Old Traditions Die Hard

Merry Christmas people!

I trust that you all had a great Christmas with lots of good food, time spent with family and lots and lots of fun. This Christmas has been one for the record books is all I have to say. Good to be home, but trying to keep some traditions going is getting tougher all the time and then trying to kill some has proved to be quite the uphill battle as well.

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas was a success once again. Mom didn't make lasagna which caused a huge uproar and subsequent meal rescheduling for the next day. We made a short trip downtown to do last minute shopping. The whole midnight madness thing proved to be disappointing this year as well. First of all, the tree on mainstreet was super short and stumpy. They didn't close off main street, the sleigh was pulled by a tractor not horses, and there were no other events or activities to do on main street. Tradition proved true though as David, Jon and I walked down one side and back down the other only stopping in places to get warm. We hit up Pfeiffers to get warm, Home Hardware to see the longest living bird ever, Dandy to buy the one and only puzzle for his mom, and the Bargain Barn to buy a gift for Kenna.

The game playing that followed at our house was super fun with traditional games such as N64 battle and racing as well as an old school dirt bike soccer match and the best game of pictionary on your head yet! Kicked it traditional with popcorn and snacks and a good night of good games.

Christmas Eve showed itself a little different this year. Mom played at the service of course with me and Missy singing. Not unusual. But we did all get dressed up and we did not look at Christmas lights and we had fondue. A good mix up that caused great delight.

Christmas Day was once again a day that begins joyous but usually ends with a very grumpy group of people. We opened presents and had breakfast, then went tobogganing at West Stettler. Since we were all bundled up, some headed out on the quad for a ride and Dad and I played some catch with a football. They had me diving into the snowbanks catching balls which was so fun. The weather was very untraditional and quite unusual for Stettler in December, but we enjoyed. The rest of the day brought frustrating board games and much boredom. I helped with dinner which was also different. I loved the variety at dinner but most of my family members did not like the change and weren't too happy about it. Watched the movie Knight and Day which was actually pretty good.

Boxing day too was a great day of the holidays. We attended church in the morning, hit up BPs for lunch then watched football all afternoon. The 'rents slept (big surprise) and I worked out. After supper (which Mom actually cooked!) we headed to McComishs for lots and lots and lots of games. I don't remember ever playing that many games in one night. It was very traditional yet the concept of all 6 of us sitting crosslegged on the floor in their living room proved very difficult and quite uncomfortable. We managed though for the thrill of competition. We ended up playing Masterpiece, Sorry, Uno, Skipbo in teams, 19, Apples to Apples, Blurt x2 (Jon and I skunked them so bad, although it was after losing a very, very close nail biter to David and Leia), RackO (so old school we got so bored), and maybe some I am forgetting. It was so much fun!

Safe to say it has been an eventful Christmas holidays so far. Wish that I had plans for New Year's as I DO NOT want to be here with my parents being bored and doing nothing all evening. Need some suggestions!

And as much as I am against New Year's resolutions there are a number of things that I really want to work on in the New Year. They aren't resolutions because I have been working on them for quite awhile, but I am hoping that the New Year will bring opportunities for me to work on it and reach some goals. I am hoping to write a New Year's blog so I will wait until then to share, but the biggest thing that's been on my heart lately, which I did mention in my last blog is just the joy of sharing the gospel. Boy have I felt selfish lately just keeping this all to myself. Not allowing others to come to church with me because of what they might think or take away from my friend time, or not speaking the truth at work, once again because of what they might think. What have I got to lose? I have a Saviour who loves me unconditionally, who died for me despite all the crap that I have done, and who is passionate about having everyone join the family of God and living with Him in heaven. He has prepared rooms for each one of us and our purpose on earth is to get those rooms filled. We are His ambassadors on earth. He moves and works through us and in us to make this possible. So I am striving to make this happen in my life, to be a walking testimony but to invite as many as possible to church and cluster and other church things.

Well until the New Year, enjoy the snow or rain or whatever the weather is bringing and enjoy the place that you are at right now in life. Don't take it for granted. God is with you!

Later days!

Can't Sleep . . . So Excited!

Greetings!

I blogged on Saturday about my exciting Christmas parties and activities. Well here's the recap. Saturday I went to the gym after I blogged and had a really good workout. Then Leia and my friend Justin came over to play games. We all learned how to play Rook, and we also played skipbo and Phase 10. We ate popcorn, talked and ate Christmas goodies! Twas a fun card playing night. I haven't done that in so long!

Sunday we went to IHOP for breakfast. I really love going out for breakfast especially before church. Church was great where I got to see all my good friends, talk to the pastor and just be encouraged by a great Christmas sermon. I love my church so much! Then we went to Costco for hotdogs which someone's parents paid for, haha, cheap lunch under 20 dollars for 9 people. There was no table room so we all stood around a till and mowed down on our hot dogs. So good! Except they didn't sit well when we went to the gym. Justin had a three day pass for his gym which is Gold's Gym in Langley, so I tried it out and we worked out. It was a really fun, hard workout. It's so much better working out with another person. It motivates you to go harder and to try to impress LOL. Then we did a little bit of shopping and finished the day at my friend, Amy's house. We had dinner and then watched "It's a Wonderful Life." Had some cheesecake and a really good blonde brownie. I don't even like brownies and it was so good.

Oh yeah, I felt super convicted at church this Sunday. We were celebrating the fact that Jesus was born a human and God did the impossible with His life. God himself is impossible. I just felt really selfish for hogging all this joy for myself. I really want to invite my nonChristian friends from work to church and really get passionate about Christ in my life. I can get super excited and passionate about things that I love and are new and awesome in my life, but to get that amped about Jesus is hard. Why? Why is it so hard to just live an outrageous life for Christ? I really want to work on that when I get back to BC in the new year. I realize it's never too late to invite your friends to church or talk to them about God. I have nothing to lose. I want to share the most important thing in my life.

Work on Monday was super slow because I was so tired but I was working out with Justin again in the afternoon so that kept me going for the morning. The people that I work with in the morning also force feed me coffee so that I will be hyper because they really like me like that. I do crazy things! It's crazy that caffeine still has that great of an effect on me. The workout was really good. Learned some new exercises and taught some too. Then at 7 Diana and I went Christmas light looking. It was alright, but not super great.

Today I passed my weight training ICE exam! I was super nervous before my exam mainly because I am such a perfectionist that I was so afraid to fail/not get 100%. A pass is 75% so what's the big deal? Anyhow I did amazing. I almost got 100% on everything except for some written questions and my program design cards. It was really fun because my evaluator was really easy going and taught me as I was teaching her. She asked challenging questions and really tested my ability to think on the spot. My confidence increased once I really prayed and just knew that God was able to do more than I could ever do without His strength. I knew my stuff and applied it the best way that I could. I am so thankful that it is over now! Now I will write my personal training exam in January after I do the apprenticeship program at Infofit probably.

Well tomorrow I head home! I am excited to see everyone especially my family and church family. I am excited to celebrate Christmas and just relax. I hope to sleep in and get in some good workouts with my Dad. I am wishing everyone a wonderful and safe Christmas! I pray that you will feel Christ's presence in your celebrations, fellowship and worship services. What a lowly baby He once was and a humble Saviour to die for us! What a mighty God we serve!

Merry Christmas!

Ode to Joy

Greetings!!!!

I am sitting here watching the final episode of "The Next Iron Chef" and decided that I will blog. This week has been very eventful and the next couple days are really busy as well. Tuesday I went to Tangled again with Morgan. It was the late show though which made me super tired and irritable the next day. Wednesday was my college and career Christmas party which was awesome! We had a great turkey dinner, in which I learned how to be patient and make gravy. I got to talk to some awesome people and just really celebrate Christmas with friends. We then opened our Christmas presents from our Secret Santa. We each had to buy a toy that our selected person would like to play with as a child. We all opened our gifts and then we are donating them to a children's shelter or someplace that had presents for children but got stolen a couple weeks ago. I received a nerf football and I gave my friend Melissa the Candy Land game. We then played this kind of fun charades game. Normally I don't like Charades but this game was really fun and funny! Then we just hung out for a bit! Such a good Christmas party!

Thursday I had off from work and so I baked all day. I felt like a grandmother or something just wearing my apron all day and making so many things. I made cream cheese truffles, fudge, popcorn balls, monster cookies, lemon squares, carrot applesauce muffins, banana chocolate chip muffins, and white/dark chocolate peppermint bark. It was awesome! I had some visitors that wanted a snack :) It was a great day!

On Friday was our Christmas party for Starbucks. It was okay. I was super tired and had to open today so I left early but so did everyone else. We had a small gift exchange and enjoyed some good eats! My bball practice went really well that afternoon. Leia was there and it always helps so much. The girls are improving so much and it excites me to see it. Even throughout the duration of this one drill we did, they just started getting really good! I can't wait for the new year!

Plans for the rest of the week include Sunday watching It's a Wonderful Life with some friends, going to church, Monday is work and going Christmas light looking with Diana, Tuesday is my weight training practical exam and Wednesday is the day that I get to go home. Alberta bound!!!!!!! So stoked!

Now to get to the gym before I hang out with people tonight hopefully! Later days!

Coffee is my life

Greetings!

Coffee has been my life for the past couple weeks. I open the store at 430 am which means getting up at 345 am and then every day I have had so many things to do and people to hang out with. On top of that, on the weekend I had my personal training courses so I barely ever got any sleep. This week however I took a different route and decided not to sleep after work. That backfired because even though I was super tired at 930 to go to bed, I had had too much coffee all day so I haven't slept well. For example on Thursday I had 5 cups of coffee and yesterday I had 4. It's way too much. That is why today I got out of bed at 10:30am!!!!! I have the weekend off and am not doing a whole lot of anything. Do the dishes, get some groceries, maybe go for a walk, clean my place up a bit and watch some tv to just chill. I am stoked.



This week has been really good aside from certain days at work that involved my manager and assistant manager. Next Friday is my manager's assimilation though and we might have it in for her. She just has no respect for us and there is no support for us as partners. We are the floor, we are the customer service. Not her. She should be doing things to help us out and the company at the same time. Not just "do as she is told so that she looks good." That's what she is all about. Whatever she doesn't really deserve to have a whole topic told around her on here. But yesteday was a good day at work because no managers were there, I was working with friends and fun people, and things just went smoothly.

This week I also made an awesome gingerbread house and watched the Grinch with my friend Jackie. I had a personal training session, went to a spin class with Leia, did most of my Christmas shopping, went to Aduro and had some good chats with people, and yesterday coached 2 basketball practices and played a whole game. Man, I am sore today. I loved it though. It was so much fun and really great to play again after so long not playing. I used to hate pick up ball too though, but now I really like it a lot. Can't wait til next time.

So this seems like it's sort of my "to do" or "doing" list for last week and this next week but it's fun to write like that sometimes. This next week is awesome! Monday I have to drive downtown to drop off my fitness package off at Infofit because I am taking my weight training practical exam on the 21st. Please pray for courage and boldness as I do this exam and teach my instructor how to use the equipment. I am excited to have this phase done and move on to personal training! Tuesday I may be going to Tangled again with my friends Diana and Morgan. Wednesday is my Aduro Christmas party, Thursday I have off and am baking all day with my friend Lisa. Friday is my Starbucks Christmas party. Saturday I have to open but have no other plans than that. I am sure that something will come up though. So yeah, I am super busy until Christmas holidays when I get to go home!!!



Lately spiritually I have been so faithless, yet God has been proving himself so faithful. He is giving me peace about where I am right now and what I am moving towards. He has moved my focus to building relationships and hanging out with people rather than being by myself so much. I have not been reading my Bible or praying much because of being so tired at night. This is the worst excuse ever and NEEDS to change. Despite my lack of effort I just know that He will forgive me and that He is really just saying "Candice, I am here for you. You may not want to talk but I am working in your life. I have things going for you that you aren't expecting and aren't planning for. I want to be in control of your life because I have the best ideas for what I want for you. You are someone I want to use for my glory and you just have to trust me." He is making this truth more and more real in my life everyday. And it's so true for everyone.

On that note, may God richly bless you this week as you seek His face in anything that you do. Later days!

December!

Greetings and Happy Birthday to my Mom!!



Oh how do I love her! My mom is the greatest mom ever. She is supportive and encouraging in all of our lives even if she doesn't think what we are doing is the best thing that we should be doing. She is such a godly woman as well. Her daily life reflects what I know she reads daily. She is an inspiration to me to continue in my DAILY walk with God. She practices this in her relationships with other people. She gives of herself, her time, her talents, and her money. Giving gifts is definitely her love language and I love her for it. I love giving gifts too and I see where I get it from. My mom is intelligent, super friendly, and such a leader. I am so thankful for a mom like this. She has raised me with my Dad to the best that they could with all the gifts that God has given them. He has blessed our family beyond measure. So Happy Birthday Mom! I love you so much!

Today started out as a really crappy day, but I got to go home early, then I went to hardcore abs class and did some weights. Then I slept for 3 hours solidly with my ear plugs!!! I then went to my personal training session which was awesome!!! My trainer is super pumped that I want to do figure competition and he is going to help me get there. He says that he will train for men's and me for women's for the next year! It will be so cool! I can't wait to become certified and be a personal trainer! Then I ran a good hard run. I came home and cooked dinner (always sweet potato fries!!!!), cleaned my apartment, did laundry, and am currently watching Biggest Loser and going to do my homework soon. It's been such a fulfilling day.

Yesterday was great as well. Diana and I went to Tracy Cakes for lunch (a cute little tea and sandwich shop on the beach - (Yes Auntie Stacey, you really need to come visit me in BC so that we can do cool things like this!) Then we went to this new chocolate cafe shop that has drinking chocolate, waffles, smores, fondue and good coffee. We just had coffee as we are still sick of chocolate from the buffet. We also went to cupcakes to see their seasonal ones and Notti Biscotti to check out there's. At 930 Leia and I went to Tangled! It was sososososo good. The best Disney movie in so long and better than Princess and the Frog. I loved this one so much I want to go again!

Life is coming together. I need a cheaper place to live so that I can afford personal training and save some money. I am now coaching grade 6 girls basketball at a Christian school on Fridays and Athletes in Action age 6-8 boys on Friday nights. It's so fun. Starbucks is alright. Getting better than when our manager first started.

I am coming home for 2 weeks at Christmas!!!!! I am so excited. So people that want to see me and people that I want to see . . . we better plan it!!!!! This is kind of a short one today due to my lack of energy, but hopefully another one to come soon!

Later days!

I did not sign up for this . . .

Greetings again!

So soon you might say. . . well I am really in a lonely stage right now so I just want to talk to anyone/something to get all my thoughts and things that are happening out there. I really would like someone to come home to sometime whether it be a roommate or whatever, but it' getting a bit lonely. I guess going home for Christmas is just around the corner so I must be looking forward to that so much. So this post will contain a list of things that have gone on today and thoughts that have been floating about and I just need to get out there.

1. I bought an underarmor shirt at Fred Meyer on Friday and wore it for the first time today and HATE it. It's blue (not my color) and a v neck (not really my body type) and just not that nice. Why did I buy it? Don't know now really. Anyone want it?

2. I took my first spin class tonight and got my butt kicked. It was sosososo intense and I was sweating buckets after the warmup. I burned 750 cal said my heart rate monitor and my shirt was drenched. It was good to experience. Next up . . . a couple other cardio/step classes just to experiment. I am getting bored with my workouts. Which leads me to . . .

3. I really want/need a personal trainer to switch up my workouts and have someone else design it rather than me just looking up other workouts on the internet and in books. Too expensive though.

4. I did not sign up for this weather. It's brutal. I was in drive thru at work today and not really expecting this super bad wind so I was frozen all day. We shut the window every chance we got, wore gloves, had 2 heaters, wore a coat and a couple layers, drank so many hot drinks, didn't even feel like eating cuz I was so cold, but got many, many tips for sucking up the weather to serve our customers. That was a nice surprise as sososososo many customers were still super rude and picky.

5. I need to move south. I am such a warm weather person and am not really happy or motivated to do anything unless I am warm. You know me, I just am always so cold. So the sooner I can move the better. Any ideas?

6. I read the best thing in the Daily Bread today. Something that I just needed to hear. Because I am really pessimistic and wished I was a more optomistic person, however God wants us to be realists. People of faith are realists who recieve it all. All the good and bad of life and REPEATEDLY choose to know that God really loves us and is constantly at work FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY. He doesn't want us to suffer or be miserable all the time. He wants to give us our desires and wishes so that He will receive glory. He is not going to place us in a position where we are not happy and then don't want to praise Him at all, even though we need to in those short times that we are afflicted. As it says in 1 Corinthians "Our light affliction, which is for but a moment, is working for us a far mroe exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The ball is in our court too though. We have to repeatedly choose to remember that God loves us. It doesn't come naturally because we are taught to blame others, the weather, our failures on ourselves, etc rather than just looking UP and seeing a God who is still smiling down on us. It's work, but what a payoff.

7. Just a big thank you to my parents who put up with a phone call from me every night, who support me, and are praying for me all the time. I am so blessed. I can't wait to see them at Christmas!










So since I never post any pictures, I am going to post some pictures of the chocolate buffet that Diana and Leia and I went to on Saturday. YUM!

The Saga Continues . . .

Greetings my beloved readers!

I don't really know who reads this thing still but I love writing on it when I have the time. Which would be right now as I ice my knee after yet another workout. Didn't push it too hard today as I have to gear up for a hard day tomorrow. I joined the Steve Nash Sports Club yesterday. I am a sucker for a good sale (obviously) and so my seven day trial turned into a membership. He sold me. The gym is awesome! It's huge and such new equipment. There are not that many people in there at a time. They offer classes such as spinning and yoga and personal training. That I will have to pay for eventually but for the first hour you get a free consultation. I am stoked. The guy that I was talking to also is going to help me watch and talk to the trainers to shadow them to practice for my upcoming weight training exam. I practiced on Leia last night too. LOL. It was fun, but she knew too much already so it wasn't as realistic. I guess some clients will think they know everything though, so I should be prepared.

I am super stoked about this opportunity and gym. I got an awesome deal as a corporate member under Starbucks! Who knew? And I hope to get a job there in the near future and then I won't have to pay any fees. Here's to hoping the next step is to move into the condos/appartments above the complex in the area known as Morgan crossing. It's a huge new area practically in White Rock and just 10 min drive from work at the max. As close as I am now, except I would have the gym there, shopping such as Thrifty foods and Walmart and all the good shops in Morgan Crossing strip mall. Not that I shop that much but if I did, it would be nice. I just have to find someone to share an apartment with to cut the rent. Then it would all work out!

The good thing about Steve Nash too is that they just bought out Fitness World and so there are locations everywhere in the lower mainland. So if I end up wanting to move, then I can just go to the gym in that location! Yay! And the one in vancouver has massages and all sorts of added bonuses in the club. It's so cool. A little more expensive than "She's Fit" where I have been going, but it's a small price to pay (no pun intended). Added bonus is that there are GUYS working out there too! It's a good change and a much needed one.

It seems that this gym issue helps solve a little more in my life. I am wanting things handed to me right now as I am comfortable, but I really need to work harder. I need to network more, get out there, and make some decisions without this huge fear of failure. It's frustrating having that hang over my head. FAILURE. I have no expectations to live up to except my own and I have placed them so high that all I do is fail. I am not good enough unless I am perfect. That is definitely not the mentality that I need to have to achieve. In order to achieve my dreams and goals I really need to want to succeed more than I am afraid to fail. I think that overcoming this is the first step. So I have been trying to step out of my comfort zone, do things that I just hate doing in order to take risks and see myself actually fail. That way I can compare that situation to this false failure that I have placed on myself.

Anyhow I have really lofty goals that are readily achieveable, I just need to work at it, do things I don't like, and take one day at a time.

As for the rest of life, pretty much all I do is go to the gym, work, sleep and eat. I love love the gym. I am totally a gym rat and even more so now. I should just sleep there. haha. But on other notes, tomorrow I am going to the States with Leia to do some shopping. A little bit of Christmas shopping but more so just general shopping and eating at my favorite restaurant called Milagro. It is the best homemade mexican good I have ever had. Every single person that I have taken wants to go back, and has gone back on their own.

Saturday is the big day that I have been waiting for since July. After Diana and I feasted on chocolate at the Chocolate Buffet at the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, we have been planning this pre Christmas party there again this year. So Leia, Diana, Amy and I are going there on Saturday all dressed up and ready to feast. I haven't really eaten chocolate in all of November so I am ready for it!

I am also stoked to have this weekend off to relax a bit (not really a word in my vocabulary, but I will try) and finish all my weight training homework and get ready for my exam. I am almost ready so I will book the practicum exam soon next week or the week after. Then phase 2 will be complete!!!! I also get Sunday off so I can go to church!!!!!!! and watch football all day!!!!!! It's going to be the best weekend ever!!!

Well this has been a super lengthy text but I just have a little bit more to share so bare with me. As a result of not going to church, I have been neglecting (procrastinating day after day) reading my Bible and praying. I have not felt "far from God" as so many people say, but I feel so proud and boastful. I have been trying to do this all on my own without any words or wisdom from the One who really is in charge. So the past couple of days I have been giving a little more time to building that relationship and already I feel so much stronger because of His Strength really. He is the one that builds me up. He is the one that feeds my mind, soul and body. He is the one that I should be living for. He is the one that has expectations that I should be trying to reach and live for.

Thanks for listening today. You are one tough cookie if you held on until now. And if you did, you win a free training session with yours truly. Haha. No but seriously, call me if you want some advice/direction. I will be elated to give it to you!!!

Later days!

HIIT, FITT, Don't sit!

Greetings beloved readers,

Here I am once again after a super awesome weekend! My fitness course is so great! I love it. I have learned so much already and there is much more to come in the weight training and personal training part of the course. The things that I have learned the last two weeks have helped me understand my training better and have given me the answer to the "why do I do this exercise" question that I have had for so many years. It's so neat to see all the things I read in magazines and books really become defined. It's more working out with a purpose.

I have already shared a lot with people at work but I can't wait to explain things to people who really want to get in shape. Things like working out at a high intensity for shorter periods of time is better for you than dragging out a low intensity workout for an hour. A study in an article that I was reading showed that a person sprinted for 1 min at 100% effort 3 times with 20 sec rest in between then rested 1 hour. They took the oxygen consumption of the body (the use of oxygen in the muscles to promote exercise) after that 1 hour and it showed a higher level than light exercise for 20 minutes straight. It is crazy. During the workout, you may burn more calories doing a long run versus a couple sprints, however up to 3 hours after your workout, your body is still burning fat and sugar. Low intensity exercise does not do this, nor does it burn as much fat (despite popular belief), nor build up your heart muscles to decrease your risk of illness.

I have learned all this and sososososo much more. I just love sharing. I took the fitness theory exam on Sunday and on Friday, Sat and Sun this week is the weight room instructor course. I am pumped for that. This week has been a good week too as I had a really good time on the weekend and am so happy doing this. I love personal training and know that it is exactly what I want to do.

I was at the Passion Tour event on Friday night at Roger's Arena in Vancouver. Louis Giglio was speaking once again and Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and David Crowder Band were singing. Louis was talking about the will of God in our life and that Louis himself could tell you what that was. We were all shocked. He said that it is the deepest passion that you have for doing something. What do you really, really want to do in life? That is God's direction for you and that you just need to work at making Him first in your life and really glorify Him in that occupation. He of course said it more eloquently but I really needed to have that reaffirmed. I have heard that so many times, but right this week I just really needed to hear that, with me not knowing WHERE I want to be and how I can be the most effective at it.

I wish the work situation at Starbucks wasn't as bad as it is. I really don't like going to work, but this week I realized that I love working for the company. I love making the drinks and serving people and connecting with the partners. I am thinking that I might just transfer to another store come the new year rather than just up and quit. We'll see a little later. As for now we are slugging it out.

Here's a shout out to my Dad. His birthday was on November 8 and that's surely a date I will never forget. I hope that he knows just how much I look up to him. I try to emulate him in so many ways and love hearing all the wisdom that he wants to share. He is such a great Dad and person. His hamster buddies, men in the church, families that we know, and his own family have an incredible amount of respect for him. He tries to live what he speaks and what the Bible says, even when it's tough and I admire that. So Dad, (I know you don't read this but Mom will show you I am sure) I am so thankful that you were born so that I could be born and that you could be my Dad. I love you.

And so concludes this saga, so until next time "EAT GREEN TO STAY LEAN"!

Hot diggity dog

Greetings!

A really random title for this blog but it was the first thing that came to mind. Just keeping you guys all on your toes. LOL.

What about those Cowboys?! With Tony Romo hurt now I think that we have a shot. Sure we are 1-5 but I think that the playoffs are a lot less elusive with Kitna as the quarterback than with Romo starting in that position. That team is stacked full of veterans and amazing players including Witten, Barber, Austin and the new Dez Bryant! I can't wait to see what happens this next week!

I start my course on Saturday! I am sosososo excited for it! I have been working on being nutritious and answering all the questions of people at work and really wanting to help people there. They all want to be my "first" clients so there is no shortage of people wanting some training. I can't wait. I also can't wait to use all the information to help my own fitness growth!

Since I love chronicling things and making lists I will give you a complete rundown of the visit with my parents! I also love this blog cuz I get to look back on it sort of like a diary and remember all the things that I did. So . . . Wednesday night last week I went to football practice which was kind of a joke cuz it got dark so quickly and no one was really there. I think we just hung out that night from what I can remember. Thursday we left early to go to the states. We drove to the outlet mall, did some shopping, hit up Trader Joe's, had some awesome pulled pork for lunch. We went to Milagro, an amazing mexican restaurant, for dinner and finished up with some shopping! It was a great day. On Friday we went out for breakfast and then did the Grouse Grind. I can't believe that my dad made it. He did awesome. We did it in 1 hour 40 minutes which I thought was really impressive. The view wasn't great because it was super rainy/foggy but the workout was worth it.

I worked after that on Friday. On Saturday we hung out in White Rock, had waffles at Leia's, played some games, went mini golfing at Castle Fun Park and then went to my cousin's house in Chilliwack. Sunday we went to church and then watched football after eating at Red Robins. That night I had a farewell dinner for my manager at Starbucks. It was so good to see everyone again. Monday I worked again but we had the most amazing steak ever at the Cactus Club Cafe for dinner. I haven't been there before mainly because it is so expensive. But it was sosososo good!!!! We watched some football and hung out with Leia and Justin. My parents left this morning EARLY! It was a great time to have them here and I appreciate them so much for visiting me. I love them so much!

Well I have rambled enough for today so I will go now. Gotta get to the gym soon! Later days!

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Greetings!

As I write this blog I am watching this week's riveting episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". I love this show!!!!!I have PVR'd every episode since it started in the summer. I can't wait to have a marathon of all the shows and trying to remember in my life what was my favorite of each category. For example this week is regional favorites. I would have to say that the deep fried perogies at CBC was the best regional food I have had. Mennonite, eh?! If I thought harder I would be able to think of something. Oh the snapper that I had at the Fish House in Stanley Park, Vancouver was amazing too. Other things like "Hometown Favorites" would have to be the nachos at Sylvester's when it was still in Stettler. It's awesome.

Anyhow life is looking up. I haven't blogged all the trials and stress that I have been going through because rather than blogging I have been really praying a lot more and talking to people and getting it out in the open. I have stopped drinking coffee which is a huge thing. I love the taste, but I just can't handle the major ups and downs that it brings during the day, especially when I am at work. I have also stopped drinking soy which has really made me feel better too!

We are studying the book "The Cross Centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney in my cluster. I love it! It's so awesome too because I am reading Isaiah in my own devotions right now and it's all matching up. This recent chapter was all about how we make decisions and evaluate reality based on our emotions at the moment instead of letting the truth transform our feelings. How often do we say "I feel . . . " and then let it govern our actions throughout the day? You have a crappy day because you spilled your coffee or got stuck in traffic, etc., when really we should be joyous because of the faith that we have; the grace that God has poured out on us, the greatest of all sinners. Remember the truth, speak the truth, live the truth.

My absolute favorite verse that I just came across this week was "We will be called Oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3. I love, love, love it! I even drew and colored a poster that is now hanging on my wall that has that verse on it.

About other things, football is done. In our last regular season game we lost only by 2 touchdowns rather than the 4 we lost by last time we played this team. It was kind of frustrating to play so not the most fun game I have been in. I had a couple good runs, good defensive plays, and an interception run back for some yards. We didn't score though so that made it frustrating too. Oh well. We have playoffs next weekend but I start my personal training course so I can't make it!





My parents are coming to visit this week! I am so pumped!

I have been doing lots of baking and cooking with friends lately because we are all so cheap to go out to eat or do anything. It's so much fun. I am so obsessed with bread pudding right now!!!! Next week we are making this gingerbread pumpkin trifle too!

Well I should go make some dinner before heading to the gym to watch Monday Night Football. It's so much fun running while watching the games. Time goes so fast!!!

Later days!!!

Rain, Rain Go Away. Don't Come Another Day

Greetings!

A win! Today's football game produced a win admist the rainy and blustery weather. I have always wanted to play football on a muddy and rainy field getting super dirty. And today I did just that. It didn't rain until the fourth quarter, but the field was super slick. On my first run of the game, I totally biffed it and got super muddy. Such was my jersey for the rest of the game. I couldn't pull any catches down in the first half. It was horrible. I couldn't even blame a wet ball, because it wasn't wet. The only important catch that I made anyways was the only touchdown of the game. I just ran a quick corner pattern past my defender and caught an amazing pass from our quarterback. I ran about 50 yards for the one and only touchdown. It was awesome!!!

The second half looked better as I was more with it. I didn't miss any catches and I played what I thought was pretty solid defense. We ended up winning 7-0! That chalks us up to 3-3!

This week has been very uneventful on the socializing front. I have been opening at work so starting at 430 am which amounts to me sleeping all afternoon, getting up for supper, watching a bit of tv and then going back to bed. The weekend was great though at Diana's cabin. It was more like a little house than a cabin. We made the most amazing bread pudding I have ever had! It was a croissant based bread pudding with cinnamon, chocolate chips, toffee bits and lots of cream/milk. We ate 1/2 of the 9x13 pan of it!!!!!!! So good! We watched a lot of movies, the best one being "Leap Year". We went for a walk, watched some tv, played lots of games including my new favorite: Rummoli! I know it's an older game but I loved it. Yay better than rummy and it would be so awesome with more people too.

Oh Wednesday was exciting too! I went to the Phoenix Suns vs Toronto Raptors game in Vancouver at Rogers Arena with Elisha, Stu, and AJ from my college and career group. We had Costco hot dog and fries before the game across from the stadium. So good. You can't go wrong with Costco. Anyhow, the game was fun. Everyone was cheering for Phoenix especially Steve Nash. It was a preseason game however so he didn't play all the much in the second half. They ended up losing by 50 points. Poor showing. I have been to two Suns games now and they both ended up disappointing. That's enough NBA games for me unless it's playoffs or something. It was a fun night anyway getting to hang out with some fun people, gettin gto know them, and watching a sporting event with some guys. Yay for sports talk rather than just going to the game and talking about whatever. I miss that.

Thursday I was super sick. Don't know if it was from greasy food or what but I slept all day and night. Rack that up to 16 hours of sleep. It was fabulous.

This weekend I am spending dinner with Serena tomorrow at her house where her mom is cooking a feast. And Monday, after I work 530am to 12pm, I am going to my college and career thanksgiving dinner. It should be a pretty good weekend. Leia is on a cruise right now with her salon so I won't be seeing her. My parents are visiting soon, but not in time for this weekend so I will just spend it with friends. Seems like what I do on all the holidays nowdays anyways.

We have one more regular season game next week and then a bye and then playoffs. I am missing playoffs for my personal trainer course so next week is the last week until the spring. So long football. It was so much fun. Maybe see ya in the spring?

Later days and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for the Genetics, Pops!

Greetings!

Our double header weekend was quite eventful. I got a crazy dark tan that someone has commented on every single day this week. My sock tan is insane!!! We won one game and lost the other one. We beat the same team that we had beat before but it was a good win. We played hard and really unified. The next game we were tied 1-1 at halftime. Then we lost hold of emotions, people stopped trying, and it seemed like we just stopped caring so we ended up losing by 2 touchdowns or something. I'm not sure as I just know that we lost and that's all that matters.

The rest of the weekend I just watched football! What else is new? This season my top three teams to watch and cheer for are Chicago, Miami and New England. I am giving up on the Cowboys this season as they just never fail to disappoint. I love Jason Witten but they will never go anywhere with Jones as the owner and Romo at the helm. It's so unpredictable.

This week has been interesting. I am sosososososo over coffee and caffeine and any drink from Starbucks. A year will do that to you. I have been in really tired/annoyed moods this week as I am really feeling like I need a vacation, to get out of the same day after day routine and need out of this job. Just biding my time. The more positive I am right now though will make it bearable and not so bad. It's not really that terrible, it's just that I have been stuck in a rut this week and need a change of pace. Along comes this weekend . . .

My friend from work, Diana, has a cabin at Cultus Lake and so Saturday after my game and I get my hair cut at Leia's salon, we are heading up to the lake for the night. We are renting a movie, doing some baking and just relaxing. Then Sunday we might head downtown Vancouver to get a manicure and maybe a massage! I am so pumped to get away and just unwind.

Speaking of which, I can't wait for my parents to visit in October. That time can't come soon enough. I shouldn't have to wait so long to see two of the most important people in my life! We will definitely have a great time!!!!!!

The whole thing with the genetics title is just that I gain muscle like crazy! I have been doing a different workout this week with plenty of protein and I feel jacked. I feel very, very strong though and I love that feeling. I am just getting prepared for my personal training course. I really believe that people need to lead by example if they are in a position of leadership. I know that I really respect people that walk the talk and do things that are admirable, so I hope that if I look the part and eat healthy that my clients will make greater gains in their health and fitness.

Side note: I made some awesome pulled pork mini sliders for my college and career potluck tonight! They were a hit.

Later days!

Terrible QB debut

Greetings!

Well a huge change from my attitude last blog. I still love football but this week's game yesterday was not fun at all. I don't even know what the score was, nor do I really care. We lost probably 14-0 or something. So far in the women's B division we only have 8 points for and 34 points against. Our 34 against are the best in the div. so props to our defense but only 8 for?! That's brutal. This week we only had a puny 5 first downs, no thanks to my quarterbacking skills. Talk about discouraged. I stunk up that field yesterday. Playing the most important position on offense and the most important position on defense is taking a toll. On D I am preparing for my next offensive series but on O I am thinking about what I need to do to stop their top receiver. So the first half was a right off. I was so nervous/unsure of what to do that I would just catch the snap and try to throw it. And on D I was just watching the ball and not playing the man. I had some good anticipation and almost some interceptions but overall it was a bad scene.

The second half was a bit better. We held them to 0 points for the second half which was great. I got to man up on their best player which pretty much took her out of the game. I made some better throws and plays and awareness of the field on offense. I ran some too. However, my team was lacking any intensity and drive so even though the field was open down field, I didn't have anyone open as they just jogged their patterns. It was so frustrating. They would start their pattern and when they hit their defender, they would just stop/slow down. My coaches saw it, so they will be adjusting now, but doesn't help with what happened yesterday.

Also I know they love me on the team, but I want some constructive criticism. I didn't do everything right. There were things that I should have done and could have done better but they don't get on me. I want that. You know me, I love the one on one feedback and thrive when someone tells me what to do in sports. However, I really need to start reading the Defense on my own and adjusting on my own to really get to know the game. Over time I think it will come.

I was also sosososo overtired that it just wasn't even fun playing the game and I couldn't wait until it was over. Working opens and closes in the same week is NOT FUN AT ALL. Waking up at 330 some days and then just going to bed at 1am on the closing nights is not good for any body. The week went super fast though. I am working m-f now and having the weekends off so it feels more like a real job. There are certain people that I just can't wait to work with. One of those people is Diana.

She is amazing. She makes everyone's day better. I have never seen her in a bad mood and she is just such an encouragement to me. Once a week we walk up and down Oxford Street in White Rock which is about a km in length and is probably like a 80% grade hill. It's so steep. We only do it 4 times before we are beat and I am always sore the next day. I love it though. I look forward to that day every week. This week we are going on Friday, but on wednesday we are heading to Kitsilano (downtownish) to grab some organic flatbread pizza and delicious handcrafted lattes. I am so pumped.

Other news or updates would include that there are only 6 weeks left until I start my personal trainer course!! I am so stoked for that. I can't wait to learn again like school yet not have to just regurgitate it back onto an exam but rather, use it to better people's lives and health! yay!

Brianne is coming to visit this week too and we are meeting up for supper tomorrow! I have not seen her in such a long time so I am really happy to see her and talk with her. I hope that they have a good trip to BC to see all their friends.

I have also been cooking a bit more and still eating out a bit, but I have some new favorite foods. I love fish tacos and I had some really good crab tacos the other day at Steveston Village. I love pulled pork, Wood's rice milk lattes, and sweet potato fries (my homemade kind).

So well I guess I am just going to rest hardcore today, as my knee, shoulder, and jammed finger are quite sore. Don't feel too lazy though cuz it's raining and football is on ALL day. What a great day!

Later days!

Superstar

I love football!!!!

Yesterday we had our second game of the season. It was a nice day, a little windy with rain on the forecast, but it stayed nice the whole time. Game time: 2:30. I got a good warm up in with coffee and an energy drink as my fuel. Position: starting safety on d and inside receiver on o. Second offensive drive of the game, I get this short dump pass over the top in the seam on the right hand side about 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. I deek and jive past 5 defenders, spinning my hips to avoid getting flagged and run 50 yds for a touchdown. Our first of the season!!!! And you will later find out, our only one of the game! Rosie our quarterback runs in the extra point. Score: 7-0.

Awesomeness. I played both sides non stop with my only break being at half time. Our quarterback also got hurt right before half time and in the second half I had to step in to play quarterback. Now that was interesting. I hadn't done that before. I almost threw a couple interceptions. We did gain a couple yards, maybe 1 or 2 first downs in total. It was a cool experience and I will be practicing that a bit more now in case she gets hurt in the future. I just need to learn better how to read the defense, be more agile rolling out and spotting my players, and getting the right techniques down to huck it far. I am glad that our coach had confidence putting me in like that. He calls me superstar.

Pretty much the rest of the game we don't even get into the red zone and keep them out of there's as well. I pulled in an interception for about 10 yds gain. I knocked down 8 or more balls (wish I could have reigned those in a bit more) and had so many "tackles" that I would have been the leading scorer for that on Defense. I did through an interception off of our halfback play, but the ball did get to where I wanted it, about 20 yds down the field. Near the end of the game, our punter kicked the ball through the endzone for an extra point. WE WON! We were playing the worst team in the league, but we were also one of the lowest and didn't want to be titled that. Final score: 8-0.

As for life in general, this week has been busy with me finding out that I am kind of the new opener so I will be getting up before 4 am at least 3 times a week from now on. It's okay while I am working but I get grumpy very quickly when I am done and all I want to do is sleep. Not tomorrow though as I am planning on going to the States with Jackie cuz my passport finally arrived on Friday! I went to Aduro (my college and career) this week on Thursday, had practice on Wednesday, closed the store on Friday. Today I hope to clean the apartment a bit, watch a lot of football, go to the gym and just relax.

As for the coming months, every weekend consists of football on Saturday and then no work on Sunday so it's nice. Then starting October 31 I am taking a personal training certification course that will run 5 weeks on Sat and Sun until Dec 5. I am so super pumped for that and can't wait! After that I will be a personal trainer and hopefully get a full time job doing that at a gym and then work my way up to going out on my own with my own clients. I have way more ideas and aspirations about that floating around in my head, but as for now, that's what's going down! Well off to church on this rainy-stay-at-home-with-a-good-book kind of day!

Later days!

Wolfpack Fall 2010 Debut and more

Pretty much if this was me in the blue jersey, that`s what I looked like on this last ditch effort to flag the ball carrier on a kickoff return. Yep that`s right, I did that. You know when the person is sprinting away and in the NFL is about to get a touchdown and instead of diving for the tackle or flag, they just give up and concede the td? Yeah well I did that last ditch effort leap for the flag and caught it. It was sort of like when a Wile E. coyote gets squashed from trying to capture RoadRunner on Looney Tunes. I lifted the flag up to show that I got it but felt flattened. Today I feel like a truck ran over me. My shoulders and neck area from jamming on the field (well, it was a bellyflop onto the hard ground) are sosososo sore. Last night at work I could barely lift a drink up onto the hand off counter. But it was an amazing play!

We lost our football debut 15-0 which wasn’t bad considering we didn’t even get a first down all game. It was the pits. Our quarterback is brand new to quarterbacking and so it was her first game. She can’t throw the ball past 15 yds and that’s how far back she stands from the line of scrimmage so she has time before the rusher catches here. She is a great person but needs more work. It’s frustrating trying to run patterns then knowing that the ball will never even reach you. I got to play halfback a bit though and throw the ball. We hadn’t practiced it though and so my timing was off to get it to the receiver. I did chuck it quite far and hopefully proved that I should step up to throw more at halfback if not at quarterback.

I loved defense though. I got to play safety and I rocked it. I think that I missed one key play but I mean, it’s a team game and if other people miss the flag in their position then it’s partly their fault too. I made some key plays and was really focused and pumped up. Could be on account to the coffee AND energy drink that I had at 7am that morning before the game, nonetheless I was ready. It’s fun to be part of a team sport again and my leadership skills are really standing out. Everyone else is just getting down on the refs and the players and each other and themselves and swearing, but I am just trying to get everyone settled down, focused on what needs to happen next and just lead by example. It’s always been my way of leading.

I don’t want to sound pious and believe me I have been praying about that lately. I don’t think that I am the best and I know that I have a ton of work to do to get better but I do think that I have things together, that I am a great leader, and my lack of drinking and swearing as well as my encouraging words will soon shine a light in their eyes. Same with at work. Everyone is so gossipy and friends on friends off and it’s SO ANNOYING. So in trying not to come off as “I am better than you” I just try to distance myself from it all and just be nice to everyone, especially the people I don’t like. That’s the hardest, as I am sure that you know.

Life plans and decisions are really coming together. Prayer, Bible reading, talking with important people that I value and respect their opinions and other confirmations that have come from God have really set peace in my heart as to what my next step in life is going to be and where it will take place. I am not going to share right now until it really works out cuz there are a couple things that I have to take care of but as for the principle of the thing, it’s coming together and I am pleased.
Well that’s going to be all for now. Maybe something interesting will pop into my head at a later date for another blog to come soon. Until then, later days!

Saskabush

Greetings!

I ventured out to Saskatoon for Folkfest this last weekend. Great weather, awesome relatives and really fun times. Here's a recap:

"The Pavilions"

Thursday night
1. Caribbean - steel drums and neat merchandise along with some cool dancers. We tried the Jamacian Jerk Chicken, Beef roti and coconut tart.


2. Philippines - no performances while we were there. Had homemade mango ice cream from Homestead ice cream. So good it had chunks of mango in it

3. Scottish - awesome highland dancers, really good homemade shortbread

4. Ukraine - didn't have any of the food there because we can make it all at home! Really authentic merch and lots of people

5. Greek - they had coins from each emperor dated 300 bc and earlier which was really cool. Had the best honey donut things. Probably my favorite food I had

6. German - their pavilion burnt down last year so they were outside. Had a cool pole with the decorative strings and nice stage. The brass band played edelwiess and the costumes were very authentic as well. I loved the calf warmer things. LOL. We had apple strudel which was okay but wanted some schnitzel but we were way to full.


7. Irish - good dancers - more of a tap dancing style. We tried the potato soup which was okay, but not great.

8. Norway - probably my favorite one overall. Got an airbrush tattoo with Norway flag colors - red/blue/red, had krumbkake which was sosososo good (glorified waffle cone). They had lots of variety of food including tons of dessert waffle like things. It had a real homey feeling to it and we wished that we could have seen some dancers, but we were there too late.

9. Australia/New Zealand - there was little decoration, food sold out and lack of entertainment at this pavilion

10. India - honestly I didn't like it at all because I felt like I was back in BC

Friday

11. Hispanic - little did I know that Hispanic by definition meant all spanish speaking countries so it included mexico, latin america, south america and spain. They had a great program of songs and dance for each country. I bought a purse from ecuador. We ate ice cream, empanadas and tamales.

12. Peru - they made an even better tamale here as well as some dish with potatoes and creamed chicken sauce and INCA cola. It tasted like cream soda and was so good.

13. Indian/Metis - we had both fried and baked bannoc with fresh homemade strawberry and saskatoon berry preserves. The wild rice and smoked salmon was also very good. They did that ring dance and some other festive dancing.

14. Hungary - the menu was quite vast and they had elephant ears however the building was way too small and busy so we left right away.

15. Asia Pacific - once again I felt like I was back in BC and so we didn't stay long

16. Brazil - I bought some coconut almond tea as well as some coffee candy which tasted amazing. The atmosphere was quite cool and the dancers were pretty good too.

17. Sudan - this pavilion was super awesome and probably the more that I think about it was my favorite! I love Africa and all the things that they had made and were selling were so cool and creative. I tried this baglawa dish which was basically baklava and they had other food which looked good. Then Grandma's friend Saba was making coffee which she roasted from green pods to black coffee beans. She then melted them with water on a pot and then poured it, filtered by what looked like straw into our little shot like cups. It was amazingly good!!!!!!!!!!!!!


18. Riderville - the saskatchewan roughrider based pavilion was all green and very festive. I had a taco in a bag which I had never heard of before but was doritos crushed up and all the ingredients of tacos right in the bag you ate out of. It was sosososo good. The music was country and the atmosphere was really great. I loved it!

Well that's a long recap but thought I would share what each pavilion was about!

Later days!

Are you game?

Greetings!

There is much to be said in this update. Where to start? The Cowboys are playing right now in the Hall of Fame game to start off the NFL preseason and the regular season starts in just 32 short days! Can't wait! I love Sundays! Earlier today I myself was playing flag football. We lost our game and I didn't feel that effective. Everyone was really lethargic so no one was really into it. Then the team after us couldn't field a game so we played again. I caught a couple balls and scored a TD. I got to play defense too and I am really catching on. I am getting connected with a coach of a women's team that plays in the fall that needs players so I will be a regular player on their team then! Church was also awesome. I haven't been in a couple weeks so that made it really good but I love the pastor. He is an amazing speaker and his passion just shines through. If you want to hear a sermon check it out on the podcast on the website lefc.ca. It's the Langley Evangelical Free Church.

My mom was here visiting this past week and it was an amazing week. Went way too fast though. We did lots of shopping in the States, eating out, watching some movies, just chilled at my place, went mini golfing and did stuff with Leia too. We had some awesome pulled pork at this place called Coconut Kenny's in the states. And my favorite meal was the fish tacos that I had at a place called Big Ridge Brewery. My mom was quite adventurous with the meals and I am happy that I could pick good places. We had some good talks as well and enjoyed the nice 20 something weather. It did rain one night though and I had taken my jeep roof off the day before. So I woke up at 230am to the sound of rain and knowing that my jeep roof was off. I pulled it into my underground parking but it was still soaked. It's now running crappy and don't know if it's from that.

Being a shift supervisor at Starbucks is alright. A little stressful though. But in general I like directing the people and thinking of things to do, I just don't really like the money handling. Oh and I am still volunteering at this wildlife place where I take care of birds. I really don't like it that much but it looks good on the resume. I am now fully trained too so I don't have to just follow someone around all the time!

This week my friend Doug is home in Maple Ridge from Edmonton and so we are hanging out on Wednesday. It's been forever since I saw him. On Thursday I am heading down to Seattle to watch the Seahawks training camp practices. They don't cost anything but I plan on spending the day down there, probably bike around a bit and enjoy the summer in the States. Saturday is Leia's birthday and I am attending her big birthday bash - whatever it is!!

God's been teaching me my life is about making much of him, not what he can do for us. Today was all about praise that is due to Him. I don't need to "get" something out of a church service, I just need to be prepared to praise and glorify Him. The real and most important question that we should constantly be asking ourselves and that I am challenging myself to do this week is: IS WHAT I AM DOING OBSCURING THE GOSPEL? If it is, why am I doing it and how am I going to change what I am doing? If it isn't, then I know that I am in tune to what the Holy Spirit is directing in my life. I challenge you to think about that this week as well.

Later days!

Ecclesiastes - what kind of word is that?

"Life is meaningless" says Solomon all throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. He wrestles with the meaning of life and how we go through so many trials and toil and strife yet we are left with nothing in the end. I am no great philosopher but I do know that he hit some key points when struggling through writing this book.

"For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not workd for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune." Ecc 2:21. So we get a well paying job while we are on earth. We work hard and then what . . . it is given away to others when we die? All our hard work goes down the drain? Why do we do it then?

He follows up with " A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. THIS TOO, I SEE, IS FROM THE HAND OF GOD, FOR WITHOUT HIM, WHO CAN EAT OR FIND ENJOYMENT?" Eccl 2:24-25. Without God nothing is enjoyable. We work for no reason. There is nothing to be gained without God leading the way. I think sometimes we get so caught up in mission work and that if we aren't missionaries or working directly with people in a church setting or with kids, etc, that we don't realize that no matter what we do, as long as God is in charge and the center, it is good enough for Him. This is such the case with me know and probably in the future. I can't see how my work at Starbucks or later with animals is glorifying Him directly. I am not building into people, I am not telling them about the Gospel, I am only serving them. But that's just it. I am serving them. And what gives me that attitude to do that to the best of my ability? It is my Lord Jesus Christ. If others can see Him through me, through my words, my actions, than I am doing a job worthy in God's eyes.

We can find meaning in life when we cheerfully accept it from the Hand of God. And "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" Ecc 9:10. Just as Paul tells the Colossians: "And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (3:17)."

It's hard to find the joy that we should have in the hope of a risen saviour all the time especially when there are tough circumstances and situations that we are struggling through. But working hard with Christ at our side, will bring us to glory on that day. Be happy and let joy lead the way. Let Christ shine through us and our work wherever we have been placed. Today is a new day, so go out there and grab it!!!

In the eye of the beholder

Aloha! Haha don't I wish that I was in Hawaii!! Just watched a movie that takes place in Hawaii last night and really wish that I was going there or somewhere tropical to really experience summer, since it certainly has not arrived in BC. Anyhow, this post isn't so much an update on life, but a really eye opening observation I made today (pardon the pun, you'll get it later).

I was just doing my workout in front of the mirror in my living room and stopped when I started staring at the mirror. I was super close and just looking at my eye. It was so cool. My eyes have this light blue color around the outside and then get green towards the pupil. Both of them are very different in shades of color, textures and shapes of the swirling colors. I would squint and look into the light to watch my pupils dilate and enlarge. It was just really neat.

Which really led me to think how great of a creator we have. I mean He designed each little detail that I picked out of my eyes. It's like a painter who takes very careful detail to capture the object of his art. He plays with shades, colors, and patterns. However, the painter takes long hours to create a masterpiece while God took just one day in the beginning. And even now when a baby is developing, the eye is formed in a minimal amount of time. The cells working together with blood and proteins to form this amazing organ.

The eye provides our view of creation and the world. We see our loved ones, nature, dark and light, colors, wrong and right, and everything else that God had destined to be. I know that I have really taken my sight for granted. I see what I want to see. I see concrete, my messy apartment, people I may not like, so much sin, etc. Yet God sees hurt, orphans, poverty, thirst, and desperate hearts for something more. I want to see how God sees. I want my eyes to see the needs of those people I walk past every day. I want to see the hurt that people are going through and have the God given grace and wisdom to talk to them and meet their needs. I just want to see others first and me second. It's all about me, me, me, but I want it to be about God.

So what can I do today to see what God sees? How can I treat people how Jesus would treat them no matter their attitude, age, or race? And how can I make this an everyday thing in my walk with Jesus, not just a passionate pledge once a month?

I just wanted to share this all with you, but perhaps I have challenged you to look closer at something that you have taken for granted in your life. Look closely in a mirror and you too might be amazed at just how awesome your eyes are.

When we see with God's eyes, not just beauty, but true life is in the eye of the beholder.

Later days!

Summer has finally arrived!

Greetings all!

Summer has officially arrived, not just because of the date of summer being June 21 but the actual weather. It's funny because I as talking to a customer the other day and he was saying that Canadians are the worst to complain about the weather. We are mad cuz it's raining or complaining when it's hot. It seems like we never win. It's even the topic of every conversation when there is nothing else to talk about. It's a valid point he made but I think that talking about the weather with strangers is a good way to start conversation and get things rolling. It's something we all have in common and other stories and topics can come out of that. Like what they are doing for summer vacation, where they work, do they have to be outside all the time, do things on the weekend, etc. It could go on and on. I am pumped for the hot weather. It is actually pretty dry here too like Alberta heat so I went out and bought a fan yesterday. I am just thankful that the bugs aren't like they are in Stettler.

My cousin Rissy's wedding went wonderfully. It was definitely different but suited to them as a couple and just what they wanted. I am glad that I could be a part of it and spend some time with all my relatives.
June just flew by too. Basketball is done. I officially got promoted to be a shift supervisor. I have more free time to hang out with my friends and college and career group. Plans for the upcoming weeks include the chocolate buffet with Diana next Friday, Canada Day Party fireworks and parade with Serena, work potluck on July 6, New York Yankees against the Seattle Mariners on July 8 and much fun in between. There are lots of good movies coming out as well that Leia and I are planning on going to!

As for life, well I just can't get ahold on this time in my life right now. I am here in White Rock yet for what reason. I sure am not making that much money. I am not committed to anything cuz I don't want to be here forever. I am almost reaching the point at Starbucks that I just won't want to work there anymore. I am tired of applying for other part time positions and jobs that are entry level. Leia got a job in her career and I really want one in mine too!!!! I am so happy for her though. She enjoys it a lot and I look forward to going to the salon to get my hair done from time to time!!

Well keep me in your prayers. I'll just keep looking up to the One who knows it all. It's all I can really do. Later days!

The mercy to glorify

Live missionally. It’s what has been talked about the past few months at church and cluster. How do we glorify God with our lives in the real world? We talk about what we need to work on, what the Bible says that we need to do in Bible studies but does it end there? Do we just discuss it and feel bad about not doing anything and leave there with the same mindset? Or do we start living it?

In such an unbelieving world today, people are so quick to judge Christians on their actions. Their hypocrisy. Their Sunday – church going life and their everyday work life. Are we contributing to that? What are we doing that is setting us apart as Christians so that others are really inquisitive as to why we have the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15)?

Glorify. God is the King of Glory. He demands and deserves so much more of us than we are giving and have to give. He wants our whole heart, strength, soul and mind. He wants all of us. But mostly He wants our lives to reflect His majesty, His heart, and His glory. Glorifying God involves living in harmony with one another, being sympathetic, loving others as brothers, being compassionate and humble and not repaying insult with insult (1 Peter 3:8-9). It is seeing a need in a person and catering to those needs, whether it be listening to what they have to say or recognizing that they too are in a hurry and need the right of way. Glorifying God is seizing every opportunity that he sends our way to help out a person in need. It is too look after orphans and widows and to keep oneself from being polluted from the world (James 1:27). Finally, glorifying God is not merely listening to the word of God, but doing what it says. God demands action with our faith.

Glorifying God every minute of every day is not easy, but it starts with having integrity in every small decision that we make. It is deciding to turn off the tv and instead read the Bible. It is turning away from someone that has made you mad and restraining from a bitter and discouraging comment. It is being calm and patient with the driver in front of you instead of laying on the horn or getting angry. Even in this though, when we give all that we have, it is never enough. In comes mercy.

Without mercy, God would never get the glory that He deserves. Like the old chorus sings “His mercies are new every morning” we are able to be renewed day by day. Mistakes may have been made, wrong choices were made and we felt like we failed God, but He forgives. He showers us with mercy and grace (1 Timothy 1:13-14). This is glorifying God: allowing His mercy to cover up our sins and weakness so that we can bring all that we are to His feet.

I must confess that all this is right from my heart because I am so guilty of glorifying myself or other things before I bring the glory due to God back to Him. I am so quick to anger, quick to judge, impatient with people and so focused on myself. I have and am constantly asking for forgiveness and being forgiven for these sins that keep recurring in my life. His mercy is great enough to cover me so that I can still glorify God in my life. It’s a struggle each and every day but WE are doing it.

All in a Days Work

. . . and that's just it, all I do is work, and work, and work.

The weather has been gorgeous and it's finally summer!!!

The roof is off the jeep so I just love to drive around even though I should be walking and biking more.

I found a good college and career group to go to on Wednesday nights.

I am really learning a lot about people and myself:
-that jealousy can rear its ugly head when we least expect it and we try to deny it over and over again
- that life without friends is really no life at all
- that stepping into other people's shoes is the only way to practice/learn patience and try empathy.

My visit with my Dad was so much fun! We went to the states, Bowen Island, Stanley Park, ate out a lot, saw Iron Man 2 (not worth your money), and just hung out. I love my dad and it was so good to see him.

I can't wait for Grown Ups and Toy Story 3 to come out soon.

Our basketball team is really improving (when they listen) and have so much potential. We are half done the season already, it's gone so fast.

Life is ho hum. Can't wait to go to Florida and it's hard to live in the present when I am not completely content. 'Tis life.

This is my update.

Later days!!!

I bet you never really thought about it

Greetings!

Spring is in the air and I am already getting a tan. I have been outside quite a bit running and walking so the sun has nicely tanned my face. I hadn't really noticed until someone came into Starbucks and asked if I went somewhere cuz I looked really tan. That won't be the case today as it is quite rainy and overcast. Oh well. It's supposed to get nicer here in the next few days. Doesn't really matter as I have to work days now. The last couple of days I have been working in the evening so I have had the day to do things, but I have been so tired that I have just been sleeping, then working out, cleaning the place a bit, and then going to work. Today I am off because I am volunteering for this gala at the hospital on Saturday and tonight is the volunteer orientation session. Since I closed they couldn't book me to work early so I just don't work. I wish that I had the energy to do something really productive, but I have also been trying to save money so I will just workout, watch some tv and do a little bit of grocery shopping.

Anyhow pertaining to the title of this blog . . . I cut myself really, really bad the other day. Right between the knuckles of my forefinger and my middle finger. It was a gash about a 1/2 cm deep by 1 cm wide and 1 cm long. No skin on top. It hurt a lot and I thought that I was going to go into shock. Anyhow it is healing and it's amazing to watch!!!!!! I have never looked at something so in depth before. I find myself staring at it all the time. Instead of healing from the bottom up, it is healing from the outside in. The new skin is being formed, little cells, pink and rosy trying to cover up this hole. The body is such an amazing thing. All the processes working together to heal itself. The healthy baceria to pull out the bad stuff, blood flow to get it healed, other fluids to flush things out and build up immunity, and proteins and other components to build the skin. I can't believe how beautiful it is. A time lapse camera would be so cool!

How cool then would it be to watch a whole human form! God is so creative. I think that I have already expressed how great I think that God's creation is many times because next to His grace and saving power it is the greatest thing that I love about God.

Lately I have been sort of frustrated with work and not learning anything and not living like a stand apart Christian, as in people should say "I want what she has". It's always been quite hard for me because I mean I am a positive person but not one of those super outgoing, bubbly types. So in order for someone to notice a difference in my life I need to live what I know and also tell them about it. Watch what you laugh at, smile and be encouraging, be empathetic, and watch all your own actions. You never know when someone else is watching. That eye roll, that little lie you tell, the negative/complaining tone that you have with a bad customer. It all matters. The couple verses that have been really going through my life lately are "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." May I be gracious and compassionate to everyone, not showing partiality to age, race, attitude. I pray to be slow to anger, that includes PATIENCE, and rich in love. The love of Christ that needs to shine in me.

I heard this thing the other day about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is there to help us bring glory to God. He wants everything we do to be tied back to the glory of God. We do so many things by ourselves and for ourselves. I want to live a selfless life and it's not until I surrender it to Jesus and start looking through His eyes that I will have this. And this is the problem, that I always write this down, yet in one week or so I will forget and start living back how I was already. It's a hard path to follow but I am really praying a lot more an have the confidence in Christ that WE can accomplish this.

Summer plans are looking great too. There's a rodeo, a couple other festivals, farmers markets, Mariners games, trips to Portland, drive ins in the Jeep with the roof off, road trip to California, trip to the island, other misc. road trips, and lots of sun on the beach.

On a final note, I think that I found a church to go to finally. I really liked it last week. It's the Langley Evangelical Free Church. There are a ton of college and career aged people because it's so close to Trinity University. It's a little modern for my liking but I found myself staying awake a lot easier than usual (too little sleep:)) and the people were quite friendly and welcoming. I will let you know more how that progresses in the coming months. Please pray that I find a home church soon as I really want to connect somewhere. Also for the courage to step out of my shell an get involved in something.

Until next time . . . keep shining for Jesus!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Greetings!

What a refreshing time at home! I have been having an awesome last couple days being at home, hanging out with friends and family and doing not much of anything. It's grand. It's made me realize some things about White Rock and going back to live there. Things that need to be changed and adjusted to make my life a whole heck of a lot more enjoyable. Like quitting Cupcakes, maybe getting a volunteer position at the aquarium and just having a more regular schedule at work. Oh and actually cooking some meals! LOL. My mom has made the best food ever including, but not limited to, steak for our Easter meal, raspberry dream cake, the Easter egg nests, stirfry rice, sausage spaghetti, broccoli and grape salad, etc. It's been great!

We have watched some movies, played some games (Trivial Pursuit which I always lose), went for a run, a walk, shopping in Red Deer, and just hanging out. I wish I never had to work. But I am coming under the impression more and more that when you find the job that you really like and enjoy getting up in the morning to go to, then you will really love your work. I am sosososososo excited to go to Florida in January - ish to school/work at the zoo college. It's a dream come true. On that I have had since I was young and is only now really becoming a reality.

A lot has to happen before that like having the money, getting the visa and making arrangements for housing and transport, etc. It will all work out though. I am sure of it. God makes all things beautiful in HIS time. It's all about Him and when I begin to focus on that and just work joyfully at what I can now, the next season in my life will come much faster and will hopefully work out rather smoothly. That being said I have learned so much from trials and obstacles that if He sent a few small ones my way, I wouldn't be heart broken. As long as I still make it to Florida in time!!!!!

Well I am off for breakfast with the Payne's and then we are heading to Red Deer this afternoon. Should be a great day!

And then basketball starts this coming week! Leia and I are really excited to coach a basketball team for 10 weeks. We have been to a couple coaches clinics/meetings and so we are ready to go. I have sure been feeling my age though, lol, because at the clinic I was demonstrating some of the drills and by the end my knees felt like pumpkins. I am not used to that stopping and starting that comes with the game. I guess it would have helped if I had been wearing the proper clothes and socks in my shoes.

Have an amazing Easter as we remember all that the LORD went through to bring us into His family. I am truly thankful for a God that cares so much!

First Day of Spring

Greetings!

I guess it's been awhile since I wrote on this thing. Could be the fact that all I do is work and sleep and workout so my life is pretty boring or the fact that I just don't have time. As of late though I have been up to lots. Last weekend I headed down to the states just to buy some cheap groceries but it turned out that everyone was doing the same thing so Costco and Target were packed. It was a short trip but got some really good deals.

This weekend I went to Lonnie's in Abbotsford and we watched three movies but also went on a hike up to this really clear amazing lake. It is awesome just how creative God is. So Lonnie and I talked and talked and just had a grand ol' time! Then today I got to go snow shoeing up at Cypress Mountain. We wandered around a bit to see where all the Olympic events took place. Most of it is down now, but you could picture it from seeing it on tv. The actual snow shoeing was pretty fun but it kind of hurt my knee. I think that's why I have shyed away from most winter sports. There is so much uncertainty in stepping and slipping that it is just not a good scene. The weather held out for us but now it's pouring. Not really a good way to start spring.

This coming weekend I am heading to Camp to counsel juniors retreat. I am quite excited not only to feed these campers and help them have a good time, but also to have a spiritual retreat myself. I really need to readjust my focus on how I can show Christ to the world through my actions, speech and thought.

Then on the 31st I get to go home for Easter!!!!! I am so stoked to be at home and do things with my parents and McComishs and other friends. It will be a great time! As for other things, nothing else is really new. Oh . . . today I made kettle corn not just regular popcorn. Had to mix it up after having popcorn 4 days in a row! Have a great week!!!!