Home for the Holidays

Rather than the traditional, stay-at-home kind of Christmas holiday, my family went up to the great West Edmonton Mall. We stayed up there for three days and did many different and awesome things!

We got there on Friday afternoon and wandered around and giggled late into the night. On Saturday morning we went for breakfast (and David decided that this place was his new home, so he went to breakfast in his housecoat and pajamas), then met up with relatives for coffee. Afterwards, Amanda, David and I began our mall-wide scavenger hunt. Mom and dad had gone up a few weeks beforehand and scouted out the mall and took "photo clues" for us to find. It was seriously such a blast!!!!

Of course you can't be in West Edmonton Mall and not go to the wave pool, so we spent that afternoon there taking on the GIANT manufactured waves (seriously, I got tubed), and riding as many waterslides as possible.

Finally, to end the adventure David took me and Amanda to the shooting range and we got to fire a whole bunch of different kinds of guns. I have no idea what I was shooting and I don't know if I was any good at all, but it was loads of fun. The guy who was supervising our shooting was one of those guys who wears camo pants and carries big knives in holsters on his leg....in the city. Classic.

All in all, it was a fantastic time and very, very memorable. The purpose was simply to spend time together as a family and to enjoy each other, and that purpose was achieved.

Check out David in his housecoat

Amanda and I are delicately eating our hotdogs...and I think Dave has part of his hand in his mouth...?

Me and Amanda

Dinner Parties and Shaky Faces...

It's true what they say. "You can dress her up, but you can't take her out". I discovered the reality of this once more at my friend's dinner party.

It was quite a posh deal...everyone in their Sunday best, candles to create atmosphere, classical music playing in the background, and a three-course meal. There was good conversation, good company, and the room felt thick with maturity and wisdom.

It all started with a horrible self-photo, then it moved into a suggestion from another dinner party attendee to try the "shaky face", and finally it snowballed into actually making an attempt at this new style of photography.



Watch the magic that ensued...

Jessica in all her classy wonder...(I was the top student in 'dinner party etiquette')

*Jerry and his enchanting charm

*Desmond and his strong physique

*Jimmy, always the look of wisdom and justice

*Reegus, our own personal crooner, singing us songs till his face began to ripple

*Keira, my soulful sister, rocking out to Reegus' Christmas ballads

*Carol, always full of serenity

*Jasmina, the picture of grace and elegance

Thanks to my dear friends who allowed me the absolute JOY of putting these photos on my blog. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I assure you, each one of these floppy faced individuals are beautiful.

*Some of the names have been changed so as to protect the identity of those photographed.

Last Days

I am officially done all of my exams, and somehow I have not lost my sanity...in fact, some remains in which to pack up my belongings and drive east into my beloved Alberta.

This last week has been one of much adventure, an obscene amount of coffee, and many goodbyes. It all started on Sunday with a wild idea to make our own sauna. We drove out to Harrison Lake where we found a private beach, built a tee pee, wrapped tarps all around it, and built a fire. We put a whole bunch of rocks in the fire and while they heated up, we did as well in a heated game of homemade bachi (baachi? baucci?...you know, that game with the ball that you throw and then the other balls that you throw at that ball...?). Anyway, we found some rocks and we chucked them all over the place. I think the real trick was to actually find your rocks in the midst of all the other rocks on the beach. An incredible feat.

Finally, we enclosed ourselves deep within the tee pee, accompanied by our red-hot fire rocks. Upon said fire rocks, we poured water which created the burning steam. Seriously, it worked so well!! That little area heated up fast and got so incredibly hot!!! After some time, when the heat became too unbearable, we ripped open the tee pee and all ran into wintery, Harrison Lake. We did this many times. Now, I have heard that this is very good for you and can be a way of detoxifying your body...but, I and the others with me ended up quite ill for the few days following the sauna adventure. I was a sneezing, snotting fool. It was worth it though!

Anyway, so I'm done school and am currently in the process of packing up my room and packing in my car. I officially leave Abbotsford tomorrow (Saturday), spend the night in Vancouver, and begin the eastward drive on Sunday morning. So for those that I'm leaving, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and for those that I will see shortly, a big "see you soon"!

Thailand Update

Alright...so, there's not tons more that I can say about what we are doing or when we are going, but there's lots and lots you guys could pray about.

We still do not have our visas. There is something that needs to happen on the side of the organization that is our umbrella while we are in language school before we can even apply. Basically, at this point we are trusting God for the timing of our departure because this is totally out of our control. We could be leaving later than the end of January, or perhaps that won't change.

Also, we do not know where in Thailand we are going to be doing language school. They are still trying to decide if we will be in Chiang Mai (North Thailand) or in Lop Buri (Central Thailand). Pray for discernment on the side of the organization in Thailand we will be working with.

Phil (Bob and Christina's 16 year old son) is still having seizures. They started about 6 months ago, and he has been having them consistently since. The doctors are saying that they are brought on by stress. After that diagnosis he went one day shy of a month seizure free, and then had 2 back to back. Please pray for him...and for Bob and Chris as they sort out what to do. I reckon this will also affect our departure date, because ultimately we would really like all our members to be somewhat healthy before we go.

I have a final on Thursday and then have to pack up all my belongings and begin the long journey back to Alberta on Sunday. It has been such a fruitful time for me here in Abbotsford, making connections, spending time with good friends, and getting to know my team members better. It's weird that this season is already over. 3 1/2 months come and gone!!!

Anyway, some of you I must say goodbye to, and others I will see shortly...

Sick Thailand Dogs

Fallen off the Face of the Earth...

Hey guys. Sorry about my silence. I have recently locked myself in my room and have written many papers and have spent endless hours in front of my computer. This is only the beginning though. I have a final on Thursday and another one next week...at least it's only two. But, I'm just letting you all know that I will not be around this space for a bit...

I'm coming back to Three Hills shortly!!!