Cooly McCool

"Cooly McCool"

THE BIG MAKEOVER
from Brian to Cooly McCool

SG this weekend

What a fantastic weekend retreat with the SG. (Andre and Marcel, as always much thanks for opening your beautiful cottage to us.)

I don't want to get all mushy but I'm gonna cause I seriously love my small group sooo much. This group is a true and awesome answer to prayer. When I chose to step up as a leader last year I did so with a heart that longed to see true Christ centered authentic, vulnerable relationships formed. I desired to see and be a part of a small group of people who learn to care for and understand each other so well that there would be no barriers and no reasons or excuses to hide one's true self. Last summer as I prepared to take over as leader from Tony, I remember sitting on the very dock that we played on this weekend, crying into the water as I prayed for the future of our group. I honestly thought that the group would disintegrate as we dwindled from a strong group of 12 to a modest 3. But oh how God has shown me what little faith I have. He not only answered the deep longings of my heart but has grown my faith as I've watched the group grow and develop into a real family.

I could go on and on about how you have each touched my life,taught me, encouraged me and made me laugh time and time again but that would call for much more than a jeeky:) blog entry. You are each so special to me and I praise God for you and the blessing that you are to me. I'm going miss you soo much while I'm away (even more than the mat man:) but I can't wait to hear about how God will continue to show His faithfulness and love through this very unique family.

I love you Rhanda, Nishant, Andre, Em, Catherine, Sarina, Brian, Lisa, and John.

The Mat Man

AAAAAh it's Friday, How can I tell? The mat man just left the clinic. The mat man is always a fresh reminder that the weekend is only 8 hrs away. He's the chipperest guy on the planet (I know chipperest isn't a word but it's the only way to describe him:) He's always smiling and super chatty as he picks up the mats and switches them for new. I'm glad he comes on Friday cause if he showed up on a Monday I have a feeling I wouldn't find him so refreshing. I'm gonna miss the mat man.

A short poem for the mat man

Mat man, mat man what will I do

when time comes 'round to wipe my shoe?

will you drop by and bring me a mat

and remind me it's friday with your friendly chit chat?

Mat man, mat man you're the best

you're full of life and full of zest.

Mat man, mat man I'm glad you were born

but I sure don't wanna see you on a monday morn :)

Yaaay for the mat man!!!

Learning How to Spot

I was reminded tonight of my early ballet days and how much time we spent learning how to spot so that we wouldn't topple over from dizziness while doing pirouettes. It was so frustrating for me. We were instructed to pick a fixed object on the wall or somewhere in the room and to turn without taking our eyes off the object. Even with the quick snap of the head at the end of the turn, we were not to lose sight of that object. We'd spend class after class turning to music trying to master the spotting technique. I honestly never got it, my eyes would always leave the object at some point and I'd eventually get dizzy. For the entire 11 years that I took ballet lessons I don't think I ever learned how to spot properly, I somehow managed to fake it through. I clearly never had the grace and beauty required of a ballerina.

Today, I find myself still trying to learn the important lesson of spotting. This time it has nothing to do with ballet pirouettes. The object that I've chosen to fix my eyes upon is an unchanging solid rock. He's gloriously beautiful yet I'm still toppling over from dizziness because I keep losing sight of Him. I'm determined not to fake my way through this time. It may take a life time, but I pray that He will show me how to keep my eyes fixed upon His son, so that I can turn and spin while reflecting the grace and beauty of Jesus Christ.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

"Don't let your feelings dictate your faith!" - Dr.James MacDonald

That statement has been ringing in my head this week big time. It's hard to describe the emotional roller coaster I've been on since I got the call last Fri from Dr. Kavanaugh about the CPAF internship. I've gone from feeling completely relieved , to feeling so sad about who and what I'm going to miss while I'm away. From feeling complete excitement and joy about finally having an opportunity to take a significant step towards doing what I've always dreamed of to feeling terrified and anxious about taking such a risk. From feeling completely confident about what this is all about to feeling insecure about what others may think. From feeling as though I'm on this journey with the support of so many people to feeling as though I'm completely alone in all this.

But, when I turn my eyes upon Jesus all those insecurities melt away. No matter how I feel, my eyes will stay focused on Him.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Heb 12:2-3 (msg)

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in His wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace."

I heart jeeks

Dr. Lee is such a character. Always quite energetic storming through the clinic like a tornado and joking with us. He's got a cute little Cantonese accent. Today our summer student was wearing an "I love geeks" t-shirt (not exactly the ideal fertility clinic outfit, but it was casual friday so it was ok.) So Dr.Lee goes up to Sukhi and reads her tee shirt and then says in his loud 'I want the entire clinic to hear me' voice:

"why does your t-shirt say I love Jeeks? Your t-shirt should say I am Jeek!! ha ha ha!!"

It was so cute, he said "Jeek" instead of "Geek".

Tee Hee!! :)

Don't worry Dr.Lee, I really don't get the I love Jeeks t-shirt trend either. I myself am particularly fond of Jeeks, but I don't see the point of wearing a t-shirt declaring it to the world. Is it to let the Jeeks of the world know that they are loved? Or is it to give them the confidence to approach you? Or is it just cool to love jeeks? Those t-shirts are definitely an interesting trend. Perhaps I'm just too jeeky to get it :)

anxiety

I'm one who has always struggled with anxiety. Anxiety used to paralyze me. Often I would go weeks on end without any sleep, worrying all night long. I'd find my stomach to constantly be in knots and as a result was often miserable. Since putting my faith in Christ, it has gotten a lot better but every so often something huge comes around and I find myself worrying about details. My thinking reverts back to the days when I believed that I was actually in control of everything.

This week in particular with all that is now on my plate as I prepare to head to Indiana in Sept, I've had to constantly detour my worrying frame of mind to focus on the faithfulness of God. After all that God has done for me in my life, the way He has proven His faithfulness time and time again, I should have no reason to struggle so much with worrying. But somehow those anxious thoughts manage to creep in.

So here I find myself yet again making war with my own unbelief or as John Piper would say "Fighting for Faith in future grace." AAAAA!!! Am I ever going to have enough faith in Him to give up all this worrying? It's such a waste of time and energy!!!!!

The Cure for Anxiety Matt 6:25-34

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!"
"Do not worry then, saying,- 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Where You lead me

A new journey has begun.

Time to get up and follow.

WHERE YOU LEAD ME
What is life? A thousand roads a thousand ways
and why am I so afraid to move?
I crossed the line, I'm stepping out, so come what may.
I'll give it all cause I'm drawn to you.
As long as my heart is beating

Where you lead me I will follow
where you lead me, I'll give my life away.
Where you lead me, I will follow
Forever and a day.

I can't deny Your very presence is my life.
And why would I ever turn away?
Cause deep inside I know that I can not rely
on anything less than faith.
As long as my heart is beating .
This is all I'm dreaming of
To live completely in Your love.

Where you lead me, I will follow.
Where you lead me, I'll give my life away.
Where you lead me, I will follow
Forever and a day.

- Mercy Me ( from CD Undone)

Cutie Pie

Julia can now wave "hi" and "bye bye".

To her it's "aaaaa"and "ba ba"

It's sooo adorable.

Those 2 little bottom teeth are way too cute.

Julia loves being photographed. She has somehow learned how to pose for the camera and honestly Auntie Diva had nothing to do with it. Must be a natural Diva reflex :).

This is my one of my favorite Julia photos.

Her teeny feet are so sweet and the baby chub on her arms and legs is just irresistible.

I never could have imagined how much I would enjoy being Auntie Diva. I just love Julia to pieces and so does our entire family. She's so much fun!! Her life is really quite simple yet we find so much joy in sharing in the little things . I'm honestly finding my parents to be just as amusing as Julia. They just can't get enough of their granddaughter and it's really cute. The other day my Mom and I were in the kitchen chatting away and out of nowhere and completely off topic she just blurted out excitedly "Isn't Julia so cute!!". And Daddy, well he's just so funny. Anytime he comes home from a visit with Julia he gives me the entire play by play of the action for the evening: " and then she sat. and then she clapped. and then she played. and then she walked. and then she ate peas. and then she yawned. and then she pooped. and then she said "Hi grandpa my name is Julia Andrea Pelitis and I am an extremely brilliant child who speaks in full sentences at the very young age of nine months." (Grandpa has a tendency to exaggerate a bit :)

Whenever I'm having a blah day, all it takes is a visit to see my petite protégé to put a smile on my face. I wish I could see her everyday. Julia is such a beautiful blessing.