Happy Birthday to me!

Greetings!

As I hope most of you know, my birthday is on Tuesday February 1st and I am turning the big 2 5. So I am sort of trying to make a week out of my birthday not just a day. Yesterday I went cross country skiing, out for dinner, and then skating outside in Robson Square downtown Vancouver with friends such as Diana, Joon, Mika, Melissa, and Elisha. I am so thankful for people that care for me and people that I look forward to being with because they challenge me and me them. They are dear friends that add so much to my life and we get to hang out together and enjoy life alongside one another.

Today I had to work at Starbucks but it wasn't really as bad as I thought it was going to be. I stuck myself in drive thru and stayed there the whole day. Not too bad. I am now eating a 4 c. serving of apple crisp that I am having instead of birthday cake (as cake isn't really my favorite thing to eat). OH and I had popcorn with lots of butter last night too!

Tomorrow I am going to watch some tv and movies with my friend Amy and bake some goodies together. Tuesday Leia and I are going down to the states out for breakfast and to walk around a bit and just enjoy it down there. I love it there. Then I will probably do something outdoors in the afternoon before I work at the gym again. This week is full of both jobs and so I am going to be super tired and I can guarantee it, like 99.9% sure that I will be sick the week after. When I slow down and have time for my body to catch up to me, I know that I will get sick. So don't say I didn't warn you. I kind of play pity party when I am sick cuz I don't get sick often.

Saturday I get to watch hockey with friends and Sunday is the Superbowl. I will either be hosting a party or going somewhere to watch the game with friends. yay for friends that like football.

On the exciting news front, I am moving! I found a roommate, Elisha, to live with and we found a place in Langley. It's gonna be about a 20min drive to work but it's all back roads and the rent is about half of what I pay now and all the utilities and things are included so it's way way cheaper. Plus there is laundry in suite and it's two floors, so living room, kitchen, bathroom, downstairs and then bedrooms upstairs. Super pumped! We move March 1 so I will be posting and sending you a new address soon.

Also my new job at Steve Nash is awesome. I really get to let my personality shine and meet people and tell them what I know. They are coming for help and I am there to help them out. I am super pumped and loving it! Elisha asked me yesterday what my goals for this year as 25 are and I said that most of them have come true already. This year, 2011, has been a year of trusting God and letting Him plan my life rather than me planning it and trying to fit Him in. And that is why things have been working out. Cuz my trust and prayers are in Him!



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Here are pictures of the place and we are allowed to paint, we have a driveway, there is a huge backyard we can use, separate entrance, soundproof walls, etc. We can't wait to decorate!

Soon I will post more about the coming year and being 25 and other exciting things! But for now, there's the update and enjoy the pics!
Later days!

Steve Nash Employee and Personal Trainer = Yours Truly

Greetings all!

This blog brings much excitement and worthy news. I got the job at Steve Nash Sports Club in South Surrey and will now be their newest personal trainer! I found out on Friday and on Saturday I went down to the states to buy a whole bunch of personal training attire that is more professional than my cutoff shirts and baggy athletic shorts. I am so pumped. The process of events in this new year could not have gone any more correctly! Maybe not in a timely fashion, or smoothly, but they have arrived. More infomation to follow, but for now it is sort of part time but as I build clients so too will my hours build. I start Wednesday!

Other news, now I am hoping to quit Starbucks soon as it's just a headache. I don't want to rant about it for long because it's all I ever talk about. So onto the NFL. Boo hiss. I can't believe the Pats didn't make it. The Jets sure played good defense in the first half shutting all their passing down, however the Pats did nothing to combat this in the second half and sure thing went on to lose. I think that was the deciding factor in that game. The Jets had more heart and a more strategically played defense. I am pumped the Bears are in it. I like Green Bay too but GO BEARS! I don't like the Jets or Pittsburgh so BEARS ALL THE WAY! Everyone at work feels the same way now that their teams got knocked out too. We can all band together.

Life is busy with work, football, basketball coaching, college and career and church. Each day is planned with room for spontanaeity which I have a lack of. However things may change as my pt job is going to be from 5pm-9pm Sunday to Thursday. That equals NO LIFE. Until I quit SBux and go full time/casual time at Steve Nash which I hope is soon.

We had our first football practice last week in a gym close to my house. It was so much fun. We did a lot of agility and movement drills which most girls were sucking wind but I just thought it was a good run. We did a lot of patterns and flagging drills and interception drills. I am so pumped to play again when the season starts on April 2. SO FAR AWAY!!! I want to be the all star so these practices are great for me getting touches on the ball and "ins" with the qb.

As for friends and life, well I have so many friend groups that I get pulled different ways, but lately it's been pretty boring cuz the weather isn't great and I just want to go do things. I shouldn't complain because it's way worse in other provinces but no one wants to go out. I do, but it takes two to have more fun. I go for coffee with people and have movie nights and hang out so it's pretty good.

I can't wait for my mom and dad to come back from Florida as it has been killing me not being able to tell them all that has happened in this new year. I know that they had a good time but are probably ready to be back home too. Maybe not to the weather, but to the routine of things. Can't wait for them to visit BC soon too!

Well later days!

First Week of 2011

Greetings!

I am currently watching the first game of the 2011 NFL playoffs with New Orleans playing Seattle and am so into it! I have waited all year for this and can't wait to be a couch potato to watch all the games this playoff season. Dallas didn't make it but other teams such as Chicago, New England and Kansas are some teams that I like!

Onto a much more important subject, GOD and His faithfulness!!!! I have this super awesome analogy for this year and my life at this moment in time. You know when you have seen a movie already in theatres and then you go to the same movie again with someone that hasn't seen it? You know how you are super excited about parts that you think are funny and you know that the other person will love it? I have done this many times and am just anticipating the parts that I know my friend will laugh at and really like. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for that moment, wanting them to smile and be enjoying themselves.

I feel that this is what God is like in my life right now. He is so excited for me to see what is going to happen next. He has already seen it and planned it all and can't wait for me to see all that He has done and see my reaction to it. He knows that I am going to be surprised, full of awe, super happy and joyful and full of praise. He is going to do great things in my life so that I can give all the praise back to Him. He doesn't want us to go through trials and tribulations but sometimes that's how we get to the point where we appreciate how much more and how much greater He is. I have no words to describe just how incredible He has already proven himself this year.

Every day has been super crappy and had moments of complete disgust, but then something small will happen that just totally brings me back to Him. I know that He has orchestrated this moment for me to praise Him and direct my attention back to how good He is and how insignificant those negative moments are in the grand scheme of things. For example, this week has been atrocious. Work is not even worth talking about as I have never felt so unvaluable and disrespected by someone (my manager). It has been full of stress, anger, distrust, and times that I just wanted to walk out/give up. But then work is done for the day, and life explodes with joy. My workouts have been awesome, I have had opportunities to improve in my personal training experience and learning, I have got to hang out with great people, have good conversations, had great food at the Keg and Cosmos (a Greek restaurant). My music has been inspirational, I have been more spontaneous than usual, basketball practice went well and the girls are really improving. So although the week wasn't that great, God is so good.

So many other things to talk about, but I am going to leave now to watch the football game and do some more personal training homework! Later days!!

Lord, You never let go of me

Greetings and Happy New Year!

My oh my has this year been just dandy so far! I am loving every minute of being alive. Ever since Octoberish of last year I have been crazy high on life and loving it so much. God is so at work in my life and despite my lack of faith and commitment to developing my relationship with Him, He really has never let me go. Even when I thought that things were super bad and I was just "surviving" or "getting by" He surprises me with a solution to trials and a look ahead to how exciting my life is going to be and IS. That's the thing: living in the moment. Not taking for granted all the things that He has blessed me with right now, right where I am. Life isn't in thinking "When will my life begin? When I get married? When I find a real job? When I live in the location that I want to be in?" No. He was enlightened me into how great life is right now, with Him, where I am. Not where I should be or think I want to be, but right now, at work, at play and everything that I do.

This realization just brings so much peace and joy in my life. Peace in that I don't need to worry about a thing because God has proven himself faithful over and over and over again even when I think that nothing will ever work out. Joy in a Saviour that loves me and cares about me so much more than I can ever imagine. What great compassion and love He shows that He can orchestrate my life and the millions of people in this world and care deeply about each and every person? It's truly amazing and I am forever grateful.

One of the songs that has really hit me lately and spurred on a whole lot of praise is "You never let go" by Matt Redman. Here are the lyrics:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

(Chorus 2x's)
© 2006 Sparrow

There are always challenges in life, battles to be won, but with God never letting us go, we never have to do it alone. We have someone so much bigger than us fighting for us. If God is with us, whom then shall I fear? Nothing! Because everything is possible with God!!!!!!

As for my life and the rest of my holidays . . . I ended at Boxing Day, so I shall now continue in list form (my favorite). Let's keep it brief, people!

Dec 27 - Joyuex Noel. Nothing spectacular. Swam, ran, watched movies, played games

Dec 28 - Spent the day with my aunt and uncle and cousins in Edmonton. Went shopping with my Aunt and to Starbucks. Went to Narnia with Ariel and my uncle. SOOOOO Good! I hadn't even seen the second one but the third one was awesome! Definitely a movie to bring a nonchristian to. I had a great time and loved seeing them all!

Dec 29 - Breakfast at an awesome place, waterpark in West Ed for 3 hours, great salmon clubhouse for lunch at The Sugar Bowl, Muttart Conservatory and bought a plant, Indian food for supper, skating at the legislature building and watched a movie, all with my friend Doug, from camp. So much to do and so little time!

Dec 30 - ran, didn't do much, was pretty lazy

Dec 31 - swam with McComishs, ran, then they came over for New Years! We played tons of games (even one we lost to my parents:() and celebrated the New Year!

Jan 1 - I drove home and the roads were super clear so I cruised at a pretty high altitude!

Now I am back in BC where I know I belong. It was great being home but I really love it here. My friends are all super happy that I am back. I really have some great friends both at work and at church. It's so good to see them again! Things are looking positive here with the job situation and life in general. Nothing to complain about! I hope you are all having a great New Year!

Later days!