today...

well, as most of you know by now, anthony was in a car accident today....

he was waiting to turn left, and the light had turned red, so he went to go, and some lady in the far lane decided she had time to get through the (red) light.....oops!

so we talked to sgi tonight....and they said that if she tells that story too, then it will be 100% her fault, and that means we will get a loaner car covered by insurance...if they deem it 50-50 (i.e., if she lies about it) then we don't get the rental car paid for, in which case we're up the creek without a paddle....

so pray that she is honest and truthful with SGI when she files her report....and also pray that the right decision about writing off our car occurs....if the frame is cracked/bent, then we want them to write it off because we don't wanna drive a car that's been that badly damaged, even if they do fix it.

yah...i'm just thankful that he wasn't hurt...cars are replaceable, husbands aren't.

blessings

well, i could tell you all about my weekend, but many of you were part of it, so you already know.

and all of you are a blessing to me. each one of you has enriched my life, this weekend, and beyond.

I'll do this alphabetically so you don't have to wonder why you were on the list where you were....

Angie B....thanks for the great laughs last night at coffee, and for always being so excited about your profession and schooling...i have learned a lot from you.

Ang E....you're a great sis-in-law....thanks for creating many of the crazy fun times I have in my memory, and for putting up with me when i like to tease you...and thanks for being generous and willing to drive the group places.....

Anthony .... i love you! even when we're grumpy and snappy....thanks for all your hard work in the yard this weekend, and for doing so much around the house to get ready for the bbq, and for doing all the bbq'ing tonite....you rock!

Candace....(even tho you don't read this regularly).....thanks for all the great talks, for the support in understanding this wild and wonderful family we married in to....and for always spreading joy and cheer wherever you go, but being real too....

Jason...thanks for all the awesome talks...it's been great to have your friendship back in my life after not seeing each other for a long time....and I look forward to seeing you when our schedules actually work out....

Jay...thanks for the energy, and the new perspectives that you bring to this group...you have opened my eyes in many ways....and thanks for being so on fire about your faith, for encouraging me in that way....

Johanna...I heard you read this every so often, and I just wanted to encourage you...
first, it's ok to hurt and feel loss even though you may think others have more of a right to do so.....he was part of your life too.....And keep on with those blogs, I read them all the time, and even though I don't always comment, I really enjoy what you have to say, and getting a peek into your thoughts as you navigate life....

Karen...you are precious. a new blessing from one that already existed, just not in this way before. Thanks for all the talks, for opening up about life and encouraging me to do the same. It's nice to know that others go through the same things I do....and that we can encourage and support each other in this wonderful thing called marriage. Not like the books say it is, eh?

Kimmer...i don't know you very well (yet), but thanks for your cheerful attitude, and your contagious zest for life.....and best wishes for all your fund raising activities and your training for this marathon...it's a big goal and will be a big accomplishment!

Lynnie...it was soo great to talk with you this weekend....even though you're far away, you are still among my dearest and closest friends....and I pray for you that you will find the friendship and the contentment and the support you need while you are away....thank you for always being there no matter what, and for always giving me a "reality check" and speaking truth into my life when I need to hear it.

Robyn...what can I say? Thank you for letting me into your life, thank you for letting me be with you in your grief. I count it an honour and a blessing to share these times with you as you share about your grandpa and try to work through the hurt, loss, grief and confusion you are feeling and facing. And I love you all the more for it, and I hurt with you, and pray for you.....

And if I have missed anyone, I apologize.....these are all the people that I am aware of that read this blog....so if you do read this blog and don't comment.....then i'm sorry!

And to all of you, every one of you....i think everyone on this list is waiting and looking for a "blessing" or a "miracle" --- for some it may be a job/career in their field, others need rest and healing (physical and emotional), some of you need direction and a clear path to pursue..... "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory" .... And as John D. could tell us tonight, those riches up there are boundless and endless....so I hope that these words encourage you, as each one of you has blessed and encouraged me.

funny how a $2 pair of garden gloves can make such a difference. I realized that one of the reasons I used to not like gardening/yard work was because the tools hurt my hands.....now i can work for hours!

what's everyone doing for the long weekend? Should we plan a bbq or something??

how does your garden grow?

well, now that the exam is over (and i think i passed), i needed a new hobby. Studying just isn't FUN when you have no exam to write, eh? (oops, like it's ever fun).

So, i am planting a garden this year. and flowers. I figure it will be a good activity to keep me busy this summer, and will fit in with my goals of spending more time enjoying the outdoors and being more active.

This past weekend, Anthony and I bought some seeds and some pre-started plants, and now I am just waiting until the right time.....

We are still in the process of 'clearing the land' - there used to be a garden in this yard, but it is mostly taken over by this evil bush/shrub thingy that creates a mangled mess of branches, and the branches root and sprout a new plant every time one touches the ground....so that will still be a lot of work. But since the soil hasn't grown anything for a while, and the leaves from the bush have been dropping on the ground and disintegrating into the soil, it's very nice, rich heavy black soil....

But we also picked up some peat moss to work into it to lighten it a bit so it's not so clumpy, and some manure for the flower beds.....they are quite the opposite of the garden soil, especially in that front brick planter, so I will put some manure in to richen it up.

So what are we planting?

Well, in short, vegetables, some fruit, and lots of flowers!

Veggies: snow peas, carrots, potatoes, garlic chives, green beans, spinach, tomatoes, red peppers and hot peppers
and some herbs: oregano, basil, dill
Fruit: transplanting some already existing strawberry plants, cultivating the already existing rhubarb plant, trying to get the raspberries back to life, and maybe putting in some blackberries...??
Flowers: This is what i'm very excited about!!! I have three different types of bedding plants for my front brick flowerbed, they are all in hues of pink/purple/red/white! I dunno what they're called, but you'll just have to come see them all if/when they're flowering beautifully!
And i bought some seeds (for lupins, they're a beautiful tall flower that grow all over in the wild in the Eastern provinces....saw them everywhere on our honeymoon, now will attempt to grow some here) and a rosebush, which I get to plant today!

So, wish me luck! and come see the fruits of our efforts! And I plan to preseve a lot of it in teh fall, so that we have yummy garden stuff to enjoy all year long!

blog, you bloggers!

ps - for any of you who haven't blogged for a while (and i think that covers most people who read this blog) go check out the www.blogger.com site...they've made tons of changes, and I think it looks great!!!!

T-4 and counting...

Well, four more days to the big exam....and i think that things will be ok....still have lots to learn, but it is not as overwhelming now, thanks to hours of studying and tons of prayers....thanks everyone!

Soooo...if you ever want to know anything about music history, specifically art music (as opposed to popular/mainstream music), especially relating to the 20th century, and to Canadian music.....i'm here. So if you're ever on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, I could be your "phone a friend" buddy! But only if you split the dough with me....

Okee, that's a bit far-fetched, I know...but one of the positive things about finishing this exam is that it's my very last piano-related exam, and now I get to officially graduate from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) this fall with my A.R.C.T....... translation: I can become a Registered Music Teacher now, and can charge even more for teaching piano lessons and theory!! woooo hoooooooooo!!!

pray.

i'm sorry i haven't been around much lately. i miss you guys, and wish that i had an afternoon to spend with each of you.

but until this exam, etc. is over, that will have to wait. Thanks for understanding.

but just pray that i make it through....it's very overwhelming....and i haven't been able to sleep well lately, which always makes everything seem worse than it is.

thanks. love you all.