closing time

Time flies. It seems like yesterday when I was packing up all my treasured posessions in boxes and carting them off to Redeemer. And now here I am back at home, unpacking, placing everything back where it belongs. (as fun as it sounds, unpacking is death) Although it seems like this school year went by fast, I look back at September and so much has happened since then. First year was full of fun times (alliteration - yes); we have made memories that I wouldn't trade for gold and I have learnt and grown in every aspect of my life. Saying goodbye was hard, though when I look at it now I am glad that it was this way. For that means that I made relationships that matter to me - call it a mixed blessing. I will miss being at Redeemer, but I am loving being back at home and I am going to treasure these next four months.
It's been great and thanks for the year! I wish you all of God's blessings wherever you are, whomever you are with. Enjoy it.

Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...

sarah freeman

Sarah you are a gift to me in which I will treasure for always. I admire your strength as an individual and your willingness to be blunt with me when I needed it. :) I am so thankful for the times that we have shared together. The times where I have just plopped on your bed to talk for hours on end, the many moments in Senate, Mystery Madness - making fun of the cheerleaders, watching and appreciating the same stellar movies, the attempts at teaching me how to dance to Shania Twain, ice cream on a stick, your drama queen moments, and so much more. I will definately be by your side for your "holleywood moment" of the finger twitching, coming back to life, after being shot down in a bank. I will treasure our friendship in my heart where it belongs. I love you and I'll miss you increadibly.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

dealing with stress

I hardly ever get stressed, it ussually takes quite a bit to push me over the edge, but when I do... TIMBER! The cause of today's stress is having three of my hardest exams all in 24 hours. My brain is pretty much at the fried state and it still needs to retain the beautiful facts about the enviroment.
So I have decided that I don't know how to deal with myself when Im stressed, I am pretty much a basket case... yes it does get worse :)
I am slowly discovering some techniques that relieve my stress, they just might work for you too!
- Put the song “Turn It Up” by Aaron Lines on repeat and listen to it over and over
- Turn on your lava lamp (though it does get distracting if you are trying to study)
- Get someone to play with your hair or give you a massage
- Eat chocolate
- Go for a Timmys run
- Rub your earlobes (I know this sounds weird but it actually works)
- Sing out loud to Rex Goudie and Rascal Flatts with your dormies
- Play guitar

helpful hints for your exams

Fun things to do in a final exam that you have not studied for.

1. Bring a black marker. Return the exam with all questions and answers completely blacked out.
2. Bring cheerleaders.
3. Do the entire exam as if it was multiple choice and true/false. If it is a multiple choice exam, spell out interesting things (DCCAB. BABE. etc..).
4. Turn in the exam approximately 30 minutes into it. As you walk out, start commenting on how easy it was.
5. Every five minutes, stand up, collect all your things, move to another seat, continue with the exam.
6. Walk into the exam with an entourage. Claim you are going to be taping your next video during the exam. Try to get the instructor to let them stay, be persuasive. Tell the instructor to expect a percentage of the profits if they are allowed to stay. As soon as the instructor hands you the exam, eat it.
7. Bring things to throw at the instructor when s/he's not looking. Blame it on the person nearest to you.
8. Bring a pillow. Fall asleep (or pretend to) until the last 15 minutes. Wake up, say "oh geez, better get cracking" and do some gibberish work. Turn it in a few minutes early.
9. Do the entire exam in another language. If you don't know one, make one up! For math/science exams, try using Roman numerals.
10. Come into the exam wearing slippers, a bathrobe, a towel on your head, and nothing else.
11. Fifteen minutes into the exam, stand up, rip up all the papers into very small pieces, throw them into the air and yell out "Merry Christmas." If you're really daring, ask for another copy of the exam. Say you lost the first one. Repeat this process every fifteen minutes.
12. Do the exam with crayons, paint, or fluorescent markers.
13. Run into the exam room looking about frantically. Breathe a sigh of relief. Go to the instructor, say "They've found me, I have to leave the country" and run off.
14. Bring pets.
15. On the answer sheet (book, whatever) find a new, interesting way to refuse to answer every question. For example: I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it conflicts with my religious beliefs. Be creative.
16. Get a copy of the exam, run out screaming "Andre, Andre, I've got the secret documents!!"
17. Bring a Game Boy. Play with the volume at max level.
18. Walk in, get the exam, sit down. About five minutes into it, loudly say to the instructor, "I don't understand ANY of this. I've been to every lecture all semester long! What's the deal? And who the hell are you? Where's the regular guy?"
19. Make paper airplanes out of the exam. Aim them at the instructor's left nostril. If it is a math/science exam, answer in essay form. If it is long answer/essay form, answer with numbers and symbols. Be creative. Use the integral symbol.
20. Talk the entire way through the exam. Read questions aloud, debate your answers with yourself out loud. If asked to stop, yell out, "I'm SOOO sure you can hear me thinking." Then start talking about what a jerk the instructor is.

complete joy

Over the past days I have been reminded several times of the joy that we can experience through Christ. For example today during our Easter service while we were singing as a congregation, I could feel Jesus just smiling down on us showering His people with hope and peace and saying "this is why i died for them." I think Easter Sunday is my most treasured Sunday, the feeling of happiness and hope overflow to everyone and you can't help but be touched by God's presence. And even though I wasn't with my family, this morning I felt the bond of the church family, united as one, with the purpose of serving and worshiping one God. If only everyone in this world could experience the complete joy that is given through believing in a living Saviour. That is my greatest wish for mankind.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-3

at the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross where grace and suffering meet. You have shown me your love through the judgement You received. And You have won my heart; so now I can trade these ashes in for beauty and wear forgiveness like a crown. I will come to kiss the feet of mercy, and I lay every burden down at the foot of the cross.
At the foot of the cross where I am made complete. You have given me life through the death You bore for me
And you have won my heart.

Oh, I love You from the depths of my heart,
And nothing here will tear us apart.
Everything's beautiful, when You invade my life.
And I'm living just to say that 'I love You'.

why I want to be Laura Ingalls Wilder

- I could accomplish my dream of being a teacher with only one year of schooling
- I wouldn't have my computer to distract me from life
- I could make my millions by just telling my life story
- I would not have to write a paper on poetry
- I would get to marry my childhood love of Willy Wilder
- I wouldn't have to wear shoes in the summer
- I wouldn't have to be employed duing the summer and just be at home working with my mom
- I could play with my button on a string game without people thinking I am going crazy
- There would be woods in my back yard
- The stars would not be out-shone by street lights
- I could live in a house that was dug in a hill for free and not have to pay for housing
- I could wear gingham
- I would go to bed with the sun

Although at the current moment my number one reason why I want to be Laura Ingalls Wilder is because...
I wouldn't have to figure out my course schedule for next year!

inspiration

So today in English 104 we were analysing wonderful poetry - woot woot! Now don't get me wrong, I do appreciate poetry, but analysing it in class can get brutal!
Well today we stumbled across the following poem...

Landscape: I - Nichol


alongthehorizongrewanunbrokenlineoftrees

yes... this is a poem and I was so inspired by it that I decided to write the sequel

Landscape: II - Katrina VandenBerg


thestreamwasveryshallow

gosh! I am a poet and I didn't even know it.

*this post is to be read in a sarcastic manner. thank-you.

happy birthday robyn!

On April 4th, 1987 Robyn Tamera Euverman was born and for this I am so thankful. Even though this post is a couple hours late, I would just like to have this little space dedicate to my dear Robyner:

Robyn is the artist of my life. She not only pours herself into her art, but also fills the lives of those around her with her unique personality. Her sarcastic humour is always there to lighten the mood and she taught me the real meaning of Dutch shopping with her classic line, “My Dutch blood is raging!” She can never be faulted for living a lie, as she stays true to herself in every situation. These are only a few of the many aspects, which make her a wonderful friend and person. Robyn my wish to you is that you continue to “Paint with all the colours of the wind.”

- until we are old and gray and spy on our neighbours with binoculars -

what every friday should consist of

1. buying duble zout dropjes and eating 20 of them on an empty stomach
2. knowing that your mom and sister are landing in BC without you
3. counting change and then attempting to roll dimes... the vain of my existance
4. witnessing Craig reach a high score of 45,000 on Bejeweled - "incredible"
5. having my extremely crystal clear glass being smeared and streaked... grr
6. being blown away by my future buddy Peter's majic tricks
7. partcipating in a panal discussion for the Redeemer Scholarship night
8. eating grapefruit
9. getting an email from my hopeless romantic Dad asking me if it would be a good idea to get our house fumigated by the Pest control dept. for his anniversity present to Mom.
10. making hemp bracelets
11. talking on MSN with Liz while we are still in the same room
12. being serenaded by Peter and Josh on the phone
13. a thunderstorm