Where Past and Present Collide

One year ago this week I said goodbye...

Goodbye to everything I had known for 9 years.  I said goodbye to my friends.  I said goodbye to my church.  I said goodbye to my coworkers.  I said goodbye to my city.  I said goodbye to my province.  Goodbye.

It's hard to imagine that a year has already gone by.  In a sense it feels like it was just yesterday...the memories and emotions are all so raw still, yet it also feels like a lifetime ago because so much has changed in me.

I miss Kamloops so much.  A part of me always will.

As tough as the past year and a half has been (including moving preparations, etc) I know God has used it to change me and shape me.  He has used it to mold me.  There are still what if's running around in my head about what would have happened if I stayed, but as I know from previous moves those will be there no matter what.  Yet despite all the questions I still have I know I'm right in the middle of God's will for my life.  I may still want to go back, but God has me here for a reason.  A reason still to be seen.

Thinking about 'moving week' last year brought the song "Whatever You're Doing" by Sanctus Real back into my mind.  It was my theme song last year. 

"Whatever You're doing inside of me it feels like chaos but somehow there's peace.  Though it's hard to surrender to what I can't see, I'm giving into something heavenly...Whatever You're doing inside of me it feels like chaos but I believe You're up to something bigger than me, larger than life, something heavenly." 

Moving was chaotic.  It was hard.  Yet in the midst of it I know God has a plan.  It doesn't mean I have to forget BC and all the memories I had there.  It doesn't mean I should forget the friends I have there and keep my distance from them.  No way!  It means that chapter of my life has ended and a new one has begun.  It means that I treasure the moments God gave me in Kamloops because they were used to shape me into who I was last year.  And the new memories and new friends I'm making here are shaping me now.  It's a place where the past and present collide...to fulfull God's plan for my life!

This has been something that has been on my heart for a few months now, ever since someone I know told me they weren't exactly going to stay in touch with me just because they had moved away...  Ever since the day I got that message in May I've been reminding myself over and over again that I will never, ever treat anyone that way.  I am blessed to have known all the people I have known, and while I may not continue to be close friends with everyone I've ever known, they will always hold a very special place in my heart...for God brought them into my life for a purpose, and I am so very grateful for those purposes!

A VERY Random Post

I survived week two!!  I've been enjoying my job, but I have found I am completely drained!  I guess that is to be expected since I was without a job for two months!  I'm hoping and praying that I will adjust quickly so I can get back to having energy and strength to do other things than just working and sleeping...oh, and don't forget all the reading I've been doing lately to relax after a long day!

I haven't forgotten my family and friend weekly posts...I just haven't had any energy to sit down and write...or think.  Hopefully I'll write a few more tomorrow.  Maybe I'll have to cheat and pre-write posts and schedule them for their respective days...

I've been thinking lately that I must be a tea addict.  My new favourite tea store has $5 shipping for the month of July and I am really, really wanting to buy a few new types of tea...Not that I really need anymore!  :p

Some of my family is headed 'home' to BC next week.  I am feeling extremely jealous of them.  And yes, I did say 'home' because ever since May I've been feeling very homesick and all I want is to go back...for good.  I can't wait until I know in my heart that it would be okay for me to go back...I miss it so badly...still!!  I was hoping to go back to visit at the end of the month, but some of my friends I was really wanting to see won't be there so I guess I'll wait until another time when they will be there.  It just really means more waiting...more wanting to go back...but I will...maybe next month?!  I hope so!  I may be very far away from BC in distance, but BC is always in my thoughts...and the people I love there are always in my prayers.

This post has become a big rambling update.  :( 

Well, to end this post I'll leave you with a very random video.  This song "True Love" by Phil Wickham has been in my head since yesterday when I read a line from it on a facebook status.  It's a great song, so I wanted to share it with you all!

I...

...definitely did NOT just see a BC vehicle while driving home from work, and I definitely just did NOT scream out loud when I saw it was from Kamloops, BC...

Okay...I did. 

It makes me hope and pray a little harder that it'll work out for me to go out for a visit at the end of the month.  Man, do I miss that place!

Here...There...

Is it normal to have waves of sadness over moving when it's already been 10 months? 

May and June have been unusually difficult for me.  It all started at the beginning of May when out of the blue I got extremely homesick for BC...  It still comes and goes, but I feel homesick more than I don't right now... 

I know God wants me here, yet I miss my 'other home' so much.  One of my closest friends in Kamloops had her first baby on Tuesday.  An adorable little boy!  I wish with all my heart that I could be there to meet little Nathaniel!  Yet, it appears I won't get to meet him at all this year...and maybe not even next year.  That thought fills me with sadness...  Time is going by, fast, and each day that passes is one day further from when I saw the people I care about. 

I wouldn't trade the months of joy I've had here, nor trade the time I've spent meeting the incredible people here, but all those months can't ever take away from the fact that I spent 9 years in BC.  9 years in the same city.  And in those 9 years I met people that I love dearly!  Being here can't take that away from me, but I feel that as time goes on and distance creeps in that our lives are going to change so much...too much.

I wish I could be in two places at once.  Here with the people I've met but also there with the people I love.  Here with the people that accept me and there with those who have watched me grow up. 

When I was there I wanted what I have now, but now that I'm here I want what I had there.  It's the never ending cycle of 'the grass is greener on the other side'...

I'm just rambling on now. 

Will life always be this way?  Being in one place but wishing for another?  Being tired of getting out of my comfort zone to meet new people and make new friend so I wish for being in my comfort zone with my old friends?  Seeing people walk in and out of my life faster than I can keep up with?  Watching friends lives blossom with marriage and children while feeling like I'm stuck in a rut? 

Ahhh...I don't know anymore.  This rambling isn't making sense!  Haha!  All I know is I'm feeling homesick once again...and I really, I mean REALLY miss my Kamloops friends!  All of them...but today especially Adam and Rachelle...and the chance to meet baby Nathaniel...while he is still tiny!

Someday...

On the weekend some of my family and I went to visit a family from our church that lives outside of the city.  I had only driven through that area twice before, but both times I found myself wishing and hoping that someday I'll live there.  This time was no different...except I had an even greater desire to live out there someday.

The area is the Qu'Appelle Valley.  It is one of the few places in SK that is hilly...it reminds me a lot of Kamloops.  And someday I'm going to live there.  The yards are larger.  (The majority of yards in the city are tiny compared to what I had in BC!)  The land is hilly.  It is beautiful!  And the best part is that although it is a small town (not what I'm used to) it is only 15 minutes outside of the city!!  I can handle that! 

Ever since driving through the valley on Sunday I've found myself dreaming of the future...a future in the valley.  A future where I'll have a large yard with a big garden.  AND GUESS WHAT!!!??  I discovered this past weekend that we can grow fruit here in SK!!!!!!!! 

Not just raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and saskatoon berries.  No!  In Kamloops I said I was going to have an orchard someday!  And I still can...but in SK!  I can grow cherries, grapes, apples, plums, peaches, pears, apricots, and arctic kiwi!!  I am so excited!! 

AND, until I have my own home with my own orchard, I will enjoy the fresh fruit from a local orchard...one I just found out about moments ago!  Mmmm...my mouth is watering!  Haha!! 

Someday I'll have my dream come true.  I may not be in BC like I imagined just over a year ago, but I'm where God has me...and it's just like God to show me that by being where He has me I will be blessed...blessed to live out my dream! 

Beautiful Blossoms

This is what I've been enjoying over the past week or so...

It is some sort of a 'fake cherry tree' but it reminds me of my yard in BC!  In BC we had a grape vine and plum, cherry, and apple trees!  We used to always enjoy the beautiful fruit blossoms at this time of year!  I am so thankful our new yard has at least one blossoming tree...even if it only has ornamental fruit on it! 

Just like this time last year, I am once again enjoying the blossoms.  This time I am not dreading my final days in the city I grew up in.  Instead, I am remembering the memories I made there. 

Catching Up

Wow!  Blogger has completely changed it's website!  This may take a while to get used to! 

On the weekend a lady by the name of Joan Hunter came to do some healing services and teaching.  It was a great weekend!  There were 8 services!  Thousands of healings took place and on Saturday Joan Hunter did some training sessions to teach us some of the things God has showed her.  I have always known God heals, but as I saw the thousands of healings occur I realized that God can and will use me, and every other Christian who steps out in faith.  As I go out and pray for people to be healed Jesus will reach out and heal them!  It's exciting! 

Arms and legs grew.  Backs, necks, and knees were healed.  Shoulders were restored.  Arthritis and Osteoporosis were healed.  Walkers, slings, and crutches were left behind!  Lives were changed forever!  All thanks to Jesus!!  It was amazing!

Other than being busy with all those services, I have been busy doing odds and ends around the house and enjoying my few weeks off before I start a new job.  I kind of wish I had been smart and caught a ride to BC with my grandparents.  It would have been nice to go to the mountains, especially because I do not know when I will be able to go back.  With a full time job with limited vacation time it will be impossible to go away this summer...and I just may end up using my vacation time to go to Israel in February!!  (If I have enough by then!)  So it may be over a year before I can go back to my 'hometown'...  :(  BUT, I am thrilled to think that I may actually get to go to Israel!!!  It would be a dream come true!  I have always wanted to go there!! 

Oh, and I printed out most of my pictures from 2010, so I'll hopefully be getting some scrapbooking done in the next couple weeks!  Going through all the pictures from my last days in BC brought back so many memories!  I can't wait to scrapbook them! 

Feeling Slightly Homesick

It's been months since I have allowed the word "homesick" to even enter my mind.  After going back to Kamloops in January my current city felt like "home."  I have an amazing church.  My extended family lives close by.  I have met so many amazing people.  Each of these things made here feel like home.

But today for the first time since my trip in January I have felt "homesick."  Literally to the point where tears fill my eyes at the thought of it. 

I went to a store with my dad this evening and while I was there I browsed through the garden center...the following is what I wrote when I got home:

Sometimes there are things that come across my path that make me homesick. I begin to wonder if I truly did make the right decision. I miss the mountains. I miss the beautiful weather. I miss the fruit trees and grape vines. I miss having a large yard. I miss looking out our front window and being in awe of the beauty that surrounded me. I miss walking to work while hearing the birds chirp. I miss it being so hot that I could barely breathe. I miss seeing familiar faces. I miss knowing the people around me. I miss our neighbours. I miss Kamloops.

At the store I saw a grapevine.  In Kamloops we had a beautiful grape vine that was beginning to take over our deck railing.  I also saw a budding apple tree...I didn't even need to look at the type of fruit it was because I immediately could tell it was an apple blossom...  It also did not help that when we left the store I looked across the parking lot and saw what appeared to be mountain tops...they were the right colour, and shape...but they were rows of rooftops instead.  It's in moments like tonight that I am reminded of my life back in BC.  It's when I feel a loss for words at what I can't experience anymore.  I know there's a reason why I'm here...why I'm staying and not leaving again...but sometimes it's hard to see the bigger picture.

I have to remind myself that I can only see what is here and now.  I can only see what is before me in this moment.  I can't see down the road...I can't even see into tomorrow...but God can.  It's like a puzzle.  I can only see one or two pieces of the puzzle of my life.  I don't know where they go into the bigger picture, but as each piece begins to fit into place I can slowly see why the pieces were the way they are. 

It's comforting to know that even when I am facing moments where I do miss what was, that God has a greater plan for the present.  What was is a memory that I'll always cherish.  It's a memory I'll take with me throughout my life, but I'm making new memories now and someday I'll realize how the both the past and present fit into my future. 

Restoration

'"You know that verse in Joel about how God says he will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten?"

Leah didn't know that verse.  "Are you trying to say my parents were locusts, and they ate up my best years?"

"Not exactly," Jessica said gently.  "I was wondering if in some way God was restoring to you the feelings and experiences you might have had over the last decade, but those years were taken up in your giving and caring for others.  Maybe some of those feelings had to be placed on hold.  You had to act older than you were.  You can be younger now."' 

~Taken from Robin Jones Gunn's Woodlands (page 80)

This quote has been rolling around my head since I first read it a couple weeks ago.  I've actually been thinking along these lines for awhile now...even before I read this quote. 

Throughout my life I have moved around a bit.  Not as many times as many others have, but more than I would have liked.  I don't do very well with change, or with meeting new people, so moving has always been tough on me.

Yesterday my mom and I went back to the city I was born in to watch an Easter musical my old church puts on called "Hosanna."  I hadn't been back there in 12 years or so.  It was neat to go back and see people I hadn't seen in over a decade.  One of those people (who I had no clue I'd see!) was my best friend from when I was little!  It was so neat to see her after all these years!  We haven't really kept in touch very well, which is really unfortunate, but I was amazed at how although we were only 10 when we last saw each other it seemed like we had seen each other yesterday!  We just picked up where we left off and continued on the journey of friendship!! 

While I was there I asked myself "I wonder what my life would have been like if I lived here my entire life?  What if we hadn't moved away?"  But as I pondered this question I realized I wouldn't have changed anything because in all the places I have lived I have grown.  I have been shaped and molded into the person I am.  The challenges stretched me.  And in the process I met so many people who have forever changed my life! 

Yet although I wouldn't have changed anything, in a sense I feel like Leah in the quote above.  Everything in my life was great...until I moved to BC in 2001.  I loved living in BC, don't get me wrong.  There was just something that kept coming against every friendship I ever tried to form.  To this day I don't understand it, I just know getting to know people was tough.  I hadn't experienced anything like it in my life.  But there, I did.  For nine years.  I loved my city.  I loved the mountains.  I loved my house...especially my yard and OWN room!  I loved the weather.  But deep down inside I was always discontent.  I tried to pretend I wasn't because feeling down wouldn't change reality, so I plugged along in life.  There were pockets of time while I was there that were amazing!  But overall it was tough.  Yet, ever since coming here to SK, again I've realized that I wouldn't have changed anything because that season caused me to become who I am.  It strengthened me.  It caused me to rely on God.  It changed my outlook on life.

But although that season of my life shaped who I am, I'm in a place right now where I feel like God is restoring the years the locusts have eaten.  He is taking that place in my life that was barren for so long and is causing it to blossom.  I see it everywhere I go.  I have met amazing friends in my church.  People who I feel as though I've known my entire life, but I've really only know them for a maximum of 6 months.  I'm meeting up with old friends who I didn't think I'd ever see again.  People who God had kept close to my heart and my prayers throughout all the years in BC are popping up everywhere.  Old classmates (who I may or may not see...we'll see when that door opens!) live either here in the city or nearby.  A friend from AB who I had lost close contact with while in my final years in BC is becoming a close friend again.  And the weird thing is that I feel closer to a few BC friends than I did when I was there!

Life is looking up.  God is restoring the years I had "lost" in BC.  I learned a lot there, and I wouldn't change it for the world...but I am truly blessed to be in the place I am in now! 

Ready For Spring...

Can you tell I've been so bored lately!?  I've been writing on this blog a lot over the past couple days...and in the moments when I haven't, I've been thinking about things to write about...how sad is that! 

Until recently I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that winter is such a depressing season for so many.  I know it has to do with the amount of sunlight, and vitamin D levels...but even then I couldn't understand how it could be "THAT" bad...well, until I moved to SK and have been experiencing winter for what seems like FOREVER!!

I am more than ready for spring.  Spring is my favourite time of the year.  I love hearing the birds sing outside my window.  I get all excited when the flowers begin to surface.  And in BC, I would marvel at the beauty of the blossoms on all the beautiful fruit trees.  I don't know how I am going to survive not seeing those blossoms this year...

Over the past few weeks the weather has been 'taunting' us here in SK...we will have 2-3 days of warm weather (warm being anywhere between -3 to +3) and then it turns brutally cold (meaning -30 or so...).  CAN SPRING PLEASE JUST BE HERE ALREADY!!!!!!!  I don't want to see the white any longer!  In some places the piles of snow are almost as tall as me...100% different from where I lived in BC.  Snow would come for a day or two...maybe a week...and then it would all melt...and the snow really wasn't that deep at all...

I was doing alright with living here...but over the past week I've been really missing BC.  I've been missing my city, my home, my life there, my friends...  For awhile I was okay...but really nothing can ever replace it.  In life you can never have the 'best of both worlds' like I often wish I could have.  If I live in BC I'm so far from my wonde

rful extended family, but if I am here in SK I am so far away from the mountains, the early spring, friends who have known me the longest of anyone outside my family...

I think it's just me missing the spring and feeling the winter blues that has made me feel down about missing BC...and I think that is what has also contributed to my brain turning to mush and being random all the time (much to the expense of my blog posts...).  I've been trying to pretend that spring is on it's way (though it really isn't yet) by planting a few plants inside, and by having pictures of flowers and fruit blossoms everywhere I look...

Home!

After a week long vacation to BC, I am finally home!  And when I say finally, I mean FINALLY!  I was met with some interesting circumstances, which I will be blogging about hopefully tomorrow in a post I have already titled...Why You Should Never Take The Bus In The Winter! 

I had a good time though, where I realized many things I didn't expect to... which again I will be blogging about!  I figured out it would probably take 3 posts to write everything I want to write about my trip, and was hoping to get to them today, but unfortunately I left it for too late in the day and have to almost go eat dinner before I head off to church. 

I will leave you with a song I heard for the first time on my trip home.  I'll go into more detail about it tomorrow! 

Home by Natalie Grant

All About Me Day 29 - Hopes, Dreams, and Plans For the Next 365 Days

Here is post 29 in the "All About Me In 30 Days" blog hop!

I have kind of written about my hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days before, but I'll sum them up here. 

My hope and plan for this next year is that I'll finish up my current year of sciences through Athabasca University and that I will be able to move back to BC to begin my nursing degree.  Right now that is what I am striving for, and it's been what I've been putting a lot of my time and energy into...especially my current science courses.

I also hope that in this year before I go back to BC, that I will continue to make new friends in my new city, and that the friendships I have begun to develop will continue to grow into lifelong friendships! 

Also, I plan on visiting with my family LOTS over the next however many months I'll be here.  I have an Aunt, Uncle, and 3 cousins that live 1 hour away, and I plan on seeing them lots!  I also hope to see my other Aunts, Uncles, and cousins more than I have in the past!  We live much closer than ever before!

I'm very excited about what the next 365 days will bring!  There is so much possibility in the air right now, and there are moments when it makes me giddy with excitement!  (Wow, that just made me seem like a little kid!  Anyway...)  The past week or so I've been really seeing how God is putting together pieces of my life's puzzle.

I don't know exactly where I'll be in a year.  I can make my plan but ultimately only God knows what the next 365 days will hold!  All I know is I'm excited for what the future holds! 

All About Me Day 26 - My Week, In Great Detail

Here is post 26 in the "All About Me in 30 Days" blog hop. 

Last post I wrote about my day...in great detail.  Today I'm going to attempt to write about my week in great detail, although hopefully it won't be as detailed as last post... 

Let's see.  I guess I'll start with last Wednesday, if I can remember that far back!

Wednesday December 1, 2010
          I attempted to do some school work since I hadn't done any that week, but I still wasn't feeling very well, so I only did a small amount of work.  I decided I needed to rest so that I would be feeling better by the evening when my family was to go out for dinner.  It was a pretty laid back day for me, but it helped as I felt better in the following days!  By mid-late afternoon I started to get ready to go out to my Young Adult Pastor's house for supper!  When we were almost going out the door I got an exciting text from a friend!  I was, and still am so excited for what God is doing in her life, but I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty sad as well... I've just been getting to know her and now she's leaving for awhile... Anyway, we went to Chris and Sherri's house for dinner and had a blast!  It was so much fun getting to know them better! 

Thursday December 2, 2010
          I don't really remember very much from Thursday, but I do know I worked from 7:30 to 5:30.  That pretty much took up my day, and it was a straightforward work day.  (Similar to the day in my last post but except all the crazy incidents I encountered that day!) 

Friday December 3, 2010
         Friday was another no school work day.  Oops!  I intended on doing my schoolwork, but we were having my Aunt, Uncle and 3 cousins over for dinner so I spent the day cleaning.  If you really want to know details, I cleaned the bathrooms, wiped all the mirrors, and vacuumed the upstairs.  Then I went to the store to buy some groceries for the dessert I was making, but it took way longer than I expected.  I hadn't shopped in this particular store much so I didn't know where to find some of the items.  Eventually I found my way around, paid and made my way home.  When I got home I made some delicious brownie/cheesecake squares!  Yum!  Then my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins arrived!  That was so much fun!  We had dinner with them, then we visited for a short little while and I was able to hold little Trae.  Then everyone went there separate ways (youth, shopping, etc) while I babysat Nevaeh and Aiden!!  All my life I had wanted to babysit my cousins, and now I had a chance to watch 2 of them!  We had a blast!  We coloured, played with some toys, put together a puzzle, danced to a music DVD, read books, and played with some OLD toys from when I was younger!  Then my Aunt and Uncle came back, I held Trae some more while we visited!  Before we knew it the evening had come to a close and it was time for them to go home.  I'm so grateful we live close enough so that evenings like Friday evening are possible! 

Oh, and Friday was a BC friend's birthday, so I wished her happy birthday and thought about how we met, and how neat it is how God arranged everything with me being in Tourism last year...even though that wasn't were I would ultimately end up.  It's neat to look back and see just how different pieces of this puzzle of life fall into place and make the picture a little bit clearer!  I'm so glad I met you Rebecca!

Saturday December 4, 2010
          I'm not exactly sure what I did on Saturday.  The weekends usually are a blur to me, and I seem to have a hard time remembering what I did in the day...but I always remember what I did in the evening!  Maybe in the day I just did some things around the house and got organized, and I probably cleaned up a bit from Friday night.  Saturday night though is a completely different story.  I remember it as if it was yesterday!  I went to church, and the service was AMAZING!  Then afterwords the young adults were going curling.  I wasn't going to go because I hadn't ever curled before and was nervous, but I also had no clue where it was.  I'm still lost when it comes to finding my way around this city.  So, after church I went to visit with my friend, who asked if I was coming curling.  I said I didn't know, she twisted my arm and I ended up going and having a blast!  I had no clue curling would be so much fun...and I wasn't the only one who hadn't curled before!  Afterwords we went out to Boston Pizza.  Then I came home and went to bed.  I enjoyed every moment of being with the young adults that night.  Sometimes because I am so quiet I 'avoid' group gatherings like Saturday night Emerge, I guess it's mostly because of awkward experiences in the past.  Here it is completely different though, and I need to get out of my rut of not going.  So much planning is put into the events that go on...so I should go.  Right!

Sunday December 5, 2010
          On Sunday morning I went to church again.  I usually don't go on Sundays since the message is the same as Saturday night, but occasionally I will.  I was able to catch up a little bit with another new friend of mine, which was nice!  Sunday afternoon I took it easy since my body still wasn't feeling 100%.  The cold I had really took a lot out of me...and it lasted a long time!  Sunday evening I went to a monthly young adult event at the church called Rooted.  I had only been to one before, so it was nice to go this time!  I met a couple new people and had a great time fellowshipping, worshipping God, and hearing the messages that were shared. 

Monday December 6, 2010
          Monday was a weird day.  I was working on schoolwork from the moment I got up until just before lunch.  My mom had gone shopping and when she got home she was carrying a box of cutlery.  Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but my siblings and I had bought a nice cutlery set for my parents for Christmas.  The weird thing is that the box my mom bought was the same brand and style as the one we had bought.  The only difference was the number of pieces in the set.  Thankfully my sisters were all home that day, so we convinced (after my mom found out we had bought cutlery...) my mom to tell my dad to pick up my brother for lunch and come home.  Long story short, we ended up giving the cutlery to my parents at lunch time.  We were disappointed that we had to give it to them early, but I am glad that they are able to use it now.  Especially since we had my mom's cousin and her family over for supper Monday night, and this coming Sunday we are having another family over for lunch.  Then, like I said my mom's cousin and her family came over for dinner.  I ended up going out to Bible Study shortly after they got to my house, but I'm sure those who were at home had a good visit!  Bible Study went really well as well!  I really enjoy going and being able to study the book of Luke with the people I'm getting to know.  I have found that the people I know the best here so far are the ones that are in my small group for Bible Study.  I guess that is because I see them every week and we are in a setting where we can actually visit and get to know one another. 

Tuesday December 7, 2010. 
          Well, Tuesday was an interesting day.  It was good though!  I wrote the basics of my day here and here, so I'm not going to repeat it. 

Wednesday December 8, 2010
          Today I woke up and did some biology.  I also figured it was time to finally sit down and finish writing my letter for my nursing application.  It took awhile, but I finally finished my letter and mailed it out a couple hours ago!!  I am so excited!  Now everything regarding my nursing application and possible move is in God's hands.  Only time will tell what comes out of this.  I feel very optimistic about it though.  I really feel this is the right thing for me at this time, so I'm just praying for everything to come together!  That has basically been my day so far.  That and writing all this down here!  I am hoping to finish up my "All About Me In 30 Days" blog hop tonight.  It has taken me WAY longer than 30 days to write it but, I figure that's alright since I'm actually finishing it and not leaving it hanging.  I have come to realize it is much harder writing every day than I first thought it would be!  Some days I write a lot, but others I don't have anything to write about.  Even with hints like the blog hop! 

Oh, and I have one more thing about today to write down for the record.  About 30 minutes ago I checked the current weather in my BC city, and here... The results were crazy.  Here it is -10 with a windchill that feels like -20.  My BC city is +7!  How crazy is that!  I felt a little bit jealous about that!  So, all my BC friends reading this who are enjoying the nice weather...ENJOY! 

Again, this is a LONG post.  If you read all the way to the end I'm amazed!  I honestly don't know if I would read this whole post!  But the requirement was details, so there you have a detailed look at my week!

All About Me Day 24 - Where I Live

Here is post 24 in the "All About Me In 30 Days" blog hop.

The topic of today is where I live.  Let me see.  How can I put it into words?

It's flat.  Cold.  White.  Cold.  And white some more! 

I live in what would be considered the "prairies" and it seriously is FLAT!  (Well, for someone who basically grew up in the mountains...)  Right now it is extremely cold... -19 to be exact with a wind chill that is -31!  It is freezing!  On top of the cold weather, right now we have more snow than I care to see, but I better get used to it...it will most likely be here until April! 

I haven't written a lot about where I live.  Most of my writing has been how I miss BC.  It has taken a while for me to see the beauty in the province and city that I now live in.  I think I finally see some! 

Before the snow fell, there was beautiful hoar frost on the trees!  Some days it would last all day!  I tried to take a few pictures but they didn't really turn out.  I'll have to try again next time. 

Another thing I really enjoy about where I live is the amazing people I have met.  Before we left BC my dad came up with a theory that SK people were 'open' because the land is 'open'.  I have to agree, he was right about them being open and friendly!  I have met so many new friends that there are moments where I feel overwhelmed!  It's so amazing to come to a place where I knew nobody and three months later have a fistful of new friends!  I can't wait to get to know them all better!

As for more details on where I live, well, I don't really have anything else to add.  I've pretty much summed it up!  I guess I should add that I live a whole lot closer to my relatives than I have in years!  As a matter of fact, I live so close to some of them that I have the priviledge of going to my baby cousin's shower this weekend!  How is that for close!  I'm so excited!  :)

All About Me Day 19 - A Talent

This is post 19 in the "All About Me in 30 Days" blog hop.

Talents.  This is something I've honestly been struggling with a lot lately.  I know I must have at least one talent, but lately I've been feeling in a rut like I don't have any talents that I am any good at. 

When I was younger I loved to play piano and sing and would have immediately come to mind when the word talent came up.  Now though, I am so busy with life and school that I don't have time for any "talents." 

I guess I need to change my mindset on talents!  :)

If I think about it enough I would have to say one of my 'talents' would be the ability to work with children.  I have been around children my entire life and I enjoy spending time with them.  I have just started working part time as a nanny, which has made me think about how this could very well be one of my "talents."  I seem to have a natural ability to take care of them as well as have a lot of fun with them.

Another talent that has come to mind lately, maybe isn't best described as a talent, but rather a gift, and that is the gift of hospitality.  I may be very quiet, but I love having others over!  It's a big deal for me!  I love to get the house in order, and bake cookies and (as my BC friends would know) caramel popcorn!  I usually enjoy every moment of the hospitality process!  I've been thinking about this a lot because I am starting to feel settled in enough here in SK that I am hopefully going to be having a big games night at my house in the next few weeks!!  I haven't had anyone over since my going away party in BC, and I am getting antsy to have my new friends over!  I am so excited about it!!

All About Me Day 15 - My Dream House

Here is post 15 in the "All About Me in 30 Days" blog hop!

What would my dream house be like?  Good question! 

Throughout my life I have always imagined different aspects of my future from what my life, wedding, husband, house, and even children would be like.  Obviously it's all just in my over imaginative brain and not everything I think of will happen, but they are things I have always thought about.  As I have grown older I have switched my ideas from semi-impossible to a little more realistic! 

With the very real reality of me moving out within the next year or so, I have begun looking at different places to get a feel of what is out there and what I think would work for me. 

My dream house is a place that is spacious, yet cozy at the same time.  I can't stand when things are cluttered, so I basically want a house that is big enough to minimize clutter but is small enough to be warm and cozy at the same time.  Growing up I had a friend who lived in a huge house and everytime we went to her house it felt empty and lonely.  I don't want my home to be like that. 

I also want a big yard with room for a large garden and many fruit trees!  When we were in the process of moving I told my family that one day when I have a house of my own I want to have an "orchard" in my backyard!  By orchard I mean at least 4 different kinds of fruit trees.  I love plants and gardening and I am determined to one day have a place where I can have my own flower/gardening paradise! 

Othen than those two basic qualifications I am not too picky as to what my dream house would look like.  I would prefer if it looked new, but realistically at first that probably won't be possible so renovations will most likely be in my future!  I just want my dream house to be my dream home...a place where my future husband, family, and I will live and enjoy one another's company (and also have lots of friends and family over as well!).

All About Me Day 13 - A Fictional Book

This is post 12 in the "All About Me in 30 Days" blog hop! 

I feel as if I have written about this topic before when I wrote about my favourite book, so I think I will go into a little more detail as to what I enjoy about Robin Jones Gunn's books!

I started reading Robin Jones Gunn books shortly after moving to BC and I found that so much of what the main character Christy was going through with meeting new friends was what I was facing in my time of transition.  Having that common bond, so to speak, with Christy caused me to become even more interested in finding out about my new "friend's" life.  (And no, it's not just me.  Many of Robin Jones Gunn readers also feel like Christy and the gang are real-life friends!  Robin Jones Gunn is just such a great author it's hard not too ;) 

I eventually read and reread my way through all the Christy Miller series'.  One thing I really enjoy about the books is that although they are fiction they make your way into your heart.  Often times when faced with something that anyone of the characters has faced I think about what they did or said.  Call me crazy, but Christy and her friends have helped me through some tough times in my life. 

God has used Robin Jones Gunn to touch so many lives.  He has gifted her with the ability to reach deep down into the very hearts of young people today and plant God's word and morals into them.  It's incredible!

All About Me Day 11 - A Recent Photo Of Me

I'm going to be slowly getting myself caught up on the "All About Me in 30 Days" blog hop I am participating in, so keep a watch out for the next few posts! 

Today I am sharing a recent photo of me.

This is one of the most recent pictures I have of me that was taken with my camera.  (I haven't taken any pictures here yet...I guess I should get on that!)

My mom took this picture of my friend, some of her kids, and myself on my second to last day in BC.  I love this picture!



Oh Kamloops...

...how I miss you!

I miss the mountains and hills.  I miss my friends.  I miss the nice weather.  I miss my house and my neighbours.  I miss the river.  I miss the trees.  I miss everything that makes Kamloops what it is! 

Only around TEN months until I get to go HOME!!!