Glory to God in the Highest.

Christ our Saviour is born.

Amen! Hallelujah!


I am just so full of joy right now. Not simply because it is Christmas (although I had a terrific Christmas, one of my best I must say), but because our God is faithful. Our God is true. He does what he says. He gives when you ask.

Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you every time. The Lord is faithful to His word. Ask for joy and he will give it. That's what I did, and now I am actually quite joyful. Not giddy or necessarily happy, but in asking, Joy abounds. Glory to God

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New Year's is around the corner. I am catching myself making New Year's resolutions. I am a big goal person. I am motivated by dates and start times. But why wait? Really, if it is a healthy goal why not do it now. Now is the time of Salvation.

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Back to Christmas. It was really nice. We did gifts at my house with 4 kids, 2 teens, 2 parents and myself. I loved it. I got spoiled. I got a new camera, so I'll post some pictures and videos once I get my computer sorted. (it got a virus a couple weeks back, so it's still recovering). I got to talk to my mom on the phone, I miss her - she comes home in 18 days!!! As much as I miss my mom, and Christmas would have been so lovely if she were here, it definitely felt like family and it was great!!

I love Christmas. I love Christ.
But, I love Christmas. As they say 'tis the season to be jolly and joyous (falala).

I see it a lot. Joy, that is. This season does bring joy. I live in a pretty dark and depressive neighbourhood, and to a lot of people here, Christmas brings memories of grief and sadness...but in that, I still see joy. I still see people, who yes associate sadness and grief with Christmas, who have a glimpse of hope still. And I wonder why? And I think it is because Christ our saviour is born (Chr-i-ist our Savior...is born..).

He who brought hope into this world, he who brings hope into our lives, He who was born on Christmas Day and who still lives today, brings hope. That's why I think even those in 'hopeless' situations at Christmas, still keep looking ahead.

I do love Christmas.
And along with that, I also really enjoy New Years.

Behold, I make all things new! (The Lord that is, not me)

I am really big on to the 'new' things. Maybe that's why I am looking so forward to 2009. But I am excited. I am sure that 2009 will be better then 2008...and I am sure that my best moment in 2008 will be just a springboard for 2009. I know there are some things from 2008 and can't wait to leave behind and some things forthcoming I wait in anticipation for.

New = Hope I think.



Thought this was fun and fitting.


JANUARY 2008
1. Who kissed you on new years? nobody
2. Did you have a new year's resolution this year? yes
3. Does it snow where you live? define snow...
4. Do you like hot chocolate? not particularly
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop? nope.
6. Do you ski or snowboard? I've boarded in the past, but not in 2008

FEBRUARY 2008
1. Who was your Valentine? no one
2. When you were little did you buy Valentine's for the whole class? yes
3. Do you care if the groundhog sees its shadow or not? yes
4. What did you get for valentines? nothing

MARCH 2008
1. Are you Irish? slightly
2. Do you wear green every year on St. Patricks Day? i used to - but I don't anymore
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2008? RAW
4. Are you happy when winter is pretty much over? yup

April 2008
1. Do you like the rain? i must admit sometimes i do
2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year? no
4. Do you celebrate 4/20? not at all
5. Do you "love" the month of April? not particularly

MAY 2008
1. What is your favorite flower? sunflower
2. Finish the phrase "April showers": no
3. Do you celebrate May 24th: no
4. Is May anything special to you? yes


JUNE 2008
1. What did you do for Fathers Day? worked or slept...one of the two
2. Did you do anything fun during this month? sure did! Went to Tulsa and Linsey got married
3. Have a favorite baseball team? no

JULY 2008
1. What did you do on the 1st of July? I think I was at Camp
2. Did you go to the fireworks? no.
3. Do you tan in the day? maybe


AUGUST 2008
1. Did you do anything special at the end of your summer? camping
2. What was your favorite memory of summer? BTI, War College Grad,
3. Did you have a sunburn? no.
4. Did you go to the pool a lot? never

SEPTEMBER 2008
1. Will you be attending school? no
2. Do you like fall better than summer? no
3. Anything special about September to you? a bunch of peoples bdays. Including my mommy's

OCTOBER 2008
1. What was your last Halloween costume? goodness, probably a witch or ghost or something else cheap and pagan in elementary school
2. What is your favorite candy? depends on the day
3. What is your favorite thing about this month? I'm not a big fan of October

NOVEMBER 2008
1. Whose house do you go to for Thanksgivings? I'm not this biggest thanksgiving fan
2. What is your favorite thing about November? kettles start. Christmas begins

DECEMBER 2008
1. Do you celebrate Christmas? yup!!
2. What are you thankful for? too much to say
3. Have you ever been kissed under the mistletoe? nope
4. Get anything special last year? yeah
5. What do you want this year? surprises

Where did you begin 2008? in transition from the empress to where i am now

What was your status on Valentine's Day? single as per usual

Were you in school (anytime this year)?
as a student no. teaching a couple times yes.

Did you have to go to the hospital?
yes. many times.

Where did you go on vacation?
define vacation...
but i did travel to Chicago IL, Tulsa OK, and Old Orchard ME.

What did you purchase that was over $500?
I'm not sure there was anything. plane tickets i guess.

Did you know anybody who got married?
yes

Did you know anybody who passed away?
yes

Did you move anywhere?
yup

What sporting events did you attend?
i don't know if i did


What concerts/shows did you go to?
a few

Describe your birthday:
began in Vancouver, stopped over in Minneapolis, and arrived in Tulsa Oklahoma. followed by my face on a cake.

What has been your favorite moment(s)?
lots

Any new additions to your family?
define family

What was your best month?
June

What was your worst month?
June

What music will you remember 2008 by?
music doesn't usually remind me of years

Made new friends?
yes

Favorite Night out?
many again

Overall, how would you rate this year?
fantastic

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
well home wouldn't even fit in that category, I'm never there.
it's probably a toss up over the whites or command center.

Change your hairstyle?
yeah

Do you have a New Year's resolution?
yes

Do anything embarrassing?
yes

Buy anything new from eBay?
no

Get married or divorced?
no

Get arrested?
almost

Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
no

Did you get sick this year?
yes

Been snowboarding?
not in 2008

Are you happy to see 2008 go?
somewhat, it was a rough year - but one on my best too.

I had a blog all typed out, and even posted for a whole 20 minutes, but then once I left work, and walked home I began to think maybe it shouldn't be blogged, so I deleted it...I kinda forgot it still gets imported to facebook, so I haven't deleted it there. But basically it urged us NOT to sue our Christian Brothers and Sisters. I hope it also encouraged us to enroll as soldiers and officers of the Salvation Army.

But there was very important news on the past blog, which I must re-post. My friend, and War College Alumni, Jessica Bryant is BC's newest solider. And one of the good kind too, the kind I look up to. The kind who says "I'll Fight till the very End". And looks great in uniform too. Jessica says War College was a prerequisite for her for Solidership. Another friend of mine makes a fine argument that War College is a prerequisite for Training College. Both sound pretty hardcore to me. Apply today for the War Cry Session - www.thewarcollege.com

This week has also brought a bundle of joy. (Oh man, I'm really cracking out the corny cliche lines.) But check out Jonathan Evans facebook to see beautiful pictures of Zoe Evans. I look forward to getting to write more about her soon.

ps - check out The War College blog (to the right). Carlye just posted a sweet testimony of an Open Air Meeting.

and right below her's, Jessica tells us of a fun Kettle's time.

I am blogging because it has been a little while since I last blogged.
It has also been a very overwhelming week, to say the least, and blogging seemed to get pushed to the bottom of my to-do list one too many times.

Well here I am.

Death stinks.
Too many people died this week. I am not sure of the Salvation of all their souls either - which stinks further. Please, if you haven't, repent and believe now.

One of these deaths I actually witnessed. Drug overdose. Not breathing. Pale, pale, pale skin. CPR did not return his pulse. It was terrible. It further extended my hate of drugs.

I hate death.
I hate drugs.
I hate alcohol.
I hate addiction.
I REALLY hate addiction.

The thief came to KILL. Christ came to give abundant LIFE. Follow the one that sounds better would you?


Life. Love. Freedom.
Now those are three really really good words.

The meaning of life is to live.