Embarking on a new journey!

The next few days are going to be B.U.S.Y.!  I have taken yet another new rotation at work, and I have been on permanent nights (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday). I constantly feel like I am either recovering from a night shift or trying to rest before a night shift. The permanent nights will be finished this week and then we are headed to Regina for 5 days of fun in the sun!!! (I didn't say warm, but at least it will be sunny)!

So why on earth (literally) would we go to Regina in the middle of winter where the latest temperatures have been hovering in the -25 degrees Celsius range? Flights to Regina are not cheap; more than double what it costs to fly to Arizona!

The reason we're going to Regina in the middle of winter is because Kourtney will be a guest speaker/ singer at a fundraising banquet for Align Ministries.  My brother, Murray, and his wife, Shannon, are leading this ministry in Regina.  It is Kourtney's first official speaking engagement; one where she will be able to share her life story and parallel it with how difficult it is just to be a teenager. So exciting for this God-given opportunity because I know that this is what is going to give Kourtney purpose in her suffering.  It's well worth a pricey trip to cold (and sunny) Saskatchewan. We are praying that it will be a positive experience for Kourtney as well as the rest of our family (thanks to Uncle Murray for believing in Kourtney!!!!)

Yes, all of us are going to Regina on Thursday, but, why are we all going? Well, Todd needed to go so he could accompany Kourtney on the guitar as she sings, and Shae and I both could not bear the thought of the two of them going to Saskatchewan without us. For me it has been one of *loneliest* seasons.  I am not sure if it's because of my night shift routine or my lack of exercise due to my back problems, but I am struggling with the "cloud of depression".  For anyone who struggles with depression you know that feeling. Most of the times I can deal with it, but this year it has been extremely difficult to get through it. I have come to realize it is part of my DNA but when I go through this the two things that help me are making sure I get enough sleep and exercise;  the same two things I have been lacking for the past 2 months. I just hope that going to Saskatchewan doesn't exacerbate my feelings of loneliness. I think Todd is secretly praying for cold weather while we are there to deter any thoughts of us moving to the windy city.

As of now, the talk Kourtney will be doing just needs some finishing touches to it, however helping her write her story has been a very healing and rewarding experience for both her and I. We realize how far we have all come since her birth in 1997. We have been through some very difficult times, but we are able to say we have gotten through it with our faith stronger and with a very intact family unit.  It  makes us realize that there can be "blessings in our sufferings".  This week I was reminded over and over again of God's faithfulness to our family when Kourtney and Todd led the worship at church and Shae played basketball and scored the most points for her team. It makes me realize that despite our trials each one of us have found our "niche" and have become stronger because of it.

Please pray for us this week, WE almost can expect an attack from the enemy because we know that God is going to do great things next Monday night, February 11th.