Firsts

On Sunday, as I was driving from home back to work, I got my first speeding ticket. Apparently going 112 in an 80 is frowned upon by the average policeman. He was really good about it. He asked why I was going so fast, and I told him I did not really have a good reason. I told him that it was a long trip from home and I was just trying to get there quickly (and I was making really good time until he came along). He took it down to 95 so that I wouldn't lose any demerit points and because he assumed (from the Redeemer sticker on my car) that I was still paying off school loans.

I called home to let my dad know (joke between the two of us) and his first words were "It's about time." Then he warned me that these things supposedly happen in threes. The problem was, the rest of the ride home, I still had difficulty keeping it under 100. My car has a need for speed, I can tell that it's happier when I'm driving faster.

Classic Family Picture

Disclaimer: this is more for my pleasure when I'm away from home than for public interest.

Here is a picture that is a classic from our childhood. Sarah was kind of mad that she didn't get to hold much of Sidney.

Prayer Request

Please pray:

I just found out that one of the youth I went with to Wycliffe, New Jersey SERVE has been diagnosed with cancer. She's quit highschool and is going for a 6 month chemotherapy treatment. I talked to her this morning, she's upbeat but it's going to be a long road.

North York

I'm moving to North York in August. Does anyone know someone in the area who is looking for a roommate or has a place to rent?

In Sickness and In Health Part 2

My family has been blessed with health up until the last half a year. I have two relatives that are dieing from two very different diseases. My Uncle from Lou Gerhigs and my Opa from COPD followed by stomach and liver cancer.

I've been taught alot through this process of dealing with life-altering diseases. The biggest thing that's affected my family is the reaction to the diseases.

Both of my relatives have had very different reactions to their struggles. One has replied by relying on God and being upbeat and positive. The other by negativity and depression. Both reactions have affected my family.

The person who reacted by relying on God has tremendously blessed and strengthened our family. He has taught us what it is to trust and rely on God during difficult times. He remains upbeat and encourages his family to live life to the fullest. Everytime my parents come away from a visit with him, they remark about how blessed they were. You sit there and just listen for hours to the quiet wisdom that comes from him. You don't listen because you have to, but because you want to. There's an internal strength and peace that emmits from him.

The negative reaction has made it difficult for my family. I see my mom trying to support her father but it's hurting her. There are worries about his spiritual and mental wellbeing. In turn, us kids are trying to support our hurting mom. There is such a dominoes affect with negativity. It's very difficult to go and visit him because it's so trying.

Now, to be fair my uncle has had more time to deal with his disease than my opa has. Who knows, maybe once he's had time to struggle with it things might change. In the mean time, how do you help someone who is slowly (or quickly) dieing because of a malfunction in their body? How do you support someone who is not willing to fight the mental death first?

In Sickness and In Health

Last night I went to visit my Uncle who has Lou Gehrigs Disease. Basically it means that his muscles are deteriorating and giving out - this leads to heart and lung failure. He knows that this disease will kill him.

I was nervous to go see him. I haven't visited this uncle in awhile and was feeling a little bit worried. Turned out to be a great visit.

My uncle is a testimony to God in the midst of his disease. He owns 6 Mac dealerships (big rigs) and is head boss over 280 people. He has always professed his faith strongly to his employees and has never let an employee work a Sunday. He holds tightly to his faith now. He told me that it's easy to be a Christian when things are going well, but when life turns difficult where does your walk head?

To be honest, I was very blessed by the visit. Here's what I went away blessed by:

• He's honest about his difficulties but peaceful in his future. He knows where his soul belongs.
• He has a multi-million business to run but ALWAYS makes time for family, ex-employees, or friends to drop in and talk to. I did not feel like I was wasting his time. His priorities are about people not money.
• He treats his employees with respect. When an employee fails, he feels like he failed.
• He makes you appreciate life and the blessings that are part of it.
• He is still enjoying life although there are many health difficulties associated with his disease. He told me to live life to the fullest.
• A positive outlook makes life easier for yourself and those around you.

It's really hard to put into words what I left with. My mind is constantly turning over things I learned and felt along with life questions. It really makes you turn back to the old age questions: What is the point of life? What is the point of MY life? What are my priorities? Am I living a life that will be full of regrets? Am I living life to the fullest? What would my reaction be to a similar situation? What are my priorities? Am I open to "people-interruptions?"

In the end, I feel like I've been changed by him. I notice more the beauty around me in creation and the strengths of the people around me. I don't want to live life with regrets, I want to live it to the fullest.

You Asked...

Some of my friends were asking for more pictures of the wedding so here are some of the others...


I'm walking in with my partner-in-crime Matt. We were the first to walk in every single time and the last to walk out.

Jess and Dave arriving. It was a "team theme." So the boys all got together to do a little football huddle.

Shocker: a kiss at a wedding?

The couple again. I think they were getting sick of pictures after awhile.

My mom asked me to look at her, so I did.

Confirmation

Another reminder as to why I teach the older grades.

My students do reading buddies with the SK/JK (it's so cute to watch them cuddled up and read together). Anyhow, one of my rough, tough boys had a little SK/JK sitting on his lap reading to him. This Grade 6 boy is really good with little kids; they seem to love him. Reading they were, when all of a sudden it was disrupted by only a younger grade issue. The SK/JK had peed his pants and it had went onto my Grade 6 student's leg. He took it really well and we had a good laugh over it together.

Just a reminder as to why the older grades are for me.

Jess's Wedding

Turns out the wedding went by so painlessly. My only difficulty was two false starts going down the aisle. I was the first to go down but everyone was looking at Dave, the groom, so most people probably missed my false starts. Here are some picture highlights:




My sister was the pianist for the ceremony. She did a fantastic job and is very talented musician.

My best friend Jess and her now-husband Dave. I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dave to through time spent playing hockey, football, volleyball, canoeing, and going to lacrosse games together. I find it's always a miracle when two christian people find each other and build their relationship on God.

My classic picture: me with the bride. Here's to our last picture together before Jess begins her life together with Dave.

And the bridesmaid - pretty in pink, pink, pink. I do not have a picture of the whole party because I forgot my camera and these are my mom's shots. These girls were great to hangout and to dance with.

The Night Before

Tomorrow is the wedding of Jessica Lise and David Thiessen. I'm getting nervous about walking down that aisle. I'm the first one to go..... Thank goodness for practice. However, I already tripped a bit on the step while I was standing there. Apparently I have to stand in front of everyone for 40 minutes. I may do this in front of kids, but it's a lot more nerve-wrecking in front of adults. Here's to hoping that I do not create extra memories for them tomorrow.

MySpace

How long can I hold out? I'm starting to feel the draw....yet still resisting.

Good Neighbour Day

Speechless, that's how I can best describe it. Let me explain why.

Yesterday, no...I need to back track a couple of months ago. I opened my rather overly enthusiastic mouth and suggested a volunteer day for the whole school. Volunteerism is one of my passions and I would like to pass that onto my students. I didn't realise the headache that would ensue.

My principal was on board with it, so away I went. I had another teacher volunteer to help me, what a blessing she was.

Organizing an event for 160 kids aged 5 to 13 to go out into the community was crazy. Phone calls, brain storming, organizing, blahblahblah, people dropping out at the last minute. By Wednesday night (Thursday was our official volunteer day) I was a little bit unrelaxed. I realised I was trying to control an uncontrollable thing. Our school had NEVER done something like this before so I was going to make all the beginner mistakes. My biggest concern was that there would not be enough work for the students and that they would start to get into trouble while out and about in the community. Right there and then, I told God that it was now His baby and what He wanted to happen would happen.

Morning arrives. BEAUTIFUL DAY!!! Total blessing from God. However, the staff was not beautiful. I got more negativity than I imagined possible, less support that I needed. Now I'm only talking about a portion of the staff. The rest were great, asking what they could do, giving kind words. But my wise sister once said, it takes 5 positive comments to match 1 negative. Not fair!!

However, the students gathered in the gym. Here's the breakdown:
1) 20 students were sent to the food bank to clean shelves, make cards, and stock shelves. The food bank was so pumped to have them and treated them like gold.
2) 40 students were sent to Hagersville to pick up garbage. People were coming out of their stores to thank my students for their work. What a witness!
3) 20 students went to Simcoe to pick up garbage there.
4) 30 students went to two different old age home to sing, clean, colour, talk, and read stories to them.
5) 50 students stayed in Jarvis to clean up the garbage in town.

Overall, the day was very successful!! However, it's funny how a couple of people's negativity can really bring a downer on the day. It should of been exciting to be in the staff room after an event like that, but because of negativity it was a little blah.

I'm just glad that I could call home and know that my parents and sister understand me, they know my where my heart is and they love me regardless of my faults. I pray, hope, and strongly desire that I am not or never will be a negative person.