Happy Birthday??

Let me explain... My colleges took me out for sushi today as sort of a celebration I guess for the time I had spent with them, and to send me off to my new job. Initially it was supposed to be a surprise, but then Petr sort of let the cat out the bag when he asked, "Is it Sushi time?" But it was sweet never-the-less of them to arrange this for me. Petr was supposedly trying to make it up to me for ruining the surprise by telling the owner of the restaurant it was my birthday. Let's just say it was entertaining for everyone, everyone but Perry and I. He made us dress up in these costumes and then dance while they sang to us. Needless to say, I was laughing the whole time. This was in part due to the fact it was extremely awkward, but it was funny as well. So, I guess that's what I get for becoming a trader of our department. But... thanks guys!

Newest Vandenberg

WElComE To ThE WorLD

Natalie Hope Vandenberg
Born: January 20, 2007

5lbs 1oz

You know how the saying goes:

Good things come

in small packages?

AMAZING things come

in small packages!

We don't have coke.

Isabelle and I had a night out yesterday, where we ended up pretty much camping out at KOI. It's this very funky restaurant on 11th and 1st, sort of a cafe/ lounge. It's got great atmosphere as well, all candle lit with punches of red colour everywhere. I was thinking to myself... this place is very stylin'. The menu is very limited, but included a lot of very odd items as well. Funny part of the evening: When the waitress came over to see if we'd like anything else for the night, Isabelle replied asking if she could please have a coke. WELL! The waitress looked at the both of us as if we were both born with two heads, or for this matter none at all. Her rather quick and harsh response? "We don't HAVE coke." My question is, when did it become offensive to ask for a coke at a cafe in Calgary, Alberta, Canada? It was altogether strange, and Isabelle opted for a lemon/lime mineral water. Which KOI is proud to serve! But I will not end on a sour note as to reflect badly on this establishment. You will merely need to get your coke fix at another location at another time.

Music Machine.

I was reacquainted with an old friend of mine last night. It had been much... much too long since we had spent some quality time together. That's right, Fender... otherwise known as my guitar. And when I play, I sing (it's this bad habit of mine!) All those days spent locked up in my room came flooding back to me, and I realized just how much of a release it is for me. Although, I'm sure the quality of my playing left much to be desired... I really didn't care. I was in my own world. Just me and Fender together again at last!

On another musical note... I was looking over the lyrics to a song that has always spoke to my heart. Maybe an explanation would be good, but I think the song just says it best.

Rest

by Skillet
Still, soft quiet spoken voice
That persistently calls my voice
And quickens my heart to come
And I come
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And I rest in the wonder of Your grace
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And rest in the wonder of You
Embraced in the promise of you
Is rest for the weary soul
Releasing all that is mine
I reach for You
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And I rest in the wonder of Your grace
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And rest in the wonder of You
Take all the old and make it new
Everything I give to you
You're the hope that can pull me through
Hallelujah
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And I rest in the wonder of Your grace
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And rest in the wonder of You
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And I rest in the wonder of Your grace
And I rest in the shelter of Your love
And rest in the wonder of You

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

My house mates and I spent the evening (Erikas' birthday) making wedding invitations for both Steph and Erika. We had a pretty organized system going, buring the edges of more than 150 pages. The three of us did, however, end up sitting in a cloud of smoke as the smells lingered throughout the house. After a while the smoke got to a be a bit much for the eyes. That's when the oh so stylin' saftey glasses come in handy though. They are still not done, but the end is in sight.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA!!!

most of my friends have full time (serious) jobs
most of my friends are married, or are in very serious relationships
some of my friends now own houses
i consider my parents some of my best friends
i stay in on a saturday night to watch the game
i buy food for company

Does this mean I am a adult... scary!

Socks

I forgot, one very important factor to a perfect day. A good pair of socks.

a perfect day

The perfect day consists of :

• sleeping in (preferably past 12...)
• home made delicious breakfast
• a prolonged shower
• clean laundry
• Mozart
• snow falling outside my window
• a candle lit living room
• time to read
• quiet
• dinner with friends
• laughing with friends
• lounging yet again, not having to drive home after a long night

I guess today was a perfect day?

The most important Job of all...

I recently came across this "mini- sermon" from John Piper and it reminded me once again of my responsibility as a Sunday School leader for Grade 5 kids at my church. Here is a little sampling, but for the whole story, I urge you to read "Teaching Doctrine to a Six-Year-Old"
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/
TasteAndSee/ByDate/2002/1198_Teaching_Doctrine_to_a_SixYearOld/

"My daughter, Talitha, is six years old. Recently she and my wife and I were reading through Romans together. This was her choice after we finished Acts. She is just learning to read, and I was putting my finger on each word. She stopped me in mid-sentence at the beginning of chapter five and asked, "What does 'justified' mean?" What do you say to a six-year-old? Do you say, There are more important things to think about, so just trust Jesus and be a good girl? Or do you say that it is very complex and even adults are not able to understand it fully, so you can wait and deal with it when you are older? Or do we say that it simply means that Jesus died in our place so that all our sins might be forgiven?.....
There are thousands of Christian families in the world who never have conversations like this. Not at six or sixteen. I don't think we have to look far then for the weakness of the church and the fun-oriented superficiality of many youth ministries and the stunning fall-out rate after high school. But how shall parents teach their children if the message they get week in and week out from the pulpit is that doctrine is unimportant? So, yes, I have a family to care for. And therefore I must understand the central doctrines of my faith – understand them so well that they can be translated for all the different ages of my children."

There is a part of me, while preparing my lessons for Sundays, that trys to rush through the planning and get it done. And sadly I will admit that there have been many days in the past (oh....10 yrs of doing this) that I have been on auto pilot for an entire lesson. But, something resonates deaper inside of me, where I am convicted that this is such a huge and very important task I have been given. I think back to my week as a counsellor this summer at CROW and I remember how amazing those kids were. They were the same age as the kids in my Sunday school class, but the concepts that they were pondering and the questions they were asking... I knew God was beginning to work in their hearts even at this young age of 10/11. How then, can I justify not pouring myslef into this task and feeding those kids already. I know that I have underestimated the importance of doctrine and plain biblical truths within a childs life, when those very foundations have meant so much in my own life. So, I think to myself. What a priviledge and amazing gift to teach and instruct these kids to love and live for the Lord!

My Cabin at CROW this summer.

Interior Designer... finally!

Okay, this will be my last post of the day. First I've got to share some awesome news (well, awesome for me, I'm sure Leah and Nicole would argue otherwise!) I was offered a job in the haworth Design Studio as an Interior Designer yesterday, and I accepted the offer. I will be starting my new job towards the end of the month. This is both extremely exciting for me- another step on the path of my career, and some what sad. I will no longer be working with my amazing team, and I will most definately miss them. But at least I'm not going far.... just downstairs. This is an awesome new opportunity that I am so grateful to God for. So, I'll be sure to keep you posted on how it goes!

Eagles Alumni

It was that time of year again... the Eagles Alumni basketball tournament. Truthfully I usually dread participating in this event back home over the holidays. But seeing as I've been playing basketball at work on my lunch hours, I was very excited to play this year. It ended up being a lot of fun, and I love running into random people that I haven't seen in, well... a year. Seems as though I officially an "old lady" as I was placed in the oldest category. That's gotta make a girl feel good! It got pretty crazy watching the men play though, they were having injuries left and right. I'm wondering if our hacking skills have worn off on them after watching us all these years??

New Years at Wall Lake

This year my friends and I (although I played a very, very little part in the actual planning) decided that we were not going to have another regular, anti-climatic New Years celebration. Winter camping won over the cabin with a hot tub idea, which I'm happy to say was a great thing. Eric, Marc, Tara, Logan (Tara's brother) and I drove down to Waterton on New Years eve day. Despite the late start (thanks to Mrs. Bomhof for getting Marc out of bed!!) we had a full day of snowshoeing ahead of us. We all loaded up our gear for the night and headed to Wall lake. It turned out to be the perfect day, sun shining and the snow looked beautiful around us. I'm telling you though, this is no easy task trudging through mountains of snow, but rewarding? Definitely. We were secluded from everything... no business, no noise. Just us, in God's amazing creation. And the quince turned out beautifully, everyone worked so well together. (except for the occasional opportunity I stole to take some pictures, I guess I didn't pull my weight as much then!) The guys built a fire and loads of very delicious food was cooked. I would have to say the only downfall of the trip was worrying whether or not Eric was going to get hypothermia that night. I'm sure he would be able to explain his tragic night in much more colourful words, but he survived. He, along with his sleeping bag, were soaking wet the next morning. After destroying what creations we had made with the snow, we headed back down the trail. We ended the day making pie irons back at the car, yum. But, this was seriously one amazing trip. Short and definitely sweet. I know it's late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

My Christmas

Taking a walk around Henderson Lake.

THE overpriced appetizer

The girls at 360.

Rolling croquettes at home (although, none of us look overly happy here)

Steve and James attempting to match Isabelles skills.

I love that Josh is just in awe of Isabelle here.

Possibly the best socks ever.

Bomhof/ Los Christmas.... need I say more?

Steph apparently likes my curtains.. and the toque I got her.

Haworth Christmas party... the freaky men on stilts.

So, there you have it. Sort of a flip book of pictures of my Christmas. Why is that after being back into a regular routine, the holidays and fun times seem so far off already? This Christmas was awesome!!