This update is brought to you by the letter "K"

Hello dears,

It was just beggining to look like spring and it snowed today. My dreams were dashed.

Lent has been going well. It's spurred me onto being more deliberate about discipline and sacrifice in my life. I'm glad I participated in lent this year. A friend of mine's new year resolution was to try a challenge each month. I am thinking of trying to give something different up each month for a year. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Work has been going well. The playschool has been very entertaining. New names given to me have been: Miss Meaghan, Mrs Meaghan and Mr Meaghan. I have been enjoying the antics of the little boys and reminicing my princess days with the girls. One of my favorite children (not that I have favorites, right?) looked me in the eye and said "Miss Meaghan? You're funny". It made my week. I also witnessed a three year old understand puns for the first time. It went like this: boy: "Miss Meaghan this is the letter K" me: "k (said as in short for o.k)" boy: "....(eyes open wide) *gasp* K!!!". As most of you know, puns are the fuel to most of my jokes and though corny, I delight in them.

The cafe is sadly closing next month and so I will have to look for another part time job soon. It's been such an experience working at Emmanuels and with the ladies there. We've had a lot of fun times and deep, honest conversations. It's truly shaped my time here and I am going to miss it. It has been one of my all time favortite jobs. So fun!

Ministry has been very fruitful lately as the youth group contines to grow and thrive. My realtionships with the youth are deepening and are just as fun as always. Today I introduced some of the girls to Bollywood music. They weren't sure if I was being serious or not. I was of course VERY serious as I danced East Indian style down the highway in my truck.

We started a kids club a few weeks ago which has been well received. It's nice for me to use some of the tools I've learned over the last 6 years. I was getting a bit rusty with the lack of children's ministry during my time here. No need to worry, my silly game skills and tom foolery are up to par.

Next week I am off to Newfoundland to visit Tiffanie. I am so excited to spend time there with her and Ian. When I fly back to Edmonton my mom will be driving back to Hay River with me for a short stay. I can't wait to show her how life is done in the North. Hey mom, you're okay with sleeping on the right side of the igloo right? ...I joke...

xoxox

Meaghan

I have decided!

...to be optimistic!

I have found that lately I have been very negative, grumpy and such a downer. SO! I have decided to find 100 things that I like, big or small, and list them for you (but more for my sake). This is the beginning of "looking on the bright side" or my hint of "the silver lining". Here it goes, I'm wondering if you are going to read the whole list...

I love:

1. people
2. the feel of my bare feet on bed sheets
3. Hoodies that zip up to my chin
4. friends
5. family
6. calling people "uncle" "aunty" "pa" when they aren't but it feels like it
7. silly knicknames "Toolie", "Ricky Dicky Donkey", "reese-a-roonie"
8. giggling
9. seafood
10. sleeping in
11. driving in nature
12. the northern lights
13. learning something new
14. little green arrows at stop lights
15. fun jewlery
16. the best canadian animal out there: the beaver
17. MOUNTAINS
18. Alberta
19. Kids Books "I am a manitee", "naked mole rat gets dressed"...
20. Classic Disney "beauty and the beast", "sword in the stone"...
21. flip flops
22. being able to play in a band
23. facebook...way too much
24. pictures of memories
25. cats. there i said it.
26. dreaming about travelling
27. homemade cards
28. getting mail
29. hand written notes
30. singing loudly in the car
31. dancing proudly like a fool in my bedroom
32. Church family
33. when the weather is not too hot or too cold
34. trees
35. cupcakes
36. grocery shopping
37. cooking
38. the runt of the litter
39. painting
40. coffee in the city
41. the city
42. learning to live in a small town
43. doing the two finger off the steering wheel wave at strangers (small town thing)
44. embarassing my youth
45. youth
46. the sense of accomplishment
47. candy that tastes like soap
48. talking about being naked.
49. Yelling at strangers from my car with Katie
50. compliments
51. hanging out with the boys
52. Wednesday night chats with Joanne
53. trying to be outdoorsy with my new hayrivians (ugh) .. i mean YAY!
54. making cards
55. sending a letter off into the mail
56. ice cream
57. finding/giving the perfect gift to someone
58. homemade crap in general
59. thoughtfulness
60. good hair days
61. wooden jewlery
62. blue bic pens
63. starbucks
64. kisses on the forhead
65. holding a childs hand
66. games. I love games. can we play more games?
67. fancy stuff OOOOOO, AHHHHHH
68. Simple stuff
69. Always having God to pray to
70. Making people laugh
71. a song that speaks straight to my very being
72. the perfect jeans
73. country radio
74. non ambitious lists (50 items or less)
75. nail polish
76. camp
77. feeling like you are in the middle of God's will
78. infomercial products that really work "liguini, martini, bikini"
79. the tough case kids
80. being apart of change
81. being loved
82. being taken care of
83. snuggling
84. learning to do something new
85. Bible stories about amazing woman
86. the ability to be apart of something way way way bigger than myself
87. shopping
88. oddly enough, office supplies
89. loving a job
90. singing to an empty room
91. laughing fits with my grandmother
92. spontaneous adventures
93. a wink from a stranger
94. dreams & visions
95. the security i have in Christ
96. sleeping babies
97. lip gloss
98. improv
99. those of you who actually read this
100. The best for last: God, truly.

I could probably go on. I wrote recently to a friend, in all seasons find God. In this season I am finding the joy of serving God and the "happy" that can bring...even when I don't want to.

xoxox

Meaghan Ellen