Take a {Stand}

Today, was a good day! While I did continue to think about bugs, it wasn't as bad as yesterday.. haa. One of my roommates got engaged last night! So that was exciting news in our house this morning! I had class at 8:30 but found myself wide awake at 7:00. So I got up and did nothing but eat apple cinnamon cheerios and watched Canada AM. A new experience indeed. Also, if you have never tried apple cinnamon cheerios, they are worth it, super good. Surprisingly good at 7:00 am with Canada AM. My class this morning did not consist of much but a sub prof asking us why we took early morning classes if we are not morning people. I also met my friends Hailey and Kaitlyn on campus which was quite random since Hailey does not attend U of M, but it was a nice surprise!

Today was also a lazy day consisting of an episode of Ugly Betty, an episode in which by the way she gets her braces removed! if you cared to know. I just feel like I can relate!...ha it was a good show. Then Gilmore Girls, which I truly love. truly. I began cooking up a storm later in the day for Hailey and Kaitlyn the same friends I met earlier in the day who were also coming for dinner. It was so warm in our house (which is unusual) that I opened windows in the -10 degree weather and it was beautiful! Our house needed some airing out from this stuffy winter air anyway.

So I like to think I have learned a lot about myself this year about who I am (there is a lot more learning to do!) but lately I've been thinking a lot lately about what makes me different? Do you know what I mean? Like, I am supposed to be this passionate Christ follower and disciple but really when I look at my life...Do people see that? Do people know that I follow Christ? and I'm not talking about the "not swearing, lying, cheating" type of thing here. I mean legitimately striving for other to know Christ through my actions. There are so many people at U of M, like 27,000 many. What makes me any different from the next person passing me on campus? God has just been really challenging me these past few months through a lot of things and some conversations I've had with people who don't believe. He's really challenged me to strive to show His love to people who don't know Him or don't want to. He's challenged me to strive to be different and not be afraid of who that is. I mean, really, I hope that my friends at school can see that I follow and love Christ, but what I'm doing right now, is it enough? I don't really think so. So I guess I feel just feel really challenged right now but I'm looking forward to the challenge and what comes next. There is this one quote that I have fallen back in love with lately and it's simply put, "Stand for Him, He stood for You". Christ died on the Cross for me that day, laid it all out on the line. all of it. So when I really think about that, What's stopping me? Like, really. But I guess my question or challenge to you is...What makes you different? I'm not judging here in anyway, just think about it. Let's be Different.

Rachel

A {Bugs} Life

Last night I had a weird dream about bugs. Yes, bugs. Well more like huge red and black wasps which were everywhere. and today I found myself constantly paranoid about being bitten or eaten by a bug! Then this afternoon while studying I saw one fly up from underneath my textbooks somewhere and I was terrified, even though it was only a little fruit fly. I'm not even sure how it got there...very strange. Then this evening I felt like something bit me on my arm! but it was nothing. I think I was just a little bit paranoid today.

It was also super windy today, and brrr was it cold! I realized it snowed when my sister gasped loudly in the living room, thinking something was deathly wrong, I asked what!? and she said "Did you know it SNOWED?". haaa. But the snow is gone now and I'm glad!

Tomorrow Hailey and Kaitlyn are coming over for dinner and I"m going to make them chicken fettuccine alfredo! It will be delicious! I hope :) On Saturday, Danielle and I are heading over to SOAR Heartland to help make supper and then go to the evening session! I'm super pumped! It's going to be a goooddd time. I miss SOAR. Such good times.

OHHHH, and the paper I was freaking out about this week, which I pretty much finished yesterday, my prof, today decided to give everyone a weekend extension! way to freak out about nothing! oh well, it gives me some extra time to edit.

Okay, time for bed...early class tomorrow! :)

Life {Overloaded}

Tonight I am relieved! I am almost done my dreaded research paper, which I enjoyed writing, but I hated working on because I'm just soo done with school. I decided that today, I'm so just done with it, the work, the writing, the stress, the reading, the stats!, ugh, I'm just ready for it to be over. Oh well, Three weeks(ish) and I can say I'm done year one! That will be fabulous!

Yesterday my nephew, Caleb, spent the day with us in Winnipeg and it was a blast! Good times, he was a giggle box and very talkative so it was just overall a party. I played guitar and sang for him and he was super pumped about that...most people are...haaa kidding. But seriously, he was dancing and singing, well as much as a one year old can. Auntie is definitely gunna teach that boy right and have him playing guitar and singing in nooo time.

What giggle box! How can you not fall in love with that face :)

In the evening my class ended up to be cancelled so I walked to school for nothing..It was a bit disapointing because I would have liked to have gotten my presentation over with! But thats okay. Today I worked on my stats homework, which Wayne helped me with again! It's getting a bit harder now...which is frustrating, so much stuff to remember. Which reminds me! a word of advice --> never ever take a stats class if you don't have to! Then I worked on my paper and almost completed it and now I am here! Btw, my paper was about the "Indian" Residential Schools, if you have not heard about the Residential Schools you really really really need to check out this website about the First Nations Community and the impact of the residential schools. I've learnt so much and it blows my mind what this society has done...seriously check it out http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/flash/WATCSite.html

I think i'm soon going to work on some sociology or psych...yay..truely, i'm actually relieved to not have to think about writing anymore! I only have one more paper left this year!!!!! AMEN!

Again today I was looking for things to make me laugh because laughing is alwaaayys awesome. and Here is the top result of the day! :) Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6joiq58Q68

Forever {Young}

{Congratulations to me! I have written more blogs in 2010
than I have in 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined!}

Spring, Spring, Spring here you are! I hope it only goes up from here! Today...I have no motivation. Help me! I have papers to write, an assignment due, and so much to read, yet I can't seem to get going at allllll. I usually don't have any motivation when I'm home for the weekend and this weekend has been especially terrible...there always is something better to do. This week is going to be a rouuggghh one..

Friday I hung out with Tamara which was fantastic! I loved catching up on stuff, so that was great. Afterward, I went to surprise Hailey who came home from England that evening and that was a really great time too and got to see a lot of people that I hadn't seen in a long time, so that was a bonus. Saturday morning was Kid's Zone which was spectacular! I met these super cute girls and we had a lot of fun! In the evening I went to the Dinner Theatre and hung out with the cross currents from last year and saw a whack load of camp people that I miss so much! That was a super good time. So my weekend was not filled with a lot of homework at all..

Today is my nephew's birthday as you can probably see from the post below and I can't believe time has gone by so fast! So in honor of him, here is his first video after being born a year ago today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAcHicUaYpk

Time, Where did you go?

Happy Birthday Caleb Dayne!

{Raincoats} and Flip Flops

Today is fridddday! Are you excited? Because I am! :) This morning I woke up at 7 and decided that I needed to sleep more so I went back to sleep until 8:30 and then showered and got ready. I had big plans to do a lot of homework this morning which did NOT happen. But that's okay I did tons yesterday. Instead I spent the morning getting ready, watching gilmore girls(which was spectacular), eating peanut butter and honey on toast and playing guitar. It was a very successful morning minus the no homework getting done. I have a test today...which should be interesting...I'm not exactly sure what is supposed to be on it, which is what makes it interesting. So my friend Alyssa, Laura and myself are going to study at Greenhouse before the test to figure out what is going on...and then I'm going home! yay! I'm hanging out with Tamara this evening which should be spectacular! and then after my friend Hailey is coming home from England so I'm going to pop in and say Hi! :) I'm super pumped!

My dad is in Orlando this week/weekend so I'm going to hang out with my mom quite a bit and go to Kid's Zone and the Dinner Theatre. On sunday It's my nephew Birthday so we'll probably party with them again.. and yup! That's pretty much my weekend. I have a research paper due on Friday...and I have only completed a page...oh boy. So I really need to work on that this weekend and hopefully do a lot of stats.

I promised that I would wear flip flops this afternoon to school but it's looking pretty chilly. Oh well I guess my feet will be chilly! That'sok! I feel like this blog is all over the place and hopefully it's understable..ha I mean understantable? yup. Anyways I should head off to school!

Hope you're having a fabulous day!

Rachel

Ps. I keep looking for things to make me laugh online and this is what I found last night! Check it out loves!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ZgTXDJb0U&feature=related

Finding Beauty* In the {Small} Things

Today was a beautiful day, a cool breeze, but still one of those wonderful, fresh spring air type of days that I sometimes wish would last forever. I could quite possibly sit out in the sunshine with a wonderful book and be content there until the sun disappeared behind the trees. Today was just one of the, Thank-You God for this wonderful world type of days! and I loved it. Also, Happy St. Patty's Day! Are you wearing green? Because I am!

This morning I slept in until like 10! which was unreal again because I had planned to wake up early and study, but oh well, at least I was well rested. My friend Alyssa picked me up for class and we studied at the Greenhouse cafe an hour before we wrote our psych exam and I think it went pretty well! I only guessed on a few of them, so that was nice! After that we had class and decided that on Friday we would all wear flip-flops and sunglasses to school. So regardless of how cold it might be, the flip-flops will make an appearance on Friday! :) Which makes me excited because I have not worn flip-flops since fall! Everyone keeps saying that the snow will return yet! (knock on wood) I hope not though, spring is here to stay!

After I got home, I received a message that my friend was wondering if I could run an errand for them so I quickly jacked Jeanette's car and hurried off to St. Vital to find that I needed to go to Polo Park, so I had an adventure this evening and only got home around 7:30, so not a lot of homework for me tonight! ha. ohhhh welll. I love driving. I especially love it when there is a spectacular song on the radio, the windows are open and it's spring! It's great. If I didn't have to worry about gas money, I think I would drive a lot more often!

I hope you are all having a fabulous week!

Love. love. Love.

Rachel

Organized {Chaos}

So I was lying in my bed trying to figure out why it is that I can't seem to fall asleep! and I realized that it must have been because I have not blogged today...ha...not. I'm not sure why I am not sleeping, last night was a short one! I woke up around 7 this morning, walked to class only to discover there wasn't any! There are pro's and con's to that considering I had such a short night, but I think it was probably good, otherwise I may have slept in again and not gotten as much stats and psych done this morning! :)

I spent part of my day trying to figure out my predicted GPA, so that was good, I think I'm in good shape, but I'm still thinking that I won't make the cut for the Faculty because it's so super competitive...but we shall see. I also got mass amounts of stats completed, and it was not as hard as my friend thought it would be, so that was a relief! I also truly need to start on my research paper that is due next friday...oh boy.

My friend, Kate asked me to sing at her wedding at the end of summer so I am pretty pumped about that! I'm singing Feel's Like Home by Chantal Kreviezuk,which is ultimately awesome.

I also decided that I was going to get another piercing or two this year. I think I'd either like a bar across the upper portion of my ear which is called a scaffold or.. just on the upper corner of my ear. We'll see what happens. I'm just feeling adventurous lately. I've also been thinking more and more about the tattoo I'd like to get and think that I have settled on one, I'm just going to wait it out to see if I still like it in a few months or year. I also keep dreaming about going to Africa...but no where in the near future..so I'll keep you posted. I just have so many dreams that I can't even keep up! So many things to do!

As, I'm writing this, I'm also checking out things that make me laugh to make me tired! Ha, so check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfpha8wszjw&feature=related


Anyway...Maybe I'll be able to fall asleep now!:)

Rachel

How {Sweet} it is...

To be
{loved}
by you...

Overwhelmed*

Good evening Blogger World!

Today was a pretty good day. It started off pretty lazy, I slept in until about 10 am. Which I never do, so that was kind of nice, even though I have about a bazillion things to do! I tried to study for my Psych Exam on Wednesday but didn't really get very far and then tried to focus on my stats homework which I also did not get very far on... So I'm kind of scared because I have sooo many things to do this week that are for marks and I'm a bit stressed! I had class at 3:30 and then my counseling class at 6:00 which was really interesting today. I love the people in that course they are super fun and easy to talk to...which makes sense I suppose because it is a counseling class. We talked about violence today and how to deal with those situations so that was pretty interesting. There was a quote in my book that I found was pretty great it was "The most deadliest form of Violence is Poverty" - Ghandi. How true is that? I knew this beforehand, but this quote pretty much sums up my thoughts. When I look back to so many of the root of problems, such as crime, violent outbreaks, failing school etc. it s so often because people cannot meet their subsistence needs, just simply getting food on the table day in, day out is a struggle. Enter Maslow's Hierarchy of self-actualization. People are unable to reach their potential before all of their needs are met. So often I judge people to be inherently lazy, unwilling to fix their problem etc. (bad idea) Where I fail to acknowledge how unfair the capitalism playing field is and not look at how people struggle to reach their basic needs before being able to succeed and reach self-actualization...Just a few thoughts I suppose...My 2 social work cents for the evening I guess.

This weekend was fantastic! I did almost no homework which was probably terrible, but that's okay! I went to Kid's Zone on Saturday morning and that was awesome, got to catch up with some people there and also hang out with some spectacular Kids. It's a great program. I played with my nephew saturday afternoon...and in the evening did my tax return!! yay! I'm getting money! ha..so that should be niccce. On Sunday a couple of my friends got baptized! so that was exciting and afterward I went to lunch with a few of my camp friends and that was really great as well. In the evening was my nephew's first birthday party and that was spectacular! I got him a little leap frog guitar! After that I headed back to the city...and here I am.

This weekend should be good, I'll be glad once this week is over..actually I'll be even more glad once this term is over!! This weekend I'm hangin out with Tamara hopefully, who I'm super excited to see and also going to the WBC Dinner Theatre, so that should great as well! Yup, Life is good, but I should probably get back to studying...

Hope you are all having a great week!

Rachel

PS. Song request of the week- Check out: Stronger- Hillsong United. It's spectacular.

Feels like *Today...

Oh this day...Today is exactly One month from the last day of classes, One month and a week until my stats exam(terrified!), 12 Days until my nephews turns ONE!, 13 days until Spring!, and 27 days until my birthday :).

Last night was a short one, I was unable to fall asleep until late late late which made for a rude awakening by my alarm clock this morning at 7, which was followed by several hits of the snoozzzze on my phone. I was in a very groggy mood until I step outside to find cloudy, drizzly and beautiful spring weather! My song of the day on my iPod was Yours by steven curtis chapman, which put me in an even better mood. I love that song. It makes me want to go out into the world and see everything that belongs to God, it gives me hope if nothing else. It's a sweet song if you haven't ever heard it before, check it out.

Because of my short night I decided today was a coffee morning and I so I stood in line at the forever long Tim's line in the Engineering building, but I decided that was okay because I was early and I enjoy watching people. (as creepy as that sounds...) I enjoyed my sociology class and had a nice chat with the girl beside me. After class, I decided to pass on the gym and get home and work on some psych and stats. And so the frustration with stats began for the day. It's funny because I seem to be able to understand everything until they ask me a question! ha..K well not really, I mostly understand it, it's just knowing which formula to use that is confusing. With the help of my friend Wayne, who is a genius, a math whiz and just all around a super-hero! he saved the day and I finished my assignment. Now to tackle the test on Saturday..eeek. I just need to get my formula's down. Anyways, I was so frustrated that I decided to go for a run, which replaced my gym time for the day! But it was a good run, very refreshing and now I know where the pond is by my house, so that's nice.

So the run helped a lot and then I decided since my sister "needed some sunshine" in her life that we should go shopping! So we did and I left the mall with nothing which was actually quite great since I shouldn't have spent any money anyway! It was a good time, I was glad to get out of the house. Although, I need to start looking for a couple summer dresses for the weddings this summer! Ahh, all my friends are getting married and it's super weird, but super awesome, but still so super weird.

Next week my peanut of a nephew, Caleb, turns ONE YEAR! It's insane how time flies. I'm supppper excited, this weekend we're having a little birthday party for him and it's going to be slickkk! I'm pumped, I haven't seen him in so long.

Hope you are having a fantastic week,

Rach

Beauty will *Rise

Okay, This is going to break your heart, it definitely broke mine...but I think it's something that I should share with you because it just shows such an incredible trust in God and a hope that God will shine through. and a hope that hope I could have if I ever get thrown into such a situation. Almost two years ago, Steven Curtis Chapman and his family lost their adopted daughter as a result of their son Will accidentally hitting her with their family vehicle in the drive way. She was only 5 years old. The link below leads you to their story and the amazing, incredible statement of hope and faith in Christ this family has made with such a tragedy in their lives. It's incredible. Really. Out of this horrible circumstance has come Steven's new album, Beauty Will Rise, which is spectacular, and if you haven't checked it out you should. God shows his strength through our weakness. It's a heartbreaking story and you will need a lot, a lot, a lot of tissues! But it's also very inspiring to see what God has brought out of this pain and hurt. Steven and his family are an amazing testimony to what I believe faith in Christ should look like. Steven and his wife Mary Beth are recognized advocates for adoption as well. Together, they founded Show Hope (formerly called Shaohannah's Hope)(after their first adopted daughter), a charity organization that mobilizes individuals and communities to care for orphans through its international orphan care work as well as adoption aid grants to help put more orphans from overseas and the U.S. in loving, forever families. In 2009, Show Hope finished building Maria's Big House of Hope, a medical care center in China that provides holistic care to orphans with special needs. Maria's Big House of Hope is also dedicated to the memory of the late Maria Sue Chapman. After reading and watching their story unfold you can really see how Beauty does rise out of the ashes.
Check out the story at http://www.showhope.org/AboutUs/RememberingMaria.aspx

Grace finds {beauty} in everything

I love church. I love worship, it just completes my week. I think sometimes, well often, I fail to realize how great God's love for me and you actually is. Today in church we focused on Romans 5 and just how God choose to send Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. It is unfathomable to me. How awesome our God is!

On another note, I caught a ride with my friend Eric to church this morning and on the ride there wow were the trees incredible! They were covered with snow and completely white. It was gorgeous. God just knows how to make something so simple and find so much beauty in it. After church I came and buried myself in stats again, and accomplished quite a bit! so I'm pumped! Now to focus on some of my other subjects. oh boy. I need to find some food for house yet today or tomorrow!

I also realized that I miss my LDPer's today.. So where ever you are out there...I'm thinking of you :).

La {vie} est Belle

Life flies by! March is here and I feel like the second term just barely began.Christmas was a whirlwind of family and friends, gatherings, reunions and relaxation. It was wonderful. Coming back was a bit tough with having a month off but I managed.My course load is pretty good this term, I have Psych, Sociology, Interpersonal Communications, Native Studies and Stats(which I hate!! boo stats) Today I have had a stats day...a day where I did nothing but stats..well mostly. I did quite a bit of laundry and vacuuming to avoid it..but I did in the end get quite a bit done..I think. I wish someone would just do it for me! :(

As of last Friday I am officially an applicant of the Faculty of Social Work and I'm excited/apprehensive for this. Mostly because I'm not sure what I'd really like to get into in the end. I know I want to help people but I'm not sure with doing what, I just feel like it might be the right thing to do and where God wants me, so c'est la vie, there it is. I'm still thinking about going back to camp for the summer...not sure where I stand on it right now though...

I've been doing some song writing in my spare time..which isn't much, but I've come up with a few good songs...so that's been good. I've really come to love living in Winnipeg. I love the U of M and the people I've met there, the atmosphere and just life. It's warming up outside which make my half hourish walks to school much nicer, because there is nothing glamorous about walking to school in -40 degree weather with a big sweater, winter jacket, 2 pairs of tights, 2 scarfs, 2 pairs o' mittens,toque and 2 pairs o' socks. BUT I was warm and it was a lot free-er(sp?) than taking the bus! So yes, I am very thankful for spring! :)

My evening class has been pretty spectacular so far. It's pretty much a class where we sit around and counsel each other! Needless to say we've worked out a lot of problems together..ha...it's been good times.

I've been to The Meeting Place now and it is Spectacular, like truly. I Love that church. It's awesome. Drew Brown who leads worship there is super talented and it's amazing worshiping there. The messages are great and always seem to be applicable to my life. I love TMP.

I received a Starbucks gift card for Christmas(thanks Carilee!!) which has been put to great use. My flavor of the month is Half-sweet,Skinny,Cinnamon Dolce Latte it's superb. But my true favorite is still a Peppermint Mocha.

Favorite thing of the month. My mom came into the city this past week and she came with me to my Native Studies class and it was fun! She found it really interesting when i told her the prof would never notice whether she was really part of the class or not. We took notes and drank Starbucks. it was a good time and it made class a lot more interesting.

Term two over all has been great. More stressful with stats, a lot more stressful with stats. but good. It's warming up and I'm looking forward to spring it always brings such a new freshness and a bright outlook. I am in love with Spring. It also helps that April is my birthday :). Anyway, I should return to my stats to make sure I do well on my next test...oh boy... Will write soon.

Rachel