We returned last night from a weekend spent in Brandon, MB for a quick visit with Stewart and Taralee (& Siena!) and Liz was able to join us from Dauphin too.  We had a short but sweet chat with Brian and Charla and kids too before we hit the road.  Our drive home, which is normally 3.5 hours to Regina, took us over 5 because of the blowing snow and low visibility.  I don’t know how many cars we counted in the ditch on the way but there were a lot; mostly trucks and semis.  Those big boys think must they can do anything!  Our little car made it safely and we stayed warm the whole way, even with a tasty iced cap in hand!  It was nice to have the extra time to chat and listen to some good mucis on the way.  I loved getting away for the weekend and spending some time with some good folks in Brandon- it was short but it reminded me that we do have so many good people in our lives in many different places.  Man, we’re blessed more than we even know, sometimes it’s only when I stop to think about it that I realize it.

Last time I posted (like a long time ago) I think I said something about not making any new years resolutions.  That’s sort of true because I didn’t really make any on January 1, but it did get me to thinking what things in my life I’d like to change.  There are many, but I decided that the most important one I could make is to make relationships more of a priority.  It’s kind of been tough to be “fully present” here in Regina when so often my thoughts and heart feel like they’re back in China, and I don’t want to stop caring and thinking about my family there, but in order to be what I think God wants me to be here, there’s no doubt that I need to be more available to the people and ways that God is working here.  I just decided that I want to make it a huge priority to be a better sister, a better wife, and a better friend to those around me.  I want to be a better listener and be more perceptive to others’ needs, and to those I don’t know I want to be just an all round more accepting person.  I think if Jesus walked the earth, that’s what he would be; now definately there are some things he would not accept, but he would accept every person and make sure that in his interactions with them he communicated love and a genuine desire for a better life for them.  The ways he treated people are something for me to strive towards…there’s a lot of things I will never be able to do or be perfectly in my christian walk, but I don’t know that many things for me should be placed above this one.  So that’s my one big change that I want to make in 2007.  I hope I can say at the end of it that some changes were made in my heart and actions.  Having said that makes me think of that time when Gandhi said something about the life of Jesus and compared it with that of his disciples.  He was fascinated with Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount and with the life he lived, but when he looked at the people who claimed to follow Jesus, he was disappointed.  Sometimes they feel worlds apart- I guess a true follower must never take his eyes off Jesus.  It’s way too easy to get sidetracked in this place though.

 Another thing that I’m trying to do is get in better shape and build some muscle.  It’s not really a resolution as much as it is an experiment.  Jason and I started the ‘Body for Life’ challenge last week and I’m pretty excited about sticking to it for the 12 weeks and seeing what happens.  I’ve kind of been lifting weights since we returned from China…I had time on my hands so in the summer I used to go over to J’nea’s house almost every day to lift.  She was a great trainer and motivator (have you seen her lately?!?) and then Jason and I bought a weight machine in October and started doing it semi-seriously.  Doing the challenge and really going after it hard excites me because I’ve never really been a goals person.  I think I’m too laid back and am not really a go-getter as much as I’d like.  But I’m going to try to do the 12 weeks, combining the exercise, nutrition, and supplements plan that is outlined in the Body for Life book, and see what happens.  I say that it’s experimental because if I actually do complete this, I’m expecting to have a huge sense of accomplishment (!) and will probably feel like there are less limits on me as to what I can do if I put my mind to it.  That is IF I succeed/ finish!  I’m completely planning to and I think I’m quite committed, but we’re still in the beginning stages and usually what happens is that when something gets hard I give up.  But it’s already gotten hard and I haven’t quit yet! 

So that’s it for now…hope it’s not too long til I’m back on here.  Wan an (goodnight)!