lucky!!!

sometimes i forget

how lucky i am

i'm not buried under rocks trying to get out

i'm not suffocating on acrid fumes

i'm not watching my family die because of a horrendeous earthquake

i'm not dying because of malnutrition

i'm not being beaten or raped

i'm not wary of what the next day will bring

death life or another chance to wait

when i read headlines

i'm shocked and amazed

but it doesn't touch me

what touches me is when my next door neighbour

was raped and killed

because it's close to home

when it's far away

it's hard to imagine

it happening to me

hard to imagine my family dying

my friends abused

my friends starving

but then i think

about what i'm forgetting...

"whatever you do to the least of these you do to me"

he supposed to be my best friend

and i'm letting him

i'm not helping while he's being beaten

i'm not giving him my shirt when he's naked

i take my meal and finish half

and throw away the leftovers

while people here, and across the world

scrape the dirt for a beetle

that might prove nutritious

i'm sorry Lord for the way i've been

i'm so sorry for turning my back on you

i'm sorry for glaring at you when you asked for money

i'm sorry

i'm an aunty... again!!!

her name is Kodi Alice May George McClain.... and she is a beautiful 20 inches, and 7 pounds... she arrived at about 2:30 on saturday afternoon... mama and papa are tired,but happy....

almost an aunty!!! again...

well andies contractions have been getting proggresively worse... and her and rob are at the hospital... and sh'e asking for drugs.... i hear that's good... so hopefully we'll hear something soon... shannon

touch the spirit...

i have been so blah lately about everything, but the one thing i really care about, scott touched on it, in his blog... Street church... you go, and it seems like nothing much at first....kinda creepy with all the guys staring at you... but then you stop dancing, sit down and watch the dynamic individuals you are surrounded with... not just the amazing people who trudge out in any weather to feed those who can't feed themsleves... not just the musicians who come out for the sheer presence of the Lord....and not just the people who clean up every night... but the people that come every week, off the street... we are all together, and people aren't leering ... laughing at them... we are all on the same plane it seems... and it's so cool... i take the time every day i go to look around at the different people... i see liz happily dancing with sandy...people laughing , crying, and singing their hearts out.... rose dancing with abandon...scott breaking free...susan shing her light in the background... it's so cool... oh man!!! if you haven't come, i urge it... don't be like me who took an year to come for the first time, and regreted it... it's a crazy wonderful experience... love shannon

well???

my friends and i have been talking a lot lately, because there is something i feel that they don't quite understand.... i've tried to explain parts of what it is... but it's really difficult to tell someone with words what you feel... it always ends up like blah blah blah... and gets taken ways you don't mean it, and it's frustrating, because i want them to know what i mean... but their minds don't think the same way... i think emotionally with everything.... and they think very differently.... as long as it's fixed , it's okay.... but to me, it's not like that... motivation is very key to me.... and i find it difficult too explain it to them,the ways i feel... because it usually come out bass ackwards... it will all straighten out eventually, but i fear a lot of misunderstanding in the future... well what do you do... ( besides hurtling yourself off a cliff, or banging your head on a wall).... got any ideas.... later gators.. curly

hey ho

well it's been a time for change.... i told my friend the other day that she had changed , and so we talked about it tonight... about how we all have many things in our presents and pasts that are haunting us and that we need to deal with.... mel and i have always been able to talk, we are just worried about losing the connections with our other halves... we love you guys you know who you are... and susie i'm sorry if i've put an aura of craziness around me lately... it's one of the things i'm working on... i love you so much, and the last things i want to do is alienate myself from one of the few people i'd die for... so please forgive me... love you lots shannon

heyhey

hey... yah life is getting back to normal.. sorta.... had my birthday party last night..... lots of fun... bp of course... got mulan... rock on.... and it was do cool hanging out with everyone... mel slept over too... it was a lot of fun... later alligator's ... see ya shannon

normality???

you don't realize till something happens, how much you rely on a great bit of normalicy in your life.... when all this crap at our house started, it was kinda fun... then after three weeks, it became something to endure.... not that it wasn't bad enough, my mother went for surgery, and we had to deal with her dealing with it... and her heightened paranoia of running water...needless to say with very few reservations, i'm glad it's over.... the holiday is coming.... and we can hopefully relax... right??? there's a new baby coming, but that's fun..... so life goes on.... you cry, get off your knees, dust yourself off, and get back to work.... i find it so hard to not shut down, when so much crap happens, to not turn my back at the rainbow he promised.... to not see the sun the clouds.... but he's stronger.... when i thought i would fall, because of the weight of my burdens... he gave me someone to lean on, or the strength to help myself.... he does work in mysterious ways, doesn't he....

shine your light down on me....
lift me up, so i can see......

it's done....

my house is finally back in it's semblance of order... i can finally walk through my house without shoes... thanks to everyone who prayed for us during this time... thanks a lot.... love curly

hey....

well i should be on email again soon..... the house is getting better , almost done.... pray that it's quick.... i need email.... yes i'll get help .... L.M.A. shannon

we always knew that when it rains it pours...

but it's not supposed to be inside your house... well here's what i saw when i walked into our basement.... the floor looked really wet... then i walked on it ....squish squish.... about a good inch of water layers our downstairs.... so i get up stairs to talk to my parents... and they tell me that a pipe burst upstairs.... and it followed the heat ducts downstairs to also flood the basement..... so yah fun.... i'm now watching the edenvale guys suck up water, and rip out carpet.... it's going to be a loooong road ahead.... can you guys pray that it goes fast, and we don't have to move out.... yah and if you want to feed us, that would be great... cause our kitchen is pooched, hardwood and all.... well thanks see ya guys later.... shannon

street church.....

went with mel to street church tonight.... it was soooooo awesome... there is such a connected spiritual vibe, man.... it was wonderful.... alll the dancing and talking.... it was a lot of fun... now that i've gone i can't wait for the next one... see ya there.... curly

just because...

i babysat my sam today... in the morning i blew up some balloons for him, and he had lots of fun popping them with me.... later on we went with mel to abbotsford, and i got some more balloons while we were there... went we got home sam went for a nap.... while he was sleeping i blew up all the balloons.... and took them carefully; no more like rolled; up to his room.... when he woke up his floor was covered and he was a little grumpy at first... but then he got right into it... we got pictures of him covered in balloons.... he piled them up in the corner and jumped at them... he also got me to cover him completely, them i would say " okay wiggle" and he would wiggle all over the place sending balloons flying everywhere.... he was so happy... and we have some awesome pics.... all for 3.50 including tax..... man if you every need a sure crowd pleaser this is one... heehee

the end of silliness????

man i hope not.... mel and i were talking about how we don't realize how much fun we have until we are reliving it with someone else.... and also about how we don't do that much silly stuff any more.... because we are working a lot, and busy.... it sucks, but it makes us appreciate the times we do have together.... and if you know us we do do a lot of silly stuff.... whether it be yelling at someone in a movie theatre, pinching each others butts, laughing so hard we almost pee ourselves, or or a good old fashioned burn( yes i'm talking to you jamie: hahahahahahaha ahahahahhahahha hahahahahahahahahahhhahahhahahahhahhaha).... it's really helped to let us get off some steam....... can't wait for the next game night.... later gators

Te amo Doxa!!!

well the other day we found out Doxa won't be happening this fall... that sucks it was a really really good thing.... this song was one of my favorites... i remember when they used to play it... i automatically felt God next to me.... it touched us so much.... it's an awesome worship song by MercyMe...

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

The last thing I need is to be heard

But to hear what You would say

[Chorus]

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see Your majesty

To be still and know That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You

Beyond the music, beyond the noise

All that I need is to be with You

And in the quiet hear Your voice

[Repeat Chorus Twice]

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

more change...

i've lost five more pounds...yippeee yahooo.... man it's going to be a long journey, but it'll be worth it.... my goal is to lose all the weight i need to before i go to Costa Rica next year..... fingers crossed...hehe.... well that's that for now .... lots of love and a hug for scott, shannon

this is awesome...

we went to the all church service in the park today..... it was dull but we made it fun... anyways the girls and i were talking... i commented on how much the people in this church have been changing... it's really cool.... especially in the last two weeks.... i'm losing weight, we are dancing in church, we are opening up, we are hugging other people( yes i'm talking to you scott).... most of all we are letting other people in, and telling them things we've kept hidden for way!!!! too long.... it's like a constant state of emotion... i don't know whether or not i'm going to laugh, cry or dance next... but you know what, i don't care... i feel closer to God, this church, these people than i have ever felt.... ever ...i've come to the point that i don't care what people think, because i'm not going to not be ready because i'm afraid( fears are for pussies, and really God's holding you high above all this crap, what's to fear)... how would i feel if i went to heaven, and he asked me why i wouldn't dance.... ummm ahhhh ya see Lord.... bull i'm not going to hell cause i'm a wimp, and can't stand up for what i believe in, i've been sitting on my spiritual ass for way too long... it's time to Stand Up.... and in the holy words of Whoopi Goldberg " get up off of your seat".... i dare you, and me... no God dares you to do something different... it doesn't have to be big... but do something... one thing done wrong, is better than one million things not done.... so get out there help us change the world..... love shannon

open up.... let the sunshine in

it felt so good today.... to finally open up.... it all started when scott was preaching, then when he started to pray the floodgates opened.... i felt so moved... so i saw susy and rose on the side of the stage, and went up there to cry and hug them.... then we all went on stage, and started dancing... it was so liberating to finally let God in, after the most awesome drum solo, we walked off, and scott embarced me in a huge bear hug, and we all hugged each other.... it felt so good to let down the defenses.... went home , and out to lunch( supposedly with scott, but he got held up)... anyway we webt over to his house after, and after a minute or two... he came and embraced susan and I in a big hug.... that's a big step for him, he has never been the one to start a hug, and it's really cool, when we went to leave, he said " i love you guys".... i think he's really come a long way... so proud man!!!!! love you shannon

p.s. i'm looking forward to seeing all of you at the all church thing tonight....rock on!!!!!

change is good....

i've been thinking a lot about the stagnant form my life had/has taken on in the last year, and i've been thinking that i want to change.... it all started with my change in diet.... and is going to end with a happier me.... thank you guys all for your support.... i started it with just me and God, but i really appreciate the help.... lots of love shannon

a closer walk with thee...

it felt for so long, like we were all walking alone, without anyone to lean on... believe me i've been proven wrong.... lately a lot of new heightsers have been come out the framework with words of encouragement and wisdom on a variety of subjects.... it's so cool to have the community back... it feels good to have someone listening, praying, thinking of you in your time of need.... i can feel it now the power of this church is growing, the people are getting closer together, man the devil has his work cut out for him.... he's going to have one hell of a fight if he wants to take us on... when duke died many people in our church thought that was it, but God prevailed.... when carmen fell out a tree,and nearly didn't get to go to Costa Rica, people were still saved....when scott's life was ripped in two, many thought he wouldn't make it, but he's still standing, stronger in fact, because of his ordeal.... bad things happen to good people for a reason, because they are the only ones with the willpower, and morals to withstand them... so please keep your chins up, and pray, because when he comes back in his glory, you're gonna want to be ready.... amen...

a little about me...

i want to tell you guys something i've been struggling with.... anyone that knows me, knows that i've had a problem with my weight, well forever.... well about four months ago, i hit an emotional rock bottom.... i had hit an astonishing 250 lbs, and when i went to the wavepool with my friends... i went down the slide, and was out of breath when i got to the bottom... i went home, and cried myself to sleep... got up the next morning, and continued on with life as usual.... i felt desparate, and despicable for not doing anything, but i felt powerless to stop.... my eating habit felt like such a big part of me i didn't know if i could stop.... so a couple more months went by, and i gained even more weight, i had hit 260 lbs by now.... i felt out of control, useless to change anything else in my life till i changed this one thing... i felt so weak,people do this every day, so why couldn't i... i tried everything to get myself to stop.... mind tricks, laughing at myself, self loathing, and the whole bit ... but nothing worked... i couldn't stop this vicious cycle that was eating me alive.... until one night, i got down on my hands, and knees and screamed to God in surrender.... i can't do this without you, please help me change.... i woke up the next morning, and i changed... i started eating right.... by that evening i already felt more powerful to fight this, but as the ever doubtful person i am... i wouldn't let myself get my hopes up to early, i wouldn't even tell my friends, because if i failed... i didn't want to feel worse.... but i'm making it!!! i really am, it's been two weeks, and i have lost ten lbs.... i told my mom today, and she started to cry... i haven't seen her this happy in a long time... i haven't been this happy in a long time... it's small steps , but they are steps that i am making just me, and God.... i am so happy, in fact i'm so happy i'm crying, because he has taken away my hate.... i don't hate me now.... i don't hate this thing that i am, because it helped me change... i just want to ask you guys now for continuing prayer to help me knock this thing.... i'm so happy..... i can do it!!! shannon

Quote :)

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother me to see him in a department store, and he asked me for my autograph". Shirley Temple

hurtin!!!

it's kinda cool... a while ago, i was kinda deppressed that none of my friends seemed to give as damn about me... but i thought about it, and all of our lives suck at the moment, and it's to hard to focus on anything but our own problems at this time..... susan has money problems among others, mel is going through a divorce, and aaron is trying to find a job , and a place to stay.... it's still hard to seem to be floating on my own, but it's nice to know that we have something in common.... we are common losers... heeheehee... well that's it for today... shannon

have you ever wondered???

why some people die at birth, yet some live till a hundred and two.... some people are deaf, dumb, and blind; while others have perfect hair, teeth, and friends... why some people lose everything in a flood, while others still have the teddy bear from when they were three.... some go through gas chambers, while others are graduating.... some repeat grades while others graduate with honors.... why some people win everything, while others can seem to get a break... have you ever wondered why your life seems to be throwing you crap all the time??? well keep wondering, i can't give you your answers.... but i can tell you what i've found.... i've found when i am over tired, i tend to drop things(regularly)... when i am sad i tend to have a bad day,where things just tend to pile up.....when one friend dies there are usually a couple more coming.... your high school crush won't go out with you, but your exact opposite(go figure).... just when you expect things to happen in threes, like they say; they'll throw in a fourth just to piss you off.... the more i try to figure out why things happen, the more i thank God for humor( believe me ot comes in handy).... when Duke died i was probably the most sarcastic person you could see, but i made it through... when i failed grade 7, and had to face the humiliation of repeating a grade, humor was my best friend.... when i got teased in school about being fat or being gay, my backbone, and my sense of humor helped a lot.... when my best friend went through the most stretching ordeal of her life like usual i got wrapped up in it, but even when my humor failed me, my friends aaron, and susan were there to cheer us up..... no matter how many times i think i've got it, i know why things happen, i know what makes people tick, i know why i get left behind; then it happens the twister, and my so called theories on life get blown out the window.... then just then i think why am i worried about how things work, God's the maker, he's got it that's all that matters.... he's actually says where not meant to comprehend.... our puny little brains can't fathom evenn a speck of the information that he has created... so i don't know about you but i'm going to stick to my BIBLE.... all he wants me to know is in there, if he wanted us to know the other stuff he would have put it in there.... but hey we do know one thing.... here's a hint..... can you think of it....do you know.... GOD WINS..... heehee .... well that's enough of my wind... nigh night.... shannon

heyhey fellow bloggers!!!

it's so cool that so many people have started blogging.... i really think it's interesting that people will write things on their blog that anybody and their dog can read... things they won't even say when they are talking to someone in person.... the one who has really surprised me is mel.... she has opened up so much, she didn't used to share her feelings, now she writes them up there for all of her friends to see... it's so cool, it's really helping her develop as a person.... i'm glad i got into the circle, because even if i can see you in person. I can read about your life on your blog.... keep it up... love curly

swimming!!!

aaron, Joel, and I went to the wave pool tonight.... guess what i pulled an aaron, i forgot my towel... so bad..... but we had so much fun... we took the big hammers and beat each other with them.... well no we beat Joel with them, but we enjoyed it.... joel did some dives off the board, and he's really good..... it was so cool , he had perfect form.... then more hammer bashing.... we had fun.... mel, and susan should come with us next time...... wahhaaaaaa.... mel bashing could prove to be interesting... heehee...

Playland baby!!!!!

had sooooooo much fun yesterday.... we all went to BP for mel's birthday party, then headed out to playland.... it was so fun.... my fave this year the enterprise...... but i love them all..... all of us girls felt sick, but the guys were still raring to go.... of course.... we were so crazy, we screamed on every ride( well i did my zena call) a thank you... heehee......needless to say sore throat .... but it was a blast... yah p.s. i beat aaron on the heavy hitter.... haha, yah and so did luke... heehee.... we didn't leave till 12:15...... goodgood.... awesome...... rock on.....

i'm sorry!!!

i've found lately that i've underestimated the ones dearest to me......... mel has proven to be one of the most loyal friends i could ever ask for.... susy has shown more depth and more love than i ever thought possible of her( and she's also a great listener)... and aaron has never failed to know what i need even when i don't want it or know that i should... i'm sorry that i've taken you guys for granted... i love you all .... you know that... love curly

Riddles!!! answers

1) "edam" is "made" backwards
2) They are all adopted
3) The Maid: they don't deliver mail on Sundays

Riddles!!!

1)What kind of cheese is made backwards?

2)What do these three have in common?
-Superman
-Moses
-The Cabbage Patch Kids

3) A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got these alibis:
The Wife said she was sleeping.
The Cook was cooking breakfast.
The Gardener was picking vegetables.
The Maid was getting the mail.
The Butler was cleaning the closet.

The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?

lame jokes are the best!!!!

A midget fortune teller robs a bank, and is no where to be seen . The headlines the next day read... "Small medium at large.".....

What do you call cheese that's not yours?..... nacho cheese...

A group of bandits rob a train full of viagra... the police are now looking for three hardened criminals....

How do you confuse a blond? take her to a circular room and tell her to pee in the corner.
How does she confuse you? she comes back and says i'm done....

Three men are on top of a building, and a genie appears. He tells them to jump off and call out what ever they want to fall in. The first guy jumps and calls out feathers.... The next guy jumps and yells "jello".... the next guy slips on a banana while he's jumping and yells " oh shit!!!"

if you have any more leave them....

can you help me

i don't know what to do as a career... i could be a vet's assistant or a graphic designer or a bridal consultant or ..... can anyone think of anything i would be good at??? i need a career to get out of this rut( i'm sure some other people can sympathize with this).... but i don't want to jump into schooling for something i'm not sure of..... if you have any ides please leave them... maybe you'll think of something i haven't..... thanks shannon

she's gone!!!

well seraina's gone..... i'm going to miss her.... i'm kinda dissapointed that we didn't really spend any time together... everytime we called she had something else to do... someone else to see... i guess we are just growing apart... i guess i feel if she really wanted to see us, she would have made the time... but whatever, what's done is done.... maybe next year( sarcastic groan...)

this one's for you Aaron!!! lol

What's black, white, and red all over; and can't turn around in a doorway?
A nun with a javelin through her head.

This is an awesome story by Paul Harvey!!!

He was nine--- in a Sunday school class of eight year olds.
Eight year olds can be cruel.
The third graders did not welcome Phillip to their group.
Not just because he was older. He was "different."
He suffered from Down's syndrome, and it's obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation.
One Sunday after Easter the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle--- the kind in which some ladies' pantyhose are packaged. The Sunday school teacher gave one of these plastic eggs to each child.
On that beautiful spring day each child was to go outdoors and discover for himself some symbol of "new life" and place that symbolic seed or leaf or whatever inside his egg. They would then open their eggs one by one, and each youngster would explain how his find was a symbol of "new life."
So... The youngsters gathered round on the appointed day and put their eggs on a table, and the teacher began to open them. One child had found a flower. All the children "oohed" and "aahed" at the lovely symbol of new life. In another was a butterfly. " Beautiful," the girls said. And it's not easy for an eight year old to say "beautiful." Another egg was opened to reveal a rock. Some children laughed . "That's crazy!" one said. "How's a rock supposed to be like a 'new life'?" immediately a little boy spoke up and said, "That's mine. I knew everybody would get flowers and leaves and butterflies and all that stuff, so I got a rock to be different." Everyone laughed. The teacher opened the last one, and there was nothing inside. "That's not fair" someone said. "That's stupid," said another. Teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip. Looking up he said, "It's mine. I did do it. It's empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty." The class fell silent.
From that day on Phillip became part of the group they welcomed him. Whatever had made him different was never mentioned again.
Phillip's family had known he would not live a long life; just too many things wrong with the tiny body. That summer, overcame with infection, Phillip died.
On the day of his funeral nine eight year old boys and girls confronted the reality of death and marched up to the altar--- not with flowers. Nine children with their Sunday school teacher placed on the casket of their friend their gift of love--- an empty egg.

JOB!!!

hey didn't get the job in Oregon, but i did get a job at wendy's for now.... that is cool... started today .... start actual work tommorow... yahoo... well yah that's that...

Prayer

Many people tend to associate prayer with separation from others, but real prayer brings us closer to our fellow human beings. Prayer is the first and indespensable discipline of compassion precisely because is also the first expression of human solidarity.Why is this so? Because the Spirit who prays in us is the Spirit by whom all human beings are brought together in unity and community. Henry J.M. Nouwen

waaaahh!!!!

have you ever had a period in your life when at the same time everything feels like it's changing, but it's stagnant as well .... that's now for me... the last year really.... anyone who knows me knows that the last year had been crazy for me.... well lately things have been kind of weird... i feel kinda of like i've been forced to feel so much, that i can't handle emotions anymore.... i break down at the slightest pressure, cry over stupid things, lash out at people i love too much to hurt.... i know that i've been hard to deal with at times, and i want to say i'm sorry... i love you guys so much.... you know who you are...

free stuff!!! yah

a site i found is (billygraham.org) and every month they have a free book giveaway... and they are really nice books.... and best of all FREE!!!!!! check it out....

lol

hey mel and susan... i found my superpower... read my random question... heehee

I'm joining the club!!!

Well here it is... blah blah blah.... too late to think... to hot to bother... night