Where I've been!

New Years Eve!

I just thought i'd take a moment and blog alittle.

These are Chocolate Cheesecake's i'm taking to the party tonite. 

We will be at the Swartzentruber's this evening. Playing games and making Pizza. I tried taking a little nap this afternoon and for some reason sleep wouldn't come. Hope i last for 12 am. 

Anyway, Christmas was alright and felt very welcome celebrating christmas with Gord and Bev Mills. I also did some house sitting for a family from church. While they were visiting their home in Moose Factory. I spent one evening at Dedee's home. I was glad to come home to my own bed after being away for about a week.

I will do more updating almost said "tomorrow", Well See! For now God Blessings! MJ

Hey There!

This little girl is Kiera a niece of mine. I had not posted any pictures of my family since i started to blog.

What a week! Only wednesday, but sure feels like it could be friday already.

Our ladies from church hosted a dinner for a Iris Centre. It's for women with addictions and every year they put on  a dinner for their clients and so this was our second year hosting it.

It went really well! praise the lord!

This morning was a busy time at the Pregnancy Care Centre. We are praying for a building, So much has been coming in such as baby food, clothing, Baby products and we are in a crunch. Need more space. We all know God does all things well. 

It's been a real Blessing to see young women come into the centre and desire to be good mother's to their children. Join us as we are praying for a bigger building  This has been my week so far and just wanted to update alittle. MJ

Daryl and Robyn Schantz were here for the night. Little Adrian and Emily also were here. Merle and Rita Nisly, Anna-christina and Olivia  stayed at the Swartzentruber's. Merles are helping Daryls move to Halifax. They arrived after 9 last night and left shortly after 8 saturday morning. Their wanting to get to their destination on monday.

It was soo good to see them again! Robyn and I visited over coffee this morning and laughed. Maybe, I'll go see them in the spring sometime. I overheard Adrian say to her mom that she wanted to stay here. Poor Girl, has miles and miles to go. 

I just wanted to post a few pictures of the girls.  They are so cute!

Christmas Feast Center Pieces

I am looking for ideas for our churches christmas center pieces. This is a jar with red and green tissue paper soaked in water and of course with bit's and pieces of red berries and greenery.

One thing i had in mind was maybe putting little tags of scripture somewhere around the jar. Or.....ideas. This is what i was doing this morning. gotta run! Mj

By the way i needed to clarify a few things. The picture's got messed-up in the order they were before i published it. Rod and Ginnete are on the Right and Jack and Dedee are on the left.

Pregnancy care christmas dinner

                                                                                                               Friday afternoon Pregnancy Care Centre Volunteer's had their Christmas dinner at Pat and Mario's. An Italian Restaurant, I believe, thats what it is.

These are some special ladies i work with wednesday afternoon. There are more volunteer's but were not able to make it. 

Jack on the left is a board member "Dedee's hubby"and the guy with closed intimate eyes is Rod. Ginnete the directors husband.

Rod reminds me alittle of Mike Yutzy. Funny Sometimes!

This week Our church is hosting an annual christmas dinner at the Friendship Centre.

Pray that the people who come will have open hearts to the message that is being given. As for the speaker we are not quite sure who will be doing that yet. It might be David Cheechoo. We will have some Music by Allan Cooper, Sunday School Program. It's our church's outreach and do remember to pray for us.

I have a little message of God's Love I want to share with you. 

About a week ago, I helped a lady do some christmas baking. It was fun getting to know her one on one. Then she  gave me a gift and thought i can use this gift to buy a new winter coat for myself. Couple days later i went shopping to see if i could find something. My last resort that day was Sportschek by then i was tired and decided to come home.

Telling myself i can always go another time.

Couple days later on a saturday morning another friend and i went out for breakfast. I went to go pay and she say's she wants to go to Sportschek. I was like "cool" i could look for a coat there i said to myself. We get there I tried on a few coats and found one i liked a " Columbia". 

The young guy helping me was very helpful, He handed me a coat a 20 year old would wear and i was like, This isn't for me. I'm 40 and he was like "Get Out". LOL!

This Friend took the coat and says I'm gonna bless you and buy you this coat for you.

The Lord has led me to do this she say's. She also mentioned this is between "you and God"

 she mentioned she'd appreciate if i didn't tell anyone her name.

Well, i told her later that i had been looking for a coat that week and had SportsChek in mind, But that i was tired and decided to go home. She was like, OH My!

I was in awe and knew god was using this too encourage me . Because recently i've been feeling very discouraged.

Their are people out there who will say things to hurt you. And i have to "believe" what God say's  about me and why i am here. Is so much more significant! And that is all i need to know.

You know this friend mentioned also that she remember's that day when she was grieving and hurting that God led her to my house. She said she was so blessed that i took that time for her.

The reason why i mentioned that part was because enemy has been  trying to discourage me, but failed!

I really need your prayer's. God has given me such wonderful friends here in Sudbury, Not because they buy me things, But because they Care about things "God cares about" It also challenges me also to be that person.

I hope this little message makes sense.  Gord preached yesterday about giving. The gifts we have are all from god. God has been speaking his truth to me. Being a slow learner Maybe isn't so bad! LOL 

I love the Lord and wanted to share this with you! Blessing to All! MJ

11 ladies showed-up with cookies, bars. All left with a variety of goodies.

Lina and I entertained the group with our singing. Bev laughed till she cried....

I was tired and thought i was pretty funny, myself!

I'm talking to Twila right now.

I think she should set a blog.

And name it "Just ask Twila"

Lets start a petition. MJ

Angels

Yesterday morning, My friend Hilda invited me over for Coffee. She had a wonderful idea of doing another craft. She is so creative! We made these angels and hung them on her tree when they were done to display them.We sat there admiring what we had accomplished.

It was time to go......

I needed some dilantin medicine, also my elbow was very, very VERY SORE for days, during those days I spent many hours coming-up with "what if".  What was also annoying was i wasn't sleeping well.

I was off to the walk-in clinic and arrived at 1:30pm. Guess what time i left?

6:00 pm Yes! I prayed many, many times for patience, listening groans,sigh's. One young mans complaint to me was, "this is where i spend my day off".

Eventually i got home and then i needed to bake cookies for our cookie exchange which is tonight.

By the way it turn's out there was inflammation in my elbow. I got medicine for it, and i had a wonderful sleep last night.

Sudbury is blessed with snow! Yet, when it turn's to slush it's not so beautiful. My friend Jordana bought me boots last year and they are water proof. I find them warm, not quite like my sorels that i got for my 30ths birthday. That was a fun day!

Alright, i'm getting way off topic. 

Today, is when i go into the Pregnancy Care Centre. Hope you readers have a good day! MJ

This morning i had breakfast with a friend and Hilda is her name. She made this lovely candle holder arrangement for me. She's so talented in making crafts. After breakfast we stopped in at this one shop and found this feather scarf. I'm sure their's a name for it. Anyway she bought it for all her other crafts

she does. Then
I had bought these straw 

thingies at the Value Villiage about a year ago. Hilda and I began on working on making these angels. She was so kind to share her leather , beads, feather's.

The white  angel is about 20 inches tall and the other angel about 10 inches. They are so pretty. Thought i'd share them with you all. Now i need to get ready for bible study for tonight! TTYL MJ

It's beginning to look alot like christmas!

We are supposed to have snow most of this week and it is SNOWING! I shoveled my drive way once already and one gentleman offered to lend a helping hand. But i was almost done and Thanked him for his kind gesture.

Last evening Rick and Linda Martin were here for lunch and supper. For lunch I had moose sloppy joes and for supper i made biscuits and sausage gravy.   tried one time to make sausage gravy and it was a" Flop"! I will most likley make it again.

I went over to friends for bake christmas cookies last evening. Our women's ministries is doing a cookie exchange next week.

I decorated my tree about  a week ago and made that  arrangement with the apple roses last year. Roses  don't look too bad this year. I might have to make fresh ones next year.

I made 2 other arrangement for 2 other ladies last year and those one have baby's breath and as for mine i ran out of the baby's breath. Which is fine!

This afternoon i go into the Pregnancy Care Centre.

So is should get myself ready.

Okay, Twila i did this for you. God Bless! MJ

Cake and Friends 

Pretty ladies getting pictures done. Pretty ladies come visit me, Oh Pretty ladies!

Not sure if you know the song" pretty women" Anyway i used my own words!

 Is that Stella for you, or what, I feel silly!

Remember my birthday party last year?

Well i thought we could have another one. Only here in Sudbury!

It may be far but i just wanted to say to each one of you, that all are welcome ANYTIME! MJ

Aren't these adorable?

Melanie Swartzentruber spent the afternoon here doing some craft projects with me.

Snowmen family...We forgot the mouths. Opps!

We also did some pine cones and made a few cookies.

I found this salt dough recipe on the internet. It was fun! Well i'll do more updating later. MJ

Who's

Cooler?

Tracey won't know. Your safe, You can pick me. 

                                                                             Here's my bedroom! Not much, But i do have a place to lay my head and it is nice and warm. I have a small dresser toward the side of my desk. 

The other picture is mostly so you can see the banner i made for the church. I had help cutting out the letters. 

We had also made valences for the church windows. We used hide skin  and in a "V" placed red,yellow, black and, white beads on the bottom of each strand. With eagle and goose feather's on each side. You can see the sample there on the pulpit.

Sunday night we had a sing-long-night. Clara and Allan Cooper shared a cree song with us.

Behind them is Thomas Moore a College student. We were delighted to hear a number from him. He sang "Pass me Not" and it blessed all who were there.

This weekend some of us from church are going to Toronto. For a "Heavens Rehearsal" Sounds Thrilling and from what i hear its all about Worship. 

It will be fun to connect with each other this weekend. 

We are supposed to get flurries this week. It's been getting colder and alittle more colder. Someone mentioned nine more weeks until christmas. I'm not even gonna check it out,

I won't be going to Red Lake this year. For christmas i'll just bother friends here. thoughtful of me , Eh!

 I just got a call, asking if i can go into the Pregnancy Care this afternoon. Our Director isn't feeling well. Last Night on the news they were showing it's time for flu shots. Last year  i had strep throat. Maybe one a cold also.

That time of year.

I suppose thats it for now. MJ

I had to post these pictures. 

Friends shot a cub, and my inteligent Friend Dedee skinned  and tanned this bear.  It is so BEAUTIFUL and Soft. I can understand why she would pat herself on the back. 

I ate bear meat for the first time tonite. Felt weird thinking i was gonna eat a bear, the taste was not much different then other beef. Good meatballs DD. I can say I've eaten bear!

Just thought i'd post some pictures of my little home. I really like it! One time i had 10 people as a sit down dinner. I enjoy the space in my living room, Good for bible studies. I have a one bedroom which i tried to post with these but it didn't let me. I like my entrance with a good size closet. I do have a bathroom just so you know. Thats all for now. MJ

This Morning we had a few snowflakes on the ground. It felt chilly yesterday evening,  I  said to Bev, i wonder if well have snow. 

This afternoon i went over to help a young family from church to help do some cleaning and painting. They are buying their first home and it will be very nice once all the work is done. They seem very  Excited! 

When I came home,  made supper for some young ladies. I really wasn't prepared, I grilled chicken, roasted potatos , corn, toss salad and for dessert i made Chocolate Chip Cookies and we made ice-cream sandwiches. 

Now maybe i'll update alittle.

Sunday evening our church had a pumpkin carving contest. Barb and Melanie from church bought 15  pumpkins. We set 13 tables in our church basement and set black garbage bags for Table Clothes. The  Winner Jon and Melanie Lazarus , Alex got  a gift certificate. We had snacks, I made gravel pumpkin bars. You don't want to try it!

Before i left home i covered the bars and made sure it was well covered. Well I dropped the baking sheet on the ground. i could see gravel got in. Thinking maybe it was fine.

I took them anyway, Chewing gravel as a little kid is one thing, Surprise, Surprise!

Not too many people complained. Nothing like Good Fellowship though.

Gord Mills had an ouchy during our fellowship night and thought maybe i should get a  picture of him giving a finger, I believe he was looking for something in a basket. Well he found a pink thumb tack. LOL!

Monday evening i had dinner with friends. Today was Busy.

I'll most likely go into the Pregnancy Care tomorrow.

I painted those pine cones you see on the top of the page.

I love putting centre pieces together. 

All have a good week, MJ

 

"Always give thanks for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"

I am so confused! I'm sorry, I thought i had lost this one pine cone blog and somehow it found it's way. Enjoy" Twice" I suppose.

pine cone

I was bored this afternoon so i thought i should do a little craft. These pine-cone have glitter on them. Does three look too much? What do you think? MJ

I was bored this afternoon, So i tried a pine-craft. Should i do one pine-cone? They have glitter on them and makes it look pretty. What you think, Jenni?

We just got through Indian summer and it was Beautiful! For Thanksgiving, Clarence and Karen Meekis and children were here. They shared their music and it was a  message of praising God during storms. Sunday evening we had a huge meal at the "Murrays" Bev's family. Thats where i took this picture of Happy Kyra. Isn't she Beautiful! She has brought so much joy to her parents Jordanna  and Nick Dube. We played Blokus, mennonite maddness and other games. Bev somehow got on the table ripping my paper in half. I guess i should've let the pen go. EH!

Clarence and Karyn left monday morning back to T-Bay. It was great having them here. Monday evening I went to the Swartzentruber's for Thanksgiving Dinner. Played more Blokus and later into the evening we sat around the fire, roasting marshmallows.

Yesterday i baked oatmeal bread and it raised well in the bowl" twice" but, not as nice in the bread pans. I wonder what i'm doing wrong. Any suggestions, Anyone! Some Thanksgiving moments in my familyover the weekend,

My nephew Keifer got his first moose. I'm excited for him!

My niece Terri delivered her second baby yesterday. A baby boy at 8lbs and 1oz. 

I've had Emily James on my mind. Agnaba James passed away over the weekend and sounds like the funeral is taking place today. When i was on my holidays i went to go see them. I'm so glad i did! The James and my parents were good friends.

Wish i could be there today. 

I just off the phone and should get myself ready for the day. Hope all had a Wonderful ThanksGiving! MJ

Sigh! I think bloging has been a challenge for me. I think it's a wonderful way of sharing your life. But technolgy is sometimes over my head,

These ladies were out to lunch celebrating Karen Jolly's 50th(JK)

Over my holidays in Sept, I stopped in Niverville to visit friends. "We" Greta, Karen, Brenda all went to some nice Italian Restaurant,  Later we got a movie and some shopping afterwards . It was so much fun!  I ordered a shrimp with pasta. Just in case you were wondering.

I posted another picture and somehow these ones got bumped.

My great niece Keira is two and find she is so adorable. 

Terri my niece waited two hours for me at Red Lake Rd. Bless Her Heart!

Train was  late, Nothing new though, 

I did get to see some family while i was home.

The Other Beauty is Dedee Flietstra. She is a good friend of mine here in Sudbury. She may not appreciate me calling her "beauty".

But i have really come to appreciate her.

She and her husband pastor a church here in Sudbury.

I would like to post some pictures of my apartment sometime, and also pictures of Sudbury First nations Church Body Life. I guess that's all for now. later, MJ

 

Breakfast with Rachel at American Table

 Breakfast with Rachel at The American Table.

Hi ladies! This was so much fun to be with each one of you. I really had a good time!

Wonder who will bring us together again for this kind of occasion, Thanks Rachel for getting married,

Yesterday my brother Tony called from jail here in Sudbury. And it was sooo good to see him. We were behind glass and spoke through the phone. We had at least 15 min and that was not sufficient. He shared his Heart and His desire to do what is right, He also acknowledged his failures too. We both shared our loss of our parents. One thing that came out of our time together was, You don't realize what you have "until you lose it" It was tough leaving him there, We were only given 15 min and i was not aware of that before i went in, So I left in tears. This Thanksgiving i will be grateful for that time with my brother. 

Pray for Tony this thanksgiving as he gets out thursday in Thunder Bay. He is too go to some treatment centre, I mentioned Teen Challenge to him.

I am invited to have Thanksgiving with Bev and her family. I believe Clarence and Karyn Meekis will be here Sat night and will share with our congregation this sunday. It will be fun to hear TiTi again. Their children call me that for aunty. 

I Hope you all have a Wonderful ThanksGiving! God Bless, MJ

Just thought i'd try loading a picture to my blog. And it works!

This is my friend Bev Mills. 

She and her husband Gord just became grandparents this summer and a very thrilled.

Looking at this picture makes me kind of sad. It was a beautiful summer evening. Now fall is here and Thanksgiving Just around the corner "Challenges" me to be "Thankful" for what is ahead. 

Summer is ahead too, eh!

Gotta Go, MJ

HI There!

This is a new blogger! So be patient and i will try my best to update . After being back from holidays, I feel like some things are getting back to routine. I really had a good time being home and also enjoyed my time in Winnipeg with my other friends. Anyway, God Bless each one of you! MJ