Chinese Jesus

I was reading about different Christmas traditions around the world...and I found this picture of Mary and Jesus. I like it.

I was reading about Christmas in China. One article said,

"If you want to experience Christmas in all its commercial splendor, undiluted by any religious sentiment or spiritual meaning, come to China."

It went on to talk about how the Chinese businesses are promoting Christmas deals because of the economic crisis and they want to make money. It seemed that that what Christmas was all about. It made me sad...and then I thought:

Is that really any different than here?

thinking out loud

I'm excited...
-for the future
-to learn new things
-that I am done school!

I dream of...
-traveling around the world
-adventure
-making a difference

I'm scared...
-that I don't care enough
-that I ask too many questions
-that I will fail

This one's for Holly!

...cuz she's probably the only one that will read this...unless she's given up on my blog writing.
I had the best weekend ever! It was a much needed break, and I loved it! I wish I could camp for a living ;) ha ha! maybe not. But it sure was fun! That's all...not too exciting...but at least I wrote something!

gotta love technology...

I was recently on a website that stated:

"Until further notice all search results will be inaccurate and/or incomplete. We apologize for the inconvenience"

How ridiculous is that?

"Lord, forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world that fight for our love and our passion. As our eyes are opened wide and on You, grant us the privilege of Your worldview and may Your Kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down."

-TobyMac

[insert exclamation here]

here's another entry of happiness because I am done school for the year! It's been quite the week: from getting 'threatening' phone calls, to feeling like my brain was fried from studying. But I learned a lot...like that when doors are locked it doesn't help to wave at them and say hi...They still won't open ;) (I told you my brain was fried)

i've been blessed...

and I didn't even realize it. This semester has been SOOOO good! I have loved *almost* every minute of it. This semester and last semester were like night and day. I've almost felt emotionally bipolar...last semester was the worst time of my life, and now I just LOVE it!! Last semester I prayed so hard that things would get better...that I'd start to like what I'm doing...It was discouraging because last semester never seemed to get much better. Today it hit me as I was walking to the bus stop listening to TobyMac that God answered my prayer. It took me till the end of this semester to realize that "hey, maybe God had something to do with this!" So I say Thank-You God for answering my prayers even though I don't always give you credit for the things that you do!

"I can feel the Most High shining on me, so...

Let's get this party started"

(TobyMac)

3593

That's the number of words in the longest-most-boring paper I've ever written. BUT IT IS DONE!! That's all I have to say.

starting to dream

well, it's been a while since I have actually posted. School is going wonderfully. I've enjoyed this semester more than any other since I have entered the Faculty of Nursing. I've actually started to get excited about doing this for a living...something that I haven't felt in a while. I've been able see some fun things...a craniotomy, eye surgery, a colonscopy, a burr hole procedure (basically drilling a hole in the skull to relieve the pressure and allow the blood/fluid to escape). I've been able to insert 3 straight catheters during this rotation so far! There have been many hi-lights! Even though it's fun...I can hardly wait until summer!! The things I am looking forward to are: no homework, no papers, no snow/slush, warm weather, being home, going for walks, playing slow-pitch, seeing my niece's and nephew (and the rest of my family), going to the beach, suntanning, mowing the lawn, having fire's, rollarblading, going barefoot outside, buying new flipflops...and the list could go on and on. But i should stop dreaming and finish the things I need to do before summer will come.

my reading week...

here she is!

It's a Girlia!

I have another niece! Her name is Karli Brielle and she is one of the cutest babies I've ever seen! I would share her cuteness in the form of a picture, but my computer is being uncooperative.
In other (not so exciting) news...we have mice again...and this time not only are they in our cupboards and pantry...they are in the basement as well. I had been hearing them and seeing their remnants, but this morning while I was sitting on the can I had visual confirmation as one scurried across the floor. Let's hope they don't crawl into my bed at night...Eeeks! Well, I think we have about 10 traps up now and our dead mice tally is up to 5 since sunday evening.
Well, I feel that I can't leave on that note, so for something more exciting (in my opinion)...I inserted a catheter today. I was pretty pumped. I hadn't done one since last year, so it was kinda fun! That's about it.

Come & Go

"Come! Jesus says. Come to Me. And just as we do, He says, Go! As the Father has sent Me, I'm sending you. Go into the marketplace, the public schools, the prisons, and the hospital ward--go into the world. And don't leave it as you found it." (from Your God Is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan)

I got a camera for Christmas...

GOh Canada!

Way to go World Junior Hockey team!! 4-2; way to dominate!
we just got our internet/cable connected today...what a funny time. And the cable guy laughed at me on the phone...not with me....AT me! but it's okay....I laughed after I hung up. Thanks to the cable guy for getting us connected to the "people down at the internet"!
School is okay...I feel like I have a mountain of things to do already, but it should be fun! only 3 more semesters! That's what gets me through this!
Yesterday in one of my classes, we were supposed to introduce ourselves to someone we didn't know and tell them why we decided to become a nurse. This caught me offguard. I realized that I've spent most of the last year and a half dwelling on why I think I should (or want to) quit, and I forgot why I wanted to do this in the first place. I've had a few moments during clinical that reminded me of why I want to do this, but I forget them very easily. Why do I want to be a nurse? My childhood answer: "to help people". My last years answer: "because I'm already in the program and I don't know of anything else I want to do". My answer for today: "to make a difference in people's lives." The idea of being a nurse still scares me. It'll be a challenge, and I like a good challenge. I think I need to sleep now...Happy New Year, ya'll!

I think this says it all...

"Can't believe it's Christmas,

Oh, boy! It's finally here!

Ho, ho! Away we go!

With rosey cheeks and hearts aglowin'

Hey, hey! Our favorite day!

It makes us want to cheer!

Yo, ho! We love the snow!

At least we know we won't be mowing!

Ya, hey! We're glad to say

That Christmas time is here!

We can't believe it's Christmas!

Been waiting for a million hours

Can't believe it's Christmas,

Oh what a nifty day!"

(from VeggieTales Can't Believe It's Christmas)

we have a christmas tree!!

And it's definately a step up from last year! we even have a tree-skirt! I was impressed! It is a beauty! I am so excited for Christmas...I'm very distracted by the thought of it! I just love everything about it: the music, the lights, the decorations, the baking, Christmas programs, being with family, playing football in the snow with my sister, relaxing, watching 'White Christmas', reading the Christmas story, reading/crotcheting by the fireplace, playing hockey...okay so some of this is getting into general winter things, not just Christmas things...But it kinda goes hand in hand I think. I'm excited to be an angel this year for the Christmas in the Park thingy! Of course I'll have to wear my parka underneath my angel costume...I wonder if angels wear toques?...I wonder if angels wear Viking's toques? This one just might! I just had to add this visual memory of Christmas in August...many moons ago. Joanna and Pershy, I miss you both!

go lions!

It was a great weekend. It was actually a long weekend for me because my professor decided to cancel my class on friday. What a great idea! This allowed me to go along with my mom (who had a sleepover at my house that night) and sister for breakfast on friday. It was a delicious breakfast! I love mountains of fruit especially when they are on top of yummy waffles!! It was a good time! Holly and Phil came over on saturday for the grey cup festivities...and some comedy night at church. The parade was a good time!! I almost got a pom-pom! The lady tried 3 times to throw one at me, but she missed everytime. I'll get over it...one day! It's like the fish that got away (maybe, I don't know...I'm not an avid fisherwoman, I just like saying that!) Holly got a t-shirt...fair and square...but I'll let her tell that story. Then my bundled up friends with their beautiful orange BC shirts went to the game. Kendra and I watched some interactive television! (When we saw the planes fly over the stadium on TV, we ran outside and saw them flying in the sky...it was quite thrilling!) This weekend I also figured out some new goals for my life: 1) I want to have my appendix removed, and 2) I want to learn how to solve a rubik's cube. Both would be very thrilling for me. All in all it was a very exciting and eventful weekend!

one day at a time

"Every single moment whether sleeping or awake

Is your creation

And what you’ve made is good

I don’t always thank you for the rough days and

The hard times in my life

Even though I should"

(Jury Duty by the OC Supertones)

"Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God..." (Psalm 51:14a). This morning when I read this passage I thought, how difficult can the attitude of thankfulness be? I won't be much of a sacrifice...well, I changed my mind. somedays (like today) it's very hard for me to be thankful. I did get through it though, so I'm thankful for that!! Hopefully tomorrow is better. Only one month and one day until this semester is completely over...I can hardly wait!

my day

Today I felt like a nurse. I gave 3 injections, (what felt like) a million NG meds, and an enema! All in all I'd say it was an eventful day! And it begins again tomorrow, bright and early.
Well, the paper that I thought I finished on the weekend is now considered unfinished, so I'd better get on that.

I'm feeling antsy

so I've been studying for this exam for the past...oh I don't know how many hours...granted, I have taken a few study breaks to rummage for snacks or whatever else I could find to take my mind off of endocrine disorders, cancer, HIV, Coronary Artery Disease, and all that other fun stuff I'm supposed to know about by tomorrow morning. I closed my eyes for a minute and it seriously felt like Christmas. Maybe that's because the candle that's burning in my room smells sort of like cinnamon, and Josh Grobin is singing "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" to me. Is that even a Christmas song? I have no idea. It makes me think of Christmas...so does the song "oh come let us adore Him." but the last two concerts I've been to, they've sang as a regular worship song. not that I have a problem with that...cuz I like the song...I just think of Christmas. I would love to curl up by a fireplace and watch a football game on TV right now. That would make me happy... Or maybe a baseball game. So who will it be this year; the Cardinals or the Tigers? I'm going for the Cardinals...anyways...i think this is enough procrastination...I need to start reading about hemodynamics...

(not so) fun times!

so I went to the dentist on friday...and almost left my teeth there. It was not a very fun experience, but it's over and I still have all of my teeth! That's always a bonus. I was hoping to make it to at least 35 before I got my first set of dentures. That's my story. not very exciting...but that's okay...now I must start unpacking and doing some homework and such things as that...we'll see how that goes! Only 7 weeks left of school till christmas break...I think.

so i was told i needed to update...

I wonder why. not much to report, except that SNOW HAS COME!! I usually like the first snow fall, cuz it's pretty. But this is too early. I know that it's not really staying, so it pretty much doesn't count...but it's still too early. oh well, whatcha going to do?
so tomorrow I get to watch an angiogram! I'm excited. My instructor asked me if I got squeamish. I said: I haven't been squeamish so far. I don't think of myself as a squeamish person, but I don't think I've seen overly gross things either. We'll see how that goes. and that is all for my report, have a great evening.
PS I love you Jen, even if you make fun of my ability to speak...or lack of speaking ability

Enough

by Chris Tomlin

All of You is more than enough for all of me

For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply

My breath of life

And still more awesome than I know

You are my reward

worth living for

And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me

For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

You’re my sacrifice

Of greatest price

And still more awesome than I know

You’re the coming King

You are everything

And still more awesome than I know

my little mouse rant

You'd think 7 mice would be enough...I hope it is! I hope that is all we'll ever have in this house! I used to think mice were cute...and they have potential, when they are in a cage or something...not running loose in your house. I'm sick of the smell of mouse. I'm sick of cautiously opening cupboard doors, just in case one comes running out. I'm sick of how checking the mouse traps has become as routine as brushing my teeth. One day I'll laugh about it...I'm sure. It better be REALLY funny!

BTS

That's right, it's Back-to-School time....which means packing, moving, unpacking, shopping, rearranging furniture...oh yeah and going to classes and that kind of thing. It's been an eventful week...bleaching our used-to-be-white tub; helping our neighbors move stuff out of their house, adding to the ginormous (is that a word?) pile of garbage outside their house; having our first BBQ here; catching a MOUSE in our house (that's an entire story in itself involving much screaming, barricades, icecream pails and friendly neighbors)! All in a week's work I guess! It should be a great year! Oh yeah, and I get to see Robert Munsch next week!!! I'm super pumped!

and that's the kind of day it's been...

well, I guess it's only 3 weeks until school starts again. I don't really want to think about it, yet I'm starting to get a little excited to move back to the city. I think a wasp bit me today...I have this bump on my wrist now. It stopped hurting though, so that's good. Yesterday my dad took me out driving with Li'l Gurk. (my first standard driving lesson). It was quite exciting! I felt like I was 15 1/2 all over again, trying to figure out how to drive. I stalled many times, got a few stares and some people laughed at me, but we all came back in one piece. Well, there's ball tonight...hopefully it doesn't rain, and it will all be good!

My trip

 

 

 

today is a sad day...

that's right...the Oiler's lost. *melancholy sigh*

not much else is new...except that I love my jobs...yes, both of them. Last summer I hated them and wanted to quit both of them. But this summer I really enjoy both of them. We'll see what I think by the end of summer. I think I'll sleep outside tonight. It's soooo beautiful....hopefully the bugs are sleeping, or not very hungry tonight ;)

the loooong weekend

I decided that I love summer. I love summer holidays. I love warm weather. I love playing football. I love playing baseball. I love having campfires. I love sleeping outside (even if you have to wear 10 million layers of clothes to stay warm!!). I love my friends. I love being with my friends. I love catching up with people that you haven't seen in a loooong time, and just start where you left off. I love jumping on trampolines. I love having inside jokes with people. I love making memories with people. I love God. I love being with God. I love being real with people. I love learning new things. I love my family. I love being with my family. I love thunder storms. I love watching the stars. I love singing at the top of my lungs. aaaaand I could go on and on...

I had a great weekend! actually, this past week all felt like a extra long weekend, cuz I never work anymore. But I won't complain...because I have alot of shifts coming up. Besides, these are my summer HOLIDAYS!! So I should enjoy them while I can!! so many stories I could write....like about leaky air mattresses, friendly strangers that speak Low German, and being in a "bird cage"/"confessional" but that would take too much time.

I read a cool verse today: "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'LORD, I am coming.'" (Psalm 27:8)

Today I saw Charley Pride...

for those of you who don't know who Charley Pride is...don't worry, I didn't either. I was in Walmart and there was a big commotion and a long line up by the entertainment department. Well, of course I'm going to go nearby to see what the fuss is all about. So I see this man signing autographs and smiling for pictures. The Sherlock in me figures he must be a famous person...musician maybe? so I ask a fellow shopper...and she laughed and also admitted to not having a hot clue of who the guy was. Then I asked the worker at the fitting rooms as I waited to try some clothes on...she said, "I think his name is Charley...something or other....he's a singer that people your parents or grandparents age would know." So I left it at that. Then came the message over the intercom announcing Charley Pride's presence in the store.....like anyone in the store hadn't noticed that someone famous was there....Then I went home, and of course my mom knew who Charley Pride was, and that's my story. Oh I forgot the best part: I bought a cute shirt and I can hardly wait to wear it!!

a few memorable Mexican moments

Here are a few of my second cousins that I got to 'spazier' with. (one of them told my mom that she wanted to take me home with her!) My Low German was rusty, but I actually managed to hold a conversation with them for a while.

We went to a church in Santa Rita where my uncle was preaching.

It's everywhere you go...you just can't get away from it. I'm a Pepsi fan most of the time, but I have to admit, Coke definately tastes better from a glass bottle than from a can or plastic bottle!

While driving home from church on Sunday, we hit a rock on the road and our front tire blew. (That's when I got my first lesson on how to change a tire) The next day we got new tires put on the van, and on the yard of the tire shop was the cutest puppy that I've ever seen!! I wanted to take it home, but I don't think it had a passport ;)

I love cactuses...even if they don't have "arms"

My grandpa at one of the stands we stopped at for lunch. We had barbecued beef in a tortilla! It was 'Excellente!'

a windmill my sister and I saw on a walk through one of the villages. The walk was cut short when 2 big dogs started barking and running full force towards us. I was scared, but my sister just laughed at me! (Don't worry, the dogs were well trained and stopped as soon as they reached the road and headed back to their house.)

The delivery vehicles we saw in Cuauhtemoc..it looked like a fun job!

I'm pretending to be a cactus "with arms" because I never got to see any that looked like that :(

I love the mountains! We took a narrow, windy highway through the mountains that had 101 turns!

here it is...

10 simple pleasures...as requested by Julia:
(and of course these are in no particular order)

1 Lying on the beach on a hot summer day, getting warm all the way through
2 Reading a book or crochetting by the fireplace
3 Sitting around a campfire with friends!
4 Baking cookies
5 Playing with my niece and nephew
6 The smell of playing baseball (the combination of sweat, leather and dirt!)
7 Losing track of time when with friends
8 Laughing until your sides hurt
9 Watching the sunset
10 Walking in the rain

as far as tagging people: if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!

I'm back!

Well, I'm home now! I have many stories to tell, and pictures to show, but right now I don't have much time for that. Instead, I'll be lazy and just copy and paste a part of an email that I just wrote to a friend...

My family and I got back last night, we had a lot of fun! my grandpa taught us some spanish...enough to pick up boys and read a menu. That's all you need to survive! lol! My mom asked my grandpa what me and my sister should say to chase away the boys and he said with a tinkle in his eye, "te caro mucho" (not sure on the spelling). We asked him what that phrase meant and he said, "I care alot for you". That's my grandpa's humor alright. I never trusted him when he told me to say something to the spanish people out there. He kept us on our toes!

We went driving around the Campo's (villiages) where my grandparents had lived, and visited my second cousins and great aunt. It was interesting. They didn't know any English, so I had to speak Low-German the whole time. I was surprised how much I actually knew! It was facinating to learn about their culture. We also went into the spanish cities of Cuauhtemoc and Chihuahua. It was very interesting! The food was AMAZING!! Taco Bell will never taste as good anymore.

Well, I should do some unpacking now. I moved all my stuff home at 1:00am the night before we left for Mexico, so all that stuff is jammed in my room and I need to sort it all out.

watch out Mexico, here I come!!

I am now officially finished my second year of nursing!! I guess that means that I'm half a nurse. or something like that. aaaaand I'm going to Mexico!! (well, tomorrow I will be) I'm stoked! But there are so many things I have to do first...take my CPR course, clean and move out of my place in the city, go home, pack for the trip....my plan is to crochet all the way there, maybe I'll finally finish that afghan that I started a year ago.
on to something a little more random...have you ever had a man's head in your microwave? I have! Now before you think I'm hallucinating or just plain morbid, I'll explain. Yesterday I was in the basement talking on the phone when I heard a bloodcurdling scream, so I ran up to the living room to see what was wrong. Kendra was screaming and Shawna was doubled over laughing extremely hard. I didn't know what the matter was until I went into the kitchen and saw Rodney in the microwave. (Rodney is Shawna's male mannequin head). I started screaming, and Shawna laughed even more. And that is my funny story for the day....poor neighbors, that's all I have to say!

i did it!!

i finally conquered the expert level of minesweeper...okay, so that's not very exciting for some of you...but you don't understand. I used to hate that game because, well let's face it, it's kinda a game of chance (well the first part is, until you get a big space open). Anyways, I started playing it on sunday, cuz I thought maybe I could learn to like it...that and the fact that playing minesweeper sounded way better than studying ;) So, today, I finally won! I was soooo excited. Oh yeah, and I'm excited that I only have ONE EXAM LEFT!!!!!

stimulating vitamin D production

The weather is sooooooo beautiful! I was studying outside in my backyard all afternoon. I felt like I was sun-tanning, until Kendra informed me that it wasn't likely that I would get a tan while wearing and hoodie and wrapping myself in a blanket. well, that makes it sound like it was cold outside...it really wasn't...the wind was just a little cool. but once the sun came out, I no longer had the need for the blanket!!

I decided that I'm in an anticipatory (is that a word?) stage of life. I guess every stage of life has a certain element of anticipation to it, but just a different reason to look forward to. Right now (besides looking forward to being done exams), I am looking forward to graduating, getting a job as a nurse, independently supporting myself, travelling, and yes...one day getting married. This topic of anticipation reminds me of somethings I read the other day:

"But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us." (Gal. 5:5)

"How easy it is to slip back into thinking that it's now or never; that if it's not here, it's not at all. The life I prize is coming. The very thing that I am aching for now, missing now, seeking now in other things is exactly what's coming to me. This is how I interpret the promises that seem to be coming through the good and beautiful gifts we have now." (Journey of Desire by John Eldredge)

I was thinking about something Kendra wrote a while back about feeling like God is holding out on us and I realized that I feel that way about my dreams. I felt like God wasn't going to allow me to do all the things that I want to accomplish in my life. But I realized that just because I'm not doing these things right NOW, doesn't mean that it's not coming in my future. I also realized that no matter how many dreams I accomplish on earth, all my dreams and longings will be satisfied when I see Jesus.

little hidden surprises

"I would like a triple skinny, 2/3 decaf, half chocolate, no whip, grande mocha. Oh, yeah. Extra foam. To go."

So today as I was working on an assignment, I had the sudden urge to move my bed to see what was underneath it. (Don't ask...I get wierd urges when I'm trying to procrastinate). So I moved my bed, and I found a CD that had been there since last year, two stuffed animals, my long lost mitten (well, one of them...at least I have a pair now)...a t-shirt, a LOT of dust...and some gross dead bugs (there was even a wasp). These bugs were dried up and made a little crunching noise when I crushed them into a Kleenex. One even turned into dust-like particles. So that's really gross, and I should probably do some Spring cleaning...don't tempt me; I have exams to study for and papers to write. This is generally the time of year when I go on my cleaning binges...but I'm trying to refrain. I can clean once I'm done exams...unfortunately, then I won't want to. Why is cleaning only fun when it's done as a method of procrastination?

Wo ist der Bahnhof?

This is my favourite song right now...you should listen to it...it's a gooder!

Glory Hallelujiah
(OC supertones)

Well the whole world is singin'
And the night sky testifies
But man doesn't understand
His purpose is to glorify...

The stones will by cryin' out
if I shut my mouth
Before they can do it
I wanna beat 'em to it

Jesus here I am,
Coming to you a broken man
We're gonna sing sweet Glory Hallelujiah
I just wanna stand
Get up and shout and raise my hands
we're gonna sing sweet Glory Hallelujiah...

"Sadie Hawkins Dance

...in my khaki pants, there's nothing better. (oh oh oh)
Girls ask the guys, it's always a surprise.
There's nothing better, baby do you like my sweater?"

As Relient K serenades me, I'm getting ready for my final demonstration...it's a scary thing...I'm already preparing myself for the fact that I'll probably have to go back a second time...but that's not a good attitude. I just want to get it over with...Now!!...I realized that I'm impatient. I just hope I don't get any bandaging or wound care...that stuff makes me nervous. But I'll probably get that...Cuz I think they're out to get us ;) okay, maybe not...but they did say they would test us on our weakest areas. So pretty much they ARE out to get us...but for our own good...and for the good of our future patients.

just four you

Well, I've been tagged, so now I'm it...here's my life in a nutshell:

FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD:
1. Paper Girl...that's right, the plan was to take over the town...but it never got further than delivering papers ;)
2. Farrowing Assistant (aka working in a pig barn with beautiful piglets being born every day!!!)
3. cashier at IGA...twice (i quit, and then went back)
4. Health Care Aid at a nursing home

FOUR MOVIES/SHOWS I'VE BEEN ADDICTED TO:
1. Amazing Race: the best show in the world...one day I'll be on it!
2. CSI...(Las Vegas version)
3. Jeopardy...when Ken Jennings was on
4. and yes, I admit....the Bachelor

FOUR PLACES I'VE LIVED:
1. well, I don't think I've lived in that many places, but I've lived here
2. with my parents
3. and prov
4. and since I don't have a fourth one, I'll make this one up: on a cruise ship in the caribbean

FOUR COUNTRIES I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT:
1. I don't know if I can narrow it down to four...Italy
2. Ukraine
3. Poland
4. Australia

FOUR POPULAR FALSE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ME:
1. that I'm always happy
2. that I'm always innocent...but some people know the truth ;)
3. that i'm shy and reserved....HA!
4. that I never get angry

FOUR PEOPLE I LOOK LIKE
1. my mother
2. the girl from princess diaries (so I've been told)
3. myself...I hope
4. I don't know...I could imagine that I look like Jennifer Aniston...but that might be stretching the truth

FOUR THINGS (I HOPE) TO DO BEFORE I DIE:
1. sooooo many things: travel all around the world
2. Learn Polish
3. learn how to dance
4. go to a vikings game

PEOPLE I TAG NEXT:
1. Kendra
2. Holly...cuz you never post anything anymore...jk
3. Cherise
4. Phil

what I want to do right NOW!

no words could sum this up into a short, catchy, yet suitable title...

"Oh, I feel that my heart is broken. This is such an unromantic affliction. The girls in books lose their hair in fevers or sell it to get money for some good deed, and I'm sure I wouldn't mind losing my hair in some such fashion half so much. But there is nothing comforting in having your hair cut off because you've dyed it a dreadful color, is there? I'm going to weep all the time you're cutting it off, if it won't interfere. It seems such a tragic thing." -Anne of Green Gables

I think that I can almost empathize with Anne now. And before you jump to conclusions: No, I did not dye my hair a "dreadful color"...and no, I have not chopped my hair off. But I sure thought I would have to today. It's kind of funny to me now...but not funny enough to write it out for all to read yet.

This weekend was very eventful...On friday I went to see a movie with Kendra and a friend from Prov. On saturday a bunch of us went out for brunch and to the planetarium where we learned about Mars and some guy who studied the Grand Canyon....and I'm still wondering how that all ties in together. Then we went to the mall and shopped....it was a looooong day. But oh so fun! Then today...well I got myself in a 'hairy' situation...and then I went to church which was super amazing!! And I decided that once I'm sick of nursing I want to be a kindergarten teacher.

interesting...

"Contentment is not freedom from desire, but freedom of desire. Being content is not pretending that everything is the way you wish it would be; it is not acting as though you have no wishes. Rather, it is no longer being ruled by your desires. The fact is, at this point in our journey, we have only three options: (1) to be alive and thirsty, (2) to be dead, or (3) to be addicted. There are no other choices. Most of the world lives in addiction; most of the church has chosen deadness. The Christian is called to the life of holy longing." (John Eldredge The Journey of Desire).

The Answer to The Ultimate Question Of Life, the Universe and Everything

= 42!!
If only it were that simple. Today, me and my roomies had a good chat the meaning of life...There are so many different factors and angles and perspectives...
One thing we talked about was heaven, and the misconception that many non-believers (as well as believers) have about what it's really like. People often think it'll be a place where we'll play harps and eat bagels with cream-cheese. To be honest, that sounds kind of boring to me...for one, I'd rather learn to play the drumset, and I don't even like cream-cheese. This reminded me of the book I'm reading now 'the Journey of Desire' by John Eldredge. He writes:

"Nearly every Christian I have spoken with has some idea that eternity is an unending church service. After all, the Bible says that the saints 'worship God in heaven,' and without giving it much more thought we have settled on an image of the never-ending sing-along in the sky, one great hymn after another, forever and ever, amen. And our heart sinks. Forever and ever? That's it? That's the good news? And then we sigh and feel guilty that we are not more 'spiritual'."

He goes on to describe what the Kingdom of God is really like:

"Look at the evidence; watch what happens to people as they are touched by the Kingdom of God through Jesus...The disabled jump to their feet and start doing a jig. The deaf go out and buy themselves stereo equipment. The blind are headed to the movies. The dead are not at all dead anymore, but very much alive. They show up for dinner. In other words, human brokenness in all its forms is healed. The kingdom of God brings restoration. Life is restored to what it was meant to be."

And this is just a taste of the beauty and greatness of heaven...a place where we will be immersed in the glory of the Lord. We will finally see Him. And we will be in a place where every good thing will no longer be perverted, as they are here on earth. Instead it will be as God created it to be, like it was in the beginning in Paradise...before the Fall....who knows, maybe there will be bagels with cream-cheese for those who like that kind of thing ;)

TL + GA + OR + JT = a great time!

Okay, so JT isn't an accepted nursing abbreviation...(it actually stands for Josh Turner)....but I had to throw that in there. So I was in the OR today, and got to watch a Tubal Ligation (a woman getting her tubes tied)...and they had the radio going and what was playing? Good old country music!! I tell ya, I felt right at home! It was a fun time...It's amazing what they can all do! I'm still amazed!
But enough of that...I need to work now...I'll tell you the details another time...if you really want to know ;)

keefurb

first day back at school: catching up with people with dark tans....*jealous face*....and the realization starts to kick in that yes, deadlines are a big deal....and I have more than a few looming this week. well, I have a day off tomorrow...it'll all get done...
in words of good old Keith Urban (who's singing to me right now) "life's for living child, can't you see. these are the days we will remember, and these are the times that won't come again. the highest of flames becomes an ember. you gotta live them while you can."
and sometimes i guess we have to do things the hard way...

Falsch-hawk Fritz

Well, Valentines Day was fun...picking out flowers for the male customers who were doing their last minute shopping and didn't know what to get their girlfriends....I have to laugh every time! Then there was the making of sturdy men (like Falsch-hawk Fritz, and Suspender Stefan)! Great times! The week is half over, and I'm left to wonder when I'm ever going to get my homework done? Well, I suppose I could do some now instead of fooling around on the computer of mine...okay, off I go...hope you had a great v-day! 

"The greatest discovery in the universe...

...is the greatest love in the universe - God's Love" (-Max Lucado)
With Valentine's day around the corner, I've been thinking about love and not just romantic love. I think Valentine's day should be more than celebrating romantic love...it should be a celebration of every kind of love whether it be between an acqaintance, a bosom friend, your family, your significant other, and of course, you and God (it's like "Rye-ah", "Ah-havah", and "Doad" love)...Sorry I don't know how to spell those words.

So it's home time now... it should be exciting...I get to work, see my family, have a blood test, do homework, go skiing, and hopefully go to Prov sometime in between. It'll be nice to have some "time off".

3 times a bridesmaid, never a bride...

...unless you're a bridesmaid 7 times...so the legend goes. But they also say 'all good things three times'...except in German (and I don't know how that goes exactly).
On the wedding topic: It was super fun, beautiful and very Holly-and-Phil-ish. I decided that I want my wedding to be very me-and-whoever-ish. Since I don't know who 'whoever' is...I guess I can't plan yet....like I have time for that!
Right now I'm listening to a song that Marce sent me, called "I can't wait"...wow, what a great song! It talks about how we are the Bride of Christ and Jesus is the Groom. It talks about how we are engaged to him. The chorus says: "I can't wait for our wedding day to come. Let me see your face, let me feel your arms of love." Having had the opportunity this past year, to be with 3 very special brides as they prepared for their wedding day, I've seen the excitment and the glow of a bride when the day FINALLY arrives...and that's how we should be with Jesus. Longing, like a bride for her groom, for him to come. Wow, what a beautiful picture of love and commitment.

refocusing

As I sit here...doing everything in the world besides my assignment that is due tomorrow, this song comes on the radio, and I'm taken to this place where homework doesn't matter, and only ONE thing does...but then as quickly as I have left this earth I come back to reality with a renewed sense of purpose (which involves me finishing my homework...or perhaps this is just my second wind). And these are the lyrics that are a challenge to me everytime I hear them:

Magnificent Obsession

Steven Curtis Chapman

Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again.

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession.

So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains.

You are everything I want
And You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires
You are everything to me.

You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You.

"Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given."
-Psalm 105:1-5

"iiiicecream, is anything more delectable..."

...than ice cream, why even the most respectable eat ice cream. It's wonderful on a summer's afternoon, in June. Ice cream, the recipe's something serious, but ice cream, makes everyone so delirious, that ice cream is certainly worth the trouble that it takes!" (-Anne of Green Gables the musical)

okay, so that probably didn't fit into the metaphor...or maybe it did. We'll leave that for you to decide. I just had that song in my head right now ;)

so between thoughts of ice cream, life, passions (not the show), purpose, love, responsibility, sacrifice, worship, and dreams...I find myself at a place where I realize that I'm far from where I'd like to be...with no idea of where to even begin to point myself in the direction that I want to end up in. Well, I do have ideas...it's just knowing where to start...and actually doing something about it...that's my problem.

I just want to say that I LOVE all my friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you guys are the best! Don't ever forget that!

over and out

I inserted a catheter today!

only on Jake the manequin....but I still did it! It was pretty exciting! I'm learning a whole lot this semester, and my brain hurts already! I have one less class and one less lab this semester, but it feels like more work than last semester for some reason! Maybe because I've actually been doing my readings so far...okay, only for the first 2 days...and I'm already behind, but intending to do something is alot of work...
I was in the hospital on Wednesday and I got to care for 'my' baby...I got to hold her, change diapers, feed her, burp her, check her vitals...she was soooo precious! I wanted to take her home with me!! (But I think that is against hospital policy!)
well, since I've slacked off all evening...it's now time for the books to come out and play...or maybe just come out ;)

why did I come and what did I bring?

You know when you've heard a story over and over again and don't really know how it applies to you, so you start to tune it out anytime it comes up...until one day, someone tells the story in a way you've never heard before, and suddenly it is COMPLETELY relevant! Yeah, that happened to me in church today. You could say I got a little kick in the pants. We're going through the book of John...and today we talked about the temple merchants story (ch2). Well, I grew up hearing that story in Sunday School and always thought, 'those naughty people trying to rip everyone off!' Today I heard a different perspective. This is the point the stuck out in my mind: What if Jesus was not only mad at the merchants, but also the people buying the stuff. See, when God commanded the people to bring sacrifices to the temple, it meant that the people had to raise their own animals and then take their BEST one to the temple by foot (which would've been quite inconvenient with an animal). This was actually a sacrifice to them, it would've cost them time, money, and it would've been quite a hassle. Having merchants at the temple meant that all the people needed to do was show up, bring a little cash (well, probably a lot, cuz they got ripped off), pick out an animal, they bring it over to be sacrificed, and it's all done. Perhaps, Jesus was angry at how lazy the worshippers had become...worship isn't meant to be convenient or easy...it's SUPPOSED to be a sacrifice. It's not about me...It's completely about God. So, why did I go to church today? And what did I bring? Well, honestly, I went cuz it's something I do, and I like to sing and hear Gerry speak. And I brought myself. That sounds like a lazy, self-centered worshipper to me...Time for a change!

2005...or is it 2006?

Well, I already went to a New Years Eve party yesterday...so for me it's already 2006! I'm serious. I went to this party I didn't really know many people...but I got to hold their babies! It was fun!
I guess I have accomplished my top 10 things...except the wedding hasn't happened yet...but we've decorated and had the rehearsal already...so it's half done...we just need to do the real thing!
This Christmas has been wonderful...some Christmas's are okay, some are good...but this one was wonderful (in my opinion). I can't put my finger on exactly what made this one so good...but it was.
but now, I need to get ready for my day full of skating, watching hockey, and of course the 'real' New Years Eve celebrations!
Happy New Years!

Praise the Lord!

I made it through this stretch of exams! Now, bring on Christmas! I'm super excited to go home! here's my top ten things I'm looking forward to (in no particular order):
1) Seeing my family (especially 'my' babies)
2) Play hockey with my friends (hopefully!)
3) Singing in church (especially 'der Friedensfurst'...no Christmas is complete without that beautiful song!
4) Playing football in the snow with my sister! (one of my favorite christmas traditions!)
5) Did I mention that I'll get to see my kids?...I can just hear Adria shouting "Doe-ie" and making me chase her...what I won't do to ensure my place as favorite auntie...jk JB ;)
6) Being in a wedding...wow, time flies...I can still remember when Missy and James first met!
7) NO HOMEWORK!!
8) Baking some Christmas goodies!
9) Since I'm on the food topic...I can hardly wait till I can eat some delicious enchilada's (another one of my favorite family Christmas Eve traditions)
10) well, since I promised 10 things, I better come up with a 10th thing, otherwise my dear readers will be disappointed...mind you, I could always go back and change this to a list of my 9 favorite things...but that would be cheating...so I will think of one last thing...and it is: being able to sleep in.
okay, that was a lame one, but that's all I could think of right now...sorry.
Gotta go pack and clean now, so I can actually go home (instead of just dreaming about it!)
Merry Christmas, y'all!

just your average Joe

First of all I want to say: THE LINZ'S WON! Way to go boys and girl! Okay, so I was excited! I'm over it now...What am I going to do now every tuesday at 8?....Maybe I'll actually study...(good one, Lori!)
So there are a few things I've been pondering about this last week. First of all, I've always thought of Joseph (as in, Mary and Joseph) as a distant father that had nothing to do with Jesus...maybe he was embarrased with him and cast him out of the family or something...I don't know. But this week, I started reading in Matthew, and I got a totally different perspective. Here it tells how Gabriel appears to Joseph, not once, or twice, but 3 times in the middle of the night. And how did Joe respond? He obeyed God immediately! First it was to marry Mary and call 'their' son Jesus. Then to leave his family, home, and carpentry shop to move off to Egypt suddenly...no questions asked. Then, when they just start to settle in...oh look, we're supposed to move back to Israel where the former ruler has been murdering innocent babies because he wanted to make sure my son was dead. Crazy! Joe was very concerned about Mary's baby, and took care of him like a true father would, even if it meant sacrificing his reputation and the comforts of home. He obeyed God, and did the best he could to protect his child (even though it wasn't even his). Amazing! I don't know why he wasn't mentioned later on in the gospels...maybe he died, I don't know. I often think about the sacrifice that Mary had to make, but I realized that Joseph also made huge sacrifices in his life for Jesus. What a crazy and miraculous story of regular people saying 'yes' to God when it made no sense at all, knowing that most people would probably not believe the truth. That was my new insight to the Christmas story this week.

"a diversion"...from reality

For those of you who like Amazing Race (family edition), here is just one of the numerous funny quotes from my favorite team...The Linz's:

Nick Linz: There needs to be a leader involved and...
Tommy Linz: Nick thinks he's the only one that can do it.
Nick Linz: I didn't say that.
Alex Linz: Real life situations have been experienced more by Nick and I. Tommy and Megan are still in that educational stage of maturing and learning how to deal with an electric company and paying their electric on time, or their landlord...
Tommy Linz: Shut up, Alex, you're living at home!

I laughed...so hard! So I finished my demonstration exam today...I would've failed if my partner hadn't helped me out...hopefully that still counts for something! Otherwise I'll have to do it again! I don't even want to think about that...so my next exam is on saturday. I wasn't going to study today (cuz I'm sick of it)...but maybe I will. Good Luck to everyone who is knee deep in books, preparing for exams! (and more luck to those of you who are writing exams that you haven't been studying for!)

trivia tidbits

Did you know that each month has a flower? Kind of like a birthstone...there's a birth-flower. I didn't know that. check it out! So I read that and thought of Jen...cuz she used to call me morning glory!
Another random, useless fact: Apparently, the US has never lost a war where mules were used. (read this for more useless, but kind of interesting facts) Can you tell I've been procrastinating? I'm bad at this studying thing...I get worse at it every time I have to do it. well, my study break is now over...time to read some more about justice, truthfullness, integrity, and other very important moral issues.

what a crazy weekend...and it's not over yet...

Well, Friday was quite the eventful day for me. I was going to skip class that day and sleep in...but I was supposed to meet one of my friends to give her some pamphlets for a project we were working on. So I got out of bed...turns out, she decides not to show up...so I felt that it had been a waste of waking up....but after the crazy events that followed, I soon decided that I was glad that I had gotten up in the morning! I could go on forever, but I'll tell the short story. As I was walking home from school, I walked past a hairdresser shop and thought to myself: "I should get a haircut". so I turned around and started walking towards the building. meanwhile, there was this older lady and her daughter walking in front of me. As they started up the front step, they lost their balance and toppled over. Meanwhile I'm freaking out...not quite sure what to do! the one lady got up and said she was okay, but the other lady couldn't get up and she thought she broke her arm. so, anyways I went into the building and called 911 for the poor lady. and waited with them till the ambulance arrived. It was a super crazy experience...it made me feel so inadequately trained to be a nurse. I totally didn't know what to do...I freaked out (well, inside...on the outside I stayed calm, I think.) In case you were wondering about my haircut...after all the hoopla, I went inside and made a haircut appointment for later on that day (which was quite the experience in itself....) I won't go into it now, let's just say I walked out of there feeling like I walked off the set of Anne of Green Gables. It was very funny!
Today I went shopping and restrung my guitar and went to our College and Career's 'Christmas in Tinseltown' party thing. I met a girl I had a class with last year, and a girl that I went to camp with in grade 5 or6...quite random! It was really neat, I just wish we could've gone to play poker...oh well, it was fun anyways...now I really should sleep...get ready for another day!

less than a month till Christmas!

I'm having a lot of fun with a few of my assignments...I used to think I hated doing 'creative' assignments...but now I realize that I find it quite fun (I think it's because I know the alternative is writing papers, and ANYTHING is better than writing a paper!) Right now I'm working on my second pamphlet thingy. I like making pamphlets....Planning the layouts and fooling around with differents designs reminds me of good old Desktop Publishing! Great class! We had the best group, eh Jen...oh Diamond Dan...he was a diamond in the rough!

On a serious note...I got an email today from my mom about my grandpa. He had surgery this last spring to remove some cancerous skin cells. At the time the doctors said that they were confident that they had removed it all. However, now they are doing more tests and don't think they got everything. So if you could pray for my grandpa, that would be great! Thanks guys!