often overlooked

Tonight I was rereading the well known verse of Jeremiah 29:11, though what struck me the most were the following verses: (12-14)
"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD"
I know when I am unsure about my future I always turn to verse 11 to find comfort in the fact that God does have a plan laid out for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Though I am often still left with... ok that is great that God knows, but I want to know too. The answer lies in the verses afterwards that so often get overlooked. God will give us answers our questions.
- The way you know you've been given life, hope, and a future is when you begin giving those away to everyone else.

slow and steady doesn't win the race

The well known fable that we were told as kids, of the turtle passing and winning the race against the hare because he was slow and steady has been proven to be false. The computer in which I am typing on belongs to my parents. I remember when we first got it, I think I was in grade 6, meaning that it is 7 years old. This is ancient in computer years. It does not handle the "new" technology of internet very well, let alone dial-up. S-L-O-W. So needless to say it has been a pretty painful experience trying to research two papers this week. Normally I would be using my laptop, but when I got home and tried to turn it on the monitor wasn't working, so my good ol' Euro is in the shop getting a tuning. It's sad. So here's to high-speed internet and my own computer, oh how I miss you. Redeemer's internet is even sounding pretty good at this moment... GASP, I can't believe I just said that.

lights of my home town

When I see the lights of my hometown
I feel like the world stops spinning 'round
Everything makes sense
Maybe it's the innocence
I know it's just a few miles down the road
I'm getting there as fast as I can go
I can always find peace of mind
In the lights of my hometown

The static is almost gone
From the station I grew up on
I'm getting closer now
So I turn it up real loud

Funny how a little thing like that
Can make it all come rushing back
They say it's not the same
But to me it will never change
- Aaron Lines

It's officially reading break and I am coming home!! *sigh, enough said.

I got this from my little brother this morning -
HI Katrina It's Jeremy here we have a Ice rain day today to be ready for fun fun fun!
Well I cna't wait to see you. I've will be looking forward to teasing you and surprizing you. It will be fun.

a public facility?

* This was sent to me by my dear Jessicer...

This is a picture of a public toilet in Housten:

Now that you have seen the outside view, take a look at the iniside view...

It's made entirely of one-way glass! No one can see you from the outside, but when you are inside it's like sitting in a clear glass box!

Now would you... COULD YOU... use it?!

ode to valentines day

Valentines day is such a wonderful holiday, I think it is important (and fun!) to set apart a day to celebrate the love and relationships within our lives.
This is my little ode to Valentines day... my favourite passages of life dedicated to love
Love Songs - "Feels Like Home" Chantal Kreviazuk and "Forever" Jesse (Full House)
Romantic Movie - Gone With The Wind
Bible Passage on Love - "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3: 17-19
Love Poem - Sonnet CXVI by William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love,
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests.. and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love is not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out.. even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

zoolander

Today we watched one of my favourite movies of all time - Zoolander, it's been too long...
Although this is probably the tenth time I have seen it, it still cracks me up everytime. Here are some of the most memorable lines.

Maury: What do we do when we fall off the horse?
Derek: [thoughtfully looking up and mouthing the words silently] ... fall off the horse...
Maury: [looking to supply finish] ... we... get back on the horse!
Derek: Sorry, Maury. I'm not a gymnast.

Derek: Now if you'll excuse me, I have an after-funeral party to attend.

Derek: You think that you're too cool for school, but I have a newsflash for you Walter Cronkite... you aren't.

Derek: [high-pitched cough] ... I think I'm getting the Black Lung, Pop.

Derek: Uhh Earth to Matilda, I was at a day spa. Day, D-A-I-Y-E. Okay?

Derek: What is this? A center for ants? How are we expected to teach the kids to read good... if they can't even fit inside the building?

Mugatu: Hansel, he's so hot right now, Hansel.

Hansel: I wasn't like every other kid, you know, who dreams about being an astronaut, I was always more interested in what bark was made out of on a tree.

Matilda: When I was in 7th grade, I was... the fat kid in my class.
Derek: Ew!

(my favourite one)
Derek: If there is anything that this horrible tragedy can teach us, it's that a male model's life is a precious, precious commodity. Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.

katrina's kreeds

- never regret. if it's good, it's wonderful. if it's bad, it's experience.
- drink melk to have strong bones and potatoes can be a staple
- support the farmers for farmers feed cities
- my dutch blood is raging!
- consult Robyn before going infront of large groups of people to say something (one thing I am missing out here in Univeristy)

- if you want something done right, do it yourself

- if you have a hot tub, you can be my friend

- playing baseball benefits the body and mind - what can be better?

- if life gives you a lemon, make lemonade - excpet don't make the lemonade that we get at Redeemer cause it tastes like Neo Citrin... shudder

- if you go shopping with the dutch, bring heart pills along

- don't take tylenol for headaches, just massage your big toe... it works

- there is nothing geeky about being a nerd, totally cool

- never go out with a guy for lolipops, it ends up all bad

- listen to country music

- rapping is not for the white (at least from personal experience)

- blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be entertained.

- wit is a gift that not everyone recieves - fortunately I have...

- for all that has been, thanks. for all that will be, yes.

cards

After much contiplation I have decided that playing card games bring out the worst in me. You see winning is one of my favourite things to do and I hate losing - let's just say I'm extremely competitive. When it comes to playing cards no matter how hard I try or strategize I can NEVER win. I am probably the worst card player on the planet earth. Unfortuately for me playing cards is the one of the main past times of my Unviersity socializing - Dutch Blitz, Mow, Phase 10, Wizard, Poker, Crazy Eights etc. And the fact that I live with the card queen Elizabeth Kikkert doesn't help much either, rubbing it in my face every day of my life. So I am taking this chance to apoligize ahead of time to everyone I will ever play cards with. Im not actually like this in real life...
All I can say is thank goodness for Solitaire - yes.

a jones soda

This post is dedicated to my dear friend Sarah Freeman - for the sole reason of being the one to introduce me to my first Jones Soda. It was all I expected it to be... the refreshing strawberry lime taste along with the fizz of fun. I will keep the bottle forever, well I will attempt to. That's right Sarah you heard it right, you are stuck with me as your friend whether you like it or not. It was pretty much inevitable - even though we started off rocky - with both of us being on Senate and spending so much bloody time together. Oh, and I guess I will now take this time to apologize for throwing a bowling pin at your head... maybe that was a little too extreme on my part.

laughter

Ever have those moments where you laugh until it hurts, and it feels like if you laugh any harder you might die from lack of breath? These are some of the moments in my life that I treasure the most. Laughing is one of my most favourite things to do. The whole purpose of this write up was to remember all the times I have laughed until I cried, but I as I try, I realise that I don't remember why I laughed, but only whom I was with at the time. "Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." - W. H. Auden. Thank-you to those who have made me laugh and thus making my life so much more brighter.

the liberty of opinions

I would like to start this post off by warning you that I might be taking the following statement out of context - but bare with me for this is how my mind works.
In Poltical Science we are studying John Stuart Mill's defence on liberty - how the liberty of opinions can be useful. The third statement reads: Even if recieved opinion is whole truth, it will degenerate into mere prejudice or dogma if not exposed to conflict with other opinions.
When I read this statement all I could think of was how it relates with the different denominations within the church of Christ. Do you think that it is necessary to have a conflict of opinions so that the truth, which we as Christians hold, does not simply become a dogma or mere prejudice? Must we challenge eachother in the controversial aspects of our faith so that we are constantly challenged to continously search for the answers and not be satisfied to settle for less? Does the liberty of opinions within our faith help keep the truth alive?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then the negative connotation that is often connected with denominations is wrongly felt. We have the option to use it as a tool instead of a hinderance.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17

questions worth pondering

• Do stairs go up or down?
• Aren't the 'good things that come to those who wait' just the leftovers from the people that got there first?
• Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken over there ... I'm gonna eat the first thing that comes out if its butt"?
• Can you get cornered in a round room?
• If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
• Why is it that if something says, "do not eat" on the packaging it becomes extra tempting to eat?
• Wouldn't it be smart to make the sticky stuff on envelopes taste like chocolate?
• Why is it that when things get wet they get darker, even though water is clear??
• Can mute people burp?
• Why do people say, "You can't have your cake and eat it too"? Why would someone get cake if they can't eat it?
• How come you pay an extra 25 cents to get something put on your hamburger but they don't take off the price if you get something taken off?
• Why do they call the small candy bars the "fun sizes"? Wouldn't be more fun toeat a big one?
• Can you cry under water?
• Can a person choke and die on a life savor?
• If the energizer bunny attacks someone, is he charged with battery?
• Why is the name of the phobia for the fear of long words Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?

Winter Retreat 2006

Even though this was my first one I have ever been to, it has been the most fun Winter Retreat I have ever experienced! So many good memories, laughs, and the speaker laid out a challenging message. I think I take for granted the wonderful Christian fellowship that surrounds me everyday, and this weekend was a reminder of how refreshing this fellowship can be.
Here are just some of the pics from the weekend.

a fulfilling day...

Today Sarah and I were sitting in the Senate office trying to admire the beauty of nature through the window, but the view was blocked by the snotty and smeary marks all over the window. And since we are responsible citizens and the favoured senate memebers we decided to do something about this window - clean it.
(Now you might consider me wierd when you read the following statement, but that is ok, cause the chances are you probably already hold that opinion.)
I think I have a fetish for cleaning windows - actually I know I do. There can be such a feeling of accomplishment in such a simple act, just gazing through a crystal clear window that used to be smeary. *sigh.
Just one little request - if you are from Redeemer, please refrain yourselves from placing your oily fingers on the glass of the Senate office, Sarah and I will thank you, and if you do put a finger mark on it there is such a thing as finger printing and I'm pretty sure Sarah will hunt you down.
Another sense of accomplishment today was that I got to vote today, what an awesome responsiblity.

when the tears fall

Today has been long and completely draining day, just one of those days that has had disappointment, frustration, and hurt around every corner. This song started to play and it was just like God was standing right there whispering the words right into my heart.

I've had questions, without answers
I've known sorrow, I have known pain
But there's one thing, that I'll cling to
You are faithful, Jesus You're true

When hope is lost, I'll call You Saviour
When pain surrounds, I'll call You healer
When silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart

In the lone hour of my sorrow
Through the darkest night of my soul
You surround me and sustain me
My defender, forevermore

And I will praise You, I will praise You
When the tears fall, still I will sing to You
And I will praise You, Jesus praise You
Through the suffering still I will sing

Oh yes, You are good to me
You've always been good to me
So trustworthy

How faithful and true
Sustain me through and through
You are hope and truth
You’re my spring of living water
You’re my spring of living water

In the lone hour You are there

Whose springs never fail
Be faithful and true
Like a spring it never fails
You're my spring it never fails

remember the mercy...

How could I say there is no God when all around creation calls.
Snowflakes, gently falling, falling, each unique, whispering “Remember the mercy of God ... remember the mercy ... ” Covering the world in white and then the quiet, quiet, quiet of creation at rest. (Brian Doerksen)

Everyday, whether we notice it or not, God is reaching out to us through the beauty of His creation, yearning to remind us of His love and faithfulness. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness and the problems of our own lives so that we become completely blind to this simple and obvious message.
Today He has given me snow, thank-you.

it's a girl!

My cousins Josh and Sarah had a little baby girl today. Cadence Mary Grace, 8lbs. 5oz. Every thing went well. Yay a little girl!:)

mow - pronunced mau

Maria introduced me to my new favourite card game, Mow. Great way to get stressed about cards, think of new creative ways to rephrase questions into statements, and faorced others to thank you after giving them a pentalty. It's crazy what this game can produce. Just some advice, before you play this game make sure you are friends before the game starts, because the chances are that your level of appreciation for those individuals is going to diminish.

here is the link for the instructions to play bc frankly I couldn't tell you... but it is a basket full of fun.
http://www.stevenharris.com/mauii/

and he will make your paths straight

"However, the greatest faith of all, and the most effective, is to live day by day trusting Him. It is trusting Him so much that we look at every problem as an opportunity to see His work in our life."
- Rick Joyner

Once again this week, I was reminded of the uselessness of worrying... It is so easy to worry, and yet so hard. I don't know why I always forget that I am not the one in control of my life. God must shake His head and chuckle at me sometimes. I can just see him watching me from heaven as I am desperately trying to figure out the details of my life, worrying about what tomorrow may bring, and my futile attempts of holding on to the little control that I possess. All the while He waits patiently for me to realise that I cannot do it on my own and is there when I, finally at my last string, turn to Him for help. The moment I surrender the situation to Him, everything that I have been worrying about tends to fall into to place, better than I ever could have imagined. I wish I wasn't so stubborn, I wish this was a lesson that I wouldn't have to be reminded the hard way time and time again.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight - Proverbs 3:6

spring in january

My weather eye is reading 8'C and predicting showers for the afternoon, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming...
In normal situations I would be writing this with a feeling of joy, but not today, for today is January 11th! I know I don't have that great of a memory, but I'm pretty sure last year at this time I was probably frolicking through the snow, wearing my winter coat and mittens, skating on ice, and experiencing the fridgid temperatures that ussually accompany the snow. Last night Craig told me that the cold air current is stuck in the North, which means that we are going to experience spring conditions. This is going to trick nature out of hibernation, and then BAM the cold will eventually come killing everything green. Yup, sounds pretty accurate to me, especially considering while walking to school today I passed by a tree that was budding! Oh dear... our poor world, what have we done to it?
My only consolation at this time is that I know my home is still normal. Winchester is experiencing normal winter conditions - snow storms, children tobogganing, drinking hot chocolate, getting rosy cheeks.
All I want for Christmas is winter... a real one.