Simons. How I dislike thee...

A sea of people stretched out in front of me, clothes hangers flying every direction, small children lost in the impatient crowd of frantic people who all thought the same thing: "Today is the halfway point between Christmas and New Year's... there shouldn't be many people in Carrefour Laval today."

I was one such persons.

There were ladies pushing over-sized strollers that were originally designed to seat 2 small children that were currently holding 8 children between infanthood and 10 years old. Older couples who were cruising along in the hallway who, on the drop of a hat stopped and decided to change directions. Why would you do that? Why would you stop right in the middle of the flow of traffic and decide to contemplate which pot-pourri store you want to go in when clearly half the island of Laval is following you? Seriously?

Never again will I venture to the largest shopping centre in the province of Quebec on December 29th expecting there to be no one... next year, I'll aim for the 26th.

living the dream

My childhood aspiration was to be Ariel, the Little Mermaid... that being said: I was a little excited to snorkel with exotic fish!

Viva Cuba!

White Christmas

Merry Christmas!
I came home from Cuba in 3/4 jogging pants and a t-shirt to -25 degrees and nearly froze my tanned little legs off. I had a great time in the Carribean, but I'm so happy to be home surrounded by beautiful white snow and my family. After going to Wal-Mart, wrapping presents and baking unusually big shortbread cookies, I'm sitting on the couch watching Ghostbusters spending time with my brother. By spending time, I mean I'm writing this and he's sleeping, curled up in a ball on the couch next to me. I had ambitions of great proportions of sending out a mass-email to everyone... but great ambitions without actions don't get very far. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! In Christ's love,
Stephanie

Think warm...

Oh. Yes.
Monday morning, really super, painstakingly early, we're going to the airport. But - that's ok, because by the end of the day I'll be in Cuba. Which, makes it all better.
Although, I'm sad to leave the winter wonderland I missed so much, I'm quite excited to be kinda re-united with the beauty of the beach that I fell in love with last year. I think the best part about this whole "escaping to an island for a week idea" is that we're back in time for Christmas! How can it get any better.

This year, Christmas will be a little different for me around our house. Last year when I was away in Uruguay my grandmother died, which hasn't become really real to me yet because I can't remember the last time I didn't pass a Christmas without my grandmother. Well, the hidden blessing in coming to terms with this is praising the Lord for the amazing immediate family I do have; something I've taken for granted way too much in my lifetime.

On that note... I'll be praising the Lord for my family from the hot and sunny beaches of Cuba. But, that's only on Monday morning... right now, I'll finish stamping my huge pile of envelopes for the yearly mailout and pretend I'm lying on the beach sipping a mohito...