Lake 22

Yay for birthday hikes!

My family finally got a chance to get away and enjoy God's beautiful creation.

 Happy Birthday dear sister!

Hearing God's Voice

Here are five key questions to help you determine if what you are hearing is from God or not:

(These questions come from the book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst.)

1.      Does what I’m hearing line up with Scripture?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

2.      Is it consistent with God’s character?

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

3.      Is it being confirmed through messages I’m hearing at church or studying in my quiet times?

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” John 10:3-4

4.      Is it beyond me?

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

5.      Would it please God?

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” Philippians 1:9

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8

A City of Many Buildings

This past weekend I got to explore Vancouver B.C. - the city of many buildings!

The exploring happened with friends and bikes.

Although I had not ridden a bike since middle school, I had a great time as I biked around on a very sunny day.

Check out these stacked rocks!

I can't believe they were balancing on each other even with a bit or wind.

Also, I secretly wanted to knock one over to make sure they were not glued together.

Can you tell I had fun?

Now, take a look at my crooked helmet. I look a little bit like a 10 year old here.

I Have a Computer...and Internet!

I never thought of myself as a ‘computer person’. I had the worse experiences with computers in high school and there were days all I wanted to do was to pick up our family desktop and throw in outside on the cement driveway. (I know this sounds a little violent, but I had written a beautiful paper for my English class and as I edited the conclusion paragraph the computer randomly shut down and I had to rewrite my paper – I may never forget this day).

Since my high school days, I have had better luck with computers – or maybe I am a little more tech savvy and actually know how to use a computer.

Anyways, what I really wanted to say was I have missed my computer and I am so happy to be typing this blog post right now!

The computer was well packed for the move up North…and then we proceeded to live without internet for what felt like an eternity.  I walked toward the computer multiple times a day as I planned to look something up – only to remember that I couldn’t look anything up. To tell you the truth, I was surprised by how much I depend on computers…and how much my brain is incapable of remembering what is on my Google calendar.

Now, I must get going because I have an unbelievably long list of emails to go through.

P.S. I have a whole lot of things to share with you all, so stay tuned for future blog posts!

I am Trying to Ignore the Mess

Yesterday, John and I brought home about 30 boxes, packing paper and tape. We have created box labels, wrapped candle holders, packed books and looked into renting an UHall truck for the big move. I still can’t believe we are moving. I didn’t think denial would be so stubborn, but some days I seriously think that this is all a dream. But then I remember that we have signed a lease to an apartment up North, we are looking for wonderful renters and our current home is completely upside down.

Folks, my home is such a mess! Everything is out of order and I keep wanting to put things back in their correct places instead of packing them into boxes. Seeing everything on the floors, counter tops, and couches makes me feel like my brain is disorganized.

But in my heart, I am thankful for God’s faithfulness and I trust that this move in part of His great plan for us!

Let the Packing Begin!

John and I have not moved since we got married three years ago. We like our home and most things in it represent who we are. We have a fridge door full of save-the-dates along with a baby announcement, recycling guidelines and a few recipes. We have three bookshelves full of books, a closet with camping gear and hiking photos spread throughout our home. We don't like to accumulate stuff and most of our furniture were purchased on Craigslist (yay for saving money!).


To tell you the truth, we had planned on staying exactly where we are for a really long time. I had even spent a lot of brain cells trying to figure out how we could one day rearrange our furniture in order to fit at lease two children in our current home.


But since it is not unusual for life to take a different route than what we had planned, we are now in the process of packing our belongings in order to move up North.


Have I told you that I hate really dislike packing?


The more I pack the more I am determined to live a simple life without things we don't need. Yet, here I am wanting to take all the things we own to the nearest Goodwill. It turns out I have a lot of candles. I also have a whole lot of vases. Where did all these things come from?


P.S. The walls look so naked with nothing on them.

Three Years Later

So much is going on in my life right now that I am sure I could write a book on it. But I won’t. At least not right now…stay tuned for future posts.


I do want to say that in the middle of so many changes I am very thankful for a God who remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. How great is that? He is my Rock and my foundation!


I am also very thankful for a husband who does not give up on me. Over the past couple of months I have been on an emotional roller coaster that has brought me to tears and laughter (depending on the day). This coming weekend John and I get to celebrate our third anniversary! I can hardly believe three years have gone by. Sometimes it feels like we got married a few months ago and other times it feels like it has been a lifetime. It is hard for me to remember what life was like without John.  He is a devoted friend, loving companion, passionate husband and encouraging partner. I love sharing my life, heart and dreams with him!


I can’t wait to find out what the next year has in store for us. Whatever happens, I pray that God would continue to give us a heart of love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

I Corinthians 13:1-8