What a beautiful day it was. The warm summer sun was shining down on us today. If it weren't for the colour changes already happening you would have guessed it was still summer! Really, Jacob was still picking the last of the raspberries off the bushes!
My garden holds 4 nicely shaped pumpkins and a yummy looking squash that I plan on using for Canadian Thanksgiving in a few weeks. I picked a few more apples off our tree before the birds got them. It was fun to see the boys eating the apples they had hand picked. I am so fortunate to have all these foods at my fingertips. Next year I will make more of an effort to plant a bigger garden.
I do love the fall, and all the changes that happen around us during this season. It makes me want to snuggle up with a warm blanket and put a log on the fire. I know that the white stuff, that didn't seem to want to leave us last year, will soon be coming and I am ready for it! I've got my snowshoes waiting!
For This I am Grateful (Day 5)
1. The precious moments I spent with my family exploring in the corn field this evening
2. For having the means to be able to pay for a great house cleaner twice a month
3. For the privilege of being able to be a stay at home mom for the past 7 years
Blessings
Lee-Anne
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Giving Praise
Today I at church and it seemed like we sang for at least half of the service. This is wonderful for me because I love to sing contemporary Christian music. During the service all the words to every song are displayed on a screen at the front of the sanctuary. This helps to sing each song rather than looking in a book and it also makes it more clear to me the message of each song.
One of the songs was "Lead Me To the Cross". It holds very dear to me because it was one of my favourites when I lived in Seattle and it always brought tears to my eyes. I had not sung it in church, until today, for over a year. It just always reminds me that God loves us so much that He gave us His only son. Jesus did not have to die on the cross, but he chose to because he knew what his purpose on earth was and he was willing to endure the pain so he could be lifted up and be the greatest being to ever walk the earth.
Lead Me To The Cross- Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_24IdbJ0Tw
The sermon was about how we can get distracted from things that are important for us to do in life. Sometimes we are not in tune with what we are being called to do and miss out on great opportunities to serve. Sometimes the distractions are good and sometimes not so good. Either way, life is full of distractions and it is up to me to pay attention to what God is asking of me and to choose accordingly.
Whether you are a believer of God or not, this applies to everyone! The world is filled with distractions that hold many of us back from achieving GREAT things. We each have so much to offer, yet most of us settle for mediocre. What are we waiting for?
I know I touched on this a while back. I admit I am still a little shaky out of the starting block, but now, more than ever I feel like I can just BE and allow God to guide me along the path I should be going on without being afraid of messing things up. If I Be who I am supposed to be then I can DO anything I was created to do and then I will HAVE everything I was meant to have.
BE, DO, HAVE- NOT HAVE, DO, BE
For This I Am Grateful (Day 4)
1. Unshakable faith
2. A healthy body
3. Knowledge of how to stay healthy and how to get others healthy!
Blessings
Lee-Anne
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
One of the songs was "Lead Me To the Cross". It holds very dear to me because it was one of my favourites when I lived in Seattle and it always brought tears to my eyes. I had not sung it in church, until today, for over a year. It just always reminds me that God loves us so much that He gave us His only son. Jesus did not have to die on the cross, but he chose to because he knew what his purpose on earth was and he was willing to endure the pain so he could be lifted up and be the greatest being to ever walk the earth.
Lead Me To The Cross- Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_24IdbJ0Tw
The sermon was about how we can get distracted from things that are important for us to do in life. Sometimes we are not in tune with what we are being called to do and miss out on great opportunities to serve. Sometimes the distractions are good and sometimes not so good. Either way, life is full of distractions and it is up to me to pay attention to what God is asking of me and to choose accordingly.
Whether you are a believer of God or not, this applies to everyone! The world is filled with distractions that hold many of us back from achieving GREAT things. We each have so much to offer, yet most of us settle for mediocre. What are we waiting for?
I know I touched on this a while back. I admit I am still a little shaky out of the starting block, but now, more than ever I feel like I can just BE and allow God to guide me along the path I should be going on without being afraid of messing things up. If I Be who I am supposed to be then I can DO anything I was created to do and then I will HAVE everything I was meant to have.
BE, DO, HAVE- NOT HAVE, DO, BE
For This I Am Grateful (Day 4)
1. Unshakable faith
2. A healthy body
3. Knowledge of how to stay healthy and how to get others healthy!
Blessings
Lee-Anne
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Inspiration
I spent today driving a total of 4 hours getting to know a new friend and discussing future business endeavours together; Five hours learning even more about how wonderful my company is; and about 1 hour socializing with new and fabulous people who inspired me with new ideas to get my business going further.
The whole day was about interacting, and meeting new people who I wouldn't necessarily have ever met. I believe that there was some Divine intervention over the past couple weeks that has bought me to where I am. God has placed such amazing people into my life on top of those that were already in it. I can't wait to see what the next few months hold!
For this I am grateful (day3)
1. Making a new friend, who is already an Associate with USANA, and (like me) was looking for someone to work with when I stopped her on the street to introduce myself last week!
2. Being introduced to Jeanne on the plane from SLC to Chicago and driving with her to VT. It is because of her I was in Burlington today!
3. Meeting a super inspirational woman today, who also spoke at convention and stirred up the girl power, and was a major reason I went to Super Saturday!!!
What inspires you to go that extra mile?
Blessings
Lee-Anne
Romans 8:28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)
The whole day was about interacting, and meeting new people who I wouldn't necessarily have ever met. I believe that there was some Divine intervention over the past couple weeks that has bought me to where I am. God has placed such amazing people into my life on top of those that were already in it. I can't wait to see what the next few months hold!
For this I am grateful (day3)
1. Making a new friend, who is already an Associate with USANA, and (like me) was looking for someone to work with when I stopped her on the street to introduce myself last week!
2. Being introduced to Jeanne on the plane from SLC to Chicago and driving with her to VT. It is because of her I was in Burlington today!
3. Meeting a super inspirational woman today, who also spoke at convention and stirred up the girl power, and was a major reason I went to Super Saturday!!!
What inspires you to go that extra mile?
Blessings
Lee-Anne
Romans 8:28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)
Friday, September 9, 2011
For This I am Grateful-Day 2
For this I am grateful:
1. A loving mother who sacrificed so much for me and has shown me nothing but unconditional love
2. A father who loves me
3. For the ability to dream without limitations
Blessings
Lee-Anne xo
Psalms 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
1. A loving mother who sacrificed so much for me and has shown me nothing but unconditional love
2. A father who loves me
3. For the ability to dream without limitations
Blessings
Lee-Anne xo
Psalms 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
For This I am Grateful
At USANA Convention 2011 we had the priviledge of listening to an amazing speaker by the name of Shawn Achor. He is the author of The Happiness Advantage: www.happinessadvantage.com.
Achor gave us a few simple strategies to help us change our behaviours and to help us focus on being happier one day at a time. He challenged us to performing ONE of these behaviours, everyday, for 21 days, to create a new habit.
For the next 21 days I will be posting 3 things I am grateful for. Like most people I could use an extra boost of happiness now and again, so if I can create it then how great is that!
For this I am grateful:
1. My three beautiful boys, their energy and love is oh so wonderful!
2. My loving husband who is supportive in MOST things I do and who is such a wonderful father
3. Our beautiful house in the country that we all share together as one family
What are you grateful for? Or better yet, what new behaviour will you choose to do for the next 21 days?
Blessings
Lee-Anne xo
Achor gave us a few simple strategies to help us change our behaviours and to help us focus on being happier one day at a time. He challenged us to performing ONE of these behaviours, everyday, for 21 days, to create a new habit.
- Gratitudes – 3 things you are grateful for in the last 24 hours, must be specific and must be different.
- Journaling – write detailed experience of a meaningful event that happened in last 24 hours
- Exercise – 30 minutes, daily and get your heart pumping
- Meditation- take a deep breath, one task at a time
- Random Acts of Kindness- ie: 2 min positive email first thing in morning
For the next 21 days I will be posting 3 things I am grateful for. Like most people I could use an extra boost of happiness now and again, so if I can create it then how great is that!
For this I am grateful:
1. My three beautiful boys, their energy and love is oh so wonderful!
2. My loving husband who is supportive in MOST things I do and who is such a wonderful father
3. Our beautiful house in the country that we all share together as one family
What are you grateful for? Or better yet, what new behaviour will you choose to do for the next 21 days?
Blessings
Lee-Anne xo
Psalm 127:3-5 ESV
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.Friday, September 2, 2011
The Unexpected Roadtrip
Last week I spent a fabulous 6 days in Salt Lake City attending 2 amazing conferences. On Monday August 22nd, I flew out of Burlington VT. I flew from the states because it is just as close as Montreal, but so much easier to drive to.
Little did I know there would be three natural disasters in a row that week, the last of which included Hurricane IRENE. She blasted through southern Vermont with a vengeance. So when it came time for me to head home guess which flights were canceled? Yup, my flight from Chicago to Burlington had been canceled on Friday for Sunday and they wouldn't fly me out until Thursday (4 days later)! I couldn't even purchase a ticket to Montreal or Toronto earlier than Tuesday of this week.
God was on my side though, as He always proves to be. On the flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago I sat beside a wonderful woman by the name of Jeanne. We had gotten to know one another over the course of 3 hours and quickly bonded. Not only were we in the same business, but she was also a mother of 3 boys (in their 20's), and had completed the Klemmer workshops not too long ago.
As we got off the plane Jeanne noticed that our flight from Chicago to Burlington had been canceled. You think that would have been established BEFORE we left Salt Lake City! My first reality check was that I probably would not make it home for the first day of school for Logan and Mason :( My second reality check was that I was probably going to have to drive home, even though my directional skills are terrible!
Without much hesitation Jeanne and I decided to rent a car and drive back home! To refuel our brains we had lunch with two other wonderful business associates, Les and Laurie. Once our bellies were full and we were full of prayer support we hit the road.
First we had to find out where and how to rent a car from the airport since everything was off site! After some phone calls and tips from a shuttle driver we went with Hertz for our cross country trip. I know all the rental companies made a killing that weekend! It is amazing how they can jack up prices when you just want to go one way!
We left the airport at 6pm on a mission to see our families ASAP! We missed our exit to get out of Chicago, but one stop at an interesting gas station put us on the right track. Everyone was very helpful, even the security guard :)
What we really wanted was a map! Do you realise how hard it is to find a map these days? We asked at every pit stop and couldn't even get a map of the state we were in until we hit Syracuse NY!
I got excited when we passed each State sign to say we had entered it! I tried getting pictures of the signs, but I was never quick enough! We got through Indiana the first night then stopped close to Cleveland Ohio to sleep. We managed to get the last room in the place. It was a smoking room, but we got a discount for our heavy sigh of disappointment!
The sleep set us back a few hours, but it was much needed in order to move forward. Not to mention we got breakfast included so we were set for the day! Most of our travelling was spent navigating and talking about our lives. Of course sometimes we were talking when we should have been navigating and missed some key points and had to back track! The beauty of travelling with Jeanne is that we are very like minded and nothing stressed us out (except for the fact that Jeanne really wanted her map!)
We got tons of help from Jeanne's family. Unfortunately, they couldn't see the road closure we came across in Syracuse. Actually, we were just as surprised to find it because all the signs said exit 29 was where the closure began. It actually started at exit 34 and we wanted exit 31! After a little nap at the rest stop before exit 35 we ventured out into the 2 hour traffic jam/detour and found our alternate route during that time. Thankfully, we managed to pick up a state map and a road atlas at our last fuel stop! No worries!
Once we were out of Rome NY around 7:30pm we stopped at another gas station to drink our shakes and to look at our map again to make sure we weren't heading into flooded territory. We had been told by the attendant that his nephew was stuck in traffic because of detours out of Vermont due to flooding. After some calls to Jeanne's family we were reassured that we would not be hitting any problems in our slightly more northern route.
For the last leg of our trip we were very awake and motivated to get home. We drove through the Adirondacks for a while. Too bad it was pitch black because I am sure it was beautiful! Then we caught a 24 hour fairy to cross Champlain Lake into Vermont.
From there it took about 35 minutes to get to Jeanne's house. At 1 am Tuesday Morning, we arrived at the house and that is where I stayed to lay my head for a well deserved rest!
We got up 6 hours later to start the day. I returned the rental car while Jeanne went to her office. My suitcase had arrived at the airport Monday morning, how ironic, so I picked it up and went on my way for the 2 hour drive back to Stanstead Quebec.
Funny, I was really nervous when I drove by myself, for the first time ever, to Burlington VT a week earlier. However, I had no worries heading back home. I had no problem following my mapquest directions going backwards. In fact it all seemed logical. I think two days of navigating had some effect on me! I even stopped to pick up a young hitch hiker on her way back to her job at a farm on my route!
I learned a lot during the last week and a half. The biggest is that I can do anything I put my mind to. I was blessed to have Jeanne along on a crazy adventure and even more blessed that we made such a great travel team.
The second biggest thing I learned is that I need to update my technology and get a cell phone with all the gadgets so I know where I am going and can contact people at the touch of a finger! It would have been fun to keep updates going as I was driving!
I have been spending the past couple of days readjusting to a new school schedule with the kids, unpacking, and jumping into reality once again! Travelling is fun, but home is where my heart is!
Blessings
Lee-Anne (AKA the fearless traveller!)
Psalm 121:7,8
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Little did I know there would be three natural disasters in a row that week, the last of which included Hurricane IRENE. She blasted through southern Vermont with a vengeance. So when it came time for me to head home guess which flights were canceled? Yup, my flight from Chicago to Burlington had been canceled on Friday for Sunday and they wouldn't fly me out until Thursday (4 days later)! I couldn't even purchase a ticket to Montreal or Toronto earlier than Tuesday of this week.
God was on my side though, as He always proves to be. On the flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago I sat beside a wonderful woman by the name of Jeanne. We had gotten to know one another over the course of 3 hours and quickly bonded. Not only were we in the same business, but she was also a mother of 3 boys (in their 20's), and had completed the Klemmer workshops not too long ago.
As we got off the plane Jeanne noticed that our flight from Chicago to Burlington had been canceled. You think that would have been established BEFORE we left Salt Lake City! My first reality check was that I probably would not make it home for the first day of school for Logan and Mason :( My second reality check was that I was probably going to have to drive home, even though my directional skills are terrible!
Without much hesitation Jeanne and I decided to rent a car and drive back home! To refuel our brains we had lunch with two other wonderful business associates, Les and Laurie. Once our bellies were full and we were full of prayer support we hit the road.
First we had to find out where and how to rent a car from the airport since everything was off site! After some phone calls and tips from a shuttle driver we went with Hertz for our cross country trip. I know all the rental companies made a killing that weekend! It is amazing how they can jack up prices when you just want to go one way!
 |
| Jeanne gets to drive first! |
 |
| Nice little red car for the ladies! |
We left the airport at 6pm on a mission to see our families ASAP! We missed our exit to get out of Chicago, but one stop at an interesting gas station put us on the right track. Everyone was very helpful, even the security guard :)
 |
| Chicago Cityscape |
What we really wanted was a map! Do you realise how hard it is to find a map these days? We asked at every pit stop and couldn't even get a map of the state we were in until we hit Syracuse NY!
 |
| A Rev3 boost for the evening drive! |
 |
| Jeanne is the master driver!! |
 |
| Don't forget the Shake!! |
 |
| Jeanne had her coffee fix in the shake! |
I got excited when we passed each State sign to say we had entered it! I tried getting pictures of the signs, but I was never quick enough! We got through Indiana the first night then stopped close to Cleveland Ohio to sleep. We managed to get the last room in the place. It was a smoking room, but we got a discount for our heavy sigh of disappointment!
 |
| Don't forget the vitamins! |
 |
| Waking up after a good night sleep! |
 |
| Up with the birds |
 |
| Lee-Anne's turn to drive! Watch out! |
We got tons of help from Jeanne's family. Unfortunately, they couldn't see the road closure we came across in Syracuse. Actually, we were just as surprised to find it because all the signs said exit 29 was where the closure began. It actually started at exit 34 and we wanted exit 31! After a little nap at the rest stop before exit 35 we ventured out into the 2 hour traffic jam/detour and found our alternate route during that time. Thankfully, we managed to pick up a state map and a road atlas at our last fuel stop! No worries!
 |
| Jeanne finally finds a map!! |
 |
| Smiling even with road detours ahead! |
 |
| The great meal replacement! |
 |
| Dusk in Rome NY |
 |
| A little booster C goes a long way! |
For the last leg of our trip we were very awake and motivated to get home. We drove through the Adirondacks for a while. Too bad it was pitch black because I am sure it was beautiful! Then we caught a 24 hour fairy to cross Champlain Lake into Vermont.
 |
| On the ferry at midnight. |
 |
| Tired me ready to get back home. |
From there it took about 35 minutes to get to Jeanne's house. At 1 am Tuesday Morning, we arrived at the house and that is where I stayed to lay my head for a well deserved rest!
We got up 6 hours later to start the day. I returned the rental car while Jeanne went to her office. My suitcase had arrived at the airport Monday morning, how ironic, so I picked it up and went on my way for the 2 hour drive back to Stanstead Quebec.
 |
| Thelma and Louise after the adventure! |
 |
| All of our maps and written instructions! |
Funny, I was really nervous when I drove by myself, for the first time ever, to Burlington VT a week earlier. However, I had no worries heading back home. I had no problem following my mapquest directions going backwards. In fact it all seemed logical. I think two days of navigating had some effect on me! I even stopped to pick up a young hitch hiker on her way back to her job at a farm on my route!
I learned a lot during the last week and a half. The biggest is that I can do anything I put my mind to. I was blessed to have Jeanne along on a crazy adventure and even more blessed that we made such a great travel team.
The second biggest thing I learned is that I need to update my technology and get a cell phone with all the gadgets so I know where I am going and can contact people at the touch of a finger! It would have been fun to keep updates going as I was driving!
I have been spending the past couple of days readjusting to a new school schedule with the kids, unpacking, and jumping into reality once again! Travelling is fun, but home is where my heart is!
 |
| Mason and Logan on their 3rd day of school! |
Blessings
Lee-Anne (AKA the fearless traveller!)
Psalm 121:7,8
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Quick Note
For the first time in weeks, all my boys were asleep by 7:45pm!!! I have been cleaning out my emails, sending messages and editing pictures since 8pm.
It is 9:15pm now and I am pretty much done for the night. As much as I would love to write a lengthy blog, it will just have to wait a little while longer.
People have been asking me why I haven't written anything in weeks. Let's just say I have been concentrating on more important things. I will write more in a couple weeks to share what I have been doing with all my time! Everything is going fantastic and life is only going to get better!
Blessings
Lee-Anne
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
2 Tim 1:7 (AMP)
It is 9:15pm now and I am pretty much done for the night. As much as I would love to write a lengthy blog, it will just have to wait a little while longer.
People have been asking me why I haven't written anything in weeks. Let's just say I have been concentrating on more important things. I will write more in a couple weeks to share what I have been doing with all my time! Everything is going fantastic and life is only going to get better!
Blessings
Lee-Anne
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
2 Tim 1:7 (AMP)
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