Tubing, Camping, and Ruthie’s Wedding

On Thursday I picked up Ev’y from the bus station and got home in time to finish up packing, and head out. Off we went. First to Pugwash for a Camp Meeting I had, and boy was that fun. You see we drove out of our way and left extra early so that we would have time to get to Moncton. Well we arrive and wouldn’t you know it the Camp is all locked up. So I think ‘gee that sucks’…. On to Moncton!!

We arrive at Brannie and Ryan’s house and have a washroom break and head off to Marimichi. Ahh Camping and tubing here we come! We are off and in between the blinding rain and the cloud patches we eventually get to Ruthie’s.

Thursday was Ruthie’s bridal shower. It was fun. I’m sure I’m the nastiest of her friends – and I don’t think that is bad (have you met her friends? … Aha…). It was a good time, I enjoyed it so much, the food was great and the gifts were great. I like the bloomers... ahahah but nothing beats the “D Cup” eh girls?? After the evening Brannie and Ev’y and I headed back to the Campsite. It was nice. Expensive but not bad. I don’t think that I’ll go back, but it’s nice.

Friday was TUBING DAY!! Oh man it rained but we were going tubing. Ev’y was very insistent. And we did. It was so COLD… until you went numb and then it was GREAT. Ev’y was in the rear, as usual, and Holly and Justin were laughing most of the time. I think David had fun, he was cold but I think he enjoyed himself. Brannie and Ryan took Hailey she was such a trooper! I love them. At the halfway point we saw these HUGE clouds and decided to sit out for a bit – let them pass and then move on down the river. Well let me tell you! It was horrid the sky opened up and dropped buckets. We got out and had to wait in the hurricane for our drives. It was still fun, and I’d do it again…

Saturday was Ruthie’s wedding, and it was done ever so nice. The church looked nice and Ruthie was beautiful as always. There were raindrops but no tears, and I don’t think anyone noticed the rain. It was just a lovely day.

Sunday we packed up and headed home… after three days of rain and waking up 2 time in the night to pump up the STUPID air mattress, again… Home to my bed and a lot of blankets! Well that was the Camping Weekend..

Sigh I can’t wait till next year… Ev’y wanna have a wedding next summer? Ummm and we can all camp?

Ahh Low (or No) B12

Well the blood work is back - I have Low B12 - so that means more tests. We need to get the specifics on what is going on in my body...

Now I'm not really clear on what will be going on - so I looked online and here is what i've found...

Vitamin B12 is essential for folic acid metabolism and for the health of your nervous system and red blood cells. It also plays a key role in achieving normal homocysteine levels. It is important to have adequate amounts of Vitamin B12 in order to prevent anemia (low hematocrit).

Symptoms - -
Feeling tired or weak (Yup that's me)
Pale appearance to the lining of lower eyelids
Palpitations, fast or irregular heart beat. (Yup that's me)
Faintness and breathlessness.
Hair loss
Bruising that occurs without reason
Dizziness (Yup that's me)
Long or unusually heavy menstrual periods
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet (Yup that's me)
Equilibrium difficulties (Yup that's me)
Confusion (Yup that's me)
Personality changes and depression

General Info - -
Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease in which the body is not able to absorb enough vitamin B-12 from the digestive tract. It occurs after long-term autoimmune gastritis (inflammation of the mucosal lining of the stomach). The destruction of the gastric mucosal cells makes you unable to make intrincsic factor, a substance that enables vitamin B-12 to be absorbed from the intestine, resulting in a B-12 deficiency. Pernicious anemia is most common in people of Celtic (i.e., English, Irish, Scottish) or Scandinavian descent. Pernicious anemia usually occurs in people aged 40 to 70 years . . . I guess i'm jsut lucky..... Among Caucasians, the mean age of onset is 60 years, but it shows up at an average of 50 with African-Americans.

For pernicious anemia, injections of vitamin B-12 (called cyanocobalamin or hydroxyocobalamin), oral folic acid therapy, or both, can reverse the production of abnormal blood cells. (so we are looking to see if the pills will be effective, if not it's the needles... NGross much!!)...Current treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency consists of a life-long regimen of monthly B-12 injections. Unfortunately, neither diet or iron pills will help, but if diagnosed early a full recovery is promising.

In looking at some info it appears that the most plausible cause from my Pernicious Anemia (if that is confirmed with more tests) is Failure of the stomach lining to produce intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is a chemical produced by the stomach lining and combined with vitamin B12 in the small intestine. Due to an autoimmune disorder (a disorder caused by a person's own immune system attacking the body's organs and tissues), the production of intrinsic factor is blocked.


So that is what I have for Info right now - when I go back to the doctors i'll fill you all in...

Ahh and we are home...

Well its Tuesday, and life is going by ever so quickly.

Firstly, I'd like to say that I'll update about Ruthie's wedding at another time - we are having Computer Issues... so it'll be coming later, and the pictures will follow that.

Secondly, about a week ago I went to the Doctor's because of a few things - one of the those it the lack of sleep I am getting, and also that my left foot seems to be going numb and hurting me. So she sent me for blood work. No Biggie. I've done that before. Only this time I got a call to back to the Dr's and talk about the results... THAT CAN'T BE GOOD... so today I'm off to Chat.

Sigh....

AHHH THURSDAY

I

can't

wait

until

Thursday

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Tuesday

Ahhh It's Tuesday. I Like it because it means that it's almost Wed. then Thursday and on Thursday Ill be reunited with my girls.... and I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I'm so happy....

Well our car appears to be going through puberty... it's 14 years old, and now it sometimes won't start. It just won't work, and then magically, poof, it works. We are taking it in to get fixed... argh. I just want a car I can rely on. sigh. If it isn't working before Thursday, i think we're getting a rental car for the weekend.. which is nice cause our little clunker needs a break.

And now for my women's intuition...

I believe that a certian Brother in Law that I have, might not be so 'unattached'. I'm not sure but if it's true and you have a girlfriend (which I will tease you for... cause that is what older sisters do.. and if you need any advice on girlie stuff... call me day or night... ) Congrats... and let me know... yeesh. Love ya Steve!

Um I think that is it... so I guess Ciao...

Girls see you in 2 days!!!

The Devotional

I’m working on a devotional for the youth group, well for me too… it’s on purity. Not just purity in a ‘no sex before marriage’ kind of way, but in a lifestyle way; in a Christian living sort of way.

These are some of the scriptures I’ve found, and quotes that seem to set a standard.

What are your thoughts on the scriptures below??


Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

Ephesians 4:17,18 –
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Romans 12:2 –
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


“Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny!”
~Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. “An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire ‘BE’ series”–Jkt. (Php 4:8). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

Romans 3:13-15 -
13"Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit."[a]
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."[b]
14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."[c]
15"Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Ephesians 4:29-30 -
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Took My Road Test

David and I drove to Amherst, I took my test, and made 80% Woot Woot!!

Now I can finally drive! (legally, by myself)

Sigh... I'm a real live Grown up now...

Woot Woot.

So busy - it is Today yet?

Wednesday – Ahh My Parents have been in my house for two days, and David and I have only had seven days in our home with out a guest in the last month and a half. Yeesh… That wears on a person. So Wed. morning was the day we shopped for all the salad fixin’s. Four grocery carts later, we’re done. Later in the day I head over to see Shaun. I miss her and she’s moving to New Glasgow… how on earth will I get to see her… it makes me a little sad.

Thursday – Ahh the day of Potatoe salad.

Friday – Rehearsal day. This is the day that we (momma and dad and I) worked till we all dropped. We started with the little things, the rest of the salads, all the prep, the drinks… then went to the rehearsal, left early to decorate… decorated, set up, BBQed, worked while trying to find a moment to eat, and then clean up. Sigh it was a busy night.

Saturday - Mike and Jen got Hitched - doesn't that sound romantic? The Wedding was beautiful. She was in a strapless with layers and a sash. It was so beautiful and fit her style! There will be pictures to follow on my msn spaces.

Sunday - First - Happy Birthday Hailey!!!! Second - Church went well, My Aunt Sandra and Uncle Greg (Dad's side), and Aunt Wendy and Uncle Dave (Momma's side) all came with us. It’s nice to worship with family. After church we all went to a brunch to watch Mike and Jen open their gifts – they got a lot of very nice things. Afterwards Aunt Wendy and uncle Dave came over with Momma and Dad for an afternoon of Nothingness. That was GREAT!

Today - I'm lying on the couch - due to Female issues... ahem, ahem; and getting a lot of Scrap booking done. I think it's time to scrapbook my years at ABU.

This Week - I have a meeting this weekend- - that’s going to be fun, but is work…

This Month – In about 12 days a dear friend, Ruthie is getting married – Woot Woot. We will be camping, tubing and having fun. At the end of the month Leanne is getting married… WOOT WOOT. And then it’s off to work… sigh sigh sigh sigh…

Side Note

Before the silliness of the 80s...
Emmie you made a great quote!

She commented on how situations can change you... how she never experienced someone close dying...

Me either, I have a few family members who are not doing so well, but it terrifies me as to how I will react. How will i handle that??

I heard that my grandfather fell again just last week.. He isn't doing well... at all... and to see momma talk about him, you can hear the ache and anguish in her voice... and see tears start in her eyes. It's hard... I don't think I like this phase of life.

Who you are?

I was talking with my younger brother in law. He’s a sharp one, and very blunt. I like that in our conversations, we started talking about relationships, and people in them. Not specifics, just relationships in general. We both started to talk along the same lines. How do you know your ‘other’, heck why start that far a head, how do you know when you know yourself?

There are so many people who started off the dating cycle with the attitude that I must present only the great parts of me. I need to catch this person; I need ‘get’ him or her. I’m not saying that people should just say ‘hi nice to meet you’, and then verbally vomit all the horrific tales of their life, shortcomings, or personality, on say, the first date. (Or even the second or third dates...) But be honest, and don't lie to yourself or them. It’s so weird I’ve watched, and studied relationships; it’s very interesting how people will try to find the balance of Too Much Information...

There are some people how get caught up in the rush of emotion, that feel so strongly that they forget it’s about learning, about finding each other, finding yourself and if you are compatible. I don’t know how so many people I know or don’t know, they just wake up one day and don’t know who they are married too... they didn’t expect it and they didn’t’ figure it would ever be the way it is now. And they don't know what to do about it. I mean I know of a couple where after the wedding everything changed, there was a 180° change... it’s scary. How can someone hide so much...?

Why would they hide it? You see it could be that they just didn’t know themselves, and that is a tragedy all it’s own. But I’ve seen someone change (for their other) and then talk about how they were before the dating, the engagement, before the wedding, and they appeared to change just for the ‘sake’ of the other person. “If I don’t show you how I really am then you’ll like me... and then once were married I’ll change (back) and you’ll love me so you’ll accept it...” It’s kind of cruel. But they don’t see it that way. They might think that is how it's supposed to be, they might not know that they are doing it... I mean that’s for those who know themselves...

For those who don’t know them selves and just seem to change, it’s not so cruel, it’s not so obvious. They only thing to say to that is just to get to know you. It’s hard to be two pieces of a whole when one person isn’t sure of who they are. I believe that you can’t love anyone until you A) realize God’s love for you and B) You can Love yourself... and of course to love yourself you need to know yourself.

What time in life, when can you say that you knew who you were? How do you know that, that’s it? Is it that there is no more to you? Are you prepared to share and grow and become different? No one is the same forever, and people say it, heck I say it, that I know myself, except that things change, and change you. You might not even know it. God is continually working on everyone. You may have a personality type, you may be a certain temperament; but that isn’t final.

It’s not about knowing you finitely, but knowing you and how you change. It’s about knowing you and how you relate to others... it’s that what marriage is... it’s relating on every level.

It’s about knowing yourself. Not for anyone else. About knowing you so that you can grow. You can work on the things you need to work on. To be able to get past things that hurt you, why they hurt, and coming to resolution. About growing and loving and being what and whom God wants you to be...

And on that note I’ll stop my ramblings. And continue with my day...

Fours -- -Fron Bek

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Office Clerk
2. Kindergarten Teacher
3. Librarian’s Assistant
4. Admin Support – STAR office

B) Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. The Princess Bride
2. The Little Mermaid
3. Regarding Henry
4. The Muppets Christmas Carol

C) Four places you have lived:
1. 549 Arklow Dr, Cole Harbour, NS
2. 541 Arklow Dr, Cole Harbour, NS
3. 543 Arklow Dr, Cole Harbour, NS
4. 360 Cross Rd. Truro NS

D) Four TV television shows I watch
1. House
2. Disney’s Weekenders
3. Law and Order SVU
4. Sports centre

E ) Four places you have been on vacation:
1. PEI – All over
2. My Grandfather’s Farm
3. umm Magic Mountain
4. To the Valley...

F) Websites you visit daily:
1. Gmail
2. www.shannonjoy.blogspot.com
3. Google
4. My Friend’s Blogs

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Chocolate
2. Chicken
3. Whopper!!!
4. Chocolate

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. a beach anywhere
2. with friends
3. driving down to the valley - on the old highway
4. soaking in a hot tub...

So My Drivers Test...

Well David and I went to the DMV – and I get all ready, actually today I didn’t even throw up – so I handled the stress and anxiety very well I think. I get there, get the info out, and even met the new guy... Paul ( – he’s so much nicer than Mike... the other guy...) Well you see, we got out to the car and wouldn’t you know it... a brake light is out... ARGH... I just want my license... sigh... frig... So On Aug 1st, I’m going to Amherst and Paul, the nice guy, will be doing the test. He said it’ll go very well, I shouldn’t worried.

I Just want to have y license. How hard can this be...

Ev'y I'd love to go Apartment hunting - but as you read, I can't get to the city.
Brannie - did you get a Camp site for Aug? Are you near Ev'y and us??

A Biggie

Deck
So we've been working on the deck for a few weeks now, and it’s actually a deck now. Well we are missing the railings and the platform for my laundry basket and then the clothes lone moved... but it’s mostly a deck.. and I’m very proud.
So here are the pics I promised... (too see the whole set... check out my picture site...)

Tidal Impact
TI was very cool this year, but very, very tiring. I’m sure I got less then 15 hours of sleep the entire week. There were 11 youth from Immanuel and 25 from Allison Baptist church in Moncton. I can’ really think of anything that really stood out. The bus rides were great, and brought me back to when I would do youth events... as a youth not a leader. We went to Halifax almost every night, which was fun we had a speaker, Fred Lynch, he was super funny – every night but Friday... I don’t know what happened, but Friday he must have lost his groove.... Sigh...

Ev’y’s Birthday
This past Saturday was my beloved Ev’y’s birthday. She turned the big 23. Sigh she’s growing up. It was good to see her, and her mom and Holly and Justin. Justin and Holly had to leave right after cake, but it was still good to see them.

Driver’s Test
And tomorrow I go for my second road test. I hope that it goes well. I know that I must use my emergency brake EVERY time I park... not just in an Emergency. Yeesh – Pray for me!

Tidal Impact

No time to Post -

I'm almost drained.. so tired.. 16 hour days... will have pics and posts later....

Ciao

Tired...

The youth camped in our Front yard...
Oh and having the entire family over for a few days...
I was tired before the youth got here...
I did night watch with Micah...
I'm so very Tired..

So Sleepy....

So very sleepy...

yawn...