Sitting around the kitchen table, illuminated only by the light of a kerosene lamp burning brilliantly, looking around at the flame-lit faces of the people most dear to me in Honduras, I feel blessed. The blend of black and white faces, blue eyes and sparkling black eyes, and young and old, is a symbol of the transcendence that friendship has over language, race, culture, or tradition.

The candlelight, the atmosphere, the community around the table, brings it full circle. The differences cease to divide us, and the friendship, the heart of the matter, is what will hold us together.

children and chillin'

I am sitting in the Alberta Children's Hospital.  

I am here with my nephew Kade, who is once again in the hospital.

He is so cute, and innocent, and I just feel so bad for him...why won't his lungs grow faster?

I spent all day yesterday and all last night with him, and had a fabulous time.  I love the way he looks at me with those big brown eyes, and my heart just melts.

Over the weekend, my friend Christy was in town...we figured out that we've known each other for 18 years!  Definitely one of my oldest friendships.  It was a fun time...we did Lake Louise, Kensington, 17th Ave, a Pride and Prejudice marathon (can you believe that I had never seen the movie?!), and just hung out with friends and family.  I was sick the whole time, which sucked, but other than that, it was great fun.

Discouraged...

I know all the Sunday School answers.  

And I actually believe them all too...

But I am discouraged.  If God has His best for me, where is it?

I have a LOT to be thankful for...but I need a job. 

I had an interview for the perfect job, and I didn't get it.

Now, I know this happens all the time, and it's part of the job-searching process, but I'm still choked.  I'm running out of options here.

Anyway, not to be all negative.  On a positive note, I am keeping myself VERY busy with stuff...still helping at Karla's all the time, growing deeper in friendships, doing lots of fun stuff, being in a Christmas musical, etc...!  So...there's lots of good stuff going on too...I'm not just a downer.

Dominican...

What a glorious vacation!

The beach, the weather, the pool, the food and drinks, the company, the excursions, the massage on the beach, the people we met, getting to speak Spanish, it was all just so great.

We thought the weather would be terrible because of Hurrican Ike, but it passed through before we even got there, and it was beautiful weather.  Our week consisted of swimming, suntanning, lying around, kayaking, catamaraning, going on excursions to the capital city and to the villages around where we were, eating, drinking, watching live entertainment, and so much more.  I have no complaints whatsoever.  The resort was amazing, it was nice to do the all-inclusive thing for a change, but also nice to get out of the resort and catch a glimpse of the "real Dominican".  

Dominicans are amazing...I always find it so fascinating to talk to other people and see what makes them tick.  Rudy, the guy in the picture, was our favorite waiter, we talked to him every day and well, he was just a great guy!  What else can I say?  All in all...a great week.  

So much to say...but every time I sit down to write something, I end up deleting it and closing the window. Today is September 1, 2008. My how time flies. It was already two years ago that I was getting ready to go to Honduras. Holy smokes.

Top 5 Things about Summer 2008:

1. Hanging out with Karla, Dave, Elijah, Jonah, Peyton, and Kade. I love those guys.

2. Trip to Atlanta to visit Larissa. That was such a good, relaxing time. Going to Florida too.

3. Camping in Rocky...actually rafting in Rocky is more accurate. The camping sucked. The rafting was awesome.

4. Hanging out with friends - Sarah, Julie, Julie, Merissa, etc... It was good times all around (Canmore, Taste of Calgary, GlobalFest, Corn Maze, etc...)

5. Not having a job. While this was stressful in terms of finances, it was great in terms of flexibility and freedom to help out Karla and do what I wanted to do.

This is me and the Julie's in the corn maze. It was really fun. They also had a petting zoo with cute little kittens that I wanted to take home. Oh Gilmore...all grown up. What's coming up for me then? Well, I need to get a job. Very badly. But before that, I am going to the Dominican Republic for an all-inclusive trip! I leave on Saturday, and I'm VERY EXCITED!! Woop woop...warmer weather, here I come!

Summer Life...

It's strange to me...I have been jobless so far this summer!

This has allowed me the unique opportunity to hang out a lot with family, to do a little travelling (to Atlanta, and to Pensacola Beach, Florida), to do a missions trip with the youth, to sleep in a lot, and to generally enjoy the time that I am given.

I am needing to start looking for a job...one that allows me to use my gifts and abilities, and one that is interesting, and one that actually pays me money to do the above two things! Anyone have any suggestions?!

Also, I turned 30 this year. YIKES. Man am I ever old. You know how when you were younger, you thought you'd have it all figured out by this time? Yeah, that's a myth...it's definitely not true!

Here are some pics of my nephews...I now have four! Elijah (3 1/2), Jonah (1 1/2), and Peyton and Kade (almost 8 weeks). They are adorable.

It's a brand new day!!!

My sister told me that my last blog was a little depressing and really I have much more good things in my life then I let on. So, really I shouldn't feel cold and freezing, brrr...but there are times when I feel alive and happy, and really quite positive!! I am actually very excited about graduation because I have been in school for most of my almost 30 years of life and it will be freeing to have a job and make some real money (not that 2 days a week at the medicenter isn't a good job!!) There are a lot of possibilities out there for me, I just need to actually narrow down what it is that I want to do!! I also really enjoy helping my sister, who is basically on bedrest, she is having twins and spending time with my nephews is the joy of my life. Now if only Jonah would learn to say my name and not Curtis's then I would have even more to be excited about. I am looking forward to the summer when the weather will be hot and I can spend time outside!! I have good friends, Sara, Julie, Merissa, and of course my loving sister, and for those people I am truly thankful for.

So really, life is not as sad or depressing as I may have made it seem the other day, because I know that there is more to life and that God has given me much more then I may sometimes credit Him for.