WHAT are you doing THIS SUMMER??!?

Starting in April and continuing to September, the Japanese Gospel Church of Toronto (my church!) will be constructing our very FIRST church building (we've been renting space until this point)!!!!!

We're constructing solely with volunteers, so who's free this summer? The building site is between Warden and Kennedy on McNicoll, and we'll be there Monday-Saturday. The only requirements for the build are that you be over 16, wear a pair of CSA-approved (green triangle) safety shoes, and have WHMIS training. If you don't have WHMIS training, we're having it at the church THIS Sunday at 1pm, Sunday, April 29th at 1pm, or May 6th at 1pm. These safety trainings will be at our current church location, at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (Don Mills and Eglington).

Come be a part of CHURCH HISTORY! We REALLY need volunteers! Let your friends and family know!

Check out the Building blog!

Ow, there's a plank in my eye

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

Seems I've forgotten about the plank in my eye.

My fave song of the moment is Who Am I by Casting Crowns. I think it's
amazing because it talks about how little and insignificant we are (we
are but a breath!) and yet, God loves us, forgives us and has such HOPE
in us. I love the line that says, "Who am I, that the eyes that see my
sin, would look on me with love, and watch me rise again." It's such a
good reminder of His abundant grace.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours 

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath. - Psalm 39:5

Bittersweet goodbye

You don't really realize how much you'll miss something until it's taken away.

I'm really going to miss Bangkok Villa. True, the restaurant business is stressful. But the food was so good, the regular customers were so great...and now, I guess I won't see those people again.

Now, the old Bangkok Villa space will join the gazillions of Japanese sushi places. Sigh, just as Starbucks was opening up across the parking lot, too.

God has a plan, and I'm thankful for the Lims for showing me what stepping out in faith and trusting God with your future looks like.

I'll miss you Bangkok Villa.

JGCT building project blog!

The official JGCT building project blog is up and running!

We'll need lots of volunteers to help with the construction over the summer, so if you have some spare time, stay tuned for details on how to come help out!

Medieval Valentine's

Instead of celebrating Valentine's day on February 14th, Kevin and I celebrated on Saturday with my sister and Quang...and we went to Medieval Times!!!

The chicken was a little dry, but otherwise, it was good food and fun fighting. It was slightly disturbing to me that we (in character, of course) were cheering for duels to the DEATH, but I guess it's all part of the Medieval experience. It also bothered me a bit that our red knight was kind of a goof and didn't really pay attention or seem to be trying to hard at the games. Didn't he know how competitive we were?!

And, do either the red and yellow knight or the black and white knight always win? I kinda think so. The other knights got shafted, I think. At least our red knight was the cousin to the secret traitor. Oh, oops, just spoiled the surprise story line. Eh, actually, you probably would've figured it out in the first little bit, anyway.

Overall, fun times with serfs and wenches and sawdust and the cutest (can I say horses are cute?) horses ever!

Mission accomplished, prayer answered!

So WHO knew how ridiculously ridiculous it would be to find a wedding dress. I was definitely not one of those lucky gals who walks in and finds the dress right away. It took FOREVER. Thank you to my lovely and devoted bridesmaids (especially my sister) who trekked across the city to help me find it! I was getting so stressed out! Who KNEW there were so many shades of white in so many cuts, with so many sequins and lace and buttons/no buttons, pick-ups/no pick-ups, sleeves/no sleeves....etc. etc. etc. Phew.

While many bridal salons had pretty white concoctions, none had them in the price range or style I wanted. I have to say that The Brides Project was great great great, although I didn't find my dress there. The proceeds go to cancer research, and some gowns even come with notes from previous owners! Miles of trekking later, I found my gown at Best For Bride for SOOOOOOOO cheap! UNDER budget! Thank heavens for Ava and google. So yes, another detail in the bag. I was praying SO hard for a dress...ahahaha, now I have to start praying I'll still fit into it properly for the wedding! :)

So what does it look like? Ahahaha, can't tell, because Kevin reads this and doesn't want to know. All I can say is that it's very "me". Whatever that means!

Wedding dress marathon

After trying on ELEVENTY BILLION wedding dresses at the Ritche's Bridal sale, I understand why brides want to get into shape before their wedding.

No, it's not just to look good in the dress.

It's to work up the endurance to truck a couple pounds of tulle, lace, taffeta and/or silk for an entire day.

Those poufy concotions are HEAVY!

Urbana 06

Over 22,000 people, Spirit-led worship, freedom in Christ, re-energizing, eye-opening, inspiring, exhausting, educational, late-night girl talk, nothing open past midnight, yellow school bus rides, manuscript studying up a storm, Rick Warren in person, random reunions, Tide to go, TGI Fridays...
Urbana was amazing.

There's so much on my mind and I can't get it all out.