All I Can Think Of

This week is a busy week and although I need to concentrate...ALL I CAN THINK OF IS THIS AMAZING view that we will experience on holidays!!! Can this week go any faster?

Five Things I Love About Saruga

This week is my last week working at Evangel Church and so it seems fitting to write this weeks "Five Things" about the girl who I worked closely with in the past year. Saruga. One of a kind.

1. She is really funny. Sometimes it's intentional and sometimes it's just her awesome, naive and adorable personality that makes her say things without thinking. Those moments have created some great memories that will always make me laugh even years from now. One day we were sitting at our desks working away when Saruga turned to me and began the following conversation:

Saruga: "Where did Dawn move to again?"
Michelle: "Alberta"
Saruga sat for a few minutes with a perplexed look on her face before she blurted out her next question.
Saruga: "It's Calgary Canucks right?"
As I sat there wide-eyed and amused at the fact that this hockey fan could be so confused about westcoast teams, she nodded in agreement with herself. I almost didn't want to tell her the truth. I played it out a bit longer.
Michelle: "No Saruga, the Calgary Flames play in Calgary"
Saruga: "oooohhhhhhhhhh"
Michelle: "It's the EDMONTON Canucks"
and then to make the whole moment even better, she gullibly says:

"ooohhhhh right. that's right, it's the EDMONTON Canucks!!!"

Thanks for all the funny moments you provide. Never let anyone take that innocence away that makes you ask so many questions. You're awesome.

2. She is a stylish princess. This one is two fold. Stylish - yes. She knows how to dress and even more important, knows where to shop. Princess - indeed. Her parents were from rich Sri Lankan families and moved to Canada from Sri Lanka sacrificing alot! If they were living in Sri Lanka right now, Saruga would literally be famous just for being her father's daughter, earning herself princess treatment. And being the "princess" that I am, I'm down with that.

3. She'll give everything off her back for the ones she loves. I mean it. She is the real deal when it comes to being there for her friends. That sums it up. Thank you for being a great friend Saruga.

4. She is always trying to understand. If she doesn't get it, she'll always try to understand where the other person is coming from or why things are done a certain way. I think many people, myself included, can learn from her rather than thinking we know everything about life. Saruga, thanks for making me even think about that.

5. She's the coolest brown person I know. Ok so some might be offended by that but Saruga and I understand the joke. It took me a while to be able to properly pronounce her whole name but I got it. I think it's so cool when she talks to her dad and Tamal, English & French are included in one sentence. She loves her culture. Even more than that, she loves being a Christian in a family that practices Hinduism and I think that's pretty cool. She's supportive of her family and the Hindu traditions they practice but also recognizes that it's ok for her to have her own beliefs. Plus, she knows how to do the REAL "lightbulb" dance. :) ...and laughs at me when I try.

Thanks for being you Saruga!! Love ya to peices!

Mom, Dad & Montreal 2009

My wonderful parents come to visit once a year and they definitely keep us busy. I love it when they come because they're excited to try new things and to dive in and experience our life here in Montreal. So far, we've been to Mont Tremblant, Boston, The Hamptons, a dog hotel (for Uncle Rick lol) and the list goes on. During their stay this time, we get to celebrate some fun days...Father's Day, St Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec holiday), Canada Day and my birthday. Here are few pictures to highlight their stay already...

Luge at Mont Tremblant

At Bunker Hill Monument (Boston)

Father's Day dinner @ Old Port Steakhouse

ALWAYS GOOD TIMES WITH MOM & DAD!

Tonight...Stevie Wonder concert.

Five Things I Love About Tim & Jessica

Last week's "Five Things" was in honour of Mother's Day but THIS week is honour of my little brother and his fiance who are getting married this coming Sunday! I'm on double duty today.

Five Things I Love About My Little Brother, Tim

1. He used to call me "Mommy 2". I know that sounds weird but it actually means alot to me. My little brother looked up to me so much growing up that he considered me a second mother and I always took it seriously. He is only 5 years younger than me and I really have a protective older sister feeling over him. He's 22 now, an adult but that feeling never went away. He's still my little bro and I couldn't ask for a better one. Love ya T.

2. He makes me laugh. I had this one on my older brother Dan's post as well. If you grew up with both of my brothers you would understand how stupidly funny they are. I love it! Tim knows exactly what cracks me up and can make me laugh so hard anytime, anywhere!!!

3. He calls me all the time to just say "hey". Actually it's more like "yo what up my g-dawg" (in an east indian accent - sometimes chinese). I look forward to answering the phone when I see his name come up on my call display. He calls a few times a week to just chat and I love it! Some days we talk for 5 minutes and some days hours.

4. He has so much talent!!! In many, many, MANY ways but I'm going to focus on my favorite talent of his. I don't know how young but he was very young when he started writing music. It's indescribable how he can take a concept and write an entire song that is so great in such a short time. Whether he writes rap, country or worship music...it always amazes me how much talent just flows out of him so easily. It is so clearly something that God weaved into his make-up to one day just burst out! Keep writing Tim. It's a gift that God will use over and over again.

5.He is one of my best friends. So this point will be on everyone of my family members lists. We are all very close and I consider them all my best friends. Tim is no exception. He has always been and is still a bit more private (like my dad) but I know we can go to each other for anything. Thanks for being the best little brother AND my friend Tim.

Five Things I Love About Jessica

1. She's stylish and gorgeous. You know when someone is so pretty that you don't want to stand next to them for the sake of your own confidence? lol. Yea that's Jessica. She is so incredibly beautiful!!! She has awesome style but seriously, she'd probably be pretty wearing the ugliest clothes too.

2. She is an awesome shopping buddy. It seems when I go shopping with a friend or a group of girls that I am ALWAYS the one who walks away spending the most!! I am a really "good" shopper because I am sucked in very easily and well I love clothes, shoes, purses, accessories...

BUT with Jessica, I know that she will either come away with just as much or more than me. She is a shopping diva too and I love it!

3. She's ditzy. I have not lived down many ditzy things I have said in my lifetime. My family makes sure I remember them but it always brings out a lot of laughing. I'm always told that I'm smart but when it comes to the simple things...I don't think before I speak and often it results in me blurting out something silly. All that said...I have met my match.

4. She loves my little brother. Any woman who loves an Eden man is to be applauded. lol. They are amazing men but are also very stubborn. Tim is easy to love forsure but as I said, he is an Eden man. lol. Good job Jessica.

5. She's gentle. I don't totally know how to explain this one. I'm certain she has a crazy side (lol) but there is something about her spirit that is gentle. *Jess...you're beautiful inside and out but don't be afraid to show your crazy side with us :) Welcome to the family. Love ya lots! Congrats on finding an awesome man to spend the rest of your life with.

Five Things I Love About My Mother

THURSDAY HAS ALREADY COME AGAIN! Time for this weeks "Five Things" and in honour of Mother's Day this Sunday, I give you...



Five Things I Love About My Mother

1. She loves her family and friends with ALL her heart! Every morning we wait. Anticipating a text message notification on each of our cell phones. Once that notification rings, I get so excited to open my phone to find what new encouraging or funny message my mom has sent. A morning isn't the same without it and knowing that all of us kids (including spouses) are getting the same message, makes me feel like we're apart of the bigger picture and are united as a family. We all LOVE it and this simple tradition shows how much my mother loves us all.

2. She is one of my best friends! We can talk about everything, say anything and nothing, NOTHING surprises us. Life is life and when you need someone who gets you deep down, who better than a mom. I'm one of those daughters who God forbid when my mom passes away one day, I'll be saying "I wish I had my mom here to ask her about..." In so many ways, we are not alike but I know one day I will have an aha moment and think "oh my goodness, I am my mother!" What daughter doesn't! So I take in the amazing woman that she is and learn.

3. She needs me. I know that sounds funny but I feel very priviledged that my mom respects me enough to need me. It's a two way street. She comes to me for help, advice or to just talk things through. So many times as a teenager I would ask her with such attitude WHEN was she was going to treat me like an adult and she would always reply "When you are an adult, I'll treat you like an adult". ha ha! I can definitely laugh at it now but back then, it was not so funny. Thank you for teaching me to be patient about growing up and for respecting me as an adult once I actually was an adult. oh and thank you for needing me. Love you.

4. Her extra chub. Ok she is going to kill me for saying this but..."MOM, you wouldn't be as cuddly without the extra chub." HA! There, I said it. You're beautiful as you are. Just stay healthy and take care of yourself :)

5. She has an amazing laugh! When she laughs, you can't help but laugh. It's so contagious! And a little silly. I won't lie, she snorts and wiggles while she giggles but man, it's the funniest thing ever! Family Monopoly nights would not hold so many dear memories without that laugh! Keep laughing mom!

Five Things I Love About My Older Brother

A friend of mine just began a segment called "Five Things Thursday" on her blog and I loved the idea!!! Here we go...


Five Things I Love About My Older Brother, Dan

1. He makes me laugh...ALOT! No matter the situation, no matter the circumstances, he always finds a way to make it funny. I absolutely love his wide range of accents and it's awesome when he and Tim go back and forth. (Despite the fact that they make fun of my lack of accents) Dan definitely knows how to make me laugh anytime, anywhere!

2. He makes me feel safe. Although there here have been times when I have NOT felt safe with my big bro (ie. riding on the back of his sport bike as he weaves through traffic on the Hope Princeton highway) , I still know that he will do anything to protect me and to have a big brother like that is not something I would ever change.

3. He has no filter. Sometimes people can see that as a bad thing and sometimes it even works against him, but I love that you get the real deal with him. He says what he thinks, expresses how he feels and isn't ashamed about any of it.

4. His musical ability is phenomenal! I could sit and listen to him play music for hours on end! Our mom was a piano teacher and started teaching us all piano when we were really young. From the first day of his lessons, Daniel watched mom's fingers, listened and then played the exact piece perfectly. Even complex classical peices. Throughout the years, he has learned to play several instruments by teaching himself and everytime I hear him play, I melt. There is just something about it. So much natural talent just oozes out of him.

5. He is one of my best friends. I can tell him ANYTHING! Really. Our family has always been very open with each other and I can't imagine not having that. Plus, I love how Stan has just added to that and become so close with all of them. Having a big brother, especially the one I have, is amazing!!!

Storm

I wonder how many times in our lives we will feel like we're going through a storm. How deep each storm will be and what the design of God is in that storm. The past couple of years have in some ways felt like a storm. A storm where God was calling to us over and over again to look directly at only him and "walk on water".

The song below constantly reminded me that everyone who walks through a storm in life feels overwhelmed and many times, forgotten by God. But it also reminded me that everything IS alright when we focus on God. I was listening to itunes today and heard it come on and realized that either the storm clouds are disappearing or I'm actually learning to get "lost in God's eyes". I wanted to share the song with you.

Storm

How long have I been in this storm

so overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form

Water's getting harder to tread

with these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you everything will be alright

If I'd see you the storminess will turn to light

And I will walk on water and you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes and everything will be alright

And everything will be alright

I know you didn't bring me out here to drown

so why am I 10 feet under and upside down

Barely surviving has become my purpose

Cause I'm so used to living underneath the surface

If I could just see you everything will be alright

If I see you the storminess will turn to light

And I will walk on water and you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes and everything will be alright

And I will walk on water you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes and everything will be alright

I know everything is alright

Everything's alright

Song: "Storm" by Lifehouse