sushi

2 posts in one day- what is this? "It's the green tea, my friend, the green tea".

Biked to Grandview, to meet up with Nanc and coincidentally catch the tail end of their church service- then went to Tenth church (i am not trying to sound pious with these multiple churches, it's just the way things go around here on Sundays in order to hang out with good friends who attend multiple churches)...

To sum up the message we heard tonight at Tenth.. a quote from Rob Bell- "No one else gets in this specific, holy, sacred, spiritual, physical way". Marriage is a context like no other.

Went out for sushi after- hence the green tea. I love the connections that can be made with people. Often wherever you go, it seems. You did a course at my university i treeplanted with you your brother is my friend we are from the east you are going to marry that guy who is also my friend my boyfriend grew up in your town but after you you went to my school we were at the same concert in 2005 you also work at VGH you are friends with my friend we are all friends therefore...... its quite amazing.

All the cats in Vancouver come out onto the streets at precisely 11 pm. I have now witnessed it with my very eyes during a late night chat at the curb. Vancouver is beautiful at night. There is quiet and peace to be found in the sleeping streets of the city.

blue-grey-light

this has been an interesting last few days.

First of all I would like to say that I am quite pleased it is already November 16. November seemed to me such a daunting month when I first turned the calendar page. But now the halfway mark is past.

I've been a little under the weather lately and have a tendency to snuffle and sulk and become frustrated with my lackluster health status. I despise feeling ill. I don't like slowing down, I think that's the main problem. I want to not call in sick to work, I want to bike to north Van cause the weather is half decent, I want to sing my heart out in church- but all of the above will probably prolong this state. and so i just. need. to. slow. down. and i have a hard time with that. but i'll keep trying.

something that has been on my mind a bit lately is keeping in touch with people, or more the lack of such. I can (almost) count on one hand the friends from UWO that I still actively communicate with, still know what is going on with them, still call them to catch up and know what is going on with them without resorting to facebook stalking. I think it bothers me that I cant seem to keep in touch with more people. but it is something that does happen when you up and move across the country. and distance is a true test for any relationship. i seem to be learning this a lot lately.

i went on a lovely walk yesterday. there are still always places to discover around here. such as new brighton park. i guess you could say it is east Van's version of Kits beach. quite a nice spot.

You are the only constant in my life amidst the seas of change and uncertainty and hopes and dreams. People fail. You do not. Ever. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

mmmm

all of a sudden it's november. it's strange. sometimes i feel like time is moving eeeeever so sloooowly... but then at the same time, i get sucked into the cycle of work work work play play and the days just tumble one after another into hindsight.

i feel like i should list some things that i am enjoying/ have enjoyed lately.

- sappy romantic movies such as 'PS I love you', and the urges they place in my heart to run off to Ireland and other such green-fielded countries

- the refreshing feeling of biking home in the rain and my favourite spot at the top of Lakewood on the way home on top of a huge hill where I can see Grouse mountain and the lights of North Van

- North vancouver itself (well the mountains behind it) and the lovely hike which we did there on Saturday.. in the rain.. it was awesome. the rain is hardly noticeable due to the high forest canopy and the huge trees... green and lush and fresh and LIFE.

- phone calls

- flannel sheets

- coffee beans

- normal bloodwork, low blood pressures, afebrile temperatures, high O2 sats, and comfortable pulses

- doxologies

Barack Obama is the president of the United States of America. I must say, I think that Americans have it down when it comes to inspiring political speeches. It almost makes me feel this old heart swell with pride and I don't even belong to that country. There's just something about it-- it works for them. Let the triumphant music roll....

mm. i have nothing deep to say at this point. lots of deeper stuff rumbling through my head. but it's clouded over with post=work induced haze. later, peeps.

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.