Seriously

I'm a horrible blogger. It's been like two months! And let's just say a lot has happened in those two months. I'm a happily married woman after 2 1/2 weeks. For anyone who's contemplating it, I highly recommend it, so long as you're 100% sure that this is the person you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with. And yes, it is... interesting... trying to figure out how to live with someone of the opposite sex (other than siblings) but it all works out. You get into routine, which I love. I love it when things are the same, when I know what's expected of me, and how the day is going to turn out. And I'm really not sure where this blog is going, I'm tired, and going to sign off.

6 WEEKS = 42 DAYS

=D

Oh man it's been a while since I've written! I don't even know where to start... Wedding plans are coming along and I'm ready for them to all be in place and not think about them again. =) Invitations are sent out and the RSVP's are starting to come in (speaking of which, if you haven't yet, you should!) I'm so ready to be married! Looking forward to the wedding, yes (which is in 47 days =D), but more so to just being together for the rest of our lives. *sigh* I can't wait...

Fun weekend

My family's in Calgary! I went down Friday night and spent all day Saturday shopping. I have a wedding dress!!! =D It's absolutely gorgeous, but I can't describe it for you in case a certain someone is reading. ;) Only 2 1/2 months till the wedding! =D Have I mentioned that I'm excited?...

Cooking

So I've discovered since living on my own that I LOVE to cook. However, I have yet to master the art of cooking in moderation. I seem to have the (very Mennonite) mentality that EVERYTHING must be made in large quantities, because it would be absolutely HORRIBLE to run out of something! Oh wait, I'm the only one I'm cooking for!!! I'm waiting for the chili to be done right now and I'm pretty sure that unless I invite people over for supper sometime I'll be eating it for like a week. Or Dan will. Yeah, maybe I'll leave it for him... ;) The downfall to cooking so much food is that I get to cook less often because I always have to finish up my leftovers before they go bad before I can cook again. (Cause obviously it's a cardinal sin to throw anything out unless something's growing on it!) ;)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

He got the job!!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure I haven't stopped smiling since my boss told me first thing this morning!!! =D =D Hehehehehe, I'm so excited!!! Just thought I'd share my giddiness with you all. ;)

Worrying myself sick

I have this tendency to worry about things just a little too much. Dan applied for a job at the same place where I'm working, and if he gets it he'll start August 4, which means that he would be moving back here next weekend! I'm so nervous/anxious about it that I've almost made myself physically sick. It would be so amazing to have him close by again, and I want him to get this job so bad. Probably more than he does. Maybe this is another lesson from God teaching me that I need to give EVERYTHING over to Him and let Him take care of the details. SO hard for me to do! In case you didn't know, I like to be "in charge" and have "control" over details. Pray that I'll honestly give all of this over to Him (again) and let Him work it all out.

I was going to write something here, but I'm totally exhausted tonight and can't seem to remember what it was...

Wedding plans

How can there possibly be SO many details for one wedding?! I'm ready to just forget it all and elope. I don't care about the wedding part. I just want to be married and for us to start our life together. But since I'd probably be murdered if I did that, I'll keep plugging ahead and wait impatiently for that important day. It'll all work out... eventually...

Job hunting

I hate it. I think this is the first time I've actually had to wait to find out IF I'll be hired somewhere. All the other jobs I've had have been offered to me, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm not really enjoying the waiting part. If you think of it I would appreciate prayer that something would come up soon.

On a different note, I get the keys to my apartment tomorrow! I'm so excited! This will be the first time I've lived completely on my own. Yes, ever. And I'm getting married in November. How sad is that. Anyways. Wow I have a lot to get ready for the wedding... It would be so much simpler to elope. lol.

2 months??!!

Ohmygoodness it's been so long since I've posted anything! And boy has a lot happened. In a nut shell, I moved to Saskatchewan at the end of April, Dan and I went to Ontario in May, got engaged on May 24 (a month ago today! =D), and have the wedding date set for November 8! That's the biggest news I've got at the moment, but personally I don't think it gets much bigger. ;) My ring is absolutely GORGEOUS! The band is white gold, with a heart shaped diamond. The band curves up around the top of the heart on one side and down underneath on the other. I love it! And it sparkles. ;) hehe.

Sadness

Tonight is my last night in dorms. This afternoon was grad, and it was really good, but involved lots of goodbyes. We leave tomorrow after church, and then I won't have internet anymore. *sigh* I'm going to miss this place, the people here, everything. But it looks like I'll be back next fall, so that's something to look forward to. I'm going to make myself cry, so I'd better sign off.

Creeper!

We had a creeper skulking around dorms last night. The doors weren't locked because of an event that had been happening downstairs, so he had free access for a little bit. Sheila (my boss) was downstairs with a few girls the first time he came in. She asked him what he was doing and he told her he was just looking around. She informed him that this is a GIRLS dorm and that he's not allowed in, and sent him back out the way he came. I was upstairs on our floor at the time, and noticed him when he stuck his head through the door. I left pretty quick when we started to walk towards him. I right away went and got my card and locked the door up again. (You have to swipe your card to be able to get in and out of the dorms). Anyways, about 5 minutes after I went back downstairs he shows up again! I'm thinking "how the heck did this guy get in?! I just locked the door!" He was all "apologetic" (and smelling like alcohol) because he knew that he wasn't supposed to be there but he lost his cell phone blah blah blah. He gave us his name and phone number and then started back out the door. I realized that no one was going with him, and he couldn't get out without one of us swiping him out, so I got up and followed him (he didn't know I was following). THEN he ducked into one of the housekeeping rooms!!! I followed him in, and this was the dialog that followed:

Me: What are you doing?
Him: Looking for my cell phone
Me: Were you in this room?
Him: No
Me: Then your phone won't be in here. I'll let you out.
(Leaves the room and starts up the stairs to the door)
Him: But I need to find my phone!
Me: We'll call you if we find it.

It was so freaky! Sheila called the number that he had left and we think it was his mom who answered, so the number was legit. We found out that one of my girls had gotten her hands on a 24 hour card (the highschool cards stop working at 10) and she had let him in. He came back again later and was trying to get a college girl to let him in, but she wouldn't. Sheila had called security and gave them his name, number, and description. Oh, and when he came back the third time he definitely had his cell phone.

Boo snow!!!

It should be against the laws of nature for it to snow after we've had such beautiful weather! I was camping just last weekend (and got burnt wearing a tanktop and shorts!) and now this weekend it's been snowing since yesterday afternoon. SO not fun. *pouts*

Changing topics, a week from today I will be leaving Three Hills. Incredibly hard to believe, but it's true. This also means that I won't have internet access for the majority of the summer. SO, if you want to keep in touch with me, e-mail me your phone number within the next week. =)

I'm going to go pack now.

Last night on call

*sigh* My time as RA is coming to a close. I'm still in dorms for another week and a half or so, but tonight is the last night that I have offical RA duties. I really going to miss this place and the girls. As much as there have been some tough times, it's been an amazingly great year and I've learned more than I thought was possible. The girls have taken me in as one of their own and they've become friends and sisters. Oh boy, now I'm going to start crying. I guess I'd better just make the best of the rest of the time I have left. *sigh*

Camping trip!

A couple of weeks ago or so Lisa and I decided that it would be fun to do a girls camping trip before the school year was over. We managed to pull it off yesterday, and it was so much fun!!! Five of us girls went out to Buffalo Jump/Toleman's Bridge around 5:30 yesterday and set up camp. Mostly we just hung out and ate. For supper we had salmon and potatoes, all cooked over the fire. We kind of ate in stages as everything was ready, which was nice cause the food was never cold. For dessert we had smores. =) After everything was cleaned up so that it wouldn't attract animals, we headed to bed. I slept incredibly well, thanks to a friend who let me borrow her sleeping bag. In the morning we had bacon, scrambled eggs, toast and coffee or juice. I ate better camping than I do at home! hehe. After breakfast Jess and I took naps in the sun while Lisa, Jill, and Kimi went hiking. It was great. =) Once we woke up and the other girls came back we got lunch together (hot dogs), cleaned up camp, played a few games of Uno over coffee, and then headed home. We got back around 2ish. I definitely need to do the whole camping thing more often. What made it even better is that it's about 20 degrees today (warmest day we've had yet this year), so we're all wearing shorts/capris and tank tops. Sweet eh? =D

The countdown is on and the crunch begins

OK, so not so much of a crunch for me. I have one paper to write and a couple of reading responses, and that's it till exam week, when I have two exams to write. However, I have officially decided that I will not be staying the Three Hills for May and June, so another countdown has begun! Here are my current countdowns:

- 16 days till the last official day of classes (about 14 till I'm actually done)
- 24 days till grad
- 25 days till I leave Three Hills with Dan
- 29 days till I can call my family in Ontario and talk for as long as I want (except that they'll be jetlagging... dang it)
- 45 days (approx.) till I take Dan to Ontario to meet the family

That's all of them for now... But I should work on my paper. Time to finish strong!!! =)

Cold to warm in a matter of minutes

Like I said, you gotta love the unpredictability of Alberta weather. The snow is gone now. =D

You have GOT to be kidding me!

This is what I woke up to this morning. Isn't it supposed to be spring? I mean, I was wearing flip flops the other day, and several people have already been wearing shorts. Grrr... Ya gotta love the unpredictability of Alberta weather.

Back to the grind

Reading break is over and I'm back in Three Hills, and sick. Dan had strep while I was with him in North Battleford, so I'm thinking that that's probably what I have. It hit yesterday and has gotten worse since. I think I'll go to the doctor today and get checked out before it gets to bad. *groan* I hate being sick. And on the first day of classes after a long break too. This sucks. K, I'll stop my pity party now and go take a shower. Maybe that'll make me feel better...

Off to North Battleford

My reading break officially starts today. =) (It started on Saturday for the rest of the college). I was on call all weekend, worked last night in the Loft, and tonight I have kids club at church. But right after that I'm catching a bus from Red Deer to meet Dan up in North Battleford, Skeskatchewan. I'm so excited!!! And I'm definitely not bringing homework with me, which means I need to work hard today. (And do laundry, get a resume ready, pack, etc). Speaking of which I should go change my laundry.

I PASSED!!!

In about an hour and a half I will either have my full license or will still be stuck with my learners. So nervous... Can't think, can't concentrate, probably won't be able to eat much lunch...

I'm broke

I LOVE SHOPPING!!! But as a result of that shopping I no longer have any money. =P I think it's the bane of my existence. Why can't everything just be free? hehe. But at least I got a lot for my dollar! Super hot white boots, about six new shirts, a pair of super cute flats, flip flops, make-up, a super warm soft comfy blanket, and then the necessities (shampoo/conditioner and vitamins). I had a such a good day! Girl time was much needed and very much enjoyed. =D Now I need to do some homework... Ha! It's reading break! I don't have to! But I should... *sigh* OK, I'm off. =)

Time change *grumble grumble*

I love the time change in fall, but spring... I love the beautifully warm sunny days, but that means that I get one less hour of sleep. OK fine, I got one less hour of sleep Saturday night. It doesn't help that I forgot about it till I was just about ready to go to bed. hehe. It's an absolutely gorgeous 9 degrees out today. I think I'm going to do homework outside. =)

Spring!

This winter has been surprisingly mild, give or take a couple of weeks that were below -20. And now the past few weeks have been around or above 0, which means that the snow is melting, the birds are singing, and love is in the air. lol, just kidding, I couldn't think of anything else to put after the birds singing. I love this weather. It makes me happy, especially with the wonderfully blue Alberta skies. *sigh* I love the west. =)

AHHHHH!!!!

I got my parents news letter this morning and realized that two months from tomorrow my family's going to be on this side of the ocean again!!!! SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! I started crying when I was reading it cause I realized how soon it was and got so excited. Hehe. Class time!!! (And no, I'm not on a sugar/caffine high right now). ;)

Lolcats ‘n’ Funny Pictures - I Can Has Cheezburger?

Lolcats ‘n’ Funny Pictures - I Can Has Cheezburger?

Valentine's Day

... was wonderful, for more reasons than one. Remember a while back when I wrote about my one course that had to be done by mid-February? Well, it's done now, and I handed in my final paper on Valentine's Day. Made for a very full day, since I spent most of it trying to finish it up and finish it well, but it's done now and I'm so excited! =D

Dan took me out for supper at the Mission (the nicest place in town). We had baby ribs with salad and fries, and a brownie sundae for dessert. SO yummy! We ended up staying at the restaurant for about 3 hours because we ran into my pastor and his wife and chatted with them for a while. Then we went back to his place and watched a movie. It was lovely. =)

You might be wondering what I did for him for Valentines Day. Every year the Ambassador Choir here at Prairie does what they call "Singing Valentines" that you can buy for whomever you want. They have a list of songs that you can choose from and they will personally deliver it to the recipient, most of the time in the dining hall where it will be the most embarrasing. ;) That's right, I sent him one. Felt kinda bad at the time cause he looked like he wanted to melt into the floor (as you can see by the picture), but it was worth it. =) The song that I picked? Follow this link. =D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT0QFM78fpo



And for those unfortunate few that can't get YouTube, here're the lyrics. ;)

When You Say Nothing At All
It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don’t say a thing

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There’s a truth in your eyes sayin’ you’ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old mr. webster could never define
What’s being said between your heart and mine

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There’s a truth in your eyes sayin’ you’ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There’s a truth in your eyes sayin’ you’ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

Please read this and think about it as we approach Valentines Day.
http://www.blazingdawn.blogspot.com/

P.S. My sister is an incredible writer and I really appreciate the thought that goes into what she writes. Enjoy!

Am I willing?

Psalm 26:2-3
Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.

These words hit me hard, especially the fact that I've found myself quite unwilling to pray them for myself. I ask Him to show me His will, but I want the answer to be an easy one, one that doesn't include an in-depth examination of my heart and mind. Those examinations are never easy and always painful. I want to pray these verses so much, but there's still a part of me that's holding back. There's so much work that I need to allow God to do in my heart. Please pray for me, that I'll be willing to allow God to test me and to grow in the process. It will be hard, I know, but He'll get me through it if I focus on His love and walk in the truth of His Word.

Stupid technology

I don't think we realize how much we depend on computers until they stop working on us. There's something wrong with the connection between my computer and the power cord, which means that my computer's not getting any power to it. And considering the fact that my battery lasts a grand total of about 5 minutes it is officially dead until that connection can be fixed. But now I need to go do homework. This was just a procrastination break. ;)

Winter finally decided to hit Three Hills

After months of very mild winter weather, the cold has finally arrived. Can't say that I'm overly thrilled about this fact, considering that you can pretty much get frostbitten walking from dorms to the dining hall. According to the Weather Network, it's currently -30. Oh wait, combine that with the wind chill and we've got -40! Earlier today it was -48. And tomorrow it's supposed to be -40 without wind chill. Brrr!!! Why am I living in Alberta? I should move to California.

So on the note of it being brilliantly cold, I decided that today was going to be the day that I go out for lunch with a friend. A friend that doesn't have a car, much less her license. (Fyi, neither do I). We tried Harvest House, which is only about a 5-10 minute walk from dorms, but found that it was closed for unknown reasons. I didn't want to go to the Mission because it's far too expensive for my taste (and I was paying). The only other respectable place to go to in town was Daniel's, and that's at least a 20 minute walk or so. To top that off my friend has a broken toe (which she eventually couldn't feel because of the cold). We decided to stop in at Mac's to warm up a bit before continuing our trek, and while thawing out we met a friendly old gentleman who offered to give us a ride. Now I realize that in a town any larger than Three Hills it may not have been such a good idea to get into a random persons van, but he was super nice and looked really familiar to me. I found out in the course of our 2 minute drive (that would have taken us around 15 minutes to walk) that he's my boss' neighbour. Sweet eh? We didn't manage to catch a ride BACK to dorms, but it was a blessing that we got a ride there.

And now I'm at work and have a considerable amount of homework that I should be working on. Oh, and maybe doing my job too... Minor detail. ;)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

We finally have new snow! Our first (and last) snow was sometime in November, which is lame, because it's been awfully brown around here recently. Then it started snowing a couple of days ago and just keeps coming! As one of my friends puts it, it's "cute" snow. =) Or romantic snow, whichever you prefer. The kind where the flakes are huge and fluffy and they float lazily to the ground. It's beautiful. =) I love snow... =D

Struggling

Just a quick note to ask for prayers right now. There have been several issues in dorms in the past week and I'm struggling with the right way to deal with them. Thankfully I don't have to deal with them alone, but they're still tough. Also, school is really getting me down. There's one course that has to be done by mid-February, which means that rather than finishing it in 4 months we have to finish it in a month and a week. It's intense. I'm also not really wanting to be here, and I'm sick of doing homework etc. More big news, I'm graduating this semester, which means that I won't be back at Prairie next year. I have no clue what I'll be doing next... Anyways, I have tons of homework to finish for tomorrow. Prayers are appreciated!!!

Back at school

So Christmas break is over and I've come back to... reality I suppose. I had a wonderful Christmas with Dan and his family. They took me right in and spoiled me ROTTEN! It was great. =D And now I have to start focusing on classes again. I found out today that one of my classes has to be done by Feb. 15, so we're basically doing four months of work in a month and a week. Intense eh? At least after that I'll only have three classes for the rest of the semester. =) I think that if ya'll want more details about break/school/life you should send me an e-mail, cause I miss getting e-mails from people and I still don't have your e-mail addresses back! Hope to hear from you!