A Fragmented Version of the "Hols" Thus Far

I spent a ridiculous amount of money this year. but I think it was worth it.

I like being with the old-time churchies and I haven't gotten sick of them yet, even though they've probably gotten sick of moi! ;)

My mom's in China with my sick grandma so I feel a bit guilty for all the fun I've been having.

I saw Juno and it was as good as I thought it would be!

I've got green, apple-scented glitter on my hands.

I watched the entire first season of The Hills today.

My thoughts have often been in an English accent. (And even as I write this!)

I know I'm getting more and more lame as this blog progresses.

Oh! Oh!--- I'm learning to COOK!
I most definitely made a spinach artichoke dip last night that was a HIT! *Flourishing bow (and a ty to S ;))*

I'm sick. (Sore throat, stuffy nose, light coughing)

AND *dun dun dun dunnnnnnn* I GOT MY COW BACK!

I'd take a picture but I have no camera right now... but my baby and i have been reunited and he's mooing hello to everyone right now. PT found him and gave him back to me and after I finished screaming I realized I could now show him to everyone I've met since the start of university-- it's really been four years! He has so many people to meet! Uncle Matthew thinks I should get him a sweater so he can have a "new look". LOL

Ok, I'm done wasting everyone's time. Back to making New Year's resolutions. Turrah!

I want to see this!!

Thoughts On Recent Lousy Decisions Made Not by Me.

Most positive things I've learned about being a Christian and being a member of a church come from the guidance and leadership of my pastor.

The two greatest commandments God gives Christians are:
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Pastor Tim has always demonstrated these things to me. Anyone who is a member of KWCAC's English Congregation would know that PT encourages his congregation to seek after an understanding of God's heart through His Word and worshipping Him with your life. But MORE importantly, in my opinion, a pastor leads not by words, but by EXAMPLE. And PT has not only demonstrated his OWN fervent chase after God but he has UNrelentlessly LOVED and SERVED his congregation as himself. Sometimes better than himself. He takes the time to know people and nurture not only their spiritual needs but their physical and emotional ones too. I think that's what God means by loving someone as yourself. You'd take care of all your own needs. And true love, that's doing your best to fulfill those needs in others.

To some people, helping fix someone's computer or hosting five giggling 17 yr old girls' prom night or driving out in the winter to help someone fix a flat tire or handing out kleenexes while someone bawls their eyes out may not be the conventional work of a pastor. But in my opinion-- I only HOPE that there are other pastors who demonstrate the same love Jesus did. Because getting up on a bloody pulpit on Sundays and filling out paper work and doing set visitations? That isn't enough. And that's NOT what Jesus did either.

I hope certain people take the time to remember that Jesus was also less than conventional.

I know I'm not exactly the model Christian, but because of PT, I do understand what living out Christ's love means.

And it is a crying shame that the future generations of students passing through Waterloo won't get to experience God's love and care through him anymore.

I had quite a few more strongly worded and, honestly speaking, angry thoughts to share. But really, it doesn't matter whether or not I think certain decisions were made correctly or handled correctly by whom, etc etc etc. Because what's done is done.

The important thing is to recognize the significance of the past 15 years of ministry my pastor and my friend, has contributed in his service to God and the people of KWCAC.

What do you do when you recieve terrible news?

Step 1 is, of course, denial.

No. That can't be right. Read it again......ok, it's still true.

Step 2. I generally sit frozen in place for some time, muttering profanities and researching ridiculous plans of action such as how much it would cost me to fly to some random place in the US and assume a new identity.

Step 3. Call someone I trust loves me. It has to be someone who loves me kindly. It can't be someone who will say "Well you should have seen this coming" or "Well, it's your own fault this happened, you know". Because it's still too early at this point to be reasonable.

Step 4. Repeat Step 2, but add in some depressing music.

Step 5. Luckily, at this point, my best friend arrives with the best step of all-- comfort food! and in this case, it came in the form of Black Cherry Icecream, Kraft Dinner Mac and Cheese, and Ristorante Pizza. Mmmmmmm Mmmmm!

Step 6. Escape to some happy place and do happy things while gorging on your comfort food with a few of your favourite people and refuse to think about the problem for the rest of the night-- thus reducing likelihood of a minor stroke.

Step 7. Which may come a short (or long) while after Step 6 is when you actually have to start thinking about things. I rarely have any say over what happens in this step. The only thing I can do is "sum foo cup". Deep breath. Here goes nothing.

It Went Right!

Every mission needs a period of "working up to it". So Kat and I stopped off at the mall for a bit for some fuel.
I had my first big mac in ages and Kat got some padthai in the cutest little take out box!

This winter's choice beverage is the Candycane Hot Chocolate from Second Cup. It's both delicious and festive looking. I was tempted to buy a cannister of it to make at home.... but I didn't because of my mounting credit card bill. Oops!

We shopped for a little while and then took off to the newly privatized transportation license place where I got THIS:



My road test (aka d-day) is now officially on January 10th at 2:35pm.

I advise everyone to clear the roads on that day.

HEY YOU! GO RIGHT!

"I don't have a whole lot of excuses for what's gone wrong with my life, she said. But the ones I do have are really good." - Brian Andreas

Life lately, seems like a succession of failures and mishaps. Mostly mishaps really. Large ones. One after an another, after another...

Today I am going to the ministry of transportation to figure out this whole blasted drivers license mess.

This next thing had better go right.

Waiting

December's banner is coming-- I have an idea, but my camera is out of batteries and I can't find the charger.

In the meantime, check out this song, You Give Me Something by James Morrison-- song of the week! Marie Digby does a pretty good cover of it too, but I went with the original:



"Please give me something, cuz someday I might know my heart."