These are some amazing pictures from the Kelowna, BC area forest fire. This is the Glenrosa fire. I stole from Castanet.net that people posted from the scene. They were taken yesterday (July 18th) in the afternoon. That white care there is on the street where my parents live - only two houses down. The picture above from the highway is maybe a five to ten minute drive away. The winds were terrible yesterday and the fire grew from only a few hectares to over 300 hectares in a matter of hours. But the fire fighters are doing an amazing job and have kept it from spreading bigger than that. However, it looks like it is the reason that THREE other westside fires have begun. One near where my brother lives. One is put out already near the Mission Hill Winery. And I don't know much about the other fire. My parents are clearly evacuated and my brother expects to be evacuated today sometime. So all the people are safe so far. The fire is not moving in the direction of the houses but I've seen some absolutely incredible pictures. Many water bombers are in the area and it's very very loud and very very smoky. Thoughts and prayers are with everyone out there especially the fire fighters who have the most dangerous of tasks.

Have you ever tried.........?

Have you ever tried turning off the radio as you drive?! It's was a little unnerving for me at first, but after awhile it is very nice to drive in silence. It's not often we get silence for our brains - and I am so used to t.v's and computers and music and whatnot. It also gives my boys a chance to say talk - and they DO!!! I've been doing this for awhile - and it's just a little thing, but enjoyable.

I did it - I trusted His love

God's sorry lies in our refusal to approach Him when we have sinned
and failed. A 'slip' for an alcoholic is a terrifying experience.
The obsession of the mind and body with booze returns witht the wild
fury of a sudden storm in springtime. When the person sobers up,
he or she is devastated. When I relapsed, I had two options: yield
my heavenly Father - choose to live as a victim of my disease; or
choose to trust in Abba's immutable love.

The words of Brennan Manning in "Abba's Child"

My dad was here last weekend practically begging to take my kids back to Kelowna with him for the week. And as I have decided that that won't be happening anymore and it won't be effective to tell him why, I just gave excuses and/or said no, I want my kids with me. I got this look from him that said 'you're the family wrecker' and all the negative feelings pop back up. Well, just when I have to tell him no, they do. And I have to tell my Skyler WHY he can't visit grandma and grandpa at their house anymore. And for that, I am mad and sad and hurt. Once again.....

So what did I do? I remembered - a day or two later - to run into God's arms. I have a little formula that my pastor and I worked out to deal with this. And I did the formula prayer. Thank you, Lord!!! I know I will have to run to you many times in the future; many many times!!!!

Learning to love cooking?

I've evolved. Yes, I've evolved so much I think that perhaps i have actually changed species. Yes, extravagent eating for me was once severely frowned upon. My family's repetoire of meals was pasta with canned sauce (nothing added) and meat and potatoes. Nothing fancy. My family actually raved when i added a couple spices to the CANNED sauce. The cheapest canned sauce that my dad could buy by the case. We were high class diners! Me being adventurous with food was adding mayo to my sandwich or adding garlic to something (which my family hated). There is one area where I love to try new things - candy bars!!!! I'm never scared to try a new candy bar on the market. I'm always the first one. I think I must have tried them ALL.

Then last year I became friends with someone who grew up with parents who were gourmet cooks. We would chat a lot about food - including sea food. Now recently I have become a fan of salmon. But fish and seafood was something I've always turned up my nose at. I have tried pickerel (wonderful fish) and it was lovely but I still could hardly eat it and had to be ORDERED to eat it. it was very good and a little sweet. My kids and I love salmon. And if you can get your hands on sockeye salmon - it's INCREDIBLE. But this was the extend of my great evolution as of last year. My parents would rave at how my kids would eat so well. This is how far I'd come.

I started talking about food with this friend, Bryce. I began getting excited about trying some seafood. So when we went on our first date, I did. I tried bacon-wrapped scallops. I LOVED them. I tried a crab leg. It was okay. But I was having such fun trying this stuff. When we went on the cruise, we could try any foods we wanted. I tried such amazing foods. I loved it and now I just LOVE trying new foods. I do it when i eat out mostly. I eat the neatest salads and sandwiches and meals........it's GREAT FUN!!! Yes, I think I've just proven my most abhored brain-washing phenomenon - evolution.

Now I think I am ready to try cooking neat things in my own home!!! Oh my. I really hate cooking - or is it the mess I really hate - I'm just not sure. But I am determined to find a new love. Adventuresome cooking. I've pulled out this old gourmet cook book with all sorts of pictures ( a must for me) and this time I LOVE the look of the recipes. I cannot wait to try them.

Eating......

I'd just like to say that I LOVE FOOD! I went on a cruise, like I always wanted to, because of the FOOD!! And it was so delicious! I tried all sorts of things. All sorts of things. And I'd like to say that one of the biggest UNFAIR things in life is that I cannot eat whatever I want. :(

I want to eat delicious and yummy and even fattening food every day of the week without negative consequences on my body. Pulleease make it so!!!! I know........I'm in dreamland.