Another wonderful reading week trip!

Well I just returned from yet another wonderful reading week trip. The group was a little smaller this time and the trip was a little shorter but nonetheless it was amazing again. It was so nice to be back on the coast enjoying some downtime with friends. Kat, Jason and I went up to Gibsons and stayed at a warehouse converted into a loft suite. We just chilled, did lots of reading shopping, eating and exploring. It was a so nice to spend some quality time with friends. The one downside of coming home for a week is that I end up having whirlwind visits with so many people and not often getting to spend quality time with people. This was a nice break in the chaos that has been my time at home. The weekend was so busy with seeing sooo many people it was nice to have a bit of a break and just sit and read and enjoy being together.
Tomorrow I head back for another 6 weeks in Saskatoon. It's hard to leave again but I look forward to going back to my own space (especially back to my bathroom that I don't have to share with boys!) and seeing my new friends again. The first 6 weeks flew by and I know that the semester is just going to get busier so I'm sure this will fly by as well.
My mom's car now has a nice new passenger side window, we bought Jason another birthday cake Monday night and tried the cake thing again. Today I am having lunch with my pastor and church secretary and then out with my friends Asith and Lorraine tonight before flying home tomorrow. What a week it has been. To those I saw, thanks for a wonderful visit, if I missed you we should connect when I'm home for Christmas or you're always welcome to come visit me in Saskatoon!

I'm home!

Well I made it home late Thursday and have been on the go ever since. Friday morning was breakfast with Jason, then walking in White Rock with Sarah, dinner and cards with Clara, Saturday was hair cut, Sunday School Halloween party, Shalisha's housewarming, Jason's birthday downtown and today was church, shopping, family dinner and Kat's concert!
Last night I had an unpleasant surprise. I parked underneath the Earl's restaurant on Robson and when I went down after dinner I found that someone had smashed the passenger side window and had stolen........ the birthday cake. That's all that appears to have been taken from the car. So frustrating hundreds of dollars of damage just so they could steal a $20 cake.
Tomorrow I head away over night with a couple of friends. Then I am visiting with a couple more friends on Wednesday before flying back to Saskatoon on Thursday. It's been quite the whirlwind visit. Only 6 more weeks or so until I'm home for Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well I have had a wonderful weekend and I'm not sure where all the time went! I spent a lot of time with my housemate Sarah shopping and cooking. We had lots of fun. We made spanakapita on Saturday and then did lots of chopping and prep for our big dinner on Sunday. There were 7 of us for turkey dinner last night and we had a great meal of turkey and lots and lots of fixings. Sarah's homemade pumpkin pie was definitely a highlight of the meal. Today I slept in (finally a good night's sleep!) and worked on school work. I'm heading to another Thanksgiving dinner tonight at another student's home with about 10 other students, should be lots of fun. I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!

The honeymoon is definitely over!

I've come to that point in the semester, anyone who has been in seminary knows what I'm talking about, that point where all is no longer rosy. There is more sinner coming out in us than saint. We as a community are past the honeymoon state and our brokenness begins to emerge. This week has been tough. It began last week with some comments in a class that deeply bothered me and continued over the weekend with a friend showing up on my doorstep on Sunday evening in tears because of the action and words of others in the community. This week I had to confront someone who was gossiping about a friend in front of me. I continue to struggle in one particular class. I struggle to find my place in this community. I have had some wonderful, encouraging conversations but also some that are concerning and disturbing. I went for a walk last night after 6 hours straight of class while waiting for a friend and just walked around the seminary building and prayed. I am looking forward to a weekend of fun, fellowship and hopefully some rest. Part of the reason for my struggle is that I haven't slept well in almost two weeks. I know that I dont' handle life well when I'm tired and I definitely react more negatively to things when I haven't had sleep. And so I continue this journey trusting in God to sustain me and lead me. Trusting that God will continue to give me words to speak and the confidence to stay quiet when needed.
This will be my first thanksgiving away from home. One of my housemates and I are planning a thanksgiving dinner for Sunday night and then I'm going to a fellow student's home on Monday for another dinner.
I will be home for a visit very soon and am going away with friends while I'm home. I hope you are all doing well. Would love emails, phone calls or even comments!

Not Frozen Yet

Well I just realised that I haven't posted for a week and I haven't done a real post in two weeks. I'm settling well in to life here in Saskatoon. I love my place and get along really well with my roommates. School is a bit more of a challenge not so much academically but fitting in in the community. People don't always know how to take me because it's my first year there but I'm taking first, second and third year courses. Someone today asked if I had any experience leading worship and then they were surprised to hear that we had worship at VST. I really wonder what people are hearing about VST here at LTS. Weekly girls' nights are becoming a regular event. Last Friday we played card games until about 11. I'm still looking for a church. I went to a Saturday evening contemporary service last Saturday but it wasn't quite the right fit for me so the search continues.
I have finally found out how my courses will be transferred from VST to LTS. I also have figured out when I will be taking which courses so I am much calmer about my future and finishing my degree soon!
Classes are going well. I'm enjoying them for the most part. I'm not finding them as challenging as my VST classes but I'm learning lots still.
Weather here is still nice. The torrential rains we had a few weeks ago have passed and it's sunny most of the time. I've been biking to school more which I really like. It's fantastic to be going to a school so close I can bike.
This weekend will be the first thanksgiving I haven't been home for. We're doing a house thanksgiving dinner on Saturday and I'm going to a classmate's home on Monday evening.
I'm coming home for reading week very soon and I'm looking forward to a week at home. I will also be going away for a few days with VST friends when I'm home. It will be a nice mix.
I'm sorry this is a rambling blog. I'll try to be more focused next time (probably won't happen, but i'll try!).