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!