Pinteresting it up

I love Pinterest for two reasons. 1. I always am finding really cool things in the vast place that is the internet. There's so much information out there! And so many funny things! I can't always remember where I found it. With Pinterest when I find something I love I can pin it and there it is, where I can find it easily! Nice. 2. People are so creative! I see so many things on Pinterest and I'm just like, "That is brilliant!!" but I never would have thought of it myself! This world is full of smart, creative and frugal people. Thus, I made a pretty way to display and keep my earrings! I never, ever would have even thought of storing my earrings in this way but it is an excellent idea! Have a look...

Talk about easy! I had this picture frame laying around because the glass broke in it. So I finally took all the pictures out and threw away the template thing. I decided to keep the cardboard backing though because...well I don't know why actually. Then I glued a pretty piece of scrapbook paper onto it. I guess that's why I decided to keep the cardboard...anyway. I cut some ribbon into appropriate lengths and I glued them onto the back. Voila! Now I can hang my earrings either in the bathroom or my bedroom and have them easily accessible.

It took me about 10 minutes to make it and it was free! (Because I already had everything laying around my house) Thank you Pinterest!

New Things

Last year I decided that I was going to try new things. Things that I just had never tried before because for some reason I thought I wouldn't like them. I mostly tried new foods because come on, I don't want to get crazy or anything! Here are some foods that I tried this past year for the first time: Kiwis. I know right? I'm not sure why I thought I wouldn't like kiwis! But now I do, in fact they are probably my favourite! Salsa. I had a legit reason for not wanting to ever eat salsa, I don't like tomatoes. At all. Trust me, I've tried! Turns out though that I do like salsa. Hot Pepper Jelly. Delicious. Cabbage. Of course I've tried cabbage before, my mum made me try it when I was a kid but who likes cabbage when they are a kid? Once you are an adult though it's not so bad! Avacados. Not a fan. Fried onions. I just don't like onions, that's just the way it is. So I assumed I frying them wouldn't change that. I assumed wrong! As you can tell, I'm not much of a risk taker. Even with what I eat. However, all this trying new food action has shown me something. If you're not willing to try something new you might be missing out on something great! I mean hello, kiwis! So in this new year when something new comes my way I'm going to try not to say no instantly. I'll try giving it a chance. I'm not talking about just food either! Activities, instruments, musical genres, friends. We'll see!

The Blood of Christ

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the blood of Christ…do you know how precious that stuff is? Worth more than any earthy thing we could ever possess. Seriously, let’s consider this for a moment. When Adam and Eve sinned they really messed things up. They opened a huge chasm between mankinds relationship with God, a chasm that unfortunately cannot be bridged BUT for the blood of Christ. So Adam and Eve could come out from hiding God had to make them animal skins to cover themselves. (Genesis 2:8-9, 21) but here’s the thing: an animal generally has to be dead before you can skin it. This was the first death God used to make atonement (the literal translation for atone is cover) for sin. From then on out God’s people needed to shed the blood of animals so that they could be in right relationship with God. I gotta tell you though, it was not a perfect system. Now don’t go all pitch fork shouting “blasphemy” on me, God Himself said that the system was flawed! “The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under the system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship” [Hebrews 10:1] You see the thing is God’s people continually had to make sacrifices for their sins and even then they couldn’t ever actually be in the presence of God. One guy, the high priest, could go into the Holy of holies once a year and only after extensive purification rituals and sacrifices atoning for his sins and for the people sins. Even after all that they still tied a rope around his ankle and put bells on his robe in case he was struck dead in the presence of the Most High God. See, flaws. Then Jesus entered the picture! (cue the angelic choir sounds) Jesus came to earth for a very specific reason. To be the One sacrifice for all. That short sentence is bigger than it sounds. What Jesus did required personal sacrifice, it required humility, it required obedience, it required blood. When Jesus died on the cross He bridged the chasm, forever! His spilled blood caused the curtain in the tabernacle to rip right in half (from top to bottom none the less) opening the Holy of holies to show that the presence of God was now made available to all! You guys?! This is a HUUUUGE deal!!!!!!! No longer do we need to slaughter sheep, doves and bulls to obtain forgiveness; no longer do we need a High Priest to go into the Lord’s presence on our behalf. Jesus was our High Priest, for all time! The thing about all this that is just blow me over amazing is that because of this, because of the blood of Christ we can go boldly into God’s presence, with no condemnation for our sin. Wow. “And so, dear brothers, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” [Hebrews 10:19-22] We are able to go into the presence of God, whenever, with no condemnation!! God, who is holy and blameless; without sin! That's what Jesus did for us when His blood was spilled.

Hello again darling

Wow. Hello my name is Joni and I am the worst blogger evah! BUT WAIT! There is posts coming in the near future! Pinky promise!

I Like Pictures and Stories

Have you ever checked out Suzy's blog? Well you should! Because she always has interesting things to say and cool projects to try out and funny stories to tell! Her blog is where I scammed the idea to do this: Step One: Post your very first facebook profile picture Step Two: pick just one picture from each consecutive year up to the present one Step Three: Explain/tell a story about each one Fun right?!

I was suprised that this was my very first profile picture...I definatly thought it was a different one! Either way, this is a testament to the Tim Tam Slam! For a while there my friends and I were very into the Tim Tam Slam and did it pretty much everytime we all got together! If you don't know what the Tim Tim Slam is...well I'm kinda sad for you. This picture was from 2007.

2008. This picture was taken at the end of a ministry trip we took to Calgary during Easter break. We had a great week helping out at The Food Bank, The Mustard Seed and some other Christian organizations in the city. We also stayed in a church that didn't have any showers, we all took 2 showers at the community pool throughout the week. The four of us were sitting in the back of the can during the last hour and a half drive home and taking silly pictures. This is our "who turned out the lights?!" picture. It made sense at the time!

and here we are in 2009, on a weekend inbetween camps. Craig, Kaylyn, Debbie and I had a most excellent Saturday off! It started with a leftover picnic in "the space van" after which we went for a drive on reserve land and picked berries out of the window. Then we went to the camp and spent the afternoon floating on tubes in the lake. We went waaaaaaay out the the middle of the Lake where a man driving a boat circled around us until we were being tossed by the waves. Also on the list of activities for the day were: a visit to the museum, laundry, listening to creepy music and planning our deaths in a car crash and eating ice cream. It was a really good day! Also, 2009 was a really good year! A lot happened during it.

2010! Also a lot of good things happened but whenever I think about the year it always revolves around the 2 weeks I spent in Regina during the summer for Becky's wedding! I had such a blast helping her do the last minute things and doing all the fun before wedding stuff. Plus her wedding day was just amazing!

One of my most favorite days in 2011!! My 27th birthday :) My friends really went above and beyond to show me I was loved! We went mini golfing, then had a birthday cake picnic, followed by playing W5 and doing some singing around the fire. THEN my friends kidnapped me and drove me around until I was very confused as to our location! When we got to where I had no idea we were going my friends put off FIREWORKS!! It was the best!

And all this brings us to 2010. This picture was taken mere seconds after the new year began. We were all hanging out at a farm playing games, eating food and having a lot of laughs. New Years Eve is one of my favorite nights and I was very happy to spend this last one with these 2 girls, they are a couple of my oldest and dearest friends. That was nice. I'm glad we had this time together :)

Thoughts on The Hunger Games

Ok, first off. I don't want anyone to ever mistake me for a bandwagon jumper oner, or a trend follower or anything like that because I'm really not. I like to decide for myself if I like something or not. Example: I've never, ever read any of the Harry Potter or Twilight books. I also have never seen the movies. And guess what? I never will! Because, even though, they've been all the rage with society and with pretty much all my friends I checked out what they were about and I decided that wasn't something I was interested in.

So there's that.

Now, The Hunger Games is a different thing altogether. I've known for a while that this would be a story I would be interested in. Mostly because even though I'm not a sci-fi fan per se, I do like futuristic settings. I also am drawn to survival stories as well as stories about the underdog rising up against injustice. Thus I knew, this was a book trilogy I would probably enjoy reading.

I've only read the first book but trust me when I say that I devoured it. I bought it on a Friday and by the following Wednesday I had read it twice. I sorely regret not just splurging on the entire trilogy at once because I am very anxious to get on with the story and find out what happens in the world of Panem. Anyway, yes I enjoyed the book. It was well written with complex and beautiful characters along with a tragic storyline about the deep injustice of dystopian societies. I also admit that I am in love with the Katniss and Peeta storyline.

And I know, I know, it's "about" kids killing kids. And everyone who is trying to be a good person says, "How can you read a book or watch a movie about THAT? It's horrible!" But that's the thing, it is horrible! It's unjust and disgusting and no one should be pleased with it! That's kind of the point of these books, the country of Panem is grossly dominated by the Capitol and in order for them to remain in control they intimidate, steal from and bully the surrounding 12 districts. The Hunger Games is just one of they ways the Capitol reminds everyone that they are in charge and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Or at least that's what you might think.

I also watched the movie. Yes, it was violent and no, I wouldn't suggest anyone under the age of 15 watch it but it was very well done.

One last thing: dystopian societies are real, that's not a reality that is far removed from us. None of them might have something as horrible as the hunger games but they have other tactics of control, just as horrible. I just wanted to put that out there.

It's been a while

I have not said anything in a long, long time on here. I feel bad about that. Mostly for myself though because I love blogging.

I can't believe how busy life has been recently. It's crazy but it's oh so good! God is very good! He's been setting up divine appointments and giving me opportunities and looking out for me all over the place!

Here's a picture I love. This was one of my favorite moments from one of my favorite weekends this "Spring"

Gluttony of the Brain

I've had a lot of big things on my mind; big ideas, big questions, big ponderings, big realizations. There's not much room left up there with all that's going on! It's like when you're filling a container with stuff and you have it full to the brim but then you find that last scarf that you know you can poke and prod in there as well. That's how my head feels!

I've recently come to 2 very big realizations in my life...

1. I have no idea what my passions, gifts and talents are. Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm doing and where I am right now but I'm not content. I just can't help but think that there must be something more that I was created for. I've been doing what I'm doing for so long because there was a need for it, because I do love it and because I'm good at it. A while ago I was just thinking about life and what I love to do and it dawned on me, I'm not really sure what I love to do what I'm really good at, what gives me energy. This isn't a negative thing, it's been exciting thinking about it, praying about it and talking to others about it. It's exciting thinking that God could be taking me new places, and having me do new things! I have the same feeling I get when I have a blank canvas in front of me and a lot of options on how to fill it!
2. All my life I have felt guilty for so. many. things. Things that I don't even have to feel guilty about! I mean the kind of things that when you feel guilty about them it makes you a ridiculous person! [Hello my name is Joni and I am a ridiculous person.] Would you like to know some of the things I've felt guilty about over the years that are ridiculous? Of course you would!
-I don't like water slides
-I enjoy watching movies
-Roller coasters scare me
-Sometimes I just want to be alone
See? I mean who needs to feel guilty about these kinds of things? No one, that's who. People may disagree with my opinion about water slides but it doesn't mean I have to feel bad about it! So I'm going to stop that. It's important that I be ok with who I am I think. Unless it's bad things that really do need to change.

One of the bigger things I've been pondering is how even though I love God so much I do not show it enough or to the best of my ability. Seriously, ponder with me if you will, God's love for me is vast and creative and wonderful, yet somehow I'm very limited in the way that I love Him. Everyone and their barista has gone through or at least heard of The 5 Love Languages. We've all discovered how we are best loved and figured out how to best love the people in our lives according to this. I'm not dissing the theory behind the 5 love languages, I find it helpful. The thing about it is, God is love and He is the one who created all those different ways of loving others so doesn't it make sense that He can be loved in all those ways as well? I don't have to be limited in showing my love to God by singing worship songs and doing good things. I can...no, I should spend quality time with Him, give Him words of affirmation and praise and even gifts. One of the ways that I express love to my friends is making them cards and writing nice things in them. I can do that for God, it might seem silly but He sees my heart in it.

Well it feels good to talk about a few of the things stuffed in my head. My brain can breath a bit deeper now.

My face is very stoic right now.

My grandfather's heart stopped beating today. But only for a couple seconds. It just started beating slower and slower and slower until he went unconscious. He got help in time and they got his heart into rhythm again and got him stable enough to transport him to a city hospital by ambulance.

This happened earlier today but I still haven't called any of my friends to let them know what's happening. So I've turned to blogging instead.

Truth be told, my emotions are probably not what most people would expect. That's maybe the main reason I haven't talked to anyone about what's going on. I am sad, don't get me wrong. However, I'm mostly sad because my grandfather has never accepted Christ and so I know where he's going if he doesn't pull through this.

That's the saddest and scariest thing.

No Room.

You know what I've found myself thinking about often this Christmas season? It's not what you think but go ahead, take a guess...








The Inn keepers in Bethlehem that wonderful and profound night so many years ago.

I've found myself wondering if maybe after the census rush, maybe even years down the road once Jesus was a man, some of them realized who Jesus was and felt ridiculous for turning his parents away when they needed a place to sleep. Seriously! I mean here it turns out that the Messiah that people have been waiting for was born in their town and they turned Him away! Granted they didn't expect the Messiah to come in that manner and they didn't know just who they were leaving on the street, I realize this. I'm just saying, how did they feel after they figured it out?

It makes me think about the "whatever you do for the least of these you do for me" passage of scripture in a different light

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I'm sure some of those Inn keepers, if they had known just who Mary was carrying in her womb, would have given their own rooms for Him to be born in. As it is now, I should make sure I'm being kind and helpful to people because when I'm not it's the same as turning Jesus away.

Not something to remember only during the Christmas season but for everyday of life.

oh, hello there!

What in the world happened to November??! One minute I'm seeing the beginnings of all the greasy staches for "Movember" next thing I know it's the 30th. This has never happened to me before...I've never blinked and had an entire month go by. And I thought that December was the busy month.

Ruuuu ooooh! :S

Here's some things that happened in the blur that was November:

I donated blood, always a good time. This was a particularly great experience because I had a couple nurses that were chatty and super nice. The one told me that I seemed to be very capable of anything. Whatever that meant.
A team from Alberta Bible College came and ran a youth night, I cooked supper for them as well. I've decided that I like cooking for groups of people.
I hosted a sweet 16 birthday party for one of my youth girls: a pinata filled with candy, freeze dance, musical chairs, Indian tacos. Boss.
I watched Drumbeats, twice.
I forgot how to drive on ice.
I put up my first ever "my own" Christmas tree! It was very exciting!
My dad had surgery, it all went well.
I discovered this amazing thing called 31 Bits you should seriously check it out. It's awesome! I'm trying to pull together a house party I think it's so awesome!
I developed an insatiable urge to go sliding down a grassy hill on a food tray.
I had a really good chat with Fresh IE

There's more. But that's enough!

And now comes December! Huzzah! I love the hustle and bustle that is the Christmas season!

Pick of the week

"Church structure can allow or disallow for the reavealing of gifts and talents of Christ's body...everyone has a spiritual gift, everyone has abilities, talents, experiences, and passions to share...it's time for churches to change the way they do church and allow the body to express itself..." (KK)

a confession and correction

Have you ever jumped on a band wagon because all of your friends had jumped on it and just this once you didn't want to stand back and watch as the wagon continued on without you? You know, all of your friends laughing and enjoying the booty of the band wagon while you stand your ground all alone.

I'm not typically a band wagon jumper but once in a while I just don't want to get left out.

That's how I felt with the new NEEDTOBREATH album...everyone was talking about it and raving about it and chair dancing along to it while they were driving down the highway and I felt left out. So I borrowed it. And I decided before I listened to it that I already loved it.

And I made it my pick of the week.

I am feeling sheepish.

Because after having listened to it a lot over the past couple weeks I'm really not so sure that it is my pick of the week, ever. There are good things about the album, musically it is brilliant! There is a lot of texture and different sounds that really work on this album. However, lyrically...I'm not really sure what they are trying to say, in any of the songs. I've listened to them over and over but I just feel...the lyrics are weak.

I'm sorry.

Pick of the Week:

Helloooooo double bloggin!

http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2011/10/fridays-thank-you-notes-4/

10 things Saturday....eeer well close enough :)

10 things that made me laugh this week:

1. Dakota's "evil" plan..."First I'll eat all the cookies on the plate and then I'll replace them with fake cookies made of playdoh and then when you eat them I'll get MY REVENGE!!"
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Playing "Just Dance" with Carlie and Caitie
4. A little girl doing her own hair, ponytails EVERYWHERE!!
5. Playing Minute To Win It games at youth
6. My dad, he's just funny
7. Ken's imitation of my singing at church
8. Modern Family
9. This text: "Hey buddie boop!"
10. Morgan, she's also just funny

Day three of the trip!

At the Goveners House we met Barry
A security guard who was merry!
He took pictures with us
And made not a fuss
Then at the "Ledge" we were fairies!



On a very hot day in the car
All our brains were turning to tar
Our poems were all lame
They won't bring us fame
On that very hot day in the car





At Big Muddy where cowboys did roam
We all felt so small and alone
'til along came a crowd
Who was very loud
At Big Muddy where the sun always shone






So we followed these "J Dubs" around
Though we knew not where they were bound
We say USA
And where outlaws did play
But at our tracts they surely did frown (oh well!)




Limerick is a small town in Sask
Where? You may jolly well ask
It's just past the Giant
I keep telling my client
To take pictures is a very big task

Pick of the Week

It's good. Check it out!

10 things Saturday

10 things that made me smile this week: (in no particular order)

1. Jumping in a huge pile of fallen leaves with Anna and Ben
2. Brian from work making his "You're teasing me and I love it" noise
3. Getting stopped on the road by one of my dads friends who thought I was him because I was driving his truck
4. Going for burgers with Glenda and Mic.
5. roast potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots
6. Becky's dream about me wanting to wear bright green and yellow eyeshadow for my wedding
7. Kaylyn's fireworks fest story
8. this text: "stop boinking my eyesssss"
9. The thought of starting youth next week!!
10. Trenace and Jordan

Day 2 of the trip

Onto the next day of our Wonders of Saskatchewan trip...





From there we went on to MJ
And things there were going ok
We saw a moose that was big
And owls that "dig"
On Donya's 23rd birthday

And underground we did go
To see the Al Capone show
And Gus made us laugh
As did all of the staff
I do think everyone should go!





In Regina we ate lots of food
It put us in a very good mood
In the front we're all smushed
And then Donya blushed
Then we spent that night in the hood.

time travelling by facebook

A year ago today I set my facebook status as follows...

"Can't see the light yet in this ever darkening valley she's walking through but ...knows it's there, and that He'll get me there. onward and upward!"

I remember so clearly how lost I was this time last year. God is so good! He's done some amazing things in the year since then. It was cool to be reminded.