HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY BRADLEY!!

I can't believe my baby brother is 17! I feel so old!

Thank you for always being there for me, always taking care of me in tough times, always understanding me (even when other ppl don't!) and always putting a smile on my face! You're the best brother an older sister could ask for!

But happy birthday buddy, and I hope you've had a wonderful day! MUAH!

Hey, Hey....Hey Beautiful Day!

It's been a beautiful day!! What can I say?

First off, if you haven't heard the song "Night fill my song" (Hey Beautiful Day) by Bedouin Soundclash, you need to. It's definitely been my song of the day, and I refuse to believe there is any way that you can not have a smile on your face and a tapping foot while listening to this tune!

It's been a day stuffed full of fantastic events, and I'm definitely giving God all the glory for that!

As most people know I've been trying to think of ways to come up with some extra money, as I'm planning my trip to Australia. Well, today, two totally separate things came up for me to make a bit of money, and I'm very excited about that! Both in their different ways were answered prayers, and I'm thankful to God for the little reassurances that He keeps giving me, that it's all going to work out!

I also got down to Regent Park today, and visited some kids that will be in my squads that start up in a few weeks. I've been down to Regent a couple times for church since the end of summer, but I haven't had a chance to just walk around in the Park...and I hadn't realized how much I missed it! Throughout my walk I randomly saw about a half dozen kids at various spots, who stopped to either give me a hug, a smile, or just a "hi Pippi!" and a wave from across the parking lot. I only ended up seeing three out of the ten squad kids that I needed to visit, but the other random meetings definitely made my day, and put a smile on my face!

I also had the opportunity to head out to Newmarket and meet up with the beautiful Sam Nolan (a.k.a Capizzio).

I definitely miss my girls from camp, so it was so awesome to get a chance to chat and catch up with this crazy cat! Of course our discussion was quite serious and full of very important issues...such as deciding that Cappi will run Camp Wabana next summer in my place and make all the children dance for hours in the quad wearing a crazy hat, and only one shoe...just one...not two...just one.

Honestly, Sam, you are one of the most beautiful people I know, with such an incredible soul. Don't you dare ever stop dancing, shouting random words, and just being you. Don't let anyone EVER make you feel less then what you are (and what you are is a princess of your Father in Heaven!!) and don't ever lose your passion for God and for serving others!! Chicky, you're an inspiration in my life..don't ever change!!

Tonight my dad arrived home for a two day work trip down to Detroit where he was learning about some new machines or something equally interesting. And something very exciting..he arrived home with presents!! I definitely am the proud new owner of a Mr. Incredible Pez Dispenser...love it!

And, final fantastic event of the day. Brace yourself for it.....I HAVE A CREDIT CARD! As excited as I am that someone finally trusts me with one (I definitely did a dance around the living room), this is another little answer to prayer, and it's something that I now get to check off my list of things I need to get before going to Australia in 3 months. God is good!

So ends my beautifully fantastic day.

Thank you Lord for all the small, yet beautiful moments you bring every day into our lives. May we take the time to notice something fantastic about each day that you bless us with.

Blessings!!

Scott Michael Masuda

This is my new baby cousin, Scott Michael Masuda, with his proud daddy!! He was born today, at 2:45pm, and in this picture he's only an hour old! Congrats Auntie Mel and Uncle Mike!

Blessings!

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

Sunshine, won't you be my mother
Sunshine, come and help me sing
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath

We Are crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain,
While the shadow proves the sunshine,
The shadow proves the sunshine

Too scared that I'll run always
Hold fast till the brink of daylight where,
The shadow proves the sunshine,
The shadow proves the sunshine

O, Lord, why did you forsake me?
O, Lord, don't be far away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord, don't look the other way

I am a crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
Where the shadow proves the sunshine,
The shadow proves the sunshine

Too scared that I'll run always
Hold fast till the brink of daylight where,
The shadow proves the sunshine,
The shadow proves the sunshine

We're crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
Where the shadow proves the sunshine,
The shadow proves the sunshine

Too scared that I'll run always
Holds fast till the brink of daylight where,
The shadow proves the sunshine,
The shadow proves the sunshine

Yeah, yeah...the shadow proves the sunshine
Shine on me...the shadow proves the sunshine
Shine on me...the shadow proves the sunshine

Let my shadows prove the sunshine

Simply this...

This is a picture of my cat and dog that I took last night. Normally they are fighting, hissing and growling at one another if they're in close proximity...but even if just for a moment, they let down their guard and just sat chillin, enjoying each others company. I love those simple moments.

On Sunday, at the beginning of my Jr class that I teach at church, I announced to my kids that I was leaving at the end of December to go to Australia. To my surprise, that was met with a lot of disappointment and frowns, as they informed me that I wasn't allowed to leave as they would miss me too much. I love those simple reminders.

Today, at work, one of my girls found out that she gets to go on a visit to see her Dad and Grandma this weekend for the first time in a few months. She was so full of joy that she cried, and the frown that had been on her face all day, lifted and was replaced by a beautiful smile. I love those simple feelings of happiness.

On my way home from work, I crossed Eglinton on my way to Kennedy Station. As I walked across the road, the crossing guard showed me a big smile and said "have a great evening, okay?" and I smiled too because I knew he was sincere and it uplifted my heart. I love those simple smiles.

On the subway, I watched as an elderly lady sat down next to a complete stranger. The elderly lady explained in honest admiration "I love those sandals! Where did you get them?" I watched as the sandal lady beamed and proudly showed off her bright, shimmery lime green shoes to the inquiring stranger. I love those simple compliments.

Tonight I attended a beautiful youth service, in which the youth pastor boldly spoke about the love God had for each and every one of the 25 youth who were sitting in front of her. "He's going to love you..and He's NEVER going to break your heart!" I saw that not only were these words heard by the youth...but they were believed. I love simple love.

Make Poverty History - Dear Mr. Goodale....

I recieved this email today. Give it a read through, and if you feel that you would like to participate in the actions to Make Poverty History, then just copy the letter that follows, into an email, and send it out. Every little bit helps.

Blessings.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for your actions to Make Poverty History.

Today we are asking you to please send a letter to Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale, with a copy to Canada’s representatives to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund prior to their upcoming annual meetings. Urge them to make every effort to ensure that the G8 DebtCancellation proposal is strengthened, not weakened, so the needs of the world’s poorest people are not ignored.

Please send the following letter, adapt it or draft your own, to:

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance at

Financergoodale@fin.gc.ca

Please CC: Marcel Massé, Canadian Executive Director at the WorldBank at

mmasse@worldbank.org

Kevin Lynch, Canadian Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund at

klynch@imf.org

Thank you for helping Make Poverty History!
Liz Bernstein and the Make Poverty History team
**********************************************************************************
FROM: _________

TO:The Honorable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance

Financergoodale@fin.gc.ca

CC: Marcel Massé,
Canadian Executive Director at the World Bank
mmasse@worldbank.org

Kevin Lynch,
Canadian Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund
klynch@imf.org

SUBJECT: Make Poverty History
IMPORTANCE: Highest

Dear Mr. Goodale,

I am writing to you to call on you as Canada’s representatives to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to make everyeffort in the coming weeks to ensure that the G8 Debt Cancellation proposal is strengthened, not weakened.

Canada has played a leadership role in the past on debt cancellation issues. We urge you to play this leadership role at the upcoming meetings of the World Bank and IMF and push for a strengthening of the G8 debt deal when it goes for approval by the boards of these institutions this week.

To ensure that poor countries no longer face the crushing burden of their debts, we call on you and the Government of Canada to lead an international movement to:

§ EXTEND the agreement for 100% cancellation of the debts owed to multilateral financial institutions to all impoverished countries that need debt cancellation in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

§ ENSURE that countries are free to implement their own national development strategies by ending IMF and World Bank Structural Adjustment Programs.

Now is the moment for bold action. We strongly urge you to seize this moment and play a role that I and other Canadian supporters of the Make Poverty History campaign would be proud of.

Sincerely,

The Setting Sun

I just bought the new Switchfoot CD, and I'm loving it. One song that I'm really enjoying right now, I thought I would share because I think the lyrics are fantastic. Sorry if you're the type of person who hates when people only put song lyrics up as a blog *cough*...but read anyways and enjoy.

I've got a wound that doesn't heal,
Burning out again, burning out again
I'm not sure which of me is real,
I'm alone again, burning out again
My hope runs underneath it all the day that I'll be home

It won't be long,
I belong somewhere past this setting sun
Finally free, finally strong,
Somewhere back where I belong.

They're selling shares of me again,
I'm not buying, it I'm not buying it
My wound goes deeper than the skin,
There's no hiding it, so i'm not trying it
My hope runs underneath it all the day that I'll be home

It won't be long,
I belong somewhere past this setting sun
Finally free, finally strong,
Somewhere back where I belong .

Finally back where we belong
Finally Free It's gonna take you to the setting sun

Lets the weak say I am strong and it won't be long
Let the right say I was wrong and it won't be long
Let us find where we belong, beyond this setting sun
Beyond this setting sun

It won't be long,
I belong somewhere past this setting sun
Finally free, finally strong,
Somewhere back where I belong.

"I'll protect you..."

Just finished watching this unbelievable movie.

I'm currently in a state of attempting to take in the intensity of this film after my tears that were pouring down my face have finally subsided and I am trying to reflect on all that I just took in.

The movie's primary base was on the racism in North America, more specifically, LA. I had heard that racism was a factor in the plot of this film, but I had no idea the depth or span that it covered within the story line.

Within the time span of 122 minutes, you are introduced to about a dozen main characters, all of whom are seemingly independent of one another...but who all at one point or another cross paths in a variety of spectrums.

Racism in this movie is shown through ignorance of other cultures...through bias and stereotypes...through mere accidents and mis-interpretations...through being in the wrong place at the wrong time...and through simple pure hatred of other races. But, it also shows the incredible way that it all comes back to us...what goes around comes around...and that in some crazy way, we're all in this together, linked together in one way shape or form.

Each character is confronted with the very thing that they feared, hated or had merely avoided in ignorance...and that brings about some incredible displays of emotion, violence, and realization that there is a world out side of ourselves.

It's definitely a eye opening and mind boggling experience to watch this film...even for those who are very informed of the racial issues and battles that go on every day in North America. It's also a sad realization to know that this is infact a true reflection on the society that we do live in.

Is there anyone else who has seen this movie who has any thoughts? feedback?

Or just any thoughts on the issues or racism in North America today?

A staff member at work today was actually talking about this issue because of a class she is taking in college in regards to this subject. She said that a comment someone made at the class yesterday stood out to her. A fellow student in the class raised his hand to say...

"I think I regret coming to Canada with my children from Jamaica because of all the racism that takes place here."

Thoughts?

Salvation Army Grid::Blog

Just testing out a crazy theory....

A New Look

Well...my blog has taken on a new look.

After many hours, and with loads of help from the oh so patient Phil (thank you!!), I've finally got something I think I like!!

What do you think?

Australia Bound

I have officially bought my plane ticket and travel insurance. On December 27, 2005, I fly down to Melbourne, Australia.

My prayers were answered in a huge way by my parents, who came through for me in such an incredible way, to make sure that not only did I have the money, but that my plane ticket got bought. I would be totally lost without them!

Prayers are definitely still needed for money and for applying for a Visa.

But God is good....and I'm going to Australia!

Prayer Request

Alrighty...

So for anyone who doesn't know, I'm heading down to Australia in January to be apart of a program at the 614 in Melbourne. I am very very excited about it, and I know that God is going to take care of me there, and has lots in store.

My prayer request.

I have a lot to figure out. In terms of booking a flight, getting a Visa, and other little things like that. The biggest concern being finances.

If you could pray that God will provide all that I need in these areas, that would be very much appreciated.

I know God is good, and everything will work out in His time.

Blessings,

Ready for a Revolution?

If I'm here all alone
If I'm left behind
If they spit in my face
If they hate my kind

I will rise above
I will live for love
I will answer to the call

For the bond between
For the depth unseen
For my God forsake it all

Cause I'm a fire
I'm a flood
I'm a revolution
I am a war
Already won
I'm a revolution

When the world is at war
When the grace is gone
When the hungry lay dead
While the rich live on

I will rise above
I will live for love
I will answer to the call

For the bond between
For a depth unseen
For my God forsake it all

Cause I'm a fire

I'm a flood

I'm a revolution

I am a war

Already won

I'm a revolution

Here I stand
Open hands
Waiting for You
I won't back down
I'll live to speak Your truth

Cause I'm a fire

I'm a flood

I'm a revolution

I am a war

Already won

I'm a revolution