"the irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating -- in work, in play, in love. the act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. to commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life."
-- #76, anne morriss, sbux customer.
"mother-love is not inevitable. the good mother is a great artist ever creating beauty out of chaos."
-- #36, alice randall, novelist.
"on the battlefield of ideas, winning requires moving toward the sound of the guns."
-- #290, new gingrich.
"do not kiss your children so they will kiss you back but so they will kiss their children, and their children's children."
-- #27, noah benShea.
"if you've got a dollar and you spend twenty-nine cents on a loaf of bread, you've got seventy-one cents left. but if you've got seventeen grand and you spend twenty-nine cents on a loaf of bread, you've still got seventeen grand. there's a math lesson for you."
-- #112, Steve Martin
30.12.08
14.9.08
one body fest
oooh boy.
so we've been planning this festival for months. september 12...it echoed in our minds and our day planners (or diaries) -- we couldn't get away from it.
what would happen?
would students show up? would they find a church? would churches show up?
we asked dozens upon dozens of questions, except...
will it rain?
will it pour and wind and be freezing cold?
answer: yes.
all the plans of mice and men...do go awry.
so we've been planning this festival for months. september 12...it echoed in our minds and our day planners (or diaries) -- we couldn't get away from it.
what would happen?
would students show up? would they find a church? would churches show up?
we asked dozens upon dozens of questions, except...
will it rain?
will it pour and wind and be freezing cold?
answer: yes.
all the plans of mice and men...do go awry.
11.9.08
My friend Brenda.
1 John 5:13-15 (The Message)
"My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours."
My friend Brenda Wilchowy (the Pas, Manitoba) has this quoted on her blog. She's going on an 11-month adventure around the world with an organization called "Adventures in Missions".
She and I did our dts together, and became friends over our mutual love of cheesecake. I had the overwhelming and awesome opportunity to see her ever-too-briefly last summer (2007), and I must say that I love her to pieces.
Her blog is a great place to find out more about what she's doing -- I'm pretty excited for her.
I've just been talking with a friend about uncertainty in life, and for me, I am certainly uncertain. I am in Lethbridge, because I know felt that God was asking me to stay here, and it was quite a journey just coming to terms with that. I woke up this morning, amazed that this is where I live -- some days, I really miss home. Some days, I really want to get married. Some days, I want to quit my job and work at the church. Some days, I want to stay in bed. And some days, I am just so absolutely certain that this is where I should be -- something within me believes that this confidence doesn't need to be as shaky as it is.
"My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours."
My friend Brenda Wilchowy (the Pas, Manitoba) has this quoted on her blog. She's going on an 11-month adventure around the world with an organization called "Adventures in Missions".
She and I did our dts together, and became friends over our mutual love of cheesecake. I had the overwhelming and awesome opportunity to see her ever-too-briefly last summer (2007), and I must say that I love her to pieces.
Her blog is a great place to find out more about what she's doing -- I'm pretty excited for her.
I've just been talking with a friend about uncertainty in life, and for me, I am certainly uncertain. I am in Lethbridge, because I know felt that God was asking me to stay here, and it was quite a journey just coming to terms with that. I woke up this morning, amazed that this is where I live -- some days, I really miss home. Some days, I really want to get married. Some days, I want to quit my job and work at the church. Some days, I want to stay in bed. And some days, I am just so absolutely certain that this is where I should be -- something within me believes that this confidence doesn't need to be as shaky as it is.
i have decided something.
i am becoming an artist.
perhaps you thought that i already was one -- perhaps you are right. what i mean, though, is that i am changing the way i think about myself. i will now think, when i get up each day, "I AM AN ARTIST".
not really, but it is something that i will be exploring more. i've realized that i love to paint! it's such a beautiful, satisfying and challenging way to indulge my love of all things visual.
i just finished an 8' x 12' painting for an event that several churches in Lethbridge are taking part in. it's called one body fest and the idea is that if we are the church, the body, the bride of Christ, and there are new students entering our city each year who come from churches...we should be welcoming them! so we're going to try and do that. there's a lot more to it, obviously, and there's a sense of urgency in it, because so many people leave the church and let go of faith in these young adult years.
we want to see that statistic change, not so we can keep butts in pews, but so that we can together discover the truest meaning of the gospel...
again, more to that than i was preparing to type right now.
here is the painting in 3 stages -- i'm thinking that i'll get prints made of it so that ya'll can have a copy of your very own.
perhaps you thought that i already was one -- perhaps you are right. what i mean, though, is that i am changing the way i think about myself. i will now think, when i get up each day, "I AM AN ARTIST".
not really, but it is something that i will be exploring more. i've realized that i love to paint! it's such a beautiful, satisfying and challenging way to indulge my love of all things visual.
i just finished an 8' x 12' painting for an event that several churches in Lethbridge are taking part in. it's called one body fest and the idea is that if we are the church, the body, the bride of Christ, and there are new students entering our city each year who come from churches...we should be welcoming them! so we're going to try and do that. there's a lot more to it, obviously, and there's a sense of urgency in it, because so many people leave the church and let go of faith in these young adult years.
we want to see that statistic change, not so we can keep butts in pews, but so that we can together discover the truest meaning of the gospel...
again, more to that than i was preparing to type right now.
here is the painting in 3 stages -- i'm thinking that i'll get prints made of it so that ya'll can have a copy of your very own.
28.8.08
everybody got hitched.
lynnae + dan
rachel + mike
melinda + vancouver
...
melinda + lethbridge
ok, so i'm not married to a city but i did make it back home safely.
sarah mcmaster is moving here soon, so i'm gonna try and hook her up with some starbucks-style employment.
i, in the meantime, am figuring out some things about life.
like why do I do what I do not want to do? What's up with that? At least I know I am not alone.
this weekend i got to spend a day at keats, in the rain, which was lovely.
got me thinking about marriage when i saw a married friend, whose friendship was so valuable to me when we were both single. i got wondering if his vow to commit to his wife and forsake all others has to do with why he and i aren't really friends anymore.
i also got to see my beautiful friend anna vandas play at an art gallery, located in someone's home! it's stunning, she was stunning...
a lot of stunnn going on.
22.8.08
today.
today i am going to a wedding.
well, 2 wedding receptions.
lynnae + dan are getting married at the Cardston Temple, and then the party begins.
I'm kind of excited.
It's a chilly day here in Lethbridge, so my outfit has been modified so I don't freeze all day.
Should be fun.
well, 2 wedding receptions.
lynnae + dan are getting married at the Cardston Temple, and then the party begins.
I'm kind of excited.
It's a chilly day here in Lethbridge, so my outfit has been modified so I don't freeze all day.
Should be fun.
5.8.08
hello moto...?
i never knew there could be a low calorie cell phone plan. how exciting.
my mom is almost done making me this really pretty green plaid jacket -- it's gonna be amazzzzzzzzzing. you'll love it, i promise.
i went to the beach yesterday and today -- got caught up on all the tanning i missed when it was kinda cold and rainy. phew.
it's almost time to go back to lethbridge -- parting is always bittersweet. if only my 2 worlds could collide...i'd be really happy. REALLY happy. seriously, truly, deeply, madly happy. so...let's see what we can do.
also, that way, i could go swimming in the flowers' pool everyday...and who wouldn't want to go swimming everyday?
this is a little bit random...
here is a picture of me in my new lulu that my mom bought. go mom!!
my mom is almost done making me this really pretty green plaid jacket -- it's gonna be amazzzzzzzzzing. you'll love it, i promise.
i went to the beach yesterday and today -- got caught up on all the tanning i missed when it was kinda cold and rainy. phew.
it's almost time to go back to lethbridge -- parting is always bittersweet. if only my 2 worlds could collide...i'd be really happy. REALLY happy. seriously, truly, deeply, madly happy. so...let's see what we can do.
also, that way, i could go swimming in the flowers' pool everyday...and who wouldn't want to go swimming everyday?
this is a little bit random...
here is a picture of me in my new lulu that my mom bought. go mom!!
10.7.08
facebook has taken me away...
ahhh!!
facebook.com has taken me away from my beloved blog. probably a good thing though...a little less emo and a little more creepin' on long-lost friends' photo albums.
woot.
TONIGHT my beloved young adults' group had a bbq at park lake, just outside lethbridge.
SO GREAT!! A LAKE!! It's a little gross, and kinda smells like cow poo...BUT I could go swimming, and there was more or less a beach, so I was happy.
And we had a fire and s'mores and it was pretty dang epic.
oh, and darrell is home from the philippines.
YEAH!
29.3.08
11.3.08
news.
the good news is...I've been spending less time on the internet, more time interacting face-to-face with the world.
the bad news is...this has meant significantly less blogging for you readers. SO, if you are still here...well done.
My graduation rectial is this Saturday, March 15, @ 4.30pm!! How exciting, I know.
Other than that....I haven't been focussed on much. But, plans are moving forward for living in Lethbridge next year, working a bit with bridges of hope, and just generally embracing the incredible, revolutionary life I've found here.
and now...some pictures of reading week in Vancouver. It should quickly be obvious why I love the colour blue...
the bad news is...this has meant significantly less blogging for you readers. SO, if you are still here...well done.
My graduation rectial is this Saturday, March 15, @ 4.30pm!! How exciting, I know.
Other than that....I haven't been focussed on much. But, plans are moving forward for living in Lethbridge next year, working a bit with bridges of hope, and just generally embracing the incredible, revolutionary life I've found here.
and now...some pictures of reading week in Vancouver. It should quickly be obvious why I love the colour blue...
1.2.08
* drive star *
HOLLERRR!
I just got home from work, and I need to relate to you the story of my shift this morning.
OK, so not a full story, just a few fun facts.
I started @ 7am, and deanna graciously lent me her car so I could drive to work -- woohooo!!! That was great.
I arrived 5 mins early, signed in, was good to go, set up my tills...and then the GONG SHOW set in.
I ended up on drive-thru, and I took my first few orders just fine, working off of the 5 minute drive-thru training I had the other day.
Suddenly, it was out of control. I had 8 orders in a row, wasn't sure how many I could ring in and have stored on the computer at once, and I just thought that I was falling apart.
!!!!
FORTUNATELY, I was working with Brittany and Abby, who are fabulously cool-headed, and they helped me to remain calm and work through our drink orders. UNFORTUNATELY, the cafe was also hella busy, so....there was no relief.
Jen came in too, as the gong show was slowing down (ONLY slightly), and she and I pro-star'd the drive-thru together.
Phew.
It was.................a test of stamina, but I passed! Hooorah!
I just got home from work, and I need to relate to you the story of my shift this morning.
OK, so not a full story, just a few fun facts.
I started @ 7am, and deanna graciously lent me her car so I could drive to work -- woohooo!!! That was great.
I arrived 5 mins early, signed in, was good to go, set up my tills...and then the GONG SHOW set in.
I ended up on drive-thru, and I took my first few orders just fine, working off of the 5 minute drive-thru training I had the other day.
Suddenly, it was out of control. I had 8 orders in a row, wasn't sure how many I could ring in and have stored on the computer at once, and I just thought that I was falling apart.
!!!!
FORTUNATELY, I was working with Brittany and Abby, who are fabulously cool-headed, and they helped me to remain calm and work through our drink orders. UNFORTUNATELY, the cafe was also hella busy, so....there was no relief.
Jen came in too, as the gong show was slowing down (ONLY slightly), and she and I pro-star'd the drive-thru together.
Phew.
It was.................a test of stamina, but I passed! Hooorah!
31.1.08
it's not minus 40 anymore!!!
it's been minus forty (degrees centigrade) all week...and today it is minus 5!!!!
WOOHOO!!!
I am delighted, I must say, because this cold and I are not meant to be together.
oh, and welcome to the blog of 2008. the absense has been good, but it's time to return.
hello world!
WOOHOO!!!
I am delighted, I must say, because this cold and I are not meant to be together.
oh, and welcome to the blog of 2008. the absense has been good, but it's time to return.
hello world!
