kN_pLsijy1ejjRrjKbk4XPg_wu_a_gce55qeJbU4PG2Q9U5i-dnbwd9b7UTFQeXtcvyVCoyUPPfY-sQagZvEvHNKiAEukanrSH01T6Ds1/s1600/IMG_7358.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608572775149336834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKenU-xXvSH_ZmUbCR_RcV6LIDyYYotY0-RK3kN_pLsijy1ejjRrjKbk4XPg_wu_a_gce55qeJbU4PG2Q9U5i-dnbwd9b7UTFQeXtcvyVCoyUPPfY-sQagZvEvHNKiAEukanrSH01T6Ds1/s400/IMG_7358.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Meg taught Nadia to answer the question, "What country do we live in?" Nadia says "Me live <em>Candada!</em>"</div><br /><div align="center">Some more things Nadia says are:</div><br /><div align="center">When she has new clothes, "Want show my papa!"</div><br /><div align="center">Nearly every morning when we are doing schoolwork, "Want to colour." Then, when she has coloured a picture and folded/scrunched it up, "Here Dee-Dee (Justine), this yours." And when I have looked at it and given it back, she refolds it and says, "Here Meghan" or "Here Awsee (Allison)" or "Eah".</div><br /><div align="center">Sunday morning she heard Thomas crying upstairs and she cried, "T-Tom!" and ran all the way upstairs to the boys room. She loves her brothers.</div><br /><div align="center">The other day when Thomas got hurt, he exclaimed, "Ow! My skeleton!"</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Justine</div>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-79392123898572999062011-04-29T16:16:00.001-04:002011-04-29T16:18:17.174-04:00Please Pray!This family lost their father and their home a couple of days ago.<br /><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/news/blogs/doug/2011/04/9416/">http://www.visionforum.com/news/blogs/doug/2011/04/9416/</a>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-9851905515969271442011-04-26T19:59:00.002-04:002011-04-26T20:34:18.730-04:00This and That~Last week when we were digging a hole to bury some chickens, we said we might find some historical artifacts. After we explained to Brent what a historical artifact was, he said, "Ya, maybe we'll find an old fashioned Volkswagen Bug down there!"<br />~We have been talking about <a href="http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/">The Royal Wedding</a> over here. However, since it starts televising at 2 am and the actual ceremony starts at 5 am (our time) I don't know if we'll be able to watch it. Think getting up at that time extreme? There were people camping out yesterday along the procession route in order to have a spot on Friday.<br />~This post doesn't have pictures because I have taken about four pictures in the last month. Those four were taken solely for the purpose of trying out Photoshop, so they aren't very good.<br />~Spring has arrived! At this point I <em>think</em> we won't get anymore snow. The last snow we got was the 18th. Now however, there are green things sprouting everywhere and it is warm out, so I'd say it's safe to suppose we won't get more snow.<br />~Leah, Meghan, and Emily have all gotten new pets in the last couple of weeks. Leah has two teddy bear hamsters, Amos and Enoch, Meghan has a rabbit named Myrrh, and Emily has two zebra finches which she calls Tobias and Tiberius. The hamsters have to go, though, because Allison is allergic to them. So....if you live near enough, do you want two cute hamsters, with cage, food dish, water bottles, wheels, ball, etc. for $30?<br />~Yesterday Leah made some creative clay stuff. The afternoon was rainy and everyone was loud and rambunctious, so Leah's clay gave them something constructive to do. Warren made Leah a pair of earrings - pine trees on wires. <br /><br />JustineJustinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-17308763343190654782011-04-05T14:08:00.002-04:002011-04-05T14:21:09.362-04:00My Latest Project<p align="center">I bought this sweater at a yardsale last May. I loved its warm softness. Consequently I wore it often. However, it was getting thin and worn out. </p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP8KpzIhfPCX_bB1zNJ70S04F-zWeXsq8FrWp2NhMroc6Ts_is7UBHaTrd391K7PT7jbHl7iYWy142lVmfIvmccOnz8P9-nS7guJxDVTqtt9Xs-3d_XScf8PNuuLWmZgEN-NKBFuzwvFk/s1600/IMG_7062.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592164224494060706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP8KpzIhfPCX_bB1zNJ70S04F-zWeXsq8FrWp2NhMroc6Ts_is7UBHaTrd391K7PT7jbHl7iYWy142lVmfIvmccOnz8P9-nS7guJxDVTqtt9Xs-3d_XScf8PNuuLWmZgEN-NKBFuzwvFk/s400/IMG_7062.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">So, I ripped it out.</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jlzpeRYtSoZOET3KGRzKnZTOV5eE5Sr9kG7T_0xpXgGoT6-lY6gw_N5_W0tcATRcVo-kLmzWA6iQ8B8oxbhSnYE4uz7EJFvZa6JqYEfe9BuT0GA4S38J-arotcXfogGGcIqHz-rPy3pv/s1600/IMG_7066.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592164233817490914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jlzpeRYtSoZOET3KGRzKnZTOV5eE5Sr9kG7T_0xpXgGoT6-lY6gw_N5_W0tcATRcVo-kLmzWA6iQ8B8oxbhSnYE4uz7EJFvZa6JqYEfe9BuT0GA4S38J-arotcXfogGGcIqHz-rPy3pv/s400/IMG_7066.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">I now have several balls of yarn, purple and white, waiting to be turned into something else. </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEjGVZ84Iuv4-cXNtbM4Dtnw6Pns0C7f-WXM8irCOmpXyy87Kp5pWpd_hxwng5NXuuRE5aE1Bf76SJoUMlWBL08HpGJuTrbA8PDybD3zraNw_wzeH8YstRSW4PYRXYmc8pnC5ifYTw_xW/s1600/IMG_7064.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592164229061079458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEjGVZ84Iuv4-cXNtbM4Dtnw6Pns0C7f-WXM8irCOmpXyy87Kp5pWpd_hxwng5NXuuRE5aE1Bf76SJoUMlWBL08HpGJuTrbA8PDybD3zraNw_wzeH8YstRSW4PYRXYmc8pnC5ifYTw_xW/s400/IMG_7064.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">The question is, what shall it be?</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I'm thinking a sweater for Nadia, but I'm not sure if I have enough yarn. I could make a hat and scarf. Any suggestions?</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Justine </div>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-30869468546725213472011-03-24T20:26:00.002-04:002011-03-24T20:55:08.071-04:00It's been a very long time...<div align="center"> ...hasn't it?</div><br /><br /><div align="center"> Instead of the usual March weather of grey skies and brown fields, we received a beautiful layer of snow the other night. On top of that, the snow was glazed with ice from freezing rain. Today dawned bright and clear, the sunshine reflected off the ice and snow, and it was altogether a cheerful and breath-takingly pretty day.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RNnTLfGJsDJCA5O7H5x_6RB7L8QeOAyONUEPD9TQS1M2Szv40L7LARzL2Is_aKk_Lq2ODNjoi5OOISfAq7NphcW3FvfwvEx1amUstyUOZ_lpvZOOVE4BRr3oiKQ9nAEIK2MwHmcmmA6v/s1600/IMG_7138.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587808604695402402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RNnTLfGJsDJCA5O7H5x_6RB7L8QeOAyONUEPD9TQS1M2Szv40L7LARzL2Is_aKk_Lq2ODNjoi5OOISfAq7NphcW3FvfwvEx1amUstyUOZ_lpvZOOVE4BRr3oiKQ9nAEIK2MwHmcmmA6v/s400/IMG_7138.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">In this picture, I tried to focus on the coil of vine. However, the sun was glinting off the camera screen, so I didn't see the result until I put the pictures on the computer. It did focus on something, just not what I wanted it to. And the background looks how I wanted it to. :)</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyjITjRhmQcXWenptM3LerxwdMhyaYZ_3l3kezw63MBBBEdDo21gwcF6itehIeqwAu58qeZCEBeiMfPgPEtkVVRrNNzeE5JU4lIM6xQNNgAHRPGKcptUqQucLyQSi8DIyMIxJ0M2XUzbC/s1600/IMG_7143.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587808612209451042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyjITjRhmQcXWenptM3LerxwdMhyaYZ_3l3kezw63MBBBEdDo21gwcF6itehIeqwAu58qeZCEBeiMfPgPEtkVVRrNNzeE5JU4lIM6xQNNgAHRPGKcptUqQucLyQSi8DIyMIxJ0M2XUzbC/s400/IMG_7143.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">I was bouncing these two little men on a fallen log (and having lots of fun) when they told me I looked like a Daddy long-legs. I just laughed, so they kept calling me that and laughing. :) </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbvF9Rj7TAzYKyOPYip7CEtGJqSN7Oif2VkIF1LT4FstDxNnUru3i9o-f6B9yCSKPcf87CKhay_vUksep4XF1kLUxAIWwCybIimUBtPcPzSaBbwidlM7Ykfr2SU5uVL9m5xBd5eBmDVyP/s1600/IMG_7145.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587808616760438514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbvF9Rj7TAzYKyOPYip7CEtGJqSN7Oif2VkIF1LT4FstDxNnUru3i9o-f6B9yCSKPcf87CKhay_vUksep4XF1kLUxAIWwCybIimUBtPcPzSaBbwidlM7Ykfr2SU5uVL9m5xBd5eBmDVyP/s400/IMG_7145.JPG" /></a></p><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><div align="center">Happy Friday!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Justine<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2615440570491128265.post-2755182846802940492011-02-24T21:09:00.003-05:002011-02-24T21:18:04.461-05:00Nadia Goes to Bed<div align="center"> Me: "Do you want Dee-Dee (Justine) to put you to bed or do you want E-ah (Leah) to put you to bed?"</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Nadia: "Na'ia do dat!"</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">And she ran and climbed in bed.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I thought, "That's cute, I'll take a picture and put it on my blog with what she said. (above)"</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">So I ran and got the camera. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Nadia stayed nicely in bed until she saw the camera.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Then she wanted to see the screen on the back.</div><p align="center">She got out of bed and looked.</p><p align="center">When I told her to go back to bed, she ran to the boys' room.</p><p align="center">I followed her and put her back in bed.</p><p align="center">So you'll have to suffice with a picture of her bed, which I got when she went to look at the back of the camera, and a picture of her crying in bed, after I put her back.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5eQJ2TeUNU6k7cDCvU0DpznB4RcEAINdSba1esC5FeqFZBK09k8dWmgAryHIEbe0y82aC3diUW73OgWnxHuOvIa-pr_k21ubj3haHjX5gha9BTZxTACv4pWnrTKszXi6NPIbtdYfAWxF/s1600/IMG_6954.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577444482942544050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5eQJ2TeUNU6k7cDCvU0DpznB4RcEAINdSba1esC5FeqFZBK09k8dWmgAryHIEbe0y82aC3diUW73OgWnxHuOvIa-pr_k21ubj3haHjX5gha9BTZxTACv4pWnrTKszXi6NPIbtdYfAWxF/s400/IMG_6954.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheowCLdE11nf25XxWgJvSuqGTFihkfbh4K2vYVyWTSh8jSipMCrNtluGKw533pWRZ3S-EThxb8ELAsNmUb7nwinRHxD7bAhalcooRxHQbVoZwOweVvSsjTIDRPKcqqoGbakgUsxPkPVPkA/s1600/IMG_6955.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577444469892605250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheowCLdE11nf25XxWgJvSuqGTFihkfbh4K2vYVyWTSh8jSipMCrNtluGKw533pWRZ3S-EThxb8ELAsNmUb7nwinRHxD7bAhalcooRxHQbVoZwOweVvSsjTIDRPKcqqoGbakgUsxPkPVPkA/s400/IMG_6955.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"> </p><p align="left">Justine</p>Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01971006082143931440noreply@blogger.com1