Sunday, May 28, 2006

Update

So I've been back from the big city for almost a week now and I know a few of you have been asking how the trip went. Thanks for your concern and sorry about not posting earlier. This week has been hectic in every sense of the word!

The trip didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted it to. I mean it was good to get some time away with my family, but the reason why we were there wasn't good. The doctor in Toronto said that my Mom does have skin cancer (again). Fortunately instead of doing surgery right away, there is a new procedure that is being tried out. So in a month from now we'll be going back to see if that worked. Please pray that it does.

Sometimes life can be hard, but as hard as it gets I'm reminded over and over that God is truly with me. I'm also reminded that things could be a lot worse than they are and for that reason alone I'm trying not to complain about this latest development and some other stuff that's going on right now.

So again thanks for your prayers- they are truly appreciated and I would be humbled if you would continue to pray for my Mom. Also while you're at it, please pray for my friend Eric's father- he's in the hospital and not doing well right now. Thank you.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Toronto Bound

Tomorrow morning my family and I are heading down to Toronto for a couple of days. My Mom sees a specialist there once a year and the doctor here decided it's better to go sooner rather than later (the original plan was August).

So it's kind of last minute in a lot of ways, but I think it'll be good for the family to spend some quality time together!

So if you guys could pray for safe travel and a good doctors appointment, it would be much appreciated!

God Bless.

Kristen

Monday, May 15, 2006

Suffering With Those Who Suffer

In his book "The Hungering Dark" Frederick Buechner wrote: "When someone we love suffers, we suffer with that person, and we would not have it otherwise, because the suffering and the love are one, just as it is with God's love for us."

What I believe Buechner is getting at here is the point that part of being a Christian, encompassed in the love of God, is loving others and experiencing life with them fully- both the highs and the lows. When this is lived out within the Church it is a truly beautiful thing.

Seeing this love that suffers with those who suffer is truly an amazing experience and whenever I have privilege of seeing it, I can't help but ask myself how often do I give myself to this type of love even during the hard times of my life? Because even when we are suffering ourselves, it doesn't mean that God no longer expects us to love others in the same way. Suffering doesn't give us a "get out of love free" card that we can hang onto until things get better. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Really, there is no better time when we can truly love than when we are experiencing suffering ourselves.

One of the main reasons being because we can truly understand what the other person is going through. Even though it's not one of the best things to have in common in our minds, it's that common ground that builds a relationship and allows love, God's love, to flow forth.

Maybe that's the reason why many of those who run pregnancy crisis centers have had a crisis pregnancy themselves, or why often those who work with the homeless were first once homeless themselves. I'm not saying this is always the case, but often it is. God uses our life experiences to allow us to love others who are in the same place that we once were or even currently are.

In the end though, the question all comes down to: are we going to allow ourselves to be used of God in this way? It isn't easy to come alongside of someone who is hurting, but it is necessary! God wants to use His people to accomplish His work here in His world. And if we don't do it, He will find someone else who's willing and then we've missed out of being a part of something truly beautiful.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

My Birthday In Review

First off- thanks to everyone who called, emailed, messaged, commented, and e-carded (is that even a word?) to wish me a Happy Birthday- I appreciate you all so much!

I had a great day. I took the day off from school and spent the majority of it doing whatever I wanted, which was so nice! :)

So for me the perfect day was sleeping in, going out for breakfast, reading a good book, spending time with Jesus, watching a movie uninterrupted, spending time in the outdoors, eating my favorite foods for dinner, spending time with family, and playing mini-golf.

And of course the day wouldn't be complete without birthday presents! :) I got some speakers for my ipod, a promise from my bro (written on a post-it note) for two free rounds of golf, some golf balls (that I hope I don't lose), and some clothing.

And then tonight I was surprised with a belated birthday cake from everyone at C&C (see photo)- thanks guys!

I am very excited to see what my 23rd year on this earth is all going to bring. Year 22 was very challenging, painful, scary, and heartbreaking at times, but looking back it was also very good.

Thank you Jesus for the gifts of family and friends. And above all, thank you for the gift of LIFE! May I honor You in every moment of every day that I'm given here and may each decision I make have an eternal impact on LIFE There.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Updated Links

I've updated the links that appear here on the right-hand side of the page. I've posted links to most of my articles that are online and I've also added a link to my amazon.ca wishlist (just in case anyone is still looking for a last minute birthday present for me lol).

Enjoy!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Living

During one of my interviews at GMA Week I spoke with a band who had recently faced a number of personal tragedies and as I spoke with them and they shared their stories and I shared mine, one thing kept rising to the surface of our conversation and that was that we shouldn't wait for tomorrow to do what should be done today.

We shouldn't wait until tomorrow to call someone we need to call today. We shouldn't wait until tomorrow to do that thing that we've been putting off and could do today. We shouldn't wait until tomorrow to live the life that we've been given today.

This isn't an easy lesson to learn, but it's one that I have been learning, and in the process I've been changing. I've been coming to grab hold of each day in a new way and embrace the gift that is found in moments.

Playing baseball with my family. Doing embarrassing things with friends. Stepping aside from work to enjoy an afternoon walk through the neighborhood. Turning off the TV to spend some time with Jesus. Living life the way it was meant to be lived.

"Live. And Live Well.
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply.
Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now.
On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.
Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed.
If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.
If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke.
And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven.
And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift."
(Kyle Lake)