Monday January 29, 2007

Productive Day!

This morning in field we had a special guest lecturer who spoke to us about visitation. We learned a really neat tool called a genogram. Apparently this is a regular thing in the "therapy world" but it was new to me in the "pastoral care" world! It's basically drawing a picture of a family using squares, circles, triangles and many other neat options. As I think to the future I think I will definitely use this as a way to visually remember who's related to whom, and who belongs to whom! One of my goals for this semester in field is to get out and experience a few visitations with Lynn - hopefully I'll get to untie this tool from my handy toolbox...haha...training college terminology is so funny sometimes...especially when you're tired!

After lunch I headed up to the library to start reading the book for our prophets book review and let me just say "wow." This surely isn't light reading! I've managed to plug my way through the first two chapters - thankfully we're going over the book in Wednesday's class. Hopefully I'll have most of the book read by then, and have the assignment totally ready by Wednesday night. My school work "to do" list is clearly set out from now until my break of retreat weekend and my trip home - I need to stick to that like glue.

Also today while running on the treadmill at the gym I was watching Dr. Phil (I know..filling my mind with nothingness) and he was talking to this woman who is a stalker. She stalks Jay Z who is a famous rapper. This girl was crazy! She emailed him 200 times a day, called 100 times a day! That's a little freaky if you ask me. She is so consumed by this man that he controls her life without even knowing who she is! Stay with me...this may be a far fetched idea....but here it goes...what if we stalked God? What if we prayed 200 times a day, and sang in worship to him 100 times a day? Would our life look any different than it does now? What if....

Sunday January 28, 2007

This weekend has been a time for movies! Friday night Sheldon and I watched "Gangs of New York" and "The Black Dahlia" which were rented from "Braye"Buster. Then last night I went to see the new love story "Catch & Release" starring Jennifer Garner - I highly recommend it. It's a great (but different) story line that in some strange way left me feeling like the world isn't a half bad place!! So basically it looks like I have done nothing all weekend...not true...I worked all day Saturday so that I could go out an enjoy a nice evening! I'm actually doing really well with my work schedule and it's looking positive that I won't have to bring anything home with me in February! Yeah!

This week we received another letter from our Sponsor Child Faber from Columbia! It's amazing to see his art work get better and better each time we receive something from him. He has certainly grown a lot since we began sponsoring him! Here are some of the pray requests for Columbia as outline by Compassion Canada:

Pray that students in Colombia will find mentors who will provide a home away from home for students living away from their parents for the first time.

Pray for the thousands of children in poverty who have never dared to dream about the future. Pray their lives will be filled with parents, pastors, teachers and other adults who will encourage them to dream.

Pray for strength, patience and wisdom for the staff of Compassion Colombia as they show the love of Jesus to children who desperately need to know the care of a father.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Wednesday January 24, 2007

So this week is flying by so fast I can't believe it! On Monday & Tuesday we had our first management class with Mj. Woodland - it was SO helpful! I've never really seen a budget, a balance sheet...and have no idea about managing the finances of a church - that was before class! haha! Seriously though, it was very practical information that will come in handy in the future. Today has been a busy day as well with classes, school work, YMCA, groceries and now putting the final touches on my Ethics presentation for tomorrow's class. I wonder if I'll be able to get any juicy, controversial discussions going??? Who knows! Tomorrow's looking busy as well as I'll have my field evaluation with the Armstrong's and then out to Band & Songsters in the evening. Before I know it - I'll be flying home to Corner Brook for reading week to spend the week catching up with my family and friends!

While I'm thinking about it two of my session mates (Jason & Mark B) are going to Jamaica on Monday for a missions trip - please pray for them! I"m sure that they will have a great time, and learn lots about themselves and mission - but they are also leaving wives and kids (in Jason's case) at home...so pray that everyone keeps safe! I've gotta admit that I'm kind of jealous that they get to go and I don't - but no hard feelings! haha

Thursday January 18, 2007

Great news was awaiting me when I got home from band & songsters tonight!! When we were are at 614 over Christmas we had the chance to meet a wonderful woman named Fiona (who happens to be another Aussie friend...who would have thought??) and a wonderful guy named Matt (who is a Newfie!). Over our time there we had a few nights with them just chatting and getting to know another young couple who is on fire for God- anyhow....they got engaged tonight!! I'm so pumped for them because as they would say "they are in love like puppies" and now can continue to plan their lives together. Who knows where they'll end up...maybe in Winnipeg one day living at 873 Waverley Street! (Fiona I know it's cold here - but you'd survive...I promise!)

Celebrate love!

Wednesday January 17, 2007

A big special "Thank you" to Edi for sharing with us in Chapel this morning. Many times in my life I have seen the pictures and video segments of war torn countries, and children growing up in these areas...but today...to hear those stories from someone who actually lived to tell his story was amazing! Edi was a perfect picture of God's mercy, grace and love! It was moving to once again be reminded of our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer each and every day, who literally live in the moment as they don't know if another will follow - we must remember to lift the body of Christ up in prayer - it is the least we can do.

Blessings.

Tuesday January 16, 2007

Since the last time I blogged a few exciting things have happened -

1. My Mom, Dad and Sister have all booked their flights to come to Winnipeg for "Celebration 125" aka Commissioning! (Sheldon's parents soon to follow I think!)

2. It was my birthday on Sunday, and I turned the big 22! haha. It was really a whole weekend celebration as Sheldon and I celebrated on Friday night, I was taken out for breakfast on Saturday morning, surprised with a cake on Saturday night, and had almost everyone over on Sunday afternoon (whoever was home) for a piece of my cake! What a celebration! Thanks to everyone who made it special! The other great thing about my birthday is that I got money so that I could go shopping!!! yeah! For anyone who lives on a budget, you know how exciting that can be. I ended up picking up a few new shirts and a crock pot...it was great! If anyone has any yummy crock pot recipe's let me know please!

3. While talking to my sister the other night on the phone Sheldon and I heard our youngest nephew talking for the first time! I couldn't believe how much he sounds like his older brother, and how well he was pronouncing some of the words! He gladly said something similar to "Uncle Sheldon" and of course it was the one time he would not say "Auntie!" Why do all kids have to play that game?!?!?! haha

However, today it's been back to the real world as I've spent most of it getting my school work schedule figured out, and reading some text books. Sheldon and I will be sharing a "This is my story" chapel early next week so we will sit down together today and start to plan for that as well. I should jet and figure out what to have for supper - and await a phone call from Pasadena.

Friday January 5, 2007

Well today was my last day of being a bum - and filling my mind with soap opera garbage - and eating like food is going out of style! haha! Who could think of a better way to end this time of R&R then by playing Scrabble Junior and Hide-n-seek with Sam and Michelle...and by the way Mark and Jodi...I hid in your shower! haha...the joys of living in community! On the other hand it was a very educational evening as I don't remember the last time I read that many books!!

Books - when was the last time you read "Green eggs and ham?" Tonight was the first time I've read that book in years...I used to love reading when I was younger! Curling up on the couch with my mom to read any kind of book that was available - I was one of those kids that wanted a bookstore gift card for my birthday! But now...well...how things change. Now I struggle to read course requirements! Except God has been working in my life recently and has given me a new passion for reading the Bible - not for devotional purposes, or for studying, but simply to read for pleasure. I've really enjoyed reading through the book of Isaiah over the past few days and look forward to see which book God will lead me to next.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

January 01, 2007

Happy New Year everyone! We have officially entered the year of "the commissioning" and the year of "the dog" (hopefully) for Sheldon and I! haha! But in all seriousness this is going to be a big year for all of us in the HGN session (check out Sheldon's site for the daily countdown!)

Last night we rung in the new year with the Hollands the Crabbs and George - playing games and stuffing our faces full of junk food...and then out of no where some crazy lady came bursting through the door shouting "happy new year"...when we realized it was just Tammy all of us were relieved! haha.

Well there are only a few days left to sleep in, relax, watch TV, movies and be lazy before the business of our last semester here in Winnipeg begins. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by! Have a relaxing day everyone!

I leave you with the top 10 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Quit Smoking
2. Lose Weight
3. Quit Drinking
4. Go Back to School
5.Spend more time with your family
6. Try Something new
7.Work on your spiritual growth
8. Take a trip
9. Pay off Christmas debt
10.Get a better job