Grrr!

We interrupt packing and stressing about Boston to bring you the latest international financial news...

The Canadian Dollar has officially passed up the US Dollar.

1.00 USD = 1.00053 CAD
1.00 CAD = 0.999474 USD

This is hideous. :( No wonder we're so much poorer now than we were 4 years ago!

I had earlier posted about the currency exchange rates, and how I was annoyed at how its changed... Take a minute to read that post will ya? What the heck has happened?

So very frustrating for those of us doing business and spending money in two currencies.

Bawled like a baby!

Happy Canada Day!


Ok, so today was fast sunday. I was the first one to get up (something that has NEVER happened before) to bear my testimony. This crazy American just wanted to share the good news of having a file number for Immigration! I also cried and cried. I just really love Canada. :) A few people told me they appreciated my testimony, and that it made them feel special. :)

THEN for the closing prayer, we sang "O, Canada" I bawled my head off. Sniffling, shaking, quivering... I don't know why, the water-works were like Niagara Falls people. It's SUCH a powerful song. I guess I just really felt God's presence there with me. Margie Schultz (adorable mid 50's lady with short greying curly hair) put her arm around me for the durration of the song, and by the 3rd verse, I was able to sing most of it. I'm so glad I had a tissue with me!

Here are the lyrics of the song. Even if you don't appreciate Canada as much as I do, you should be able to appreciate God's creation, and know that the Americas (ALL of them) are a part of God's Choice land.

1)
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land, Glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee;
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

2)
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and Lordly rivers flow!
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
The land of hope for all who toil,
The true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

3)
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies,
May Stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise.
To keep thee steadfast thro' the years,
From East to Western sea.
Our own beloved native land,
Our true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

4)
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion, in thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in thee,
A lasting rich reward.
As waiting for the better day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

I have been so blessed in my life. I'm so thankful that I'm able to see God's divine creation on this earth, and know that no matter where I live, He will always have a hand in my life.

Hopefully you can feel that power in your lives as well. :)

Cake & a Kitty!

I made my cake!

My hubby surprised me and said we could get the pound cake, jello, cool whip and strawberries for my cake! (I so know it doesn't look like the picture... food *I* make never does. :( ) For those of you who don't get my facination with this cake, I love all things Canada, I love to bake, even if its just pretend (I didn't even bake the pound cake for this thing!), and currently our financial situation is not good. Not even sure if we'll make rent on time. So this is a MAJOR splurge for us. :) Do you like how it turned out? (I'm not thrilled with it, but I'm no artist, and I knew the maple leaf would give me issues. DH so happily pointed out that its not even centered. lol I tried man! I really did!)



I even got a self-portriat of me with it. Hubby took one too, but the dirty dishes are in the background, so that picture will be destroyed/deleted. :)

This picture just makes me really want to 1) eat it (I suppose we're saving it for tomorrow) and 2) pluck my eyebrows. yikes!

Anyway, so my dear husband invited his brother Christian over for a day of BBQing, xbox, and beer (it's ok... he's not LDS) Saturday, and during our BBQ, we had a little visitor.

A little tiny kitten who looked a little lost came into our back yard and started meowing. Maybe she liked our green grass? Not sure, but as some of you may know, a cat lover, I am NOT. This poor little thing is adorable though. She's a himalayan, and she has a really high-pitched meow, more of a mew, really, so I'm thinking she's just a kitten still.

Anyway, She looks like she was in a fight recently, and she's got no collar. We fed her a can of tuna fish, which she just ate right up, so she was definitely hungry. Then she went exploring in our house, which quite frankly, I didn't mind. There are other mangey cats/strays in the neighborhood that come in our house quite frequently (there's no screen on our back door, so they just climb right in when its too hot to have the wood door closed). I normally chase them things right out. This one though, I let her explore. I don't know why. It's possible that I'm allergic even, but she's adorable. This coming from a supposed cat-hater! Look at her though, she's pretty!



I don't think she quite knows what to make of our house... and she's a little scared still, but she ate, and then started purring. Thankfully my husband knows how to handle cats, he used to have a few. (Which I always made fun of him for having till now. lol)

Kitty keeps crying, which is why I'm posting at 2:30am instead of sleeping. Sucks, I have to teach tomorrow, and I'm only like 50% prepared. We definitely had a busy day... All that whilest being addicted to that desktop fighter game. I'm surprised we got prepared enough to eat anything.

I think we'll have a tiny bbq tomorrow, after I get back from church, so we can eat the cake, and potato salad I almost made (left out the mayo... no idea why... I got tired maybe?) And I'll more than likely take a nap too, especially after finding out its good for me, I can now do it guilt-free. :) hurrah! It's now 10 to 3am... I should try to sleep a little. I tried letting the cat out, but she didn't wanna leave. *sigh* She'd better hush up, or I won't get any sleep! Goodnight!