Why God Made Moms...

"Why God made moms" answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.

This was forwarded email that I got...thought it was cute. I can't wait to be a mom and see what my kids have to say about me!!!

The Gift of Thankfulness

I think that thankfulness is a gift. Not a gift in that only certain people obtain it or are given it, but a gift in that it is a blessing to those who possess it. Thankfulness makes life rich.

I desire to be more thankful. I feel like I've slipped into a mind set of thinking that isn't as "thankful" oriented as it should be. The last few years, my worship to God had been "Thank You"! Lately (the last few months), it seems that I haven't had that attitude in my times with Jesus. It's more of a struggle, more of a "me" attitude. I hate that! It's not about me! It's ALL about JESUS!

Thank you Jesus for your gift of salvation, for your love, for your mercy, your justice, your beauty - everything! Thank you for providing me with a home, food, clothing, a job...Thank you for the people you have placed in my life - for family and friends...Thank you that you are gracious enough to pick me up when I keep screwing up and falling down, and to rejoice when I say yes to you even in the little things. You are such a good God, such a good Savior. Amen.

I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 - "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Thankfulness brings such joy because we realize again and again what God has done for us! And He has done soooo much!

All I want for Christmas is thankfulness :)
(Man, this holiday would be so different if we just thanked Jesus for all that he's done)

I took the plunge...

I bought tanning minutes. I know. I'm having a hard time accepting this myself. I'm personally not a fan of fake tanning. I don't like the idea of lying in a booth with bright, shining lights that result in me having darker skin. Doesn't sit well with me. However, today I crumbled under the pressure...I really don't want to die from sun burn in Puerto Rico (WOO WHOOO!) so I decided I'd take everyone's advice and get a base tan so I can spend my holiday in the sun and not in my hotel room!! So if I start looking oddly coloured, you know why.

Recent News:
*EVERYONE IS GETTING MARRIED!*
-Becki's awesome sister got engaged yesterday!
-I got an invite to a wedding on February 4th for my friends Janelle and Adam. I went to kindergarten with Adam!
-About a week ago I found out that my best friend from grade 6 is engaged and getting married in August! So awesome, so weird! We were supposed to marry best friends, live across the street from each other and have kids at the same time who were going to be best friends...hmm...It's crazy how times change.

I can't wait to be settled into my new house. I'm tired of being in "limbo"...the stage of not knowing where to live or being in between the process of moving. I'm done with that.

I am so blessed.
"I want to live a radical life that demands a supernatural explanation" from the pastor who spoke at Southland church on Sunday.
I want more. And I know where to get it - that's the cool part!

Sleepovers and slumber parties!

I'm having a sleepover with my mom tonight! She picked me up from the 'Peg and brought me back home today. Then she had a nap while I took my 2 year old foster brother on an adventure. We hit up the most fantastic second-hand store (MCC) and I bought a rad suitcase and an amazing lamp. It was awesome. Caden kept yelling "zoom zoom!" as I pushed him in the cart. Awww!

Now I'm having supper with my dad and brother. I love hanging out with my family! (usually ; ) Here's a pic of my brother. I think he's awesome!

[Picture deleted because it kept screwing up my blog...but, my bro rocks!]

Gotta run and spend some quality time with them!
My sister, Shane and church gang are coming home from KC tomorrow! Lord, bless their trip home! Hope you guys had an amazing, God-breathed time!

IHOP FUN in the .... FALL!

Here are some pics from our fantabulous trip!


Joely and the ladies...what else is new???










Here's the lovely Joyska reading in the morning! Yes, she's outside without a winter jacket in the middle of November!


MMMM...Starbuck's and fun bags...in KC!! What more could you ask for??

Christina and I had an amazing time in Kansas City, yet again! The weather was awesome, fall colours were amazing, the people - TREMENDOUS! Thank you everyone for making our time so enjoyable and fun! *Read Christina's last paragraph on her blog. It sums everything up wonderfully!*

God has started (and done) an amazing work in Christina and I. It sorta feels like a new "leg" to this journey called life. He's been revealing so many things in my heart (both good and bad, painful and beautiful) and I'm giving Him my YES to make me more like Him. I am His Bride and I want to be made Worthy and found ready and waiting!

SNOW DAY!!!

Yea, that's what I like to hear! My boss called me this morning and said that our company decided to have a "snow day" and I didn't have to go to work! Praise Jesus! So I chatted with my mom, said "happy 2nd birthday" to my cute foster brother, studied about the Will of God and then went back to bed and slept for another 2 hours. It was marvellous! As much as the snow means cold weather and crappy driving conditions, there's something so beautiful about it!

I found a letter that I had written to myself when I was 15 while cleaning my room this afternoon. It was a class assignment in grade 10 that my teacher mailed back to my classmates and I about a year ago (four years after it was written). Here's a part of it:

"Dear Stephanie Erin Reimer, Sept.29/00
Well now, how ya doin'? I hope you're happy, joyful and leaving your mark in this world. This is an assignment in Mrs. Gadsby's skills class. Right now it's the year 2000, but it will probably be 2004 and you - or I - will actually receive this letter.
...
A lot has happened in my life this last month. Year would probably be a better word, but hey! Kristi moved out of the house in June, but she didn't take her bed and stuff. So that was kind of difficult. Then in the beginning of September, Kristi completely moved out, bed and all! That was difficult. Man, I completely love my sister! (insert drawn picture of a heart) Speaking about love and my sister, she has found herself a man. Yes, you heard me correctly, she has found herself a man; Shane Farrow; Sex: M Age: 20 Son of: MJ! (MJ from camp)
Anyway, so yea! Her and Shane became a couple on September 8, three weeks today. I wonder if, when you (I) receive this letter, they'll be married?! 'Cause Shane will be 24 and Kristi will be 21 or 22. It's Kristi's birthday in 2 (approx.) weeks. She's going to be 18.
These are some of my predictions of what I will be doing in four years. I will be single - never had a boyfriend yet, I will be graduated, living on my own, working, maybe going on missions, and expanding in the arts and dance. Hopefully some (almost all) of these things will be true - except for the boyfriend thing.
In closing I want to pray protection (in written form) over myself, my family, my friends and my church until I get this letter - and beyond!
I hope/pray that God will work in my life and bless the people I come in contact with. Well, I don't know what else to write about, so I guess I'll say good-bye!
Until next time & with love,
Stephanie Erin Reimer

p.s: And the worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth.

p.p.s: There's this one girl in my school who goes to the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard. Her name is Amanda Saura (pronounded Sorrau) I love her. She's great. We are going to go to downpour together and we are going to have a blast. Downpour is being held at Winnipeg Centre Vineyard."

I should have known I was prophetic at that age...every single one of those predictions are true! (Even the boyfriend thing) It's wonderful! And I still love my sister that much, more actually. Kristi and Shane did get married that year and I love them both so much! Wow. So funny. God, thank you for where you've taken me and where you're bringing me.

IHOP-KC: Passion for Jesus Conference

Christina and I arrived home last night at around 11pm. The trip home was amazing! God revealed so much to us about Himself and about ourselves. The amazing thing about God's revelation is that it's both painful and beautiful, all at the same time. I realize that I am so in NEED of God. I need Him! I am such a sinner, so hopeless without Jesus' love and His grace. I want to be His pure and spotless Bride. Man, we've got some work to do!

Our trip to IHOP-KC was INCREDIBLE!!!
I am so blessed by all of the awesome people down there!
Thank you, Joyska, for letting us stay with you! You are so hospitable and such a blessing! Joely, it was GREAT seeing you! I can't wait for you to come home so we can go for bubble tea and have our great Canadian slurpees anytime we want to! I love you guys! All of you interns (a.k.a. FRIENDS!), you guys rock! Thanks for being so awesome and welcoming us down to KC twice in three months! It's been such a pleasure getting to know you guys! Thanks ladies for the awesome "ugly" dance partay in the parking lot...the police really added a funny twist!

I'm still reeling from all that was learned, all that I am challenged and inspired to change in my life...My biggest desire for this conference was for HEART REVELATION of the things of God. I'm tired of knowing it in my mind and not in my heart. Having it change who I am only for a short while...I want LASTING change that comes from real, true revelation of who God is, His affections for me and all that He has done for me! He is the real deal : ) He is SO GOOD! Bring on the Passion for Jesus and Intimacy with Christ...I want to taste and see that the Lord is good in an even deeper way.

It's bittersweet leaving a place like IHOP and coming home. Bitter because of leaving all that GOd is doing down there and sweet because it inspires me to come home and meet God HERE. In this place, at this time.

Thank you Jesus for your presence. For meeting me. For saving me. For loving me! For keeping Chris and I safe. Thank you! (More ramblings to come...)

Happy 10th birthday WCV!

What an interesting, crazy, great weekend!

-On Friday I found a place to live! Praise Jesus!!!

-The same night I got a gun shoved in my face, the trigger pulled and heard the evil laugh of the punk-kid say, "haa haa! I shot you!" as I kept walking...I realized after the punk-kid pulled the trigger that it was a fake gun. If it were real, I would be dead. Man, I felt a little (no a lot!) violated.

-I had the pleasure of house sitting this weekend!!

-I got my haircut

-I got to spend some good, quality time with my mom and my friend Becki. I love them both very much!

-It was Winnipeg Centre Vineyard's 10th anniversary! Good to see some familiar faces, dance during worship, do the choreographed dance, and fellowship.

-A little baby was born: Welcome little Esther!

-I leave for Kansas City tomorrow! WOO WHOO! I'm so excited about the conference, seeing Joel and his peeps, and being in the PRAYER ROOM!

The End

We're asking for Signs and Wonders!

I found out today that my friend, Maggie, from the bank has breast cancer. She is a beautiful wife and mother of two. I asked her if we could pray for her (specifically at prayer night) and she was so grateful at the thought of it. So, if we could all pray for God to heal her body. She needs to have surgery but doesn't know the exact date yet. Let's pray that God would heal all signs of breast cancer even before the surgery needs to be done. That it would be a miracle; a sign and wonder of the goodness, faithfulness, love and power of our God!