It's definately been awhile since I've posted here. School has now finished - well, all except for exams and the rest of my TESL practicum.
I had the TESL exam this evening, and I think I did ok on it. I have one more class of observation for the TESL practicum, then I can start the teaching part of it. We have to do 10 hours of observation and 10 hours of teaching, and where we go to do the practicum, the classes are 2 1/2 hours in total (they are there for 3 hours, but there is a 1/2 hour break which isn't counted in the hours we have to do).
I've enjoyed the observation part of the practicum, and have been in the beginner class and the high intermediate class. The students are from all over the world, but it seems like the bulk of them are from South Korea (at least from what I've seen so far). Most of the students seem to be anxious and desire to learn English, which is nice. The levels of learning are varried with ones who know no English (or very, very little) to ones who have a great grasp of the language. Of course, they are divided into their appropriate classes.
My next exam is in Post Exilic Writings, and that is this coming Monday. The exam will have one major essay question and about 30-odd short answer questions. He has already given us these questions, we just have to study the answers (for the short answer, which are pretty easy anyway), and prepare the answer for the essay question. I'm not overly worried for this exam, but I do still need to prepare the essay question (which I'll just cut and paste from my notes to form my answer and study that).
The last exam I have, on Tuesday, is for Maritime History. Now that one there is a TON of notes to study. We have class notes, articles we've had to read for discussion classes, and the text book. Most of the exam is going to come from the text book, which I need to go over and highlight. I haven't read all of it so that is freaking me out some. The good thing, though, is that our notes contain a good deal of what is from the text book, so that helps.
Other than school, there hasn't been a whole lot going on. I did improve somewhat on my spiritual life, but still feel stagnant. I've been doing more prayer, though they aren't all that great, and usually just little ones tossed up here and there. My Bible reading has been coming along nicely; I've been reading every morning. I haven't been doing indepth or meditative studying from it, but I have been reading. I know that I need to improve in this area of my life - I've been lazy in my walk. Prayer for me in this area is always welcome :o).
Anyway, I'm feeling quite tired tonight, so I'm going to go do a little knitting before bed. Have to get up and do more studying tomorrow (tonight I'm taking a little break from it) - I'm sick of studying...but it needs to be done. I'll be glad when it's all said and done with Tuesday afternoon!
Have a Christ filled day!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The Cross
"At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match."~ John Wenham ~
The cross was a form of Roman torture. So bad was this style of punishment, that it eventually became eradicated. The one who was nailed to the cross did not die of pain nor loss of blood. The means of death was suffocation. Gravity pulled the body downward, but with no means of supporting ones self, the pressure on the lungs would cause the person to suffocate because of the lack of air reaching the lungs.
This is the form of torture and punishment our Lord suffered. So many people pin this crime on the Jews. In reality, it wasn't just the Jews - it was us. Each and every single person, past, present and future, is responsible for putting Jesus on the cross. We drove those nails in His hands. We drove those nails in His feet.
Thankfully, Jesus was willing to suffer all of that, and more, for us. He wanted us to have freedom. He wanted us to have eternal life. He wanted us to have forgiveness of sins. And He still wants that for everyone today. Over 2000 years later, Jesus longs to have a relationship with each and every person walking the face of the earth. That means you; that means me.
I have to disagree with John Wenham when he states in the above quote, "...where evil did its worst...". I don't think evil did its worst with sending Jesus to the cross. Yes, the whole act was painful and tortureous, but it wasn't the worst thing evil (Satan) could have done. No, the worst think that evil could have done, was to prevent Jesus from dying. The worst thing would have been for Jesus to have not become the sacrifice needed for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Am I happy that Jesus suffered the way He did? Of course not. I am not happy He had to suffer such pain, humiliation, mocking, etc. But, I am happy that He was willing to give up His life for me; I am happy that He loved me so much that He chose death so that I could have life.
And you know what? He did that for you too! Come to Him; accept His offer of eternal life and forgiveness of sins. He loves you, and longs to have a relationship with you.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Observation
Just a quick post. This past week I had two of the four days of observation for my TESL course. Whe have to have 10 hours of observation and 10 hours of teaching to get the certificate.
I've attended an intermediate to advanced intermediate class, as well as a beginner class. I really enjoyed both classes. The intermediate/adv. inter. class is easier to teach because they have a better grasp on the language. And even though the beginner class is a lot harder (most of them are doing well, but one of them is just learning and doesn't know very much at all yet and another one is a little further ahead of her), it was a lot more fun because the students were very interested in learning and were making jokes and what not...a lot of laughter in the class.
I'm going to the local multicultural center for the practicum, and they have a wide variety of countries represented. There were people from Costa Rica, Columbia, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Russia (or one of the former Russian states), Congo, Ethiopia...interesting to see how well they get along and how much they want to learn the language (though some had more enthusiasm than others, which is normal).
I have my last two days of observation this coming week, and then move on to the teaching aspect of it...that is scary! I'll be observed some by my teacher, and that is what makes me the most nervous. I'm not sure off hand when that starts...it might start the week after next, and it might not. Exams come up starting April 19th so I won't be doing any teaching during that time.
Anyway, just wanted to post a little update since it's been awhile. I am hoping to get something written for CWO's In Other Words this week as I haven't for the last couple of them for one reason or another. But, until then, have a Christ filled day!
Oh, and if any of you are knitters, I am having a little contest over on my knitting blog, Kitten Knits Yarn - come on over and enter!
I've attended an intermediate to advanced intermediate class, as well as a beginner class. I really enjoyed both classes. The intermediate/adv. inter. class is easier to teach because they have a better grasp on the language. And even though the beginner class is a lot harder (most of them are doing well, but one of them is just learning and doesn't know very much at all yet and another one is a little further ahead of her), it was a lot more fun because the students were very interested in learning and were making jokes and what not...a lot of laughter in the class.
I'm going to the local multicultural center for the practicum, and they have a wide variety of countries represented. There were people from Costa Rica, Columbia, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Russia (or one of the former Russian states), Congo, Ethiopia...interesting to see how well they get along and how much they want to learn the language (though some had more enthusiasm than others, which is normal).
I have my last two days of observation this coming week, and then move on to the teaching aspect of it...that is scary! I'll be observed some by my teacher, and that is what makes me the most nervous. I'm not sure off hand when that starts...it might start the week after next, and it might not. Exams come up starting April 19th so I won't be doing any teaching during that time.
Anyway, just wanted to post a little update since it's been awhile. I am hoping to get something written for CWO's In Other Words this week as I haven't for the last couple of them for one reason or another. But, until then, have a Christ filled day!
Oh, and if any of you are knitters, I am having a little contest over on my knitting blog, Kitten Knits Yarn - come on over and enter!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Being Fed
At our house, we have a couple of bird feeders. We've been feeding the birds for several years now, and plan to continue as long as possible. It's relaxing to be able to sit and watch the birds eating, and listen to them sing their songs. Typically, we see blue jays, sparrows, golden finches, chickadees, junkos (I think that is what they are called) and mourning doves around the feeders. In the past, there has even been a cardinal visit. Mind you, we get robins too, but they don't come to the feeders.
And just like the birds, God provides food for us. I'm not talking about the food we need to eat for our physical self; I'm talking about the food we need for our spiritual self. Yes, God does meet our needs (and one of our needs is food to nourish our bodies) physically; but, God also meets our needs spiritually. Our spiritual nourishment is the Bible - the Word of God.
"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matthew 6:26, NASB)
If we don't eat often enough, or if we don't eat right, we will get sick. Our bodies depend on food for vitamins, minerals and nourishment. Our spiritual body is the same way - it needs to be fed or it, too, will get sick. Staying away from daily readings and meditations from the Bible will cause our spirits to grow weak and sick. Have you ever spent a great deal of time away from reading the Bible, only to find that you felt miserable and/or out of touch with God? That is because your spirit was feeling sick. I know I've been guilty of this myself, and it is not a very pleasant feeling.
Jesus tells us, in the above verse, that we are worth more than the birds to God. When we have something of worth, we take care of it. Therefore, since we are worth so much to God, we need to take care of us - physically and spiritually. The next time you sit down to breakfast, why not pull out your Bible and read while you eat your cereal and toast, or drink your coffee. The next time you have a snack in the evening, pull out your Bible and meditate on a verse or two at the same time. So, just as God provides nourishment for the birds, He also provides nourishment for us.
Read your Bible - your spirit's health depends on it :o)
Often, I've noticed that when there is only one or two birds at the feeders, they will look up often, turning their head this way and that as they search for possible approaching enemies, then turn back for another seed or two before repeating the process. When there are several of our feathered friends feasting, they get to eat more because they don't have to look up as often for enemies (they can take turns watching, I suppose).
And just like the birds, God provides food for us. I'm not talking about the food we need to eat for our physical self; I'm talking about the food we need for our spiritual self. Yes, God does meet our needs (and one of our needs is food to nourish our bodies) physically; but, God also meets our needs spiritually. Our spiritual nourishment is the Bible - the Word of God.
"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matthew 6:26, NASB)
If we don't eat often enough, or if we don't eat right, we will get sick. Our bodies depend on food for vitamins, minerals and nourishment. Our spiritual body is the same way - it needs to be fed or it, too, will get sick. Staying away from daily readings and meditations from the Bible will cause our spirits to grow weak and sick. Have you ever spent a great deal of time away from reading the Bible, only to find that you felt miserable and/or out of touch with God? That is because your spirit was feeling sick. I know I've been guilty of this myself, and it is not a very pleasant feeling.
Jesus tells us, in the above verse, that we are worth more than the birds to God. When we have something of worth, we take care of it. Therefore, since we are worth so much to God, we need to take care of us - physically and spiritually. The next time you sit down to breakfast, why not pull out your Bible and read while you eat your cereal and toast, or drink your coffee. The next time you have a snack in the evening, pull out your Bible and meditate on a verse or two at the same time. So, just as God provides nourishment for the birds, He also provides nourishment for us.
Read your Bible - your spirit's health depends on it :o)
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Source of Joy
"One of the secrets to a happy marriage is remembering the source of our joy, which is not one another. The source of our joy is the Lord. Yes, we share tons of joyous moments, but we don't expect, let alone demand, endless joy-filled moments from each other. "~ Liz Curtis Higgs ~from the devotional: Rise and Shine
When I first saw this quote over the weekend, over at CWO (click the pic above), I thought "Great, it's dealting with marriage. I can't take part in IOW this week, wonderful." And yes, at the time there was lots of eye rolling and such associated with my thoughts. That is because I wasn't in the right frame of mind when I read the quote.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I'm not married (and I have no kids). Sometimes I struggle and/or have problems with this issue. I also find that there are so many resources available for married women, and even mothers, but, try to find something for single women and you won't find much...or at least I don't see much in the Christian bookstores in my area. Oh sure, there might be the odd devotional or something, but a lot of the books/articles are geared towards single teens or women in their twenties - or they aren't Christian books and give worldly advice. That really needs to change. Anyway, enough rambling and onto my thoughts on this quote:
Yes, Jesus is the source of joy in a marriage, but He is also the source of joy in the life of a single woman (and men also). Do I always find joy as a single person? No. Plain and simple, I turn my eyes inward - to myself - and focus on me. I want to be married. I want to have children. And when I focus on this, I can become depressed and angry because at my age I have neither of these.
See, I don't feel called to be a single person forever. I do have the strongest desire for being married and having children (as I said above), but I don't want just "any" husband. I want the husband that God has picked out for me - my "perfect" mate; the one He wants me to be with. I know my husband wouldn't be perfect, for none of us is. What I mean by perfect, is simply the man that God wants me to marry, the one He has matched up for me. I don't want to rush into a marriage (or even relationship) with someone just because I am lonely, or just because I want to be married. But in all honesty, there are days when I just don't want to be single anymore and am somewhat willing to settle for someone just because I want to be married.
Every day isn't like that, though. Most days I am "sane" enough to know that things could be much worse than being single - like being in an abusive relationship. I don't want that. And, in all honesty, it isn't that I can't be alone or that I'm afraid to be alone. No, I have been single all my life and know that I can be alone. In fact, there are times when I want to be alone! I also know that I don't need a man to be happy or complete.
But, as a single woman, Jesus is the only one we need to be complete. Face it, without Him (whether we are single, married, widowed, or divorced), Jesus is the only one we need, the only piece of the puzzle that completes us. Jesus is the one true source of joy in the lives of mankind, and we won't find that joy anywhere else - not in a relationship, not in a bottle, not in a job, and not in any possession we could ever (or hope to ever) own.
So, I suppose, the secret to the single woman's life is, as Liz Curtis Higgs says about marriage, is also in remembering our source of joy - Jesus.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Recall Notice...
Well, the party is in full swing! Thanks to all the newcomers who've left comments. I've goten around to several new blogs I have never been to before, and it's fun getting to know new people.
This week I'm on March Break from school and plan on doing some major relaxing and getting (hopefully) tons of knitting done. I just finished a pair of kids socks this morning and will be posting about it (with a picture) on my knitting blog, Kitten Knits Yarn, as soon as I finish this post. If you're interested, please drop by and leave a comment there as well.
I've also got to do some work this week on my Maritime History paper, so I'll also be doing some reading for that. I'll probably have to get to the school library as well to get some other books for it...but I'm not worrying about that today.
Anyway, before I head off, I thought I'd share this email I received this morning, with everyone:
IMPORTANT- RECALL NOTICE
The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype unit’s code name Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed, "Sub-sequential Internal Non-morality" - or more commonly known as SIN, as it is primarily expressed. Some other symptoms are as follows:
Loss of direction
Foul vocal emissions
Amnesia of origin
Lack of peace and joy
Selfish, or violent behavior
Depression or confusion in the mental component
Fearfulness
Idolatry
Rebellion
The Manufacturer, Who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, the Jesus will replace it with:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Please see the operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use of these fixes. As an added upgrade, the Manufacturer has made available to all repaired; units a facility enabling direct monitoring and assistance from a resident Maintenance technician, the Holy Ghost. Repaired units need only make Him welcome and He will take up permanent residence on the premises!
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded; For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice.
Loss of direction
Foul vocal emissions
Amnesia of origin
Lack of peace and joy
Selfish, or violent behavior
Depression or confusion in the mental component
Fearfulness
Idolatry
Rebellion
The Manufacturer, Who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, the Jesus will replace it with:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Please see the operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use of these fixes. As an added upgrade, the Manufacturer has made available to all repaired; units a facility enabling direct monitoring and assistance from a resident Maintenance technician, the Holy Ghost. Repaired units need only make Him welcome and He will take up permanent residence on the premises!
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded; For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice.
P.S. The Blog Party is still going strong. See my post below to find out about me.
Friday, March 02, 2007
It's Party Time!
Over at 5 Minutes for Mom they are having a party - the link is on my sidebar.
I thought I'd just tell a bit about myself for those who venture this way via Party Central. First of all, welcome to Confirm the Work of Our Hands! My name is Shelley and I live on the east coast of Canada. I'm not a mom - shoot, I'm not even married! I'm a single gal in my late 30's (gasp!), but the party hosts said you don't have to be married, a mom, or even a woman to take part in this event; so, I signed up.
I'm currently going to university, although I graduated with my BA in Biblical Studies last April. This past year I've been taking a few "extra" courses as I concentrate on getting a certificate in the TESL program (which stands for Teaching English as a Second Language). I'm really enjoying it so far, but I know it won't be a piece of cake when I actually get out and teach! There will most definately be work involved - especially early on. My friend and I are thinking of going overseas somewhere (we haven't decided just where exactly yet) to teach. We thought it would be a good idea to go together because that way we'd know someone, and we wouldn't be totally alone in a foreign country.
I am a Christian, and rededicated my life to the Lord in 2000 (possibly the end of 1999). I say 'rededicated' because I honestly don't know if I had truely asked Jesus into my heart as a child or not. Anyway, since I didn't know for sure, I asked Jesus into my life after reading the Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Ok, it was as I was reading the third book that I did this - I just didn't want to be left behind if such a scenerio were to happen. Oh, I do believe that Jesus is coming back again, but I (and everyone else) don't know just what is going to happen, other than it's not going to be so nice at that time...
I have two other blogs: Ink Scrawls, which is my writing blog, and Kitten Knits Yarn, which is my knitting blog. Feel free to check them out and leave a note there as well!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I look forward to meeting some new bloggers via this party (and reacquaint myself with others). Thanks for stopping by, and God bless!
I thought I'd just tell a bit about myself for those who venture this way via Party Central. First of all, welcome to Confirm the Work of Our Hands! My name is Shelley and I live on the east coast of Canada. I'm not a mom - shoot, I'm not even married! I'm a single gal in my late 30's (gasp!), but the party hosts said you don't have to be married, a mom, or even a woman to take part in this event; so, I signed up.
I'm currently going to university, although I graduated with my BA in Biblical Studies last April. This past year I've been taking a few "extra" courses as I concentrate on getting a certificate in the TESL program (which stands for Teaching English as a Second Language). I'm really enjoying it so far, but I know it won't be a piece of cake when I actually get out and teach! There will most definately be work involved - especially early on. My friend and I are thinking of going overseas somewhere (we haven't decided just where exactly yet) to teach. We thought it would be a good idea to go together because that way we'd know someone, and we wouldn't be totally alone in a foreign country.
I am a Christian, and rededicated my life to the Lord in 2000 (possibly the end of 1999). I say 'rededicated' because I honestly don't know if I had truely asked Jesus into my heart as a child or not. Anyway, since I didn't know for sure, I asked Jesus into my life after reading the Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Ok, it was as I was reading the third book that I did this - I just didn't want to be left behind if such a scenerio were to happen. Oh, I do believe that Jesus is coming back again, but I (and everyone else) don't know just what is going to happen, other than it's not going to be so nice at that time...
I have two other blogs: Ink Scrawls, which is my writing blog, and Kitten Knits Yarn, which is my knitting blog. Feel free to check them out and leave a note there as well!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I look forward to meeting some new bloggers via this party (and reacquaint myself with others). Thanks for stopping by, and God bless!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
If I'd Abandon...
"If I'd abandon all that seeks to make my faith informed and chic, could You, would You, show Yourself to me?"~ Nichole Nordeman~
If I abandon all that seeks to make my faith informed...I will definately end up off the path. Prayer, Bible reading, fellowship with other believers are vital parts in helping my faith to grow, as well as strengthening my walk with Jesus Christ - these are my life lines in this journey called life, and God has placed them as helps along the way.
To abandon something is to give up on it. If I give up on our life lines, my support is cut off and I will soon wither and fade - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly; but regardless, my faith will fade. It is far too easy to walk in the ways of the world; the Bible tells us that bad company corrupts good character, and it will definatley do that. When good character is corrupted, it is usually because we are not in communion with God and we have abandoned those things which are important in our walk.
When I do abandon all that seeks to make my faith informed, it is a choice that I make, and usually the result of caving into temptation. I am faced with a choice - do I stick to the right thing, or do I give in and sin. Even in the midst of temptation, God offers help in overcoming what I am faced with. He does not want me to let go of my life lines.
But, even when that does happen - when I abandon all that seeks to make my faith informed - God still loves me. He loves all His children and wants to show Himself to us. In the midst of turmoil, pain and suffering, God will reveal Himself. He doesn't want us to give up on our faith, He doesn't want us to give in to the temptations, He doesn't want us to lose our faith.
In the midst of such a sinful world, God revealed Himself to mankind. He came as a man, as Jesus, to willingly go to the cross and die for our sins, to offer forgiveness. He conquored death so that we can have eternal life with Him.
Yes, when we abandon the things that seek to make our faith informed, God will still reveal Himself to us - but the choice is ours to make in whether or not we once again take up all that seeks to make our faith informed, or whether we continue to abandon these life lines.
For more takes on the above quote, visit Christine's blog, Fruit in Season.
Monday, February 26, 2007
They're At It Again...
Yeah...sounds to me like "they" are at it again. I was just checking my email, and it is on a news site - Canada.com. Anyway, in one of the news blurbs I saw this. Go read it. Briefly, a Canadian archaeologist (I think he's the guy who has the show on Vision TV called Naked Archaeologist; no he isn't actually naked - haven't figured out the title yet) who claims to have "rediscovered" the tomb that holds the family of Jesus - including his wife Mary Magdelene, His mother, possibly her brother, and Jesus' and Mary M's son, Judah!
Yeah...riding on the coattails of Da Vinci Code maybe? I'm just waiting for them to drag that FICTICIOUS story into this as proof that Mr. Brown's book really is true. No. It's not true. Neither is this claim.
I want someone to prove to me, with scripture, that Jesus and Mary Magdelene got married. I want them to prove to me, with scripture, that they had a son (or any children for that matter). I'll wait. Go on....prove it. What's that? You can't prove it? Well, I could have told you that - in fact I did (read back a few paragraphs). It can't be proven, because IT DID NOT HAPPEN!
Jesus did not get married. Yes, Jesus died - crucified on a cross - and yes, He was buried. Here's the thing. There would be no ossuary (a bone box). See, in those days the people would put the body in a tomb and cover it will lots of spices - about 75 pounds worth. Then, after a year, the family would go back to the tomb and collect the bones that were left and put them in an ossuary.
Here's the thing - Jesus was placed in a tomb with the spices, but when the women went back to finish preparing His body, it wasn't there. Jesus had risen from the dead! There would be absolutely no ossuary needed - ever. Jesus is alive in Heaven, and He has promised to come back again. Be ready. We don't know when He'll return, but He will.
Sure, those bone boxes are real. In fact, they could have held bones belonging to Mary, Mary Magdelen, and even other family members. But there's no way there is an ossuary that contained the bones of Jesus Christ - ever! I don't care what any archaeologist says.
People have been trying to disprove the Christian faith since it began. They can't do it. No matter how hard they try, they can not prove that Jesus' bones remained in the tomb, they can not prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene (I'd like to know how that rumour got started...), or anyone for that matter, they can not prove that Christianity is based on a myth. They can try all they want to create an illusion that Christianity is not true, but they'll be wrong. The truth will be revealed, and as the scriptures say, "one day every knee will bow and one day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
>
Yeah...riding on the coattails of Da Vinci Code maybe? I'm just waiting for them to drag that FICTICIOUS story into this as proof that Mr. Brown's book really is true. No. It's not true. Neither is this claim.
I want someone to prove to me, with scripture, that Jesus and Mary Magdelene got married. I want them to prove to me, with scripture, that they had a son (or any children for that matter). I'll wait. Go on....prove it. What's that? You can't prove it? Well, I could have told you that - in fact I did (read back a few paragraphs). It can't be proven, because IT DID NOT HAPPEN!
Jesus did not get married. Yes, Jesus died - crucified on a cross - and yes, He was buried. Here's the thing. There would be no ossuary (a bone box). See, in those days the people would put the body in a tomb and cover it will lots of spices - about 75 pounds worth. Then, after a year, the family would go back to the tomb and collect the bones that were left and put them in an ossuary.
Here's the thing - Jesus was placed in a tomb with the spices, but when the women went back to finish preparing His body, it wasn't there. Jesus had risen from the dead! There would be absolutely no ossuary needed - ever. Jesus is alive in Heaven, and He has promised to come back again. Be ready. We don't know when He'll return, but He will.
Sure, those bone boxes are real. In fact, they could have held bones belonging to Mary, Mary Magdelen, and even other family members. But there's no way there is an ossuary that contained the bones of Jesus Christ - ever! I don't care what any archaeologist says.
People have been trying to disprove the Christian faith since it began. They can't do it. No matter how hard they try, they can not prove that Jesus' bones remained in the tomb, they can not prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene (I'd like to know how that rumour got started...), or anyone for that matter, they can not prove that Christianity is based on a myth. They can try all they want to create an illusion that Christianity is not true, but they'll be wrong. The truth will be revealed, and as the scriptures say, "one day every knee will bow and one day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
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Saturday, February 24, 2007
TGIW
Thank Goodness it's the weekend! I've been a little busy the last week or so, doing some studying and working towards finishing a book review. This past Thursday I had my midterm for Maritime History, and let me tell you, there was waaaayyyyy too many notes to have to study for this. I had 24 typed pages of class notes, 3 handwritten pages of class notes, 4 articles, nearly 150 pages of reading from the text book, plus info on 15 Fathers of Confederation - all of this to study for a midterm worth 15%.
I really don't think I did all that well on it, but I wrote for the entire time (70 minutes) and had about 6 pages. The last question I was running out of time so I didn't fare so well on that one. The other two I know I could have done much better on. I had the info in my head, but it was getting jumbled up and know I forgot to include things I should have. Oh well, can't do anything about that now.
This Tuesday I have to have my book review on the History of Prince Edward Island done. We were supposed to have it done for last Thursday, but we mentioned to the prof that it was the same day as the midterm and was rather hard to have to study AND work on a book review; thankfully, he was nice enough to change the due date. We also have to do a 5 minute presentation on the book in front of the class, and I have no idea how to do this - I mean, the stuff in this book I'm reading is basically what we have had in our class notes with a little more detail given. And let me tell ya, these details are none too exciting (insert sounds of loud snoring here)! Oh well, I'm sure I'll get through that too.
I haven't mentioned my flute practicing lately have I? Well, that is going pretty good. I'm learning the song Hungry, as well as a couple of other worship songs. Two of them are very easy and I can play those pretty well. For one of them (the name is escaping me at the moment), the teacher played the accoustic guitar while I played the flute, and it sounded great! I'm also learning I Love You, Lord and that is sounding good, but needs some practice. I got a music book with some hymns (not a hymnal) and chose to try Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee first. I've pretty much got that, but there is a CD with it that you can play while you do the flute solo part - I need to practice that. If there were some others that could play a little ensemble (for woodwind instruments) they could do the part from the CD instead of having to play the CD. But, for now I'll stick to learning to play with the CD. The song is a little fast, so I also need to work on that (at least when it's played on the CD). All in all, I am really enjoying the flute. I'm glad I started taking lessons!
Tomorrow at church we are having a missionary family in to speak. They have gone to our church in the past, but then changed to another one (I have no idea why, and it doesn't matter - there was nothing bad that caused them to change.) - this was before I started attending back in 2000. Anyway, they have been down in Indonesia for about 3 years I believe, and are now home for a bit. We've also got them booked to come to our midweek kids program to talk to the kids. That night we've also got games, crafts and snacks that are popular in Indonesia for the kids to do - it's a mission night. I hope the kids will enjoy this (most of the kids that come to the midweek program aren't churched kids)!
Anyway, not much to report at this time. I hope all your days are Christ filled!
I really don't think I did all that well on it, but I wrote for the entire time (70 minutes) and had about 6 pages. The last question I was running out of time so I didn't fare so well on that one. The other two I know I could have done much better on. I had the info in my head, but it was getting jumbled up and know I forgot to include things I should have. Oh well, can't do anything about that now.
This Tuesday I have to have my book review on the History of Prince Edward Island done. We were supposed to have it done for last Thursday, but we mentioned to the prof that it was the same day as the midterm and was rather hard to have to study AND work on a book review; thankfully, he was nice enough to change the due date. We also have to do a 5 minute presentation on the book in front of the class, and I have no idea how to do this - I mean, the stuff in this book I'm reading is basically what we have had in our class notes with a little more detail given. And let me tell ya, these details are none too exciting (insert sounds of loud snoring here)! Oh well, I'm sure I'll get through that too.
I haven't mentioned my flute practicing lately have I? Well, that is going pretty good. I'm learning the song Hungry, as well as a couple of other worship songs. Two of them are very easy and I can play those pretty well. For one of them (the name is escaping me at the moment), the teacher played the accoustic guitar while I played the flute, and it sounded great! I'm also learning I Love You, Lord and that is sounding good, but needs some practice. I got a music book with some hymns (not a hymnal) and chose to try Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee first. I've pretty much got that, but there is a CD with it that you can play while you do the flute solo part - I need to practice that. If there were some others that could play a little ensemble (for woodwind instruments) they could do the part from the CD instead of having to play the CD. But, for now I'll stick to learning to play with the CD. The song is a little fast, so I also need to work on that (at least when it's played on the CD). All in all, I am really enjoying the flute. I'm glad I started taking lessons!
Tomorrow at church we are having a missionary family in to speak. They have gone to our church in the past, but then changed to another one (I have no idea why, and it doesn't matter - there was nothing bad that caused them to change.) - this was before I started attending back in 2000. Anyway, they have been down in Indonesia for about 3 years I believe, and are now home for a bit. We've also got them booked to come to our midweek kids program to talk to the kids. That night we've also got games, crafts and snacks that are popular in Indonesia for the kids to do - it's a mission night. I hope the kids will enjoy this (most of the kids that come to the midweek program aren't churched kids)!
Anyway, not much to report at this time. I hope all your days are Christ filled!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
"Those who read fast reap no more advantage than a bee would by only skimming over the surface of the flower, instead of waiting to penetrate into it, and extract its sweets."~ Madame Jeanne Guyon ~
"Those who read fast reap no more advantage..." Isn't that so true? When we read the Bible qickly without looking for meaning, do we really get anything from it? Probably not.
To understand the Bible and its passages, we need to dig deep to the treasure that is "buried" in and among the pages. The Bible is God's Word - full of wisdom, grace, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, and truth; this book is about our Salvation and the only one who can give it to us - Jesus the Christ! John 1:1 tells us "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (NASB). Isn't it amazing? The Bible is about Jesus from the very first words in Genesis, to the very last in Revelation.
Studying the Bible is a must for every Christian. Simply skimming over the top, letting the words flow by us will not help us to grow in our walk with Christ. It is so easy (and often tempting) to just sit and read just to say that we got our Bible reading done for the day. It takes more than a casual glance for God to reveal something He may want us to learn or remember. In all honesty, reading without searching for life application doesn't do much for us. We need to grow in our walk with the Lord, and part of that growth comes from a deeper reading of Scripture.
Part of deeper reading involves meditation. Now, the meditation I am referring to is not the meditation practiced in some cultures where one relaxes with closed eyes and has some sort of mantra to repeat. The meditation I refer to is in reference to a deeper thinking. When we meditate on Scripture, we think about it, mull it over, think how we can apply it to our daily life. This is what we do to help us grow in our walk.
I know I'm not perfect - I have been known to just skim and glance over the Bible. And to be honest, that does absolutely nothing for me. It almost leaves me feeling - empty. I walk away with nothing from that "reading". When I sit and read, digging deep, praying before I start (asking God to reveal something He wants me to know or be reminded of, etc.), meditating on the Word and how I can apply it to my life; when I live the Word, then I come away feeling more fulfilled. The struggle or temptation so many of us face is thinking that it's ok to just skim over what we are reading and count it as our time spent with God. I need to stop that - I need to take the time to get into the Bible, to really dig deep, and learn and grow with the Lord.
I am not only interested in the life application of the Bible. I'm interested in the who's, the why's, the how's, the when's, the where's...I like learning about the archealogy, the geography, the people and their customs, etc. I know that stuff isn't necessary to grow in my walk, but I enjoy that sort of thing none the less - and sometimes it can make the stories, etc. a little more interesting.
So, my prayer is that I will take the time I need to dig deeper into the Word, to not skim over the top, and use what I learn (what God reveals to me) to help my growth and walk as a Christian.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
In Other Words...
I've been meaning to take part in CWO's "In Other Words" but I keep forgetting about it. I read one blogger's on the following quote, and it reminded me that I wanted to take part in IOW as well. I'm not even entirely sure that what I've said makes sense, or fits in with the quote, but here goes:
So often we are concerned, as a society, with having the perfect body. But really, when you stop to think about it, the perfect body doesn't exist. If we had the perfect body, we wouldn't be concerned with losing "just 5 more" pounds; we wouldn't be concerned with having grey hair and needing to dye it; we wouldn't be concerned about our blemishes, the big feet, the small breasts, that bit (or lot) of cellulite that shows up on our thighs or our butts. If the perfect body image existed, there would be no need for airbrushing to be done on magazine photos.
Media has played into our fears of becoming old and/or ugly, and we devour it like that last piece of birthday cake. "Have the hair colour you've always wanted!", "Lose 10 pounds overnight!", "Get the man of your dreams by following our advice!"...the list goes on and on and on and on and...well, you get the picture. We will spend money on the latest issue of a woman's magazine that gives step by step advice on how to "improve" your body and your self-image, how to become "perfect". When we see the models and actresses who are rail thin and wear size zero clothes we think that is the image we need to be, that that is the image men desire.
Granted, it is one thing to desire to lose weight through diet and exercise in order to become healthy, but it is an entirely different ball game when it is done simply to look like the latest fashion model who, if she turns sideways, would probably disappear. I'm not trying to knock these women; but when the women who do not look like those on magazine covers are told they aren't "good enough, thin enough or pretty enough" (or made to feel this way) because they might be a little overweight or too short or too plain, then something is wrong.
God gave us each a temple to take care of - our bodies. By all means, lose the weight, start exercising, eat healthier - but do it for your health; do it for the right reasons. Don't deny yourself food - don't overboard and end up dangerously thin in order to fit society's standards. No, we are not of the world and we are not to live as the world lives.
Find it hard to lose weight? Is it difficult not to compare your looks with others? Feel like you just can't do it, you just can't take care of yourself? Does it seem impossible not to give into society's standards? There is One who can help you through it all, no matter what trouble you face. There is One who loves you so much and desires for you to be healthy, who loves you and your imperfect body - God.
"We are urgent about the body; He is about the soul. We call for present comforts; He considers our everlasting rest. And therefore when He sends not the very things we ask, He hears us by sending greater than we can ask or think."~ Richard Cecil ~
So often we are concerned, as a society, with having the perfect body. But really, when you stop to think about it, the perfect body doesn't exist. If we had the perfect body, we wouldn't be concerned with losing "just 5 more" pounds; we wouldn't be concerned with having grey hair and needing to dye it; we wouldn't be concerned about our blemishes, the big feet, the small breasts, that bit (or lot) of cellulite that shows up on our thighs or our butts. If the perfect body image existed, there would be no need for airbrushing to be done on magazine photos.
Media has played into our fears of becoming old and/or ugly, and we devour it like that last piece of birthday cake. "Have the hair colour you've always wanted!", "Lose 10 pounds overnight!", "Get the man of your dreams by following our advice!"...the list goes on and on and on and on and...well, you get the picture. We will spend money on the latest issue of a woman's magazine that gives step by step advice on how to "improve" your body and your self-image, how to become "perfect". When we see the models and actresses who are rail thin and wear size zero clothes we think that is the image we need to be, that that is the image men desire.
Granted, it is one thing to desire to lose weight through diet and exercise in order to become healthy, but it is an entirely different ball game when it is done simply to look like the latest fashion model who, if she turns sideways, would probably disappear. I'm not trying to knock these women; but when the women who do not look like those on magazine covers are told they aren't "good enough, thin enough or pretty enough" (or made to feel this way) because they might be a little overweight or too short or too plain, then something is wrong.
God gave us each a temple to take care of - our bodies. By all means, lose the weight, start exercising, eat healthier - but do it for your health; do it for the right reasons. Don't deny yourself food - don't overboard and end up dangerously thin in order to fit society's standards. No, we are not of the world and we are not to live as the world lives.
Find it hard to lose weight? Is it difficult not to compare your looks with others? Feel like you just can't do it, you just can't take care of yourself? Does it seem impossible not to give into society's standards? There is One who can help you through it all, no matter what trouble you face. There is One who loves you so much and desires for you to be healthy, who loves you and your imperfect body - God.
God understands our desire to fit in, our desire to look good. But in the larger scheme of things, this really is not important. He has far better for us than a life of striving for perfection according to the world's standards. I think that He wants us to be healthy, but I also think He wants us to be satisfied with what we look like - I mean, afterall, He is the one who created us. Granted He didn't create us to be overweight (I fit this category myself) or under weight, because neither is healthy. I think if we focus on Jesus, and ask for His help in our struggles to become healthier, He will help us. I also believe that we need to be doing this for the right reasons - for health benefits, to please the Lord and NOT to please the world and those who think that size zero is perfection.
So do what you can (with God's help) to take care of the body He gave you; afterall, it's the only one you've got - at least here on earth.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Dreams
Yesterday evening, just after supper, I was a little tired and decided I needed a nap. I also had a dream...a weird dream; but I can't remember what it was about really, just a few little pieces.
In my dream, I was rebuking "demons" like has happened before in my dreams, and as usual I don't see anything. I just start yelling (or trying to yell), "I rebuke you in Jesus name!" and "At the name of Jesus you must leave!" So, in my dream I start doing this tentatively. My voice is a little weak and shakey, but I continue to rebuke. Then I "wake up".
It feels so real - I sense a "presence" of some sort, something not right, something bad, and I start rebuking. This time it's a little stronger, but my voice is still shakey, This time I also look to see what is "there"...nothing. But still, I feel like there is something there, so I continue rebuking...I then "wake up" again...it wasn't real that time, but also a dream.
Then, as I am waking up, I feel my blankets being pulled off me towards the bottom of the bed - nothing is there though, but I feel this presence and start rebuking. I'm looking right at the area where there should have been something or someone standing to pull off my blankets, but nothing. I tug on the blankets and it feels like wahtever is there is still pulling them in that direction. My voice is stronger this time and I yell out "I rebuke you in the name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! You must leave because the Bible tells us that at His name you must leave! I rebuke you in Jesus name!" and said this several times.
Then, I wake up for real this time. What is weird is that in my dream, I was dreaming that I was dreaming that I was dreaming. I woke up from one dream but was still dreaming; then woke up but was still in the same dream, etc. until I finally woke up for real. This has never happened to me before. Weird.
I used to have lots of dreams that I was rebuking demons or something, but never saw them. I never wanted to see them (in dreams or in real life), nor do I want to now. I haven't had these rebuking dreams for a long time now - this is the first in at least a year I think (give or take a couple of months).
I have no idea what this means, if anything. As you might know from reading here, I have been faltering a little in my walk - not praying, not reading the bible...but since the new year, I've been reading the bible everyday (though I may have missed one day, but to my knowledge, I have read it everyday), and have been trying to improve in my prayer life again. It's still not up to where I have been in the past, on the same level; it's hard to get back to it when you've left it behind for awhile.
Anyway, maybe this dream is showing me that what I have been fearing (or might have been fearing) is really nothing to fear. In the dream it is like I stood up to the "demons" and faced them, only to find what I thought I was afraid of wasn't there and by calling on Jesus, I got through it. I don't know - I don't know how to interpret dreams, so it's just a thought.
I'm feeling a little better lately in my walk. I'm not where I want to be, not where I used to be, and I still feel so - inadequate I guess. I know I'll never be "good enough", but I know I can be better than I am right now...I'm probably not making sense. I do know that I need to work on my relationship with God and build it up. It's hard, and if it's important to me (it is) then I should be working on it - doing what I can with God's help to improve it. And I will; I'm working on it - slowly but surely.
In my dream, I was rebuking "demons" like has happened before in my dreams, and as usual I don't see anything. I just start yelling (or trying to yell), "I rebuke you in Jesus name!" and "At the name of Jesus you must leave!" So, in my dream I start doing this tentatively. My voice is a little weak and shakey, but I continue to rebuke. Then I "wake up".
It feels so real - I sense a "presence" of some sort, something not right, something bad, and I start rebuking. This time it's a little stronger, but my voice is still shakey, This time I also look to see what is "there"...nothing. But still, I feel like there is something there, so I continue rebuking...I then "wake up" again...it wasn't real that time, but also a dream.
Then, as I am waking up, I feel my blankets being pulled off me towards the bottom of the bed - nothing is there though, but I feel this presence and start rebuking. I'm looking right at the area where there should have been something or someone standing to pull off my blankets, but nothing. I tug on the blankets and it feels like wahtever is there is still pulling them in that direction. My voice is stronger this time and I yell out "I rebuke you in the name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! You must leave because the Bible tells us that at His name you must leave! I rebuke you in Jesus name!" and said this several times.
Then, I wake up for real this time. What is weird is that in my dream, I was dreaming that I was dreaming that I was dreaming. I woke up from one dream but was still dreaming; then woke up but was still in the same dream, etc. until I finally woke up for real. This has never happened to me before. Weird.
I used to have lots of dreams that I was rebuking demons or something, but never saw them. I never wanted to see them (in dreams or in real life), nor do I want to now. I haven't had these rebuking dreams for a long time now - this is the first in at least a year I think (give or take a couple of months).
I have no idea what this means, if anything. As you might know from reading here, I have been faltering a little in my walk - not praying, not reading the bible...but since the new year, I've been reading the bible everyday (though I may have missed one day, but to my knowledge, I have read it everyday), and have been trying to improve in my prayer life again. It's still not up to where I have been in the past, on the same level; it's hard to get back to it when you've left it behind for awhile.
Anyway, maybe this dream is showing me that what I have been fearing (or might have been fearing) is really nothing to fear. In the dream it is like I stood up to the "demons" and faced them, only to find what I thought I was afraid of wasn't there and by calling on Jesus, I got through it. I don't know - I don't know how to interpret dreams, so it's just a thought.
I'm feeling a little better lately in my walk. I'm not where I want to be, not where I used to be, and I still feel so - inadequate I guess. I know I'll never be "good enough", but I know I can be better than I am right now...I'm probably not making sense. I do know that I need to work on my relationship with God and build it up. It's hard, and if it's important to me (it is) then I should be working on it - doing what I can with God's help to improve it. And I will; I'm working on it - slowly but surely.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
My Story
C. H. Green over at Beneath the Ivy Wreath has started a meme. The idea is to be able to post your story/testimony in 100 words (it was actually her pastor's idea). The reason is because when you are trying to tell it to others, they don't always want to hear long drawn out and detailed accounts. I might add, that they also don't want to hear the "church speak" we tend to use - mainly because they might not understand it.
Anyway, she wanted the stories in her comment section so since she had tagged me, I posted mine. I'm going to post it here as well. I couldn't get it down past 109 words though, but I guess that isn't too bad.
So, I tag anyone who reads this and wants to take part. Also, if you have any further questions about my story/testimony feel free to ask.
Hmmm...100 words. Not sure if I can make it that short, but I'll try...ok, I'm back now with 109 words.
I knew Christ as a child and went to church until age 12. I have always believed Jesus is God’s Son who died on the cross for our sins. Eventually, I fell away from my faith, and by my mid-twenties I was on a path that was quickly leading to destruction. Amid the mental/emotional pain and turmoil I was experiencing, I called out to God for help. He heard me. But it took me eight years before I came back to Christ. That was seven years ago. It hasn’t been all peachy-keen along the way, but I know He is there for me and forgives me when I mess-up.
Anyway, she wanted the stories in her comment section so since she had tagged me, I posted mine. I'm going to post it here as well. I couldn't get it down past 109 words though, but I guess that isn't too bad.
So, I tag anyone who reads this and wants to take part. Also, if you have any further questions about my story/testimony feel free to ask.
Hmmm...100 words. Not sure if I can make it that short, but I'll try...ok, I'm back now with 109 words.
My Story
I knew Christ as a child and went to church until age 12. I have always believed Jesus is God’s Son who died on the cross for our sins. Eventually, I fell away from my faith, and by my mid-twenties I was on a path that was quickly leading to destruction. Amid the mental/emotional pain and turmoil I was experiencing, I called out to God for help. He heard me. But it took me eight years before I came back to Christ. That was seven years ago. It hasn’t been all peachy-keen along the way, but I know He is there for me and forgives me when I mess-up.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
There's A Party On The Way
Check out the link over on my sidebar. Hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom, the party happens between March 2-9. You don't have to be a mom - all are welcome, and there will also be prizes offered.
This is a great way to "meet" new people, and visit their blogs. So, head on over (just click the button over on my sidebar) and sign up for the party!
This is a great way to "meet" new people, and visit their blogs. So, head on over (just click the button over on my sidebar) and sign up for the party!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
I Have No Real Title For This Post
Well, I got my essay back this week - the one I was talking about in the previous post. I did ok on it; I got 80 (which is an A-). Our next one is due this coming week, and it is dealing with the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Chronicles, and we have to do the same thing - read the article, what is written in the commentary we have, and then find a point and discuss it. I hope this one will go a little better than the last one.
I'm am a lot busier this semester than I was last. I'm taking a history course, and there is a lot of reading for that because of a book review, the term paper, class readings, and a little research "project" (for lack of a better word) on one of the Father's of Confederation. My weekend will be busy with a lot of this as the Father of Confederation project as well as the outline and bibliography for the term paper are all due this Tuesday.
My walk with God has slowly been improving somewhat. I've been able to keep up with reading my Bible everyday, but to be honest, I haven't really had any "revelations". This is probably due to me not wanting to examine my life/situation and hear from God, or I'm afraid of what I'll find out or what He might have to say or want me to do. Part of it might be that I don't want to have to face my sin and have to repent...I know it's necessary, but you know how it is...you just want to move on.
My prayer life greatly needs to improve as well. I need to pray more often. I've been praying when I think of it, or when I hear that someone might need a prayer I'll say a quick one, but, in all honesty again, it is greatly lacking.
I'm hoping that getting back into one of the Biblical courses at school will help me get back into things. I'm enjoying the Post Exilic Writings class and the discussions that we are generating from reading 1 Chronicles. I've even had a bit of desire to get back into Hebrew again, so hopefully this will help with getting on track. I know I need more than just getting into a course to get back on track, but I'm hoping at the least that it will help head me in the right direction.
Anyway, I do feel like I'm getting back on the path though I am still confused with some areas of my life - like where or what I should be doing...but I guess we're all like that. I wonder if I'm just going through a growing phase...but then maybe I was just full of doubt and anger and wanted to do things my own way....rebelling or something. I don't know. I do know I'm still feeling stagnant, discontented, etc. It's slowly improving, so that's a start.
I know God is bigger than all things, and that I need to put Him in the #1 position and keep Him there. I need to put my focus back on Him, and then my spiritual life will improve :o).
I'm am a lot busier this semester than I was last. I'm taking a history course, and there is a lot of reading for that because of a book review, the term paper, class readings, and a little research "project" (for lack of a better word) on one of the Father's of Confederation. My weekend will be busy with a lot of this as the Father of Confederation project as well as the outline and bibliography for the term paper are all due this Tuesday.
My walk with God has slowly been improving somewhat. I've been able to keep up with reading my Bible everyday, but to be honest, I haven't really had any "revelations". This is probably due to me not wanting to examine my life/situation and hear from God, or I'm afraid of what I'll find out or what He might have to say or want me to do. Part of it might be that I don't want to have to face my sin and have to repent...I know it's necessary, but you know how it is...you just want to move on.
My prayer life greatly needs to improve as well. I need to pray more often. I've been praying when I think of it, or when I hear that someone might need a prayer I'll say a quick one, but, in all honesty again, it is greatly lacking.
I'm hoping that getting back into one of the Biblical courses at school will help me get back into things. I'm enjoying the Post Exilic Writings class and the discussions that we are generating from reading 1 Chronicles. I've even had a bit of desire to get back into Hebrew again, so hopefully this will help with getting on track. I know I need more than just getting into a course to get back on track, but I'm hoping at the least that it will help head me in the right direction.
Anyway, I do feel like I'm getting back on the path though I am still confused with some areas of my life - like where or what I should be doing...but I guess we're all like that. I wonder if I'm just going through a growing phase...but then maybe I was just full of doubt and anger and wanted to do things my own way....rebelling or something. I don't know. I do know I'm still feeling stagnant, discontented, etc. It's slowly improving, so that's a start.
I know God is bigger than all things, and that I need to put Him in the #1 position and keep Him there. I need to put my focus back on Him, and then my spiritual life will improve :o).
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I Should Be...
...working on my essay for Post Exilic Writings that is due tomorrow. Instead, I am taking a little break to check a few blogs and write this post.
I've been mulling over this essay since the day we were assigned it. I have read the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles, some of the chapters several times; I have read the article that we have to read and base our essay responses on at least four times; I have meditated and thought about this essay and what I would say or want to say for two weeks now.
So, I sat down to write it up tonight. It is two pages, single spaced and is to be our thoughts on the article, which is based on the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles (hence my reading them). I had three or four ideas to discuss that I thought would be perfect, so I started writing up my thoughts and ideas on them.
That is where my problem started. Everything I am coming up with, while it might sound pretty good, I am shooting down a bit later because I come up with something else. For example, Saul's genealogy is mentioned twice (chapter 8 and 9), Benjamin's genealogy is mentioned twice (chapter 7 and 8)...and I had a couple of good ideas as to possibly why this was or what it could mean. Then I read something in the article and figured I was on the wrong track. So, I come up with another idea that might work...though I don't know how good or true it would be. I'll put it in anyway, but it won't come anywhere near to filling two pages.
I have been working on this essay, the actual writing part, for 4 1/2 to 5 hours--writing, reading, writing, research, writing...and I'm getting nowhere fast. It seems like I am going around in circles and can't get off the merry-go-round. This essay shouldn't be too difficult. I've done them before in the past, and it doesn't require much. It's also only worth 10%, but I want to do well on it.
The weird thing is, I would feel more comfortable discussing this topic and using other sources (commentaries, etc.) which we can't use for this, and writing a ten page essay. I think I could probably do better on that because I would have more room to discuss, rather than try to condense so much into such a short space.
Oh well, back to work...I can feel my hair turning grey over this as I write...
I've been mulling over this essay since the day we were assigned it. I have read the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles, some of the chapters several times; I have read the article that we have to read and base our essay responses on at least four times; I have meditated and thought about this essay and what I would say or want to say for two weeks now.
So, I sat down to write it up tonight. It is two pages, single spaced and is to be our thoughts on the article, which is based on the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles (hence my reading them). I had three or four ideas to discuss that I thought would be perfect, so I started writing up my thoughts and ideas on them.
That is where my problem started. Everything I am coming up with, while it might sound pretty good, I am shooting down a bit later because I come up with something else. For example, Saul's genealogy is mentioned twice (chapter 8 and 9), Benjamin's genealogy is mentioned twice (chapter 7 and 8)...and I had a couple of good ideas as to possibly why this was or what it could mean. Then I read something in the article and figured I was on the wrong track. So, I come up with another idea that might work...though I don't know how good or true it would be. I'll put it in anyway, but it won't come anywhere near to filling two pages.
I have been working on this essay, the actual writing part, for 4 1/2 to 5 hours--writing, reading, writing, research, writing...and I'm getting nowhere fast. It seems like I am going around in circles and can't get off the merry-go-round. This essay shouldn't be too difficult. I've done them before in the past, and it doesn't require much. It's also only worth 10%, but I want to do well on it.
The weird thing is, I would feel more comfortable discussing this topic and using other sources (commentaries, etc.) which we can't use for this, and writing a ten page essay. I think I could probably do better on that because I would have more room to discuss, rather than try to condense so much into such a short space.
Oh well, back to work...I can feel my hair turning grey over this as I write...
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Into The Swing of Things...Again
I've just completed my first week back at school since Christmas break. Ok, so technically I only have three courses, and I'm only there for three days, but nonetheless, my week is completed for school.
Yesterday, Wednesday, I had my Post Exilic Writings class. There were about 11 of us, but the prof said there were a few more who couldn't be there that night because it was conflicting with the end of one of the intensive week courses. I'm not sure how many were involved in that, but I'm thinking about 2 or 3.
Anyway, this class will be mostly discussion - which is what I like. We have 4 written essays to do (two pagers, but we have to interact with articles that we have to read for it), but they way they are set up, it would all work out to equal a term paper. Our first one is due in two weeks and we have to read the first 6 chapters (or 9...I forget, but have it marked down) of 1 Chronicles carefully, then read the article and then write our essay. There is no mid term I don't think, which is nice, but there is a final exam. It's worth 40% of our mark!! I would rather there be a mid term exam so that the value of the final exam wouldn't be so high. Oh well, can't do anything about that - except study ;o).
This afternoon I had Maritime History since 1800. This is on the Maritimes in Canada, focusing on New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Some of this class sounds interesting, but a lot of it sounds boring. I have a couple of ideas in mind for a paper topic, but need to discuss them with the prof to see which one I should/could do. I think, for the one I'd really like to do, there might not be a whole lot of information available on it, but I could be wrong. I've already looked up some stuff on the internet to see what was out there (did this some time ago because it was something I wanted to write about in a novel), and couldn't find much - though that doesn't mean there is nothing available in book form at the library. The other topic should have lots of info, but for both I think it depends on just what the paper is about - something specific and not general.
My third class, TESL, I just had this evening and have been home about 45 mins. from that. It's basically a continuation of the first semester. Most of the people who were in the class first semester are back, though some aren't. I don't know if it's because they failed, or decided not to take the second semester. For all I know, they didn't like the class and decided to drop it. No big deal, and it's none of my business anyway.
I think that this semester is going to have a lot more work than my first semester did - or at least it seems that way. I'll get through it though; I have in the past. I'm not worried about the amount of work. I just want to do well in my subjects.
Anyway, I'm off to read some blogs and do some knitting! Have a Christ filled day!
Yesterday, Wednesday, I had my Post Exilic Writings class. There were about 11 of us, but the prof said there were a few more who couldn't be there that night because it was conflicting with the end of one of the intensive week courses. I'm not sure how many were involved in that, but I'm thinking about 2 or 3.
Anyway, this class will be mostly discussion - which is what I like. We have 4 written essays to do (two pagers, but we have to interact with articles that we have to read for it), but they way they are set up, it would all work out to equal a term paper. Our first one is due in two weeks and we have to read the first 6 chapters (or 9...I forget, but have it marked down) of 1 Chronicles carefully, then read the article and then write our essay. There is no mid term I don't think, which is nice, but there is a final exam. It's worth 40% of our mark!! I would rather there be a mid term exam so that the value of the final exam wouldn't be so high. Oh well, can't do anything about that - except study ;o).
This afternoon I had Maritime History since 1800. This is on the Maritimes in Canada, focusing on New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Some of this class sounds interesting, but a lot of it sounds boring. I have a couple of ideas in mind for a paper topic, but need to discuss them with the prof to see which one I should/could do. I think, for the one I'd really like to do, there might not be a whole lot of information available on it, but I could be wrong. I've already looked up some stuff on the internet to see what was out there (did this some time ago because it was something I wanted to write about in a novel), and couldn't find much - though that doesn't mean there is nothing available in book form at the library. The other topic should have lots of info, but for both I think it depends on just what the paper is about - something specific and not general.
My third class, TESL, I just had this evening and have been home about 45 mins. from that. It's basically a continuation of the first semester. Most of the people who were in the class first semester are back, though some aren't. I don't know if it's because they failed, or decided not to take the second semester. For all I know, they didn't like the class and decided to drop it. No big deal, and it's none of my business anyway.
I think that this semester is going to have a lot more work than my first semester did - or at least it seems that way. I'll get through it though; I have in the past. I'm not worried about the amount of work. I just want to do well in my subjects.
Anyway, I'm off to read some blogs and do some knitting! Have a Christ filled day!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
In The Fog, Baby
Well, school starts back up tomorrow. I have one class on Wednesdays, but it is nearly three hours long (starts at 3:55 and goes until 5:40 or 5:45). I am hoping that this is a class I will enjoy - it's on Post-exhilic writings, and the prof had told me we'll be studying both books of Chronicles.
I'll have two classes on Thursdays, a history class from 11:50 until 1:05, and then the second half of TESL from 6:30 til 9:15 or something like that. Then on Tuesdays I'll have the history class again (this class is twice a week).
I'm still feeling indiffernt about school this year. Maybe that will change with the new courses; but who knows.
I'm also feeling lost in the spiritual aspect of things. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still believe and everything...I just don't know where God wants me. I don't feel "called" anymore to the ministries I have been doing for nearly seven years now, but I don't know where I am being "called" to. I don't know if I just need a break from all of it or what.
I see people all around me growing in their walks, doing great things for the Lord, being blessed by God...but I feel I'm slipping backwards. I am not being fed, and I think that is the problem. Really, I only get the sermon during church service. That's all. For Sunday school, I teach a handful - ok really only 5 kids tops, in the class and I don't get anything from that. I help during mid week program, and I really don't do anything there (basically I feel like another body in the room) and I'm not being fed with that. I'm not in a small group and I really have no desire to lead any group - especially at this time (maybe some point in the future). I just suck at leading.
I don't think I'm really doing any good to anyone. Worst of all, I feel hypocritical...though I don't know if that is the right word or not. I believe Jesus is God's Son, that He died on the cross for my sins, that He rose three days later, that I have eternal life in Him...
I find it ever so hard to pray, and when I do pray I don't know what to say - I don't feel that I can even approach God. My prayers are short, repetitive (because I don't know what to say). I feel like my prayers are insignificant, not important - though I know that they are important to God...I don't know...it's hard to explain.
I'm sure there are other things in my life that are affecting all of this too. It just feels like a huge weight is on my chest and I'm suffocating from something, but I don't know what it is. I've tried starting over, starting fresh since the new year began. I've read a chapter a day (started with the book of John) so far, and have kept up with it. Prayer is harder to do lately though.
It's really weird...during the week I am pretty well fine with nothing really bothering me. Then when Sunday rolls around, I almost dread having to go to church. It's weird because I have always liked church. The mid-week kids program is starting up next week (there is a leaders meeting tomorrow night as well), and I am not looking forward to that. In the past I have always enjoyed taking part in this.
I don't know. I don't know what is wrong, I don't know what I should be doing (or not doing), I don't know what direction I should take, what form of action...nothing. I feel lost. I've talked to God about it - about what I should/shouldn't do, but I'm not hearing anything. I'm just as lost as ever...
I know He is in control and He has a plan. That's great. I just don't have any clue at the moment of what I should be doing. I'm in the fog, baby; and I can't see the light.
I'll have two classes on Thursdays, a history class from 11:50 until 1:05, and then the second half of TESL from 6:30 til 9:15 or something like that. Then on Tuesdays I'll have the history class again (this class is twice a week).
I'm still feeling indiffernt about school this year. Maybe that will change with the new courses; but who knows.
I'm also feeling lost in the spiritual aspect of things. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still believe and everything...I just don't know where God wants me. I don't feel "called" anymore to the ministries I have been doing for nearly seven years now, but I don't know where I am being "called" to. I don't know if I just need a break from all of it or what.
I see people all around me growing in their walks, doing great things for the Lord, being blessed by God...but I feel I'm slipping backwards. I am not being fed, and I think that is the problem. Really, I only get the sermon during church service. That's all. For Sunday school, I teach a handful - ok really only 5 kids tops, in the class and I don't get anything from that. I help during mid week program, and I really don't do anything there (basically I feel like another body in the room) and I'm not being fed with that. I'm not in a small group and I really have no desire to lead any group - especially at this time (maybe some point in the future). I just suck at leading.
I don't think I'm really doing any good to anyone. Worst of all, I feel hypocritical...though I don't know if that is the right word or not. I believe Jesus is God's Son, that He died on the cross for my sins, that He rose three days later, that I have eternal life in Him...
I find it ever so hard to pray, and when I do pray I don't know what to say - I don't feel that I can even approach God. My prayers are short, repetitive (because I don't know what to say). I feel like my prayers are insignificant, not important - though I know that they are important to God...I don't know...it's hard to explain.
I'm sure there are other things in my life that are affecting all of this too. It just feels like a huge weight is on my chest and I'm suffocating from something, but I don't know what it is. I've tried starting over, starting fresh since the new year began. I've read a chapter a day (started with the book of John) so far, and have kept up with it. Prayer is harder to do lately though.
It's really weird...during the week I am pretty well fine with nothing really bothering me. Then when Sunday rolls around, I almost dread having to go to church. It's weird because I have always liked church. The mid-week kids program is starting up next week (there is a leaders meeting tomorrow night as well), and I am not looking forward to that. In the past I have always enjoyed taking part in this.
I don't know. I don't know what is wrong, I don't know what I should be doing (or not doing), I don't know what direction I should take, what form of action...nothing. I feel lost. I've talked to God about it - about what I should/shouldn't do, but I'm not hearing anything. I'm just as lost as ever...
I know He is in control and He has a plan. That's great. I just don't have any clue at the moment of what I should be doing. I'm in the fog, baby; and I can't see the light.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
A new year has begun! I am not one for making New Year's Resolutions, simply because I never stick to them - or if I do, it doesn't take very long before I stop. I do have some things that I am going to work at changing, new things to try, etc.; but, I am not going to lose sleep over it if I don't stick to it.
I wonder, sometimes, if it is a good idea to make some sort of resolutions or plans for the coming year - simply becuase if you have a plan, you are more apt to accomplish what it is you are setting out to do. With no plan, it's very easy to not get anything done. So, do I make a mental list? Do I write it out? I think if it is written out, it gives you something tangible to follow and might make it easier to stick to whatever it is you are going to do. Mental plans can easily be forgotten.
Anyway, I'm out of the funk I was in with my last post. It'll come back again, but hopefully I can be stronger in dealing with things. The sermon at church, yesterday, was great and it sort of hit home for my situation. It made me stop and think that a great deal of my anquish at times is of a spiritual nature - the enemy is trying to stop me (or get me to stop) doing things for the Lord, the ministries I'm in, etc.
I started my new year off with reading the Bible (try to get back into that)...ok, in all honesty, it was the second thing I did - the first was to block a pretty scarf that I finished knitting last night (you can see a picture of it on my knitting blog, Kitten Knits Yarn), but I did read the Bible. I wasn't sure what I wanted to read, so I started with the book of John again. When ever I don't know what to read, I seem to gravitate toward that Book - either that or James or 1 Peter.
One of my classes next semester is on Post Exhilic Writings, which is going to focus on the books of Chronicles. I read the first couple of chapters of that the other day and was sooooo bored - those two chapters (and I think a couple more after it) are boring geneaologies. They're there for a reason though, so I'll plow through it and read into the rest of it. I want to have an idea of what the books are about and think up some possible questions to ask (if I come across any). I've had this prof before, so I know what his class is like; it's one that I'm looking forward to taking because there will be lots of discussion, and I like discussion.
Anyway, I hope you all have a happy new year filled with the joy and peace that comes from the Lord, Jesus the Christ! God bless!
I wonder, sometimes, if it is a good idea to make some sort of resolutions or plans for the coming year - simply becuase if you have a plan, you are more apt to accomplish what it is you are setting out to do. With no plan, it's very easy to not get anything done. So, do I make a mental list? Do I write it out? I think if it is written out, it gives you something tangible to follow and might make it easier to stick to whatever it is you are going to do. Mental plans can easily be forgotten.
Anyway, I'm out of the funk I was in with my last post. It'll come back again, but hopefully I can be stronger in dealing with things. The sermon at church, yesterday, was great and it sort of hit home for my situation. It made me stop and think that a great deal of my anquish at times is of a spiritual nature - the enemy is trying to stop me (or get me to stop) doing things for the Lord, the ministries I'm in, etc.
I started my new year off with reading the Bible (try to get back into that)...ok, in all honesty, it was the second thing I did - the first was to block a pretty scarf that I finished knitting last night (you can see a picture of it on my knitting blog, Kitten Knits Yarn), but I did read the Bible. I wasn't sure what I wanted to read, so I started with the book of John again. When ever I don't know what to read, I seem to gravitate toward that Book - either that or James or 1 Peter.
One of my classes next semester is on Post Exhilic Writings, which is going to focus on the books of Chronicles. I read the first couple of chapters of that the other day and was sooooo bored - those two chapters (and I think a couple more after it) are boring geneaologies. They're there for a reason though, so I'll plow through it and read into the rest of it. I want to have an idea of what the books are about and think up some possible questions to ask (if I come across any). I've had this prof before, so I know what his class is like; it's one that I'm looking forward to taking because there will be lots of discussion, and I like discussion.
Anyway, I hope you all have a happy new year filled with the joy and peace that comes from the Lord, Jesus the Christ! God bless!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Bits & Pieces
Well, this post will have bits and pieces about different things - no specific topic. This is mainly because my mind is a little jumbled up lately.
First off, I got my marks back today from first semester. I as a little disappointed with my TESL mark - it as B+, which is fine, but I thought I had done a tad bit better. My effective writing course got the highest mark: A. The big surprise for me came when I looked at the mark for the dreaded Children's Lit course. I honestly didn't put a lot of effort into that class because I didn't care for it (like I've mentioned on here a few times). I asn't at all prepared for the exam, and didn't think I had done well on my journals or my paper. Apparently I must have done well on them all (though I honestly think the prof might be an easy marker), because I received an A-!
I have been feeling rather...discontent and restless lately. I know I need to put my focus back on God and get back on track with praying and reading my Bible, so this is probably at the root of what I've been going through for the last little while.
However, I really feel like I am going through a mid-life crisis. Yeah, I know, a mid-life crisis is usually attributed to men in their mid 40's who go out and buy flashy bright red convertable sports cars and leave their wives for blonde bimbos half their age (no offence to blondes or anyone for that matter). I did a bit of research online because I wanted to know if it is possible for women to go through a mid-life crisis. Apparently this is getting to be more and more common in women due to the fact that they are in the work force (and have been for some time) . I guess it wasn't common when women were staying home to be housewives and moms. Anyway, another article said that with men a mid-life crisis usually involves work and in providing for their families (they feel they haven't done well enough or should have done better, or something like that). For women, the crisis tends to revolve more around family - husbands, children, homelife, that sort of thing. Another article also said that a woman who has a mid-life crisis tends to have it, typically, in her mid to late 40's, but that is can also appear as young as 38-42. On my next birthday, which happens to be in January, I will be 38.
Anyway, I can't even really put into words all that I have been feeling and the thoughts I have been having. I just feel like I haven't accomplished anything in my life - that I have wasted my life. I don't feel like I have anything to show for the nearly 38 years I have been alive. I have no husband, no kids, no home of my own (had to move back in with my parents when I went back to school), and a big ol' student loan debt. Sure, other students have loans to pay back too, but the difference is they usually start paying it back in their 20's. I'm nearly 40. I know it probably seems like I am blowing things out of proportion, and that these things aren't a big deal, but to me it is a huge deal. I just feel like I don't know what I'm doing anymore; I don't know what direction I'm heading in. Basically, I feel lost.
I do have days where I am fine and none of this bothers me, but on the days that it does bother me, I feel really...worthless...that's about the only word I can think that describes how I feel. I felt so bad the other night that I cried myself to sleep. I talked to God, told Him how I feel and why...told Him I didn't even know what to say to Him or that I didn't feel I could even face Him.
Anyway, I am not really looking forward to my next birthday. I don't even think that I want to celebrate it or acknowledge that day as my birthday. I'm trying to get over all of this, trying to tell myself none of this really matters (the things I'm feeling and thinking that is)...that sort of thing. If I keep telling myself this, and I figure if I say it often enough I'm bound to believe it sooner or later...
But, I'll end for now because this has become a rather depressing entry.
First off, I got my marks back today from first semester. I as a little disappointed with my TESL mark - it as B+, which is fine, but I thought I had done a tad bit better. My effective writing course got the highest mark: A. The big surprise for me came when I looked at the mark for the dreaded Children's Lit course. I honestly didn't put a lot of effort into that class because I didn't care for it (like I've mentioned on here a few times). I asn't at all prepared for the exam, and didn't think I had done well on my journals or my paper. Apparently I must have done well on them all (though I honestly think the prof might be an easy marker), because I received an A-!
I have been feeling rather...discontent and restless lately. I know I need to put my focus back on God and get back on track with praying and reading my Bible, so this is probably at the root of what I've been going through for the last little while.
However, I really feel like I am going through a mid-life crisis. Yeah, I know, a mid-life crisis is usually attributed to men in their mid 40's who go out and buy flashy bright red convertable sports cars and leave their wives for blonde bimbos half their age (no offence to blondes or anyone for that matter). I did a bit of research online because I wanted to know if it is possible for women to go through a mid-life crisis. Apparently this is getting to be more and more common in women due to the fact that they are in the work force (and have been for some time) . I guess it wasn't common when women were staying home to be housewives and moms. Anyway, another article said that with men a mid-life crisis usually involves work and in providing for their families (they feel they haven't done well enough or should have done better, or something like that). For women, the crisis tends to revolve more around family - husbands, children, homelife, that sort of thing. Another article also said that a woman who has a mid-life crisis tends to have it, typically, in her mid to late 40's, but that is can also appear as young as 38-42. On my next birthday, which happens to be in January, I will be 38.
Anyway, I can't even really put into words all that I have been feeling and the thoughts I have been having. I just feel like I haven't accomplished anything in my life - that I have wasted my life. I don't feel like I have anything to show for the nearly 38 years I have been alive. I have no husband, no kids, no home of my own (had to move back in with my parents when I went back to school), and a big ol' student loan debt. Sure, other students have loans to pay back too, but the difference is they usually start paying it back in their 20's. I'm nearly 40. I know it probably seems like I am blowing things out of proportion, and that these things aren't a big deal, but to me it is a huge deal. I just feel like I don't know what I'm doing anymore; I don't know what direction I'm heading in. Basically, I feel lost.
I do have days where I am fine and none of this bothers me, but on the days that it does bother me, I feel really...worthless...that's about the only word I can think that describes how I feel. I felt so bad the other night that I cried myself to sleep. I talked to God, told Him how I feel and why...told Him I didn't even know what to say to Him or that I didn't feel I could even face Him.
Anyway, I am not really looking forward to my next birthday. I don't even think that I want to celebrate it or acknowledge that day as my birthday. I'm trying to get over all of this, trying to tell myself none of this really matters (the things I'm feeling and thinking that is)...that sort of thing. If I keep telling myself this, and I figure if I say it often enough I'm bound to believe it sooner or later...
But, I'll end for now because this has become a rather depressing entry.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Boxing Day
Today, December 26, is known in Canada (and other places like Britain, New Zealand and Australia) as Boxing Day.
When I was young, I used to think this day was called Boxing Day because of all the boxes lying around the house - you know the ones, toys or cloths, household items, etc. were now out of their boxes and sitting under the Christmas tree to show to any visitors who came by. Then, when I was a little old, I used to think it had something to do with the boxes that the Christmas tree and the decorations came in - that maybe this was the day you were supposed to take down the tree and all the decorations around the house, and put them back into their proper boxes.
If you Google Boxing Day traditions, you'll find several articles that talk about this holiday. Here is one that I thought was interesting (it actually has a few of the supposed meanings behind this day).
At any rate, it is a holiday, but it isn't a paid one - at least for me. I'm sure there are companies and businesses who do pay their employees for Boxing Day, though. I'm just glad that it is a day off work. Sometimes the family will go around visiting aunts and uncles and cousins (or other relatives), but we are just spending a quiet day at home. Besides, the weather isn't really nice. We went from +7 celcius yesterday to lower temps in the minus range (though it's in the low minus range, like maybe -2 or -3 celcius). It's been snowing a little and there is a light covering on the ground; but now it is raining a bit (and there might be some snow mixed in with that too), and they are calling for more snow later. At one point I heard there is supposed to be a little freezing rain, but I don't know if that has changed. I do know the salt trucks were out (they go around spreading salt on the roads to prevent freezing), so the city is at least preparing just in case.
It's off to work again tomorrow morning - bright and early. We can go in for 7:00am and will probably be there until 4:30pm, so that should help contribute to a nice pay cheque. Hopefully I will be able to update you on how work is going over the next day or two.
Happy Boxing Day!
When I was young, I used to think this day was called Boxing Day because of all the boxes lying around the house - you know the ones, toys or cloths, household items, etc. were now out of their boxes and sitting under the Christmas tree to show to any visitors who came by. Then, when I was a little old, I used to think it had something to do with the boxes that the Christmas tree and the decorations came in - that maybe this was the day you were supposed to take down the tree and all the decorations around the house, and put them back into their proper boxes.
If you Google Boxing Day traditions, you'll find several articles that talk about this holiday. Here is one that I thought was interesting (it actually has a few of the supposed meanings behind this day).
At any rate, it is a holiday, but it isn't a paid one - at least for me. I'm sure there are companies and businesses who do pay their employees for Boxing Day, though. I'm just glad that it is a day off work. Sometimes the family will go around visiting aunts and uncles and cousins (or other relatives), but we are just spending a quiet day at home. Besides, the weather isn't really nice. We went from +7 celcius yesterday to lower temps in the minus range (though it's in the low minus range, like maybe -2 or -3 celcius). It's been snowing a little and there is a light covering on the ground; but now it is raining a bit (and there might be some snow mixed in with that too), and they are calling for more snow later. At one point I heard there is supposed to be a little freezing rain, but I don't know if that has changed. I do know the salt trucks were out (they go around spreading salt on the roads to prevent freezing), so the city is at least preparing just in case.
It's off to work again tomorrow morning - bright and early. We can go in for 7:00am and will probably be there until 4:30pm, so that should help contribute to a nice pay cheque. Hopefully I will be able to update you on how work is going over the next day or two.
Happy Boxing Day!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas
I received this the other day in an email and thought I would share it as my Christmas Eve post. Merry Christmas to you all, and may your holiday be filled with Christ.
Twas the night before Christmasand all through the town,
not a sign of Baby Jesuswas anywhere to be found.
The people were all busyWith Christmas time chores.
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger,no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Oprah, Papa tried to take a nap.
As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap.
When what from the T.V.did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad..which toldof a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall they flew like a flash.
Buying things on credit and others with cash!
And, as they made their way homefrom their trip to the mall.
Did they think about Jesus? oh, no... not at all.
Their lives become so busy with Christmas time things.
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior and take the time to stop.
It's really hard to do when you 'shop til you drop'.
On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's.
From the big stores downtown, to the stores at the mall.
They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!
And up on the roof there arose such a clatter.
As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.
It's easy to forget Jesus - The Light of the world.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight.
Let's put Christ back inChristmas and say a prayer tonight!
Twas the night before Christmasand all through the town,
not a sign of Baby Jesuswas anywhere to be found.
The people were all busyWith Christmas time chores.
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger,no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Oprah, Papa tried to take a nap.
As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap.
When what from the T.V.did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad..which toldof a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall they flew like a flash.
Buying things on credit and others with cash!
And, as they made their way homefrom their trip to the mall.
Did they think about Jesus? oh, no... not at all.
Their lives become so busy with Christmas time things.
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior and take the time to stop.
It's really hard to do when you 'shop til you drop'.
On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's.
From the big stores downtown, to the stores at the mall.
They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!
And up on the roof there arose such a clatter.
As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.
It's easy to forget Jesus - The Light of the world.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight.
Let's put Christ back inChristmas and say a prayer tonight!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Happy Monday!
Well, I had my first day back at work today, and it went pretty fine. There are about three or four new people that were hired after I left in the summer. They replace the three or four who have quit since I left in the summer. It seemed a little weird that a couple of the people were gone - not that they were my favourite people or anything, but they were always just there...
My productivity was way low today, but I blame that on the fact that the desk I'm sitting at isn't set up the way I had it. They have one of those articulate keyboard thingys...not sure exactly what they are called...on the desk, and though I could take the keyboard off of it and shove the contraption under, I won't do that because I always bang my knees on it - and that doesn't exactly tickle. So, it will take me a little bit to get used to that. Oh and the chair isn't good either - none of them are; they are old and just not comfortable. My back was really sore by the end of the day and no amount of adjusting the chair would help. I think that part of the reason with the chair is that I'm just not used to sitting in one like that since the summer. I remember I had the same problem when I first started back last summer (though I was able to find one of the newer ones not in use, but they are all being used now), and after a week or so I got used to it and my back didn't bother me. The only thing is, I will probably get used to the chair and have to leave, but oh well.
I'm not sure how long I'll get to work, for sure this week, and probably next week. The supervisor who normally tells me when things get slow that they don't need me (usually the week after New Year, or sometimes the week between Christmas and New Year - just depends on the work situation) isn't there (I'm told she found out a couple months ago that she has colon cancer and was having an operation or something - haven't heard any prognosis or anything on if she is coming back). So, the supervisor who is usually off at that time is working - or at least I think she will be working, though she was scheduled to have vacation since she was flying out west - and I don't know if she'll let me stay even when things are majorly slow or not. I think I might work for a few weeks, and have at least one to myself before classes start back in January.
Speaking of Christmas, I have not finished mine yet! My brother and sister-in-law's gift will be gotten tomorrow, and possibly for my other brother and his girlfriend/fiance/common law (whatever she's called) will be gotten then as well. I still need to get something for Mom and Dad, and they aren't much help - keep telling me they don't need anything (insert eye roll here). I'll get them something this week though - hopefully no later than Wednesday. I have my nephew's gifts, and I keep seeing other things that I buy for him. He's only 3 1/2 so I want to give him something he'll like or something he'll play with. I've got several things for him already so I might not get him anything else - unless I really think I should get it...lol.
Anyway, I'm feeling a little tired - not used to getting up early. I managed to catch a quick 15 minute cat nap before supper, which seemed to help at the time, but I'm starting to feel tired again. Off to do some knitting I think - gotta finish up the last of my knitted Christmas gifts by Saturday. Have a Christ filled day!
My productivity was way low today, but I blame that on the fact that the desk I'm sitting at isn't set up the way I had it. They have one of those articulate keyboard thingys...not sure exactly what they are called...on the desk, and though I could take the keyboard off of it and shove the contraption under, I won't do that because I always bang my knees on it - and that doesn't exactly tickle. So, it will take me a little bit to get used to that. Oh and the chair isn't good either - none of them are; they are old and just not comfortable. My back was really sore by the end of the day and no amount of adjusting the chair would help. I think that part of the reason with the chair is that I'm just not used to sitting in one like that since the summer. I remember I had the same problem when I first started back last summer (though I was able to find one of the newer ones not in use, but they are all being used now), and after a week or so I got used to it and my back didn't bother me. The only thing is, I will probably get used to the chair and have to leave, but oh well.
I'm not sure how long I'll get to work, for sure this week, and probably next week. The supervisor who normally tells me when things get slow that they don't need me (usually the week after New Year, or sometimes the week between Christmas and New Year - just depends on the work situation) isn't there (I'm told she found out a couple months ago that she has colon cancer and was having an operation or something - haven't heard any prognosis or anything on if she is coming back). So, the supervisor who is usually off at that time is working - or at least I think she will be working, though she was scheduled to have vacation since she was flying out west - and I don't know if she'll let me stay even when things are majorly slow or not. I think I might work for a few weeks, and have at least one to myself before classes start back in January.
Speaking of Christmas, I have not finished mine yet! My brother and sister-in-law's gift will be gotten tomorrow, and possibly for my other brother and his girlfriend/fiance/common law (whatever she's called) will be gotten then as well. I still need to get something for Mom and Dad, and they aren't much help - keep telling me they don't need anything (insert eye roll here). I'll get them something this week though - hopefully no later than Wednesday. I have my nephew's gifts, and I keep seeing other things that I buy for him. He's only 3 1/2 so I want to give him something he'll like or something he'll play with. I've got several things for him already so I might not get him anything else - unless I really think I should get it...lol.
Anyway, I'm feeling a little tired - not used to getting up early. I managed to catch a quick 15 minute cat nap before supper, which seemed to help at the time, but I'm starting to feel tired again. Off to do some knitting I think - gotta finish up the last of my knitted Christmas gifts by Saturday. Have a Christ filled day!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
I'm Free!
School is now done for the winter break! Yay! I finished my last exam on Thursday evening and was so glad to be done. It does feel kind of "weird" that anytime I do something not school related, and the thoughts of having to get homework done surface, that I don't have to worry about that for a few weeks. I still feel like I need to do readings or work on my paragraph for the writing class. But, I don't have to do anything. I can knit as long as I want, I can watch TV if I want, I can surf blogs if I want...
Well, remember those wintery pics in my last post? Well, the last few days have been mild and we've had a bit of rain so there isn't much snow left. Most of it is along the curbs where the snow plows had pushed the snow off the roads. There is the odd spot here and there on lawns too. I'm not sure if they are calling for any snow between now and Christmas, but I hope we get a little bit so that it at least looks like Christmas - then it can melt and I won't mind.
I start back to work (my old job - the one I go to during summer breaks) on Monday. I had told the supervisor to call me and let me know if there was an early start (I'm willing to go in early). She said she would try to remember to call, but I never heard from her so she either forgot or there isn't an early start. One thing I'm not looking forward to is having to get up early. I am not used to that. My earliest class started at 2:55pm, and my other classes were in the evenings. I think that is going to be the hardest thing for me to get used to. I'll be bringing my trusty mug and drinking lots of coffee no doubt - you know, trying to keep my energy level up. The tiredness will hit after lunch - or at least that is when it used to in the summer. Oh well, I know I'll be able to cope.
Anyway, not much in the way of news at the moment. I've been busy trying to get Christmas knitting done up in time so the recipients can have their gift by the 25th. And speaking of knitting, I've got a new look over at my knitting blog, as well as a new name. Please feel free to go check it out over at Kitten Knits Yarn.
Well, remember those wintery pics in my last post? Well, the last few days have been mild and we've had a bit of rain so there isn't much snow left. Most of it is along the curbs where the snow plows had pushed the snow off the roads. There is the odd spot here and there on lawns too. I'm not sure if they are calling for any snow between now and Christmas, but I hope we get a little bit so that it at least looks like Christmas - then it can melt and I won't mind.
I start back to work (my old job - the one I go to during summer breaks) on Monday. I had told the supervisor to call me and let me know if there was an early start (I'm willing to go in early). She said she would try to remember to call, but I never heard from her so she either forgot or there isn't an early start. One thing I'm not looking forward to is having to get up early. I am not used to that. My earliest class started at 2:55pm, and my other classes were in the evenings. I think that is going to be the hardest thing for me to get used to. I'll be bringing my trusty mug and drinking lots of coffee no doubt - you know, trying to keep my energy level up. The tiredness will hit after lunch - or at least that is when it used to in the summer. Oh well, I know I'll be able to cope.
Anyway, not much in the way of news at the moment. I've been busy trying to get Christmas knitting done up in time so the recipients can have their gift by the 25th. And speaking of knitting, I've got a new look over at my knitting blog, as well as a new name. Please feel free to go check it out over at Kitten Knits Yarn.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Still Busy
I'm still busy working on the essay and assignments that are due tomorrow and some that are due by Friday. I would like to get them all done by tomorrow, but I don't know if that will be entirely possible - for sure I can get the bulk of it done by then, though.Things have gotten colder in this neck of the woods, and the other day we got some snow. I thought I'd share a couple of pictures I took from our front window yesterday morning.
Exams start next week - how exciting....NOT! Two of them I feel that I will do pretty well on, but the third one (Children's Lit), I am totally not prepared for, and I know it's my own fault. However, I just don't really seem to care about this course. I mean, I don't want to fail (heaven forbid), but I just don't seem to really
care if I only get a C in it...I mean I wouldn't like that mark, but at the same time...I am going through some internal struggles lately and there are a few decisions that I am going to be making soon. I am getting a sense of peace with one of these decisions (after talking to God about it). The only thing that I don't have peace about is the feeling that I am going to be a disappointment. I am a huge people pleaser, and it always bothers me immensely when others are upset or angry or whatever with me. I know I can't please everyone and that not everyone is going to like me - but still, it seems like such a huge thing to not have others disliking me...
Anyway, papers and assignments need to get done and then studying can take place so I'm off to make a post on my knitting blog, Kitten Yarns & Crafts, and then get back to work.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Such Agony!
I have an essay due this week for my Children's Lit class. I really have no desire whatsoever to do this, no interest, no nothing. It has to be seven to ten paragraphs in length, and each paragraph must be six to ten sentences. In some ways that doesn't seem too bad, but in other ways it seems like the prof is asking for the world on a silver platter.
The topic I chose (because it was what I was most familiar with) is Discussing the importance of PEI (Prince Edward Island) as a setting for Anne of Green Gables. I have been to PEI a few times, and have visited the Anne of Green Gables site (and other places associated with its author). I have read the book for the class (I read it probably fifteen years ago as well), and I am aware of the setting quite well. So, I figure this shouldn't be too difficult of a task.
Well, we are to use the primary source (which is the book itself), and at least two secondary sources. One of the sources I planned on using is hidden away in a box which I can't seem to locate. I want to use the first volume of LM Montgomery's journals, as that will have her mentioning the book and her love for her home province. I am going to have to make a trip to the public library on Monday (if it's open) and see if they have a copy of it...if not, then I'm up the creek I guess.
I have been surfing the net to find reputable articles that I could use as secondary sources - we aren't supposed or allowed to use something that is basically an opinion someone has typed on their blog or website. I've gone to the University of PEI to find something (the prof said I could use that as a source), but can't find what I think I am supposed to use...
So, I guess what I will do, is at least start with using the primary source and use my own words and whatnot, then when I can find some sources worthwhile I will add them.
Aside from that I have other assignments to do for this week - the last week of classes, most of which are due no later than Thursday, Dec. 7. The following week is when I will be writing exams. I'm not looking forward to those either, and I need to get studying - but in all honesty, that won't be able to happen until I get these assignments done.
Anyway, I'd appreciate prayers that I will get all of this done without too much worry or stress, as well as prayers for the exams - that I will know what to study and how to study (I don't know what to expect for exams in English classes - my major was in Biblical Studies and I knew exactly how and what to study for those).
God bless you all, and have a Christ filled day!
The topic I chose (because it was what I was most familiar with) is Discussing the importance of PEI (Prince Edward Island) as a setting for Anne of Green Gables. I have been to PEI a few times, and have visited the Anne of Green Gables site (and other places associated with its author). I have read the book for the class (I read it probably fifteen years ago as well), and I am aware of the setting quite well. So, I figure this shouldn't be too difficult of a task.
Well, we are to use the primary source (which is the book itself), and at least two secondary sources. One of the sources I planned on using is hidden away in a box which I can't seem to locate. I want to use the first volume of LM Montgomery's journals, as that will have her mentioning the book and her love for her home province. I am going to have to make a trip to the public library on Monday (if it's open) and see if they have a copy of it...if not, then I'm up the creek I guess.
I have been surfing the net to find reputable articles that I could use as secondary sources - we aren't supposed or allowed to use something that is basically an opinion someone has typed on their blog or website. I've gone to the University of PEI to find something (the prof said I could use that as a source), but can't find what I think I am supposed to use...
So, I guess what I will do, is at least start with using the primary source and use my own words and whatnot, then when I can find some sources worthwhile I will add them.
Aside from that I have other assignments to do for this week - the last week of classes, most of which are due no later than Thursday, Dec. 7. The following week is when I will be writing exams. I'm not looking forward to those either, and I need to get studying - but in all honesty, that won't be able to happen until I get these assignments done.
Anyway, I'd appreciate prayers that I will get all of this done without too much worry or stress, as well as prayers for the exams - that I will know what to study and how to study (I don't know what to expect for exams in English classes - my major was in Biblical Studies and I knew exactly how and what to study for those).
God bless you all, and have a Christ filled day!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
I'm Still Here
I want to apologize to everyone for the simple fact that I haven't been posting here as much lately. To be honest, I just don't know what to write about. Nothing much has been happening, school is going fine. I have been trying to think of posts to write, but nothing is coming to mind - and to think I call myself a writer, LOL!
The weather has cooled off considerably. For a week or so, recently, we have had beautiful temperatures reaching upwards to 20 celcius! The last few days have been seasonal however, with temperatures in the lower digits - anywhere from 4 to 8 celcius I believe. We still don't have snow, but I'm not complaining. I'm sure we'll get our fair share of it sooner or later.
I got a wonderful compliment from my writing teacher the other day. We had to hand in the thesis and outline of our next essay (which is to be an expansion of one of our shorter paragraphs that we have handed in previously - we do not use any sources for this, just our own thoughts, etc.), and on the bottom of mine she wrote that I have real talent and a strong voice. Wow. I never expected that.
I wondered, at first, if she wrote something like that on everyone's outline/thesis, but then I realized she's not like that. If your writing is no good, she wouldn't lie about it. She might try to write something encouraging like "with improvement, you could become a great writer" or something like that - you know, put a little positive in with the negative/constructive criticism. I mean if something doesn't make sense, she'll let you know. If your grammer is rotten, she'll tell you to pay attention to it...things like that. She's not mean about her editing and critiquing, but she won't falsely lead you on; that is something that doesn't help any writer. Writer's need to be told the truth or else they'll never improve.
I tell you though, after reading that comment I am inspired to keep writing for sure (not that I was planning on giving it up or anything). I've got an idea for a little "article" I'd like to write and maybe submit to Christian Women Online. I wouldn't get paid, but if they accepted it and put it in their online publication, that would be some exposure and something else I can include in my resume. We'll see how it goes though; I need to write the thing first.
So, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll have something better to write soon, something more God-centered, God-focused. Have a Christ filled day!
The weather has cooled off considerably. For a week or so, recently, we have had beautiful temperatures reaching upwards to 20 celcius! The last few days have been seasonal however, with temperatures in the lower digits - anywhere from 4 to 8 celcius I believe. We still don't have snow, but I'm not complaining. I'm sure we'll get our fair share of it sooner or later.
I got a wonderful compliment from my writing teacher the other day. We had to hand in the thesis and outline of our next essay (which is to be an expansion of one of our shorter paragraphs that we have handed in previously - we do not use any sources for this, just our own thoughts, etc.), and on the bottom of mine she wrote that I have real talent and a strong voice. Wow. I never expected that.
I wondered, at first, if she wrote something like that on everyone's outline/thesis, but then I realized she's not like that. If your writing is no good, she wouldn't lie about it. She might try to write something encouraging like "with improvement, you could become a great writer" or something like that - you know, put a little positive in with the negative/constructive criticism. I mean if something doesn't make sense, she'll let you know. If your grammer is rotten, she'll tell you to pay attention to it...things like that. She's not mean about her editing and critiquing, but she won't falsely lead you on; that is something that doesn't help any writer. Writer's need to be told the truth or else they'll never improve.
I tell you though, after reading that comment I am inspired to keep writing for sure (not that I was planning on giving it up or anything). I've got an idea for a little "article" I'd like to write and maybe submit to Christian Women Online. I wouldn't get paid, but if they accepted it and put it in their online publication, that would be some exposure and something else I can include in my resume. We'll see how it goes though; I need to write the thing first.
So, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll have something better to write soon, something more God-centered, God-focused. Have a Christ filled day!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Check Out This Post
Please go over to one of my online knitting friends' blogs. She is a wonderful Christian lady and has posted her testimony. Warning: bring Kleenex!
Knitting and Praying
Knitting and Praying
Saturday, November 11, 2006
In Memory...
In Memory of Our Veterans (click the title of the poem to learn more about Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD)
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Happy Tuesday!
I know I haven't been keeping up with this as much as I should (same as with reading other blogs). I am just waiting for something exciting to talk about - but things remain boring. But at least they remain, right?
School is going fine, though I still am not enjoying the children's lit class I'm taking. I am loving the Effective Writing and TESL classes though, so all is not lost.
I am still loving the flute lessons (sorry, but no sound bite yet - I need to get better before I let anyone hear me play, LOL). The teacher told me last week that when we learn something, particularly an instrument, we tend not to really notice improvement ourselves. We think we are still struggling along or that we haven't made any improvement. He said, though, that he can hear a lot of improvement in me and that he can tell I am practicing. To be honest though, there are some days when I don't get any practice in. Most days I do practice, and it is generally for at least half an hour. I am still trudging along with trying to get those high notes - they can be hard to reach. I do great when I'm practicing at home, but when I get in front of the teacher and try to do them for him, I mess up a lot. I told him this and he said that is really normal and happens to everyone.
We had our first real snowfall of the season yesterday. Thankfully it didn't amount to much over a dusting. By this morning though, it was melted away. Tomorrow it is supposed to go to +10C so there is no chance of snow. It'll feel like summer after the last little while of chilly weather we've had. I'm not complaining though. It just saddens me that I can't go barefoot anymore. On the plus side, I get to wear my hand knitted socks I've made this year. I only have 2 pair to wear so far (all other pairs were made for others and have typically been children's size). I have one more sock to make of my third pair for me though - just have to get working on it.
Anyway, that's all for now. Don't want to bore people to death, especially since my readers have dropped off (or at least commenters) since I haven't been writing as often lately. Feel free to check out my knitting blog, Kitten Yarns & Crafts or my writing blog, Ink Scrawls as there are usually updates there - at least on the knitting one.
Have a Christ filled day!
School is going fine, though I still am not enjoying the children's lit class I'm taking. I am loving the Effective Writing and TESL classes though, so all is not lost.
I am still loving the flute lessons (sorry, but no sound bite yet - I need to get better before I let anyone hear me play, LOL). The teacher told me last week that when we learn something, particularly an instrument, we tend not to really notice improvement ourselves. We think we are still struggling along or that we haven't made any improvement. He said, though, that he can hear a lot of improvement in me and that he can tell I am practicing. To be honest though, there are some days when I don't get any practice in. Most days I do practice, and it is generally for at least half an hour. I am still trudging along with trying to get those high notes - they can be hard to reach. I do great when I'm practicing at home, but when I get in front of the teacher and try to do them for him, I mess up a lot. I told him this and he said that is really normal and happens to everyone.
We had our first real snowfall of the season yesterday. Thankfully it didn't amount to much over a dusting. By this morning though, it was melted away. Tomorrow it is supposed to go to +10C so there is no chance of snow. It'll feel like summer after the last little while of chilly weather we've had. I'm not complaining though. It just saddens me that I can't go barefoot anymore. On the plus side, I get to wear my hand knitted socks I've made this year. I only have 2 pair to wear so far (all other pairs were made for others and have typically been children's size). I have one more sock to make of my third pair for me though - just have to get working on it.
Anyway, that's all for now. Don't want to bore people to death, especially since my readers have dropped off (or at least commenters) since I haven't been writing as often lately. Feel free to check out my knitting blog, Kitten Yarns & Crafts or my writing blog, Ink Scrawls as there are usually updates there - at least on the knitting one.
Have a Christ filled day!
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