In a Month of Flurry

Well, we don't normally do these types of informative blog entries, but we thought we'd make an exception since we've experienced some pretty significant milestones in the last couple of months that we wanted to share with the rest of the world!

It's difficult to know where to begin, so I'll just throw it all up in the air and see where it lands on this page . . .

First off, we're wrapping up filming season three of Decked Out which has been another great year, and even more hilarity. Paul has somehow managed to become even more creative and a little crazy with some of these designs so I'm sure all our avid watchers will really get a kick out of the season.

www.hgtv.ca/deckedout

We also are wrapping up filming season one of a new show called Disaster Decks, which is a spin-off of Decked Out with a little more humour mixed in since Paul gets to make fun of wannabe deck builders and the monstrosities they've come up with in their back yards. It's all in good fun though, and we get to see some really cool transformations (I totally love makeovers so this is my cup of tea for sure!)

Paul was invited to be a judge on Canadian Handyman Challenge this year, which meant he was gone for most of September *tears* . . . BUT he got to have a great experience and hang out with Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray for a few weeks and get to know them some more so that part was good.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . . er, suburban detached home . . . Glory was hospitalized for eight days with a burst appendix *poor baby* and Paul and I got to share her hospital room. #thankGodforchiropractors

She's much better now.

Glory at Sick Kids

We also got to celebrate our eldest daughter, Promise's, 12th birthday. It was a very special occasion since we adopted parts of an ancient Hebrew tradition and held a Bat Barakah for her. It was a beautiful Saturday under a big white tent with precious friends and family that we will always remember.

At some point during the commotion, some fairly non-trivial events took place, which I will outline below:

1) We bought a beach house on Georgian Bay.

2) Did I mention we bought a beach house on Georgian Bay?

3) My novel was published (by Safehouse Media, which is of course owned by us) and the first boxes arrived only a week ago. They look fantastico!

Click HERE for the Book Website and a Sneak Peek

4) Our audio CD was finally completed, printed, and shipped. This one is mostly Paul's baby. We started it over six (yes, six) years ago. It sounds really stinkin' good.

Click HERE for Music Website

We got to do an interview with Wayne Jacobsen on his podcast that went really well. You can listen to it by clicking HERE and then look for the short article called "When Grace Overruns Pain." Click on the "play" button near the bottom of that article.

So in the flurry of activity, homeschooling, writing, running the design company, Paul travelling, planning for the future, and making every effort to stay connected with friends and family, some very special things have occurred.

Last weekend, I sat on the deck of our new cottage under an unusually warm October sun and looked out over the sparkling and constant waves and thought, "Wow." I've been learning to allow myself to get excited about things. To stop being so internally reserved. Most people in these circumstances would probably be throwing a party. For me—and for now—my whispered "wow" was a good start.

Thanks for sharing this journey with us. And check back here now and then. Usually we are blogging about different spiritual and life insights and we *love* a good discussion! :P

J.