mmm. not too much to say today.

just thought I better post something cause it's been a while.

anything worth fighting for takes a lot of work. but it's worth it. hold out for the good.

those are my cryptic words of wisdom for today.

biking to poco and other such things

mmm. I have discovered a wonderful new drink. Horlick's. Malty milky warm goodness. Thank you Hillary.

It is pouring rain outside. I've written so many times about how the rains are coming. I think it might be getting kind of annoying. But the weather has been pretty good so far.

Some fun stuff has happened lately. Thanksgiving weekend was great. Biked around Stanley Park. Went to a hockey game. Biked to Port Coquitlam. Went to a housewarming party. Got to go to church. Made a thanksgiving dinner with my roomies for 15 people. Thanksgiving Monday church was great- gave me joy. Made squash soup. Talked to Brian. Drank tea. Had fun.

Then I went to work. Work has been good. Not quite so busy- a bit more manageable. It helps that I had a student today. Funny- that was me six months ago. I like teaching them though. And it also is rather affirming cause I see how far I have come.

In two days I'm going to Ontario. WOOHOO!! For a week (almost) of family goodness.

palpable

i am full of Thanksgiving goodness right now. Our house made dinner for the YWAMers... it was great fun. 15 people over. Mountains of potatoes, lots of veges, an enourmous stubborn yet delicious turkey, and pie to top it all off. Delicious.

life is good in general. there's the trials and little things of course. trying not to worry about things. I have a tendency to let little things get out of proportion in my head. to jump to conclusions and just be plain paranoid. sometimes, just gotta take a deeep breath.

when we sang this in church it gives me shivers... the heartfelt sincerity behind the words overflowing from the hearts of those singing them- you can just FEEL it. soak it in and rejoice in it.

praise God from whom all blessings flow

praise Him all creatures here below

praise Him above ye heavenly host

praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

ALL blessings. indeed. don't forget it.

trust.

il pleut aujourd'hui

It's raining in Vancouver.

I think I'll get used to it. I already know to take advantage of the sunny days, and to get outside. Which makes me cringe when I spend 12 hours of a glorious blue sky day in the hospital..... but on the bright side, it would be far far worse to be a patient in the hospital for countless blue sky days on end....

Besides, tea in the afternoon in my favourite mug is ever so cozy.

I am finding community. And it is good for the soul. The church I'm going to, at least as often as I can (which hasn't been much lately) has Community Night on Wednesdays. Soup, bread, dessert, love. Multiple generations. The little old ladies, the chatty mothers, the hungry college students, the shy ones, the newbies, the squirmy toddlers... everyone comes together. There definitely is something about a shared meal that brings people together. I know there's a lot of good quotes about that, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

On the flip side, I am missing people that aren't here. The problem with living on one side of the country, however beautiful it may be to live here, is that there are always people living on the other side. And close to the other side- 'back East', as they say here. Perhaps it would be better to live in the middle. Though either way, you've got to travel to see people, and flights are not exactly cheap. (though I must say they are slightly cheaper these days thanks to the elimination of a fuel surcharge though I'm sure there are hidden fees elsewhere in the whole section where your 'seat sale' turns into a whopping total, with one click, right before your very eyes).

Sometimes I find it hard to not always look to what is to come, and instead fully enjoy the present. A good friend of mine jokes about my oft-stated dream to live out in the country with a big backyard, my own forest and some pet sheep and rabbits (alright maybe that is a slight exaggeration). Not exactly the big city life which I have (sort of) got myself into at this moment. But that time will come, maybe not that specifically, but just different places and different things. For now, I know that I've got to be HERE. and embrace the balance of the here and now, and the future. It's all in the hands of the only One who is big enough to create it all, take it all, and love beyond understanding.