Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Job and paint.
Hey all! Just wanted to update you on how things are going with my job. I started Vancouver Police call-taking class in October. I passed the class and also obtained my security clearance during that time. I started my mentoring on Nov 8th. I've worked 6 shifts already with my mentor. So far it's going well. It's challenging, but I'm having fun. After 8 to 12 shifts if my mentor feels that I'm doing a good job, she'll cut me loose and I'll be on my own to take calls for VPD. I find that very exciting, but also a little frightening.
In other news, we finally painted the living room and kitchen. It's amazing what a little paint can do! I'll attach a couple of pictures so you can see what the finished product looks like :)
In other news, we finally painted the living room and kitchen. It's amazing what a little paint can do! I'll attach a couple of pictures so you can see what the finished product looks like :)
Monday, October 8, 2007
Thanksgiving thoughts
"You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 118: 28-29
I am thankful for my Jesus - He is my life. He is every good thing I have and every good thing in me. His love for me is beyond my wildest dreams, his grace far too great for understanding. It is to him that I give all thanks.
I thank Jesus for:
Family
Friends
Sunshine
Laughter
Memories
Mountains
Lessons God teaches me
Work
Love
Music
Trees that change colour in the fall
Health
Children
Smiles
Baby kisses
Games
Books
Tea and Coffee
Chocolate
People
Diversity
Emotions
And so, so much more.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
I am thankful for my Jesus - He is my life. He is every good thing I have and every good thing in me. His love for me is beyond my wildest dreams, his grace far too great for understanding. It is to him that I give all thanks.
I thank Jesus for:
Family
Friends
Sunshine
Laughter
Memories
Mountains
Lessons God teaches me
Work
Love
Music
Trees that change colour in the fall
Health
Children
Smiles
Baby kisses
Games
Books
Tea and Coffee
Chocolate
People
Diversity
Emotions
And so, so much more.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
****Quick update... I just found out this weekend that I am starting Vancouver Police call-taking training TOMORROW!!!! This means that for the next month at work, I'll be in a training class, after which I will be taking calls for the Vancouver Police (right now I just answer the 911 calls and transfer them to the police call-takers).*****
Monday, August 27, 2007
Just life
I imagine that some of you have stopped checking this site on a regular basis. I probably would have if I were you. I realize that it's been two months since I've written anything, and I appologize to those of you who have still checked it regularly in hopes of some updates. It seems like the longer I'm here, the less excitement and/or changes happen on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. In January, I had new things to write about daily. In February or March that became weekly. Now, I feel like two months could be summed up in two words... "just life". What began as an adventure has now become daily life. Here are some updates on how life has been over the past couple of months:
I'm still waiting on my RCMP security clearance to come through for my job... I expect to hear sometime very soon. I'm getting anxious to get into the training for the next phase of my job, as what I'm doing right now gets a little redundant after a while. In the last two months that I have been there, I have already seen a number of changes in the team that I work with. I became quite attached to the two women who were on my team in the first month or so of my job... unfortunately one is no longer with the company and the other has already moved into training. I feel very fortunate to be on what, in my opinion, is the best of the four work teams. My supervisor is wonderful and I like the new people working on my team (which is a very good thing, since we are together for long periods of time in a rather small space). I've gotten used to the shiftwork, and although the wacky sleep times still messes with my body, I've learned what works best for me and how to manage my sleeping patterns. I think now that I'm doing this, I actually prefer working twelve hour days on a rotation than five days for eight hours. The four days at work fly by and before you know it you're off again. Nothing beats four days off in a row!
I've been trying to make the most of my time off... enjoying all of the outdoor activities I can... going to beaches, provincial parks, hiking in the mountains, and driving up the coast. Living here, you really could go do something different each weekend and never run out of places to go/things to see. The bonus is that each trip to somewhere new helps familiarize me with a different part of this area (take different highways, cross bridges, etc) which is a very good for work. Looking at a map is one thing, but being able to visualize places in my mind is much more helpful!
I was able to get off one block (four days) this month, which allowed me to take a 10 day trip back to Ontario. Both Kelly and Krista got married on the same weekend. It was so nice to be able to be back for both of their weddings (even though the two hour wait at the US border prevented us from making it to Kelly's ceremony... we did go to the reception). It was really nice to be able to see family and friends again. The trip went by SOOO fast, and it felt like such a short time. I wish I had been able to spend more time visiting people and more time at the cottage, but the time I had was really good. I'm so grateful that I was able to go back. If only I could soak up the sweet times with family and friends and put them in a bottle to bring back with me.
At the begining of this month, my friend Andrea moved back to Ontario (she's also from Ontario). I met Andrea at the home church that I've been attending and we became good friends during the past few months. Life's a little lonlier already with her gone. Although I've been here for almost eight months, I still often feel lonely. I spend a lot of time by myself. There are lots of times when I just want someone to talk to and I don't know who to call (this whole three hour time difference stinks when you have those moments after 8pm). I've met lots of people and have some sort of relationship with some of those people... but I still long for deeper, more meaningful friendships. I am so thankful for Deric, Amber, and Ava - I consider them family.
Reine moved out in the middle of July (a room opened up in a house that some friends are renting). Deric, Amber, and I were hoping to find a new roommate for me by August 1, but were unable to. We did, however, find a really great girl (Jem) who will move in on Sept. 1. She's a Christian and starting a master's at Regent College (the local seminary/Christian university). I'm excited for her to move in and to get to know her better.
I continued volunteering with Urban Promise throughout the summer and plan to get involved with the afterschool program again this year. It's been a while since I've been downtown to help with mom's food ministry because of scheduling issues, but I hope to keep doing that in the fall as well.
So, that's life in a nutshell. I'd be happy to give you more than the nutshell version... but for this blog entry a nutshell will have to do :)
I'm still waiting on my RCMP security clearance to come through for my job... I expect to hear sometime very soon. I'm getting anxious to get into the training for the next phase of my job, as what I'm doing right now gets a little redundant after a while. In the last two months that I have been there, I have already seen a number of changes in the team that I work with. I became quite attached to the two women who were on my team in the first month or so of my job... unfortunately one is no longer with the company and the other has already moved into training. I feel very fortunate to be on what, in my opinion, is the best of the four work teams. My supervisor is wonderful and I like the new people working on my team (which is a very good thing, since we are together for long periods of time in a rather small space). I've gotten used to the shiftwork, and although the wacky sleep times still messes with my body, I've learned what works best for me and how to manage my sleeping patterns. I think now that I'm doing this, I actually prefer working twelve hour days on a rotation than five days for eight hours. The four days at work fly by and before you know it you're off again. Nothing beats four days off in a row!
I've been trying to make the most of my time off... enjoying all of the outdoor activities I can... going to beaches, provincial parks, hiking in the mountains, and driving up the coast. Living here, you really could go do something different each weekend and never run out of places to go/things to see. The bonus is that each trip to somewhere new helps familiarize me with a different part of this area (take different highways, cross bridges, etc) which is a very good for work. Looking at a map is one thing, but being able to visualize places in my mind is much more helpful!
I was able to get off one block (four days) this month, which allowed me to take a 10 day trip back to Ontario. Both Kelly and Krista got married on the same weekend. It was so nice to be able to be back for both of their weddings (even though the two hour wait at the US border prevented us from making it to Kelly's ceremony... we did go to the reception). It was really nice to be able to see family and friends again. The trip went by SOOO fast, and it felt like such a short time. I wish I had been able to spend more time visiting people and more time at the cottage, but the time I had was really good. I'm so grateful that I was able to go back. If only I could soak up the sweet times with family and friends and put them in a bottle to bring back with me.
At the begining of this month, my friend Andrea moved back to Ontario (she's also from Ontario). I met Andrea at the home church that I've been attending and we became good friends during the past few months. Life's a little lonlier already with her gone. Although I've been here for almost eight months, I still often feel lonely. I spend a lot of time by myself. There are lots of times when I just want someone to talk to and I don't know who to call (this whole three hour time difference stinks when you have those moments after 8pm). I've met lots of people and have some sort of relationship with some of those people... but I still long for deeper, more meaningful friendships. I am so thankful for Deric, Amber, and Ava - I consider them family.
Reine moved out in the middle of July (a room opened up in a house that some friends are renting). Deric, Amber, and I were hoping to find a new roommate for me by August 1, but were unable to. We did, however, find a really great girl (Jem) who will move in on Sept. 1. She's a Christian and starting a master's at Regent College (the local seminary/Christian university). I'm excited for her to move in and to get to know her better.
I continued volunteering with Urban Promise throughout the summer and plan to get involved with the afterschool program again this year. It's been a while since I've been downtown to help with mom's food ministry because of scheduling issues, but I hope to keep doing that in the fall as well.
So, that's life in a nutshell. I'd be happy to give you more than the nutshell version... but for this blog entry a nutshell will have to do :)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
My battle with the "Whatifs"
"Last night, while I lay thinking here,
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk the test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems swell, and then
The nightmare Whatifs strike again!"
(Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic)
I am not unlinke the narritive voice of this poem by Shel Silverstein. I too, have Whatifs that crawl into my ears at night and prance around in my mind. I think we all do. Our Whatifs come in different shapes and sizes... but no matter what the specifics... they try very hard to torment us. "Whatif green hair grows on my chest?" doesn't usually make it past my ear canal and I seldom entertain thoughts like "Whatif my head starts getting smaller?", but I have my own Whatifs. I'm sure you have yours too.... it's pretty easy to identify the Whatifs that we regularly battle. My Whatifs usually involve doubts about my future, my dreams, and the plans that God has for me. Whatif certain dreams are never fulfilled? Whatif life doesn't look the way I always hoped it would? Whatif? Whatif? Whatif?
The thing about Whatifs that make them so dangerous is that when Whatifs crawl into our minds, it's so easy to spend hours entertaining them. Entertaining Whatifs keeps our minds focused on the world of uncertainties... the unknown... the negative possibilities. Whatifs usually bring fear with them.
I spent a great deal of time a couple nights ago listening to the Whatifs that had crawled into my mind. In fact, they were bothering me so much that I found myself writing in my journal, "What if... What if... What if..." I started to think.... well... what if? What if all of these worst case Whatifs come true? How would that change me? How would that change my heart? How would that change my love of my God and my trust in Him? WHAT IF?
I think I won the battle with the Whatifs this time around... although I'm sure they'll come back again. Want to know the secret? Want to know how I killed the Whatifs that night? I killed them with Evenifs. Evenif life doesn't look the way I'd always hoped, Evenif certain dreams are never fulfilled, Evenif I grow green hair on my chest, and Evenif my head gets smaller... EVEN IF all of these things are true... God will still be GOD. No matter what else does or does not happen, no matter what other uncertainties I face... I know with all certainty that God will still be God. EVEN IF.... God will still be GOOD. EVEN IF... God will still be my Father who loves me. IF I know that if God is still God, my Father, and God is still good, then I can still have hope. I can still fight those pesky little Whatifs.
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk the test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems swell, and then
The nightmare Whatifs strike again!"
(Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic)
I am not unlinke the narritive voice of this poem by Shel Silverstein. I too, have Whatifs that crawl into my ears at night and prance around in my mind. I think we all do. Our Whatifs come in different shapes and sizes... but no matter what the specifics... they try very hard to torment us. "Whatif green hair grows on my chest?" doesn't usually make it past my ear canal and I seldom entertain thoughts like "Whatif my head starts getting smaller?", but I have my own Whatifs. I'm sure you have yours too.... it's pretty easy to identify the Whatifs that we regularly battle. My Whatifs usually involve doubts about my future, my dreams, and the plans that God has for me. Whatif certain dreams are never fulfilled? Whatif life doesn't look the way I always hoped it would? Whatif? Whatif? Whatif?
The thing about Whatifs that make them so dangerous is that when Whatifs crawl into our minds, it's so easy to spend hours entertaining them. Entertaining Whatifs keeps our minds focused on the world of uncertainties... the unknown... the negative possibilities. Whatifs usually bring fear with them.
I spent a great deal of time a couple nights ago listening to the Whatifs that had crawled into my mind. In fact, they were bothering me so much that I found myself writing in my journal, "What if... What if... What if..." I started to think.... well... what if? What if all of these worst case Whatifs come true? How would that change me? How would that change my heart? How would that change my love of my God and my trust in Him? WHAT IF?
I think I won the battle with the Whatifs this time around... although I'm sure they'll come back again. Want to know the secret? Want to know how I killed the Whatifs that night? I killed them with Evenifs. Evenif life doesn't look the way I'd always hoped, Evenif certain dreams are never fulfilled, Evenif I grow green hair on my chest, and Evenif my head gets smaller... EVEN IF all of these things are true... God will still be GOD. No matter what else does or does not happen, no matter what other uncertainties I face... I know with all certainty that God will still be God. EVEN IF.... God will still be GOOD. EVEN IF... God will still be my Father who loves me. IF I know that if God is still God, my Father, and God is still good, then I can still have hope. I can still fight those pesky little Whatifs.
Monday, June 18, 2007
The latest
Hey all! As promised, here's your long awaited update on the latest and greatest in my life. I'll try to stick with to the reader's digest version to save this from getting too long.
I'll start with the job... I worked my last day at Soup Etc! on Friday June 8th. I started my orientation and training at E-Comm on Monday. Training involved ten hour days for the entire week. It was very exhausting, but also really interesting. I'm learning a lot about the Greater Vancouver Region - geography was a huge part of the training. My class (there were four of us in training) was supposed to be ready to work on our own early this week, but due to staffing shortages, they worked it out so that we could be signed off on by Friday. So, as of Friday afternoon, the trainers (following our assessments) set us free. I worked on Saturday from 3pm to 3am. It was actually quite fun. I'm really enjoying the job so far. It's exciting. At times it's funny too... you'd be amazed with some of the things that people call 911 for. It's also a fun environment to work in... I'm really enjoying getting to know my coworkers. This week I only work a couple of days and then start my regular eight day rotation on Saturday. I'll be working two day shifts (7am to 7pm), followed by two night shifts (7pm to 7am), and then have four days off. I'm not sure how my body will adjust to working some nights and switching from days to nights. This will be a new experience for me.
Liz came to visit last week. Unfortunately she came on a cold rainy week, but we had fun anyway. So when I wasn't working or training, I got to be tourist again for a while. We went to Victoria on the weekend, where unfortunately we saw the naked bike racers (yikes!). That's right... in Victoria and Vancouver they have naked bike races once a year. Sort of humorous, sort of crazy... especially on a cold rainy day. We spent some time with one of our friends from college who we haven't seen in many years. It was a good week.
You may remember from my last post that I was going to meet with "mom" a couple of weeks ago. I had a nice chat with her and started volunteering that night. My schedule doesn't allow me the luxury of volunteering on consistent evenings, but I'm been trying to go out at least once, sometimes twice, each week to help. I have loved every minute that I have spent downtown helping so far (I've also had some very interesting public transit adventures). Most of the people Ellen now serves are adult men. I've gotten to know some, and recognize more faces every time I'm there. I look forward to serving and building relationships with mom's friends. God is there. I see His image and His fingerprints in so many ways when I spend time with these guys... the forgotten in our society. On Friday night, I spent almost an hour talking with one of the younger guys who had come for food. He's a drug dealer who portrays a tough exterior, but as we talked, I was amazed how similar we really are. People are people. We all have the same needs and desires. I hope that I will see this individual again... he's someone I'd like to be friends with.
That's all for now. Oh... one other exciting thing... I was granted the time off that I need in August to come back to Ontario for the weddings I will be attending. I'm going to book a flight soon. I'll be in Windsor for a few days and then off to the cottage for a few more. I'm excited!
I'll start with the job... I worked my last day at Soup Etc! on Friday June 8th. I started my orientation and training at E-Comm on Monday. Training involved ten hour days for the entire week. It was very exhausting, but also really interesting. I'm learning a lot about the Greater Vancouver Region - geography was a huge part of the training. My class (there were four of us in training) was supposed to be ready to work on our own early this week, but due to staffing shortages, they worked it out so that we could be signed off on by Friday. So, as of Friday afternoon, the trainers (following our assessments) set us free. I worked on Saturday from 3pm to 3am. It was actually quite fun. I'm really enjoying the job so far. It's exciting. At times it's funny too... you'd be amazed with some of the things that people call 911 for. It's also a fun environment to work in... I'm really enjoying getting to know my coworkers. This week I only work a couple of days and then start my regular eight day rotation on Saturday. I'll be working two day shifts (7am to 7pm), followed by two night shifts (7pm to 7am), and then have four days off. I'm not sure how my body will adjust to working some nights and switching from days to nights. This will be a new experience for me.
Liz came to visit last week. Unfortunately she came on a cold rainy week, but we had fun anyway. So when I wasn't working or training, I got to be tourist again for a while. We went to Victoria on the weekend, where unfortunately we saw the naked bike racers (yikes!). That's right... in Victoria and Vancouver they have naked bike races once a year. Sort of humorous, sort of crazy... especially on a cold rainy day. We spent some time with one of our friends from college who we haven't seen in many years. It was a good week.
You may remember from my last post that I was going to meet with "mom" a couple of weeks ago. I had a nice chat with her and started volunteering that night. My schedule doesn't allow me the luxury of volunteering on consistent evenings, but I'm been trying to go out at least once, sometimes twice, each week to help. I have loved every minute that I have spent downtown helping so far (I've also had some very interesting public transit adventures). Most of the people Ellen now serves are adult men. I've gotten to know some, and recognize more faces every time I'm there. I look forward to serving and building relationships with mom's friends. God is there. I see His image and His fingerprints in so many ways when I spend time with these guys... the forgotten in our society. On Friday night, I spent almost an hour talking with one of the younger guys who had come for food. He's a drug dealer who portrays a tough exterior, but as we talked, I was amazed how similar we really are. People are people. We all have the same needs and desires. I hope that I will see this individual again... he's someone I'd like to be friends with.
That's all for now. Oh... one other exciting thing... I was granted the time off that I need in August to come back to Ontario for the weddings I will be attending. I'm going to book a flight soon. I'll be in Windsor for a few days and then off to the cottage for a few more. I'm excited!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Sorry
Some of you have been asking for an update, so I just thought I'd quickly let you know that I am still alive and things are going well. That being said, I am so ridiculously exhausted right now that I'm not even sure I can stay awake long enough to put together a string of coherent sentences. I haven't forgotten about all of you though, and I promise that in the very near future I will write all about how the training for the new job has been and other things going on these days. I'd do it now, but seriously, it will be better if I wait. Soon... very soon... after I've had some good sleep. Goodnight.
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