When Disappointments Come, Open Your Eyes...

Sometimes I wish I was still little...living in Calgary, enjoying my time with my friends there...

This is a thought I mentioned to my dad this past weekend.  On Wednesday I found out my friend Karissa's university hockey team had made it to the CIS National Championships for the first time in their history.  The championship started on Thursday and ended today.  I usually am not much of a sports fan, but for friends, I'll do anything to cheer them on!! 

Watching Karissa's first game on Friday brought back lots of memories of when she was in Ringette, and then when she was first starting out with hockey.  I remember going to her games as often as I could so I could cheer her on.  I didn't know much about what was going on with the game, but I'd do anything to show my support...  I really miss those days...before life became complicated...  But, back to the game...

I texted Karissa on Friday and she made a comment that she "finally turned me into a hockey fan" and that "now [her] life is complete!"  Haha!  It brought a smile to my face.  All week I had been trying to see some sort of reason why I "had" to stay home this week instead of going to visit Kim in NY.  Last week when I was feeling upset about not going, my mom said maybe something was going to happen this week that I needed to be here for.  I was doubtful, but I tried to keep my eyes open for something the entire week...until Friday.  All of a sudden it hit me.  I had to stay home for this championship.  Not so I could watch it...but so I could show my support of Karissa.  So I could show her I care about her. 

You see, if I had gone to NY, I wouldn't have known about the championships (HER TEAM WON BRONZE BY THE WAY!!  I am so proud of them!!), and I wouldn't have found out I could watch it online, and I also wouldn't have been able to show her my support...

I still wish I could have gone to NY to see Kim...but at the same time I am seeing more and more how God kept me here for a reason.  It's been a cry of my heart to be there for Karissa...and in a way I was this weekend.  I was thinking yesterday and I realized something extremely important.  If something would happen to me, or to Kim, or if Jesus were to come back right now, I know where I'd be...I know where Kim would be.  BUT, on the other hand if something were to happen to Karissa...I don't know where she would be...and that breaks me inside.  So, for me to take this "God-moment" this weekend and be there for Karissa, I'm seeing how it was more important to eternity than me being in NY with Kim. 

All this reminds me of a verse I read this week "We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands." (Proverbs 16:1 TLB)  Now that I look at it again, it was Friday's verse on my daily verse calender...Friday was the day of Karissa's first game...crazy how God works!!

When things don't work out the way we want them to, I think it is important to look at it through God's view... Like this week...I didn't get to go away...something I was very disappointed about, but God knew better.  He knew I needed to be there for Karissa this week...to shine His light into her life.  If you are facing any disappointments, try to look for something God might be doing through it.  Maybe He is going to do something beyond your imagination...something that will impact eternity...

It's Going To Be A Good Week...

I am going to do my very best to make this week a good one.  It's so easy for me to focus on what isn't instead of what is...  For example, I keep thinking about how I was "supposed" to be on an airplane right now headed for NY to see my best friend Kim.  But I'm obviously not...

So, I'm going to do my very best to keep a positive attitude this week.  I think my mom has a few extra special things planned for us to do together this week.  I'll try not to live in the "land of if only" (as described in some of my favourite books, the "Christy Miller" series). 

And I'll also look forward to the end of April...when I'll hopefully get to see Kim again!!  Oh time, go by quickly!!  But I guess I should enjoy the moment I'm in too...

What are your plans for the week?

Flying By...

I can't believe it is already March 1!  It is absolutely crazy how fast this year is going by!  I find it hard to believe that 2 months ago I was in Kamloops bringing in the New Year... It feels like yesterday, but at the same time it feels like years ago.  Where have the past 2 months gone?!

I find it even harder to believe that I was planning a trip to NY...and that I was supposed to be leaving in 6 days!  When I was planning my trip it felt like it would never get here...and now that I'm not going, here it is...but I'm not going to think about that anymore...I'll just keep on going through each day, one moment at a time...

I have had a good distraction from thinking about my no longer happening trip though...The day after I found out I couldn't go my mom's parents came for a few days, and while they were here my dad's older brother also came for a couple nights.  It was really good to see all of them!  After they all left I ended up having a week and a half off work, which helped give me the break I was desperately needing!  I didn't know I would be having a week off until I was leaving work on the 17th, so it was a nice surprise!  Then, to top everything off this past Sunday my family and I went to Moose Jaw to the Spa there and my aunt, uncle, and cousins joined us there!  Can I just say I L.O.V.E living so close to them!  We're also going to see them sometime this weekend for my cousin Aiden's second birthday!  Again, I can't believe how fast time flies!  My sweet little cousin is going to be TWO!  He's growing up too fast... :(  (Speaking of birthdays...I can't believe mine is in 24 days!!  The big 22!  Yikes! :) 

My dad's parents are also going to be coming over this weekend to help my dad do renos, and then to celebrate Aiden's birthday!  It's going to be a great weekend, and another great distraction to take my focus off the fact that I was planning to be leaving on Monday...

Other than all that, nothing really is new.  I did get done a whole lot of school work yesterday and today though!  By the end of the week I am planning on having my entire Health Studies course completed (except for my exams).  That's basically half the course in less than a week!  I hope I can keep this pace so I will actually be finished all my courses before my deadline of April 30.  I guess only time will tell! 

I better head off to bed now...tomorrow's going to be another full day of school, dentist, and more school!  Goodnight all!!

Going To Israel!?!?

Now that my trip to visit my friend out east is no longer going to happen, I need to plan something to look forward to...

I have always wanted to go to Israel (though never alone...) and my mom suggested that I put the money I was going to use for my trip to New York towards my trip to Israel.  The problem is though that I have no clue where to start looking for trip packages...so I need your help.

I want to take a Christian tour...one of the ones where they take you to different places mentioned in the Bible and they tell you about what it was like in the Bible days and then read portions of the Bible that that place is mentioned in.  I want to go for as long as I can.  I know I've heard of people who have gone on these types of trips, I just can't remember who they are...and there are so many different websites offering similar trips...I want to choose the best one! 

Yesterday I wasn't even thinking about Israel...I was thinking about New York.  If I could have my way I'd choose going to New York to see my friend over going to Israel by myself  (anyone want to join me!! :)...but since I can't have my way, I'll go to Israel...  Really when it comes down to it there isn't really any comparison between the two...so why am I trying to make one!  Haha!  New York and Kim is New York and Kim...Israel is Israel.  Two completely different things really!  Okay, I'll stop at that... :p

So, let me know if you have gone on a trip like this or if you know someone who has.  Israel...I hope to be seeing you SOON!! :)

This and That

Well...

IT'S LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE A TRIP OUT EAST IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!!

My friend and I were figuring out dates and such tonight...we just need the okay from her program director and I'll be headed out east!!  I actually can't believe it's all coming together like it is!  And so fast too! 

Now, only if my school work came together the way this trip is!  Haha!  I have sent in one of my two assignments for the week... I had hoped to have them both sent in already but unfortuanately I really strained an old hand injury when I was painting on Monday and so writing for long periods of time is extremely painful and my hand starts to shake from the pain!  :(  I'm getting there though, and by the end of the week (I mean by Sunday...) I am determined to have everything done that I've told myself I must do!

And for an update on my Great Uncle... He is doing so much better!  Praise the Lord!  It truly is a miracle!  From my understanding he is completely off the bypass machine now and they have closed him up!  He was also taken off of two meds last night!  From being in a place where his heart wasn't functioning to a place where it now is is amazing!  I am so thankful he is doing as well as he is!  He's still in critical condition, and has a long way to go, but the doctors all have confidence he will come out fine! 

Motivation

Distance schooling is HARD work!  When I signed up for it I didn't expect it to be nearly as time consuming as it is!  I homeschooled for a few years, so I figured distance university would be similar, but no it is not!  The more time I spend doing my school work, the more I find myself missing the classroom setting where the professors do all the material condensing and tell the students what they need to know and what they don't!  I guess the whole process of reading, trying to understand, filling out worksheets, answering questions, and so on is good for me though! 

With all that said, I admit I am really behind in my courses.  Well, I guess not "really", though it feels like it.  Technically I have until the end of April to finish, which means as of yesterday I should be half finished my courses.  I am close to being half finished math, as well as my health class.  I'm pretty behind in my basic biology course, and my anatomy course is far from my mind right now.  I have until the end of October to finish that one, so I'm not working on it until after April...  I am so glad I decided not to do my second semester of school right now!

So, seeing that I'm so behind in school I decided a little motivation might just be what I need to put the pressure on me to get it done! 

Fast forward about 1-2 weeks... I was thinking to myself that I need to go on vacation.  That is an odd thing for me, especially since I JUST was away a month ago!  Nevertheless, I was talking to my mom and I told her that I thought I needed to go somewhere green (it is beyond white here!  I'm more than ready for spring to arrive!) Then mid last week my friend who's in Ontario out of the blue told me I should come visit her...  That was very unexpected...I don't think she has EVER said I should visit her there...Usually if we are going to get together it's when she's in Calgary.  Then, no joke, on Sunday I was talking to my best friend and she said I should go visit her in New York!  Crazy! 

Coincidence, or not (I personally think not...) these three moments really got me thinking.  Really, there is no better time for me to go than now.  If I wait, it may turn out that I would never get the opportunity to go out east.  I have never been as available to just pick up and go somewhere as I currently am, and if I get into nursing in the fall, it will be years before I will be able to again...and even then I'll have a "real" job to try to work my schedule around.  All that being said, I made a bargain in my head...IF I can get done my two Math TMA's (teacher marked assignments), schedule my midterm, write my health paper, and possibly schedule that midterm ALL before the end of the week I will reward myself with an early birthday gift and go out east to visit my friends...

So, with that as my motivation I BETTER get it all done this week!  Because I'll be sad if I don't, but even then (and really, I shouldn't even let myself think this way...) I'm sure I'll break down and go anyway. 

But, I'm not really going to think like that because I need to get my school done...  So basically I'm going to be doing nothing but school for the rest of the week... I figure if I work non-stop from sun up until sun down tomorrow I should be good to go for the math...I hope!! 

I'm going to make this trip work...if it's the last thing I do!  I just can't help but think that there may be a God appointed reason for why this is all coming together the way it is... Karissa has been on my heart and mind pretty much non-stop lately.  I just can't shake the feeling that God has so much more for her and that soon she'll 'wake' up to it.  So to see her after it's been over a year would be amazing!  And to see Kim at LIFT...that would be awesome!  The weird thing is that almost every single aspect of LIFT that I've heard about, or seen on their website (except all the outdoor activities) is EXACTLY what my dad had wanted to do with ID...  Everything about it.  It's honestly like ID in the USA...only it was given a chance to grow, and is now thriving.  It was encouraged instead of smothered.  So coming from that angle, to be able to see first hand just what the setting is like there and to maybe somewhat see how it's run would be pretty neat.  I have a feeling I'd feel at home there!  And seeing Kim is seeing my best friend...need I say more?!  That would be a blast!!!!!!

So MOTIVATION!!!  Time for bed so I can have an early start to my math day!  Math and tea...that'll be my day!

Why You Should Never Take The Bus In The Winter!

I thought it would be fine to take the bus to BC...but I guess I was wrong!  I suppose any form of travelling in the winter has it's risks, but after living in the mountains for nine years, and never having any problems, I didn't think much about what could possibly happen when the weather goes bad!

On the trip there everything went so smoothly!  We actually arrived in Kamloops early which is something for the Greyhound!  I've found that they are usually 10-30 minutes late!  (And that's in the summer!) 

It was the trip back that made me decide it wasn't such a great idea to take the bus in the winter after all! 

We got off to a late start leaving Kamloops.  I guess part of the road was closed off and on for awhile so they were waiting to make sure it was open for sure.  Then we got to Salmon Arm to find out an accident had closed the road, so we waited for another 45 minutes.  I'm pretty sure the accident was cleared by the time we got there, but they were doing avalanche control in two areas so we were sitting in the bus waiting for close to two hours!  Basically it took 6-7 hours to get from Kamloops to Revelstoke...usually a 3 or so hour trip!  We had a bus driver change in Revelstoke, that was only supposed to take a few minutes, but our new bus driver seemed to take his time...as if we didn't need to be somewhere by a certain time!  Long story short, we finally arrived in Calgary just after 4am!  We were supposed to arrive at 10:45pm!! 

Normally I would have just dealt with the fact that we were late, and try to take it all in stride, but due to other circumstances I found it very difficult to accept the fact that we wouldn't be leaving Calgary until 12:10pm...more than 2 hours after we were supposed to be home! 

You see, I had been planning a surprise for a couple weeks...and for me that was amazing!  I like surprises, but I do not like keeping surprises!  I like to share my excitement with those around me instead of holding it in and waiting for the right moment to let it out!  But, my best friend was moving to the US and I thought it would be great if I could surprise her by being at the airport to see her off!  I was so excited about it!!  I don't think I've ever really planned any surprises before, so I was excited to have this opportunity to actually surprise her!  Stacie and I were supposed to arrive the day after Kim left, but we decided to come home a day early so I would have the opportunity to see her at the airport!  It was all great...at least until I was sitting on the bus realizing that there was absolutely NO way I was going to get home in time!  The funny thing about it is that Kim ended up arriving at her destination before I even got home! 

I was really disappointed that things didn't work out to see her, but I've been thinking about it a lot since I got home, and I am so glad things worked out like they did.  Kim's flight prompted me to decide to leave Kamloops a day early...the best thing that could have happened!  The bus I was on just missed many storms that has since shut down many roads between here and Kamloops.  If we hadn't of come home early, Stacie and I would probably still be stranded somewhere between here and there.  I am so thankful to be home safely!  Maybe I was 12 hours late getting home, and maybe I missed seeing my best friend off, but I'm home safe and sound.  That is the most important thing!  12 hours is just 12 hours, and I'll see Kim when she comes back to Canada, but when it comes to driving long distances in the winter, safety is the most important thing!