Lent Log Continues...

So far so good. Not even missing it that much... I mean, what a sacrifice...

xoxo

Meaghan

Lent

This is my lent log. I haven't given up anything for lent since I was in elementry school and gave up "fresh prince of bel air". Hardest lent of my life. This year, Bread. I work at a cafe that makes fresh bread for our lunch rush. Bread. More to come on how this "pans" out.

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

A Big Whoops!

My belove readers and friends. Two months have passed and I have yet to blog! I could make a thousand excuses but I won't.

Where to start?

Christmas was good, I went home to Sherwood Park and onto Calgary to see my family and friends. Thank you to everyone for the fun and welcome back home. It was such a good visit however I was happy to return back to Hay River in anticipation of a new year.

Upon returning to Hay River some bad news met me at the door. My cat, Belle, had turned ill while I was away. Though she was 18 years old it was an unexpected turn for the worse and we ended up traveling to High Level, Alberta to find out she had end stage kidney failure. I miss her terribly as I've had her since I was in kindergarten but am grateful for the years we had together.

Onto the good news!

I started a new position this new year at the preschool part time and am still at the cafe part time. It's been fun to have two different jobs and I enjoy my new title as "Miss Meaghan". The preschoolers are very fun and well, the coffee keeps me going!

As for ministry I have continued to be involve in the youth group here. God is doing really amazing things there. New kids are pouring in each week and are growing. We had three youth give their lives to the Lord just last week which seems to be a pattern repeating. There may be an opportunity for me to work with the youth on the weekends casually at their friday/saturday community program.

Tuesday nights are about to get even busier as well as we are starting a week day kids program at the Pentecostal Chapel. As a team we have been busy gathering information, programming and kids for the ministry. It has been quite busy being invovled in this new endeavour but am looking forward to using some of my children's ministry skills and experience that has been on the shelf for the last five months. Updates on the progress to follow soon!

In general I am doing very well and am enjoying my time here. Though some aspects are very difficult I feel an incredible peace that I am in the right place at the right time and am grateful for that.

My biggest piece of news however is that at the end of March during spring break here I will be travelling to NEWFOUNDLAND to see my friends Ian and Tiffanie for two weeks. I am very excited about this!

Thanks faithful readers for sticking with your missing in action northern girl. I promise it won't take me another two months to blog again.

xoxox

Finally!

Check. it. out. Coolest license plate in North America and probably the whole world. Now when I get road rage here (because a. people NEVER signal b. people drive 20 KM/HR (seriously) and c. people here ALWAYS pull out going 20 KM/HR onto the highway in front of cars driving the speed limit) no one can blame it on me being an Albertan because they won't know by my plate.
Also, my youth can now get off my back about not having a NWT plate after being here for so long (thanks for keeping me legal kids). Here's to bear shaped plates that make me more giddy than they should!

Polka in my Parka?

SO...since I've been here I've had a little dilemma.

I haven't really had to face it until now.

I knew it was coming when wearing my shell over my hoodie became chilly. I really knew it was coming when Glenn said "you're going to freeze in that thin little outfit in a few week" when I already was freezing. I really really knew I had a decision to make when I realized I forgot my winter coat in Sherwood Park. Before all you motherly figures in my life start to freak out I shall inform you that I am not without:

The Parka.

My grey. Men's. Big. Ugly. Parka.

Please, don't get me wrong. Not all parka's are ugly. Just mine on me (exaggerated statement but this is my blog y'all)

I remember the first time I wore it. I walked into a whole arena lobby of people wearing normal coats like the ones insisted were good enough for me.

The looks! The stares! The cultural assumption and insensativity (too far?..Im a missions graduate??) I honestly felt so out of place. The kids called me....Santa....

ITS HUGEEEE on me. I actually feeeeeel like a marshmallow.

Calm? Breathe? Get over it? ...I can't.

It's the classic I wanna look alright but I can't in this winter wear (story. of. my. life.). I feel ridiculous. I look ridiculous. I am...ridiculous.

However! Today I had been freezing. cold. numb (too far again) until I thought: "Im only going for a car ride" and "I don't even need to get out of the car". I have been wearing it out to start the car and it is incredibly warm....so I did it. I wore it in "real life" (for you Jo.) No one looked. No one laughed. No one really had the chance.

I'll keep you posted as to if I wear it out when people can see me.

In the meantime, I leave you this:

Crayons

So I was having a "not the best of days" yesterday and it seemed I was in a rut, a funk, a mood. Though I had reason, I hated feeling like I was walking around in an irritable mode with a dark cloud above my head ready at any moment to release a down pour of negative emotion. I tried the usual talk it out thing. I tried the cake and ice cream thing. I even tried brightening someone elses day by surprising them with a visit and coffee. Nothing would do. I knew I needed to pray and sit at the piano. So I headed to the Church and I did what I went to do. I went to that 'place'. It was good but I dare not say 'not enough'. It was but a strange thought came into my head. Crayons. I want to color. I was headed back to work when I started driving in the other direction towards the drug store. Would you believe me if I told you it took me 10 minutes to pick out a coloring book? The lines needed to be solid. Crisp. and the paper the right feeling. I know what you're thinking: "you're a freak". True. I almost had to settle for a medicore book when I there it was. A floor size superman coloring book laying under stacks of winnie the pooh books (that will be the day). The lines, thick black. The paper bright and definitely not recycled. The drawings simple and screaming "color me!" Almost late for work I did a brisk walk through the stationary isle to pick up my new pack of crayons an away I was. Color therapy.

My friend Julie used to pass out crayons to her college students on the first day of her class each year telling them "When your stressed, take this crayon and smell it". The smell of something farmiliar from your childhood helps reduce stress.

Julie, I bought a whole pack and I feel great.

Love,

Meaghan