FIGHT!!

What started out as a midnight walk in the snow turned into a vicious snowball fight between most of the people in First Parkinglot.

I'm cold.
I'm wet.
I'm soo unbelievably happy.

God is Good!

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot like Christmas!

I think the most amusing news story I have heard in the last few days came from the USA.

There was a Walmart employee who died the morning of 'Black Friday'. She was trampled by eager shoppers looking to get the best deals for the Christmas season. But seriously, this woman was trampled. Does no one else see how this is a brutal reflection of our consumerist society?

Christmas is about Christ's birth, the greatest gift of all was given to us by God, 2000 years ago. This, my friends, is how we celebrate the holidays today. We trample Walmart employees to 'give' to our families and friends.

I hate Christmas shopping. I hate buying gifts people don't need, and may never use. I always find it so hard to buy something. I find myself thinking, well, what will they like? What do they want? And not, what do they need..

Truth is, I was inspired by a girl in my dorm. She mentioned this past week that her parents had called and asked for a Christmas list. She told them to buy goats for someone else. Literally, buy goats.

Our dorm, as a whole, is going to go through the World Vision catalogue and come up with some goats, or chickens, or clothing, etc. to send to people around the world.

In the meantime, back home, I look forward to spending time with my family, making cookies, and meals, and playing games. I look forward to decorating, and seeing the lights, and snow. I look forward to all the things that come with the Christmas season. But most of all, I look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Oh come, Oh come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.

and then finally..

Joy to the world! The Lord HAS Come!

The Sky is Falling!

There is an airport very close to Redeemer. I've been finding lately (as essay season is going and exam season is coming) that this airport receives planes at the most awkward time.

Between 1 and 2am (it's 10 minutes to 2am right now) is rush hour for the airport. The planes can't land at normal times during the day, like when there's light outside, not at all! They have to make the most noise during the hours students are either trying to get to sleep, or finish essays.

My favourites are the big ones. They make the most noise and, sometimes, it'll sound like the sky is falling down.

Memoirs of a Pack Rat

This afternoon was lovely. I spent most of it cleaning my room, which was quite relaxing.


I am a pack rat. I think its inherited. As I was scrummaging through my papers and books and creative writings that I brought along to school, I found many forgotten items. Here's a short list.


-a postcard from Disney World from grade 11
-minutes to a VBS organizer committee meeting (I wasn't even involved in this)
-Youth Service song orders (I was involved in this)
-A floppy disk with puppy dog stickers on it
-A disposable camera
-Sheet music
-A letter I wrote to a friend and never mailed
-Comics
-Some old journals (why did I bring these?)
-Clear Tape refills
-my stickers!
-markers
-a sock (singular. It's mate got thrown in the garbage years ago)
-A SERVE t-shirt
- 2 blank CDs
-about 20 books I had forgotten I'd brought
-an envelope of coupons (anyone want these?)
-2 mittens..that didn't match
-a package of pens which had exploded
-a to-do list, which apparently didn't get done, because these things were all still packed.


The good news is, most of this stuff was either sorted through or rid completely. My room is much cleaner, and the recycle box is full of paper!

A Momentous Day

Today was an exciting day. I can finally put my hair back up in a pony tail! It's taken a few months, but it has finally happened. This means less time making myself look presentable in the morning. Now, all I need is an elastic and some bobby-pins!

No pictures?

I've become recently frustrated with Blogger. It won't let me load pictures onto my blog. I don't know why, and I don't figure that I'll find out either. If anyone has any ideas as to how to make them stick, let me know. I'm more than willing to take your advice!

I just want my pictures back!!

A Recipe..

I know what you're thinking, Mom. A recipe? Yeah, well, this one is kind of good.

What you Need:
-8 Boneless Chicken breasts (for 4, just cut the recipe in half)
-1 box 'Shake 'n' Bake'
-Kraft Ranch Dressing (low fat is best)
-1/2 Onion-chopped
-5-6 large mushrooms - chopped
-salt
-pepper
-thyme
-1/2 cup water
-Large glass casserole dish

Defrost Chicken Breasts (just in case you didn't think of this for yourself..) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place Chicken Breasts into casserole dish and pour in water. Add mushrooms and onions and spread them evenly across the dish. Pour ranch dressing over the casserole dish until it is mostly covered and then distribute the 'Shake 'n' Bake' on top so that it covers the entire casserole dish. You may need to use both packages in the box. Sprinkle salt, pepper and thyme on the top and place in oven. Let it cook for 40 minutes.

Serves: 8

:)

Rain, Rain, Go Away..

Once again, I think the entirety of Ontario is getting snow except for little old Ancaster. Welcome to the tropics people: where the winters are warm and it rains a lot.

As much as I love going for walks in the rain, I like snow more. I wish it would snow enough that the ground would be blanketed white.

"Rain, Rain, go away, come again another day.."

It would be nice to at least have November-ish weather.

First Snow of the Season

"Let it snow, let it snow!"

Tonight was the first snow of the season. There wasn't enough to cover the ground, but for a few moments it was white. Softly, falling, dancing. "Me and snow, we go way back." (Lorelai Gilmore, Gilmore Girls)

It's become a tradition of sorts for me to go out into the first snow and just stand, if only for a few seconds. It is my favourite time of the year. It is so quiet. The night the snow first falls, the world is at peace and the air smells crisp. I love it when snow falls on my face. I love feeling it fall and linger onto my eyelashes until it melts and I need to blink 'else the water will trickle into my eye.

I love scarves and mittens (not gloves) and boots and coats. I love hot chocolate and cold winter nights and coming back inside after near frost-bite. I love the tingle in my fingers as the blood in my body warms up. I just love snow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuS5IrQPqFg&feature=related

I feel much the same as Lorelai on the matter. 'The world changes colour,' to quote her exactly. 'I'll take [snow] in any form.'

The first snow is exhilarating. It is wonderful. It is miraculous. Oh, how I love it!

He Reigns

I would like you to watch this video. It's called 'He Reigns' and it is by the Newsboys.

I have just become overwhelmed with the desire to praise this weekend. Hours and hours spent playing flute and piano just don't seem to be good enough. His praise is on my lips.

'It's all God's children singing glory, glory, Hallelujah, He reigns'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMT_kAD6cOg

Let my lifesong sing...

Make Me Angry

The guys next door have it figured out.

Dorm inspection is coming up on Thursday. This means, we get to clean.

They thought they should lock me up in their dorm after making me really angry.

I have this thing, where I clean when I'm angry. I get angry because things are not clean. It's a rather vicious circle. However, one of the guys next door made a comment about making me realllllly angry and then locking me in their dorm on Wednesday night so that their dorm would pass dorm inspection. I have to commend them for this. It was not only a good joke, but it could actually work.

Our dorm, however has a more logical solution to the problem of dorm inspection. Clean your own dorm yourselves. We are having a cleaning/dance party.

Gray Tuesday

I am quite enthralled with the U.S. presidential election.

The voters need to realize just how significant this upcoming election is. Besides the whole speech about how all American's should vote and whatnot, I think there is something more important to be discussed. The outcome of this election will (inevitably) effect the entire world. With the growing economic crisis, the neverending 'War on Terrorism', and the (let's just face it) falling USA superpower, voters have a lot to consider.

No offense to Canadian politics, but they just aren't as interesting as the American politics. Canada isn't battling it's position of a global superpower with several other countries. Canada isn't facing a economic crisis as severe as the States. Canada isn't defined by its current positions on the War in Iraq. Canada just doesn't have the fuel to power an election quite like this.

This election is important on several notes. The candidates stand for political and social issues that have plagued the USA for far too many years. Obama comes from the working class, African American, middle citizens. He represents all the years of Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for equality. He represents the charismatic, hollywood, perfect dad, JFK parallel of this century. And yet, his newness to politics, along with his experienced vice-presidential candidate, Joe Biden, Obama brings 'new light' to the White House. His position on the War in Iraq could use some perfecting, but he is a smart, outgoing candidate who is not afraid to be the hero figure. I see Obama as a sort of Harvey Dent character from the recent Batman film. He is eager to clean up the States, however, he is young. His eagerness and inexperience may cause him to become corrupted.

McCain, on the other hand is the elitist, conservative leader the States may just need to bring them through the next few years. McCain's experience in the wars, former trips and quibbles in political races have given him the stamina to fight back. McCain is not afraid of the reporters, and believes deeply in using the sentiments of human nature to bring his campaign to new levels. He, however, lacks the newness of Obama, and has one fallback. He belongs to the same party as President Bush. We all know that Bush has outlived his time in the Whitehouse, and although McCain may have some differing views than Bush, they do belong to the same party. Their take on the War is similar, in fact, McCain is pushing for more troops.

However, consider this. Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney are endorsers of Obama. McCain is supported by the Washington Times, Boston Harold and the Veteran's League. Although Obama clearly has the lead on the whole 'money is power' philosophy, McCain has the intellectual newspapers, veterans, and critics potentially on his side. Which is better? Swing the funds? Or swing the Media?

In the coming years, the USA is facing an end to his global domination. The world will no longer depend on it to keep things together (or tear them apart, depending on your view). With the falling economy, and this is a huge topic to be discussed, both candidates are faced with the other miserable accusation of spending so much on a campaign before digging the Americans out with the money. Far-fetched, perhaps. But wouldn't that be the more effective campaign?

It's a dog-eat-dog election. And it could go either way. All I can do is encourage voters to make an informed choice. The rest will be decided on Tuesday? This decision isn't all black and white.

Another thing to consider is the faith of these two men. As a Christian blogger, I hate politics. I will not base my choice on claims. We'll see who wins, and their values and morals should play out in their term. Much more than just a war on 'terrorism' lies in this election. As it will always be, the Middle-Eastern war is about conflicting world views and religions. Islam vs Christianity once again. So, who will stand head of this supposedly 'God-fearing' country? Do I sound pessimistic?

Gray Tuesday, my friends, Gray Tuesday