New hair cut

Hubbs and I went away and celebrated our 10 years in Cuba.

Cuba 2010

The water was sooo clear! I love the white sands.

Tryp Cayo Coo

Yum! Fresh coconut juice!!! :)

We went for our 1st horseback ride during our honeymoon 10 years ago.

This our 2nd time, I have to say, was a much more pleasant experience for me. :)

I guess it helped that my horse and I got along well this time! LOL!

My handsome and sweet date! :)

Visiting a museum in Ciego De Avila.

Us in Cuba 2010.

Looking forward to the next 10... 20... 60 years with

this wonderful man, my husband! :)

I love the sound of the waves crashing and the feel of sand under my bare feet. With my eyes closed, I would stand still and just listen. Then looking up into the sky see a beautiful setting sun, I suddenly feel in awe of how amazing God is and how He's been there for me. I could even feel Him in that moment just being there with me... sharing the moment.

I miss that. I miss the sound of the waves and feel the sand under my feet. I miss feeling the breeze and looking up into the sky and just breathe. I miss seeing sunsets like this one and feel completely at peace. :) I miss walking around my old neighbourhood (which was inside the University) and seeing friends and acquaintances. I miss listening to the birds outside my bedroom window. I miss the quietness and calmness of my life in Michigan.

I haven't completely adjusted to life in a big city, I'm afraid. I'm having difficulty with such a faster pace of life and busyness of living in a much more populated area. The constant noise that surround me is always a reminder that I'm no longer in the Michigan boonies. lol. Oh, how I miss the "boonies"! The masses of people and cars that are everywhere is unnerving! It just seems like no one ever stops here and just breathe... to take in the sunset or appreciate the trees and flowers or to listen to the birds sing. Despite the awesomeness of having family close by, I must say I often feel out of my element. I have yet to wrap my mind around all the changes and process all that has happened in the past 3-4 months. I must say that it has been such a comfort to see that my husband and son seemed to have adjusted fairly easily. Thank you, Lord!

So here's me finally blogging almost 4 months after our move back to Canada. I'm owning up to having feelings of homesickness. Learning to allow myself to be ok with feeling overwhelmed with all the changes. Actually, I came across my husband's cousin's blog and reading her blog gave me courage and encouragement to face up to me feeling this way. A good friend told me that it takes about 3 years to really settle in and I do recognize it takes time but I wish it was a little easier. It's frustrating at times because so much things/places/people are familiar yet so unfamiliar to me. It was like a lifetime ago that we lived here but lived different lives so nothing really is quite the same.

I'm praising God in this storm because He is loving me through it. He is constantly showing me that He cares and that He is faithful in providing for all our needs. He's been helping me slow down and take the time to adjust. He is so incredibly amazing! And as much as I miss Michigan, I wouldn't want to go back because this is where He wants me... us to be. So I'm going to allow Him, in His time, to show me what He has in store for us here and allow Him to show me the way.

I'm leaning and holding onto Him to do what He has promised to do. The God that created the waves of Lake Michigan that I love to listen to and of the beautiful Michiana sunsets is the same God that will sustain and carry me through this season in my life! And eventually I too will love the Toronto sunsets! :)

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

princess

I realized that I'm a princess!!! Yes, you read right... I'm a princess! Not only did I mentally acknowledged it but also I felt like a princess!

If God is our Father and He was the King then that would make you and me princesses and princes! I knew that. But it was only this weekend did I really feel it from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I felt incredibly loved. I felt special and incredibly precious even with all my flaws. I felt Him loving on me! And boy, it's an incredible feeling to be loved like that!

It's incredibly humbling to experience the connection between the knowing and the feeling of being loved greatly. But what's even more liberating is finally accepting that kind of love from Him. To allow Him to love me. To allow myself to feel His love without attaining "perfection" first so I would deserve that love. To allow Him to see and touch the hurt inside my heart... to acknowledge that it's there and it hurts. That it's ok that He sees it and that I share it with Him. And that it's ok to let go of it... and allow Him to heal it. Oh, I felt so filled... filled to overflowing with His love.

I am His and He is my Father. And I am HIS princess!

satisfied to look on Him

This week has been a little rough. It wasn't because I was so busy but more like I was often discouraged and frustrated. I wanted to go to Revive tonight (vespers) but I came home late from helping one of the Auntie's at church and it had started already. So instead of rushing everyone out and knowing me it would frustrate me... I opted to just stay home.

I ended up listening to some of my favorite songs online. I came across this song called "Before The Throne of God Above" and oh... the comfort and peace the words gave was exactly what I needed. An awesome reminder of my Savior's mercy and love. My favorite part says... "When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look, and see Him there who made an end of all my sin. Because a sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me, to look on Him and pardon me."

Oh what comfort that is!!!

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea:

A great High Priest, whose name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

My name is written on his heart;

I know that while in heaven he stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,

Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I am,

The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by his blood

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God

With Christ, my Savior and my God

finding treasures

I was surfing this morning on Facebook. lol. Checking out pictures and status updates when I stumbled upon a link that was shared by a great mentor. =) I decided to check it out. The link brought me to a blog for PW (Pastor's Wives) and I thought hmmm... this might be interesting. And it was! I was pleased to find out these women were around my age group and have funny (and not so funny), real and uplifting stories. The blog's title is Clutch... for Clutching to God and all that is good. =) I like that very much. This was my little blessing this morning!