Crazy Days

Well, it has become one of those months when just when I think things are going well something bad happens. Most of this week has been wonderful. Crazy busy (what else is new) but wonderful and then yesterday two of my close friends email me (separately) to tell me that they don't want to spend time with me anymore, lovely. Now things haven't been exactly peachy with either of them over the last little while (obviously) but I thought we could work things out, I'm still hopeful we can, only time will tell. I'm so grateful I have so many other wonderful friends. I'm really determined not to let this mess up my last summer of fun and freedom in Vancouver. I'm looking forward to a summer of fun and sun. I also have to start figuring out where I'm going to live in Saskatoon in the fall (anyone know anyone in Saskatoon with a place to rent, let me know!).
Today is my parents' 35th wedding anniversary. My siblings and I hosted a BBQ for them on Saturday afternoon and my aunt, uncle and cousin and his family came over and we had a lovely time. My sister is in town so we did some family shots with the whole family together (it happens so rarely). It went really well but was a lot of work so yesterday I just vegged at the house I was housesitting and didn't do much at all.
Tomorrow I'm doing dim sum with my sister before she flies off to Montreal on Wednesday for a conference and then getting stuff organized at the school I no longer attend for the student body I'm no longer a part of. Oh the fun! I have to help plan the set up of the new study carrel room in our new building. The one nice thing about doing this now as I'm about to leave is I won't be around to hear all the complaining (because no matter how we set it up someone will complain) in the fall.
This week I also have to prepare a sermon as I'm preaching at Our Saviour (my home church, ahhh!) on Sunday. So it's going to be a crazy busy week. I think I'm going to spend some time at the library tomorrow since I'm on campus anyways. I'll have to venture into the unknown territory of the Regent library because the VST library is closed until next week while they move into the new building.
Off to lunch with a friend and then maybe some time organizing my room, what a disaster!

Sudoku, Soduko, Suduko, Whatever I'm hooked!

I have been avoiding this new fad for a while now and then went to school on Monday and my friend Clara was doing them and she convinced me to try one and now I'm hooked! I've been doing them online but I think I might have to go pick up a book tomorrow.

I had apartment church yesterday after a really good spiritual direction session and lunch with a friend, what a lovely day! It was a perfect way to spend a summer day. It was so refreshing and life-giving. I'm going to miss all of those aspects of my life. I know I rave about spiritual direction all the time but it has been a hugely important part of my life this year.

Had church council tonight and the idea of buying more property came up again. I'm kind of glad to be leaving and not have to get involved in that discussion again. I sent my application to Lutheran Theological Seminary in Sasktoon on Friday and so that's one more thing off my list of to do's. Did my taxes today, feeling productive. Nice to not have to worry about school stuff and focus on the rest of life.

My sister comes home tonight, her flight should arriving any minute now. I'll see her tomorrow as I'm housesitting this week. We're working hard on planning my parents' anniversary event on Saturday. They're celebrating 35 years of marriage on Monday. I can't believe that they've been married that long. Pretty amazing! But means lots of work for my sister and I between now and Saturday. I'm glad she's going to be home to do this with me.

Anyways, should head to bed soon, I always seem to write these late at night. Tomorrow I have to go to New West to the synod office to wrap up convention stuff and look at youth gathering plans and meet with Tim from Camp Luther to talk about my experience as a DOC leader. Then it's Alias tomorrow night, yay, I can't wait, I'm totally addicted to TV on DVD.

Convocation

I graduated today, yay! But not forever. I have now been awarded my Diploma in Christian Studies from Vancouver School of Theology. Another piece of paper to add to my collection. I wasn't planning originally to actually cross the stage for this piece of paper but I wanted to graduate from VST and since I can't get my MDiv from there I had to settle for my Diploma. It was a lot of fun. The service was at the Anglican Cathedral downtown which is a beautiful space and one I've been to frequently over the past two years. It was a lot of fun to be surrounded by friends and my parents came as well. I really wanted them to get a taste of the community I've been a part of over the past two years. I was the last person to get my diploma and the only one who is not continuing in a degree at VST. Apparently (I didn't hear it) there was a sigh of disappointment when it was announced that I was going to Saskatoon in the fall. I'm really going to miss my community at VST but I am excited about living on my own and in a new place. Summer has really begun now. I have started to come up with some summer goals. I want to go to the beach at least once a week (went on Sunday!) and I want to clear all the crap out of my life (car, room, etc.).

Alternative Worship Space

This was the worship set up that Jason and I set up for our workshop at synod convention last weekend. 

This is the view from our newly renovated "castle" at VST. It's one of the best views in Vancouver, and it's where I went to school, so amazing! 

Friday Night at Home

Just spent a lovely evening at home. Got home from the VST's second dedication of the renovated castle (of four) where I played tour guide for some lovely people and found out I had the house to myself (which never happens!) and so I got my leftover pasta from the other night warmed it up and chilled in front of the TV until my mom came home and took over the remote at which point I moved upstairs and watched Fever Pitch. It was a lovely end to a crazy week.
This weekend I'm spending time with friends and relaxing. At some point I have to tackle my bedroom so that may happen too. Tomorrow I'm going to have lunch and wander the Drive with a couple of friends from school.
I had spiritual direction today and it was the best and the hardest session I've had so far. So much to think about, lots of discernment to do. Anyways, it was hard, left me with a lot to think about but really helped me put everything in perspective. I have such an amazing spiritual director. I will miss him a ton once I'm in Saskatoon.
I'm going to post some of my favourite pictures from the past year soon. There are so many to choose from but I'll try to keep it down to a few.

I made it to May!

Well, I just woke up after sleeping for almost 11 hours. Guess I was more tired than I realised. It also must mean my body is finally relaxing after the chaos of this past school year. I can't believe that it's over. I was at apartment church last night and gave a friend a ride home and she commented that I seem ready to leave VST and head to Saskatoon. I really am I think, mentally that is in reality I have a ton of stuff to do before I'm physically ready to move but I'm beginning that shift in thinking. Synod convention was this weekend and I spent a lot of it talking to people about going to Saskatoon. The bishop mentioned it a couple of times in passing to the convention so many people wanted to talk to me about it. The more I talk about it the more real it seems. I have convocation at VST on Monday night and that will be my last official VST student thing I do. I'm getting my Diploma in Christian Studies, wahoo. The only reason I'm actually crossing the stage is because I wanted to graduate at VST so this gives me a chance to.
I am so excited about summer. I love summer in Vancouver, going to the beach (went twice last week already!), hanging out with friends, camping etc etc etc. Next summer I'm hoping to do CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education=intense!) and so I have to enjoy my last summer of freedom. I am also hoping to reconnect with friends who have been neglected because of the craziness of this year. I'll also probably be blogging lots!