Jennifer Rowsell

What lies beneath

2012-01-16T11:30:00.001-04:00

Oh my word. I could write a novel of all my dentist adventures. For some back history, I've had to have fillings in the back corners of my mouth, because flossing with braces is hard and I never got back there enough. I believe I got them all when I was at Acadia. My orthodontist never spoke that highly of my dentist down there... I probably should have heeded his concern. But I got fillings and everything looked and felt okay. Good times.

But a couple weeks ago I started getting pain where my lower retainer locks on to my back tooth. So I found a new dentist here in Moncton (one that my orthodontist recommended!) to get it checked out. He said the filling didn't look quite as safe as the others, so we should probably do a re-do. Even after an x-ray, he and I both thought it'd be a minor job. So I made an appointment for this morning.

I have to tell you I just returned from an hour of intensive drilling and rooting around. Neither of us could believe what was lying underneath the surface of that tooth! Safe to say the last filling was not done properly and there was decay all up in there. I thought I was gonna lose it. Never mind the fact I still have a fear of dentists, even after all I've been through, but the dentist still wanted to show me what it looked like once it was all cleaned out. He then left for a minute and the room started to spin. Yes, I almost passed out while lying down in the chair. Ugh. So let this be a lesson kiddies: if something hurts, get it checked out!!! I don't even want to think about what this may have turned into if we didn't catch it when we did. I've never had a root canal and I'd rather keep it that way!!

This whole ordeal kind of reminded me how sin can fester in our lives. We think we've already dealt with it and it's all taken care of, yet sometimes it continues to fester under the surface. Just a little exploratory drilling could reveal a whole new world of hurt. It's so important to be consistently connected to God and other believers so we can keep each other accountable and clean up the mess when we have to. It results in a healthier faith walk that can endure the long haul... without a root canal.

So anyway. So much for my relaxing day off :P The hygienist said I may need Advil for a few days since it was such an intense filling. I'm home now waiting for my face to thaw... I really wanted to go to Damascus, and to a fitness class, but I don't know if I'll be up for it now. We'll see how the day progresses. I may be better off curled up with a good book on my couch and movies on Netflix. Whine.

It's a new year! It's a new a lot of things.

2012-01-12T19:49:00.000-04:00

So it's 7:30pm and I am sitting in an office at church waiting for movies to import to iMovie. Note to self: creating your own children's video curriculum sounds like a great way to save money, but may not always play out well in execution. Sigh. Anyway! Since I'm sitting around listening to the electrician guys, I thought I'd write a blog!

To wrap up my last blog, Christmas was indeed quite different this year. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the experience at The Journey Church (especially the part where I played in our first ever iBand). The weather played nice and I got to my family in Fredericton just in time for "lunch" and new pyjamas. Most of that week was spent lazing around the house, watching our new DVDs and eating way too much junk. It was nice to connect with my family and have that time of rest. I came back to Moncton on the 30th to prepare for New Years Eve. I had the privilege of preaching with one of our grade 9 students. He was absolutely fantastic!!! Definitely has a gift of teaching. After the service we had a Youth Bash until 1:00am. Fun was had by all.

So now it's 2012!!! The office has been a bit insane since coming back. All fall I've been working out of Dave's office or a desk in the Communications office. It's actually been really great for getting to know everyone else, but I am so ready for my own organized space. I'm sitting in what's going to be my new office... blue and brown walls, bookshelves, a nice little desk for my Macbook to sit in, maybe a lamp... it's going to be so awesome. So tomorrow is the last day "in the office" for 2 weeks. Then we are all scattered. I'll probably work out of my apartment or any of the various coffee shops around town. It's going to be a time.

Anyway... this video processing is going to take a really long time. I think I'm gonna go home and finish it tomorrow. Happy New Year!!

2011 review in photos

2011-12-27T16:43:00.000-04:00

I make one of these posts every year, so here we are!

January: Michelle & Ben at Martock. Can't remember if this is the time we ended up at the ER or not...

February: I flew home and surprised Mom for her 60th Birthday :)

March: Mexico for Jocelyn's & Jason's Wedding!!!!

April: Mandy & I hosted our first barefoot walk for TakeTheWalk.net in conjunction with TOMS One Day Without Shoes

May: Graduated with my MDiv!!

June: Jill's & Hugo's Wedding!

July: Camp

August: City & Colour Concert

September: Maple Noise Concert

October: the Hanson concert that was cut short

November: Spoke at Women's event at my old church

December: First Christmas @TJC

I don't take as many pictures as I used to, but still have at least something from each month... it's been an AMAZING year!!!

Christmas Seasons

2011-12-12T22:46:00.000-04:00

Survey says: I'm not good at blogging. Partially because I rarely feel I have anything amazing to say, partially because I am too lazy, and partially because I have an iPad. Vicky Beeching is right: iPads are good for consuming things while you really do need a laptop to create something. I don't like typing a lot on my iPad, and since I only ever have my Macbook home on weekends, I don't have the desire to blog. Anyway. Enough of that.

I'm sitting in my "home office" having my sleepytime tea, surrounded by other people's presents and wrapping paper (I need to get on that...). I've been thinking a lot lately about Christmas and how traditions change. When my brother & I were young Christmas was always the same. Christmas Eve service at 6:30 with parents and grandparents, home for "lunch", open new (matching) pyjamas, put on said pyjamas, open grandparent stockings, watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, go to bed, wake up at 6am, wait for Dad to turn everything on and get all adults downstairs, kids run down and open presents. I could go on and on. I remember the first year I wanted to sleep in, or the first year everyone didn't watch the movie because grandparents wanted to go to bed. Jonathan got angry. He said it "wasn't Christmas" unless all of our traditions happened in a certain way at a certain time.

The picture above is a sight I saw every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember. The candlelight service at the Salvation Army on 101 Torbay Rd. Over the years some traditions have changed. For the last 5 years I've had to board a plane to get home for Christmas. Jon's wife (and her brothers) have been around some. My Aunt & Uncle have joined us. Last year we watched Mr. Bean instead of National Lampoon's. We sleep in a little later. But there were lots of constants. Like the church service on Christmas Eve, the grandparents being around, the house.

This year everything is going to change drastically. Mom & Dad live in Fredericton in a brand new house. I only live 90min down the road, and it's Jon & Seritha that have to fly. There will be no grandparents here. It is not the same house. I won't even be at church with my family; I'll be at my church and then drive to them late on Christmas Eve. Lots of change.

It makes me a little uneasy. I am sure my brother is feeling even more this way. But life is about change and different seasons. I am not sad about this Christmas. It's time to make new traditions in a new place. It's going to feel weird, but Christmas isn't about traditions. In some respects, I feel like this new Christmas is an opportunity to look at things a new way, to put perspective on what Christmas is all about, and to be thankful for all I have and all the people who love me. It's gonna be weird... but I'm excited to see what it's like!

I'll find out in about 12 days. :)

PS - we showed this video at church last weekend.

In the woods with a squirrel

2011-11-14T22:14:00.007-04:00

Lately God's been talking to me about my dependence on Him, both personally and professionally. I am embarrassed to admit how easily it is for me to slump into a time where I don't pray enough. I mean, I'm a Pastor. I'm supposed to have my act together, right? I feel like in the busyness of "doing ministry" we forget to take the time to stop and BE STILL with God and ask Him what His plan is. It's His church after all.

Last Monday I went to a park and found a bench that was far enough away from people going on walks that I wouldn't be disturbed. I sat there for about half an hour [our fall weather has been amazing!!] and just listened. All the creatures in the woods started getting close because I wasn't making any noise. I had a squirrel and a blue jay to hang out with. The squirrel was on a mission - combing the ground for food and then hiding it in a tree stump. Getting ready for winter I'm guessing. He was hyper [as squirrels tend to be], but he was methodical, and he always had his ears open to listen for anyone that was nearby. I'm sure if I threw my keys at him he would have sensed it and been gone quicker than I can blink.

I think sometimes I can get so wrapped up in the moving and doing of life that I forget to stop and open my ears. And then I wonder why I feel down, or alone, or inadequate, or frustrated. I mean, it's my JOB to bring people to Christ - I better be getting there myself!!! In those 30min with the squirrel I thought through my life up to this point... where I was a year ago and how I've gotten to where I am now [hint: God did that]. I thought about how I'm 26 and still single and how I feel lonely some of the time. I thought about when/if I will have a family and what that would be like.

I've come to the conclusion that God isn't through teaching me about patience yet. The year of 2011 was the year of patience learning for me. Wanting to know where God was going to send me after school was keeping me up at night and causing panic sometimes. But here I am, sitting in my apartment, working at a church that is BEYOND perfect for me. [I actually can't wait for Senior Team tomorrow!] So now I'm in a new season of patience-learning when it comes to some personal stuff. I realized that I don't want to take the reins and do it myself. If I did that vocationally... well, I'm not even going to think about that. God knows what's best for me... He's already proven it several times. And His timing is perfect. So I just have to WAIT. Chill out. Grab a latte and take in the scenery.

So that's what God told me last Monday at the park. What has He been telling you lately? Should you maybe go for a walk? [Leave your digital paraphernalia in the car].

PS - this book is a great wakeup call for people who try and do a lot for God instead of doing it with Him.

Avril Lavigne

2011-10-23T17:51:00.000-03:00

I am loving living in Moncton. So many bands come to me and I can literally leave my house and be at the show in 5 minutes. I found out Avril was coming here back in August and felt I wanted to go. I had seen her once before back in 2005, right at the start of my concert obsession (I hadn't even seen Hanson live at that point). The show was pretty fun. I love Avril's first two albums. I really dislike her third, so I never bothered seeing her on that tour. Her latest (Goodbye Lullabye) actually is pretty decent. So I thought why not?

I'm kind of over general admission standing room, especially when I am alone and it's not my favorite band, so I got seats right on the side of the stage. I kind of wish now I went a little farther back as I was RIGHT on the side of the stage. Those arena maps lie. I got to the show shortly after 8, having been at Youth Group for awhile. It started at 8 and I didn't like the opener all that much. At least, the one who was advertised... when I came in and found my seat there was a dude with an acoustic guitar playing. I was like "that's not Evan, is it???" and sure enough IT WAS! Evan used to be in Avril's band (along with Charlie & Matt) and in my mind Avril went down hill when the 3 of them left. They were the band in 2005 and I loved them. So it was REAL NICE to hear him play again. After his set he was signing out at the merch booth but it was far too crazy to try and get near. So I did the stalker thing and just watched, then wandered back inside for The New Cities. I heard them once before, opening for Hedley, and they're actually not bad. They have a lot of fun on stage, lots of energy.

Avril came on around 9:20 or so I believe. She played 12 songs + an encore which included an acoustic one with Evan and 2 more full band. Typical show length for her (I laughed at how it wasn't much longer than Hanson's half-show in Portland!). It started in the most corny/tacky way imaginable... the band did the "black star" intro from her album, she came out with one of her green glow in the dark stars that all the little girls had, waved it around and sang the words to the intro, then walked off again. It was super funny.

All in all I was super happy with the set. Half of it was from her first two albums!!! I was somewhat surprised and thought she would have done much more newer stuff. Some of the little kids around me didn't know some of it. I was in my GLEE and it was basically a time warp back to University days. Her 2nd album is the summer of 2004 at Camp Starrigan. So many memories. She even played "I Always Get What I Want" which is like a B-side from her 1st or 2nd album. She only played 2 (I think) from her 3rd album. Maybe she shares my sentiment that the album is not up to par with the others. I honestly think she gave in to pressures from the music industry to be a certain way.

She sang the chorus of "Airplanes" for a minute which was so random, going into My Happy Ending. The BIGGEST ANNOYANCE OF THE NIGHT: she went offstage and the band started doing the instrumental to "Unwanted" (a particularly angry song from her first album). I LOST IT because I LOVE that song and thought it was going to happen. Then they played into "Losing Grip" - another first album song I would LOVE to hear. But then Avril came back out and they whipped into "Girlfriend." REALLY??! I was so bummed out I was legit sat for the rest of that song. I have to say she has improved her performance since I saw her 6 years ago. She was running around a lot more, and she seemed not nearly as flat (although on my videos it kinda sounds like she is...).

The lighting didn't seem that good but maybe it's because of where I was sitting. My camera was not happy. I also felt so old at this show. I say the average age was about 15. I saw way too many Avril lookalikes, about 9 years old, complete with heavy eyeliner and green/pink hair. It was all very unsettling.

So that's that, my 2nd Avril concert. I say it was worth it. So glad the set had so much older stuff in it. It made it that much more enjoyable. And I still remembered most of the words :) I hope Avril continues to mature professionally and doesn't have to continue to be the rebel as she approaches 30. I mean really, how long can the teenage rebellious phase last?

Photos

Grateful.

2011-10-17T17:23:00.000-03:00

Evidently I'm not really the blogging type, no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise. I find especially with twitter I never feel the need to write out big long paragraphs of what's on my mind, because it's come out in spurts all week long.

I love my life right now. It's not perfect (not that I am expecting it to ever be) but I'm really feeling like I am exactly where God wants me to be right now. Being the NGP at The Journey Church is such a unique ministry compared to what I've done before, compared to what most Youth Pastors do. Last weekend we had Vernon & Charlene Armitage visit and hold a conference on equipping. It's something I was hearing about during interviews and nonstop since day 1. I've been reading through "Me to We" by Alan Nelson and trying to get my head around the paradigm shift and how I participate in it as the NGP. This weekend brought a lot of clarity on all of that. I am so excited to get moving on it before the Armitage's return in a few months. I have no idea why this was not taught at seminary. There should be a whole course on this. There is so much real learning that does not start until you're out of school. God has been teaching me so much and I am so thankful for where He's placed me and the people He's surrounded me with. I work with a lovely group of people! Senior Team is having breakfast tomorrow to debrief on the Global Leadership Summit and I actually can't wait!

Anyway, this is getting rambly. Welcome to the inside of my head. Tonight I'm heading to my first ever Zumba class. Should be a time!

Hanson in Portland... take 1?

2011-10-12T17:51:00.000-03:00

So last night I went to the weirdest Hanson show I've ever been to. I'm sure fans know by now that Taylor (and Zac I think) is not well and the show was cut short, to be rescheduled later. I'll get to all that in a minute... still want to do my normal post-show blog!!

So when the dates for the Musical Ride Tour were announced, and I saw they were going to Portland ME, I decided I would try to go. Since I've lived on the "main land" (not the island of Newfoundland) they had never come that close to me. Plus Portland is where my family has vacationed practically every year for 25 years. I couldn't commit to it right away since I was on the brink of starting a new job, but once I got the OK from them (WOOT I LOVE MY JOB) I planned to go down with my parents. My Hanson friends were originally planning 3 shows which I knew I couldn't do giving finances and new job, so Mom & Dad offered to take me down since they love that area so much. So it was like a mini family vacation with Hanson thrown in :)

We left New Brunswick on Monday morning and took our time driving down, stopping in Freeport to shop the outlets and the Maine Mall. We also went by the venue to size things up in daylight. There were already people in line! People camped from 9:30am the morning before to get front row. I admire their dedication! (Personally I am just as happy a little farther back but to each her own!). We stayed at the Hampton Inn down in Old Orchard Beach because it was the cheapest and it's the area we know best. On Tuesday we got up and went down to the beach area... my parents are looking to rent a condo for a month next summer (they're retired) so their family can come down for holidays whenever is convenient for them (HECK YES). After lunch we went back to the hotel and got ready to head to the State Theatre. Dad dropped Mom & I off. This was Mom's second Hanson show... she brought me to my first in Toronto back in 2005 :) For me, this is show #15.

We got there around 5pm I think. The venue is right in downtown Portland. It kind of reminded me of Northampton MA but more squish. There was a Starbucks right by the venue (joy!). As soon as we got out of the car we saw Zac on his phone over by the buses, and about 50 people in line. I found Krista & Sarah and said hello, and then we went over to Starbucks to get a coffee and just kind of watch the venue/bus/whatever. Apparently Isaac was in Starbucks 20min before we got there. Sad days. After having some coffee and talking to a really nice local guy, we went over to the box office and got our tickets. I saw some more Hanson friends, one who had a M&G! I can't believe it was her first one, it seems like she's seen them live way more than me. Mom & I walked to Rite Aid because I forgot to bring a sharpie with me (in case I needed one if an autograph opportunity arose). Then we went back and got in line about 45min before doors. We chatted with some really nice girls from northern Maine. It was their first Hanson show :)

Doors opened pretty much on time and I loved what I saw inside. The venue is GORGEOUS. It is a perfect blend of GA floor, bar dancing space, and theatre seats. Because I had Mom with me we went for seats, and got front row of them right in front of Isaac. Decent. I went and bought some merch (the tour shirt and the calendar) and got some supper for Mom & I. We were sitting next to 2 really nice girls, one who was at her 2nd Hanson show and the other at her first. I love meeting new people :) Around 8pm the show started with Charlie Mars. He was OK I guess... he was trying to hard to be edgy and "inappropriate" or whatever. I tuned out most of it to be completely honest. Mom was not impressed, hahaha.

I think Hanson got on stage right about 9:00. From the very beginning the show felt off to me. I wasn't sure why... it didn't seem like the band was giving out as much positive energy as usual. The crowd seemed dead. Maybe it's because I could see the whole floor and wasn't up inside the mob. I have no idea what the crowd looks like from behind because I'm usually in it. But I think the band and crowd usually feed off one another. Of course, this was also show 15, I was with my Mom, and I wasn't in the crowd, so maybe that's why I felt the way I did. Anyway. After 2 songs things got weird. The 3 of them kept having group talks by the drums. Their manager was side-stage the whole time connecting with either Taylor or Zac. She came out a couple of times. Taylor kept getting the crowd to sing, or asked Zac or Isaac to take the lead. Once Zac mouthed at him "I don't know it!" It was all just really off. Zac was even messing up the drums because of the lack of focus/everything going on. After 5 songs they left the stage. Usually this is to switch over to the acoustic set. But they were gone way too long. I started to worry... Taylor had mentioned earlier in the show that we had voted for an album to win tonight, but because he wasn't feeling well they had to change plans.

They came back and Taylor said "we have to cut this short" and my heart fell to the floor. They started doing all Isaac & Zac leads, except for MMMBop and Thinking bout Somethin. Then they told us that they were feeling really under the weather, and they didn't want to give us a crappy show. So they told us to keep our tickets, they'll reschedule as soon as they can, and we can use our tickets to get in to that new show and they can give us 100%. One more song or two, and it was done. 45min or so in all.

It was SO WEIRD. I usually leave Hanson shows feeling like I'm on a cloud, so filled up from the music and performance. And this time I left with the anticipation feeling still inside of me. Now, I'm not mad that the show was cut short. Taylor was very obviously SICK. He was super pale... I was afraid he was going to faint. And I know the only other time they cancelled was when Isaac had a blood clot that was a life-or-death situation. This was much harder for them than it was for any of the fans. It's just the built-up excitement I've had in me the past couple weeks still wasn't deflated. I just plain felt funny.

After the show Mom & I went out to the bus. Only Isaac came out but there were a lot of people and I wasn't aggressive enough getting over to the other side of the street so I never got an autograph or picture. But it was fun to just be there anyway. Plus Dad wasn't there yet since the show had ended so early. Once we got picked up we had a late snack at Denny's and went back to the hotel. And today we woke up and drove the 7 hours back home.

So my 15th show was a weird one. I definitely got the most bogus setlist of any show I've ever seen (Musical Ride, Waiting for This,Where's the Love, Thinking bout Somethin, And I Waited, A Minute Without You, Running Man, Deeper, MMMBop, Man from Milwaukee). But I'm glad I saw those. I mean the show could have been cancelled entirely. And it was nice for me to see that venue. I really hope I can get back there when this show is rescheduled. We'll have to wait and see!

Photos

TobyMac

2011-10-08T17:50:00.000-03:00

Well it's been a few days since this show, but I have been under the weather and sleeping any chance I can get. On Wednesday TobyMac came through Moncton and I knew I had to see him again. At Soulfest last summer he blew me away, him and his band. Their energy on stage and their ability to draw the crowd in is enough to have me dancing, even though normally this isn't my preferred style of music. I bought just one ticket in the 2nd row since when they went on sale I didn't know anybody here yet. It turned out I was right next to one of my high school students!

Jamie Grace opened. She is 19 and really sweet, and has a phenomenal voice. I do wish she had a band though and didn't use loops/tracks to back herself up. The acoustic guitar only ones were nice. At this show, unlike Maple Noise, they let people crowd the front. So even though I was 2nd row in chairs there were a ton of people in front of me. I didn't mind though. I'm tall and I liked having the room in our row.

TobyMac played what I think was an exact replica of 2010's Soulfest setlist. Complete with the acoustic part in the middle of the crowd and Jesus Freak at the end. The difference this time is that I own his latest album so I knew many more of the songs than I did before. I LOVE the Diverse City band. I think if he came without them it wouldn't even be worth it. I love the animation and choreography on stage. It's not over-done but just enough to get you excited.

The concert was SUPER loud but I had my ear plugs with me. I think they played at least 90min. It was sold out at over 2,000 people in attendance. Part of the fun was getting to see so many people I know from other places, particularly New Minas and Fredericton. I had a couple friends from New Minas stay over to my place for the night so that was fun :) We stayed up until 1am talking and watching Youtube videos... Oops!

So that was concert 75! It was a great one. Blew Maple Noise out of the water, in my opinion. 2 bands > 10. Concert 76 is in 3 days... my 15th Hanson concert!!! I am sitting on my couch now watching a 5of5 DVD... probably not a wise idea. My excitement meter has increased 100%. I'll have pics/video of TobyMac up soon!Photos

ramble

2011-09-26T21:42:00.002-03:00

I really want to update this thing. I will, soon. Not now though. I am in Dartmouth at the Youth Pastors Summit! It's a free event the Baptist Convention holds annually for all the Youth Pastors in Atlantic Canada. It's awesome. It's been nice to connect with familiar faces and meet some new ones. I also had the privilege of meeting my friends new baby!!! New life is such an awe-inspiring miracle. Seeing two of my friends combined into this new person is really really cool. God is so artistic in how He chose to give us life.

I am tired. I fail at keeping a good sleeping schedule. After only 5 hours sleep last night (and not much more than that for all the other nights lately) I drove down here. I'm at Starbucks, just finishing up a sermon outline and youth preparations. Technically I didn't have time to come to this summit, but I really wanted to, and decided to suck it up and go through a week of crazy :) But now the work is done, and it's definitely time for bed. I'll do a proper update on my AWESOME CRAZY NEW AWESOME MINISTRY POSITION soon :)

Also... I'm seeing Hanson live [again] in 15 days. Excited.

PS - my blog is now www.jenrowsell.ca!! :) I did that on one of my late nights up...

Maple Noise

2011-09-19T17:49:00.000-03:00

Wow, it's been almost a week since the Newsboys concert and I have yet to blog about it! You know you've been busy when. Anyway. Living in Moncton is pretty fantastic. There are so many bands that come here! I was planning to go to Maple Noise for a long time, even before I knew I was going to be working at Journey. So I had a ticket bought. But when I came on here, and 30 of my new friends wanted to go to, I decided to buy a 2nd ticket so I could party with everyone else! It was so much fun.

The show was a bit of a marathon. I think 10 bands in 6 hours is a little overkill. 5 bands would have been just lovely. This isn't Warped Tour. I got there at 5 to get everyone's tickets and spent a bit of time hanging outside the church. I got in just as Manic Drive was starting their set. I went up front and jumped around with a bunch of students, got some pictures. It was super loud, and they had bass with no bass player. Interesting indeed. Moving on.

The next act I remember is Jodi King. I liked her. I knew one of her songs from the radio, and it was pop piano music. I'll take it. I also remember Jonny Diaz. He was really great, just an acoustic guitar and a cahon! I decided I'd let myself buy one CD, and since I enjoyed his set so much, and his CD's were $10, I picked him. It's great so far. Then came another lovely act, Greg Sczebel. He reminded me of a cross between Elton John and Ben Folds. Very blues-like. The bass player was my favorite.

I believe it was after Greg Sczebel that the concert hosts did a talk about World Vision and sponsoring a child. Some of our students asked if they could sponsor a child as a group! Cool! So we sponsored Tanjina, a little girl from Bangladesh. It was a pretty cool moment. Consequently, we now have a free Greg Sczebel CD to give our at Youth Group. Ouuuuu.

Manafest were next. I know lots of people like them but it is just not my style of music, I cannot get into them at all. This was my 2nd time seeing them. Still nothing. After Manafest it was Thousand Foot Crutch, or TFK [I can't call them that after all those years of saying it the long way]. Again, it was loud, and... loud. Highlights included the spine mic stand and the guy with the dreads.

Finally, at close to 10pm (seriously?) Newsboys came on and the entire mood of the room changed. It was obvious lots of people were there for them and weren't too sure about the earlier bands. I've heard a few people have written off the Newsboys because of Michael Tait, so they just sound like DC Talk now. Well maybe, but who cares, they were still good. There were lots of lights and elevated platforms, and lots of songs we all knew and could be excited about. The best part was the worship. Looking behind me and seeing a row of my grade 9's enveloped in the presence of God is pretty awesome. I also work with the coolest bunch of Pastors I know. Almost all of us were there, it was so much fun! The epic encore featured a brand new song, Jesus Freak (EEEEEEEEE) and a spinning drum set! It was pretty spectacular.

The next morning came way too early and we were all pretty groggy at work. So worth it though :)

Photos

I feel like I should probably blog tonight.

2011-09-05T22:36:00.002-03:00

Even though what I write may not be that coherent or meaningful. The rest of my summer was just wonderful. I spent a few days back in the Annapolis Valley with Mom & Dad, going blueberry picking and visiting with friends. I now have enough blueberries in my freezer to have some every day from now until Christmas! They're a nice treat in the morning cereal. This past week I went to Cape Breton to visit Jolene & Rob! They are such great friends, it's a shame we now have to live so far away from one another. But I do like to drive and it was definitely worth the trip. This weekend I became a pro sleeper again... which I am not proud of and do not even know how my body does that. I must have finally given in to camp exhaustion. Anyway I awoke on Sunday at 5am bright and eager for the day! The Schriver's came up from Fredericton to go to church with me and to spend the afternoon at Crystal Palace. Well, actually, Mary & I spent most of our time perusing the mall and drinking Starbucks. Which is fine by me :) I am very blessed to have such wonderful lifelong friends!

So today was Labour Day which meant a nice day of reading, house cleaning, and walking. I feel like a rat in a cage ready to burst out but I can't yet. Tomorrow I start my new ministry position at The Journey Church, and believe me when I tell you that I. CANNOT. WAIT. When I started at ADC 3 years ago (to the day!) I wondered why God had brought me there then. The only thing I could conclude is that there must be something 3 years from now that He wants me to do, somewhere He wants me to go, and if I didn't start fulltime studies in 2008, I wouldn't be ready for fulltime ministry in 2011. For over a year I've been wondering, praying, asking God where He was going to place me after school. I know that His plan is better than mine, but I am a planner, and not having one as graduation neared was freaking me out! And then the job postings, and the resume sending, and the interviews... and then, what happens when you have to CHOOSE? My faith and patience was tested so much in the last few months!! I mean, what if I chose wrong? What if I thought I heard God speaking to me but it was my own sinful self? What then? I could mess up EVERYTHING.

Anyway, all that to say that along this journey, I continually felt more and more confident that TJC was the place for me. For those of you that know me well, if you had to think up a perfect church for Jen to work in, what would it be like? You are probably thinking of The Journey Church (except no, Hanson are not the worship band, but other than that it's all there, haha). I mean, they even have a countdown to tomorrow at 9am when I start! THAT IS SUCH A ME THING!!! I am overwhelming myself as I type this.

For those of you that want to know what my position is... I'm the Next Generations Pastor (or the Next Gen Jen as is already my nickname!). I'm responsible for the NextGens (ages 0-29). So there's childrens ministries, youth ministries, and young adult ministries. Equipping leaders will be a big part, as well as casting vision and pastoring people. And lots of other things that I have no idea about yet :) I'll fill you in as I find out!

So tomorrow I am a Pastor!!! I have so much to learn, so much to do, so much to discover. God's been teaching me so much these last 5 years but I have a feeling that that's been nothing in comparison to what's going to happen starting tomorrow. I can't wait. I can't wait to read this blog entry 10 years from now and reflect on where God has brought me and TJC! It's gonna be EPIC.

So the biggest question remains: how on EARTH am I gonna sleep tonight?? I think there may be gravol in my cupboard... I am so not beyond that. Good night!! :)

City & Colour

2011-08-28T17:47:00.000-03:00

So I got treated to a free concert at the end of this summer thanks to my friend Mitchell! City & Colour were playing a free show at the Moncton Coliseum thanks to someone from Sussex who won a contest with Sirius satellite radio. So once Camp Mission Team was over on August 19, Mitchell and I (along with his friend and brother) took in this show. Dallas Green is insanely talented. His vocal range is impressive and the tone of his voice is just so wonderful. I knew it would be a pretty chill show. I got there just before doors but because Mitchell is from Sussex we got to be in a separate line that went in first! We ended up 2nd row on the floor.

K-os opened the show, which don't try and figure out the sense in that one cause I have no idea. Having a hip hop artist open for a hippie rocker crowd was amusing to say the least. Most of us endured it as best we could. I guess he was okay but I can't really take anyone seriously who feels the need to swear and drink from a flask on stage. We could smell the liquor from the 2nd row.

K-os soon left and we waited about 30min for City & Colour. I was pretty hot, and exhausted from the whole summer at Camp that just ended, so I decided to stay in the crowd for 5 or 6 songs, then I left to get a slushie and popcorn, and juice (I was mega thirsty). You weren't allowed to bring drinks down on the floor so I got a nice seat sidestage and watched the rest of the show from there. Dallas Green is my kind of artist. He's sososo talented. I especially enjoyed the acoustic set in the middle. His band was really solid too. It was one of those shows that's just about the music, only about the music, and that's my kind of show. For one song he asked everyone to put their cellphones & cameras away. He said that we are so consumed with trying to capture the moment that we forget to actually enjoy it. Which I know first-hand... it's why I couple of concerts I've attended lately I hardly have any pictures or videos, because I want to make sure I actually experience what I went to experience! It was a nice treat to have no little lights in the crowd; everyone was focussed on the stage and the music. Even if it was just for one song.

For the encore I went back onto the floor, which actually wasn't that crowded. Met up with Mitchell & his brother, went to McDonalds, and went home. So that was that! I've since bought his latest album, and while I haven't had a whole lot of time to listen to it, I'm excited to do so on my drive this Wednesday. If you like chill acoustic guitar music I suggest you check him out.

Photos

Down time!

2011-08-23T16:10:00.001-03:00

Before I say anything can I just say that there was an east coast earthquake today that was felt in Fredericton. Watch my parents get scared and move back to Newfoundland. Lol. I am back in the Annapolis Valley for a few days of rest and relaxation after my summer at Camp. The mission team week in Sussex went very well, the church was so appreciative of all we did. It has opened doors for them to invest more deeply into youth and children's ministries which is awesome!!!! Planting seeds that go beyond your week there is always a good thing.

Our final week was in Moncton. On Sunday I preached from my iPad for the first time! I think it was okay except for I am too tall/the podium was too short. I still have not found my niche of how much manuscript vs. notes to have in a sermon. Because I had little prep time I went with a full manuscript this time. Anyways, my parents were there as was the Camp Director which was nice :) After lunch we had our staff evaluations and a pool party/BBQ! A great start to the week I say.

VBS went well. We had over 20 kids each day and many were familiar faces from Camp. I always get super nostalgic on the last week. Last time singing those songs. Last time hearing those Bible stories. I was excited to be done, as 3 months of work at Camp is very tiring and I'm super excited for this fall!!! But it was also a fantastic summer that is sad to see end. Each afternoon we spent time with the teens, doing fun activities or service projects. We also got interviewed for salvationist.ca.... I should look for that link and share it. I think the most fun day was Tuesday when we went to Treego!!! Crazy climbing across bridges and logs with harnesses and stuff. I am afraid of heights so this was a big deal. Once or twice I thought I was going to be paralyzed by fear, but I made it!

So Camp is over. Logan left on Thursday and the rest of us parted on Friday after the community BBQ. Now I am enjoying 2 weeks of vacation. Hanging with Mom and Dad this week, then they head to Ontario to see my brother. I am trying to rest as much as possible. This fall is going to be AMAZING. But first I have to do some annoying things like buy groceries and get my license changed over to NB!

Until next time!

#sgc11

2011-08-09T19:20:00.004-03:00

Well, camp has happened! I guess I am not that good at blogging throughout the summer. If you're
not running around like a crazy person you are grasping for every bit of R&R you can find. I've also been trying to read a few books this summer. Anyway, camp was fantastic! We had over 400 children come through our gates for Son Surf Beach Bash. The summer had its hiccups, as all summers do, but the staff worked really hard and I felt blessed to be part of such a great team. This was my second time being Program Director but I can't remember much of what it was like back in 2004. It was great to put into practice things ive learned over the last few years, and be able to get constructive feedback from the camp director. I also loved being able to feed into the other staff there. I got to know the bible director quite well. He did a fantastic job and really grew into his role. It's so cool to watch young people start at one place at the beginning of the summer and then grow and develop into an amazing leader. A lot of growth happened at Camp this year. And a lot of fun, too :)

Ater the 4 holiday camps the mission team left. But I stayed behind to do Moms & Tots. It is such a different camp than holiday camp. It's a little less physically draining, but mentally and emotionally it's just as tiresome. It's a whole new dymanic when Moms are present, and you can't deal with camper discipline the same way. We had an overload of younger kids which was a strain in our staff. I never got into the nursery but I heard it was chaos. The climax of calamity was definitely the picnic supper, without moms, that happened inside because of rain. Actually, the weather in general was a low point of the summer. Camp is not fun for kids or staff when you can't be outside. Some days it was 14 degrees!!! What is that!!!!

Anyway. I am officially done my 6th summer at Camp. I'm now on mission team in Sussex, and next week we are in Moncton. This week has gone really well s far. We had 24 kids at VBS today! The team is great. This afternoon was a bit of a write off due to weather, bowling alleys being closed, and movies being sold out. However it has led to me writing this blog in Starbucks in St. John, so really I can't complain. I know the rest of mission team will be great, but I am getting more and more anxious about the fall!!! I live in Moncton for good on Saturday :D I'm also preaching on Sunday, on trust. Psalm 40.

The rest of the team just arrived so I think we're going to watch a movie at the church. I'll try to blog sooner rather than later...

U2 in Moncton!

2011-08-05T17:46:00.001-03:00

Well last night I definitely saw the biggest concert I'll ever see, so I thought I needed to blog about it, even though I'm currently sitting at Camp with no internet connection. I'll publish once I have internet again :)

Saturday morning I left Camp to meet up with Jolene & Rob in Truro. There was crazy traffic the whole way to Moncton because the biggest band in the world was coming! I heard upwards of 100,000 people attended, making it the biggest concert in Atlantic Canada. That's the entire population of St. John's in a field! It was madness. Anyway, we got into town around 2pm and the traffic was surprisingly not that bad. I first went and got the keys to my new apartment, ran an errand or two, and then we had supper at Montanas. It was raining pretty hard all day but THANKFULLY it stopped as we were eating!!! YAY!! We might have lined up earlier if it was nice out but I didn't really want to be wet.

Trying to park for this thing was a challenge. The Maritimes are not equipped to handle shows of this size so it's honestly a bit frustrating when we do it anyway. We tried two "park and go" places but both were sold out (apparently you had to buy them in advance… if I was not at Camp I might have researched this better.) Eventually we just decided to tackle Mountain Road head on. There was a paved lane behind Home Hardware that had parking spaces (and no one was charging!) so we parked there. We definitely lucked out as we saw $20 lots of mud that people got stuck in later that night. I saw it was only a 15-20min walk to the concert grounds. It wasn't so bad until we got inside the gates. It was grass, but with rain and 100,000 people it was mud soup. I was so happy I wore chucks on my feet instead of toms. Jolene had crocs on and almost lost them. Newbies :)

Anyway. We got into the grounds just as Arcade Fire were starting. We got about 10 feet behind a barricade, just inside of where all the spot lights and things were set up. We could set the whole "claw". We probably could have gotten closer but Rob was content where we were, and I'm not insane about U2 or anything so I was cool there. Arcade Fire don't really play a concert… they put on a theatrical performance. It's almost ludicrous actually, haha. I kept watching the gold sparkles and the people running around banging drums. I guess they played an hour or so. Then we waited for U2 while jets blew our ear drums off and the bleachers did the wave. Being in a crowd of 100,000 people is a bit of an experience. Most people are happy and nice, but there's always a few dumb people. So many people were trying to weave, only to find the barricade where we were. It got annoying but no one was SUPER aggressive. They all just went right and I guess hoped to get around the edge. I have to say that security did a good job avoiding chaos.

U2 came on at about 9:20 and played for 2 and a half hours. I was surprised by how many songs I knew. I guess with a band this big you just know stuff even when you don't realize. Some songs I remember them doing… Beautiful Day, Where the Streets Have No Name, Vertigo, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Elevation, Still Haven't Found what I'm Looking For, Stuck in a Moment, Pride (in the name of love), One, With or Without You. And like a million more. They are so good live that it honestly could be a CD. There was one moment I noticed Bono's voice sounded tired or strained, but other than that it was flawless. You can tell they are bonified rock stars. They walk the walk and pull off a great show to watch.

The stage setup was intense. In some ways I'm glad we were as far back as we were because we could see the entire claw and all the lights and effects to go with it. At one point the screen extended right down over the band and it looked like they were inside a tornado. I really liked the video clips they had as well. Before the show even started they had random facts up there about the tour (18 babies born within the crew!), how many tweets have happened today, number of abortions this year (broke my heart), etc. There were some "Jesus moments" too. I didn't expect anything less from Bono, but there were calls to action and information given on things like AIDS, slavery, green peace, etc. My favorite part of the night was when Bono said "We are all works in progress. I am definitely a work in progress… and You know it Lord!" as he looks up. haha

So yeah. It was fun. Real muddy. And a really huge crowd. It felt like herding cattle trying to get out of there (a couple of drunk people were even mooing, haha). I say it took a better part of an hour for us to return to the car. I am so glad we did that though… I was speaking to a lady in church today who said for the last concert at Magnetic Hill she did the bus thing, and was still no where near getting shuttled back by 2am! That would have sucked. Poor Jolene almost didn't make it out of the grounds alive. There was mud and crocs and rocks and blood. But she survived and we all got out! Once we got to the car and removed the muddy shoes, we drove to McDonalds and then went back to my brand new apartment and broke it in by muddying the bath tub and sleeping on air mattresses. Definitely won't forget my first night there :) I loved hanging with Jolene & Rob again. I don't have enough of them in my life!!

So that was U2. Pretty epic. Not sure if I would do it again. Maybe I'd get seats next time. But it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm glad I did it! :) Concert #72 in the life of Jen: check!

Photos

Big weekend

2011-06-26T15:50:00.000-03:00

This weekend has been a busy but beautiful one!! I flew away from Camp on Wednesday to come home to Newfoundland. This is the last time my entire family will be in Newfoundland together for a long time, so it's been special. But kind of sad, especially saying goodbye to grandparents. On Thursday I started off with breakfast at Cora's with Nan & Ruby :) Then I went to Mom's Work for her Retirement Party Luau - a lot of fun. Then was Jill's and Hugo's Wedding Rehearsal! That's right, for the fourth time in my life I was a bridesmaid. It is so wonderful to stand for someone whom you've been friends with for almost 20 years. The wedding was FANTASTIC. So much fun. It's so amazing to know that your friend has found her perfect mate :)

Yesterday there was a gift opening, then I came back home for a family dinner. This morning I went to the Temple for the last time for awhile! While I was there the "big news" got announced in Moncton so now I can tell you! In September I am going to be the Next Generations Pastor at The Journey Church! I am soooooooo excited. After months of prayer and weeks of being anxious, it's finally done and in the open :) I can't wait to start!!!

And that's it from my end. I honestly haven't been in the mood to blog much but I figured I should post something. Tomorrow I fly back to Camp! Prep has been going swell and I am anxious for it all to get going for real this week! Life is good :)

I haven't blogged in 2 months!

2011-06-08T20:07:00.001-03:00

It's been awhile. So much has happened I'm not even sure where to start! I guess the biggest news is that I graduated with my MDiv from Acadia. That feels awesome. I am going to miss my time at school but I can't wait for full-time ministry again. For graduation I got a new iPad 2 (which I am now blogging on for the first time... We'll see how this goes). The Apple fangirl in me is thrilled. Mom Dad and Nan were up for a couple weeks in May. In addition to convocation festivities we went to Fredericton so they could go house hunting!!! I also was in a flurry of ministry interviews. There is some exciting news on the horizon that I'll share as soon as I'm able :)

This summer I am Program Director at Scoian Glen Camp! After not working there for 5 years it's good to be back. I've been working with Thomas (bible director) for a couple weeks now and things are coming along nicely. Holiday Camp will be here in just a few short weeks! I am trying to sleep well now while I still can :)

And that's all the major news for now. Life's been a bit nuts but has finally started to calm down again. These transition periods are always difficult but I am super pumped about where life is headed. Stay tuned :)

Starfield @ Stoneridge Fellowship

2011-05-01T17:44:00.001-03:00

So last night I went to my 8th Starfield concert! I am an old pro, been seeing those guys since they started back in 2001. A student in my youth group went to see them with me last summer and really loved it, so I figured I'd take her this time, especially since I am moving away like, tomorrow. I'm pretty convinced she is the 13 year old version of me :) Anyway, the concert was at Stoneridge Fellowship in their youth sanctuary, which looked small but apparently could fit about 600 people. Jon Bryant opened with people I knew playing on stage :)

For Starfield we were front row center, and it was very reminiscent of my Rocket Summer shows, and the first time I saw Paramore. Super intimate, and close! Looking around, I realized I am getting so old. The crowd seemed super young for the most part. The setlist was a lot of fun. They threw in a couple oldies like "Alive in this Moment" and "My Generation". My request on Facebook was "Rediscover You" which they did play. I loooooove that song. And during "Revolution" Tim was all over the stage, got into my face and gave me the mic for a second, haha. It's on video so it'll be here soon. They did remember me still which I am always impressed by. I mean, they see a lot of people. When it was over we checked out the merch and then waited for an autograph and picture. Then a quick pit stop into Tim Hortons and back on the highway!

My favorite part of Starfield shows is that it is so worship-filled. There were several times I had my eyes closed and was just focussed on God. I know their songs so well that they're just the same as any worship songs we sing at church. There were definitely lots of God moments. I'll end with the chorus for "Rediscover You" (best. song. ever.) This has been the prayer of my heart lately, especially as I'm preparing to leave Wolfville and go on to the next chapter(s) God has for me!

You told me look for You and I will find
So I'm here like I'm searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus make this cold heart start to move
I wanna burn for You
Bring me back to life
Jesus help me rediscover You
- Starfield

Photos

formspring.me

2011-04-16T14:57:00.001-03:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/jasmine84

I took the walk!

2011-04-14T18:04:00.000-03:00

I have 19 blog followers now. How does that even happen? Thank you to all who follow me :) I hope my mundane life is some source of inspiration or hilarity for you.

Trying to get caught up on life events on this thing... I only like blogging sometimes. Anyway... on Tuesday April 5 myself and Mandy (another RA in Rojo) hosted a one mile barefoot walk through TakeTheWalk.net! This initiative was started by Hanson; I have done 6 other walks before this one, all while on Hanson tour. I have thought about hosting my own walk since they gave fans that ability back in 2008... but for some reason the idea seemed too grandiose, too complicated, or too scary, so I never did anything about it. But this semester Mandy was insistent we do one, and what better day than TOMS "One Day Without Shoes"? So on a whim late one night I went online and ordered a walk kit, and got us registered.

I honestly didn't know what to expect. I was thinking if we had 10 people I'd be happy. And I know that lots of small walks, together, do make an impact (Hanson donate $1 to a cause of your choice for every person that walks.... we chose TOMS shoes, of course). Since Hanson started walking and encouraging fans to host their own, over 54,000 miles have been walked, which is pretty stellar. So I thought, it'd be fun to put in our small contribution from rural Nova Scotia.

As the event started getting closer though, people took interest. I was given the opportunity to talk about it at Solid Rock Youth. We sent it out to all the Acadia residences and people showed interest. It went into our school's e-mail blasts. We connected with 2 other girls doing "One Day Without Shoes" events all over campus, and we helped promote each other. Mandy posted about it on Magic 94.9's Facebook page, and they asked for a live interview on the radio's morning show! I was interviewed by our school's newspaper, and even CBC Radio from Halifax contacted me. The night before the big day I could hardly sleep.

The weather was a little annoying on walk day. It almost rained (but not quite) and was WINDY. Mandy and I went into the quad 30min before start time and almost blew away, as did our signup sheets, posters, seriously I wouldn't have been surprised if the table took off! Our first people showed up around 3:40, and by 4pm we had quite a crew! There were a ton of University students I didn't even know, which was cool. Many heard about it through Facebook! A few families and youth from my church came out, and some friends as well :) We didn't count the signup sheets until the end - we had 70 walkers!!!!! Soooooooooo happy. I was truly overwhelmed almost to the point of tears.

The walk was not easy. It was cold, and the pavement was very painful. I led the way (I even had a megaphone thanks to Chipman House Council!) around the block of Campus, which we guessed was about a mile. Every time I was like "ow... I can't go on" I thought about how hard it would be to NEVER have shoes, and how this simple action was going to help children get a pair of shoes. It was inspiring.

So that was our walk! I want to say a big thank you to everybody who came out, to everyone who helped promo the event, and to Mandy for making me finally take this step (haha) and do a walk! I definitely want to do one in the future :) Since I won't be at Acadia next year, if anyone reading this wants to host their own, just go to TakeTheWalk.net and register to host!! You can read about all the causes and decide what you want to walk for. It's good to be aware of needs but it's even better when you can do something simple to help.

Jocelyn & Jason's Wedding

2011-04-11T15:25:00.000-03:00

In a flurry I was going to try and write about my entire week in Mexico in one post. I soon realized that was impossible. I actually didn't do the trip justice in that one post as it was. Of course, the main reason we were all in Mexico was to celebrate the marriage of Jocelyn & Jason! So I thought I should give it due space in the ol blog :)

I met Jocelyn at Acadia almost 3 years ago; we were suitemates! We got close real fast, I call her my big sister. It was just one of those things, as Joc says, we are "lifers". I am totally OK with that because she is one of the best friends I have ever had!! When she asked me two years ago if I would consider going to Mexico to video her wedding, I said OF COURSE!!! It seemed to take forever to get here but finally it was March 2011 and we were going! :)

The wedding day, looking back, was hilarious. The professional photographer wasn't available until the ceremony so in addition to video all day (and all week!) I was also responsible for the "getting ready" pictures, so I was up, showered and dressed by 8am. I enjoyed breakfast with Joc, her sister, and her Mom. Then it was off to the hair salon for nails, hair, and makeup!

I left the girls around 1pm to go check on the guys. The wedding was at 2pm, so of course the guys weren't even in their room yet. ha. Eventually Joc's Dad got them all round up and they proceeded to put socks on and get ready. I swear they were ready to rock in about 15 minutes! Guys are so impressive. I took some pictures of them, including some with Maple Leafs stickers on their foreheads, then I was given a gift to deliver to Jocelyn from Jason, and I took off back to the girls room!

When I got there, they weren't there yet! Nothing like cutting it to the wire! :P When they did arrive, everyone started to get ready. Joc opened her gift and had a good cry :) It was really beautiful. She also got a beautiful gift from her parents. Awww :') While Jen was getting her bridesmaid dress on, the zipper broke!!!! Apparently this dress has had a hard history with zippers. We could have panicked, but instead we just kind of laughed about it and tried to find a solution. After trying on a couple other dresses, and Jen falling down the stairs (ouch!!!) we finally decided to sew her in with the help of their parents and the wedding planner. Jen is such a trooper!!! During most of this chaos I spent my time buttoning all 40 or how many buttons were on Joc's dress! Everyone looked STUNNING and I was so excited for this wedding to get moving!

I left ahead of the girls to inform everyone at the wedding why we were so late. Jason was wearing a wool jacket and was just a little sweaty ;) Finally the wedding began! They only had their siblings stand in the bridal party, it was small and intimate and beautiful. They asked for a Christian-based wedding and I thought the minister did an excellent job. The ceremony itself was pretty short, about 15min or so is my guess. I was so honored to be able to watch one of my best friends marry the man of her dreams!!

As soon as the wedding ended, it was time for a toast! Then pictures on the beach. For destination weddings they always do a photo with everyone who came, which I think is awesome. Then they did every possible pairing they could think of, before Joc & Jason were taken away by the photographer for some couple pictures along the beach (gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe!). I of course creeped them for some of my own pics and video.

At 4pm there was cocktail hour on the terrace - so lovely! We had some music, some drinks, and some snacks. And I think I saw the guys with some celebratory cigars. After cocktail hour we headed to the adult pool bar - our favorite bartender Ulysies wanted to treat us to a very special drink - all 21 of us! What a guy. While we were there a few of us (including Joc) put our feet in the pool to ease the pain. haha. Later, Joc showed up to the reception in runners! I love it.

After a quick "break" it was time for the reception, which was held on the beach!!! The palm trees were decorated with white Christmas lights! So beautiful. I felt like I was in a movie... I was just waiting for Tom Cruise to appear and for guns to start going off. Dinner included salad, shrimp, steak, and a to-die-for chocolate cake! We were so stuffed we couldn't even eat the wedding cake! (That's OK though cause they saved it for us to eat the next night at dinner).

During the reception there were mushy speeches and kisses from the newlyweds and neat little gifts on the table for all who were in attendance. After the reception, the party really got going when the miriachi band arrived! :D Having a personal miriachi band play to you for an hour or so is pretty epic. There was lots of crazy dancing, and singing Spanish words we did not understand. It was a wonderful party :) The night was ended by Jocelyn serenating Jason with a song she had prepared!! It was sooooo beautiful.

After all this, we went home to change, and a few of us returned to the lobby to bid farewell to some people who had to leave :( All in all, it was a fantastic wedding day! Looking back, all the havoc that happened pre-ceremony is just funny. And besides, how could you be stressed in a place as beautiful as this? I am so honored Joc & Jason included me in their special day... I can't wait to give them their DVD of the trip!

Mexico!

2011-04-10T00:26:00.000-03:00

Well, the last week of March I had a pretty fantastic vacation! My friends Jocelyn & Jason were getting married at this resort and asked me to come do video for them. Um, yes please!! I have never vacationed at a resort before, and this first experience was an amazing one. I only knew Jocelyn before I left but quickly became friends with the 20 others that were there. It was just a fantastic experience, both because Mexico is like paradise, and the people I was with were incredible. I don't think I'll ever find another friend like Joc - she is one of a kind and I love her to death!!!

K so I flew out of Halifax on a Friday evening with 10 others. We flew on "Air Transat" a dedicated airline to people going on vacation. I spent the 5 hour trip watching the newest Harry Potter movie and reading. We had free food which was nice :) It was crazy that when we left it was snowing, and when we arrived it was 25 degrees! I am down with that! We got in late and found our transportation to the resort. It was about a 45min drive on the highway to get to Riviera Maya.

My jaw dropped when we got to the resort and didn't come up until about 3 days in when the initial shock of the splendor of the resort wore off. It is hard to explain unless you were there... the lobby is huge, and nothing is closed - it's all open to the outside because it is just so warm! We checked in and walked "the yellow brick road" to get to our rooms. I roomed with 2 of Joc's friends from Calgary who are absolute sweethearts! They were already asleep when I arrived so I got into bed pretty quickly.

Most of the week was spent having breakfast around 9, sitting on the beach until 2, going to lunch and spending the afternoon at the pool, then getting cleaned up for supper. After supper we basically were dead and went to bed. One night there was karaoke in the lobby bar but other than that I don't remember anything special. The beach was glorious. The water was warm and clear, and the breeze was the exact perfect temperature. There are suntanning chairs for everyone. The beach is lined with various bars and snack stations, which is all included. Around the pools there are more chairs, and hammocks, and at the adult pools there are cabanas which are lovely for napping. There are also pool bars that you can swim up to. Water fountains, palm trees, bridges. There are plenty of activities and things to do if you tend to get bored easily, but I enjoyed the time of sitting around not doing much. Conversations with others, reading (for fun - I was on a strict no-school diet), and sleeping! My biggest concern in life was "I should reapply sunscreen" or "I think I have to pee soon". Or "this is funny, I should be taking video". haha. I have over 200gb of video :| I guess I did my job well?!

The food. is to die for. The buffets were out of this world with different food options. Breakfast was my favorite. I always had yogurt with granolla and oats and almonds, and pancakes and melon with chocolate on top! :) YUM! The coffee in Mexico is also fantastic. And supper - you could go to a buffet or to one of the specialty restaurants. There was Caribean, French, Japanese, and one called the Rotizzo (I think). Hands down my favorite was the Japanese!!! Each of these restaurants had a four course meal (all inclusive!) and you ordered from a menu. Very fancy, dress code, just wonderful.

The only two days that weren't like all the others were wedding day (which I'm going to blog about later because it's late and I'm tired) and the day we went to Xplor! This is an adventure park that has ziplining, river rafting, and an off-roading vehicle thing! All the ladies went on Wednesday and man, did we have a blast. It was tiring out in the heat, and I wish we had a bit more time there, but it was sooooo much fun.

I was super sad when this trip was over, both because I loved Mexico/the resort, and because I loved spending time with Joc again and meeting all her friends and family. It was an amazing trip. What a way to finish up my Masters! :) One thing I know, when I get married I would looooove to have my honeymoon at this exact spot. It's great!!!

Take the Walk

2011-04-04T11:47:00.000-03:00

I need to blog about Mexico... it was an epic trip. And I will soon... hopefully before Thursday. I was just interviewed at Just Us by Vanessa from the Athanaeum, my school's newspaper, about the walk we're doing tomorrow! I figured I'd write a little blog about it as a final push in promo :)

Tomorrow is "One Day Without Shoes" sponsored by TOMS shoes. The deal basically is to go around all day without shoes, to raise awareness (both personally and to those around you) how needed shoes actually are, and what it must be like to not have the option to wear a pair of shoes.

Take The Walk is an initiative started by Hanson. In 2006 they went to Africa and saw first-hand the poverty of some of the kids there. So they sold a song and donated the money to a hospital. Then they partnered with TOMS shoes, did one mile barefoot walks with their fans at tour stops in 2007, sold 50,000 pairs of shoes, and went with TOMS to South Africa to deliver the other 50,000. (TOMS is one for one - every time you buy a pair, you give a pair!)

From there, in 2008, Hanson wanted to "walk around the world" - 27,902 miles - and raise money for a host of causes. They decided to donate $1 for every person who walked, whether it was at a Hanson tour walk, or a fan hosted one. And so TakeTheWalk.net was born. As of today, we are almost done walking around the world TWICE - over 54,000 people have walked, over $54,000 has been donated for shoes, water, education, healthcare!

So tomorrow myself and Mandy are doing our own one mile barefoot walk. 4pm in the Acadia Quad. Every person who walks will be donating $1 to TOMS shoes. All the information is on our Facebook event. If you want to give more than your one mile walking, please go to TakeTheWalk.net and see other ways you can give! Hope to see you out!! Regardless of how many people are at this specific walk, know that your simple action makes a difference. There are 8 other walks happening on this day, and there have been over 54,000 people who have walked so far. Be one of them!

Steven Curtis Chapman

2011-03-23T17:42:00.001-03:00

So last night I saw Steven Curtis Chapman in concert for the first time! I got his album "Speechless" in 1999 and absolutely loved it. I bought "Declaration" in 2001, listened to it a bit but didn't really connect with it as much as the previous album. Anyway, when I heard he was coming through I thought why not, I love concerts!

I went with my friends Susan, Elaine, Emelia, and Joanna. The church was PACKED - definitely sold out. We ended up being close to the back on the floor, but we moved up to the front "standing room" once it started. It wasn't your typical "everyone crowd the front" show... most of it was spent sitting down (we lay back on the floor in the front, it was sweet). The average age at the show was probably about 40. Opening the show was a band "Caleb" made up of SCC's sons and a friend. I really liked them! Bought one of their EP's during intermission.

The rest of the show was organized a bit odd... SCC came out and did a few songs, and was then joined by Geoff Moore. They're good friends and have co-written many songs. Eventually SCC left and Geoff sang a few on his own. Then was intermission. They gave us some info about adoption options for Canadians. Even though I'm definitely not in the life position yet to adopt, it is still something I'd like to do once I'm in a career and am married (if that ever happens... ha). So I picked up all the pamphlet things for future reference!

The show continued till a little after 10pm. I knew some (most?) of the songs. Throughout the night SCC shared a lot about the huge tragedy his family went through 3 years ago when their daughter was taken from them tragically in an accident. It was very moving (though... dare I say it... it seemed a tiny bit overkill? Don't hate, I have a heart and feel DEEPLY for the huge burden they must carry, and of course we all go through deep heartache from time to time... but it was definitely the overarching theme of the whole night, which got a little overwhelming after the 6th or 7th mention). But I will say a definite highlight was when he took some time to play some well-known worship choruses on piano and we all sang along. Hearing a man like him, who has gone through so much, sing "You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say Lord blessed be Your name" is HUGE. It was definitely a "moment" for me.

So yeah, concert was fun. Musically it was super interesting. They didn't have a "normal" kit, there were lots of bells and whistles. Glock, cajon, cymbal with a chain on it, etc. I liked that a lot. It was much more relaxed than say Starfield or David Crowder, but I liked the change of pace. The calibre of music was superb - I always like good live music!

Once it was over Emelia was basically falling asleep :) She is not a night person! So we grabbed some Timmies and drove home. Very glad I went! If you have a chance to check out this Canadian tour, you should.

Photos

SFE Retreat Weekend

2011-03-20T17:12:00.001-03:00

Have you ever been so moved by God's Spirit in a church service that you find yourself fighting back tears every 5-10 minutes?

I have. :)

This weekend was a fantastic one! On Saturday morning my Supervised Field Education class went to Halifax to experience urban ministry and some of the things Halifax deals with, particlarly around ethnic and poverty issues. We started off our weekend (after a pitstop at Starbucks!) at the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth. This is a museum of the history of black Nova Scotians, and highlights some milestones and great people who have done great things over the years. I wish we had more time to browse the displays, but most of our time was spent in conversation with Dr. Henry Bishop, one of the curator's. He was very well-spoken, and treated us to some djembe playing! He helped me understand more about the root of racism, cultural stereotypes, and how "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

We left there around 11:45 and went to St. Thomas United Baptist Church in North Preston. We were first treated to a lovely light lunch, then we received a lecture by Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard who has her Phd in Social Work and oversees the program at Dalhousie. She shed some light on the contemporary issues faced in African Canadian communities, and talked about violence stemming from pain. One of the biggest issues in our churches is that there's pain in the pews, and we all try to ignore it. She talked a lot about the social justice ministry and her involvement in that. All very interesting and eye-opening.

After her talk we took a driving tour of North Preston. Then we headed back into Dartmouth, over the bridge, and into downtown Halifax to the Micmac Friendship Centre. Unfortunately we couldn't get in! :( There was a miscommunication in who was supposed to open it up for us. So we ended up with a bit more freetime than was originally planned. Most of us headed to Spring Garden Rd. I, of course, sat in Starbucks for an hour with a coffee and a good book ("Sticky Church" by Larry Osborne, it is great and all church leaders/small group leaders should read it!).

At 5 we went back over to Dartmouth and had supper at First Baptist Church. One of their small groups took it upon themselves to minister through providing us with lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and cheescake! Woohoo! I sat at a table with Pastor Gavin McCombie and enjoyed discussion around youth ministry, coffee shops, and a bunch of other things. Then we had some dialogue with Gavin and Pastor Martin Zwicker. They co-pastor the church which I think is pretty awesome. They gave us insight into what they do as a church, particularly with reaching out to the poor of the community and working with the schools to develop a literacy program with Frontier College. They're also trying to figure out how to collide the poorer people with the people moving into the brand new condos in the downtown area. It is a collision of two worlds, and they're right in the middle of it. It's an exciting time for ministry for them by the sounds of it.

Saturday evening myself and Libby billeted with Carmen and Jerry Muir, which was lovely. We were up talking for almost 2 hours, and enjoyed a breakfast of eggs and toast (and Timmies coffee) this morning. Lovely people! I had the best sleep I've ever had at a stranger's house!

This morning we were priviledged to worship at Cornwallis St. Baptist Church in downtown Halifax, as they celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. There were police there, the mayor of Halifax, and many other guests. Global TV was also there... so I might end up on the news :) The worship was AWESOME!!!! It is an African United Baptist Association church, and it is upbeat and full of life! The choir had so much soul, they wore robes and swayed as they sang, and the congregation sang along so loudly I couldn't hear myself sing most of the time! Every single person was clapping, dancing... getting their groove on! The offering was a time of celebration, and people came forward to put money in for the building fund. I was just moved by everything. They have deep respect for the Word, standing when the Scripture was read. And as Pastor Rhonda Britton preached, the congregation got louder, and she got louder, as response was given and received. There was also an altar call following the message which I REALLY liked (it is one thing I miss from Salvation Army services). Kids were playing the drums... slap bass was heard all morning.... tambourines and hand claps and ENERGY! You could not hold back a smile. It was awesome, awesome, awesome. I really want to go again sometime and bring my parents! I wonder why more of our churches aren't this excitable... I mean, really, our God is a God to get EXCITED about!!!! We forget that too much. Today I was reminded of that in a big way, and I am thankful.

Following the service there was a light lunch provided and then we headed home (after a final Starbucks pit stop!). I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. I think it was an enriching experience and opened my eyes to different ways of worship, different aspects of ministry, and the real problems that still face my ethnic brothers and sisters in this province. (All weekend there has been a theme that there are no races - there is ONE race - the human race!!!). I feel very full and thankful.

Don't ever complain in case things get worse.

2011-03-10T00:53:00.004-04:00

So it may or may not be 12:40am right now but I've been wanting to update this thing for quite awhile. I look at my last post now and chuckle to myself. Jen, you are an idiot. Do you know about Maslow's hierarchy of needs? When I wrote my last post I was pretty far up that pyramid.

Well actually I guess I was at the psychological needs level. The very next day after writing this post I plummeted to the very bottom. I got the stomach virus that's going around, and man did I get it bad. I basically died. It came on quick Sunday afternoon... between 5 and 9pm and I had thrown up 9 times (and other things were happening too...) I was such a mess, I don't ever remember being this nauseated and sick in my entire life. After calling my Mom 4 times we decided I should probably go to the hospital. My awesome amazing friend Josh drove me, and within 45min of arriving I was hooked up to an IV. I was really dehydrated. So I was there until about 4am... came home, drugged on gravol all of Monday to the point I do not remember that day ever happening. I think I ate some toast from meal hall that night (thanks friends!). Tuesday I managed to shower and do a load of laundry, and have a bowl of soup at meal hall. Wednesday I pulled off my very important meeting with the Board of Ministerial Standards, even though the room was spinning and I was sweating out of my clothes. Classy. Anyway, it was HORRIBLE and I could not believe I was complaining about my life before this. I would have given ANYTHING to get back to where I was on Saturday. Self-pity, you are no good. I have health and a full belly and a warm place to rest my head tonight. I'm good!

Thank goodness by Wednesday night I was beginning to feel better, because on Thursday I had big plans. My Nan & I cooked up a secret operation that involved me surprising my Mom at her surprise birthday party in Newfoundland. I thought we were going to give her a heart attack.

It was sooooo fun! And it was nice to be home for a few days and spend time with the family :) The house I grew up in is getting bare as Mom & Dad prepare to move this summer. Kind of sad, but really, it's just a physical confirmation of the life change we've all already experienced. I didn't see any friends on this visit; I really wanted to invest all the time with my family, and it was great. The night before I left my grandparents came in from "around the bay" and we had a big family dinner, just like Christmas time :)

So the month of February definitely ended on a high note. I am very grateful to have such a wonderful family, and it was such a treat to get to visit them in the middle of winter!!! I'll see Mom, Dad, and Nan again in May at my graduation, and everyone else when I go home in June for Jill's wedding :) Life is grand!

Craig Cardiff @AcadiaU

2011-03-06T17:41:00.001-04:00

Last Thursday evening I was treated to my second Craig Cardiff acoustic show. He apparently comes to Acadia every single year because he likes us so much. I'm down with that. I was a little late arriving due to another commitment, I thought it didn't start until 8pm and there was an opener, but turns out he started playing before 8, and the "opener" played in the middle. Unfortunate. So it wasn't as long as I would have liked but I enjoyed what I heard. His music is almost hypnotic; I feel so relaxed and at peace when he plays. I really don't know where he comes from, or how he can make a living playing to a hundred University students at only $8 a ticket, but I truly loved and appreciated his performance. I could have sat there all night.
I didn't take any pictures because the room was incredibly dark, but here's a tune of his you might enjoy.

Ugh. This month.

2011-02-19T17:37:00.001-04:00

My friend Jillian just posted a blog about the crappiness of February right when I needed the reminder. Why is February so horrible? Is it worse when you're single on Valentines Day? Is it the sugar overload? It's been documented this is the worst month... Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is highest in this month. The other week my prof told us to never make any big decisions in February because we're all miserable. Wise advice. I've been staring at my laptop for about 4 days trying to write a book report that is only 3 pages long. And I haven't started it yet. It just took me over an hour to prepare Bible Study for tomorrow, and every 5min I felt like I needed a mental break! No focus whatsoever. It sucks. I just started study break, and I wanted to get ahead on some assignments, but at this rate I'll be lucky if I get the necessary ones done. Boo hoo.

Even though it's break I'm quite busy! This morning I went to the annual business meeting at church. I like how all church decisions and budgets and things are done with the entire congregation (well, those who decide to come). It was a learning experience to be there and observe. I'm now at Starbucks (woot) and heading to Ignition tonight. I figured being with people is the best medicine for this time of the year. I'll be all churched out by the end of this weekend... church tomorrow and then Rally in the Valley at night! Monday is completely free, and the only day I can sleep in this week. That's horrible. So I may have to take advantage of that a little bit before getting homework out of the way... if I can ever get the focus! Usually Starbucks works every time. What gives?

Boo on you, February. You are a sad excuse for a month.

The 53rd Grammy's

2011-02-14T15:50:00.002-04:00

I don't remember the last time I actually watched an entire Grammy's show. Have I ever? The last time I cared was when this happened :) But for some reason this year I wanted to watch, and I'm actually glad I did. Paramore were nominated for an award (and Hayley for another with B.o.b.) and they were also presenting. This also seemed like a great House event for my residence, so I thought why not! Let's watch the Grammy's!

One of the reason's I enjoyed watching was to see what everyone was wearing. I've come to the conclusion that, generally speaking, country stars know how to dress and pop stars don't. Lady Gaga came in an egg. Miranda Lambert was in a pretty sparkly dress. And then there was everything in between. Lots of good laughs watching the red carpet haha.

The show itself had lots of surprises. In an effort to not ramble, here's a list:
- this was more of a big concert than an awards show. Hoards of performances, and maybe like 5 awards actually given out on TV? Weird.
- Paramore did not win :( They presented an award and seemed so nervous! Precious. I love them (even though I didn't like what Hayley was wearing)
- Justin Bieber has hit puberty! The world rejoices!!!
- Lady Antebellum = best performance of the night. Holy crap they can sing good! I think they won 4 awards and I was so happy. I like them a lot.
- I enjoyed Katy Pery's performance. What?
- Lady Gaga's music is so generic sounding, why is she a big deal again? Is it her pointy shoulders?
- Most enjoyable performance of the night was Cee Lo! Video below. You have to watch it. What's not to love about a peacock costume and muppetts? Nothing, that's what.
- John Mayer, Keith Urban, and Norah Jones = love.
- Mumford and Sons were also great. In fact there were quite a few good performances with actual talented people. Who knew!
- album of the year went to Arcade Fire!! What is even going on? I'll be honest, I know of them but don't know their stuff, but it seems as though it'll be fun to see them open for U2 in July.
- I enjoyed The Muse.
- Best new artist went to Esperanza Spalding, a jazz bassist! I like it! I like how the Grammy's acknowledge that more exists besides radio pop. Now in saying that I never heard of this chic until she won this award.
- Will Smith has a cute kid.

OK that's enough. It was a fun way to spend a Sunday evening. I leave you with the most entertaining performance of the night.

I hurt!

2011-02-05T16:22:00.001-04:00

So yesterday I went snowboarding for the third time this season :D I definitely shouldn't have spent the money, but we got slammed with a huge snowstorm so I knew the hill would be good. And then my friend Susan asked me to go, and that was it. It was a beautiful day. I've gotten really good at all I know but couldn't figure out turning on my own, so on a whim I went and got a private lesson! And now I can TURN! It is magical. I'm not very good yet, and there was actually kind of too much fluff on the hill at the end of the day that kept making me catch an edge and fall over. But I think one more day at the hill and I should basically be a pro snowboarder. We had a load of fun; Susan is also improving by leaps and bounds and we did a few runs down the big hill together :) I just wish the middle of Martock wasn't always so ICY! It is death waiting to happen. If I get into this enough I may look at getting my own gear in the future. My instructor said you can get some decent second-hand equipment for $150; not bad! As with everything, though, first I need a job and then to start paying back my student debt. Hooray.

I'm in Halifax today. This afternoon I did a little bit shopping for Mexico (YIPEE) and I just did some homework here at Starbucks. Tonight is a friend's birthday party. I enjoy these little day trips away. Monday starts a one-week intensive class at Acadia so I'll be much busier than I have been. Being in only 3 classes definitely has it's good and bad points. I'm trying to sit comfortably between "not too busy" and "bored". Sometimes when you're not busy it's harder to get the drive to get work done. It's a weird paradox.

I'm starting to get excited about graduation. I've put my resume into a couple of places that I have heard about through various people. It's unnerving... I'm a planner and I'd like to know where I'm going so I can plan and find an apartment and get in the head space. Every night I pray for patience to wait for God's timing. I only want to go somewhere if it's best for me and best for that church. Who knows, I could end up back in Newfoundland with my parents for all I know. I just get really anxious sometimes!!! Deep breaths.

There is a red warning sign on my weather app again. Darn heck. I have to be at church for 8:20am tomorrow. If we get dumped on tonight I'm going to have to get up super early!!!!! :( Sad days. It's OK though cause I get to play drums AND help serve communion. Best Sunday ever.

random.

2011-01-25T20:45:00.002-04:00

I haven't written in awhile! January has just flown by. School is going great. I guess where I am only taking 3 courses this semester, instead of the usual 5, I feel very much relaxed. Which is not good in some ways because I feel myself getting lazy with the schoolwork I do have. I am taking Christian Education and Supervised Field Education, and a Young Adult Leadership course in February as an intensive. I'm also auditing New Testament 2. So yeah, it's a nice semester :) I can't believe it's my last one! I met with the Regional Ministers yesterday to talk a bit about myself and my desire for ministry. It was nice. It's uneasy not knowing what life holds for me after graduation, but I have faith that in God's good timing I'll figure it out.

I've had a lot of fun this month. I've been to Martock twice and am becoming quite the snowboarder. I finally caved and spent the extra cash on a private lesson which went a very long way. I can now ride on my toe edge! I have many bruises to show for it but it is so fun that I keep going. I've also been skating a couple times at the Acadia Arena. I got my skates sharpened and everything. My emotional health really is directly related to the amount of time I spend exercising, so I'm going to keep this up. Plus it's fun.

Back on Jan 10th I had my first experience with "Inn from the Cold", a ministry to the homeless the churches in the Valley run. It was great. I met some great people, shared tea and a snack with them that evening, and then breakfast at Tims the next morning. They were SO thankful that I got breakfast for them, and all I could think was "I spend this much money on myself all the time without even thinking about it." $13 to feed 4 people breakfast is NOTHING, yet they treated it like I gave them the world. It was very humbling and something I now think about every time I buy something for myself.

This month has also had much more time with friends from ADC which I am enjoying thoroughly. Great bunch of people there. It is definitely easier to lead a more balanced life when the course load at school is less :) I am having fun. Speaking of fun, I go to Mexico in like 58 days I think! Cannot wait for Jocelyn's and Jason's wedding. And you know, bumming around on the beach :) Especially since it was -29 yesterday!!!

2011... bam!

2011-01-10T17:01:00.003-04:00

10 days into the New Year and 2010 seems like a distant memory. I really enjoyed my last few days home. I spent lots of time with family; I'm not sure when I'm going to see Jon & Seritha again :( They left on the 5th to go to Bolivia! They're special guests at a Salvation Army music camp. Pretty awesome. I went to Boston Pizza with my Nan on my last night home, and my parents took me to Swiss Chalet right before I flew back to NS. I stand by my statement that, after Jesus, Christmas is all about food. When I got back to the Valley I made a bee line to the grocery store to pick up some supper and some everyday items... the belgian chocolate Christmas cookies were there. I bought a tin. They are now almost gone. I'm terrible!

My first little while back in residence I spent cleaning and organizing my room. It was in mild disarray from the craziness of final papers, and I don't think I've dusted once since I moved in (oops!) It's all nice and clean now. We had RA Training on Friday afternoon. That night we had the RA Decades Party which was a laugh. We have 10 people on our team and decided to go as 2001-10... we each picked a year and decorated a shirt with events that happened in our year. I got 2010 so I did the oil spill.

Saturday I got woken up at 1:30pm by the phone (It was a late night on Friday!). It was a lady asking about a kijiji ad. I'm glad she called cause it got me out of bed. I was expecting Saturday eve to be chill by at 8:30 I got an invite to Paddy's at 9pm with a bunch of ADC friends. It was great to see everyone again. Sunday morning I was back at NMBC! I truly miss that church when I am not there. I had 11 grade 7's in bible study, which is always a test of patience, but was good all the same. Next week I play drums... woohoo!

After church I was going to take a nap, but I got invited to go skating! I haven't been skating in 2 years, and my skates are in DESPERATE need of sharpening, but I went anyway and had fun! All the new International students went, and many of them have never been on skates before. So it was a good laugh; I felt like a pro even though I don't know how to stop! I want to get my skates sharpened this week. I feel like going there every Sunday is good for physical activity, and will help distract me from going on the computer that day (in keeping with my New Years resolution). I kind of failed at that yesterday... Hayley posted on Paramore's livejournal while I was skating so of course I came home and commented, and she was still there and wrote back. But it's not every day this happens and I am still forging ahead with my resolution!

Today I drove to Halifax to pick up David from the airport. And I bought some textbooks. And that's honestly all I've done. Tonight I'm volunteering at "Inn from the Cold" so after supper I have to shower and pack up for that. I wonder if we'll actually get anyone this week? Last time I went we didn't get anyone by 11pm, which means we come home. Classes start tomorrow!! I can't wait to get started. Structure is lacking in my life and I need a class schedule to give me some. I also have an eye doctor appointment tomorrow which I am so excited about - I'll be getting contacts finally!! And maybe some fun new lenses. We'll see.

And that's my life for now. I just downloaded a new EP, "Line em Up" by States. I like it! Always looking for some new tunes to try. What music have you been listening to lately?

Unavoidable New Years blog post.

2010-12-31T17:34:00.000-04:00

So it's Dec 31, therefore I feel the need/urge to write in this thing. I already did a photo review of 2010, which I enjoyed doing...

You know, I was going to write a recap of highlights of 2010, but I don't think I can. Too many awesome things happened. I already wrote about them all in here throughout the year. I feel like this year I finally put a good dent into the New Year's resolution I've had for the last 3 years (invest in people/strengthen friendships). For the first time in a couple of years I feel like I have people that are truly my friends. I can tell them anything and we have lots of fun together. This year was pretty comfy on the whole... living as a grad student, working at NMBC this summer. 2011 will not be so comfy. I am going to graduate with my Masters this year! I have no idea what the future holds after April. Will I get to Youth Pastor right away? Where? What will my new church be like? Will I end up without a YP position? Will I end up living with my parents again working at Starbucks? Will I meet my husband this year? Will I make new friends? Will I keep my current ones?

I feel very uncertain... the last time I felt like this on New Years was 05/06 (I had no idea 2008 would bring the changes it did). In 2011 an era of my life is going to end and a new one is going to begin. It is exciting but also nerve-wrecking to think about. This is when Proverbs 3:5-6 has to be lived out to the full! I have to remember that whatever happens, it's all according to God's plan, and I have to trust in Him.

As for resolutions... tangibly, I'd like to do a media fast one day a week. I'm in a sad state if I can't be at least that self-disciplined, and I think it'll help me with devotional times and spiritual disciplines. I also want to continue investing in people, developing friendships, and who knows... maybe meeting "the one"? I continually need to work on my feelings of loneliness that creep over me on a regular basis. And um... I think that's it. I mean I could make a huge list of how I should exercise more, read more books, pray longer, etc. but they would be frivolous resolutions that I know I wouldn't keep. I'm not into resolutions just for the sake of making them.

I love New Years because it gives you an opportunity to reflect, adapt, and look ahead. I feel like a completely different person than I did a year ago... but boy, do I have a long ways to go.

I hope everyone has had a safe and happy Christmas, and be sure to have fun on this New Years Eve! :) My plans include chinese food and Mario Tennis. Woot!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T00:18:00.002-04:00

Well this Christmas has been fantastic so far. I managed to get home before the crazy wind and rain started, which has not let up at ALL except for a bit on Sunday/Monday morning. I would honestly rather snow at this point. Or some sun. Please sun come back!!!

The second evening I was back I went to the Temple to record some more music with my family. We've done it the past couple of Christmases for pieces Dad has been writing, and this year we thought we'd step it up a notch, maybe to release our own Christmas CD in the future for friends and family. It was fun to play in a more organized brass setting again... I don't think I've read percussion sheet music since last Christmas! I didn't forget how thankfully. The couple of days before Christmas were spent doing some last minute shopping. I had to search high and low before finally finding season 6 of The Office for Jon & Seritha (we have an agreement that we always get this for each other). Finally found it in Rogers, who also had 500 Days of Summer on for $6. One of my favorite movies! So we bought it and Mom watched it with me. I'm not sure she liked it so much but I love it. I am such a sap for romantic stories these days, what's gotten into me???

Christmas Eve Nan & Pop came in, as is tradition, and we went to the church service. It was nice to see some friends I haven't seen in a couple of months. Salvation Brass played (brass bands = Christmas), my brother played a tuba solo, and Jill sang a solo! So I was pleased. It was a little long but eventually we were outta there and back home. We had some food with the 3 grandparents, Jon & Seritha, and Seritha's two brothers. Then we got our new Christmas PJ's which I am in love with - seriously one of my favorite gifts this year! Then we watched Merry Christmas Mr. Bean, Jon's clan left, and we went to bed.

Mom said if I wanted presents before breakfast I had to get up at 8am. Usually I don't care much but I was DYING for those Hanson DVDs! ha. So 8:00 my alarm goes off and Nan & I get up. Mom's already downstairs working on the turkey. By 8:30 or so we are all down in the basement opening gifts. I am very spoiled and got so much... I got a pretty signigicant chunk of cash for birthday and Christmas which I spent on Boxing week sales... I also got cases for my drum set, a camera tripod, new clothes, iTunes gifts cards, chocolate, movies, and uh... other things. In Hanson gear I got the 5 of 5 DVDs and The Walk thermal shirt :) I really enjoyed watching my parents and grandparents open their gifts too. Jon & Seritha surprised Dad with a toolbox and Mom with a digital photo frame. Mom got Salvation Army figurines that she was really excited about. My Dad got 28 train DVDs!!! I really enjoyed the grandparents reactions to the personalized calendars we gave them. I then surprised my parents with the same thing :)

We were done with presnts in about an hour, and I immediately started watching the first 5 of 5 DVD. I had a job holding back tears... it was so cool to be able to relive that week in NYC, and just to have the excitement and intensity of those shows bottled into video form. The performances are epic, flawless, and I was there! Needless to say I spent almost 8 hours of Christmas Day watching Hanson. I got through 4 of the 5 DVDs, the concerts and "the story" about each album. My grandparents watched the second one with me and were so excited to keep seeing me in the crowd! And I managed to convince Jon & Seritha to watch night 5 with me :) haha. It was a very Hanson Christmas, for sure!

Christmas Day had a lot of eating too. We had breakfast by about 10 I guess. At 2pm Aunt Bev, Uncle Lorne, and Robert came to join us for Christmas dinner. My Mom is awesome at Christmas dinner. By the time our dinner guests left, Jon & Seritha had returned with Seritha's parents for supper! It was fun to connect with family and, you know... eat! Lots of Christmas music was played on the stereo, including Alvin and the Chipmunks. Boxing Day was Sunday, so I got up and went to church. There weren't many people there, and I was tired, but I thought I'd be bored if I never left the house at all, and as an MDiv student I feel I should probably be in church haha. The rest of the day was spent with grandparents. That evening The Parent Trap came on TV... the original 1961 one, which we watched while putting together a puzzle. Oh yes, I also watched the final Hanson DVD :)

Every morning when I wake up I usually start by checking Facebook & Twitter on my phone. I noticed a lot coming from my friend Tamara, something about a free flip camcorder. Turns out Old Navy was giving them out to the first 30 people in on Boxing Day. Except ours doesn't open until the 27th :) So I did some research and figured it all out, and decided I'd add in Old Navy to my early morning Boxing Week craziness! Mom & Dad are nuts enough that they wanted to come too. So this morning we got up at 3am and drove down to Stavangar Drive. Mom & I both got in line and were numbers 16 & 17. At 4am the store opened and we got wristbands. Then we went shopping! We had to spend $25 in order to get the free flip camcorder, so we looked around and tried stuff on and got some nice things. And a free flip! :) Then we went through Tim Hortons, came back, and waited for Future Shop to open at 6am. The line started 8pm the night before, mostly people wanting TVs, and by 6am the line was right around the parking lot. We waited until everyone was in, then we went in. I went right to the camera department and the one I wanted was there! :) They were very organized, I was in and out in 20min with my new camcorder. So I was back in bed by 7am, two camcorders for the better :)

I got up again at Noon and had breakfast. Then we went down to Jon's and Seritha's for a visit. I got to see Milley! (their cat). Nan & Pop went home to Bay Roberts after that so I said goodbye. Mom & Dad also went home; I stayed with Jon & Seritha to go out for supper with them! Then we all came back here and watched a movie together, "August Rush", that I gave to my parents for Christmas. I love that movie so much and it makes me cry every time. A lot of junk food was also consumed. And... that's Christmas so far! I've been really enjoying my time home and am definitely good and relaxed :)

2010 in photo review! :)

2010-12-23T01:09:00.002-04:00

I do one of these almost every year, and I quite enjoy them. Here are just a smattering of memories from this year!

January: Shar & I at the Tegan & Sara show! This was so fun. I really wanted to go, Shar came at the last minute and said she actually enjoyed it!

February: Seritha & I in Newfoundland; I was home recovering from jaw surgery, which is why my face is a little more full than normal. So happy I got that surgery done this year and it is all behind me!

March: Sharlene, Me, & Jolene at the Martina McBride concert. She blew me away, such an amazing performer.

April: Me and my friends in NYC for the first time, and to see Hanson's 5 of 5 series! EPIC!!

May: Paramore at Bamboozle. My first time there... definitely an experience!

June: Morphoo closing at Farmers Golf.

July: Sharlene & I in Cavendish PEI. This weekend was a lot of fun, albeit brief for me.

August: Summer vacation!!! In this pic we're waiting for the Paramore show :D

September: Rojo!

October: The fam at Jessica's Wedding. I'm glad I got to come home for this.

November: Front row for Hanson in Montreal. This whole day was amazing.

December: Jolene's Wedding!!!
Wow. What a great year. One of the best I've had in awhile I'd say. Can't wait to see what 2011 will bring!

Jolene got married!

2010-12-22T19:16:00.001-04:00

Wow, a lot can happen in a week! I managed to get all my schoolwork done and submitted. 3 marks back so far and things are looking good :) On Wednesday Nan arrived from Dallas so I spent two nights with her in Halifax. It was a nice change of pace, and a nice big & quiet hotel room to get some work done in :)

On Friday it was off to Baddeck for Jolene's and Rob's wedding! The weather was not very fun but I drove out with Kurtis in his SUV so I felt good and safe. Made it alive around 7:45pm I think. I missed most of the rehearsal and then we all went to a little party (at the blue house!). Good music, good food, and good people :)

Saturday morning was the big day!!! We actually got to sleep in a little which was quite nice, and Kurtis brought us Tim Hortons because he is awesome. Sharlene did all of our hair and she did great!!! I was ready first because I was afraid I'd take too long. Getting ready was fun, it's always a good time to get all dressed up.

Then was the wedding. I didn't even cry that much! It was really sweet and perfect and totally fitting for Rob & Jolene. The wedding was right in front of a fireplace! All I had to do was stand there and look pretty which I think I did a pretty good job of. After the ceremony was picture time, and time to chat with all the guests. I knew at least half of the people there. Then was supper! Everything was delicious but I really wasn't that hungry. I think all the excitement and craziness from this last month had come to a head haha. I did the toast to the bride and lots of other people talked, and sang songs. Some were awesome, some were akward. After dinner the bride & groom had their first dance, and then it was basically a big concert! Cue best wedding reception ever. I love me some live music. We heard about every genre of music known to man. We even got a performance from The Keats!! Then, instead of a regular dance, we were taught Scottish line dancing (I think that's what it was called). I participated in the second one (the one where it wasn't for a couple haha) and it was so fun. Anyway, all in all it was a GREAT wedding, and I am soooooo happy I got to spend my 26th birthday doing this!

After everything was over there was an after-party in Troy's and Rebekah's room which included dancing to Hanson. I was pleased. I didn't go to bed until 2:30 and was up again at 8:30 for breakfast! Got to say goodbye to the newly weds and then I packed up to hit the road with Shar & Kurtis. Spent the evening in Halifax with my lovely friends :) Monday morning I got to have breakfast with Jocelyn!!!!!!! I haven't seen her in a year and a half and man, it was just like old times. So exciting. I can't WAIT for her wedding in March!! :D Did I mention it was in Mexico???

So I'm home in Newfoundland now in a huge wind and rain storm. My first night home I slept 17 hours! Today I actually got up and did some shopping. It is good to be home and relaxed. I can't believe I only have one semester left for my MDiv... that is intense!!

Blackout 2010!

2010-12-14T16:25:00.003-04:00

I didn't take this picture... but this is the tree I saw!

Well, the last 18 hours or so have been a good laugh. I had just settled in to write a book critique, was about half a page in, and everything in my room goes off. I may or may not have yelled an explitative... I opened the door into the hall which was also completely black. Great, I thought... we have no emergency lights? Everyone on my floor was kind of frozen in their doorway, and within about 30 seconds the hallway lights came on. The first thing I saw was Laurie skipping down the hallway. haha. My first thought was "let's play spotlight" but we can't turn off the emergency hallway lights haha.

Our evening was spent doing homework in the hallway, chatting, and eating all our perishables (I actually wrote my book critique on battery power - THANK YOU new Macbook!!!). I do have to say that power outages have a way of bringing people together. There are some residents on my floor that never socialize with the rest of the floor. But last night a few of them ventured out (our rooms were black) and I really enjoyed just chatting with everyone. Kristan had a hand-motor powered radio that he kept cranking for updates. The estimated power-on time went from midnight... to 2am... to 6pm the next day! Safety & Security came around at 11 or so and asked an RA to sit by the front door, so residents knew where to find us, and so we could discourage people from going outside. People were getting knocked over by the wind, huge trees, transport trucks, and porter potties were getting blowed around! I sat there for an hour or so. The big heavy front door was getting opened by the wind! It was insane.

Eventually we had to break up the good times and get people to bed, because at this point power was coming back at 2am and 9am exams were still on. I was in bed by 1 or so, and then Justin came by to tell me the new time was 6pm tomorrow and all tomorrow's exams were deferred to January. The other exciting news was that, if our generator went, myself and Josh would have to take turns staying up on fire watch, because the fire alarms would go with the lights. Thankfully our generator lasted and I got to sleep!!

Meal hall was a little fun. It was all dark and the options were soup, cereal, or sandwiches. It's just so eerie how quiet everything is when there's no power! You really realize how dependant the world is on technology and electricity. I took advantage of the blackout and slept my morning away... then I came to Coldbrook for coffee as they have power. I'm here now but just found out Acadia has power again, so I am going to head back. On the way here part of the road was blocked off because a HUGE tree is right across the road, taking power lines with it. I wish I had my camera with me. The lawn in the quad is covered with pieces of roof.

So that's blackout 2010... I am hoping from this I get an extension on paper due-dates... although I will say, I have never gone faster as I did with that book critique. With no internet, and racing the battery life, I flew! I have 3 more major things to do... on to the next one now!

It's December!

2010-12-04T16:22:00.001-04:00

Man, I haven't written since my trip. Since I've been home my online time has been getting all those pictures and videos up, catching up on things, and uh... procrastinating from schoolwork :) I knew that my vacation would make things busy when I came home, and I was right. The problem is I have no drive to complete things right now... not a good thing with all these final assignments coming at me.

I'm blonde again! I went into Halifax last weekend and got dyed up again, just in time for the wedding. I like it... I haven't been this blonde in awhile so it's taking a little bit to get used to :) I attempted to straighten it last night but I have come to the conclusion that it's silly to try and fight with nature. I spent an hour on it and it was still too pouffy for my liking. It's better today because I slept on it. Also last Saturday was "Ignition" which I played drums for again.

On Thursday we finally had another Rojo House event! We went to Clayground Cafe (see picture above). It was so nice to go and paint; so relaxing after a bit of a stressful day. It was my team's turn to lead worship in class this week, and I was on piano duty, which always stresses me out. I didn't do nearly as good as I would have liked, but I didn't have time to start practicing until 2 days before :S Not good since the last time I played was a year ago! We also had one of our members participate via video, which messed up when we tried to play it, and I was running around frantically trying to get it to work mid-service. Yeah. Not stellar. Anyway, the meal hall Christmas dinner and then Clayground was a great way to unwind after all that :)

Last night was the ADC Christmas Banquet which was SO FUN! Melinda and Sarah did an amazing job with decorating and all the prep work. It was a nice balance of silliness and just fellowship time. Friday was a fail in every way other than the Banquet. I was in bed until 3pm :| I've figured out that unless I have (what in my mind is) a good enough reason to get out of bed, I just won't. Going to a Hanson concert, or to Halifax, is a good reason to get out of bed, no matter how much sleep I got. Working on a paper is not, apparently. So today I arranged to drive in to Halifax to study at Starbucks with 4 of my friends. It worked - I was up at 8:30 this morning! Once I am up I'm fine, it's just that initial getting out of bed that kills me every single day. Anyway, I spent all afternoon on a project and got one of nine parts done. Oy. I really should have started this before today. Tonight I want to get the second part done. I guess it's end of the semester though, so this is normal...

Life's good and busy. I am getting REALLY excited for all of Jolene's wedding things, and then to go home for the holidays. I miss my family.

This must be the end of the line.

2010-11-21T15:22:00.000-04:00

Welp, I made it home, a day later than I expected! Here is what I have learned on this trip:

Northampton is 9.5 hours from Fredericton when you account for pee/gas stops and supper.

I can get from Houlton ME to Northampton MA and back for about $92 including all gas and tolls.

seated Hanson shows are really nice and relaxed

21 is a better legal drinking age than 18

Forever 21 has really cheap and awesome clothes in it

whenever I travel overnight on a train I MUST get a sleeper

Montreal is kind of dirty, and incredibly sketchy around Club Soda

it feels weird to not be able to speak the preferred language of a city

St. Hubert's is a lot like Swiss Chalet

Some Montreal Hanson fans still think it's 1997

Front row really is the best, but it's not so much better than being somewhere else in the venue that I'd be willing to line up all day for it

The best thing you could ever do at a GA show is make friends with the people around you

Most Hanson fans are really sweet, really awesome people

Siobhan Magnus is a little full of herself

When I am freezing cold and look like crap, I do not want my picture taken with a Hanson

I had the sleep of my life at Nathalie's house after the Montreal concert. Woke up around 11 I think. We had breakfast and watched Strong Enough to Break, then we dropped my luggage off at the train station and went for a walk around Old Montreal. It was pretty and a nice walk, although it was quite cold out. We took a subway from there to the shopping district. If I had money I definitely would have done some shopping. We went to a HUGE HMV - 3 floors of music and video! Oh yes, we also got Starbucks which I was DYING for. I went the whole of the day before without a single cup of coffee. It was sad (but not that sad cause that day was awesome).

Nathalie then brought me to the train station and I met up with Brigette and her Mom, my new friends I met on the way there :) We sat together on the train ride home. The train takes 17 hours to go from Montreal to Moncton, which seems a bit excessive. At one point, after we had stopped at a station, we started going backwards at a pretty quick pace for quite awhile. I had visions of the train getting hijacked and making it come off the tracks or something. Eventually we started going the right way again. Weeeiiirrrrdd. I have to say this. I cannot sleep in a chair. I just can't do it. Not getting a cabin on the way home was the stupidest thing I've ever done. It was SO horrible to be so tired but to not be able to sleep :( I gave up around 3:30am and just worked on editing pictures and videos. At least I got all my pics done before I even got home. But yeah... pulling an unwanted allnighter at the end of a week-long trip is not recommended.

Once we got to Moncton I said goodbye to Brigette and her Mom and met up with Jim who brought me back to his house to get cleaned up and get my car back :) Then I met with a prof at Starbucks, and started the drive back to Wolfville. It was snowing a little, but I wasn't too concerned cause I didn't think the weather forecast was calling for anything too bad... boy was I wrong. By the time I got to the Cobequid Pass it was an all-out snow storm. Plows going, people driving 30, etc. Can I just say that if you have to go 40 because you are too scared, DON'T DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. I swear most winter accidents are because people are trying to pass those who should not even be on the highway. It's insane. I had one issue with this, but otherwise I was okay.

Once I passed Truro everything got good again so I thought I'd be alright. It was getting dark though. I stopped in Enfield for the bathroom and coffee, and as soon as I got on the 101 the snow and freezing rain started again, and this time it was dark. Keep in mind I had also been awake for 2 days and was alone in my car. Jon was texting me advising of the conditions as he was a couple hours ahead of me on the road. So after pulling off the highway at exit 3 I decided the best idea was to stay there for the evening. So I called Uncle Gord and Madonna and they were nice enough to let me stay the night! So I went there, had supper, watched the hockey game, and slept. Got up this morning in time for church. So yeah! I made it, but not without a fight!

I want to again say thank you to all of my friends who helped me out on this trip. Mary & Mark for housing and feeding me for 2 days, Daniel for giving up his bedroom for me, Sarah & Kyle for a fun trip to the USA, Jim & Tash for housing me and taking me to and from the train station, Mom & Dad for the train ticket, Nathalie for the place to stay and for being my tour gide, and Uncle Gord and Madonna for giving me a place to stay and food to eat last night. Seriously, this trip would have sucked without all of these awesome people! So THANKS :D This trip was kind of epic. But now it's back to the real world!

Hanson in Montreal

2010-11-19T02:48:00.001-04:00

Sleeping on a train is not easy. I was "asleep" for 9 hours but I kept waking up because of stopping and starting or a bumpy patch. But all in all it was a neat way to travel. I ate breakfast before I got off and was greeted by Nathalie and a big sign! :) I am so glad she came to get me because Montreal is big and scary and I would not want to maneuver it alone. I never really looked into anything at all this time so I would have been very lost. We took 2 subways and a bus to get to her apartment. I needed a shower after the night on the train. Then we went down to the venue. It is in a SKETCH place of town. Seriously out of all the venues I have seen Hanson in this was definitely in the sketchiest area. And to top it all off the blocks all around it are under major construction. Not ideal. When we got there there were a few people already in line. We went to St Hubert's and had lunch. It was yummy; reminded me of Swiss Chalet. Then we went back, and the bus was there! :) No Hanson though, haha. They were flying in from Oklahoma.

We waited in the front and talked to the growing number of fans. Around 3 their tour manager came for me and Caroline to set up walk registration. Thankfully they let us do it inside the lobby because it was FREEZING outside! We had 94 people register for the walk. Hanson went out to everyone from where our table was, so we got to chat briefly with them before they started walking. It seemed to take a bit longer than Northampton... I think they got lost. When they came back Zac signed my CD for me and said thanks for doing the registration :) Then they went in for soundcheck. We took down the table and gave all the stuff back to the tour manager, and chatted with the venue staff. Nobody kicked us out or asked us to leave... and soundcheck was happening... so we just kind of stayed and watched. It was really nice. Especially since they did 2 Christmas songs :) We didn't hear them at the show though.

After soundcheck was M&G which I watched from afar since I knew 3 of the girls in there :) So excited for them! Then doors opened and the party started. I was right next to Nathalie in front row on Taylor's side. I have never ever been front row for a Hanson concert before, and I doubt I ever will be again (unless fate treats me as well as it did today). But man, it was nice. I figured I would take advantage of it this one time and live it up a little. There was no barricade so we were literally resting on the stage. Saweeeeet. Jarrod Gorbel played and once again I enjoyed his set. A little chill for starting off a Hanson show but I liked it. I also made friends with all the people around me (this is fun to do anyway but also important when you are going to be real close for a couple hours).

Just after 9:15 Hanson came on and played for over 2 hours. A 23-song set, even longer than Northampton! The highlight of the show for me was how close I was. It was just... nice. The crowd was dancy and there was no pushing. The set was identical to Northampton, except they added Something Going Round in the encore, and they did "Let's Get it On" with If Only!!!! I have NEVER heard that before so I was PUMPED! During "Can't Stop" I was feeling some pushing behind me, and I turned around and saw a girl that was WAY too drunk, or high, or something. She was causing grief to all those around her. Apparently a man pushed her to the ground to make her stop. Anyway, Isaac noticed it, told the crew on stage, who had the drunk girl removed. Isaac then proceeded, once the song was over, to tell off the guy, use a few choice words, and got him kicked out of the show. It was kind of epic. He didn't even get the hint right away, so Hanson's guitar tech and tour manager jumped into the crowd and got him out. Seriously. It was just epic. I am happy my band looks out for their fans. I wonder if the drinking age of 18 has anything to do with the insane number of obnoxious drunks at this show? It was a bit ridiculous.
Other things... there was birthday cake! No smash in the face though :( And I got a setlist.

After the show we went to the bus. I knew that they wouldn't be long since they have to be in PA by 8am. Isaac came out and signed for everyone, and Taylor came out briefly and went down the line before the bus pulled away at 12:15. So I managed to get Shout it Out signed by all 3 on this trip :) And Isaac signed the setlist I got. One thing that was nuts by the bus... well actually 2 things. Like I said, the area is sketchy, and there were homeless/drunk/nonsensical people behind the venue that kept bothering fans and the band/crew. At one point, someone left the bus door open, and I thought one of them was going to get on!! We yelled for the door to be closed and some fans pushed it to. Scary. The other thing is, tonight I felt like it was 1997 again. Maybe it's because Hanson haven't been in Montreal for 10 years, maybe it's because kids were drunk and weren't using common sense and courtesy, but seriously. Rather than stay in a line on the sidewalk like you're supposed to do, when a Hanson came out people swarmed them. For the first time in my LIFE I witnessed a girl chasing after Taylor as he was walking towards the bus. I couldn't even believe what I was seeing. Like seriously. It's not 1997 anymore, and you are doing the #1 thing to ensure they DON'T come out and sign. Gah. It is weird to be here where people don't know how to act or behave at the bus, or at the show. It's awesome more newer fans are able to go to shows now, but I kind of missed being where everyone knew the drill. And it wasn't everyone... most of the new people were awesome! But it only takes a couple ya know?

Anyway... haha, it was a fun day all in all. Nathalie and I were starving after the bus left so we got some Subway before coming home. My pictures are SWEET. I can't wait to edit them and get them up! The show was also amazing. Definitely glad I made the trek. Can't believe I got to see Hanson live 8 times this year! Nuts!!!

Photos

Shout it Out Tour part two... I'm on a train!

2010-11-17T19:47:00.000-04:00

So after I posted my last blog I got about 4 hours sleep, then it was time to Get Up and Go! (ha, ha). We had our free breakfast at our hotel before leaving. Since travelling with Jolene this past summer, and learning that the US puts high fructose corn syrup in almost everything (Canada does not) I have been much more careful in what I choose to eat. I usually always go for yogurt at breakfast but wouldn't you know it... US yogurt has high fructose corn syrup in it!! Bah. So I stuck with raisin bran and an egg sandwich (which probably was full of other junk too but tasted better at least). We weren't on the highway 15min before finding a Starbucks. I needed coffee in a big way! The drive home was nice. Somehow the drive home is always much faster than the drive down... it seemed like we were back in Portland in no time. About an hour outside of Portland we stopped for gas. When we left the gas station and were driving back up the highway... Sarah says "what's THAT?!" I look back at the gas station we just left and it is being encompassed by this white smoke/mist that seems like it was coming from a tank truck. I have no idea what it was or if anyone was injured or anything.... I am just really thankful it didn't happen 5 minutes earlier when I was standing outside my car pumping gas!

In Portland we looked around the mall for about an hour. I bought a hat! I didn't think I could ever pull off this kind of hat, but I love the look of them, and Hot Topic had them in 2 different sizes, so the large one actually fit me! Hooray! I've bought two hats on this trip. I guess I'm a hat person now?
We also looked inside of Forever 21. I love this store and there were so many cheap and awesome things. If I hadn't already spent all my money in Northampton I may have gotten some things, but I don't "need" anything right now so I resisted the urge. Sarah & Kyle looked around H&M a bit (which I also love but did not want to buy anything) so I went to the Apple Store and played with the new 11" Macbook Airs and iPads until they were ready to leave. I'm glad they came to find me when they did or else I may have walked out with an iPad! Those darn little things are so awesome, but I definitely don't need one. And I shouldn't put myself farther in debt for a toy I don't need. Be sensible, self!

We left Portland and pushed our hungry tummies onward to Bangor for a late lunch/early supper at Applebees. I actually ate junky this time - cheeseburger sliders. So good. Then we took off to Houlton and filled up the car one last time before the border. Can I just say that my car can go from Houlton ME to Northampton MA roundtrip, all gas and all toll booth charges, for about $92 US? That is pretty flippin fantastic. All 3 of us got $20 back from the gas money. Sweet. The border crossing was semi-smooth.... the dude was young and scanned our passports. I think he thought we were lying or something. He kept asking random questions and he was making me nervous. I thought for sure we were getting pulled over but we weren't. I think he thought we were lying that Hanson still play shows. The drive from the border to Fredericton was NOT fun. By this time it was long past dark, and it was FOGGY. There were times I had to slow down to 80km or so because I literally could only see 3 feet in front of the car. We finally got back to the Salvation Army church by around 9pm, and I said goodbye to Sarah & Kyle. They are so great to travel with - best Hanson tour buddies ever!

After I dropped them off I still had almost 2 hours of driving to do, alone, to get to Jim and Tash's house in Moncton. It also was quite foggy and I was not a happy camper. My GPS did not lead me astray and by 11:00pm I was at their house! I have to thank them SO MUCH for letting me stay there overnight. I had an awesome sleep and cuddle with their cat :) Watched some "19 kids and counting", got a super long shower, checked the internets, and ate breakfast. It was a super break in between legs 2 and 3 of my vacation. My car is now hanging out in their driveway - Tash was nice enough to drive me to the train station! THANKS TASH :)

So now I am on the VIA Train on the way to Montreal!!! If you know my family at all you know my Dad LOVES trains (like I love Hanson, and my brother loves his Tuba). Because of this I have been on dozens of tourist trains, some lasting 8 or 9 hours roundtrip. But I have never taken a train to GET somewhere. When Hanson announced the Montreal date I felt like I had to go, since they haven't played this far East in Canada in 10 years, and I'd like them to not take that long next time (or maybe even come FARTHER east??) I didn't want to drive it because a) I'd be going alone, b) the highway to Montreal from NB sucks, and c) I don't have enough miles left on my car lease. I've wanted to take the train somewhere for awhile, and said I'd try to do it for a show. The train is expensive (still not as much as flying though). I talked to Mom & Dad who thought a train ticket would make a lovely Christmas gift for me (thanks, parents!). So that was that!

It's been nice so far. I have a berth, which is like a couch-type seat that turns into a bunk bed. It's a 17 hour train ride. I stayed at my seat and edited pictures until my supper time which was 6:30. I had a great supper (chicken, potatoes, and veggies, and chocolate truffle cake for dessert!). The food on board is a bit pricey... but it was nice. To avoid my late-night munchies costing me an arm and a leg I walked to Sobeys before the train got to the station and bought some things for later. The only weird thing about this train (maybe because it's the older cars?) is that there is no internet and no power outlets by my bed! This is unfortunate since my only source of entertainment is my laptop, and I need to charge my phone. Luckily in the dome car there is a lounge area that has an outlet. So I've been sitting here since supper ended, editing concert pictures and writing this blog while charging everything. A little while ago a Mom & Daughter walked by, saw my Hanson shirt, and told me they're going to the show too! They are both big fans and it is their first concert!!!! The Mom (Pierrette) bought the daughter (Brigette) a fanclub membership as a surprise for Christmas, but then she won a M&G so she had to break the news haha. We had a nice chat and I filled them in a bit on what tomorrow's going to be like. They are both SO excited. There are going to be a lot of first-time concert people at this show, it makes me so happy! Now I am the veteran haha. This is one of the reasons I am so glad Hanson are coming to Montreal again :)

So the show tomorrow should be sick. I can't wait. I'll be in Montreal in 13 hours... Until then, I may edit some pics from the last show, watch a movie, or perhaps even get some sleep :) Vacation is still awesome.

Hanson in Northampton

2010-11-16T00:43:00.001-04:00

I feel like I may have just seen my best Hanson concert to date. It is 2:45am and I kind of just want to go to bed but this will all be a blur in the morning!

Northampton is a cute little town that we explored a little today. It was bizarre to go to the venue at 11am and see not a soul outside. Hooray for assigned seating! We spent an hour in Starbucks and then did some shopping. I found this awesome store called "Faces" where I got a matching mitten and toque set (and the toque has ear flaps!), purple tights, and a dressy pair of boots! FINALLY! I've been looking for 3 years :) I was soooo happy. We came back to the hotel to hang out for a bit and meet up with some friends who had arrived. 2pm or so Sarah & I went back to the venue as we were doing walk registration. The bus was there by then. Meetup time came and went and nobody came to get us. We got to talking to a man that works at the venue who was super nice. He went backstage and got their tour manager for us. We were told what to do, and I slipped Isaac's birthday card to him :) So then we sat outside in the cold for 2 hours cause we're that awesome! Fans began to gather and we got most of the walkers registered... The walk was shortly after 4. Unfortunately they started and ended the walk away from where we were, so we never saw Hanson at all. We didn't get to walk since we were doing registration. Once it was done more people came to register... in total there were 140 walkers! Sweet!

Once the walk was all wrapped up Sarah & I went to Friendly's for supper. Then it was only 6 and I was still cold so we went to Starbucks to warm up. Got back to the venue about 10min before doors. It was easy getting in... our seats were in 5th row center, pretty decent! As soon as we got our seats I went to get merch... t-shirt and sunglasses. There was only one opener, Jarrod Gorbel. I knew I was going to like him because I bought his album on iTunes the day it came out! It streamed on AP.net ahead of time and I really liked it. He was also pretty hilarious... called out a girl ahead of us for being on her phone for his entire set, haha. After Jarrod's set I got some snacks from the bar, and within no time Hanson were on!

I definitely feel different at a Hanson show now compared to my first couple. I'm "used" to it. I still LOVE it; it's just different. They were all very happy and sounded spot on (even though apparently a couple of them have colds). 5th row was nice and close. This show brought back a lot of memories from 5 of 5, especially since most songs from Shout it Out I heard for the first time there :) Isaac was especially dancy and silly tonight. Taylor was wearing the Hanson tshirt I almost bought. Zac had the Elvis lip curl going all night long. In fact... I sort of wondered if he may have something happening that's making the right side of his mouth droop. But perhaps I'm over-sensitive and it is just his "face" for when he's concentrating. I just noticed it a lot more than in April.

Setlist highlights... Madeline, Underneath acoustic, Give A Little... probably more. I'll get back to you on that haha. Everything was tight. I don't know how many songs they played but the show was actually 2 hours long! They went on right at 9:15 and when they were playing the last song it was 11:15. The encore was "It's a Long Way to the Top" with Stephen Kellogg and Goose. That was pretty fun.

After the show Sarah & I went out to the buses and waited for 90min at least... Isaac came out and signed for people briefly. I got my Shout it Out CD signed. Shortly after the bus left. Sad we waited all that time and never got to see Zac or Taylor but I will survive. It was really cold anyway. Now we're all warm and cozy in our hotel, leaving here in about 5 hours to drive 9.5 hours back to NB! Oh man. I'm gonna need an extra shot of somethin in my Starbucks tomorrow. I do love driving though and am actually looking forward to the trip. Plus, in a few days I'll be at another show :)

Photos

Day 1 of the Shout it Out Tour...

2010-11-15T00:45:00.000-04:00

Since I woke up this morning I entered a new country and travelled through 2 states. Pretty impressive hey? :) This morning I was a complete seminary/pastor nerd and went to 2 churches. I have been wanting to check out Crosspoint for quite some time so I got to go there this morning! It was great, similar to NMBC in several ways yet different in several others. I spoke briefly to Mark & Tim who I follow on Twitter. The message was powerful, and 3 people came to Christ! That always gets me so excited. I took off fairly quickly after that service as I only had 15min to make it to The Salvation Army for church 2! It is always nice to visit with old friends. It was Community Care Sunday and the guest speaker was great. So I guess with 2 services this morning I was doubly blessed? :)

After church I said my goodbye's and then Sarah & Kyle arrived, and we took off for the USA! We left Fredericton around 1pm and got to Northampton MA at 9:30pm. It was a great drive down, nice and sunny and no crazy traffic to report. I am starting to know this stretch of highway a little too well. I really enjoy travelling with Sarah & Kyle. We had some great conversations and listened to every single Hanson CD (the latest one twice!). Got some Starbucks, had Ruby Tuesday's in Portland for supper. I just love driving so much. The adventure of the Interstate Highway System down here is a thrill in and of itself. I'd love to explore more of them someday. We felt like it was really late in the night when we were driving but it wasn't really... it got dark at like 4:30pm! Anywho, great drive, lots of fun. I am addicted to this life.

We are now at our hotel in Northampton, all ready to go for the walk and show tomorrow. The hotel is decent... it's a Quality Inn. There's nothing awe-inspiring but it's clean and has free breakfast and free internet. And that's all you need really. We haven't checked out the venue yet or how close it is. We are hoping to walk there. I am so excited tomorrow's show is seated! No lining up or sore backs or anything. I am really excited for tomorrow's show... show #13... but I will say I am beginning to feel seasoned at this :) Like I am still excited but I am actually going to sleep tonight. That usually doesn't happen the night before a show. haha. Anyway. My buddies are already in bed so I'm gonna join them! Hanson tomorrow :)

Mercy Me and Phil Wickham in Fredericton

2010-11-14T00:20:00.001-04:00

Well, this November vacation is off to an absolutely fantastic start! I left Wolfville lunchtime on Friday and got to Fredericton by suppertime. I am staying at the Schriver's home. They are an AMAZING family with huge hearts and an amazing gift of hospitality :) I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for all the food, conversation, the use of Daniel's room (thanks Daniel!) and everything else. When I arrived we had a big chicken dinner! YUM!!! After supper I went into the city to meet up with a dear friend who I haven't seen in a couple of years. It was awesome to reconnect and chat over a Starbucks chai latte :)

This morning I was so relaxed it was like I was drugged. Mary & I stayed up until 1am last night watching What Not to Wear so I slept until 9 when Joshua came and woke me up :) I got a shower and then we went to the Sour Grape for a coffee and lunch. It is a cute little cafe place in Oromocto that has great espresso drinks and is reasonably priced. They also have tons of baked goods and sandwiches for cheap! As a side-note I should say that I only learned today that espresso has no X in it. haha. Anyway, after coffee I came home and had a nap for almost 3 hours!!! Seriously it's like I am drugged. I am so relaxed and carefree. The schoolwork I have to do when I go home is so faint in my head I can truly relax and just rest, physically and mentally! I LOVE VACATION. Why can't I do this for a living??? Anyway after my nap we had a yummy supper and then Mary & I, along with the 2 boys, went into Fredericton for the Mercy Me concert!

The show was at Sunset Church and was sold out at over 1200 people. It felt way bigger than David Crowder but I think that's because of the different setup of the church. We got 2nd row on the right side. Phil Wickham opened the night. I didn't know anything about him except for a friend of mine likes him, and someone I follow on twitter tweeted about listening to his music. He was quite good! Only 26 years old (but married, darnit, haha) and had a great energy on stage. After his set was over we went out to buy some merch, and Mary & I got a pic with Phil. The line wasn't too long but when we got back to the sanctuary Mercy Me had already started!

Mercy Me were great. I honestly wasn't sure how much I would enjoy it... based on their CDs alone they're a little lighter than what I normally like at concerts. But they definitely kick things up a knotch in the live setting. They did several songs that I knew, including "Homesick" and "So Long Self". All the guys seemed really genuine. They took time to share stories and tell us the origins of songs. The lead guy just glowed with a deep-set joy. They pulled out a Tom Petty cover and ended the night with "Where the Streets have No Name" by U2! Of course the "last song" (before the encore) was "I Can Only Imagine" which got everyone to their feet. There was lots of crowd participation, from learning choruses so we could sing them, to singing some old church songs like Amazing Grace and I Love You Lord. The crowd was REALLY engaged. There was an old guy about halfway back that never sat down or took his arms down for the whole show! And he knew every word to every song. He had to be at least 85 years old, and the joy of the Lord was in him! I was overwhelmed/surprised at the volume of the crowd in the singing and the yelling/applause. There were 1200 people there but it felt more like 2000. Just an awesome place to meet with God with an awesome Band leading the way. One more note about Mercy Me... they are quite the snappy dressers :) OH! And the drumset GLOWED IN THE DARK!!!!!!

So yup, I definitely don't regret coming to this show. It was awesome. We came home and I had quite a substantive snack... concerts make me so hungry. I am still pretty tired despite my nap today. Starting tomorrow vacation kicks into high gear... I am going to not one but two churches tomorrow morning. Then I meet up with Sarah & Kyle and drive to Northampton! 1 concert down, 2 to go :) Loving life. I am so blessed.

Photos

Last weekend.

2010-11-11T17:08:00.000-04:00

So I figured I should blog about last weekend before this weekend gets here, cause they're both big ones! Last weekend I got to travel to Fredericton with my friend Dion and his family. He played a concert at The Salvation Army for their 125th Anniversary weekend. First of all, I love playing drums. Looooove. Secondly, Dion is a good guy and I like helping him out when I can. Thirdly, I was Youth Pastor at this church for 2 years. I thought it would be fun to surprise all the youth! So I only told the bare minimum people who needed to know: Bill, cause I used the church drums (thanks Bill!); Capt. Jennifer since she was organizing everything (thank you for the Starbucks gift card!); and Mary because she billeted me (THANKS for another great stay at the Schriver B&B!). It was really fun when all the kids came in and got all excited to see me :) I got lots of hugs. I truly love visitng Fredericton. I'm excited I am going there again tomorrow! :)

A picture of Dion's 3-year old next to me on the car ride there :)

Me with my old Youth Group!

We were only there one night. 9 hours driving is a lot for only one night but it was worth it. When I got back to Halifax I went to a house concert that my friends The Keats were playing. It was a lot of fun but I was pretty tired from my trip. Of course I got home late, got up early to play drums and do church things all day (see last post). So it was a crazzzy weekend. I paid for it by sleeping all of Monday away. I hate that I am so good at sleeping in.

This week has gone rather quickly. Today is usually my busiest day at school but wouldn't you know it, it's Remembrance Day. Tonight I have to pack cause I am leaving tomorrow! Going to Fredericton for the weekend to see Mercy Me in concert and attend church on Sunday. Then it's off to Northampton with Sarah & Kyle to see Hanson on Monday night. Then I go back to Moncton to catch a train to Montreal, to see Hanson there! Won't be home until next Saturday. Can't freakin WAIT!!

PS - if you want to follow my adventures over the next week, please follow this blog. I'll be writing every night!

Ministry-filled Sunday

2010-11-09T17:11:00.000-04:00

Okay I seriously have 3 or 4 blogs sitting in my head that need to get out. Because I fail at blogging, they are not coming to you in chronological order as the events happened. Deal.

This past Sunday I was super busy at my church! I played drums in the morning. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I seriously love playing drums in worship. My absolute favorite thing. In this service I also did the announcements and the prayer for the children's ministries. I'm pretty comfortable with that sort of thing so I wasn't too nervous. Also I am genuinely excited to be at church so I didn't have to fake it! We took some time at the start of the service for Remembrance Day festivities... a moment of silence, O Canada, and a prayer. I always get emotional during this. I am very thankful for the freedom I have, and my heart aches for those who have lost loved ones due to war.

My absolute favorite part of Sunday was getting to help serve communion for the first time. I really wanted this to happen this year as I've never done it beofre, and I figure it's something I should have practice in before I graduate. I was paired up with Anne since Sterling is out recovering from surgery. It's pretty simple really... I held the bread and Anne held the juice, and as people came up Anne said "you belong to Jesus". After a couple of people she elbowed me in the side which I took as a cue to take over the talking part. It was such a moving experience, I was holding back tears most of the time and had a huge stupid grin on my face. Also I really appreciate name tags because I got to address most people by their first name as they came. ANYWAY... it was awesome. Loved it. Can't wait to do it again!

Sunday night we had an evening service and I preached at it. I wanted to link in Remembrance Day somehow, but war is such a touchy subject that I wasn't sure how to approach it. I decided to focus mainly on WW2 and the Holocaust, and the sacrifice of the soldiers to rescue those who were held captive. Then link that to Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, and how we are called to be living sacrifices in our Christian life. I think it went pretty well. I am always a little unsure with preaching since I don't think it's my strongest point in ministry, and I had a crazy busy weekend before this so my planning time was not ideal. But after chatting with some people and meeting with Pastor Bob today, I think it went fairly well. At least I will always know this - I can never do preaching on my own. It forces me to rely on God's strength!

The service was nice - it was fun to sing some older hymns (that I got to help pick). Alyssa & Rachel sang as well which was amazingly awesome. And the song (How Deep the Father's Love for Us) fit in so well. I just really liked it. Afterwards I went to DQ with Alyssa and that was that. Very busy Sunday but very fulfilling.

October blog stats.. neat!

2010-11-01T16:04:00.000-03:00

So I never even knew I could do this before, but apparently on blogger you can see your blog stats for the day, week, month, or all time. A blog I recently started following asked the question of what were your most popular blog posts for October 2010... so I checked! :) And the winners are...

1) Jaw Surgery Recovery Pictures (253 views last month!)
I have gotten so many comments and so many e-mails on this post. I was a little hesitant to put pictures of my blown-up face on the internet, but I know that right after my own surgery I began searching the internet to find people that had been through what I was going through, to look for answers or encouragement. And this post has been that to lots of people. I am always so glad to be able to help those going through such a scary procedure!

2) Music Makes Everything Better (54 views last month)
Cause well, it does :) It's funny to look at this now... it was posted almost a year ago, and some of my new music finds then are now well-known favorites.

3) Water - Blog Action Day 2010 (39 views last month)
I'm glad a post I thought a lot about and put effort into writing got a nice number of views :)

What about you? If your blogging site gives you the ability to see your blog stats, what posts did people read the most in October 2010?

Sources of Teaching and Wisdom

2010-10-29T16:54:00.000-03:00

It seems like ever since my Baptist History & Polity class, God has been whacking me over the head saying "get this women in ministry issue sorted out in your head!" I am still searching and learning but have engaged with it much more in the last 2 weeks than I have in the rest of my life combined (hooray Salvation Army background!). I've had several discussions with people about it, most recently over some blogs I have chosen to unfollow in Google Reader. Actually, it was only 2... there were two in particular that whenever they talked about leaders or pastors, they kept saying "men" or "he" or whatever and it was starting to aggravate me. I still follow people who might hold hierarchichal views, but they at least don't focus on it (ever), and I don't get an overwhelming sense when I read what they write that I am wrong in being a woman Pastor. But with these two blogs in particular, they did make me feel this way, so I unfollowed them.

As I lay in bed last night, flustered by all of this and reading Proverbs, I realized something. I need to make sure that, whoever it is I am following in Google Reader, I don't use any blog or person as my first source of wisdom. That spot needs to be held by the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Anything else I read is secondary.

And that's all I really have to say about that :) I just found out I have to go to Halifax in 90 minutes... trying to find somewhere to sleep tonight so I don't have to come back, only to go back again tomorrow! LOL at my life.

Busiest week of life.

2010-10-25T14:51:00.001-03:00

Well, last night I got 15 hours of sleep. It's 2pm and I am still in my PJ's and I'm not even sad about it. I needed sleep!!! This past week I was in a one-week intensive course for Baptist History and Polity. As cruel as that sounds, it wasn't actually that bad! The history components were balanced with discussions around issues and polities in the Baptist Church. It was great for me as someone who isn't really familiar. Every time the women in ministry issue comes up I get squeamish. Because it wasn't an issue growing up in the Salvation Army I've never taken the time to look into it much. And it scares me when there are Bible believing Christians that assert that women shouldn't be in ordained ministry. I chose to do my issue paper on that topic and found out some neat things. Below is a little excerpt from the paper I handed in...

Where the Bible appears to contradict itself is usually a problem in interpretation or translation. Looking at the Greek in 1 Timothy 2:12, the words ουκ επιτρεπω could either mean “I do not permit as a principle” or “I am not now permitting.”1 The overarching teaching of 1 Timothy, as a letter from one pastor (Paul) to another (Timothy), is how to deal with the false teaching that was destroying the church in Ephesus. These false teachers were targeting the females in the church, and some of them were buying into it and becoming confused by it. Obviously, in this specific situation, it would be best for the women to be silent. It seems that since this is the only verse in the Bible that prohibits women from teaching, Paul is referring to this specific problem in Ephesus, and not condemning women from teaching for all time. This seems especially probable in light of other Pauline teaching, other Biblical teaching, and the numerous examples of women prophets and teachers throughout the Bible.

Today I have to write a reflection paper on a Baptist polity. I'm going to do the ordinances, since this is also something I am not familiar with from my S.A. background. In addition to having class 9-4 every day last week, Mon-Wed nights I also attended the Hayward Lecture series with Dr. Edith Humphrey (I went to video record with Danny). The theme of the lectures was Church Tradition and the Bible. It was very interesting. What interested me even more is that Dr. Humphrey also comes from a Salvation Army background. I believe she was at one point an Officer maybe... she is now Eastern Orthodox. I gathered one of the reasons was the ordinances... the fact that the Army doesn't do communion and baptism. I found that interesting as it is something I keep asking myself. She also briefly mentioned something about the ideas of holiness in the Army that she does not fully agree with. This is something I know basically nothing about. My friend David mentioned it to me after coming home from the world youth conference in Europe. It was talked about there and he has been thinking through it. Anyway... I don't know anything about it so I am not going to comment on it. This past week has definitely kept my mind busy as well as my body!

So after the intense week at school I went straight to church for Challenge! It is an annual youth conference that brings over 450 teens and their leaders to NMBC. Mike Miller from the Rock Church was our speaker, he really connected with the students (and leaders!) and brought God's Word in an epic sort of way. Tim Milner led worship and was great as well. There is something electric about that many youth worshipping together in one room. Mark Pearce also tried running environmental projecton for the first time... it's a thing where you can create the illusion of tons of lights, but instead of actually using lots of lights you're only using 3 projectors running video loops. It created a very cool effect.

Anyway, the highlight of the whole weekend was definitely Friday evening's service. Mike got down to business with The Question, "Who do you say that I am?" He ended his message by comparing our need to be rescued by Jesus with the need of the Chilean miners to be rescued by "The Phoenix", the capsule that went several thousand feet below the earth to get them out. Did you know the space from the miners to the surface was the same as two Empire State Buildings??? I stood outside the Empire State in April and marvelled at his height... it put the depth of their strandedness into perspective for me. It didn't matter if a miner was 5'5 or 6'1, they were all still just as in need of a rescuer. It was a great metaphor for our need of Christs's rescue. As Mike prayed and asked for students to come forward, I wondered if any of "my" kids would go... and some did!! :D It was a very emotional moment. I had the honor of praying with a couple of them... how amazing!!!!! My heart is still so excited. Hooray!!!

After the session we had ice cream (mmmmm) then there was a talent show. Then I got to stay up until 2 editing video clips for a highlight video. ha. I slept in the multi purpose room with about 80 other people I guess. You know how hard it is to sleep, and stay asleep, in a room with that many people?? Thankfully one of the girls brought me an air mattress!!! Saved my life. I got about 3.5 hours sleep... at like 6 a couple girls got up for the bathroom which woke me up. Why did I choose to sleep right by the door? Just before 7 the lights went on full blast and dance music started.... ugggghhhhh. I hate mornings anyway, but on 3.5 hours sleep people are lucky I didn't start throwing sharp objects!!!! My saving grace was one of our leaders who went and bought me Tim Hortons :) Glorious.

All morning I did 3 sessions on self-injury with the Youth Pastor's wife. We had 75 kids in total come to our workshop (they had a bunch to pick from). It was definitely stretching to share so personally with a bunch of students (some of which who were complete strangers). But it was good to open up the discussion for kids who are either struggling themselves or have friends that are. I ended up chatting with a couple of students who had personal concerns, and was approached by a youth leader to go and speak with their team of leaders about the issue. God's definitely going to use my story to reach others, and that is cool.

After another high-energy session with the band and speaker, and some quick pizza, I was out of Challenge :( I took off to the city for a bridal shower for my friend! It was a nice mix of traditional fun and games with live music! Which reminds me, excuse me while I go buy Chelsea Nisbett's CD! I had never heard her sing before and man, her voice is awesome! After the shower we hung out a bit and then I came back to the Valley, tired as heck! I managed a whopping 6 hours of slepe before church. It was Challenge Sunday which meant another dose of Tim Milner and Mike Miller! Then I led Bible Study with 13 grade 7 students. Then I had to race home, eat lunch, and go to 3 hours of RA Training!!! We talked about Eating Disorders, and then some general RA house cleaning items. After that we had our RA Team Meeting, I waited around until it was late enough for supper, ate, and went to bed! Was asleep by 10pm, it was magical. And I didn't get out of bed until 1pm. Seriously busiest week I've had in a long time. Lots of good times in there, but glad I am back to some sort of normalcy now!!!

Second last semester.

2010-10-18T16:46:00.000-03:00

Every now and then it hits me that I am in my second last semester of my Masters. In May I will be convocating, and (hopefully) getting my own place again, becoming a full-time Youth Pastor again (yesssss) and living the next stage of life! I have absolutely loved this stage. ADC has been so good to me. The classes have expanded my mind and soul far beyond what I could comprehend before coming here. I have met some amazing people, been inspired by truly gifted professors, and have become a part of a church that I love. The opportunities to learn and experience at NMBC have truly been a blessing. I am going to miss everyone, and the life I have here in the Valley. But, as the saying goes, people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. While I know many of the friendships I have made here will be kept for a lifetime, my exact positioning right now is for a season I believe; my season of learning and growing as a Christian leader. It has been so blessed.

I did not start this blog intending to write that :) On Thanksgiving weekend I went to see David Crowder in concert and it was awesome. I blogged about that over here at my other blog. Life has been very busy with school, church, my position as an RA, and doing wedding/friend things in Halifax. Today I just started a one-week intensive course which will definitely drain me. This weekend is Challenge. I am seriously looking forward to my week vacation next month. I feel like a trip to Fredericton, and to 2 Hanson shows is something I will definitely welcome after a couple more weeks of busyness. I'm excited!

Water - Blog Action Day 2010

2010-10-15T22:18:00.000-03:00

I honestly haven't really thought much about bottled water before. In Newfoundland from time to time there were boil orders because of poor water quality, and my parents began a healthier lifestyle when I was a teen - substituting snacks of pepsi and chips for an apple and water. My parents drink 8 glasses of water a day religiously, and it has really improved their health. Because tap water might sometimes be possibly fishy, we usually bought water at Dominion - 500ml bottles to take places and big 4L ones for in the fridge. I never gave it a second thought.

I started to rethink water a little after coming to school at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. This place might be pegged as a "hippy town" - they have a very complex mandatory recycling/composting program, they boast local, fairtrade, and organic things, and many places have taken a stand on water. Acadia has an "I <3 Tap Water" campaign that I have seen around once a year. They are trying to ban bottled water from campus. My initial thought 2 years ago? That's stupid. People can get their water where they want, and sometimes new local water does stuff to people. Just let us make our decisions. If we want to pay, we can.But I am starting to think differently. Various reasons why, but most recently I caught the trailer for the movie "Tapped". I was so intrigued that I immediately went to Amazon and bought it.

Basically, this is what I am learning...

water is a basic human right, and should be free for all. If we start telling the business people "yeah, we'll pay for water" then maybe in the future it won't be mandatory to provide water for free to everyone. Think about it. Why for free if we're willing to pay?

bottled water costs MORE than gas for your car, even though you can get it right out of your tap for free!

Hundreds of people check the quality of tap water around the clock. One person at FDA is sort of half-responsible for checking bottled water some of the time. They mainly rely on tests the companies do themselves. Yeah. That's smart.

Chemicals leech from the plastic bottles into the water, which means we are drinking carconogens and other crazy things.

Bottled water is tap water. Nestle, Coke (Dasani), and Pepsi (Aquafina) all get their water from towns in North America. Some of these places are on water ban for "low levels" while the companies continue to pump their water away from them, then sell it back.

Let's talk sustainability. It takes 1/4 bottle of oil to make 1 bottle of water. Plastic production, processes, transport.... we are killing the earth to get shipped to us what is in our tap, and then we pay for it.

Hear about the plastic continents in the ocean? What's that doing to our "healthy seafood" eating? What are our cod, salmon, and haddock eating before we eat them?

Here's what I think. I think we need to stop buying bottled water. I think we need to buy a reusable bottle and go to the tap, or buy a Brita filter if we so desire.

I think we need to take all the money we would have spent on bottled water and give it to causes such as this one, to give water to people in the world who are dying because they have none.

I think money that the "powers that be" are using to transport and stock bottled water should use that money to upgrade public water systems in North America that are in desperate need of repair and upgrades, so that we can have safe, clean water for generations to come.

And, this is why I now care about water! Think about the message you are giving when you are willing to pay $1.50 for something you can get for free from your own tap.

David Crowder Band in Halifax

2010-10-11T18:18:00.000-03:00

I gotta say, the Maritimes have been stepping up their game lately for getting good Christian bands to come to the area. Last night over 1200 people got their faces rocked off by the David Crowder Band. The concert was at the Rock Church, just outside of Halifax NS. I drove in with a few friends and arrived at the church around 5pm I think. Doors weren't scheduled to open for another 90min and there was already a good 30-40 people there! And it was not warm outside. I decided I valued warmth and food over front so a few of us went to A&W! I love me some onion rings and root beer. We got back around 6 and the line was much longer, 150 people at least! So we parked the car and got in line. The doors opened just after 6:30, hooray for heat! Jon is awesome and had some spaces saved in the 5th and 6th rows so I snagged one of those :) I normally am one to run up to the front in the thick of it all, but my energy level was quite low so I was content to remain in my seat. So many people came from my church... probably 40 at least. It was fun to sit with some of the women from church :) And with Jon - we kept showing each other the pics we were taking!

The show opened with The Contact, a band from Halifax that I have heard a lot about but I don't think I've ever seen live before. They were good, sounded tight. I didn't know most of what they sang but I appreciated that they ended their set with "Hungry", a worship song we could all sing along with. I am really glad I had my ear plugs in my purse - I think this show was probably even louder than Starfield was. I'm not a fan of ringing ears - I go to so many concerts, and music is so important to me, I gotta keep my hearing! Also it sounds better with ear plugs in. So partway through The Contact's set I decided I was getting them out, much to the jealousy of some seated around me :)

The Contact's set wasn't too dragged out, and before we knew it the lights were down and everyone was screaming for the band of the night. Their show was really great... entertaining, fun, worship-filled, and just all around enjoyable. I knew more songs than I thought I was going to... apparently some songs done by other bands I know are actually David Crowder songs (like this one). Crowder has a little more electronic/keyboardy sounds than I normally like in my music, but it was all so fun that it didn't really matter, especially in the live environment. Hands down my favorite part of the night was "I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away"! I played this song with a Band I was in a few years ago, and it was fun to hear the original CD version live! It was big ol party.

So yeah. Great show. Would definitely recommend you check both these bands out if you ever get the chance. I didn't hang around much after it was over. A quick stop at Tim Hortons and it was back to the Valley. Next show coming up is Mercy Me in Fredericton on November 13 :)

Photos

My trip home

2010-10-09T00:45:00.000-03:00

So I went against the grain and went home to Newfoundland the weekend before Thanksgiving. I only ever have class on Wednesday and Thursday anyway (I know, my life rocks), my friend got married last weekend at home, and David Crowder is playing Halifax this weekend. So really it just made sense to do it this way. I went home on Thursday night. On Friday I went to the mall with Nan and enjoyed supper with my family and grandparents :) Later that night I watched "Tapped" with Mom & Dad, though they never saw most of it because they kept falling asleep.

Saturday was the big wedding day! I've known Jessica for almost my whole life, and I have never seen her this happy, or this beautiful, in all my life! She was glowing. And you could seriously tell how completely in love her and Tom are. It was awesome, such a fantastic wedding. After the ceremony I went to Jon's and Seritha's house to hang out with Milley :) I love that cat! Then we went to the Comfort Inn for the reception. It was a nice length, I sat with some old friends from the Temple, and it was just an all-around good time. I didn't stay for the dance, just wasn't feelin it. But I hear it was a lot of fun :) Congrats Jessica & Tom!

On Sunday I went to church at what used to be my home church. I was super happy to see Jill and Hugo there! :) I haven't seen them in quite awhile. I sat with them during the service, Jill sang a solo (woo!) and, of course, I got roped into playing drums with the Band on the closing song. It was kinda nostalgic being back there for sure. After church a bunch of people came over to the house for spaghetti. A Gamecube party was supposed to follow but everyone just wanted to talk instead! Jon & I got some Mario Tennis in anyway :) Sunday night I hung out with Britt! Also so good to see her again. She understands my obsession with concerts more than any of my other friends :)

I spent Monday afternoon with Jill! She came and got me to go to Starbucks and then out to see her brand new house in Paradise! It is BEAUTIFUL! Such a wonderful starter home for her and Hugo :) It was really great to reconnect, I feel like it's been years since we've chatted, though I guess it's only been 2. I had supper over at my Nan's hosue with my parents, aunt and uncle. Tuesday morning I went to Chapters/Starbucks with Jon & Dad. A coffee date with my bro was so fun!!! I miss my little brother. Then we went to the music store and we picked out one of my Christmas gifts... drum cases! So exciting. ha. Around lunchtime Nan picked me up and we had Cora's for lunch. My Nan is 81 years old and awesome. We have the best chats and we get along so well. I miss her when I am up here. That night Jonny came over for supper since Seritha is out around the bay teaching all week. After supper we went to see "The Social Network". It was a great movie. Although there are some moral concerns in there particularly for Christians (but can you ever get away from that these days?), it was really interesting to see how Facebook got started. Jon & I both really enjoyed it, more than we thought we would. Even though it's a "drama" there's definitely comedy thrown in. And Justin Timberlake did a surprisingly good job acting as the guy who created Napster. It was SO FUN going to a movie with Jonny - seriously we haven't done that together in like 10 years! I also had my first movie theatre popcorn since my braces came off :D What a PERFECT way to end my visit home!

I came back here Wednesday and hit the ground running. Hung out with Sharlene that morning in Halifax, came back to the Valley for class and youth group. So I'm back into the normal routine now. I'm on duty tonight but like 70% of residents aren't here because of Thanksgiving. So it's pretty chill. Last weekend my friend Jolene got engaged!!!!! :) :) So tomorrow I'm going dress shopping with a few of the girls! Should be a great time. Hope everyone has a super Thanksgiving!

So long September

2010-09-29T12:31:00.003-03:00

I haven't written in a long time. Life has been very busy but good. The biggest news it that my braces are off!!! My teeth felt so big and exposed at first but I am used to it now. I have retainers that I wear 24/7 but I like that they come out to be cleaned, and to eat. They were really stinky pretty fast but polident works wonders. I had a tiny bit of a lisp at first because of the plastic in the roof of my mouth but I have adjusted quite fine now. It's hard to believe it's the same mouth I had 3 years ago... the difference is insane! My favorite part is eating. I have had gum, peach slices, corn on the cob, and an apple! So good.

I'm a leader at Solid Rock Youth now and it is awesome. I do the grade 8 small group. I also do the grade 7 Bible Study on Sunday mornings which is a lot of fun. I really love my church and I am so glad I get to do my SFE there this year. School is going well... it's really strange being in class as infrequently as I am. I'm not sure I've settled into a routine yet, and it's almost October.

Other news... I love to travel, obviously. Tomorrow I am going home to Newfoundland for 5 days, I can't wait!! Jessica is getting married on Saturday (craaaazy!) and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends :) The other big trip is coming in November. I am going to Fredericton for a weekend to see Mercy Me in concert. Then I am driving to Northampton to see Hanson (from 5th row center, mind you). THEN I am taking the VIA Train from Moncton to Montreal to see Hanson again!! I have never been on a VIA before and I am sooooo excited about it, probably just as much as the concert itself! Plus I have never been to Montreal. I have a new friend on hanson.net who lives there and is going to house me for the one night I'm there, and show me around the city :) I am so grateful. I don't speak French, and it's no fun to do these things alone. So it's going to be a great fall! I also just got the itinerary in the mail for my friend's Mexico wedding next March :D Eeeeee!!!

This afternoon our SFE class is going to Bennett's Bay for a spiritual retreat. It's going to be nice to get away from things for a couple of hours. I'll enjoy the calm while I can... tonight is SRY, then double class tomorrow, a potluck luncheon, packing in there somewhere, then it's off to the airport!

9 years since 9/11

2010-09-11T00:54:00.002-03:00

Well, it's Sept. 11th, 12:30am, and I am on duty in Chipman/Rojo. I'm in between duty rounds now so I am sipping some tea and watching TV in our lounge with cable :) Looking for something to watch, I came across a 9/11 special on the History Channel. I cannot believe it's been 9 years since that happened. Every year it comes back, and I reflect on what it was like for me. I was in grade 12 when it happened, 16 years old, in Newfoundland. Most of my memories are of helping the plane people that came to our church, and doing SYATP at our school a little while after.

I think that since I went to NYC this year, I am feeling a little different about it then before. In April I actually walked right by ground zero. I saw the big holes in the ground of where the twin towers stood. I saw the dust on the sides of the road (and I wondered, is some of that still left from that day?) I went to the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, and saw the uniforms of firefighters and police officers from that day. I saw a mockup of what the Memorial Site will look like, and a photo timetable of events. I recorded my experience of 9/11 in a booth that may be used in the memorial site. I drank coffee at a Starbucks that was within eyeshot of ground zero. So that exact Starbucks was covered in rubble 9 years ago. I was on the subway in Manhattan. I walked the bridges they used to evacuate. I saw it all. I met New Yorkers, who told me how to walk to ground zero with a definite sadness in their voice. I was there. I saw it. I experienced it.

My friends and I felt pretty low after leaving that area. Walking into the preview site felt somewhat like walking into a wake. Everyone was very solemn, very silent. It was pretty sad to be there (some of my friends wondered if we even should have went because we felt so crummy afterwards) but I am glad we did. It was something I had to do. Touring NYC today I bet is very different than before that date. When you go to the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty, all of the signs and photos explaining the Manhattan skyline still have the Twin Towers showing (they kept it there in honor of what was). It is so bizarre to look at the pictures and see them, and then look up, and there's nothing there.

Anyway, I'm only half writing this because after commercials I keep watching the TV. One other thing though... it must be so hard for Muslim people to deal with the ramifications of 9/11. If anyone had done this in the name of Christianity I would be LIVID. I cannot even imagine how much harder life has gotten for these people due to this terrorism. It is hard times.

Today is 9 years since 9/11.... remember.

It's September.

2010-09-03T23:25:00.000-03:00

All of a sudden I just had a wave of sadness that Summer 2010 is over. It was an AMAZING summer!!! Working at NMBC was just fantastic. I learned so much from Jon and it was so fun to work with and get to know Alicia & Kristen, and the other Pastors on staff. The kids were awesome; it felt so right to be leading a Youth Group every week again!! Oasis and VBC was a ball. And non-work things... getting to know my summer roomie Joyce-Ann, spending some time with Rebekah, Cavendish Music Festival, my parents visiting, Halifax trips/fun times with Jo & Shar, Starfield concert, vacation away with Jolene and the Rob's, concerts galore... all of it, just fantastic!!! Man. I can hardly believe I was so lucky to have such a fantastic summer. Below, check out just one memory... Vacation Bible Camp at NMBC :)

RA Training has come and gone. It was good. Lots of great sessions and time to get to know each other. I feel a lot more comfortable with everything now that I am a returner. The Chipman/Rojo RA team is fantastic this year. And the House Councils are great as well, and the New Student Orientation Leaders. We are all working together, planning together, and it's going to be great!!! I have really good vibes for all that is to come.

I missed a couple of RA events to welcome David to the Valley! :) He is my longtime friend from Newfoundland, so I went to get him at the airport and have been helping him get settled when I've had time. It is going to be great to have him here this year, and Rebekah as well. I am blessed with some incredible friends that I have had for a pretty extensive time.

I am just about ready to welcome new students, I think... door tags up, bulletin boards created, the first few house/floor events planned. A few have arrived already... international student orientation began on Thursday. I have a girl on my floor from Maine, and one from Germany! The big "DDay" has been delayed until Sunday because of Hurricane Earl... which I am pretty sure will just be a tropical storm by the time it gets here. But that would still suck for moving people in, so the University I believe was smart in delaying arrival day. So now we have tomorrow somewhat free instead of having complete chaos. Delaying the inevitable... hahaha. I am taking the opportunity to sleep in again and do any last-minute preparations. In the meantime we have some low-key events planned for those that are here, especially since we may be housebound if it gets bad enough out there. Only time will tell...

Well, here's to Fall 2010. My second last semester of my Masters! WOW! Also, my braces come off in 12 days! :D

Life update

2010-08-29T00:38:00.000-03:00

I probably should be going to sleep right now instead of writing a blog. I may or may not finish this tonight.... ah well. I have a lot of life updates!

Yesterday I finished my summer job at New Minas Baptist Church. What a fantastic summer I've had! This past week we ran DIVE Vacation Bible Camp for 200 children! Myself, Jason and Alyssa ran the Morphoo part for grades 5 & 6. Besides bible study and games, we made a music video to the song "Dive" by Steven Curtis Chapman. Working on this with the kids (and editing it later) definitely ranks as one of the favorite projects I did this summer. I really enjoy creating video :) And the kids were so excited about it all and loved the final product. Woohoo! The damper on my week was that my body didn't like the idea of me working 2 weeks straight with no break, so on Monday while at VBC I got hit with a bad head cold :( So my days consisted of VBC and sleeping, and taking lots of drugs. Cold FX, drixoral, and tylenol have been my only friends. But I'm happy to say now that I am almost on the mend... you know those annoying times when you're almost over a cold but your nose just won't stop being gross? That's where I'm at right now. Still poppin back the cold fx hoping to make it go away.

Today I moved! Only 1.6km down the road. I was subletting my friends room this summer and now I am back in Residence at Acadia. This year I am an RA on the same floor I lived on my first year here, in Rojo!!! I loooooove this building. It is newish, has air conditioning, and double beds! My room still feels brand new even though it's 7 years old. It is cool, clean, fresh, and just wonderful. I forgot how much I liked living here :) I am sooo content looking around my room now, even though I'm only like 1/3rd unpacked and moved in. I did it in a hurry today... I barely had enough time before I was off to Halifax. I still have not gotten my stuff from storage... I'll ask my ARD about maybe doing that tomorrow once training is done for the day. Yes, that's right... I had one day off between summer job and fall job, and I spent it moving! ha.

Tonight I went to Halifax to see Kim Walker... it wasn't a concert, but a service during a Youth weekend called Invasion 2010. It was much more free and "pentecostal" than I am used to, but since I've been to all types of Christian things growing up, and I'm now in seminary, I enjoy experiencing all different styles of worship. And I really work hard to keep focussing on God and what He's saying to me instead of what's going on around me. Kim was great at leading. I knew a couple of the songs she did. One thing God kind of hit me over the head with during worship... I'm single, and it's okay, because God wants me to be single right now. And I just found so much peace in that. The last little while I've been kind of antsy about finding "the one". But there's a reason I haven't yet. There's a purpose for my current singleness. And I need to be happy with where God has me now, and not be whining and worrying about the future. So, I'm 25 and single, and I'm okay with it now!

What else... since it was a service, there was a speaker. His name is T.L. Sadler. I need to find out more information on him, but man, what a preacher. He was longish but I did not care, I would sit and listen to him speak all night long. He was funny, down to earth, relevant, and theologically sound. All the things I like! :) I wish I had an opportunity to speak with him, but the after-service part was going on for EVER and we really had to get going. I wanted to ask him why all his Scripture was coming from KJV.... I wonder if that's his thing or the church's. For a Pastor that knows Greek and Hebrew, it would surprise me if he was also King James only. But I guess you never know. I haven't heard KJV in a very long time. I couldn't help but open up the Bible on my blackberry and follow along in NASB just to check on translation discrepancies :) hahaha. Seminary has ruined me!!!!

After the service we all went to the Keats' parents house. They have a fancy bonfire/table thing on their deck, it is so nice! We all sat around, had a drink and chatted. The guitars came out for a bit and we got a private Keats show! I really like hanging out with that family. I sort of feel like I am adopted into it and I like it. They're such a laugh, such great people. Although it may have been "wiser" to stay in Wolfville tonight and unpack/rest, mentally this little trip to Halifax was really good for me.

So that's life right now. RA training starts tomorrow, frosh week starts Saturday! Welcome to my final year of my MDiv!

fangirling for just a second

2010-08-27T11:10:00.002-03:00

I follow a couple of concert photography blogs, because I love taking pictures at shows myself, and I find I can learn a lot by looking at what the pros do. One guy, Todd Owyoung, is especially talented, and he is awesome enough to share what settings and lenses he used at each show. I really love his blog. Of course, I especially love it when he photographs my favorite band :) Below is a slideshow from Hanson on the Shout it Out Tour. He has photographed them a bunch of times, but he said this tour is by far the most energetic he's seen them... which makes me happy that I will now be attending this tour on November 15th from 5th row center! :) Great pics, check them out below.

"

Oasis Kids... and gettin a mole out!

2010-08-21T19:36:00.000-03:00

Well I am right in the middle of the 2 craziest weeks of my summer. I knew they would be but it doesn't make me any less tired :) Figured I'd pop a blog on here now since I probably won't get to again until next weekend!

Monday afternoon I went to a dermatologist in Halifax to get a mole removed from my foot. They were a little concerned about it, and I hate the look of the thing, so I was happy to get it done. The needle going in hurt but after that I didn't feel a thing. And I didn't look cause I'm a wuss. It's healing well now... it was a mess for a couple days, and hurt, but now I forget it's there most of the time. It's in such a weird place it's going to take like 3 weeks to heal. And then in 5 more weeks I go back and get 2 other ones removed. ha. Thank you, Rowsell family, the the mole inheritance :P So after this tragic occurrence I completely crashed my friends' date and went to the movies with them to see Dinner for Schmucks... it was a little on the vulgar side but still pretty funny. Steve Carrell is in it. No need to say more.

Tuesday I went to the orthodontist and got fitted for my RETAINERS!!! My braces come off September 15th and I can't wait! Especially since I freaked a baby out at Oasis by my braces, hahaha.

Speaking of Oasis... we just got back! Pastor Jon is in charge of the Kids program so a bunch of us from NMBC went to lead the thing in Sackville NB. It started Wednesday supper time and went till Saturday lunch time. It consisted of games, crafts, music, bible study, movies, a beach trip, the park, a photo scavenger hunt... and more. Our days started with kids arriving at 8am and the kids didn't leave until 9pm or later. They went with their parents for meals so we'd get about 90min to breathe there. So basically... it's tiring! The kids had fun though and all of our leaders did a great job. It is tough to keep going strong for that long but I think we pulled it off. I took some pictures but my memory card is fouled up and won't read off the camera :( So I'll find a solution and then post some pics.

Even though I got 7-8 hours sleep each night we were at Oasis I am still WIPED. It's 7:30 and I am ready for bed. I think I am going there now... Church tomorrow, then VBC set-up, and VBC starts Monday morning! Ahhhhhhh!

Dead Sea Scrolls & Pineapple Chicken

2010-08-14T22:01:00.003-03:00

Man, I'm trying to get my final paper finished up for my Dead Sea Scrolls course, and it has been just a little bit frustrating. Exegesis papers are pretty easy when it's just Bible stuff... cause you know, I read the Bible. I've never read a Dead Sea Scroll. Our paper is to compare a DSS passage with a NT passage. So, based on our textbook I chose Romans 9:19-21 and 1QS 11:12-24a (Rule of the Community). Problem... when I was in the library getting a translation of this scroll, it wasn't saying the same thing. Peculiar. I remember while reading the textbook I saw a couple spelling/grammar errors (it only came out this year) so I was like maybe something is wrong... so I e-mailed Dr. Evans, and wouldn't you know it, the quote isn't from the Rule of the Community at all, but the Hymn Scroll!

So then yesterday I went back to the library and looked for things on the Hymn Scroll. It was harder to find. I found one, but again, it doesn't match up. I asked Dr. Evans again and apparently the book I picked up is no longer legit... the guys source was messed (the numbers and etc) so it's useless. I also photocopied 2 articles out of the DSS encyclopedia, both of which have gone mysteriously missing.

Seriously, world. Cut me a break would ya? I've never had such issues getting research for a paper!

Anyway, I think I'm finally ready to write some sort of an exegesis. It's not going to be A quality but at this point I need to get the sucker done and passed in. On Monday. It's happening. I think I did well on the other assignments for this class so I am not worried.

In non-academic news, I made pineapple chicken today for the first time! My culinary skills are minimal at best... the only 2 non-throw-in-the-oven-or-microwave things I know how to do (until now) are stir fry and chili... and I rarely make them because it's so much effort/mess. But today I finally bit the bullet and made pineapple chicken. It came out pretty good. There's even enough to have leftovers for dinner tomorrow. Thank you Mary for the recipe! It took a little time to make, and made some mess, and I had to spend some time washing up all the bowls and spoons and knives afterwards. But if I can just learn to enjoy it, I could get used to it... I mean, the only other thing I'd do is waste time on here. It's silly really. I should be taking some more time to prepare half decent food! Of course, in 2 weeks I am back in residence anyway :) Woohoo Dining Hall!

Alright. I really need to actually start this paper now that the research/outline is finally done. Good grief. Yay summer courses?

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-12T16:06:00.000-03:00

Missed this last week, being on vacation and all. This week I am thankful for...

1) Christmas decorations in August! A movie is being filmed in Wolfville and the town looks like Christmas... except it's August. Christmas trees, lights, Santa on the roof... I am coming down tonight to take pictures with all the lights on.
2) having a roomate again! Joyce-ann came home last night!
3) A great week away on vacation with great friends, and great music!
4) Outlet shopping with no tax (thank you, New Hampshire)
5) Having nowhere to go or do this weekend... I need a break before the next 2 weeks hit :)
6) Being just 16 days away from moving back into residence... I miss dorm life and Acadia!
7) My summer job. And my summer as a whole. Looking back, it has been an incredible few months! So many great memories and learning experiences. Only 2 weeks to go!

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:6

Christmas in August, and back to school shopping

2010-08-11T19:05:00.001-03:00

I have 2 more blogs about vacation that will be back-posted soon. They are written... but I don't want to post them until the 40 or so other pictures are edited. I know, I'm OCD. Deal with it.

Driving in downtown Wolfville is really funny these days. There is a movie filming here, and part of it takes place in November. Meaning, there are copious amounts of Christmas decorations EVERYWHERE in downtown Wolfville. I really need to come down tomorrow with my camera so I can show you the insanity. There are buses and caterers and crew and lights everywhere, I feel like I am in LA. I don't think there is anyone overly famous in the film... but even if there is they must be enjoying the non-stalkerish peace of this town. I kind of love it. My car is parked outside Just Us right now and I'm secretly hoping my Yaris gets in the movie. It will be my claim to fame. I think there are movie people sitting across from me... they have accents. Anyway. It's a lot of excitement for a little down in the middle of August.

Today I had to run an errand to Staples to get gluesticks for VBC decorating. As soon as I walked in I was hit with that back-to-school shopping smell. There were children and parents everywhere picking out bookbags, fighting over which pencils to buy, and heaping their carts with exercise books, binders, markers, and calculators. I remember back-to-school shopping so well. I LOVED it. Mom would take Jon & I to Staples and we would go nuts. I remember getting into arguments because I wanted the more expensive, prettier stuff. I was very materialistic and planned out my "look" in school supplies for that year. The days leading up to the start of school I would unpack my new backpack full of new supplies, and just look at them. Write my name on all the exercise books. Sometimes even write something on paper for fun. Of course, as soon as class started (or soon after) the last thing I wanted to see was homework. The new stuff would get dirty, broken, or lost, and then it was just like every other year's stuff. It's funny how I got so caught up in the shopping buzz every year.

Thankfully, I don't have to do back-to-school shopping these days - everything happens on this here laptop. Although my bookbag does have a sizeable hole (I've had this one since 2004). Where does one even buy a cool bookbag these days? Where does a 25 year old buy a bookbag?

Vacation 2010 - final days

2010-08-08T10:56:00.001-03:00

Well, I am home and am deeply satisfied from an awesome vacation! Figured I'd write about the rest of the trip.

We woke up in Gilford on Friday morning, grabbed some breakfast, and drove 2 hours back to Old Orchard Beach (not first without going 15min backwards for the sake of Starbucks). Jolene slept the whole way and I sang to Paramore. We got back to Ocean Park Meadows where Jolene's parents were staying (and where I spent almost every summer of my childhood), unloaded our stuff and headed for the beach as fast as possible. It was a beautiful hot day, perfect beach weather. We suntanned, briefly played in the freezing cold ocean, and went on a walk for about an hour. Then we went to the pool for a bit. It was just so perfect and so relaxing. Ahhhhh. We were getting a bit hot, and Jo's parents were still rescuing their friends from a motorcycle breakdown, so we got in the car and drove for ice cream. Then we went back to the condo, changed, and headed out shopping with Jan! We did TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Dress Barn, Target, and Famous Footwear. I bought my 7th pair of chucks... I know. I have a problem. But they were $25 and they're purple! I promise it's my last pair. After TJ Maxx I realized I was running out of money (haha) so I stopped buying things! We had a good laugh though.

After shopping we went back to Old Orchard and got ready for supper. We walked down to the pier with Jolene's parents and their friends, Leo and Bev, who are awesome people! We had so much fun with them. We found a nice little place to eat that was right by the track (Dad would like it). After supper we went to buy some OOB hoodies, and Bev and I tried to ride the roller coaster but it was too late and it closed :( So we headed back to Ocean Park and got ready for bed. I was pretty wiped. Jolene and I did devotions again which I have to say I have enjoyed this whole trip. Looking back, the one day I was out of sorts was the one day we didn't do devos. This always happens and yet it surprises me. Dumb human. Anyway, it was special to have this as part of vacation. After devos we watched "Say Yes to the Dress" until we fell asleep.

Saturday we got up and were out of there by around 10:30 I think. Got Starbucks (obviously), got as far as Bangor and then went into the mall for a bit. I got another TWLOHA shirt. Then we had lunch at Uno's and continued onward. On the way home we listened to every Hanson album, all 5 of them. Jolene rocks for putting up with all that :) We decided to go across the Houlton border again because even though it's bigger/possibly scarier it's also an hour shorter. We got through with absolutely no problems. I drove as far as Salisbury and then Jolene brought us the rest of the way home. After Hanson was over we played worship tunes the rest of the way. I just love driving on the highway with worship music on. We had some great chats too. It was nice to have just the two of us in the car on the way back.

We got into Halifax around midnight and Jolene was kind enough to let me stay with her on her only night home. I got up this morning and came back to Wolfville, and now I'm home! So yep, vacation was great. I feel kinda tired in one way but mentally very refreshed. Very ready to finish up my job at NMBC and start the final year of my Masters! Bring it on!

Vacation 2010 - more Soulfest!

2010-08-05T23:27:00.007-03:00

Another long and super fun day today! We got up for breakfast and then Life Support hit the road for Toronto. It was sad to see them go... I teared up a little bit. Jolene and I came back and got ready to shop. We went back to the outlets, got some Starbucks, and made our rounds. It was a good day to shop because it was raining. I bought a nice load of stuff at Gap, Rue 21, and Dress Barn. Weeeee. $3 t-shirts FTW.

After shopping we ate salads at Applebees, then came back to the hotel. At that point the sun was out so we decided to head to our hotel's beach. We went to the beach bar and enjoyed a strawberry daiquiri. Sitting on the beach, with the sun setting, Lake Winnepesaukee and mountains all around us, boats, people swimming and suntanning, and acoustic guitar music playing.... I'm telling ya, that was relaxed vacation at its finest. It was so wonderful!

While we were on the beach, Chelsea texted Jolene and said she had 2 free passes to Soulfest.... so we pretty quickly decided we were going again! We didn't get back to Gunstock until close onto 8, and I had thrown away our VIP parking pass (d'oh!), so we had to park in a faraway land and get bussed in. We met up with the girls and headed for the main stage. We caught the end of Sanctus Real - they were really great! I enjoyed their worshipful spirit. When they came offstage we learned a bit about the "Not for Sale" campaign to abolish slavery in Peru. It was powerful. They took up an offering to help build the second story of Victoria's house. Then after a little bit Toby Mac came on!

I didn't know what to expect really... I mean I knew they were kind of dancy/rap/hip hop so I wasn't expecting to actually enjoy it much... but I did! They were animated on stage, and they did a really good job with getting the crowd involved. Lots of dancing and fist pumping. They did a couple songs I knew. In the middle of the set Toby and a couple others went to a mini stage halfway up the mountain and did some songs acoustically, including "In the Light" by DC Talk which I was super pumped about. For the encore they played JESUS FREAK! I completely lost it and went nuts. hahaha. We danced, we partied, it was a good time! Toby Mac quote of the day: "We're gonna have a God-sized party up in hurrrrr." hahaha.

After Toby Mac we headed partway downhill to get some food, then to Mercy St Cafe to catch some of Paper Route. They are not my favorite band in the world, but the few songs we caught were good. They had a nice sized crowd to play to. For a band I don't like that much it's funny I've now seen them live twice. Thank you, Paramore concerts. So once Jolene & I felt done with Paper Route we took the bus back to our car and came on home. Then we did devotions which was really awesome. And now it's sleep time. Tomorrow we head off to Old Orchard Beach! This has been an insane 72 hours of concerts and I LOVE IT. So tired, so sore, so happy.

Photos

Vacation 2010 - Soulfest Day 1

2010-08-04T23:04:00.002-03:00

Today has been so long, I can hardly remember it all. After breakfast this morning the 4 of us went to an outlet center for Rob to buy sneakers and for all of us to get Starbucks. We saw Phil Joel there which was fun. Then we headed to the hotel for Life Support practice/meeting. It was a bit long so Jolene and I left partway through to get some snacks at the grocery store... the rest of the time I played on phones and looked at pictures. After all that we headed to Gunstock for Soulfest!

Arriving there was a little chaotic, as I am learning it is for all (non-main-stage) artists who play festivals. Apparently someone had already checked in as Life Support... meaning, someone pretended to be them and took all the passes. Like who does that? So after waiting for awhile they got it sorted out, the band got their wristbands and the bus went to unload. Jolene and I had to hang around a bit for a parking pass, and we ended up being given meal cards and I got a bracelet. So basically, $70 spent on tickets I didn't need. D'oh. Oh well, at least I was there right? We got led to the VIP parking area, parked the car, and met up with the band at Mercy St Cafe. I watched free food flee before my eyes (we gave the cards to the band) and then we had supper. Asian chicken salad. I approve of (good) salads at festivals. Then we went back to Mercy St and the Band got ready to go.

I've never seen Life Support live before but man, they rocked it. They all came alive on stage. It was fun watching Rob & Pale. Andrew was AMAZING on drums, and Alex and Deanna were in hardcore worship mode, I just loved it. They were tight and energetic. Yep. Good show. I really hope they keep pushing with this band, they will go really far.

After Life Support got off stage we sat and chatted a bit; I was feeling really out of place, and really anxious to get to Switchfoot. Eventually I was like "why am I sitting here feeling crappy when I am at Soulfest???" so I left everybody and took off to the main stage. When I got there Maeve was finishing their set and they were great! 3 girls, a guy playing a cajon, and a 2 year old girl running around on stage haha. I'm assuming one of the girls is married to the cajon player and the 2 year old is their daughter. Maybe. Anyway they played acoustically and it was basically just percussion and 3-part harmonies. It was really nice :) I started off about 16 rows back center. I started chatting with 2 guys next to me about how many people we thought were there. My guess was 12,000 (found out later it was actually 13,000). They were really sweet; I ended up being with them for the whole show and they even looked out for me when a crowd surfer almost fell on me.

Eventually Switchfoot took to the stage and my sour mood left. They were amazing! Switchfoot aren't a band I ever really wanted to see live, but I realized tonight they really should have been on my list! I've been buying their CDs for a long time, and I know so much of their stuff. Their energy was awesome. I never expected them to jump off of things and run around as much as they did. They played a bunch of great songs... my favorites were probably "Gone" and "Mess of Me". The crowd was energetic for sure, I had a blast right up in the middle of it. The 2 guys I made friends with weaved up to 8th row, so I followed behind them. Partway through the set, Jon Foreman jumped down into the crowd and everyone went left towards him... so I took the opportunity to move up to 4th row center. So I had a great view. Energy was great, I had fun. When I was in 4th row there were guys in front of me that were jumping a lot and didn't have much of a concept of personal space... so I got stepped on a bit. And there was one single crowd surfer in the whole place, haha. He almost went down so I got under and helped push him forward... but he fell down like a row or two ahead, haha. The guys I was with were like "are you okay? Did you get hurt?" I was like no haha I'm used to this stuff. Anyway.... two days of rock shows. So much fun. Sad it's over.

After Switchfoot I found everybody else and we headed back to Mercy St Cafe to catch a tiny bit of John Reuben... a rapper who came out dressed in tin foil despite the insanely hot weather. It was so hot in there I only stayed a bit... eventually we got out of there, came back to the hotel and I practically ran to the shower. It looked like I had a tan but it was dust, and I blew my nose and dust definitely came out.... rock n roll is gross. Anyway, GREAT show. It's been a great trip for concerts!

Tomorrow the guys leave with Life Support to head to Toronto. I'm actually looking forward to low-key shopping with Jolene and hanging out with her parents in Maine. It's been super fun with the group of us but it'll be nice to not feel like a 3rd wheel for awhile. Home late Saturday night.

Photos

Vacation 2010 - Paramore!! (and other things...)

2010-08-03T22:18:00.003-03:00

Well, I just saw my 6th Paramore show and it was a blast! I haven't blogged yet on this roadtrip... for the first time, I'm on a trip with non-fanclub friends and we've been having a ball. I'm going to try to recap the last 2 days or so....

First of all, there are 2 Rob's on this trip, so one is nicknamed Pale. Just sayin.

So Sunday night Pale and I drove into Halifax to meet up with Jolene & Rob. After having some AMAZING gluten free cookies we went to bed... I did not sleep a wink. Too excited. I kind of thought Jolene was also awake and so around 4:30 I asked her and she wasn't haha. So we talked until about 6am and then we got up and got the show on the road. After showers, breakfast, Starbucks, and bringing Rob's car to Dartmouth, we were on the highway by 8:30am. The drive yesterday was good... Pale is a crazy guy with a crazy heart for Jesus. It's been cool getting to know him, and everyone else, better. I drove most of the way minus a couple hours where Rob took over for me. Tried to sleep but that wasn't happening in the car. We got over the border without a hitch, and by 5:30 we were in Portland! We checked into our slightly sketchy, smoking hotel room (EW EW EW) and then we went to Old Orchard Beach to go to the Salvation Army New York Staff Band Concert. So actually, I guess I'm blogging about two concerts. I grew up in the Salvation Army and played a brass instrument since I was 5. I know all my theory and rhythm thanks to the SA. And seeing the Band did kinda make me miss it... the complicatedness, the intricacy and the unity of a group of 35 people. Anyway, the concert was awesome, lots of variety and talent. At intermission I said hello to the bandmaster (family friend) and some other Nova Scotians that were there. Then we left and met up with Jolene's parents, who are also vacationing in the area! Got some food with them, then went back to their condo... WHICH IS THE SAME PLACE I STAYED WHEN I WAS A KID! Ocean Park Meadows!! haha. I was soooo nostalgic. Anyway the parents and friends are hilarious and we had a good laugh, then we went back to Portland to sleep.

This morning we got up at 8 I think. After breakfast and showers we had a bit of devotional time (praying and reading Scripture). All my friends are Christians and we have had a lot of great faith conversations on this trip. It is so different, I mean most of my concert trips are with people from a fanclub or whatnot, or else we just don't think about these things. But Rob & Pale especially are so active and vibrant in their faith in every moment, it is really inspiring. On the drive down here we had a couple things come up that we prayed about as we drove (don't worry I kept my eyes open). It's just been really awesome. Anyway, once we checked out of the hotel we had to get some guitar strings for Rob, and Starbucks (obviously), and then we hit the road for the final 2 hours of the trip, to Gilford NH. We passed the concert venue on the way to the hotel... it was an exciting moment. We checked in, then went to Friendly's for a late lunch. I was dyin for a salad, needed something healthy. At 3:30 my crowd dropped me off at the venue - I had to go early because of the M&G I won! :) On the way in there were a bunch of guys on bikes going down the road, and Jolene was like "hey look it's the band!" totally joking. But it WAS. hahahaha. I'm pretty sure it was Taylor, Zac, Josh, and Brandon. So funny.

I got there and met up with some other fanclub people, including Chriss who I've known online for quite awhile but have never met in person. After about a half hour they came and got us and gave us these (really cool longterm) bracelets. We then went through the gates and got led backstage under a tent, and got put in a line. Then Paramore came :) M&G's are so awkward haha but it was fun. Everybody was friendly. Taylor introduced himself to everyone ("hi, I'm Taylor") and shook our hands. I asked Zac about playing drums to Careful... he was like "dude I would love that but I dunno if it's possible" and we chatted about click tracks and in-ears and how I don't have any of that haha. When Hayley came through I reminded her about my drum cover and she was like "yeah! I watched that again the other day!" I dunno, it makes me awfully happy to know she's watched that, more than once :D Anyway, similar to Zac, she said she'd love to make it happen but it's complicated. Oh, and when she first got to me she said "I love your hair!" Thank you Jolene for doin me up today or else I would have had a bun haha. I also had a gift for the band that I gave to Hayley/their assistant person... it was my version of a tour bus survival kit. Hayley especially appreciated the air freshener hahaha. Once Zac & Josh were done signing they went a little ways away and played basketball. Taylor came back over to me and Chriss and talked to some people about Paper Route. I piped in that I am seeing them on Thursday at Soulfest. Taylor asked who else was going.... so we had a chat about that, I mentioned Switchfoot and I'm pretty sure he said he's seen them recently and they're quite on their game these days (which makes me excited for tomorrow's show!).

Anyway once all the signing was done we all took our turn getting our group picture. I love this band. I dunno, they're just all so nice and personable and I feel like I could be friends with them. My pic came out good, I mentioned the drum thing one more time and they said they'll see if they can make it happen but I assured them it's not the end of the world and I'll love the show no matter what. Hayley asked where I was sitting. I didn't hear this, but my friend Chriss was next in line and apparently as I was walking away Hayley said to the guys "man, she's so cool." Or something to that effect. Again, if Paramore thinks I'm awesome, I'm happy!

Alright. So after the M&G we got led out of backstage, and the doors hadn't opened yet. I bummed around with Chriss and her friends. We went and got merch and spray-on tattoos, and played Rock Band before the doors really opened. No lines, no crowds. Fun times. I grabbed a water and some Reeses Pieces and then we all went into the bar and hung out for a bit. I went in to my seat for the first band, Kadawatha, and they were pretty good! Josh (Farro, of Paramore) played a song with them. They played for about 30min, then I went out to the gate to wait for my crew to get there. Jolene was sitting with me up in 9th row center and the guys were back farther. We hung out around the outskirts during New Found Glory, and then Jolene and I went in for Tegan & Sara.

BREAK. I forgot to talk about the venue! The Meadowbrook Pavillion is proabably the best concert venue I have ever been in. Here are but a few reasons why. It has landscaping. It is IMPECCABLY clean. Prices are reasonable for food and beverages. You could do things like photos and Rock Band for free. People were NICE. The bathrooms have a staff member in there for the whole time with cleaning stuff, so the bathrooms are always like it was just cleaned. It was MAGICAL. I was so afraid to pee at a concert, I usually don't but it was a dire situation, but this was awesome! So clean. Um what else, the venue just rocks. Great view everywhere. I want to come back to this venue again. Love love love. Meadowbrook Pavillion, Gilford NH. You should go.

Alright, back to the timeline. So Jolene & I went in for Tegan and Sara. They were pretty good, but somehow not as good as I remember from Halifax. I don't know if maybe where they were opening they didn't have as much time to interact and play more of their repertoire. There were a couple songs I really didn't like... but most were cool. It was chill. The calm before the storm? :)

After Tegan & Sara we met up with some more friends who were there, and ran to the bathroom before going back for the main course! Paramore, as usual, NAILED IT. I think this might be my favorite show out of the 6 I have now seen. They are just so fun, and so GOOD. I love watching them run around, all the energy. And I love singing along and dancing. My goal tonight was to spend more time having fun and less time trying to get good pictures. Even though I LOVE concert photography, I need to learn to enjoy the moment and not watch the whole thing through a screen. The setlist I am pretty sure was a new one compared to earlier dates.... we got Misguided Ghosts, and For a Pessimist, and Playing God. We did not get Turn it Off. Highlights of the show.... Hayley recognizing me partway through the show and waving at me :) Let the Flames Begin with outro, You Aint Woman Enough, Misguided Ghosts, Careful.... oh heck the whole show!!! hahaha. Loved the acoustic set on the couch. And I just love the energy! Pressure flip.... and the fans getting on stage at the end :) That's always fun. The drum thing never happened but I TOTALLY understand. Drums are not an easy thing to sub in on, and it could seriously destroy the end of the show if it didn't go right. But, the show was AWESOME. I think Jolene really liked it too. Every time I looked over to check on her she was mezmerized, watching what was happening on stage :) And the guys had all great things to say! So yeah, good show, great time, loved it, etc etc etc.

I am now suffering the usual concert hangover. 2 nights of no-to-little sleep and 13 hours of driving has finally kicked in since the anticipation is now gone. It's like somebody let the air ouf of my tire. I love these kinds of hangovers though :) Sign of a good time!! We're all back at the hotel now, wiped... except Pale is practicing bass. Rob & Pale are in a Band called Life Support who are playing Soulfest tomorrow, so Pale is practicing. This is a week of music for sure. Vacation is AWESOME and I love that I get to spend it with these people.

Photos

Fireworks!

2010-07-31T22:23:00.002-03:00

Note: I did not take this picture today... it just fits with the theme!
So just now I decided to bring my dirty dishes to the kitchen, then decided to wash the mud off my shoes (that has been there since Cavendish... whoops). So I'm standing at my sink, wiping my shoes, and I hear a bang. Sometimes random bangs happen so I'm like whatever, but then it happened again and I was like, whut. So I look up, and there are pretty flashes of light before my eyes! Turns out something is going on Wolfville tonight (anyone have ANY idea what because I don't) and my kitchen window had an unobstructed view of the highest ones! So I turned off my light, stood in my kitchen and watched fireworks for 10 minutes :) I couldn't see the lower ones because of a huge tree in my way but I saw the higher ones. They were wonderful! What a nice little surprise this evening!

I'm so excited for vacation it's unreal. Jolene called today and we are now going to spend 2 extra days away, in Old Orchard with her parents! To celebrate I went to Walmart and bought sticky mitts. You know, catch but with velcro? You can't go to the beach without that! Rob & I are leaving tomorrow night to drive to Halifax, and the trek begins Monday morning. I can't wait!!!

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-29T14:51:00.000-03:00

Figured I'd spout one of these off in between projects at church :) This week I am thankful for

1) concerts! I love them. I just made a list of all the shows I can remember ever going to, and it topped out at 61! Loooove it!
2) my Mom & Dad. They have left me now, gone back to Newfoundland :(
3) awesome friends who want to fly me to Mexico to video their wedding next March :D
4) Starbucks
5) drums
6) Friends (the TV show... watching it a lot lately and I love it)
7) sleep-in days!

July is almost over.

2010-07-25T12:16:00.000-03:00

Summer 2010 is really speeding along by. I only have one week left before I go on vacation! I can't wait. Paramore's tour started 2 nights ago, and it looks pretty stellar. A lot more stage production then they've ever had before. And the setlist is awesome. The only thing I could ask for is the Miracle outro but I get why they don't count that as a song and do it all the time. I'm pumped for My Heart electric, and Let the Flames Begin with the outro. Also, I am getting more and more pumped to see Tegan & Sara again. I've had their CD on in the car on repeat the last few days and I quite enjoy it. They are fun.

Church was good this morning. I played drums again, and got asked to do the pastoral prayer. For some of these things, such as that and asking to speak at Kingswood, my gut initial reaction is to say no. But I have to get over being nervous, and I'll get better and more confident the more I do stuff. So I just keep saying yes without thinking about it. It's working so far!

It is raining beautifully here right now. I like that the rain falls down here and not sideways like in Newfoundland. It sounds so peaceful and calm, I could fall asleep at any moment. I actually have to eat lunch though, and pack up things for Mom and Dad. This afternoon I am going to hang out with them again in Halifax for a couple of days. They are taking some things back to Newfoundland that I don't want up here. I think I'm going to go early and start my Dead Sea Scrolls takehome exam at Starbucks. All that coursework is due on August 13th which is approaching far too quickly.

Work is awesome! So fun, and Jon is back which I am really happy about. This weekend we had Morphoo Retreat, and it was so fun. Those kids are great.

Alright, time to get moving!

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-22T17:04:00.002-03:00

It's been a good week. I've had lots of fun with my parents visiting and have spent time with friends in Halifax. I've also went to a Starfield concert, which will be written about on my other blog soon. Jon is also back to work which makes me ESTATIC! 2 is easier than 1. Anyways, I am definitely thankful for things this week...

1) my parents visiting
2) concerts that are more like worship services
3) lots of extended hangout times with good friends
4) vacation plans (and my Paramore tickets finally coming in the mail!)
5) Jon coming back to work
6) the cool breeze coming in my window right now
7) the ability for Youth Group to cheer me up, even if I don't super feel like going beforehand

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Psalm 30:11-12

Thankful Thursday... on Friday

2010-07-16T00:58:00.000-03:00

I almost forgot again this week until Jon did his! Life is hectic now. This week I am thankful for...

1) the brand new Macbook Pro I am typing on!
2) finalized vacation plans!
3) incredible friends that are just a text message away
4) my parents
5) sabbath
6) youth group... kids always put me in a better mood
7) my fan

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-08T04:11:00.001-03:00

I can't sleep. It's too hot. It is 4am and my alarm is going off at 720 for work. Why world why??? Anyways, I know I missed a week of thankful thursday, with the fun of Canada Day and all, but I have not given up! This week I am thankful for...

1) the fan in my room!!
2) answered prayer
3) the transforming power of Jesus Christ
4) coffee
5) friendly teenagers
6) my car
7) fresh strawberries from the valley

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

My nerdy self is excited

2010-07-07T18:35:00.001-03:00

So I just ordered myself a new 15" Macbook Pro! I literally cannot wait for it to get here. I've been eyeing them since... well, since unibody really. But this one I am on has been fine, and I had applecare, and sensibility told me that what I have is working great and I don't always need the newest and greatest. So I let it go.

But now my applecare is all gone, this computer is more than 3 years old. Still working the way it should though, minus a slight screen flicker... I was speaking with the Mac guy in Coldbrook (Jeff, he rocks) and he said he'd buy this machine from me to sell as refurbished! That's really all I needed to hear. The new 15" MBP has an i5 processor and 4x the RAM I currently have (at DDR3 instead of DDR2), the processor is way more than double the speed, and the hard drive is more than 4x as big. Plus I got a high res screen, there's a backlit keyboard, it's unibody... it's going to be a beautiful thing. It's also "free iPods for students" time at apple.ca, so I got a free purple nano with Hanson lyrics engraved :) Nanos do video now! I would have gotten a touch except I'll definitely be getting an iPhone in the next 18 months which is the same thing except also a phone. Anyway, the thing is free! I also got a protective sleeve for it, since I am enjoying carrying my Mac around in my shoulder bag as of late.

So yeah. It should get here sometime early next week... I am REALLY hoping it's here before I go to Halifax on Tuesday night to see Mom & Dad. As soon as I get it, I'll hook up time machine to make sure everything transfers the way I like, then I'll wipe this guy and bring it to Coldbrook to sell it! And then I'll own a 15" MBP with a 2.53 GHz core i5 processor. Sweeeeeet.

In non-tech nerd news, I went to my first Solid Rock Youth at church last night! It was fun to meet a lot of new people, and to be in small group with high school girls :) I love Morphoo too but it is so different from older teens. Morphoo starts tomorrow night, excited to welcome all the little grade 4 grads! Friday night SRY is camping... then Saturday I am heading to PEI to see Taylor Swift and my friends The Keats! I need to get my country on. Maybe I should get a cowboy hat. Cowgirl hat. Do they make purple ones of those?

Canada Day

2010-07-02T18:03:00.014-03:00

I usually don't do anything for Canada Day. It is a day where things are closed and I stay home. But this year was different! A bunch of friends decided to plan an all-day adventure. 8 of us went. We started by driving to the South Shore and going to Bayswater Beach. I have never been to a white sandy beach in Nova Scotia. I knew they existed, and I really don't know why I didn't venture to one before now. It was lovely. Chilly... I wore a hoodie and jeans the whole time :) But I had a nice nap, relaxed and chatted with everyone. And ate ice cream!

Once the sun went away and the beach got too cold, we left in search of a tourist bureau. We found one outside of Halifax; they gave us a big booklet full of Canada day events around the HRM. Before going to any of that though, we decided we're go to Peggy's Cove! We were only about 20min away and I had never been there before. It reminded me of Signal Hill/Cape Spear in NL, except it was flatter. We had fun climbing on the rocks and taking pictures. The sun also came out again!

After Peggy's Cove we went to Redwood Grill in Halifax for supper, then to Starbucks! Then we went to the Bedford Canada Day celebrations. There were a TON of people. It felt like a cleaner, more diverse age-group version of Bamboozle. A couple of the girls got airbrush tattoos, we sat in the grass and I ate a Beavertail (those things are so good). Then we got treated to a sweet display of fireworks! I think they're probably the best I've ever seen... I don't see fireworks much.

It took us forever to get out of the area because of the insane number of people and cars. Griff told me to use it in a lesson of patience... something I have gotten more of in recent years but still struggle sometimes! We got home around midnight. It was great fun!!! I slept until Noon today..... it was an enjoyable yet exhausting day!

I am so thankful to live in Canada. It is a beautiful, clean country, and I feel very blessed. Canada historically has not been super patriotic... especially compared to our southern neighbors. But on occasions like Canada Day, and when we win the gold medal in Olympic hockey :) our pride comes through. Happy Birthday Canada!

Customer service in a social media world

2010-06-29T21:41:00.005-03:00

I had a pretty pleasant, and eye-opening experience last night as far as customer support goes. 2 weeks ago when I got my monthly e-bill from Telus, I went to login to telusmobility.com to see how much it was, so I could login to my bank to pay it (isn't technology wonderful?) Now don't ask me how I forgot EVERYTHING about my Telus login within the span of one month, but I did. I didn't know my username or password. And rather than simply clicking on "forgot password?" I kept trying, until it locked me out. I'm so smart.

I had to call *611 to get my account unlocked, and partly due to procrastination, and partly wondering how long I'd be sitting on hold, I put it off until yesterday (when I realized that payment due date must be getting closer). So I called, and within about 3 or 4 minutes I had a real live person on the phone! Account unlocked, and she also told me I should update my BB software via my computer so that it doesn't freeze anymore. HALLELUJAH! So far, my phone seems about 10x better, and I don't want to throw it across the room every couple of hours.

I'm on twitter, so of course, I tweeted about my positive experience with Telus. Within a minute or to I had a reply FROM Telus - they have a twitter! And they actually staff it with someone during certain hours of the day. Which, in my opinion is amazing. From what I can gather, these employees search twitter for the word "Telus", then they write to people having problems and help them. It reminded me of this video (below), that social media really is a revolution. And that in the future (in fact, now) we do not have to search for companies or products. They will find us. Call it creepy if you want; I think it's genius.

A few minutes after I thanked the Telus twitter people for their concern and started following them, I randomly tweeted about how my Eastlink internet is too slow and I wish we didn't have the slowest one. Within a couple minutes I had a reply from an Eastlink twitter, asking if I would like to set up a call tomorrow to get upgraded internet service. So Eastlink has employees searching twitter as well. haha. I wonder what other company will try to help me out via social media? It sure as heck beats sitting on the phone talking to machines for hours on end. (But thank you Telus for having a real person on the other end!)

Thankful Thursday

2010-06-24T20:13:00.002-03:00

Have I seriously not updated since last Thursday? Huh. Work makes life busy! I wrote about seeing Jo & Shar in concert again here. They were good! Best time yet.

Today I am thankful for...
1) Prayer partners
2) E-mails from friends
3) Supper with Rebekah
4) The next 2 days off
5) youth & children ministry summer volunteers!
6) answered prayer
7) weekend plans

Thankful Thursday

2010-06-17T21:27:00.002-03:00

I am currently in a sea of phone numbers and textbooks, and am feeling kind of overwhelmed at both. BUT, I still can (and should) be thankful. So this week, I am thankful for...

1) due-date extensions (ha!)

2) coffee meeting today with Jon, Liz, and Tabby

3) my new Hanson CD + DVD that finally came in the mail! :D

4) my shiny new prayer partner!

5) being finished with jaw elastics... had my last checkup and everything's great!

6) lasers

7) my awesome roommate who likes to cook and bake in her free time, and share the food.

Sabbath & Self-Injury

2010-06-15T14:58:00.005-03:00

On the drive into Halifax this morning I came up with a blog post in my head, which is the result of what's been on my brain the last little while. For my "Youth at Risk" class I've been reading about self-injury. It is basically an epidemic that lots of people (especially adolescents and young adult women) use to control emotional pain. It is an escape from reality, a way to not deal with what's going on inside your head. Even though many people do not understand self-injury, it's really not that different from other maladaptive coping mechanisms we have all used at one time or another. How many times have you exercised, ate, shopped, served your problems away? When you are busy, you don't have to think about stuff. You don't have to deal with reality. You can just keep going. Place your focus elsewhere. You don't have to deal with you.

On Sunday Pastor Bob preached about Sabbath and it really spoke to me. Sabbath isn't about rules and not doing things on Sunday (especially as a Pastor... kinda hard to rest on Sunday!). It's about slowing down, taking the time to reflect and relax, to spend time with God, to slow down and look around. He said it is suggested that everybody diverts daily (spending an hour or so reading or some other activity), withdraws weekly (taking a day off to do something relaxing that you enjoy), and abandons annually (vacation!). I kept thinking how awesome it would be to actually do this all the time. There would be a lot less burnout, a lot more healthy friendships, and a tighter relationship with God.

I think sometimes we keep ourselves busy and don't plan down-time into our lives because we don't want to deal with ourselves. Kind of like self-injury, if we stay busy and keep running, we don't have time to reflect on what we're doing in life, what God desires of us, who we should connect with, and what sin in our life needs to be dealt with. If we just stay busy, and don't stop and think, we never have to deal. This is exactly why (some) people self-injure, or over-exercise, or eat poorly, or drink too much. Practicing Sabbath would help us learn how to process emotion properly, how to sort through feelings, and deal with them the right way. It makes so much sense.

My goal this year is to practice Sabbath daily, weekly, and annually (that last part is easy - Maine & NH in August!). I have learned a lot about myself through the reading I've done, and I'm excited to see how much more fulfilled my life can be when I practice Sabbath regularly. Try it! Divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually.

do I even have a title?

2010-06-12T10:18:00.003-03:00

So it's Saturday and I'm back in Just Us. I had yesterday and today off and I have taken the time to catch up on my sleep in a big way. In fact, I am positive I have overslept. Thursday night I slept for 12 hours. 12! And it's not like I haven't been sleeping good all week. I have. I haven't been staying up late. And then, even after 12 hours sleep, I still had a one hour nap that evening! That is unacceptable! I have a massive headache from too much sleep. I don't know why my body can shut down like this. What is it like to be those people that wake up automatically and then are just awake? I have no idea what that's like.

Yesterday, after I finally got my butt out of bed, I went to the library to gather some books for a research project on anxiety. There is a ton of stuff available. I've realized that in my 8-15 pages I'm not going to be able to get into everything in detail. There are 7 or 8 specific disorders that are classified as anxiety! After gathering the needed books I went home and read more of my book. After supper, I napped (ANGRY) and then I re-watched the movie "Thirteen." I don't recommend it. But I have to do a movie critique of it, we watched it in class but I somehow lost my notes :( After the movie I tried to read some more but COULD NOT KEEP MY EYES OPEN. Seriously what is wrong with me!!!

I forced myself out of bed at 9am and came here. I have never had an americano before but I am drinking one right now.
Side note Great Big Sea just came on!!!! Newfoundland!!!!
Anyways, americano. A friend keeps saying how much she likes them and I have always avoided them, afraid I wouldn't like it. Wel if ever there was a day to try it, it's today when I can't wake up. It's actually not bad. It's just expresso and hot water... I had to put some sugar and creme in it. But it's almost gone... my headache however is still here. Hoping it leaves soon. My plan for right now is to write the movie critique, and then read (finish) my book. Once the book is read I have to do a report on the 4 I've read on self-injury.

Okay a second Great Big Sea came on. This would make me incredibly homesick, except I look out here at the beautiful sunshine, and the tanktop and skirt and flip flops I'm wearing, and realize I think I'd rather be here :)

Thankful Thursday

2010-06-10T21:28:00.003-03:00

I can't believe it's Thursday again already! Yeah right I was in Dead Sea Scrolls class one week ago! That seems like forever ago. Work's been awesome. OK, I will stick to the point.... today I am thankful for:

1) the new Vicky Beeching album "Eternity Invades" that I bought a few days ago and am listening through for the first time right now!
2) the books I have been reading
3) my job at church. I actually love it.
4) the fresh fruit I bought at the grocery store yesterday
5) my ice cream date with a few friends on Tuesday
6) my awesome afternoon at Just Us yesterday
7) my day off tomorrow, so I can go to the library and get some schoolwork done!

I love summer so far

2010-06-09T16:32:00.003-03:00

Is there really anything better in life than sipping a London Fog in a coffee shop, in a small town on a perfectly sunny warm day, and reading a book that is so good you just can't stop reading? Nope. There's not. :) I have enjoyed today. It is day 3 of working at NMBC - my summer job is a summer youth/children ministry intern! Can we say perfect summer job for me? So far I've played with Google docs/calendars, learned how to use the database, went to a staff meeting, made event forms for every special event this summer, booked some things, started going through/creating the summer children's program, photocopied stuff, and uh... a few other things :) Definitely not a minute of boredom!

I had this afternoon off since Morphoo is tonight, so I took the time to hang out at Just Us, where I am now. All of my course work for my Youth at Risk course is supposedly due on Friday... yeah that's not going to happen. I was going to write my movie critique this afternoon, but upon discovering my papers with movie notes are at home, I read instead. Last night I finished "Bodily Harm" and started reading "Bloodletting" for the second time. I first read it about 3 years ago. I found it by looking through the psychology section of Chapters for a book on self-injury. It's an autobiography and is actually one of the most captivating books I have ever read. I usually have to kick myself to make myself read for longer than an hour... I just read from page 15-120 in one sitting and only stopped because I have to go home! After this book I have one more to read, then I have to do a report about my reading. My game plan is to pass in the movie critique by Friday, the reading report by Monday, and then do my research project (on anxiety disorder) by next Friday. I was slowed down a bit in my progress because of another intensive course last week - Dead Sea Scrolls. We started the week having a final exam on Friday, so I put YMIN stuff aside and started reading the DSS textbook. Then on Wednesday our prof decided "let's make it a takehome instead" at which point I immediately switched back over to YMIN readings. So that's like 4 days farther behind than I needed to be. Oh well. I am sure I will get it all done :)

So life is working at church, drinking latte's, having ice cream with friends, and getting schoolwork done. I am quite happy with life. I have a few little excursions this summer I am looking forward to... Taylor Swift in PEI in July, and Paramore in New Hampshire in August! Oh, I won a fanclub M&G :) Pretty happy about that. Tegan & Sara are opening which I am also excited about, and I get to go see Switchfoot the next day.

Alright. I have an hour and a half to get home, eat supper, and head back to church for youth group!

Thankful Thursday

2010-06-03T13:53:00.002-03:00

My new friend Liz posts 7 things she is thankful for every Thursday on her blog. I thought I'd try the same thing! So today, I am thankful for...
1) getting taught about the Dead Sea Scrolls by Dr. Craig Evans
2) my new ministry job at NMBC this summer
3) getting to play drums 3 times in the next 4 days!
4) a roundtrip drive alone to Halifax on Saturday - I can't WAIT!
5) Just Us coffee for $1.41 in my travel mug
6) Joyce-ann installing blinds in my room today
7) the Paramore M&G I won for this summer :)

Jaw surgery recovery update

2010-06-01T17:30:00.003-03:00

Note: to read all my entries about my jaw surgery, click here.

It seems as though my jaw surgery blog entries, that are 3+ months old, are still getting comments and are providing help/info for people! My blog has never been so popular! I figured I'd post a little update on how I am doing.

I had my lower jaw moved 4mm forward and my chin lowered 2mm on Feb 3, 2010, almost 4 months ago. Time flies, yet it seems like years ago since I had surgery. Life is basically normal! The last time I blogged about it all, I had just been given antibiotics from the surgeon due to an infection on the left side. I am happy to report that the infection went away quickly and never returned!

Obviously at this point I can eat absolutely everything. A little while after surgery my orthodontist started cutting back on how often I wore elastics. I had 4 small elastics and one larger one that kept my bite tight/helping to train the muscles to a closed mouth. I started wearing them all the time except for meals, then I had 2 weeks of wearing them 18 hours a day, then 2 weeks of wearing them 12 hours a day, and right now I am wearing them only when I sleep, until June 16. Then the elastics will be done! I've been seeing my orthodontist every 2-4 weeks to make sure everything is going smoothly. He says my bite is excellent. I am not sure if this happens this month or next, but soon all of my braces elastics + wire will be taken off for a bit to see what happens to my teeth. Then, some minor adjustments will be made (some brackets have to be shimmied ever so slightly), and my braces will be off sometime August-October! I can't WAIT!! August will mark 3-years since they went on.

In terms of my face... presently my lower lip is still numb. This concerns me and I HOPE it comes back!!! Every time I drink out of a Tim Hortons cup I spill it on myself, it is quite annoying. When I move it around there is no "pins and needles" effect which has me concerned. In 2 weeks time I am going in for a checkup with the surgeon. They want to check that the "corner" bone from where my chin was lowered has smoothed out like it should on its own. While I am there I am going to ask about my lip. I mean, it has only been 4 months.... maybe I am too impatient.

I have really enjoyed reading everybody's comments and hearing about your stories with your own surgery. I am happy to be of any help that I can!

And here is a picture of me from May 14th, about 14 weeks after surgery :)

An intense week!

2010-05-27T00:02:00.002-03:00

Well the last 10 days or so are kind of a blur. Last week a did a one-week intensive course with Marv Penner entitled "Youth at Risk." It was a great class; Marv has over 35 years experience in Youth Ministry and is an expert in the subjects he taught. We talked about things like self-injury, eating disorders, suicide, family types, gender identification, etc. Very heavy stuff, and at times I felt like my head was so heavy that I was going to fall through the floor! But the class was made up of a great bunch of people. We were open with one another and it was a class experience I won't soon forget. I have many assignments looming now that the class time is over.... really need to put a solid dent into that tomorrow and this weekend, as I have another intensive starting on Monday!

This past weekend I went to Fredericton for a visit! :) Mary & Mark were kind enough to open their home to me, and Daniel was kind enough to lend me his room :) They are a great family; I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. I respect their family values and their commitment to living the Christian life. Just really great people. I also find it easy to go to bed at a more decent hour when I am there, as everyone (except Mary and I) go to bed early and get up early! 9:00am was sleeping in SUPER late, whereas for me tomorrow 9am is my early up time! Oh how I wish I was a morning person.

Anyway. Fredericton. I got there on Saturday... Sunday morning I went to my old church. It was nice to see everyone and to take in the service, although several people were away because of the long weekend. In the afternoon Mary & I got Starbucks (wooooo) and took Joshua to the playground thing at the mall. Monday was jam-packed... I had breakfast with Sarah, then we checked out the huge holiday sale that Urban Planet was having: buy 1, get 1 for $1. It was the only store opened in the city and was pretty crowded. I was a bit disgruntled that the dressing rooms were closed. I bought pink shorts leggings (for under dresses... I will NOT wear them as shorts haha) and a pair of jean shorts that were 2 sizes to small. Way to go. So I just exchanged them the next day on the way to the wedding. Of course the only sizes left in the color I wanted was 00, 0, or 1 so I got black instead.

After I dropped Sarah home I went to the church for the Youth Group Bike Trip! Same as 2 years ago... to the Bucket Club and back. 15 of us went and it was a great trip. It was well into the 30s temp wise though and man, you can feel it when you're on a bike. Add to that my lack of fitness and the fact that I have not been on a bike in almost 2 years, and this was a challenge for me. But (most of us) took our time, packed on the sunscreen and drank lots of water, and all was well. I'm proud of everyone who did it! It was nice to bike and relax in nature and reconnect with some of the teens. People grow up a lot in 2 years!!! Sometimes I think about what life would be like if I were still in Fredericton. What sorts of programs I'd be heading at church and where my relationships with the kids would be. I always have these big ideas in my head. It makes me excited to actually get out into full-time ministry again! After the bike ride I went to Kevin & Sherry's for supper. I got pretty close to them while I worked at the church and so it was nice to reconvene, to chat about how life has been and what is on the horizon. They are great people.

Tuesday I attended Sam's & Connie's Wedding! It was an honor to be a part of their day. The wedding was very plan, very simple, but very nice. It was very "Sam and Connie". I can see the love they have for each other in the way they interact with one another. I know they're the perfect match and I wish them all the happiness in the world!! After the reception was over, I of course grabbed a Starbucks and then hit the highway. Back to Wolfville by 7pm or so. I quite enjoyed my weekend in Fredericton. Every time I go back I remember how beautiful it is, and how much I loved living there. I'd like to live there again someday I think. It's just a wonderful place. Nice and small yet still a city, close enough to the USA to make a trip to Boston short but also close enough to Halifax. And the weather is amazing! I just love it.

Today I did some work at school, went to Morphoo, and did my grocery shopping. It is time for sleep... tomorrow I have more work at school, studying, and an ice cream date with a friend! Sounds like a good day to me!

Life update

2010-05-16T15:36:00.003-03:00

There have been many things to write about but I have not brought myself to write a blog until now. I'm probably doing it now because I should be working on schoolwork! Alas, a one-week intensive starts tomorrow and I do not have the pre-course assignments done. All you gotta do is hand me some schoolwork and I am off procrastinating like a madman. It's unfortunate, really.

I have only recently gotten caught up in internet land since my NYC trip because I came home to an internetless apartment. I'm subletting Adalia's room for the summer, living with Joyce-ann in a nice little 2 bedroom. It's cozy and I like it. I haven't lived in my own apartment since I left Fredericton and I forgot how much I like it. Grocery shopping is expensive though! And a pain. I am out of milk now. My goal this summer is to learn how to cook new things. So far not so good... today is the first time I made anything that involved prepwork. But I have faith. I'm gonna start branching out.

A few days after returning from NYC I went to my very first Springforth. I took a car full of middle school girls and drove 4 hours to Moncton, and had a lot of fun! I didn't enjoy the band much (maybe I'm just getting old and cynical?) but the speaker was great. Very edgy and unique. I guess to survive as a Junior High pastor you'd have to have those character traits :) At the Middle School event we had 3 leaders and 14 kids. When the kids were in workshops there was a leaders session with Paul Robertson, a youth culture specialist. It was nice to get into a quieter atmosphere (!) and connect with other youth leaders. Paul's focus was on narcissism, and I have been thinking about this concept a lot since Springforth ended. Since I count myself apart of the present millenial, or whatever you call it, generation, I've realized that I am very narcissistic most of the time. It is something I need to be aware of and work to change. It's not all about me!! Anyway, we slept at Dundas Baptist Church, most of us on the floor but Anne and I scored a gym mat. Even though I got about 5 hours sleep, one can only sleep so well on a gym floor. The church made us breakfast which was fantastic. After more worship sessions and leader sessions, Springforth was over and we headed to the MALL! Window shopping and Starbucks, sounds good to me. Got back around 10pm and then I had to play drums in church the next morning. Holy tired!!

So that was the first weekend post-NYC. This weekend I went to the ADC Commissioning Supper and Service. Free food! Plus I sold ADC merch and got myself a pink ADC t-shirt. The service was very moving. It was so cool to see all of my graduating friends be blessed for ministry. The laying on hands prayer was probably the best part of it all. I'm going to miss all of the grads, but in ministry I find people's paths cross often. So I'll see em again I'm sure! Friday night I stayed up too late for no good reason at all (I hate it when I do that), then at 7am I was at church to help make breakfast for the Orchard Camp that was going on. I was there until 3pm spending most of my time overseeing/working in the kitchen with some Morphoo girls. It was a lot of work, as weekend events always are, but was fun all the same. We had 48 kids at Camp and everyone seemed to have a blast.

Beyond my weekend adventures, I've been spending tons of time in Halifax hanging out with Jolene & Sharlene which has been super. Between laser treatments, shopping, and getting our hair done, it's been a blast. I am blessed with great friends. The girls have been confirmed to be playing the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, which means I'm seeing Taylor Swift on July 10th! So excited.

This week will be quite busy. I was planning on going to Rally in the Valley tonight, although looking at my course syllabus for this week I am thinking I may forego it. I'm in class all day this week... church meeting Monday night, meeting Tuesday night, Morphoo Wednesday night, and a meeting on Thursday night! Oh well, being busy definitely beats being bored. And since I'm still not working yet this summer (except for some odd jobs at the College), I might as well use it to my full advantage. I cannot BELIEVE it's already May 16. This summer is going to fly by.

NYC wrap-up

2010-05-05T16:47:00.000-03:00

I figured I'd write one more blog to just kind of wrap up the whole trip. I feel like I did 2 trips at the same time: one of sightseeing and one of concert going. They exist as two seperate entities in my memory. Both parts were insanely fun. I've just finished editing my pictures and I have to say that for 4.5 days in NYC we sure did see and do a lot of stuff. I definitely need to go back again. I've already talked to Mom about the possibility of going with her and Dad sometime :) Probably take the train down, in true Rowsell fashion. I'd like some more time on Ellis Island, more time in Central Park, more time shopping, and I'd like to do a double-decker bus tour of all 5 sections of NYC. I'd like to go back once the 9/11 Memorial is finished and opened. I'd also like to go back when a band I like is playing there if possible :) OH and I have to go to a Broadway show next time!

The shows, obviously, were incredible. It's so cool that I saw Hanson live 6 times in one week, and that I've heard them perform every album song they have to date. It was nice to see some familiar fan faces and to meet some new ones. It was fun to see how incredibly elated Taylor was every single night. And to watch Isaac's crazy antics. And to just watch Zac ;) I have to say that as far as crowd drama, pushing etc. NYC was probably the single best experience I've had. I swear, most of those issues on tour come from locals and not from the hardcore fans at all. It is very hard for me to say no to Hanson tour this summer, but after this expensive week in NYC, seeing them 6 times, and planning a vacation to New Hampshire/Maine in August, I am okay with foregoing it. This trip was so special it's going to stick with me for a long time.

Bamboozle of course was also great! Not quite the same since I was alone for it, but it was great to see the positive response Hanson received, and also to catch Relient K, Something Corporate, and The Maine live. And obviously Paramore KILLED IT. This was my 5th time seeing them and they were fantastic. They never disappoint. I'm pumped I get to see them again, from 9th row center, in August!

Our drive home on Sunday was long but good. Krista & I took turns and I had a nice nap for a couple of hours. We kind of ran out of gas money which I blame on NJ parking being more than I thought it would be, and expensive tolls. The Canadian gas situation was messed up, probably due to my own fault/not planning enough/trusting too much, but it's fine. What's a few more dollars after all we just spent? And now I know to organize it better for next time.

So all in all I give this trip a 9 out of 10. SO glad I did it, even though in the back of my head I keep thinking "if I didn't go, I'd be in Israel right now." But I wouldn't change my decision for anything. It was a fantastic trip! Now if only those 5 of 5 DVDs would get out by Christmas.....

NYC day 6 (except I'm actually in NJ) - let your body lose control

2010-05-01T23:45:00.001-03:00

Well today has been even more music-packed than the other days of my trip. We left NYC around 10am, headed for the train station and back out to New Jersey. It was nice to see my Yaris again! I missed her! We drove to our hotel, and after a delayed check in we got ready and drove to Bamboozle. I have never been to a festival like this before. It is HUGE, very dirty and very crowded. It was a far cry from the glamour of the Gramercy this week, but once I adjusted I was good with it. The first thing I did was get water and put on sunscreen. It was 30 degrees!! Heat stroke = not the best way to start a 15 hour drive home. I walked around a bit and checked out some merch tables, then I went to the stage to see Relient K. They were quite good and I knew all the songs :) After they were done the crowd got small and I found a spot on side barricade. The crowd is split down the middle so security can pull out crowd surfers. So I was maybe 10th row or something right in the middle for Hanson :D Their set was only 30min but I thought it went super well, they played all new stuff except Penny & Me, they had the horn section, and I heard several people say they thought they were good. So woohoo! It was a nice little conclusion to my week of Hanson :D

After Hanson the girls left... they had to go back into NYC to grab something left at our hotel. So I was on my own. I felt kinda sick after Hanson, I am guessing hunger/dehydration related so I got a pita and fruit smoothie for supper (which cost me a total of $16... welcome to festival life). SO MANY people were commenting on my I heart Hanson shirt... asking where I got it, asking if Hanson had a merch tent (they didn't... which I think is dumb), saying they liked it, asking if they could take a picture with me. hahaha. I am so glad I decided to wear it cause I say it helped with promo a bit! After supper I wandered booths, bought a TWLOHA shirt and 2 belts with music on them, and I hung out in the Sony tent, checking Facebook and trying to win a bloggie. I listened to The Maine and Something Corporate from afar, saving my energy for Paramore.

When Ke$ha's set was almost done I started weaving through the crowd a bit. Once she was finished several people left and I got up to probably about 35 rows back (like I said Bamboozle is HUGE). We waited forever... the day was about 20min behind but then on the other stage Drake just would not end his set!! Finally he did and Paramore came on super fast. Their set was amazing. Of course we got to hear Whoa :) And the Let the Flames Begin outro! This was my first time having my new camera at a Paramore show and MAN my pictures rock if I do say so myself. Can't wait to get home and edit those suckers. The crowd SURGED forward when they came on so I probably got to about 20 rows back. There was some pushing and some crowd surfing but nothing that was unbearable, and I just decided screw it. My last night of my trip, I'm gonna have fun! I really truly enjoyed the show. Now I am PUMPED for New Hampshire in August!!

After the show was over I drove back to the hotel to find the girls. I'm packed, sleepy, but ready to head home. This has seriously been an amazing vacation. Can't wait to get back to normal life though... whatever normal is at this point!

NYC day 5- shout it out! so everybody can hear

2010-04-30T23:43:00.000-03:00

I can't believe today was my last day in NYC! We started it earlier than normal because we had so much we wanted to fit in. It wasn't long before I realized, to my horror, that I had left my camera at the hotel! :( So I came back to the hotel to grab it. This morning we finished up our shopping. I got a purple zip-up I <3 NY hoodie, and a black I <3 NY t-shirt. I also got a skirt and beautiful sundress in H&M. At 11:00 Sarah & I went on the NBC Studios Tour and it was pretty fun! We got a history lesson on the dawn of the network and got to visit several sound stages and learn how it all works. We went on the Doctor Oz stage, the Sportsroom, and Saturday Night Live! Note to everyone, if you are going to a TV show taping be sure to wear bright colors and be happy looking. They'll sit you in direct shots. Also TV studios are all much smaller in real life. Camera trickery.

Next we headed to Central Park and went to the Zoo which was fun. Today it was actually WARM here which was great, I was lovin the heat. We unforunately did not get to see the snow leopards, they were in hiding. The polar bears and penguins were cool though. After the Zoo we went on a horse carriage ride through some of the park. It was nice and relaxing, our guy knew all the key places for movie scenes and celeb housing, and it gave us a chance to rest our feet. After this we went back to Times Square and had an early supper at TGI Fridays. Then we had to say goodbye to Times Square and take our last subway ride of the trip :(

We came back and got ready for the show and then off we went. Since we have stood on the floor for all the first 4 shows, and we are dead tired, we opted for the seats in the back for tonight. Tonight was the premiere performance of Hanson's upcoming album "Shout it Out" (which, as you can guess, is album #5). It felt really awkward hearing Hanson songs for the first time at a show, and not being able to sing along because you'd never heard it before. It was an interesting experience to sit (or stand/dance) and listen. I have to say, the night was basically epic. They had a 5-piece horn section on stage with them which added a lot to the performance. The album is fun and upbeat and full of life. After being there all week, it has almost started to feel like one big party instead of a concert. I know I say this every night I blog but I am SO HAPPY I got to be a part of this!! At the end of the show they decided that wasn't enough, and broke into 3 covers: Never Been to Spain, Shake a Tail Feather, and Gimme Some Lovin. My 13 year old self freaked out a bit at the last two. Then they had to redo 3 of the album songs because of mistakes made the first time around. So basically we got a whole Hanson concert time-wise, almost 2 hours! They also got us all to sing Happy Birthday to their Mom. Some sweet. And uh.... that's all I can remember. My feet are burning from all the dancing but we definitely had a blast!!!

So here ends my 5 days in New York. Trip isn't quite over yet though... tomorrow is Bamboozle! Hanson are playing a 30min set, I will get to see a full Paramore show, plus sets from Relient K, Something Corporate, and the Maine. Also Paramore's fanclub is going on about following tweets and having our membership cards with us, so it'd be cool if something awesome happened there. It'd also be awesome if I could randomly run into Zac (Hanson) and get my pic with him since I never managed to on Monday. I heard he just came outside at the Gramercy a little while ago but I am in my PJ's and tired and my voice is gone. Sorry Zac, I love ya, but I just want to sleep right now.

And that's all I got for today!

NYC day 4 - when you can't get through it, listen to it

2010-04-29T23:41:00.001-03:00

It seems as though every night I blog later. Tonight I would like to blame it on Paramore because I just watched them on Jimmy Fallon. They were in NYC today. Sad I didn't run into them but what are the chances haha. Oh well, Saturday's a comin! Anyways this blog is about my other favorite band and my tourist adventures. Today we headed to Lower Manhattan. We went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island which were great. Takes a long time though, wish we had more time/weren't as tired to look through all of the Museum on Ellis Island. Another time. Also the tickets to Liberty's crown were all sold out :( But the island was still fun and beautiful. And you can get a great view of the NY skyline. I really really wish I could have seen NYC with the twin towers there. It would be so different. Like I can almost tell something is missing even though I've never seen it before in real life.

After Liberty we took the subway up to Ground Zero. A wave of just like reverence and awe kind of came over me. Seeing the gates and hearing/seeing the construction of new buildings going up inside, getting Starbucks across the street and realizing that all of this was covered in rubble, it's just nuts. You can't imagine what it must have been like on 9/11. You can't see much at the actual site but we went to the preview of the 9/11 Memorial Site. Walking in kind of felt like walking into a wake at a funeral parlor. There were timelines and images, memorabilia from the WTC and information about the new WTC and memorial that is currently being built. They had a room where you could record your answer to "where were you on 9/11?" which will be used as an opening exhibit to the musuem. So I went in and recorded my story, and how I remember helping at my church with the passengers from Delta Flight 65. I was the first Newfoundlander to record so I am glad I did it. I want to come back to NYC after the memorial is all done. Anyway, it was a very moving experience. Probably one of the highlights of my trip here. After that we headed to the Brooklyn Bridge; we only walked out about 1/4 of the way to get some pictures. Then Sarah bought hair dye and we came back to the hotel when I grabbed some food.

Tonight was the 4th Hanson show, "The Walk". It was amazing. I heard 3 songs for the first time, 2 of which I have been dying to hear (Fire on the Mountain and Tearing it Down). The crowd did all of the children's choir stuff, Taylor was like amazed at how well we knew it all. He was just like "...*blank stare* Amazing." Maybe they don't realize that most of their fans are really REALLY into their music. Like when I got The Walk in 2007 it literally did not leave my CD player EVER for an entire year. Hundreds and hundreds of listens, paying attention to every detail. I always know the slightest thing they do differently live, from Taylor leaving out an "oh" to Zac doing a different fill or missing a cymbal. So of course we're going to sing in all the right places with all the right words, this music is engrained into us. The crowd did a LOT of singing tonight and I cannot wait to hear/see it when the DVD comes out. It was another fantastic show. I am so honored and happy that I get to be here for this.

After the show we went to eat in Times Square and then came home to crash. We are definitely getting more tired as the week goes on. I hope it doesn't show on the Hanson DVDs :P Kudos to bands and fans that tour man... it is hard work. Of course we are doing double duty as tourists too. Tomorrow night we are going to try and find seats at the show. Save a little energy for Bamboozle on Saturday. Also it's not like we know all the words to tomorrow's show since it's new music (well a few songs are...), and we'll have lots of room to dance in the back :) Can't wait to hear Thinking bout Somethin live. It's gonna be sick. Tomrorow also includes Times Square shopping, NBC Studio Tour, and Central Park. Last day in NYC :( It's been AMAZING!

NYC day 3 - this music is a place to hide

2010-04-28T23:35:00.000-03:00

So much happened in today I am having a job to remember it all! Let's see... after we slept in and had breakfast we headed for the Empire State Building! This is now the tallest building in NYC. Outside of it we got talked to by a NY skyride guy who convinced us to do the ride + the observation deck. Probably wasn't worth the extra $20 but I always just go with majority vote. Being up there was cool, you got a GREAT view of the city. The wind and cold reminded me of Signal Hill back home in Newfoundland. Got some great pics which will all be posted after I am home.

After that we did some souveneir shopping and then went to Grand Central Station. The whole time I was there I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wish I could have been there with Dad. He is to trains what I am to Hanson. I took lots of pictures and a video for him. It's also cool to be in that big lobby, it is pretty iconic. After this stop we went up to 60th so Sarah could go into her first Betsy Johnson store. We went into Bloomingdale's where someone tried to sell me a zit zapper cream thing. I was like "my friend has her own laser treatment clinic and is fixing my face!" Then we had a quick lunch at McDonalds. Did you know that the only adult nuggett meal in the USA is 10 pieces? But they have these "mega kid meals" that are basically the same size as our adult meal?? What the heck, you trying to make everyone obese or what? So I had a kids meal obviously. Also they don't even have McFlurry's here, or at least at this one they never. Strange.

We then decided to take the subway back to the hotel to rest up before the show. Funniest thing ever... while we were on the subway an announcement something to this effect came on: "a crowded subway is not an excuse for sexual assault. If you feel you have been a victim of abuse, please see a security officer or MTA staff." We also sometimes here "have a safe day" and "please watch your cameras and other electronic equipment." Not to freak anyone out about NYC subways or anything.

So after resting a little we got in line for tonights show. I don't know what it was but tonight was definitely my favorite night so far. I didn't hurt as much as last night (we walked too much yesterday), I sang and danced like a maniac, Hanson were like SPOT ON. The crowd continues to be nonpushy, sings along when it's good to and is actually (mostly) silent when it should be. There were 7 songs on Underneath I have never heard live before so I was pretty excited for almost every song. Taylor & Isaac both on guitar for Dancing in the Wind is probably the coolest/best thing in the whole world. When You're Gone was neat with Taylor on acoustic guitar and Isaac on electric. I loved how Broken Angel was basically a Zac solo but the other 2 were there for shakers and AMAZING backup vocals. Even though the album drums weren't there I liked it this way better I think. HEY was super fun as always... esp since Taylor started repeating the little ramble bit at the end and then the crowd basically took over. The whole week he just seems to be in disbelief this is all happening. At one point he said "you guys are all amazing. Don't let anyone tell you any different."

Taylor dedicated Penny & Me to his daughter who was in the audience and I teared up. Just the love of a father for his daughter, I know what that feels like and it was just SO sweet :) Before they started Deeper Isaac said "I didn't know what this song meant when I wrote it.... but I found out in September" and he spent the whole song smiling at his wife which I think is precious. ZAC PLAYED LULLABELLE. I was SO EXCITED about that!!! The crowd was remarkably quiet and we could hear every little thing. It was so special.

My love for the Underneath album was rekindled tonight. Like they said a couple of times throughout the show, that album took so long and has so many stories surrounding it, so much pain, struggle, and then triumph. It was a defining moment for the Band for sure and I think that's why tonight seemed to special. I am so honored and happy to be able to be a part of this whole week! I can't WAIT for tomorrow's show!!!

After the show we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. Neat place obviously, listened to some Alanis Morissette (go Canada!), New Found Glory, and POD while we ate. I am definitely out of American cash but that's what the visa is for ;) I don't want to buy anything else anyways except perhaps an I <3 NY shirt. And Paramore merch maybe on Saturday? We shall see. Alright it is 1:30 and I need sleep... tomorrow we are heading downtown to the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge!

NYC day 2 - what's going on in the city

2010-04-27T23:34:00.000-03:00

Well today was another full day in NYC. We actually got a decent amount of sleep last night followed by a hot shower. Felt like a million bucks. We have a wonderful free breakfast at the hotel so we took advantage of that, then we were off to our bus tour! On the subway on the way there a guy got on with a guitar and started singing worship songs! Hillson's "Now That You're Near" and "Open the Eyes of My Heart." I kind of enjoyed it because he was good and I like that music obviously, but at the same time I was afraid he might get shot by someone who took offense. Anyway, we went on the "On Location" TV and Movie Sites bus tour. We were a little disappointed that it wasn't a double decker, but the coach with AC and tinted windows and a bathroom was nice and comfy. It took about 3.5 hours, we went all over Manhattan and our tour guide pointed out where certain scenes in shows and movies were filmed, and then we watched clips of them on the bus TVs. He also told us about city permits that are needed to film. I took so many pictures and I have now idea how I am planning to remember what picture is from what movie(s). We got to see the Friends apartment, and the Cosby's house, and we ate a "black and white" cookie that Kramer talks about in Seinfeild as being gender equal because it's half black and half white. We also had pizza at Ben's Pizza which was in Men in Black 2, and tons of celebs have been there (pics + autographs on the wall). So yeah, the tour was great!

The tour ended right next to the Plaza Hotel so obviously we went inside the lobby just to gawk and feel like Macauly Kulkin (how do you even spell his name???) Then we went to the FAO Schwarz Toy Store to play on the big piano and look at custom Barbie's. Then we went into the Apple Store and I was in heaven. I played with an iPad, they are actually quite nice and if I had $800 to blow I'd be all over it. I also compared the 15" MBP to the 13" and am pretty sure I'll go to 15 next time I upgrade. Even just for the bigger screen and speakers. Anyway I could have stayed there all day but I am the only tech nerd in our group :) After Apple we walked down Madison to take pics of the building used in Gossip Girl (I think) for their apartment building? We even went inside. I have never seen the show but Sarah & Krista were quite intrigued. I took some pictures of a beautiful church across the street.

After that we went to NBC studios and I bought an official Office Dwight Shrute bobble head!!! I am so excited!! Sarah & I also decided we would do the NBC studio tour on Friday so we bought our tickets today. Then we walked pretty far out of our way trying to find Times Square and eventually came back to it (we turned a 15min walk into a 40min one easy. Dumb). We ate at the Olive Garden for supper. I splurged and got salmon and spent like $30 (tourist markup, whatup) but man it was SO GOOD and I haven't had some decent food in a few days. After that we came back to the hotel to freshen up and it was time for the show!

Tonight's show was AMAZING. For starters, before it started they decided to start playing the new album on the speakers! We had a good singalong and dance party to "Thinking bout Somethin" and it was so cool to get to hear some of the new stuff! I'm telling you, this next album is going to be the best one yet. I think it's going to boost their fame level. Like it just sounded SO GOOD even dimly over the murmers of the crowd. I cannot wait to own it.
Anyway, the show. The whole night Taylor had a look on his face like "wow... I can't believe this..." I heard several songs for the first time. I love that the shows are all electric. It is so special to be here. Hands down my favorite performance of the night was Hand in Hand. Isaac went NUTS. Like he always rocks out but I have never seen him like this. Taylor and Zac were like "what the heck?" Also when they did "A Song to Sing" they did the "glassy surface" 3rd verse, woo! Unfortunately tonight they did everything right the first time and so we got no second performances. I have to say the crowds are good at this, I have never really been pushed at all. I swear the people that cause the most issues on tour are the people that aren't even the diehard fans, they are locals or casual fans that don't think of others, aren't friendly, and just want to force their way through. I was on the live stream a couple times tonight so I am hoping I make the DVD :) That would be amazing.

I am dead tired. Tomorrow we go to the Empire State Building, Central Park Zoo, shopping, and hear Underneath played live!!

NYC day 1 - it started at a bus stop

2010-04-26T23:32:00.000-03:00

Today has been so long but so great. Got up at around 5:30am in Newark and drove to the parking without any issues from Karen! Parked and lugged our stuff to the train station. I have to say it wasn't that busy at all. Found our train and headed into NYC! Penn Station is HUGE (I don't know why I thought it wouldn't be insane) we eventually found a way out of it and there was a beautiful SUV taxi sitting right outside that we got in. We were WIDE-EYED just looking at the big buildings and all the hustle and bustle of NYC. It was a super short drive to our hotel and only cost $5.30! Our driver was quiet but nice :) We dropped our luggage off at our hotel and they said we could have free breakfast even though we weren't checked in yet.. ummm yes please. Then we left to find the subway to take us to Rockefeller Center! Didn't get lost and got there even earlier than scheduled.

The Today Show was a great experience and I am so glad we decided to go. Oh yeah, the dance/walk/listening party that I wrote about yesterday did not happen today due to rain and cold. Which meant I got 4 hours sleep instead of 2, so really I don't mind. They are going to do this stuff later in the week they said :) But they also said they'd come out and say hi at TODAY so we went, but later. We ended up still getting a spot right on the barricade and got on TV a couple of times :) Hanson came out pre-interview and made their way around signing things, chatting, and taking pictures. I got a pic with Taylor and Isaac :) I was also talking to a really nice lady who is an avid Hanson fan, and a girl around my age who saw Hanson live once in 98 and not since. I took pics for her with Ike & Tay as well, she was so starstruck and it was awesome :) I love people's first experiences because it reminds me of my own back in 2005. Zac got to us but then had to go inside for the interview. We couldn't actually see or hear it because it was in the studio. It started to rain a LOT. We were about to leave, but then they came out again! They started at the opposite end though and so my new 2nd row spot did not earn me a pic with Zac :( But it was nice seeing him and just being there all the same even in the rain. NBC brought out umbrellas for them and Isaac started to pretend he was Marry Poppins. If only my camera was ready, haha. It was amazing how happy and high-spirited all 3 of them were today! Their positive energy was contagious (as if the fans don't have enough already!).

After the Today Show we found a Starbucks and warmed up. Then we went to Times Square! It is pretty hard to take it all in. I took several pics and a video. We started working our way through the stores. I bought a NYC Starbucks shirt :D M&M World was probably my favorite place. I wanted to buy things but I am really looking to save money and not buy a ton of stuff so I resisted. Another highlight was Toys R Us. Krista & I rode the ferris wheel inside, on the Barbie car. There was a life-size Barbie house in there, and a huge moving Jurassic Park dinosaur! He seriously scared me. We didn't even get to finish Times Square today, we were so tired. We will finish it tomorrow probably. So around 2 or so we took the subway back to the hotel, got our bags and checked in. After some internet/down time, we headed to the Gramercy Theatre!

Seeing "Hanson - April 26-30 - SOLD OUT" on a building's billboard is pretty much the best thing ever. There were a fair number of people lined up already, even in the pouring rain. We went to will call and got our ticket packages with no problems at all. I opened the envelope and saw SIX ticketmaster tickets that all say Hanson. Seriously. Actually the last one just says Bamboozle (Paramore etc woo!). I was holding the total # of concerts I had been to, and was about to do. So fun to double my number in one week!! Anyways after we got the tickets we walked a few blocks looking for a sit-down restaurant (we hadn't eaten besides the breakfast the hotel let us have that morning). We couldn't find anything, and it was wet and cold, so we gave up and went to the deli style place right across from the Gramercy. It was actually nice in there, I had pasta and it was fabulous! We also met up with Kylie and her Dad which was awesome. We sat in there for about 2 hours, chatting and keeping an eye on the line. When doors opened we went to meet up with Carly, Rachael, and Bianca, and then we went and got in line.

The Gramercy is a nice and small venue! We didn't even go in until about 7:20, I was about 15 rows back maybe, and there were about another 9 behind me to the back door. So it's small. I had a great view, I love being tall. Best thing ever = the Albertane Tour drum head!!! I was SO happy, I was hoping they would do that!!! We only had to wait one hour, and no opening bands. My feet/back didn't even hurt (I also took advil though). There was no prep time... they just kinda walked onstage and looked at us haha. They did the album in chronological order. I had so much fun. Dancing like a maniac, singing along, clapping, etc etc. Seriously so happy. I heard like 6 songs live for the first time tonight. When it was over they came back and asked if we'd like a couple of repeat performances. They are recording these shows for DVD (lots of cameras, I hope I make some crowd shots!!) and the guitar wasn't on for Lucy, and they messed up Look at You. So we got to hear those twice :D So in the end it was 15 songs and about 90min.

I have to say it is very obvious that Hanson have put a LOT of work and practice time into learning this album. Things that they have changed/forgotten in playing these songs live were reverted back to exactly how they were done on Middle of Nowhere. Speechless was at it's MON slower tempo, 95% of the lyrics and "whoa's" were right on... Zac even did the crazy "one-eyed goose" stuff at the end of Look at You! hahaha I laughed so hard. My favorite part was With You in Your Dreams when they divided the crowd and got us to sing it in harmony. It was just... wonderful. The whole show. I can't even express how perfect it was.

After the show we got in the merch line... it's in a tiny room in the basement so security were only letting through a couple people at a time. There were some great custom posters there but I have nowhere to put more posters really! I bought the "5 of 5" shirt and the "I <3 Hanson" burnout shirt. And I got a free Hanson tote bag because I spent $55 :) So bonus. I really like them! After that we walked back to our hotel, we picked up Brook, and now we're in bed! Getting up in 7 hours for our bus tour. It should be a lot of fun. Then we'll probably finish Times Square, possibly Empire State Building, who knows really. Then tomorrow night is a whole nother show :D

NYC day 0 - getting here

2010-04-25T23:30:00.001-03:00

Well, it is 12:23am and I am in a hotel in Newark NJ! Praise Jesus! I woke up at 6am (which was 5am here) at Krista's house, we picked up Cathy and we started the drive. After some gas and some McDonalds breakfast, we had Sarah in the car by 10:30 and were off to the border! Of course, we were all scared of the border, and Sarah said the St. Stephen one was particularly bad.Sure enough, we talk to the guy who doesn't understand how we know each other where we're from different areas (it's called the internet) and he asked us to go inside to an "interview room". So we parked the car, Krista threw out our McDonalds garbage which caused her to get yelled at by the man, he probably thought we were throwing away evidence or something crazy. Anyways we went into a room with 3 officer's behind a table, there was a picture of Obama on the wall, and we basically had to fill out the Customs sheet that you do on the plane. Maybe it was because we're here for a whole week? They asked us questions and were "intrigued" that Hanson are still a band and we are going to our 7th (for me and Sarah) or 11th (for Krista) Hanson shows. We also got asked when was the last time we were in court... I felt like saying "like a basketball court?" Anyways, we were set free because they didn't want to keep us from our long drive to NYC.

We have a GPS this trip which is a first for me. Her name is Karen. I give her a 7 out of 10. She is Austrailian, and usually knows exactly where we're going. However, in NB she thought we were in a field and kept recalculating even though we were on the road, and in NYC she was not fast enough for all the fast traffic and turnoffs. We took a detour straight through the Bronx (we locked the doors) and some other random part of NYC, and we tried 3 times to get to the Olive Garden but poor Karen kept messing up. To her credit, she recalcuated quickly and always got us to where we needed to be. Paper maps can't do that if you get lost. So good job, Karen.

We had IHOP in Portland for a late lunch. Krista & I shared the driving pretty evenly which was nice. Once we got Sarah in the car we started with Middle of Nowhere and worked through all of Hanson albums. Then the last one kept looping. I think we listened to Hanson for almost 8 hours straight. I am usually not with people who can handle this, so it's nice and fun. Plus our music tastes are so varied that Hanson are one of the very few we all like. Plus you know, spirit of the trip etc.

I drove the last 2 hours of the day and it was an adventure. There's lots of cars and lots of turns and like I said we had some adventures. I had two angry horns but I still have my car with no dents and with all it's bumpers still in tact. AND it was going from drizzle to DOWNPOUR and my windshield was streaking so bad it was hard to see a lot of the time. No pressure or anything, not like there's thousands of cars in front of me. Our biggest mistake today was after we got to the hotel at 9:30 we thought it'd be a good idea to go eat at the Olive Garden. Like I said, between me second guessing myself and Karen being too slow we drove by the place 3 times before we got there, and it took 30min instead of 10. When we got there, a lady comes out and says "we're closed." She wasn't nice either. So then we basically wanted to cry but we just laughed. So we came back to the hotel (and didn't get lost woohoo!) and just ordered food from the restuarant downstairs. We are staying at the Ramada by the airport. Only $80! I also give it a 7 out of 10. Why the -3? There was a tshirt hung in our shower when we got here. When I called about it they said no staff are on so they'll get it in the morning. I have just spent 8 months living in dorm though so whatever, a random persons tshirt is better than pee, alcohol, or worse.

The girls were expedicious in getting into bed but, even though I am DEAD tired and we are getting up at 3am, I had to get a shower and blowdry my hair. I want to look half good tomorrow for The Today Show. I also have to be organized before bed because I HAVE to be organized or I get anxiety, and I am useless in the morning. I am going to get about 2 hours of sleep but then we are actually going INTO NYC and going to the Today Show! I am not sure if I will go to Times Square in the afternoon or if I will have to nap. We'll see. Anyways, dead tired but having fun! This is tour life.

You can watch ALL of this weeks shows for free online, each night at 8pm EST! http://www.livestream.com/hansonmusic. Tomorrow is Middle of Nowhere - bring on MMMBop!!

NYC pre-game show

2010-04-24T22:26:00.000-03:00

So I am in Truro at Krista's house! Today has been awesome. I moved out of residence (goodbye Chipman) and came into Halifax to hang out with Jolene & Sharlene. Lasers, shopping, supper, music, and ice cream. I mean really, could you ask for a better day with friends? I think not. I didn't leave Sharlene's house until about 10 and drove to Truro to meet up with Krista! In bed now, have to get up in 5.5 hours to start the 13.5 hour drive to NYC. Oh yeah we are going all the way now... Hanson are on the Today Show Monday morning so we are going to that :) I cannot believe this trip is actually here. I have been looking forward to it for so long, it felt like it was never going to come. And now that it is, it hasn't even really hit yet. I've had moments of excitement today, but I don't think it'll REALLY hit until we go to the first show. Can't wait!!

I'll be taking lots of pics but probably not uploading any until I get home. Can't waste time in NYC and I want to blog each night.

PS - if you are interested, you can watch any/all of the Hanson shows online at 8pm EST. Just go here. Monday = Middle of Nowhere (1997), Tuesday = This Time Around (2000), Wednesday = Underneath (2004), Thursday = The Walk (2007), Friday = Shout it Out (June 8, 2010). Look for me! :)

Every time, never fails!

2010-04-21T21:49:00.003-03:00

The last little bit of each and every semester is the same: filled with writing papers and exams, and it seems as though anything and everything is more interesting than my schoolwork. I will spend HOURS on the internet, downloading music, cleaning my room, cutting my finger nails... and it is the most torcherous thing of life to actually buckle down and do my schoolwork. But then, every semester, as SOON as I am finished with that last paper/exam, all the rest of life gets incessantly boring. Now those of you who are still trying to clue up this year are probably saying "here take mine!" hahaha. But it's so funny how it's always this way. Why were distractions so entertaining yesterday, but today I'm just bored with everything? I could be packing... I could be calling my NYC hotel about early bag drop off... I could be making my sign for the Today Show.... but I don't want to do any of it! In fact, I am so sleepy and uninterested in life that I think I am going to bed after I write this. This is the crazy celebratory life of a girl just finished year 2 of her grad degree, people.

I can't even believe that I leave here in 3 days, and that I head to NYC in 4 days. It's like, as soon as my last exam was done I tried to explode with excitement but it didn't come. It's like I broke myself because the extreme excitement was too much, my brain has said "do not compute." So I'm just kind of existing haha. Now that all the work is finally done, and there's nothing standing between me and NYC other than packing, it is too much to take in. Can't do it!

My goal for the next couple days is to keep a normal sleep pattern, considering it has to be that way for NYC and I do not want to start this trip tired. Tomorrow I am going to pass in my last exam, do laundry, start packing, hopefully vacuum out my car if it doesn't rain, and watch this movie with people at the College. I'm also on duty tomorrow night. Soo yeah... that's my life right now. Can't even believe it.

Oh yeah, I also have to practice the Thinking bout Somethin dance :)

Hanson's "Thinking bout Somethin" music video

2010-04-15T11:50:00.004-03:00

There are just so many things to comment on, I had to blog about it!

there are two Zac's and two Isaac's. The 3rd guitar guy with the crazy big hair and beard is ISAAC. I didn't realize this until about the 5th time watching.

I like that Will & Demitrius are in this.

WEIRD AL.

Taylor's Ray Charles impression is awkard, but strangely accurate.

There are at least 3 Hanson posters on the walls in Tay's Music Exchange. Pause the video near the beginning... MON one in the bottom half of the door by Zac, a couple newer ones around.

Zac & Isaac dancing on their own (+ Weird Al) made me super uncomfortable at first but now I kind of love it.

Taylor's two oldest children, Ezra & Penny, are in it and I think that's adorable. Check out the pic below, Ezra = redhead with light blue shirt and brown pants, Penny = blonde with pink shirt and brown skirt. Adorable.

There is "Shout it Out" artwork indispersed around the grafitti art

The girl from South Africa that has been to all Hanson things the last little while (saw her in Chicago) is very visible in the video a couple of times.

the 3 of them jumping/high-fiving at the end is so cheesy but I love it.

Basically, the video is CHEESE and awkward but I love it more every time I watch it. So funny. I also think this might be my new favorite Hanson music video, or else it has now tied with Weird.
PS it's copied from this video. And now that I just watched it, wow, they did a great job copying it!

Taylor's kids :)

LOL

The weekend after Easter.

2010-04-12T16:23:00.003-03:00

I've had a pretty full weekend! My sermon came together and I'm generally happy with how it went. It definitely wasn't on my own strength. Both in class and in church last night I fully surrendered over to God to do what He needed to do. It is amazing when, right before you go up to speak, a calmness comes over you that can only be explained supernaturally. And then you just go do it. I'm a little more confident now that I can at least preach when I have to ;) I just never EVER want to be confident in MYSELF because I know that will be the time I'll crash and burn! I'm just a servant. So anyways, lesson learned, I like extensive notes more than full manuscript, and I'm fine as long as I am responsive to the Holy Spirit.

On Friday I wrote up a little paper for preaching class and handed that sucker in. That evening was the ADC Spring Banquet which was a beach party theme. I was in charge of music which made me extremely happy; nothing like supper to your favorite tunes! It was a fun event. Afterwards I got some icecream with some friends. Saturday was Relay for Life. Unfortunately at the last minute Chipman decided they were pulling out :( But I was still going because I had friends pledge me to relay! So I joined the ADC team at the last minute. I could only stay till about 12:30 because I had church in the morning, but I walked for a little over 90min total. The luminary ceremony was beautiful. And we spent some time in our tent playing trivia and quizzing each other on Greek vocab. I can bet we were the only tent there doing that, hahaha.

Church was great yesterday! Pastor Bob spoke on Romans 12:1-2 which tied in well to what I was preaching on that night, and it's part of what my Exegesis Paper was on! Too bad I didn't hear the sermon first, I would have gotten some extra marks on my paper haha. I have to write a full sermon manuscript to pass in on Friday and am wondering if maybe I'll go after this text, since I just wrote an exegesis on it. Background work = already done. We'll see.

Today I am sitting in the SUB working on my Credo for Theology class. It is due tomorrow.... I hope it is done by then! I shouldn't be blogging really. So far I have the doctrine of humanity all outlined, just have to turn it into paper form. Then I have to talk about sin, salvation, church, and end times. I am actually quite enjoying working on it. It's nice to get your beliefs somewhat solidified in your head as you work through class notes, Scripture, and what other theologians have said.

OK back to work! I only have 4 assignments/exams left, and I head for NYC in 13 days!!!!!! WOO!!

Sermonizing

2010-04-06T22:41:00.003-03:00

Is that a word? It is now! I got a teensy bit of stress on me this week. I have to preach again in class on Thursday, and also at church on Sunday night. I'm going to do the same one so I can use the feedback in class for church. I am not convinced that I have the gift of preaching... although the last time I did it for non-academic reasons was almost 2 years ago. The first time I preached in class 2 weeks ago, I only did mediocre at best. This is probably my own fault. I preached a sermon on Jonah that I did in Fredericton 2 years ago. It was a full manuscript. I remember in Fredericton, my first couple of sermons were notes and they were kind of iffy. So this one I wrote out full and it went much better. But now, this sermon felt fake. I didn't look up nearly as much as I would have liked, and I get this "preachy" voice going that I hate. I also grip the pulpit and shift awkwardly from side to side. Ack!

So since I don't think the full manuscript is really flying, this week I am going back to notes only. The difference is I am going to be way more prepared this time. I'll know exactly what I'm going to say even though it's not in front of me. I'm going to preach on Philippians 3:12-4:1 - pressing on towards the goal. Last night I read the whole book of Philippians. Tonight I read my passage and started thinking of points, intros, and stories. I read my New Testament textbook for information about Philippi and Paul at the time he wrote it. Tomorrow I'd like to look in a couple commentaries at school to see if there's anything useful in there. Right now my intro, first point, and half my conclusion are basically done. Sounds random haha. I am giving up for the night, as I am on duty and have to do a round in 15min, and want to sleep early (well, 11:30 isn't that early). I have lots of time tomorrow. I just really want to say what God wants me to say. I want to be prepared and confident. Not in myself but in what He's given me. I get so stressed!

In other news, I leave for NYC in 19 days. I have no idea how this trip has crept up on me so fast! Time is almost going too fast right now. I have so many things I need to do, with getting schoolwork wrapped up, and packing, and moving my stuff to the trunk room/Adalia's, and getting the NYC subways figured out. I can't believe that 2 weeks from now I will be finished all of my schoolwork except for one take-home exam, and I will be moving out of residence in 4 days. Crazy!! Time please slow down just a little bit. I'm not ready to be done second year yet.