Dec 31, 2008

A Thing of the Past

I always enjoy looking back on every year. It's important for us to look over our pasts and learn from what we have done. There is no point in trying to change what has happened.

We've all done it. We sit there on New Years Eve and ponder the previous year. We sum up all the peculiar moments, that for whatever reason stick out in our memories as important, and then we replay these moments in our minds, thinking, 'what could I have done differently?'. I know I do this every year, and it's okay.

I know that there are some fights I have had that I could have handled better, disagreements I should have just kept my mouth shut about, even second-guessing myself where not needed. I'm 19 years old, to me, everything is life or death.

Well, not actually life or death, but you get the jist of that. I'm one of the many people who is going to reflect on the past year, and then make a New Years Resolution, as if that is going to help. I always like the resolutions to lose weight, or stop eating a certain food, or get organized. The ones where people try and change a distinct part of who they am..those are my favourites. Those are also the least successful. I remember one year, my New Years resolution was to eat an apple every day. That lasted about a week, before I got sick of the taste, and remembered why I didn't eat apples every day in the first place.

This year, my resolution is perhaps an enhancement of who I already am. I love to read, but I never have enough time to read everything I want to. So this year, I'm making room. My goal is to read 1 book every two weeks, which I think is a good idea, especially after school work, and extra currics, 26 books a year seems reasonable.

In the mean time, as I say goodbye to 2008, all its rays of sunshine and flakes of snow. Every tear, every smile, every glitter in an eye. It was a good year, full of new experiences, old memories, and grand finales.

Goodbye 2008. You've been good.

Dec 29, 2008

Typewriter!

My most cherished gift this Christmas wasn't really a gift at all.

I recieved my Grandpa's old type-writer on account of the fact that after many years at their current house, they have bought and are in the process of moving into Wrinkletown, which is my affectionate name for Trillium Village, the old folks housing in town. I have always had a passion for creative writing, and there is something really cool about typing on typewriters. My Grandpa's typewriter was one of those kinds where you can see the letter hit the peice of paper and the ink strip leaving a mark. It's really very cool.

I have really wanted this typewriter for about as long as I knew it existed. Its so much for fun to write a story on a typewriter, and the sound it makes is so much more the sound of creation, than the noise of a keyboard.

Perhaps it is the fact that computers and keyboards have always been associated with homework assignments for me. The first time I ever used a keyboard was at school, in a computer lab with some of those 256 mb hard drives..and the cute little ink blue screens, with the one wordprocessing program and packman..because that's all the harddrive could hold. The very first time I used a keyboard, I was trying to type up a homework assignment in grade 2. My spelling was notoriously horrible, and my sentences were generally weak. But I was in grade 2, so really, what can you expect?

But this typewriter.

This typewriter has so much history. And not just from what I know of it.

I remember my sister and I used to type up letters to Grandpa and Grandma on that typewriter after school on Mondays. We would sit in the basement and giggle, while Grandma was upstairs making supper. Mondays were our favourites. Mondays were the days we went there because Mom and Dad both worked. In the mornings we would have oatmeal with sugar and milk on it, and pulpy orange juice (which I never liked) and toast with Grandma's homemade jams..strawberry Rhubarb and Marmelaide. And sometimes she would have those really dry Dutch round bread toast things..they tasted good with the jam too.

Grandma would usually then clean up the dishes and Kristen and I would go upstairs and brush our teeth and hide all the multi-coloured soaps that she had in the towels and under the sink. Then we would go to school.

Grandpa would pick us up after school and we would have tea and cookies when we got home. I remember one afternoon, we taught Grandpa and Grandma how to do Long Division. To heck if I can still do that stuff, but it was fun at the time. And then, after homework at the kitchen table, we would watch the Sound of Music, or Anne of Green Gables, eat carrots and celery sticks, and crochet one single line of wool. Usually just to see if we could get it long enough to fit from one end of the house, all the way up 2 flights of stairs to the closet door at the end of the hallway.

The best days were the ones when you were too sick to go to school. You would get to stay at Grandma's and have soup, and watch TVO kids all day. It was the best.

I think that the typewriter represents all those years at Grandpa and Grandmas. The house they are moving out of is the only one all of the grandkids have known. My being the oldest and all, I have the most memories of this house, and perhaps one of the biggest attachments to it. I have so many stories of that house. So many fun times with Grandpa and Grandma. Now that they are moving, its nostalgic.

When I find some fresh ribbon for the typewriter, I might just compose a list of stories of all the times I had at the Grandparents' house. All of them. Perhaps, too, this typewriter is a little peice of my past, of that house, of that time in my life, that I won't ever have to let go.

Dec 27, 2008

Amazing Grace All Decked Out!

Well, here's a little holiday cheer!



I think it is funny how the roof looks like it is moving.
Oh, Optical allusions!

Dec 24, 2008

The LORD Has Come

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

[Luke 2: 1-20 NIV]

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.”

[Isaiah 9:6 NIV]

Now, I don't know if it was a midnight clear, and by the sound of the angels, I doubt it was silent. I don't think there was snow, and somehow, I doubt there was mistletoe. It didn't matter. So many years ago, God came. He came as a child. Into a dark world. He came to live a perfect life, and die, for you and for me.

For years, the world had cried out for a Savior. 'Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel."

Emmanuel means 'God with Us."

Today, the world cries out for a Savior. The world cries out in its need and looks towards things like drugs, and alcohal, towards the newest gadgets, better jobs, medications, all in the hope that it will end their sorrows.

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" —which means, "God with us." [Matthew 1:23 NIV]

Today, we have a Savior. God is with us. GOD! God promised to take our sorrows. Jesus died so that we can live. That little baby slept in the manger. Not a crib, not a bed. The CHRIST spent His first night on earth in the food dish for farm animals. Emmanuel, God with us, sleep in heavenly peace.

Hark! The Herald angels sang.
Glory in the Highest!
Peace on Earth

It's not about Santa Claus. It's not about the snow. It's not about the gifts under the tree. It isn't about what you did, or didn't recieve from your family and friends. It isn't about wish-lists, or turkey, or stuffing, or carolling. It isn't about the tree, or the lights, or attending all those holiday parties. It's not about searching the stores for the perfect present. It's not about holiday specials, or Charlie Brown, or the Grinch, or even Frosty the Snowman. It's not about Christmas Bonuses, or Hot Chocolate or Hostess gifts.

Christmas is about Christ.

And it always will be.

Joy to the world, the LORD has come
Let earth recieve her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Dec 21, 2008

The Dentist's Office

I have figured out how to upload YouTube Videos to my blog! So, let's see if this works.

Here is Bill Cosby on Dentists. Enjoy.

Dec 19, 2008

It Takes FOREVER!

I had a great time tonight. I spent the whole evening with my mom making cards. I know there are a lot of people into this, and I must admit, I enjoy it now, more than I ever did before.

It's been funny watching how my mom's level of skill in the card-making franchise of a hobby has increased. The first cards she ever made were..well...beginner. But now, she's just doing amazing thing with paper and stamps and ink and ribbon and brads and heat guns and markers and pencil crayons... you get the idea. So, her bout of creativeness has rubbed off a bit on me throughout the years as well. Today, I made the hardest, prettiest card ever. It took me so long. I honestly don't have the patience for all the work involved in the complex cards. I like the ones with the card stock, some funky paper, a bit of mounting, one stamp..and voila!
However, my time today was well spent. If you are interested in the paper and stamp set used...it's all Stampin' Up!

Dec 15, 2008

Mad Hatter

My RA and I found a hat belonging to one of the neighbor boys in our dorm this weekend when we cleaned. So I held onto it (as I was the only one brave enough to touch the dirty, smelly thing). And tonight, we shall return it in the form of a Christmas present.

There will be two motives completed here. 1) The other boys in the dorm will be sad that they did not get a Christmas present from Lorie and Myself. 2) He will be laughed at severly by his dormies, and will hopefully remember to bring his crap back with him when he leaves.

*smiles*

Dec 14, 2008

Trading Posts

A few minutes ago, we had a few guys come to our door looking to trade something. Their goal was to start with an object and see if they could get the thing they were actually looking for.

Our dorm got a lovely huge canister of hot chocolote, which was not full, and we gave them a juicebox, 'an excellent source of vitimin C'. I wish them luck with their quest. Although I am not entirely sure what it is they were going for..

Dec 8, 2008

Exams

I have finished the most dreaded of all exams and I did amazing!

It was sociology, and I hated that class. I hated it, I hated it, I hated it (This semester wasn't exactly top notch class selection for me...). I'm not sure if my happiness is amount of the fact that the class is over, or that I'm pretty sure I killed my exam (killed in this case is not deviant at all, in fact, it is very, very good), or a culmination of both. Either way, I'm thrilled.

The thing with exams is this. I will learn it, inside and out, so that I know it all, and can regurgitate whatever you throw at me. As soon as the exam is over, everything that I have memorized either oozes out my ear in a green gunk, or drifts way up into the heavens in a thought bubble. A very large and pointless thought bubble. Thought bubbles are good.

The exam wasn't even hard. I think it was because (and what a concept) the studying helped.

Anyways, long story short, happiness is the end of Sociology 121. Yay!

Dec 6, 2008

Well, Hello Snow!

I'm home for the weekend, and I cannot believe how much snow they have here! I mean, I've been whining for like a month about how there is no snow, and how I love snow, and blah blah blah. But I think, my problem was just that I was in the wrong place.

Honestly, it is beautiful. Unfortunately, I have forgotten my camera, and cannot take a picture of it. :(

Dec 3, 2008

Cores

Not apples.
Not universes.
Not even hard.

No, this core is something I hated from the beginning.

I called it Math for Dummies, and for good reason. This course is probably the bain of my existance. It's a waste of time. I took it, because I didn't take Grade 12 mathematics. Once I was done Grade 11 math, I figured that I would never have to take the stupid course again (sorry to any of you math fans out there..).

Then I came to Redeemer. They told me that I needed to take MAT 101 (Math for Dummies) because I did not have the Grade 12 math course. So I figured, alright, I'll take the dumb thing in first year and get it over with. Dumb!

Today, we received notices in our mail boxes from the school telling us that the Math and Second Language cores have been removed. That, for those students who have taken one of these courses, such course would be added as an elective. AN ELECTIVE? Are they kidding me? I suffered through an entire course of material I don't give a crap about and now they are telling me it counts as an elective? If I wanted an elective course, I would have taken something I actually enjoy. Like psychology, or a second year english. But no, now I am stuck with this stupid math course.

Have I mentioned that I totally and completely despise math? Because I do.
Math for Dummies.
A waste of time,
A waste of a course,
and a huge waste of my (well, actually, the school's..) money.

BAH!