I am sick of of hearing people complain about Americans. Seriously, people, stop! I hate to breakthe news, but believe it or not, there is no difference between the Americans and us Canadians. We are both people!
I was blessed to be raised in a home that allowed me to grow up and develop my own opinions on everything (I apologize if what I say here offends anyone, but afterall, these are just opinions of someone who is human). And, as part of my development, I have come to see all people as equal, regardless of their colour, ethnicity, beliefs, laws, etc. People are all the same. And I certainly don't feel that it is right to judge a man because of something he was taught; something created by man in the first place. Different people have diferent laws, and modern-day laws are man-made, and we all know that man is incapable of governing himself. We're all idiots, but God created us that way, and to Him that's perfect. I figure, if God can look down on this tangled mess we've created and still find it in His amazing heart to love us all equally, how could I think that my judgements should supercede His? But then, I realize, I am coming at this topic as a Christian and being that I have always believed in God, I can not understand and atheistic or apathetic veiw on this same topic.
However, back to my original rant. People need to stop thinking of the Americans as less than us Canadians. I mean, their laws and leadership is leaving somthing to be desired, but look at ours; Canada is tearing itself apart from sea to sea, and no one can agree with anybody on anything. So guess what, both countries are populated by people (who are even the same ethnicity!!!) and both have governments that aren't perfect. Big suprise. So why do so many folks say "those dumb Americans?" We are the same!!!! We are all human beings with opinions, likes, dislikes, goals, dreams, talents; stop building up walls folks!
I think I'm done. Hopefully my point came across clearly enough.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Finally Rested Up
This past weekend, a couple of my pals and I booked 'er out to Saskatoon for a show at their wicked Jazz Festival. It was so much fun, and a painfully quick trip. Seriously, we spent a whole 23 hours in Saskatoon and 12 hours or so driving.
We booked a hotel room for the night, which almost ended up being a waste in that I only got about and hour, tops, of sleep, three others got 3 os so, and one about 8. We were mostly all up and at 'em around 6am. We ended up walking around the city the whole next day too, so our poor drivers had some troubles keeping their eyes open on the trip home (which started around 11:30pm and ended back home around 6am Sunday morning). But, the best part was that for some reason our trip was seriously blessed.
Thursday night my glasses broke, my titanium frames, and I was told the following day that the sudden and unfounded break was irrepairable. It was supposed to cost me anywhere from $150-over $200 to get new frames for the glasses I bought back in Feburary. I can't afford that! Anyway, one of the guys who went to the festival with us just so happened to have an uncle in Saskatoon and who just so happened to be one of the four people in western Canada to have a laser welding machine. We took the glasses into the uncle on Saturday and he not only fixed my frames (and laser welding was the only way to fix titanium), but he did it free of charge. Talk about a blessing! Goodness! And coincidence? I think not! Not only that, but we had no car troubles, gas was cheaper than anticipated, our hotel room was thankfully held for us (we were 9 hours late for check-in), we ended up having someone give us a free parking pass for the whole next day, and we picked up the tickets with no problem (there were MANY expected). Actually, we ended up having the whole Saturday afternoon to ourselves!
We were first at the gate for the concert of the amazing Herbie Hancock when we met a man named Terri. This man, and his sweet wife, bought us the most collosal pizza i have ever eaten (or seen!), just because they met us. We spent our entire evening with them. They sent us off that evening with the pizza, and a fatefult timing. My one friend who got us all to the event is the a huge fan of Herbie and his Quartet, and because of Terri and his wife, he was able to meet him. Seriously, after the pizza and on our way out of the hotel, Herbie was walking into the lobby as we were about to walk out. My friend got to meet him and his autograph and was pretty much in a silent state of shock for the rest of the night/morning. Even now he is floored at the fact that he met Herbie.
Anyway, it was awesome, truly. I put some pictures of it on my facebook. I took some really great pics of the beautiful town of Saskatoon (I should have anyway, being that I was out taking most of them at 4:30am and the light then is stunning!).
We booked a hotel room for the night, which almost ended up being a waste in that I only got about and hour, tops, of sleep, three others got 3 os so, and one about 8. We were mostly all up and at 'em around 6am. We ended up walking around the city the whole next day too, so our poor drivers had some troubles keeping their eyes open on the trip home (which started around 11:30pm and ended back home around 6am Sunday morning). But, the best part was that for some reason our trip was seriously blessed.
Thursday night my glasses broke, my titanium frames, and I was told the following day that the sudden and unfounded break was irrepairable. It was supposed to cost me anywhere from $150-over $200 to get new frames for the glasses I bought back in Feburary. I can't afford that! Anyway, one of the guys who went to the festival with us just so happened to have an uncle in Saskatoon and who just so happened to be one of the four people in western Canada to have a laser welding machine. We took the glasses into the uncle on Saturday and he not only fixed my frames (and laser welding was the only way to fix titanium), but he did it free of charge. Talk about a blessing! Goodness! And coincidence? I think not! Not only that, but we had no car troubles, gas was cheaper than anticipated, our hotel room was thankfully held for us (we were 9 hours late for check-in), we ended up having someone give us a free parking pass for the whole next day, and we picked up the tickets with no problem (there were MANY expected). Actually, we ended up having the whole Saturday afternoon to ourselves!
We were first at the gate for the concert of the amazing Herbie Hancock when we met a man named Terri. This man, and his sweet wife, bought us the most collosal pizza i have ever eaten (or seen!), just because they met us. We spent our entire evening with them. They sent us off that evening with the pizza, and a fatefult timing. My one friend who got us all to the event is the a huge fan of Herbie and his Quartet, and because of Terri and his wife, he was able to meet him. Seriously, after the pizza and on our way out of the hotel, Herbie was walking into the lobby as we were about to walk out. My friend got to meet him and his autograph and was pretty much in a silent state of shock for the rest of the night/morning. Even now he is floored at the fact that he met Herbie.
Anyway, it was awesome, truly. I put some pictures of it on my facebook. I took some really great pics of the beautiful town of Saskatoon (I should have anyway, being that I was out taking most of them at 4:30am and the light then is stunning!).
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Demo Crew Here I Come!!
Four years ago I had my very first taste of reality through a program called Demo Crew. Basically, this program takes a youth group into the inner city of Calgary and strips them of any boundries and comfort-zones they may have had before. In Demo Crew, there is no room for stereotypes, there is no room for judgement, there is no choice but to grow. Simple: you can not go through that program and not have had a glimpse of how awesome, and imperative God is.
My first year, on my first day, I hated it. Well sort of. I knew I would rather have been at home than sleeping on a col churches hardwood floor. My leaders had challenged us to leave everything at home: expectations, cd players and mp3s, emotional baggage, showering--everything! I it was so hard. But I returned home a different person, and enlightened person, and a person with a heart to heal and help the broken, and a heart that accepts diversity as a beautiful thing. I returned the following year, again, not expecting a thing. And guess what? My enlightenment was even more intense. Then I went to Mexico the following summer, and last year I worked. Now this year, I have the privilage of returning to Demo as a youth leader, and the chance to see other lives changed and naiivety disappear. It's only four days of intense ministry, but holy man, can it ever change the course of your life!
I'm thrilled that God has bropught this back into my life right before I move away. The timing is just perfect, well, for the most part. I mean, I have to take time off of work to do this thing, which sounds like it will result in less road tripping and vacationing, but God has laid this so heavily on my heart that I couldn't possibly say no. I mean, if there were any better way for me to spend four days of my week, I couldn't possibly think of it. I love volunteering! It's been so long since I was last in inner city Calgary for that purpose.
Any how, this isn't happening until the end of July, but if you think of it, prayer would be awesome; prayer is essential for the kids going and the leaders leading!
My first year, on my first day, I hated it. Well sort of. I knew I would rather have been at home than sleeping on a col churches hardwood floor. My leaders had challenged us to leave everything at home: expectations, cd players and mp3s, emotional baggage, showering--everything! I it was so hard. But I returned home a different person, and enlightened person, and a person with a heart to heal and help the broken, and a heart that accepts diversity as a beautiful thing. I returned the following year, again, not expecting a thing. And guess what? My enlightenment was even more intense. Then I went to Mexico the following summer, and last year I worked. Now this year, I have the privilage of returning to Demo as a youth leader, and the chance to see other lives changed and naiivety disappear. It's only four days of intense ministry, but holy man, can it ever change the course of your life!
I'm thrilled that God has bropught this back into my life right before I move away. The timing is just perfect, well, for the most part. I mean, I have to take time off of work to do this thing, which sounds like it will result in less road tripping and vacationing, but God has laid this so heavily on my heart that I couldn't possibly say no. I mean, if there were any better way for me to spend four days of my week, I couldn't possibly think of it. I love volunteering! It's been so long since I was last in inner city Calgary for that purpose.
Any how, this isn't happening until the end of July, but if you think of it, prayer would be awesome; prayer is essential for the kids going and the leaders leading!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Little by Little
It seems yet another week has sliped by me. This keeps happening. I'm making head-way, in small and larger ways, with my upcoming move out of province. Today I finally set up an account at a national bank.
I can't believe that a month ago I was in Ontario. Oh how times flies! I keep dreaming of going back to the cottage and bumming around with my sweet realtions; they seem a lot cloer in my dreams than they really are.
There has been little but rain this week. Lots of thunderstorms too. Everything has seriously greened up. I love green; it means life and rejuvination.
So it looks like I might be a leader for a youth even coming up at the end of July. I hope the idea pans out . It's this thing called "Demo Crew," and basically involves sleeping in a church and clocking in insane hours of volunteering in a homeless shelter in downtown Calgary. I've been several times in the past, and it changed the course of my life and my outlook on life entirely. For once, I can say there is a program I believe in. I dearly pray that another bunch of kiddies can go in and see what's up in the real world.
As this summer starts chugging my way, all I hear are stories of everyone's plans for the fall. One of my oldest friends is moving to New Zealand, another one is moving to Austrailia, ones already in Thailand, most of my high school chums are already in Calgary, one of my dearest plans to book 'er to England, one to Manitoba, me to BC, another back up to Edmonton, and two, I believe, will be remaining in Linden. I can't believe how spread apart we're getting. I come from a town of 700 or so, and it seems like a great portion of them are going international all at once. I hope they all know that I plan to hit them up for a place to stay in my travels!
Well, with that I suppose I should call it a night. Good eve to all, and to all a good night!
I can't believe that a month ago I was in Ontario. Oh how times flies! I keep dreaming of going back to the cottage and bumming around with my sweet realtions; they seem a lot cloer in my dreams than they really are.
There has been little but rain this week. Lots of thunderstorms too. Everything has seriously greened up. I love green; it means life and rejuvination.
So it looks like I might be a leader for a youth even coming up at the end of July. I hope the idea pans out . It's this thing called "Demo Crew," and basically involves sleeping in a church and clocking in insane hours of volunteering in a homeless shelter in downtown Calgary. I've been several times in the past, and it changed the course of my life and my outlook on life entirely. For once, I can say there is a program I believe in. I dearly pray that another bunch of kiddies can go in and see what's up in the real world.
As this summer starts chugging my way, all I hear are stories of everyone's plans for the fall. One of my oldest friends is moving to New Zealand, another one is moving to Austrailia, ones already in Thailand, most of my high school chums are already in Calgary, one of my dearest plans to book 'er to England, one to Manitoba, me to BC, another back up to Edmonton, and two, I believe, will be remaining in Linden. I can't believe how spread apart we're getting. I come from a town of 700 or so, and it seems like a great portion of them are going international all at once. I hope they all know that I plan to hit them up for a place to stay in my travels!
Well, with that I suppose I should call it a night. Good eve to all, and to all a good night!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
My Very First Energy Drink
So this week has been one for the books. Once again, a polar opposite from the beginning of the week to the end; I am thrilled to say I ended the week on top of the world.
God has, undoubtedly, been humored by me in the past little while. He's not the one testing m patience or faith, but rather a bystander, watching how I react to doors opening and closing. And then opening again. Turns out I can get a government loan for UCFV Abbotsford (which I have now applied for), and now the church has decided that they want to financially support my venture to college. No kidding! I'm speechless. I mean, the last thing I want is for the church to be thinking that I'm just in it to get monies out of them, which I'm not. I just want to go to school! Oh how I want to be learning again!
I move in to rez in 82 days or so. I think. I can't believe how the time flies. I mean, less than a year ago, I had no idea where I was going, was struggling to regain confidence after my first break-up, just moving out on my own, and basicaly learning the ways of adult life. I'm now a successful young lady, with three jobs (until the end of the month, when I'll say "So long!" to Cousins), the ability to fend for myself, and more confidence than I ever had before. Most of the time. I'm happier now to, far happier.
So anyway, in my meeting with the elders and pastor, I divulged that I might perhaps like to work for the UN or Greenpeace at some point in my life. Unfortunatly, this confession was met primarily with scoffing and some judgements (except from a couple men, who told encouraged me to give 'er beans). I'm thinking along the lines of foreign aid and/or their program UNESCO, which brings education and sciences into the counrties of the world where such things are currently lacking or unavailable. I think that is great! I don't believe a single person in this world lacks the right to be educated on anything, and I don't fully believe that I must evangelize the person first and teach them later, after they've accepted Christ. I am not a missionary. I am a teacher yes, a linguist no doubt, and my heart for this broken world of ours is undeniable, but I believe that God can be found and revealed in the ordinary day, through a verse of Shakespeare or the way a language flows. I believe that the subtle revelation can be the most powerful (a favorite of example of this is "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W.B. Yeats, check it out and see what he is saying!). I realize that the corporations cited above have become somewhat corrupt and broken, just like the rest of the world. But as far as I can tell, if God has laid such things on my life, such venues, why should I be judged if I want to work for them? Not everyone is called to work in a Christian environment! I mean, most of my life, I feel, I am going to be in a strongly Roman Catholic environment, but I have no doubt that God will be placing me there for some reason.
All said and done, I am fully excited and anxious to see where the good Lord is taking me. It obviously starts at school, as He is literally carrying me there. Thigns keep coming together, and my passions for what I am wanting to do are getting intensified daily. Honestly, sometimes I feel just so fully of excitment and hopefulness that I feel like I don't have enough sking to retain all the emotion. But then again, that might just be because I am a girl.
God has, undoubtedly, been humored by me in the past little while. He's not the one testing m patience or faith, but rather a bystander, watching how I react to doors opening and closing. And then opening again. Turns out I can get a government loan for UCFV Abbotsford (which I have now applied for), and now the church has decided that they want to financially support my venture to college. No kidding! I'm speechless. I mean, the last thing I want is for the church to be thinking that I'm just in it to get monies out of them, which I'm not. I just want to go to school! Oh how I want to be learning again!
I move in to rez in 82 days or so. I think. I can't believe how the time flies. I mean, less than a year ago, I had no idea where I was going, was struggling to regain confidence after my first break-up, just moving out on my own, and basicaly learning the ways of adult life. I'm now a successful young lady, with three jobs (until the end of the month, when I'll say "So long!" to Cousins), the ability to fend for myself, and more confidence than I ever had before. Most of the time. I'm happier now to, far happier.
So anyway, in my meeting with the elders and pastor, I divulged that I might perhaps like to work for the UN or Greenpeace at some point in my life. Unfortunatly, this confession was met primarily with scoffing and some judgements (except from a couple men, who told encouraged me to give 'er beans). I'm thinking along the lines of foreign aid and/or their program UNESCO, which brings education and sciences into the counrties of the world where such things are currently lacking or unavailable. I think that is great! I don't believe a single person in this world lacks the right to be educated on anything, and I don't fully believe that I must evangelize the person first and teach them later, after they've accepted Christ. I am not a missionary. I am a teacher yes, a linguist no doubt, and my heart for this broken world of ours is undeniable, but I believe that God can be found and revealed in the ordinary day, through a verse of Shakespeare or the way a language flows. I believe that the subtle revelation can be the most powerful (a favorite of example of this is "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W.B. Yeats, check it out and see what he is saying!). I realize that the corporations cited above have become somewhat corrupt and broken, just like the rest of the world. But as far as I can tell, if God has laid such things on my life, such venues, why should I be judged if I want to work for them? Not everyone is called to work in a Christian environment! I mean, most of my life, I feel, I am going to be in a strongly Roman Catholic environment, but I have no doubt that God will be placing me there for some reason.
All said and done, I am fully excited and anxious to see where the good Lord is taking me. It obviously starts at school, as He is literally carrying me there. Thigns keep coming together, and my passions for what I am wanting to do are getting intensified daily. Honestly, sometimes I feel just so fully of excitment and hopefulness that I feel like I don't have enough sking to retain all the emotion. But then again, that might just be because I am a girl.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Monday Mornings Suck
Oh how I wish I were still on vacation. I'm stressing out unlike ever before; this week I register for classes, might be taking a test for school, am trying (and failing at that) to get some student loans in the works, and working full time every day. And on top of that, nothing is working. Everything is breaking. I'm breaking.
So this morning I have been making a third attempt at starting a loan file for the government, but everytime I try, either the site or internet crashes. Today I finally got far enough through the whole works only to find that the government does not (as far as I could tell) support students on the Abbotsford campus of UCFV. Now I'm thinking: "Oh God, what am I going to do?" No matter what I do, I will not have nearly enough money for school unless I get some loans, but now I don't know where to get those!
Three months to go until all is said and done. Boy howdy, how will this whole thing turn out??
So this morning I have been making a third attempt at starting a loan file for the government, but everytime I try, either the site or internet crashes. Today I finally got far enough through the whole works only to find that the government does not (as far as I could tell) support students on the Abbotsford campus of UCFV. Now I'm thinking: "Oh God, what am I going to do?" No matter what I do, I will not have nearly enough money for school unless I get some loans, but now I don't know where to get those!
Three months to go until all is said and done. Boy howdy, how will this whole thing turn out??
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