Day 276

"Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Romans 4:8

Working solo again today. Happy New Years night everyone.

Day 275

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

I am working solo today. The hardest part is knowing which order to pick the dogs up in...

Day 274

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;repent, and believe in the good news.” Mark 1:14-15


Going back to work after a four day weekend is hard. (Well, going to work is easy, getting up is a little harder...)

Day 273

"For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." 1 Corinthians 15:25

This kind of goes in hand with the verse from yesterday. Why is there so much war? because God still has so many enemies. Satan can be very persuasive (especially in this day and age, with the technology that we have)

Day 272

“Of David. Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—” Psalm 103:1-2

I think a lot of people look at the world, and see only the punishment. They do not see the benefits.

Day 272

"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:28-32

Anna, Yvi, Kristel and I are off boxing day shopping. (Anna and I need bedframes, and we figure we should try a boxing day sale...)

Day 270

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." Luke 2:8-9

At the moment I am watching three dogs. Thankfully they are all well behaved and quiet. There is Morgan (the old black lab) Copper (the young havanese) and now Jordi (an older husky cross) Cooper and Jordi are coming to work with me, but Morgan has a torn ACL, so he has to stay at home.
Merry Christmas Eve

Day 269

"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." Luke 2:7

Day 268

"He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born," Luke 2:5-6

Work went well. I have been offered a benefits immediately (January 1) if I sign a one year contract (I can see myself doing it for a year...) God is putting the puzzle pieces together.

Day 267

"And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David." Luke 2:3-4

Off to work today...

Pictures

Here they are... the long awaited photos... The kitchen and lounge are one big room, the hallway is pretty long, the room with cream carpet is Anna's and the burgandyish carpet is mine.

Day 266

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register." Luke 2:1-3

I have decided that I shall do the Christmas story leading up to Christmas day. We are getting internet installed today, so look for pictures later today/tomorrow.

We bought a rice cooker, swiffer, garbage can and heater yesterday (our lounge/kitchen is a huge room with ceramic tiles (and no furniture yet) so it is hard to heat the whole room with the baseboard heaters.

Day 265

“‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible." Leviticus 5:1

Went to Costco and Wal-Mart yesterday. Spent $280 at Costco, and $208 at WalMart. But now we have enough stuff (not food) to last us about 6 months, maybe longer. We just need a bookshelf, a swiffer, a coat stand, a rice cooker (which I think we are getting today) a welcome mat, picture hooks, and a baking tray.

Off to church, then getting a new dog, then hot tub at the gym, then pizza night with the girls.

Day 264

"Listen to what the LORD says “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say." Micah 6:1

I am officially done as a n Au-Pair. I start dog walking full time on Tuesday. We are off to Costco today to get some bulk stuff. Will post pics later.

Day 263

"Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me." Philemon 8-11

We are moved in! All we need is bookshelves, coat rack, bath mat, and cleaning supplies. I found a dresser at a thrift store for $49.99, we shall try there for bookshelves next. We need to wash all the dishes, and put them away. We did a initial shop last night, and we spent $230. That was less than I thought we would. We still need to buy toilet paper, meat and cleaning supplies though...I will put up pics of the new place, probably on Monday or Tuesday (after everything is all cleaned and we have our internet installed.)

Today I am off to watch Coco for the last time, then clean the room that used to be mine. Then I will come back here and clean here...

Day 262 and MOVING DAY!!!

"On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter." Esther 5:1-2

A lot of people do not know how much Esther risked going to the king. Back then, if you went uninvited to see the king, you were killed immediately, By putting out his scepter, he saved her life. A lot of people in this day and age do not have that kind of courage. Would you risk death to save a people? (A good movie to watch is "One night with the King")

Today is moving day. I drop Coco off at school, go to the bank and get the rest of the rent money, go pay the rent/get the keys, come back, meet Yvi, take the first load over. Take a load or two in my car, wait for Anna to be done work, she takes a load over, we go pick up the big van, take the table/matresses over. Then we go shopping, wash all the dishes (no dishwasher) and set up the house. So excited!. We still need a kettle and a dresser. If everyone could pray that we find those.

Day 261

"The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope." Micah 1:4

Hmm, this sounds a lot like what people are calling "Global Warming". It's in the Bible?! Hmm, maybe the scientists should look in the Bible instead of their own understanding.

One more day till the move!

Day 260

This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, "Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David." Rut 4:18-22

The reason I chose Ruth so close to Christmas. She was very important in the line leading up to Jesus.

2 MORE DAYS!!!! I'm getting very excite about the move! I started packing yesterday. Today is finish Christmas presets, hike, Coco has a playdate, then go see "The Tourist" with The North Shore Nanny Network (we made up that name..."

Day 259

"Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David." Ruth 4:16-17

Three more days!!!

Day 258

"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress." Psalm 107:13

I will go back to Ruth tomorrow, but this verse was part of my devotions yesterday. It really hit home, as the night before last, I was laying awake, worrying that I would not have job, I had just signed a one year lease, Joined a gym... I was freaking out, and crying to the Lord. The next day, He answered me and saved me from the distress. God waits until we come to Him, and stop relying on ourselves. He wants us to admit we need Him, and that we cannot do it on our own. As soon as we do that...our Prayers are answered!

Birthday

Today was a great birthday!!!!First, Anna and I went to two garage sales, and a "house sale". We got a ton of kitchen stuff at the first sale, nothing at the second, and then at the house sale, we hit the jackpot. We got a microwave, two night tables, two small lamps, a full set of bowls, plates, mugs, glasses, gravy boat, mirrors, and I'm sure I left something out. All we need now is one dresser, and a kettle. (And pillows)

After that we went to the gym, where I then got a text from Alysha (my dog walking boss). Chris ( a guy at work) is resigning because he has been offered a job where he can have a career. So now I have a full time job starting January 3. Until then I am doing training.

Staples also called and offered me a part time, so I have to call them back and say I could work evenings if that works for them.

Nora got me an ice cream cake for my birthday, so Yvi and Anna came over for cake. Then we call internet places to arrange getting internet in our new place.

Its a good day...

And yes mom, it was Connor. No prize, too far to send it...

Day 257

"The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Ruth 4:14-15

Contest of the day... Who woke me up with a text this morning saying happy birthday, and asked if I was having fun garage saling, and replied cool, when I said still in bed, its 6:40 am?

Today's schedule...9-12 garage sales, 12-2 gym, sometime after that cake, job searching, and cleaning my room.

Day 256

"Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son." Ruth 4:12-13

Last night we got a kitchen table, five chairs, a crock pot, pots, bowls, a mixer, a coffee table, glasses, pitchers, vases...all for $140

Day 255

"Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem." Ruth 4:11

Day 254

"Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!” Ruth 4:9-10

Funny, when I read the story, I have no idea who Maholon is unless they mention it... Boaz is the name remembered.

Second interview with Staples on Thursday... still hoping for a better paying job to pop up though...

Went to a "Christmas Market" German themed. We had Bratwurst, Cheesecake, Marzipan, hot chocolate, hot mulled wine mixed with rum (I only had a small sip of that), Strudel, Crepes...

Day 253

"Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal." Ruth 4:7-8


The interview at Staples went well. I need to have a second one before I can be hired. The only problem is the pay is only $9.10 and hour, and I calculated that I need to make $12 and hour to be able to pay all my bills, and have some spending money. I am still looking, but if they offer me a job, I will take it cause with dog sitting, I can make do...

Day 252

"At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” Ruth 4:6

I have a job interview at Staples today. It is about an eight minute walk from my new house, and is right beside my gym.

Day 251

"Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” Ruth 4:5

See how he subtly threw that in there? He wanted Ruth, so he threw that in after letting the other guy know about the good stuff.

Off to church, then my "birthday party" Anna, Kristel, Yvi and I are going to "Mink" a chocolate place for fondue and smores as an early birthday as Kristel will be in Chicago for my actual birthday. (going to the gym as well...)

Day 250

"Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” Ruth 4:2-4

Went to the hockey game last night. Vancouver giants vs. Calgary Hitmen. It was pretty fun, but we lost... (Vancouver)
Hiking, then gym, then job search today...

Day 249

"Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down." Ruth 4:1

I am dog sitting the most adorable 7 month old chocolate lab puppy. He is well behaved and cute, and trained. Off to a hockey game tonight, and more job searching on the weekend.

Day 248

"and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Ruth 3:17-18

Day 247

"When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her" Ruth 3:16

I like this verse because Ruth has a confidant. Everyone needs someone they can talk to.

Saw "127 Hours" last night. It was good, but I have no idea why they were saying that people fainted and threw up. I have seen more gore/blood in Rambo movies.