Where have all the bloggers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the bloggers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the bloggers gone?

Google Reader empty, comments - none.

When will they ever return?

When will they ever return?

Sunrise with my sweetheart and my camera!

I have an amazing husband. He always knows just what to get me for Christmas. Last year he surpirsed me with a Lensbaby - a new lens for my camera - I love it! Very fun!! This year he surprised me with a new Velbon tripod - it does everything! fast and easily - wow! I can be set up in seconds. And he picked it out with very little help. Thank you Don's Photo for helping this guy out...next year I will stop by and give you all a wish list. hehe

So as per my usual I was up very early this am (I won't tell you when)- put a pot of coffee on and read a great book David and I got for Christmas from our pastor - funny thing is we bought him the very same book!! Total Church - great book - lots to discuss and talk about from this book. Anyways I have been ansy to try out my new trypod on more than just family photos in the house and thought it was shaping up to be a good sunrise this morning ...a few clouds but I was hopeful they would burn off. Perhpas some nice frost in the air. I asked Mark, my 24 yr old photo enthusiast son to join me but alas he wanted more sleep - but the sun doesn't rise until 9:15 Mark! still a no and he rolled over to pull the covers over his head.

Hmmm, maybe David would come - what a husband - sure, he said but we have to stop at Intermission House for a coffee to give him something to do in the car while I play - agreed. So out the door at 8:24am.

We arrive at my chosen spot just NE of the city, I get set up and David gets out of the car and says "make sure you get the shot along the fence dear with lots of depth of field" ...LOL ...I am stunned....this guy never takes pictures! I ask him " what do you think I should set my F stop at dear?" he looks at me dumbfounded "How would I know?" ...exactly my point! I didn't actually say that - just smiled. He gets back in the car to warm up with his coffee. But I am very amused and actually excited - you see David has recently started becoming interested in photgraphy. In Hawaii he took my old Olympus point and shoot and took some very good pictures - he has a real sense of composure and actually took some very artistic and unique shots - I was impressed. So I am slowly teaching him bits and pieces about manual settings and he is actually listening and getting it.

Back out of the car again David trudges through the snow to the fence. What IS he doing???

"Try a shot from here dear" he says...I was trying to avoid getting snow up my pant legs but he IS right! I love it! So here are a few of this mornings pictures...and the sun? Did not perform. It became even more overcast. But that's okay - God's creation is always beautiful to behold...even when cold and icy. And I loved this time with my sweetheart!

...he was right - worth the snow up the pant leg! LOL

Thanks for letting me share!

Julie

Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isa 9:6-7

2Co 6:2 For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Merry Christmas to everyone, from our home to yours.....

NOW is the day of salvation....

Blessings!

from the Cortens'

Christmas is "forgiving"

Great message today - what a Saviour we have, how forgiven we are! What amazing grace! What joy and hope! And so how can we, who have been forgiven such an insurmountable debt, ever hold a grudge, not forgive offenses, take revenge, get back at those who offend, hurt and take from us.

We sang lots of Christmas carols this morning and my daughter-in-law played the piano - which gave David a rest from the guitar and of course Christmas carols are always better with an accomplished pianist playing rather than a guitar. ...but I still love your guitar playing dear! It was fun for me to have ALL five kids with us at church today! What an added joy!

The food was great too and the fellowship the best part.... mmmm ribs, roast beef, yummy chicken, ham, salads and the desserts - just too many to choose from. It was great to spend time with all the visitors...some travelled in from Kenaston! I do hope you will come to our next big shared meal...visitors never have to bring food! I will keep you posted.

a wide angle lens would really come in handy.......Santa?

BTW - Settlers of Catan was a hit - the kids have been playing it all afternoon. I have been wrapping presents and indulging in an afternoon snooze. Got to work tomorrow(sigh) but I have left the kids with a final grocery list...I will keep you posted on the Cortens' Clan Christmas.

Thanks for letting me share our happy times,

Julie

Merry Christmas

Well it has been a very busy week at work with lots happening in Saskatoon Health Region! And while I have not had any time to bake and put excessive decoration up, the kids have been arriving this week and the house if filled with them and their stuff...and it looks very Christmas like around here, if not messy - but isn't that what Christmas is all about and I love it...especially knowing that this too shall pass...in about a week. In the meantime I am going to enjoy just having them hang out and eat from the well stocked fridge.

Friday night we all (eight of us) went to East Side Marios to celebrate Allison's 18th birthday - yup our baby is 18! We had lots of fun and of course the staff sang happy birthday to her (although they all looked like they would much rather get back to serving their customers!)Allison spun the wheel and we all cheered. Yahoo!!

That's Allison friend Sammy. He is a second year students in theological studies at Briercrest and plays on the Clippers basketball team.
Then home for four hours of Pirates of the Caribbean Monopoly which was lots and lots of laughs! Paul - the financial wizard won of course...but MOM came a close second....I would have won but by 11:30 pm Paul had a slight advantage - he was up at 1 pm and hung around the house all day - I was up at 6:15am and used my brain all day!

We also had Allison's very chocolaty birthday cake. mmmmmm

Tonight we will tackle The Settlers of Catan!

Blessings to you and yours!

Julie

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! (music playing)

The tree is up along with about 40% of the decorations, there are boxes of "Pot of Gold" chocolates around (someone is into the second layer before the first is finished and breaking the rules), the mailbox is overflowing with cards from far away friends and family, Mark arrived home on Monday late afternoon and Paul and Allie will arrive at 1am tonight, Allison is home on Friday. Yup life is good - especially because of Him! I feel so blessed. Yes the days are very busy, my to do lists long, I am tired and I have lots of work days coming up, and a few things may not get done on time (David is in charge of writing the Christmas letter this year and I have all the cards ready to go with photos once he is done) but I am thankful. Life is full and busy and I am thankful. I believe He meant for our days to be full. We will be together to play some board games, prepare meals and do the dishes together - to just hang out together. God is abundantly good to us. We are blessed, not so much because He provides the things we need to be comfortable, but because He has given us Jesus Christ - and in Him is the fullness of joy that this world can never know.

It is my hearts desire to share that fullness of joy with whomever crosses my path. If you want to hear about this wonderful joy that He gives, come hang out with a gang of us in Sutherland Hall 1112 Central Ave in Saskatoon this Sunday Dec 28th at 10:00am. We can talk and share for a while (very casual!) and I will buy you lunch! Really!

We are just a bunch of people who once upon a time were disgruntled with life and trying to make things work out our way and well generally kind of unhappy because we couldn't control all the events in our life and each of us one way or another were found by Christ. We would love Him to find you too! So come and share some time with a bunch of people who are so happy - even when life brings tragedy - because our hope and joy is in Christ. Come and ask us all about Him or just come and listen and watch. And then stay for a great lunch and lots of laughter!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Julie

Roses and Angels

I love roses. They are so beautiful, so intricate and they have a lovely aroma. I stare at them and I am amazed at such splendor. What an amazing Creator we have. I just had to capture them with my camera.

Last week an angel dropped off these three roses and a card for David and me - just out of the blue - in appreciation for our music ministry and work in our church. My step is a little lighter these days and my heart is singing. So simple a gesture and yet so encouraging for both of us. Like the roses - small, simple and yet filled with His amazing beauty.

Have a wonderful day!

Julie

Christmas layout

It's Christmas so I thought I would post this layout I did a while back (as in two years ago) using Basic Grey paper. It really is quite simple. I ran the top half of the page through the printer first for the journaling. The scan made it look a little crooked - but it is straight.

Keep warm everyone! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Blessings!
Julie

My Poet

This was a challenging layout, not because it was to be a great scrapbooking feat, but because I wanted it to be something that Harold would one day see and know that I think he is a terrific son and a great poet and that our high school days of home schooling were really fun. And especially that I am thankful that the Lord blessed me with him. There are three of his poems on this page - and I love them all. One of them reads...

My Mother

When I describe my mother
I don't know where to start
We both have a lot to do with each other
For starters we're both pretty smart
We do fairly well with memorizing
And both of us are really good cooks
We're excellent when it comes to problem solving
Inside we're the same not just for looks
We both love to dabble in artistry
Our creative minds always active
Art seems to be our mastery
When we work on a project we always think positive
My mother and I are pretty much the same
Nothing will make us different not money nor fame

Thanks for looking,
Julie

Hawaii Photo Book

I just finished my photobook on our recent trip to Hawaii. I used Shutterfly. If you want to see my book and my pictures, click here Photo Book from Julie Cortens You don't have to have a Shutterfly account to view it, although Shutterfly is wonderful and has fantastic deals all the time. I am waiting for my Christmas cards to arrive! :) They have great promo's on photo enlargements and once uploaded they store your pictures forever.

It takes a moment to load (click on view photobook at the bottom)so be patient...you feel like it is waiting for you to sign up, but just wait and the book will open. You can look at it in slideshow mode or manually.

Thanks for looking!
Julie

Great Aunt!

Hey I am a Great Aunt to a sweet little girl named Clair. My niece had a baby girl last month and so I made a little album of her first moments and days. I used the Daisy Bucket Designs paper line Magical Moments - so easy because I just cut this two sided paper in four to make my 6X6 album.

A bit of ribbon, some card stock from the stash, buttons and cute stickers from Pebbles (also available for boys,

Then I slipped the pages into 6X6 page protectors, cut out two outside chipboard covers and voila! - all available at Just Scrap It! - including the die cut for the covers and the bolts to hold it together. Easy, inexpensive, fun.

Thanks for letting me share!

Julie

Pakistan Military Layout.

Journal reads:

The local water purification facility in Ghari Dupatta was destroyed in the earthquake and the ROWPU could produce the water fast enough, but distributing it was the problem. So often the people resorted to filling up on probably contaminated water run off from the mountain. I saw this girl in green sitting there with her water jug while I was on a hike up the mountain. She was looking at us intently until I tried to take a picture of her. I noticed that females are very shy in this regard unless they are quite young. At age 10 they start taking on grown up responsibilities and learning how to do things the women do. The pot in front of her is a common way of transporting water. Typically the women of the house will go down to the river to fill these up and using a cloth doughnut on their head will place the pot on their head to carry the water. The kids on the other hand loved getting their picture taken. As soon as you pull out the camera they form these little groups.

The overloaded car is a pretty common sight in Pakistan, and this is a mild version. I saw large buses and once the seats were filled the roof would fill up and then the sides; anywhere they could hang on. Few people had vehicles, and what vehicles they did have were pretty dilapidated. Here is also a good example of a jingle truck. It is called that because of the chains that dangle from the truck make the jingle noise when the truck moves. They paint their vehicle the weird bright colors and I have heard it is because of they have a lot of pride in their vehicles. They get even more outrageous than this, with neon flashing lights. They have annoying air horns that you have to hear to believe. They are kind of like the horn on The General on Dukes of Hazard but not as musical. Jingle trucks are everywhere in Pakistan because they do not have semi’s and this is how they move all their commercial goods.

I was so glad that Mark kept a journal in Pakistan. I think there were some pretty long and boring days, so this helped pass the time. I know his children and grandchildren will one day appreciate his thoughts and experiences. This is why we scrapbook. :)

Blessings!

Julie

Winter

Winter in Hawaii

Winter in Saskatoon

Today	Tonight	Tomorrow	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Blowing snow High: -16 ºC WindChill: -34 ºC Wind: SE 20 km/h	Chance of flurries Low: -22 ºC POP: 60 % Wind: NE 10 km/h	Chance of flurries Low: -21 ºC High: -17 ºC POP: 40 % WindChill: -28 ºC Wind: NW 15 km/h	Sunny Low: -26 ºC High: -23 ºC Wind: W 15 km/h	Sunny Low: -26 ºC High: -16 ºC Wind: W 15 km/h	A mix of sun and cloud Low: -21 ºC High: -17 ºC Wind: W 15 km/h

soooo...remind me why I live here?