2012 is 7 hours away. Now is when people are or have, made new years resolutions. Can I resolve to NOT make a new years resolution? or is that still a New New years Resolution then? *shrugs* ah well!
why make something that in less then a week, will either a) be forgotten or B) broken...just a thought
anyways enough of that. Wishing you a great last few hours of 2011 and a Happy 2012!! God Bless!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
2011 in Review
Ive seen it done, where people give yearly reviews on here! So, thought I would give it a try! (sorry if its long, but it IS 12 months)
January
I rang in the new year in a different country, with my younger brother and about 115 other senior youth and their leaders (about half of those, youth from my area) in Alexandria MN. We got stormed in after our TF experienced days earlier. Despite us all missing plans at home-we made the best of a cold snowy situation and had a blast! (gonna miss ringing in new year with those kids!
The rest of the month was jumping back into routine of youth and continuing to work. Also a girls weekend back in steinbach-celebrating and friend getting married and spending time with more friends! (always an adventure!)
Feburary:
Girl sleepover, Aces Hockey game, foudue evening with some youth girls and just spending time connecting and growing with people. I cant really recall anything super special about this month. Youth remained as did work. oh, sometime in this month (I think) our Africa team was finalized and meetings began? yah that sounds right!
March:
Where to start-what a crazy emotional rollarcoster month!
Youth and work. March 23-there was an accident where a young boy lost his life and is still missed to this day. It affected each and everyone of us and drew the high school and this town closer. But wow, lots of hurting people and tons of questions. I had my own for God too..lots of wresting with God this month because of thsi accident and Africa...
I also spent two weeks this month-house sitting. it is also during this time that I got sick-nothing serious-just enough to make me take a day off work. Yes our Africa team was finalized by this point and we were getting emails from our host. Like I said above, lots of wrestling with God. i wont go into detail-but the injustice of this world played heavily on my mind. myself, being a person of practical need and action-couldnt (still can t somedays) figure out why a loving God-allows His people to go through things (this came from an email about a girl we would meet in Africa-a young girl that we got to witness a miracle through while we were there). I wrestled hard with God. God won hands down.
April
Still seeking answers-it was off to Africa I went with people I knew, but mostly just their names. Praise God that quickly changed and as a team, we connected adn were able to support each other through the trip and after. I still cannot sum up Africa and the time in Zambia and with thsoe kids. Out of all the trips/experiences I have been on-this one sticks out most. Goin in-I remember telling a friend of mine that this trip would change me, how I was not sure, but I knew it would-and it did. something inside of me 'clicked'. What I learned there, the people I met, the stories I heard, how I saw GOD move...I will NEVER forget. This month was definatly a huge highlite for me this year!
Two days after I got back, i could attend SBC grad and see friends I hadnt seen for quite a while which was another huge highlight!
May:
Counting down to summer started...back to work and finishing up the last few youths of the year! Still working at Supreme and still living on my own-OH my roommate at the time dropped the 'bomb shell' on me and said as of June 1, she was moving out and onward to the next thing..through me for a bit of a loop/slight panic and questions etc
June: Grad came and went and summer began! (if only) took time off to take Grad ceremonies-so proud of you all! Youth finished up (missed it as soon as it was done) and the leaves were coming out full!
July:
Living on my own now-going good-different but good! Seeds of Hope dessert night-really special. lots of summer pictures, camping with the family. Slow pitch games with youth. Local town festival and queen crowning and soaking in the sun when I could! OH and NO overtime at work! strange, but also very nice!! I could actually enjoy my evenings. LIfe was busy, I remember waiting for it to slow down-but it didnt.
August:
Another busy month of camping with the family, hanging out with youth. I took in other towns festivals with friends (lots of fun!), concerts at these festivals and a Children's Camp International Slow pitch tourny with a team of youth. Although we sucked (score wise) each game- I am convinced our team had the most fun out there! so fun hanging out with the team and youth in general! AND it was all for a great cause that is close to my heart as well!! We had a family gathering at my grandpa's old place-sometihng which we have not done as a family in a long time. It was good-spent a lot of time with my camera and taking pictures.
September:
what a month-many highs and lows. A low would be-we had to put our dog down-long story- but it really hit me quite hard (see posts from that month). I couldnt figure it out why? Reverse culture shock from Africa? No I dont think so...that was too long ago-after lots of debating in my head, sermons in church, books I was reading, lots of prayer, scripture and talking with friends and family. I realized it was intense spiritual warfare going on in my life. I had NEVER felt it like this before. I didnt know what to do. I even woke up one night feeling this intense neeed to just pray and read scripture (at 5 AM with work in a few hours) so I did...those 2.5 hours after of sleep-best sleepe ever-just this amazing sense of peace. I realized that this whole incident-partially had to do with our dog and what was going on with that, but mainly it was because youth was starting again. Our youth kick off for the year was sept 14...and it was that night that followed that i felt the attack. satan knows how much I love hanging iwth youth and how my heart is totally in it so thats why he was attacking it. It was an interesting month. One that I needed and really opened my eyes.
As kids, we also took mom out for the day to the forks and places to celebrate her special day! (tho it was 2 days earlier technically! but a blast none the less!)
October:
Busy busy month! Bible studies, work, food drive, mall hunt, coffee times, Steinbach and YOUTH RETREAT at Camp Arnes! This youth retreat was a for sure highlight for me as I love especially connecting with youth outside of youth. (wow I used the word 'youth' a lot!) but yes many late nights that weekend but it was so worth it! God is so good and its awesome seeing HIM move throughout the teens. He also planted the idea of gettign a bi-weekly bible study group going with some girls, in my head and I began to pray about it and ended up approaching the girls on it during the retreat weekend.
November:
Another busy month of working full time, various youth events. Hanging out with a friend from Belize who I had not seen for a while. Crafters weekend at the church. Aces game. Baptism evening at our church (very proud of my youth who made that public commitment to Christ!). At this point too, I have decided not to look for another roommate at this point as the freedom to come and go and be noisy etc is so worth it! Life is going good. God and I still doing well-tho always trying out how to have a constant good relationship with HIM. Oh also started Bible study with some grade 12's. instead of going bi-weekly-they wanted weekly so that is awesome!!! Always a blast hanging out with them and learning and growing together!
December:
And here we are-christmas eve day. Busy month but so far too-it has been good! Just a few pictures thus far!
So a very merry Christmas! and have a safe, happy and healthy 2012!!!
January
 |
| the gang! |
 |
| Happy 2011! |
The rest of the month was jumping back into routine of youth and continuing to work. Also a girls weekend back in steinbach-celebrating and friend getting married and spending time with more friends! (always an adventure!)
Feburary:
Girl sleepover, Aces Hockey game, foudue evening with some youth girls and just spending time connecting and growing with people. I cant really recall anything super special about this month. Youth remained as did work. oh, sometime in this month (I think) our Africa team was finalized and meetings began? yah that sounds right!
 |
| Foundue night with the girls! |
 |
| Aces games! |
March:
Where to start-what a crazy emotional rollarcoster month!
Youth and work. March 23-there was an accident where a young boy lost his life and is still missed to this day. It affected each and everyone of us and drew the high school and this town closer. But wow, lots of hurting people and tons of questions. I had my own for God too..lots of wresting with God this month because of thsi accident and Africa...
 |
| Pedicures with my roommate |
 |
| some of the stuff we got ready to take down to Africa with us |
I also spent two weeks this month-house sitting. it is also during this time that I got sick-nothing serious-just enough to make me take a day off work. Yes our Africa team was finalized by this point and we were getting emails from our host. Like I said above, lots of wrestling with God. i wont go into detail-but the injustice of this world played heavily on my mind. myself, being a person of practical need and action-couldnt (still can t somedays) figure out why a loving God-allows His people to go through things (this came from an email about a girl we would meet in Africa-a young girl that we got to witness a miracle through while we were there). I wrestled hard with God. God won hands down.
April
Still seeking answers-it was off to Africa I went with people I knew, but mostly just their names. Praise God that quickly changed and as a team, we connected adn were able to support each other through the trip and after. I still cannot sum up Africa and the time in Zambia and with thsoe kids. Out of all the trips/experiences I have been on-this one sticks out most. Goin in-I remember telling a friend of mine that this trip would change me, how I was not sure, but I knew it would-and it did. something inside of me 'clicked'. What I learned there, the people I met, the stories I heard, how I saw GOD move...I will NEVER forget. This month was definatly a huge highlite for me this year!
 |
| the team! |
 |
| some village kids |
May:
Counting down to summer started...back to work and finishing up the last few youths of the year! Still working at Supreme and still living on my own-OH my roommate at the time dropped the 'bomb shell' on me and said as of June 1, she was moving out and onward to the next thing..through me for a bit of a loop/slight panic and questions etc
June: Grad came and went and summer began! (if only) took time off to take Grad ceremonies-so proud of you all! Youth finished up (missed it as soon as it was done) and the leaves were coming out full!
July:
 |
| crazy weather |
 |
| fun times! |
 |
| lots of pictures |
August:
 |
| willow and I |
 |
| starfield |
 |
| charlie |
September:
 |
| youth kick off! |
what a month-many highs and lows. A low would be-we had to put our dog down-long story- but it really hit me quite hard (see posts from that month). I couldnt figure it out why? Reverse culture shock from Africa? No I dont think so...that was too long ago-after lots of debating in my head, sermons in church, books I was reading, lots of prayer, scripture and talking with friends and family. I realized it was intense spiritual warfare going on in my life. I had NEVER felt it like this before. I didnt know what to do. I even woke up one night feeling this intense neeed to just pray and read scripture (at 5 AM with work in a few hours) so I did...those 2.5 hours after of sleep-best sleepe ever-just this amazing sense of peace. I realized that this whole incident-partially had to do with our dog and what was going on with that, but mainly it was because youth was starting again. Our youth kick off for the year was sept 14...and it was that night that followed that i felt the attack. satan knows how much I love hanging iwth youth and how my heart is totally in it so thats why he was attacking it. It was an interesting month. One that I needed and really opened my eyes.
As kids, we also took mom out for the day to the forks and places to celebrate her special day! (tho it was 2 days earlier technically! but a blast none the less!)
 |
| celebrating mom's 50th at the Forks |
October:
 |
| Hanging out at SBC |
 |
| Solo time with God at Camp Arnes |
 |
| my cabin of girls-always an adventure! |
 |
| the gang! |
Another busy month of working full time, various youth events. Hanging out with a friend from Belize who I had not seen for a while. Crafters weekend at the church. Aces game. Baptism evening at our church (very proud of my youth who made that public commitment to Christ!). At this point too, I have decided not to look for another roommate at this point as the freedom to come and go and be noisy etc is so worth it! Life is going good. God and I still doing well-tho always trying out how to have a constant good relationship with HIM. Oh also started Bible study with some grade 12's. instead of going bi-weekly-they wanted weekly so that is awesome!!! Always a blast hanging out with them and learning and growing together!
 |
| Leah and I with our cake pops |
 |
| Tia and I at the crafters weekend-she decorated cupcakes |
 |
| set up for Christmas |
 | ||
| baptism candidates |
 |
| dec 23-family Christmas |
 |
| christmas party with the girls! |
 |
| candlelight services |
 |
| always good food! |
So a very merry Christmas! and have a safe, happy and healthy 2012!!!
Monday, December 19, 2011
In sickness and in Health...
Been a while since I have updated this. As I said in the last post-Life has been busy-which makes sense...however last week did slow down and now, I think my body is playing catch up. if you notice the time stamp (after I post this) you will see that it is like posted around noon....on a monday. So why am I not at work? Like I said my body is playing catch up and by that I mean-later Saturday night-it decided "oh Hey, lets be sick..." so although I will spare you details-Saturday night was not fun and I remembered why I hate throwing up so much (something which I have not done for WHO KNOWS how long). Although I did manage to go to church yesterday (Christmas music morning-didnt wanna miss that!!) I spent the rest of the day hardly eating and just doing now (evening took a 2 hour nap-still felt exhausted-also something which I have not done in a LONG LONG TIME-so then i knew for sure something was wrong). So that leads me today-after waking up to call into work sick-i shut my alarm off and fell asleep for another 3 hours.
So whats the point of all of this? I have realized just how much I take my health for granted (like i said, I hardly ever get sick-cant remember last time I felt this way....). sunday morning, as I was throwin up- I remember thinking- "God, thank you for this reminder to not take my health forgranted like I so often do" Especially now with Christmas like a few days away and hey, just life in general.
My mind couldnt help but think back to the kids who are so dear to me in Africa and once again, I am so thankful for Seeds of Hope and the work they are doing there. Because of God's Grace and His followers who heard and obeyed His calling in their lives-those kids are saved and healthy. Even if/when they do get sick-the have the care and protection to aid in their healing and for that-I am SO thankful for!
Although I dont like being sick-a day off work is nice and actaully-timing wise-this is perfect (if it had to come anywasy). I was super busy all last weekend and next weekend is Christmas (so that would just suck) and hey, I am good with a 2 1/2 day work week this week!
so stay safe, stay ware and keep healthy!
and have a super awesome, Merry Christmas with those around you!!
cya in 2012!
So whats the point of all of this? I have realized just how much I take my health for granted (like i said, I hardly ever get sick-cant remember last time I felt this way....). sunday morning, as I was throwin up- I remember thinking- "God, thank you for this reminder to not take my health forgranted like I so often do" Especially now with Christmas like a few days away and hey, just life in general.
My mind couldnt help but think back to the kids who are so dear to me in Africa and once again, I am so thankful for Seeds of Hope and the work they are doing there. Because of God's Grace and His followers who heard and obeyed His calling in their lives-those kids are saved and healthy. Even if/when they do get sick-the have the care and protection to aid in their healing and for that-I am SO thankful for!
Although I dont like being sick-a day off work is nice and actaully-timing wise-this is perfect (if it had to come anywasy). I was super busy all last weekend and next weekend is Christmas (so that would just suck) and hey, I am good with a 2 1/2 day work week this week!
so stay safe, stay ware and keep healthy!
and have a super awesome, Merry Christmas with those around you!!
cya in 2012!
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Too Busy...
Life is too busy...I can feel my body telling me to stop and slow down.
life is busy-with good things...but God gets 'pushed' aside...
Life is too busy to NOT include God in the day...thats the only way any of us will make it..with HIM in it!
life is busy-with good things...but God gets 'pushed' aside...
Life is too busy to NOT include God in the day...thats the only way any of us will make it..with HIM in it!
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