Wednesday, March 17th

A little over halfway through our trip, and it's going by too fast. As usual.

So far, I have: 

- Arrived just in time for my newest nephew to be born (literally: he was born an hour, to the minute, after we arrived at the hospital);

-Eaten meat for the first time in about 3 months (it's better than I remember...);

-Given the Small Human more hugs and kisses than he probably wanted; 

-Taken more pictures of the VERY Small Human than he probably wanted; 

-Become very jealous of the fact that here, it's 15 degrees and sunny every day, and where I live it's a consistent 5 degrees that feels like -10 due to the daily wind, drizzle, and fog. 

- Soothed my jealousy with the fact that in 1 week, we'll be in a very hot, very sunny place. 

               

My Time-Traveling Husband

I'm reading the book "The Time Traveler's Wife", and one chapter starts with this:
"Here's a secret: sometimes, I like when Henry [the time travelling husband] is gone." She also says, at one point, that being married to a time-traveler is like being married to a policeman: you never know when he's leaving; where he is; how long he'll be gone; when he'll be back. There are missed birthday's and anniversaries, and when the wife on the movie announced to the husband that he had "missed Christmas", I had lovely flashbacks of last Christmas, sitting alone in my living room with the presents only half-opened, because my husband got called out while we were smack in the of present opening (although, in his defence, he didn't miss the WHOLE morning, and got to come back just in time to see me abandon my will to wait for him, and tear into a small, rectangle package that I just KNEW was Kenny & Dolly's Christmas CD!!!)
Back in the theatre, I turned to 2 of my friends (whose husbands are also officers) and said, "Oh! I get it! He's not actually a time-traveler; he's just a policeman!"

I think it's clear that usually, I don't like all the "being-left-alone"...but in an effort to be more positive, I've been thinking up things I DO like about being alone.

1) I like having the remote. I like being able to pick a show that only I want to watch, without feeling bad that Jamie doesn't like the show.

2) I like putting all the pillows in their proper places on the sofa's and chair, and knowing that no one is going to move them or put them on the floor.

3) I like having the curtains and blinds in the living room open. For some reason unbeknownst to me, Jamie "needs" the curtains shut, even on sunny days. Actually, maybe it's because you can see the tv better that way. But if it's sunny, there is not even a CHANCE the curtains in staying shut in my house.

4) Sometimes, I like being super lazy, and wearing sweats ALL day, and sitting on the couch and watching TV for hours on end. And I prefer being alone when I do this, so that there's no one (besides me) to see me being a sloth :)

5) I love being able to have the house completely clean, and then turn off the computer and TV and have complete silence, and then curl up on my cozy chair with coffee and a book and my blanket, because everyone knows reading is so much better if you have silence.

6) When I'm alone, I'm more likely to do things. I hate going to work out, or going walking, or going to get groceries when Jamie's at home, because sometimes we get so little time together that I feel like if he's off duty, we should be together. So when he's working, I feel more free to get out of the house.

I'm reading number 6 and I'm not sure if it makes sense, but I don't know how else to word it.

Of course, being alone would still be much better with a dog. I'm working on it :)

I'm Dating Myself

A conversation regarding the movie currently out in theatres, My Sister's Keeper:

Me: "So...can we go see it this weekend while in town?"

Jamie: "Well, does anything blow up in the movie?"

Me: "Well...probably not...it's about a girl with leukemia, and her mother is trying to force her sister to-"

Jamie: "Sounds BORRRRRING. I'm not going."

Me: "Ok, what about I Love You Beth Cooper? It looks funny."

Jamie: "Do things explode in that one?"

And so on so forth.

So yesterday evening, while Jamie went on a motorcycle course, I decided to date myself. I went to the movies.
A little list of nice things about taking yourself on a date:
-> It's cheaper
-> You get to make all the decisions yourself
-> When the theatre is super-packed, it's way easier to find a good seat for ONE rather than for TWO...AND you don't have to annoy people looking for seats with, "Sorry, this seat (with my purse and jacket on it) is, in fact, taken. My husband's out getting the snacks/peeing/trying to find an escape route so he can skip the chick flick I've dragged him to.

The down side? When you're all alone, without a boy, people will talk to you. Here's a really "fun" conversation I had the pleasure of experiencing yesterday, when I was minus one husband at the mall:

Random Man: [Handing me a flyer to "Ladies night at (insert club name here)] "Hey. Big party night tonight. Defininately stop in."

Me: [Not wanting to appear rude by giving him back the flyer] "Oh...ok. Thank you."

Random Man: "So...do you think you'll come?"

Me: "Umm No. I'm not big on clubs. And I don't drink."

Random Man: [LOOOOONG pause] "You don't drink...like...you mean...this weekend?

Me: "No, I mean at all."

Random Man: "So like...you only drink...now and then?"

Me: [Feeling like talking to this guy is about as stimulating as talking to a sandwich] "I don't drink at all. On any days. Any alcohol. Ever."

Random Man: [Looking at me like I'm growing a second head] "Ok...well...um...well..." And literally just turns and walks away.


I loved the reaction. It was as though he was scared if he spoke to me for any longer, my lack-of-interest in alcohol or clubbing might just rub off on him. Ha!

Point in case, I had a much better night taking myself on a movie date. DO it sometime; it's FUN!

And today, if I can remember how to get there from here, I'm going on a "Downtown St. John's Shopping Expedition." Just me. I'm crossing my fingers that I can remember how to parallel park.

June 13, 2009

This past weekend, our family got extra confusing.

My name is Katie. My husband's name is Jamie. My brother's name is also Jamie. Last Saturday, he married a girl named Kati. Life has just tripled in confusion levels.

It was a GORGEOUS wedding. Thankfully, they had a bright, dry, sunny day. Things went off without a hitch, and Jamie and Kati are now off enjoying their honeymoon as THIS Jamie and Katie sort through the 500-odd photos that we (mostly HE, since I was a bridesmaid) took on that beautiful day. I thought I'd post a few for good measure! And now, since it is my second last night of vacation, I will sign off and spend some family time, but will post about my vacation once I'm back on my miniature island, safe and sound and bored stiff :)

Three.

THREE. Just THREE more sleeps till we board the wonderful ferry, leave Bell Island in the dust (or rather, waves), and escape this great province for TWO WEEKS!!!
Now, my excitement comes not from leaving our home and friends for two weeks, but from GOING TO our home and friends (our other ones) for two weeks. We haven't been home since the first of January. There is much missing going on in my heart.
And then there's the biggest nephew. Picture the cutest 1 year, 9 months, 24 days-year-old human imaginable, and multiply it by 8 kazillion. This is the cuteness that is my nephew. I basically spend my whole vacation taking pictures of him. And they don't even do him justice.
Then there is the littlest nephew. He was born in March, so we have yet to even meet him (other than on Facebook of course). He looks like a little raindrop, and I have a feeling I may, in fact, lose control and chew on those sweet little cheeks while we're home.
(On a sidenote, just in case you're wondering, there is no "medium nephew" who I've neglected to mention because of any lack of cuteness.)

So. Three days.

I'm naturally a, "glass is half empty" kind of gal, so the only problem with this is that as much as I want to get home, as crazy excited as I am to see my family and friends...I actually ENJOY the waiting...it gives me something to look forward to. I beleive most of the enjoyment can be found in anticipation. Now, back to my negative side...this means that the SECOND we set foot into our home town, I start the countdown. It goes something like this:

Jamie (the positive half of our marriage): "Bub, isn't it SO nice to be home?!"
Katie: "SIGH. Yaaaaaah...but now we only have 12 days left" (Pout) "And TOMORROW, we'll
only have ELEVEN days. SIIIIIIGH"
Jamie: "Oh. My. Word."

So my goal for this trip, (OTHER than eating a ridiculous amount of chocolate covered cheesecake bites with my sister, and not falling down the aisle in my brother's wedding) is to simply enjoy.
We'll see how that goes.

A lazy Sunday...

I sort of have a dog.

Riley belongs to one of Jamie's co-workers, who was injured on the job back in January, and is currently in NB, recuperating. So, seeing as how I was in love with his dog and so lonely most off the time, he gave me Riley until he returns (which might only be at the end of this year). I'm completely ok with this! The only person not benefiting from either end of this win-win situation is Jamie...seeing as how he's going to have to buy me a dog when Riley returns to his real family!

Holy COW it's nice having a dog in the house! I feel so much safer with Riley here...especially since he wants make chew toys out of anyone who so much as walk through our front yard! He actually is super gentle, and a real cuddler...but only if he knows I'm relaxed with the person. I love this dog. And life's not so bad for him, either...

For instance...

I left for church at 8:30 am...Jamie was home in bed. Jamie then gets ready and leaves for work at 12:50 pm, just as I'm walking back in the door. The pup usually has someone home with him. And because of this somewhat spoiled situation, puppy has developed some funny new habits that I'm not so sure his real owner is going to like...:)

Like jumping on top of my head to give me kisses when I bend over to pick my purse...or shoes...or anything at all...off the floor.

Like being so attached to Jamie that when Jamie gets home from work he jumps in circles until he pees on the floor, and then we growl him and he goes and lays on his bed.

Like being so attached to Jamie that when Jamie leaves for work, he jumps up at each and every window and door in the house to try and catch one last glimpse of him.

Like being so attached to Jamie that if a door is opened while Jamie's at work, he'll take off and run all the way to the RCMP detachment's back door, and then sit and wait in front of it.

We might be in trouble when his owner gets back :)

Jamie...start looking into breeders. We're getting a puppy.

Spring Cleaning my Prayer Life

You know how people say, in reference to new mothers, "When the baby sleeps you sleep"? I am not a new mother. Or an old mother, for that matter. But I think the same phrase can be used in my situation: "When the night-shift-pulling-RCMP-husband sleeps, you sleep". And now, as he is out protecting our friendly neighborhood, I'm wide awake and pondering the irony of a verse I read just this morning:

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:7 (NIV)

Plus, I have a really big dog sleeping on the floor right next to my bed :) My little intro...now for a completely different topic...

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my "going to bed alone" prayers. As long as Jamie has held the job he has now, I've had the same prayer every time I have to crawl into bed alone while he's out on a night shift: Keep my husband safe. Bring him home to me. Have you ever noticed the selfishness that often creeps its way into our prayers, disguising itself so that we often don't even recognise it? I've started to ask myself just one question in reference to my prayers:

For whose Glory?

Of course I know what the answer SHOULD be. Would I cherish my husband's safety if he was required to deny his Lord to ensure it? Would it be worth him acting in a way that dishonored God in order to ensure that he would return home safetly at the end of his shift? This applies not just to my prayers regarding my husband's safetly on the job, but to every part of my life! Why do I even desire something if it's not for His glory? Well, the obvious answer: because I'm human. I'm flawed.
Undeservedly, but thankfully, I serve a God who has no plans to leave me where I am, but rather waits patiently for me while I stumble around and make a really good mess of things, only to realize that I simply don't have the power to improve myself all on my own. And then he molds and shapes and corrects and shows me that only in his power can I begin to improve my selfish attitudes and oh-so-limited-perceptions.

I've changed my prayers. Obviously, my husband's safety is still a very large part of my prayers. But at the forefront of each is my prayer that God will be glorified in every decision, every action, every word; remembering that this life, as much as we may cherish it, is not all there is; this is not our goal.

This is not our prize.


"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble... For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many..."
- 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NIV)

A little Background...

October, 2004
My sister said, "I met the PERFECT guy". I said, "Wow...it's really too bad you're already married..." She meant perfect for me. We met for the first time in the sanctuary of the church that would soon become our home church. He had a beautiful and genuine smile. That was it.

October 14th, 2006
One of the happiest days :) You know the saying, "Today I married my friend"? Very, very true in this instance. Jamie is my best friend, the one God prepared for me. He is, to me, a beautiful reflection of Christ's patience, understanding, humility, and unconditional love. We married, promising to love one another during the easy times and the hard times. All couples stand at the alter and make this promise to one another, assuming that those "hard times" are still many tomorrows away. Not always so. Our "stresses" as husband and wife began very quickly...

December 30th, 2006
Jamie and I loved our first apartment. It was the bottom right apartment of a brick fourplex, and was so beautiful with it's fireplace and bright colors. I remember that it always smelled like freshly picked apples!! On the 30th, a fire began in the basement of the fourplex, and spread to our apartment. Many of our belongings (including wedding gifts) were unsalvagable due to smoke or fire damage, and we were left with no home. Thankfully, this didn't happen when were in bed asleep, but rather when I was at work, and Jamie was home but awake, and able to quickly exit the house.

God's word tells us to clothe the naked, and feed the hungry. Our church family was a very literal representation of this verse. We were taken into their arms, and provided with food, clothes, and MANY offers of places to live! Most importantly,we were bathed in their prayers! To this day, I am unsure as to what we would have done, had we not been part of such an amazing church family. God is so good, and so many wonderful blessings came from this time of our life. We grew closer to our God, closer to one another.

Mid-July, 2007
I remember the feeling the moment I got the phone call. My husband, on the other end of the line, had just recieved word that he would be leaving for, literally, the other side of the country for the next six months, to train for the position he now holds....oh, and also, he would be leaving in just under 2 weeks. The intensity of his upcoming training would make it impossible for me to move across the country with him, so we knew this would be goodbye. 6 months! I remember how excited he was, but also so hesitant, waiting for my reaction. We had known this was coming, but this made it real. We hadn't been married even a year yet, and had spent only a couple of those months actually living alone, in our own apartment. I felt like we hadn't yet been given the chance at a "regular marriage", and now he was leaving.

I only had one "nervous breakdown". About 3 weeks before our 1 year anniversary. At that point I felt like I missed him so much I couldn't breathe. Alone in our apartment, I cried and cried until I heard the phone ringing in the kitchen. It was my mom: she had decided she wanted to fly me out to see Jamie at the "halfway point" (3 months). I have the most amazing mother in the world: she has ALWAYS put her four children first. That being said, I don't think I've ever loved her more than at that point in time.

Our six months apart were so incredibly hard for me. I would cry everywhere: at home, at Sobeys, on the way to work, simply because I missed being with my husband. But those six months were SO good for me. So often, I heard the Lord again whispering to me, "No, lean on ME first." Before Jamie and I had ever met, He was my God. He was my All. He gives us human relationships to provide a physical example of our relationship with Him: but never to replace Him, or move Him to second place.

During this time, my God also painted on my heart many beautiful truths.

My husband is far away. But my God is not.

Our life together has been so difficult this far. But it hasn't. God asks so much more of many people. Our trials are so small.

Human relationships bring pain when individuals are physically or emotionally separated.
But my God will never leave me. Nothing can separate me from his love.

Six months apart brought us to January, 2008. We were reunited, but we still had the difficult task ahead of us of saying goodbye to our family, our friends, our church, and our life in New Brunwick. But not to our God. He was coming with us to Newfoundland.