Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The First Real Snow!
December first, and it's the first day its really snowing! It's so pretty outside. The trees and grass are covered in a layer of white. The first snow fall is always welcome. It wouldn't feel like the Christmas season without the snow. I love the lights that get put up on houses, and down city streets. The city always looks so pretty during winter. There are always many activities going on too. There is the Santa Claus parade, skating at the forks, tobogganing all over the city, the Christmas program and the play at church, and the family gatherings. There is so much to do! My family used to go chop down our own Christmas tree when we lived in Alberta. It's amazing how so many traditions and events revolve around the birth of Jesus. Christmas is so festive!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Two and a half weeks!
The countdown is on. Two weeks left of school, plus a half week for exams. I can't wait! I think it will be so relaxing to go home and not have to worry about studying or completing assignments. I'll probably have to get a job though. I mean I won't have to, but I like to spend money so it will probably be a good idea. I'll also have to buy Christmas presents, which will cost more money. I haven't even bought any gifts yet. The more I think about it, the more the Christmas season sounds stressful. I guess any situation can appear stressful or relaxing, depending on how you look at it. It will be a good feeling to finish off well this semester. It will also be so nice to sleep in my own bed. Maybe I can get a job with some friends, that is always fun.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Autobiography
Attending Simonhouse Bible Camp as a kid, Julia never thought she would ever be a counselor: “It never crossed my mind.” It was not until she reached 15 that her mother suggested she apply to be a counselor. Her friend applied as well, and they excitedly embarked on the adventure that is a camp counselor.
During the first week of staff training, the staff went around in a circle to say why each had chosen to go to camp. One counselor said that she had told God she would give the camp three summers, so she was back for summer number three. Julia was impressed this girl had gone for three summers. She silently prayed to God “That’s great Arlyn wants to do a three summer deal God, but one summer is enough for me.”
The kids came and she was a counselor-in-training (C.I.T.), which meant she spent every week in a different cabin with a different counselor helping them out. She made a lot of friends, and felt really encouraged in her faith. She could not believe how much fun she had during the summer. She knew she would have to go back.
The second summer she went back, she was a counselor in her own cabin. She had a lot more responsibility and she was stretched in her faith. She was a mentor to both her C.I.T., and to her campers. She learned how to take care of other people. She learned how to comfort homesick girls, take girls to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and clean up messes when the girls did not wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. She learned how to love kids who were not always easy to love, and listen to kids who needed someone to talk to. It was a very challenging summer for Julia, but she found it very rewarding.
She had put in two summers to camp. She knew God was revealing to her that He knew better than she did what was ‘enough’ for her. He had placed the camp on her heart, so she went back again.
Her third summer, she was a counselor as well as the camp lifeguard. She had even more responsibility and even less time for herself. She had never felt she had served God so much in her life. It was another fantastic summer.
Camp has been a growing experience for her over the past three summers. She could not believe she had made it to three summers after she had specifically told God what she wanted. “God knows what you can handle, if you try to tell him any different, he will stretch exactly how you don’t want to be stretched, but in the end, you will always be better off for it.”
During the first week of staff training, the staff went around in a circle to say why each had chosen to go to camp. One counselor said that she had told God she would give the camp three summers, so she was back for summer number three. Julia was impressed this girl had gone for three summers. She silently prayed to God “That’s great Arlyn wants to do a three summer deal God, but one summer is enough for me.”
The kids came and she was a counselor-in-training (C.I.T.), which meant she spent every week in a different cabin with a different counselor helping them out. She made a lot of friends, and felt really encouraged in her faith. She could not believe how much fun she had during the summer. She knew she would have to go back.
The second summer she went back, she was a counselor in her own cabin. She had a lot more responsibility and she was stretched in her faith. She was a mentor to both her C.I.T., and to her campers. She learned how to take care of other people. She learned how to comfort homesick girls, take girls to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and clean up messes when the girls did not wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. She learned how to love kids who were not always easy to love, and listen to kids who needed someone to talk to. It was a very challenging summer for Julia, but she found it very rewarding.
She had put in two summers to camp. She knew God was revealing to her that He knew better than she did what was ‘enough’ for her. He had placed the camp on her heart, so she went back again.
Her third summer, she was a counselor as well as the camp lifeguard. She had even more responsibility and even less time for herself. She had never felt she had served God so much in her life. It was another fantastic summer.
Camp has been a growing experience for her over the past three summers. She could not believe she had made it to three summers after she had specifically told God what she wanted. “God knows what you can handle, if you try to tell him any different, he will stretch exactly how you don’t want to be stretched, but in the end, you will always be better off for it.”
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bordertown Cafe
Tonight I have the pleasure of seeing a play at Bordertown Cafe. Bordertown Cafe is in Winnipeg and all the acting and theater students are required to go. I'm excited, I like watching live performances. This summer I went to Beauty and the Beast at Rainbow stage and it was amazing. I'm not really a movie person, but live performances I'm all over. I appreciate the work they put into sets, costumes, and choreography that much more when I can see it for myself. I'm hoping the play is entertaining, and that it will be a good night.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Fire Alarm
Last night I was woken up at 3:15 by a screaming fire alarm. The alarm is unbearable which forces people out of the building faster. I didn't even mind leaving the warm but excruciatingly loud building to stand outside. Everyone was wide awake, first because of the sound, and second because of the cold air.
The first time we had the fire drill I completely freaked out because the sound isn't like any fire bell I've ever heard before. I somehow ended up sitting on my roommates lap covering my ears and squeezing my eyes shut. Thank goodness we had had a previous drill, otherwise I wouldn't have recognized the drill and who knows how I would have freaked out at 3 in the morning.
The first time we had the fire drill I completely freaked out because the sound isn't like any fire bell I've ever heard before. I somehow ended up sitting on my roommates lap covering my ears and squeezing my eyes shut. Thank goodness we had had a previous drill, otherwise I wouldn't have recognized the drill and who knows how I would have freaked out at 3 in the morning.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Starting Over
She will never forget the first morning she woke up alone. The family had returned to their normal lives one by one over the past month. The last one, her daughter, had left yesterday.
The house was cleaner then it had been in a long time, and the fridge was loaded with food. Baked goods, assorted veggie trays, and casseroles were ready to fall out if the door were to open. She sat down at the kitchen table like she did every morning. Three bouquets of flowers took up all the room on the small wooden table.
Nancy strolled into the kitchen sitting up on her hind legs, begging for her breakfast. “I guess it’s just you and me now cat.” she whispered to her. The cat meowed back. She always had something to say back.
She dished out the cat’s breakfast, but wasn’t hungry herself. She didn’t bother making breakfast for herself if none else needed to eat. She wandered into the living room and thought she would see what was on TV.
She sat down in her soft chair, and gazed across the room at the big empty green chair. “I guess I get to choose the program she thought.” She knew how to use the remote. She was the one who would turn the TV down when the phone rang, or off when he had fallen asleep in his chair. She didn’t know what kinds of programs were on TV though. She had only ever watched the news or politics with him, or the cartoons with the grandchildren. She hadn’t realized there were so many other kinds of programs on TV. She found a rerun episode of the young and the restless. She really enjoyed watching the TV.
The phone rang. It was her daughter telling her she was home safe. They didn’t talk for too long before her daughter promised to call back every Wednesday and hung up. Her youngest son had also promised her he would be calling her once a week on Sundays. It frustrated her to think they were worried about her. She had taken care of herself for most of her life. And up until a month ago she had been taking care of her 95-year-old husband as well. She was happy to talk to them though, and find out what was going on in their lives, even though they lived so far away.
She watched TV longer, then got up in time to make lunch. She knew Irene was coming over on her lunch break, Irene had promised she would come over throughout the week. Although her oldest son wasn’t legally married to Irene, she considered her a daughter-in-law.
A neighbor came over in the afternoon for tea and a visit. She watched TV for the rest of the evening before going to bed.
Slowly her routine came together. Sophie called Wednesdays; Robbie called Sundays. Ron came into town every second day to visit, get groceries, and pick up her lotto tickets. Irene came for lunch during the week, and she had three different neighbors who would also visit throughout the week in the afternoons. She fed the cat and let her out morning and night. She read the paper every morning, and watched TV in the evening. She waited up late on Friday for her super 7 numbers on TV, and played NCI FM bingo on Saturday mornings.
She is happy, and she hardly ever feels alone.
The house was cleaner then it had been in a long time, and the fridge was loaded with food. Baked goods, assorted veggie trays, and casseroles were ready to fall out if the door were to open. She sat down at the kitchen table like she did every morning. Three bouquets of flowers took up all the room on the small wooden table.
Nancy strolled into the kitchen sitting up on her hind legs, begging for her breakfast. “I guess it’s just you and me now cat.” she whispered to her. The cat meowed back. She always had something to say back.
She dished out the cat’s breakfast, but wasn’t hungry herself. She didn’t bother making breakfast for herself if none else needed to eat. She wandered into the living room and thought she would see what was on TV.
She sat down in her soft chair, and gazed across the room at the big empty green chair. “I guess I get to choose the program she thought.” She knew how to use the remote. She was the one who would turn the TV down when the phone rang, or off when he had fallen asleep in his chair. She didn’t know what kinds of programs were on TV though. She had only ever watched the news or politics with him, or the cartoons with the grandchildren. She hadn’t realized there were so many other kinds of programs on TV. She found a rerun episode of the young and the restless. She really enjoyed watching the TV.
The phone rang. It was her daughter telling her she was home safe. They didn’t talk for too long before her daughter promised to call back every Wednesday and hung up. Her youngest son had also promised her he would be calling her once a week on Sundays. It frustrated her to think they were worried about her. She had taken care of herself for most of her life. And up until a month ago she had been taking care of her 95-year-old husband as well. She was happy to talk to them though, and find out what was going on in their lives, even though they lived so far away.
She watched TV longer, then got up in time to make lunch. She knew Irene was coming over on her lunch break, Irene had promised she would come over throughout the week. Although her oldest son wasn’t legally married to Irene, she considered her a daughter-in-law.
A neighbor came over in the afternoon for tea and a visit. She watched TV for the rest of the evening before going to bed.
Slowly her routine came together. Sophie called Wednesdays; Robbie called Sundays. Ron came into town every second day to visit, get groceries, and pick up her lotto tickets. Irene came for lunch during the week, and she had three different neighbors who would also visit throughout the week in the afternoons. She fed the cat and let her out morning and night. She read the paper every morning, and watched TV in the evening. She waited up late on Friday for her super 7 numbers on TV, and played NCI FM bingo on Saturday mornings.
She is happy, and she hardly ever feels alone.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Santa Claus Parade
I went to the Santa Claus parade on Saturday with my family. I was really excited to go because I hadn’t been to a parade since I was young. We got there late and ended up standing behind rows of people. I couldn’t see anything unless the float was on a big truck. I’m also too big to sit on my dad’s shoulders. It was very chilly as well. I had thought I dressed warm enough, even wearing long johns under my pants, but I was frozen. We ended up leaving early and missing the end of the parade. I thought it would be fun going with my family, but I think parades are a kid thing. You either need to be a kid (that way everyone lets you stand in front to see, and you catch all the candy) or you need to be with kids (to watch how amazed they are by all the floats and characters). Also, it helps if you’re dressed warm enough.
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