well I was thinking today as I was painting that I feel like I've done so many different things over the years and been in so many different places that I find it hard to keep track of myself never mind other people keeping track of me (if any do). It never fails that when i go somewhere like church or meet someone out and about that somebody will come up to me and ask me where I am living now or what I am doing....after about 10 years of this it gets tiring trying to answer. It's tiring partly becuase I dont know half the time what my next move is, mostly becuase i have so many thoughts about what to do that I can't pinpoint anything. Believe me this gets tiring on its own, never mind all of the people asking...I ask myself everyday and tire myself out!! I thought just for kicks I would recap my post high school years on my blog and look for trends and consistencies and also maybe just see where God was working and possibly get a glimpse of where He is taking me next. So whether this list is for you the reader or me the writer, i'm not sure, but here it is:
1997: graduate from Heritage Christian School in Calgary
1997/98: paint
1999: Student at Caperwray Bible School New Zealand
2000: Staff at Capernwray doing office assistant work and Adventure Bible School leadership/food prep
2001: paint
2001-2003: Student at Red Deer College - Kinesiology: adapted physical education
2003: paint
2003/04: Student at Alberta Institute of Massage
2004: Work as a massage therapist / take pilates training in Ottawa
2005/06: massage therapy/ pilates instruction and training/ Instruct anatomy and physiology at massage school
2007: massage/pilates/instructing A&P / Missions to Kenya for 3 months
2008: paint
2009: missions to Paraguay for a month
2008-2010: Student at Thompson Rivers University - Adventure Guiding & Management
2010: paint / Student at Canadian University College - Adventure Based Counselling
So here I am in 2010 with all of this behind me. It's been great! I have really enjoyed everything I have done and look forward to what is ahead. Currently I am painting (it seems to be the recurring theme) and I am going to school for Adventure Based Counselling. What is this you ask? good question. Well, It involves using adventure activities as a counseling format. Instead of typical sit in an office type counseling, it would be taking people outdoors and working through issues via using the activities and what they may metaphorically or directly bring forth. For example: A couple needs to work on communication. Put these two people in a canoe together and give them a task. During and after there are certain things that need to be talked through and a goal can be accomplished in the end. Much for fun than sitting inside right?? I think it could work...what about you?
There are days when I still ask myself if I am on the right track; heading in the right direction...days when I'm not happy, not satisfied, unsettled and discontent...maybe I'm impatient, but more likely it is those days I am not trusting and resting in the one I know who leads with purpose and a plan unique to me. :)
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Dress and Hair
Beautiful Bridesmaids! Can you believe this is October 9?? It felt like the middle of July (although in Alberta that's not saying much actually) Obviously that guy in the background thought we looked better from the other side :) He's one of the photographers.
How my hair ended up...I like it, but our stylist either had her own agenda or wasn't listening becuase both of us who had her didn't really get what we wanted, although it ended up nice.
Altogether the day was great! A lot of fun with fantastic friends and I was so honored to be a part of the union betwen to amazing people like Blayne and Janell!
Sorry I dont have more pics, this is just to show you what I was wearing :)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
letting go
I think I have a habit of holding on to things when I should really just let them go. It's sort of this compulsive fear that If I let it go it will never come back, so I have to just hoard it so I get to keep it, even if its just a possibility of something, and not even reality. Like hoarding the idea, becuase if i don't, it wont come true. This really leads to a lot of worry about things not happening becuase the idea just sits there and nothing ever happens!
From experience, I would advise not doing this....its not fun.
But tonight I expereinced a little bit of letting go and realize that the more I simply give to God the more I'm actually ok with present circumstances and feel free of having to have my own ideas becuase I know there is a master plan. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking of letting go of dreams or ambitions and I still think moving ahead in action towards those dreams is important, but its the release of being chained to them, of thinking life isn't fulfilled without them, and of believing its your own resposibility for making them happen.
Our resposiblity is pretty simple really. Give over responsibility to God. He's got it covered.
From experience, I would advise not doing this....its not fun.
But tonight I expereinced a little bit of letting go and realize that the more I simply give to God the more I'm actually ok with present circumstances and feel free of having to have my own ideas becuase I know there is a master plan. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking of letting go of dreams or ambitions and I still think moving ahead in action towards those dreams is important, but its the release of being chained to them, of thinking life isn't fulfilled without them, and of believing its your own resposibility for making them happen.
Our resposiblity is pretty simple really. Give over responsibility to God. He's got it covered.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Toddlers Online
92% of U.S. Toddlers Have Online Presence
Sunday, October 10, 2010
a fresh beginning
I've accepted that I probably wont write here every day, but I feel like my life is taking another turn and there is some new stuff happening so a fresh look and renewed commitment to sharing might actually happen! hopefully!
I guess the newest is that I've started attending Canadian University College in Lacombe Alberta. I like Lacombe...its a small city but retains a cute town feel. I'm in two psychology classes, a sociology class, a history class, and a international health and wildreness first aid class which is great! So far we've mostly talked about bodily excretions due to parasties and bacteria. yum!
Well, more to come....really ;
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Literary Surprise
I recently finished reading the "Millenium Series". If that name doesn't ring any bells, it might help if I say "the girl with the dragon tattoo" books. I was introduced to them on a recent trip to europe; my traveling companion was reading the first one, as was another random airline passenger in the row next to us. I figured it was another New York times best seller that I probably wouldn't read. But, then I read through the book I brought along with me; a small paperback I haphazardly pulled off my parents bookshelf without really being interested in it, but that looked like the right size for a backpacking trip. So when my travel partner was done that dazzling yellow book and I had watched her enter rapturously into its pages, hardly able to come back into reality, when in some of europe's most amazing cities, I thought maybe I'd start it and see if it was worth my time. And, whatever, I had some train time I needed to fill anyway...
A trip to Paris from the south of France was never so short! After a laborous first chapter, this book and the next one and the next one held me in a sort of trance. In fact, they held me like a tractor beam, past Europe and back home for two months, that was so strong it was like living in altered reality. I couldn't not finish these books. I borrowed the first one, bought the second one, and read the third one entirely in the book store! Except for once when I purchased it only to return if a few hours later after reading in a coffee shop for the afternoon. The content affected my emotions considerably with a range from interest, to wonder, to happiness, and even outright fear. Some nights I didn't want to turn my lights out in fear of the pictures swirling in my imagination. It wasn't until I finished the final chapter in the series that I could see the progression of content, and the progression of how they were supposed to make me, as a woman actually FEEL. You see, these books are primarily about women. Strong women. I would almost venture to say feminist, but not directly. Instead it is a celebration, in a sense, of the characteristics that comprise a women who will not let herself be dominated, held back, trod upon, humiliated, subjugated, used, manipulated or thought less of.
It is this progression that makes these books so amazing. It is a journey through the pages, of hopelessness at first; yes, hopelessness and disgust and anger at what you're reading about used and abused women, and it makes you want to cry and scream and just stop reading (and not turn your lights out). But the story continues and the strength grows, and in the end the lead female character prevails in all her imperfectness. But its not only her struggle and triumph that speaks to the strength of woman. Each and every female character in these books is strong and in many ways triumphant in their own roles. Each exudes independence, confidence, and an uncompromising attitude of self-assurance among male counterparts.
I am interested to know why these books were written; if there was a greater purpose or desired outcome for readers than literary enjoyment. I am also interested in what will come of them when the pop culture craze and hype and even movies are finished. Will they be a forgotten new york number one, or will their message be enough to make them classic? I don't think so, I think most people will read them because of the hype and then forget them while moving on to the next popular read. What I hope people don't forget; what I hope people get from these books and hold on to is this notion of persistent, unbreakable strength of character embodied in the uniqueness of who people are. What I also hope is that women will be celebrated. It is a sad reality that these books speak of. Women continue to be abused and thought less of all over the world, when it is woman who time and time again are the backbone, glue and heart of communities. People speak of empowerment and voice. Yes!
I am not a feminist, but I am a women and I am strong, I also know the need for man. I also believe in love and respect across genders where, as people, we accept and understand gifts and roles that are divinely given. So i'm probably missing some great revelation that these books give, and maybe i'm sucking out of them what I want to hear, but even if its not in there, this is a message our world needs.
A trip to Paris from the south of France was never so short! After a laborous first chapter, this book and the next one and the next one held me in a sort of trance. In fact, they held me like a tractor beam, past Europe and back home for two months, that was so strong it was like living in altered reality. I couldn't not finish these books. I borrowed the first one, bought the second one, and read the third one entirely in the book store! Except for once when I purchased it only to return if a few hours later after reading in a coffee shop for the afternoon. The content affected my emotions considerably with a range from interest, to wonder, to happiness, and even outright fear. Some nights I didn't want to turn my lights out in fear of the pictures swirling in my imagination. It wasn't until I finished the final chapter in the series that I could see the progression of content, and the progression of how they were supposed to make me, as a woman actually FEEL. You see, these books are primarily about women. Strong women. I would almost venture to say feminist, but not directly. Instead it is a celebration, in a sense, of the characteristics that comprise a women who will not let herself be dominated, held back, trod upon, humiliated, subjugated, used, manipulated or thought less of.
It is this progression that makes these books so amazing. It is a journey through the pages, of hopelessness at first; yes, hopelessness and disgust and anger at what you're reading about used and abused women, and it makes you want to cry and scream and just stop reading (and not turn your lights out). But the story continues and the strength grows, and in the end the lead female character prevails in all her imperfectness. But its not only her struggle and triumph that speaks to the strength of woman. Each and every female character in these books is strong and in many ways triumphant in their own roles. Each exudes independence, confidence, and an uncompromising attitude of self-assurance among male counterparts.
I am interested to know why these books were written; if there was a greater purpose or desired outcome for readers than literary enjoyment. I am also interested in what will come of them when the pop culture craze and hype and even movies are finished. Will they be a forgotten new york number one, or will their message be enough to make them classic? I don't think so, I think most people will read them because of the hype and then forget them while moving on to the next popular read. What I hope people don't forget; what I hope people get from these books and hold on to is this notion of persistent, unbreakable strength of character embodied in the uniqueness of who people are. What I also hope is that women will be celebrated. It is a sad reality that these books speak of. Women continue to be abused and thought less of all over the world, when it is woman who time and time again are the backbone, glue and heart of communities. People speak of empowerment and voice. Yes!
I am not a feminist, but I am a women and I am strong, I also know the need for man. I also believe in love and respect across genders where, as people, we accept and understand gifts and roles that are divinely given. So i'm probably missing some great revelation that these books give, and maybe i'm sucking out of them what I want to hear, but even if its not in there, this is a message our world needs.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
the blog that hardly changes
i'm trying to make a decision....
do i keep this blog? and commit to being a little more faithful to it...
OR
do i end this attempt at online expression...
I'm torn. I'm terrible at decisions...especially when it means black or white, yes or no, where there is no compromise with another choice...i'm realizing I tend to want all options, and often try a lot without pursuing a lot to complete ends. What does this mean for my relationship with Jesus? Am I living for Him completely? Do I pursue Him above all else? When it comes to deciding against another option in a situation that tears at me...will it be black and white, yes or no with no compromise?
I want it to be...I fiercely want it to be.
Its my decision.
do i keep this blog? and commit to being a little more faithful to it...
OR
do i end this attempt at online expression...
I'm torn. I'm terrible at decisions...especially when it means black or white, yes or no, where there is no compromise with another choice...i'm realizing I tend to want all options, and often try a lot without pursuing a lot to complete ends. What does this mean for my relationship with Jesus? Am I living for Him completely? Do I pursue Him above all else? When it comes to deciding against another option in a situation that tears at me...will it be black and white, yes or no with no compromise?
I want it to be...I fiercely want it to be.
Its my decision.
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