I've started updating my side bars. It's slow going because...well...I'm slow at it. :P

EF is still plugging away. A few months ago we used some money out of the fund to help cover costs.

UK trip is trucking along nicely. I hope we save up lots!

My Christmas Jar is doing pretty good too.

I didn't make a saving tracker, but we have all our money saved up for our little trip to Calgary to stay with my aunt. Husband, child, dog, and me are going to drive up to Calgary for 10 days in November. I've got $500 earmarked.

The only sidebar I haven't updated yet is the LOC. I can't remember the log in to the bank account. lol.

Husband took our car in for servicing the other day. It needed an oil change and was making some noises while we idled. They tightened some belts and flushed the engine and did some other things. The total was $76.

In the past this would have meant scrambling and worrying and probably putting the $76 on a cc. However, because I have been saving $5 a week for the last 6 months we have that money saved up! All I did was set up a transfer to move the money from savings to our chequing and tada the cost is covered! I'm very proud of us. The best part is that there is still money left in the Car Fund!

I know it's not much, but it's something.

I really gotta update my side bars. They are so out of date. :P

This is the letter that I wrote to my Church Council to be accepted as an Inquirer within the United Church. It was a hard letter to write. It took me a good 2 weeks to put this to paper. I'm very proud of the letter, and I hope that I don't sound silly in it. I'm so incredibly pleased to report that I am now officially an Inquirier within the United Church of Canada!

Brothers and Sisters,
Please accept this letter and attached form as my formal application to
receive official Inquirer Status within the United Church of Canada in
order to begin to discern my call to ministry.

While my call to ministry has not been dramatic, it has grown slowly
over the years. I have been a member of the United Church and part of
the Christian faith my whole life. I first felt a gentle call while in
University and at that time I explored this feeling by majoring in
Religious Studies. After I graduated I registered as a student in the
Masters of Divinity program and completed one course. During this time
I struggled with my faith, but through reflection, discussion and prayer
I was able to once again feel and recognize the love and support of
Christ.

S United Church has been my home congregation for many years now
and I have been an active member of the spiritual and communal life at
S. Reflection, prayer, and membership at S have not only
furthered my call to be a Christian but also to be a leader in the
church as well as wanting to serve within the church as a servant of
Jesus Christ. What was only a small feeling or a gentle nudge has now
become something more. There is now a sense of urgency that was not
there before. I have eagerly accepted the role of "First Sundays
Ministry" coordinator at S and am looking forward to seeing this
position grow and in seeing how this position allows me grow in faith
and leadership.

I believe that among others, I will bring the gifts of compassion,
patience, and love to the church. These three gifts have provided me
with a solid foundation to follow in my spiritual life and public life.
One of the best ways that I have used these gifts at home is by passing
my faith on to my young son. We enjoy praying together in the evening before bed and
attending church on Sunday is one of his favorite
activities.

I look forward to participating in the discernment process and
discovering how I can serve Christ and the church more fully. Thank you
for your time.

Respectfully submitted,

~dinah

There's been a lot happen since the English were here for their visit. I'll try to remember everything...

• It was a 4 week visit. Honestly, it was hard for me and I missed my space and quiet house. Andrew loved having his grandparents here with him. So did Husband. Mother-in-law had a bit of a fall about a week before they left, so she was quite sore and in low spirits the last week. But, we were all sad to see them go. Next we are going to visit them, so everyone is very excited about that.
  
• We went fake camping in the Yurt. It was good fun, especially for me because my church was having a camping weekend too. I talked lots, enjoyed good company, drank lots, and enjoyed good fellowship. It was super duper hot (like we're talke 32-34 degrees) so I got sunburnt and bug bitten and was exhausted, but I can't wait to go again next year. I have pictures somewhere around here, I should post them.
• My family ministry project is going wonderfully. It's now named "First Sundays Ministry" and I've got a zillion projects on the go. The Church Council also approved to double my hours (from 4 hours a week to 8 hours a week) and double my pay (from $200 to $400 ish a month).
  
• Church Council also approved my application for official Inquirer Status. I am scared and yet excited at the same time to start this process. I will be an Inquirer for 12 months and will meet with the discernment committee a minimum of 6 times.
• The dog is good. Cute as ever. Loves to walk still. Sleeps a lot. No further unexpected costs.
• My work is boring.
• Husband had some issues at his job, so after much consideration and number crunching we have decided to change how we live and work. Andrew is no longer in daycare and is going to nursery school. Husband is staying home with him in the afternoons and will pick up a part time job to meet the hole in our budget. It's been 1 week and so far it's going well.
• As I said before Andrew is going to Nursery school. He is so grown up! I have pictures of his first day...I should post those as well.
• Our finances...well...after the 4 week visit with the English...and the costs around the dog...and the unexpected stay at home dadness...and some frivolous spending our finances could better but they could be worse as well. I have to update my side bars. I haven't done that in forerver!
  
• On the craft front - I was making a huge cross stitch for a friends wedding...but I have woken up and smelled the coffee so to speak. i realize i won't be done until 2011 sometime. Instead I am making them a nice round ripple blanket.

So, I'm here, but I'm not sure what to write about. Having some writers block I think....

What does everyone want to know about?

Guess who's back? That's right I'm back. :)

The in-laws are here for their yearly visit. So, I will either be having a lot of computer time in the next 4 weeks (hiding from them) or I will not be getting hardly any computer time (out doing stuff). Anyone want to take bets about which will happen? :P

it's getting all cluttered here again. i hate the feeling of having stuff in piles and having too much stuffed in cupboards and having stuff all over the floor. it makes me feel a little on the crazy side. a little off kilter. i want to get rid of the stuff....but when i look around everything seems needed. i want to get rid of the stuff...but my ocd/phobia makes it hard. i want to get rid of the stuff....but....i don't know, everything just gets in the way.

i wish i had a very nice big desk. i could have my computer at the desk, with all our personal/financial admin stuff, my church materials/resources, with my favourite books, with my crafting materials arranged all nicely next to the desk. it's my dream.

i want one side of the room to look like this


and the other side of the room to have a cra7fting station like this.

we've had our dog for 40 days now, and these have been the costs

$199 to adopt from winnipeg humane society (this includes spaying and shots and stuff).
$12 for leash because you assumed the humane society would give you a leash and you can't leave without having the dog on the leash, so you end up buying a leash at the humane society store.
$40 for giant bag of dog food that dog will not eat.
$12 for food and water dish and $20 for dog bed that your child exclaims are the most perfect things ever (it's sad when 2 weeks later dog chews 1 dish up and rips stuffing out of dog bed),
$6 for bag of treats,
$12 for pit stop at McDonalds because your child had to poop and there was no bathrooms at the store.
$16 for bag of dog food that the dog will eat because she hasn't ate anything in 3 days.
$40 for a variety of toys that dog does not play with, but child enjoys on a daily basis.
$99 for obedience training because you realize your calm placid dog turns into a hell hound whilst you are gone to work.
$28 for a bigger bag of dog food that dog eats
$8 for teeth cleaning treat things that are supposed to last for hours and hours and clean teeth at same time. dog consumes in 4 minutes.
$120 for crate because you realize that obedience training is not going to save your wall.
$135 for trip to vet because dog develops bald spots on legs, apparently from the 'hard' surface in the crate because the dog pushes blankets aside (and doesn't have the nice cushy pillow because she ripped stuffing out) and lays on the plastic tray thus causing her fur to thin and fall out, and whilst there you get told that you need heartworm medication as well.

i'm not even adding it up. seriously. the dog has cost more then the kid did in his first 6 months. needless to say we have been dipping into savings.

can someone help me out with swagbucks? i have the toolbar and i'm slowly getting bucks....about 1 a day or so...my question is how do i make more bucks faster?

this is my referral link...so if you want to sign up and make swagbucks please use this link cause i think i get some bonus bucks. :P