sigmund the squirrel

My dorm dubbed him Sigmund the squirrel, better known as Siggy. He came into our lives suddenly on a Friday morning and just as quickly left us. Siggy got caught in Redeemer's transformer at approximately 11:30am and experienced a shocking death; this death effected us more than we ever imagined. Apparently he was a powerful squirrel, so powerful that he caused Redeemer to loose its power.

The first effects were felt when students realised that the Market was closed and they were unable to get their weekend shopping done. I broke the news to the girls and we already started to ration out the bread and butter, but we soon realised that this was going to be the least of our worries.
Our ice cream began to melt, fast. Since it is pretty much a sin to let ice cream just waste away, we began to eat it like never before (props go out to James for eating our whole tub of Orange Sherbert). And then our carbon monoxide alarm started to go off, and since it was really annoying we just unplugged it, apparently that isn't what your supposed to do. All the while rumours kept floating around that we might have to evacuate campus and go to hotels. No one believed them though, that was just crazy talk. But lo and behold 20 mins later there we were all crowded in 2nd parking lot hearing Dean Schat telling us to pack our bags to get ready to leave Redeemer to stay in hotels. We quickly ran to the dorm and chaos started to slowly break out. All the carbon monoxide alarms were sounding due to a gas leak caused by the power outage, some students were celebrating and others just couldn't believe what was happening.
So we stayed in a gorgeous hotel that night with a hot tub, leather furniture, and beautiful rooms; the bed was great for jumping on. It was a great night, no sleep though. Ree, Robyn, and I stayed up till 5am writing an incredible story involving the bod book, butter, popcorn, and love. We had way too much fun with that...
The next morning we left the hotel to return to Redeemer, home sweet home, kinda... It was good to be back though. It was a crazy experience, but also tons of fun. I got to stay in the nicest hotel I have ever been in for free and I am famous by association - Liz made it on CH News because they interviewed her. Steller eh?

What was Siggy's mission? Did he even have one, or was he just a victim of circumstance? I guess we will never know, although Im inclined to think that this was no accident. It was all just too convenient ... No one ever suspects the squirrel.

dixie chicks - shut up and sing

the wonders of punctuation

This example just goes to show the importance of correct grammar and puctuation.

Woman without her man is nothing.

Woman: without her, man is nothing.

i love life

I got this idea from Angie, it is an assignment that she has to do for her philosophy class. They have to list 50 things that they love. The reason that her professor gave it her class is to help them celebrate life and remind them what makes it so special.
I felt like I needed that reminder... so here is a list of things that I love about life in no particular order.

- being with the people I love
- having heart to heart talks
- meaningful relationships
- laughing
- eating chocolate chip cookies with milk
- when my favourite song comes on the radio
- getting mail
- taking a walk with no destination
- watching the sunset
- gardens and flowers
- the smell of baking bread
- being in the sunshine
- learning
- babies (human and animal)
- lying in bed in the morning
- listening to a choir
- my dog Chester
- peanut butter
- the piano
- hymns
- mowing the lawn
- reading a good book
- playing the guitar
- the smell of a country summer's evening
- hugs
- wearing my favourite hoody sweater
- suppers when everyone sits down together and talks about their day
- smiles
- naps in a hammock
- the feeling of accomplishment
- random acts of kindness

chantal kreviazuk

I almost love late nights if Im listening to her music...

And yes, even though she is not country she is my favourite artist.

holding hands

A Father asks his child to go on a walk with Him. He warns the child that the path in which they take will be rough, but as long as He is holding his hand He will not let the child fall. The child reaches out his hand and takes his Father's hand in his and then they begin their walk. The path that they take is the path less travelled.
The new surroundings intimidate the child and he tighty clings to his Father's hand for security. The child eventually becomes comfortable and realises the excitement that is all around, he lets go of his Father's hand in order to explore. The Father remains on the path waiting and watching as His child strays.
Soon, the child's excitement fades as he becomes lost and confused. He looks up and sees the figure of his Father waiting for him and hears Him gentley call his name. The child runs back to his Father, grabs ahold of His hand and then they continue on their journey. The path in which they walk is not straight and narrow, it has many turns and ruts. The child has difficulty with each rut and turn, as he would trip he would let go of his Father's hand in an attempt to balance himself. Everytime he would end up flat on his face, needing his Father to lift him from the ground and brush him off. The child soon became frustrated and questioned why he even chose to go on this walk. He looked up at his Father, "I don't think I can go on much further, I am tired and worn."
The Father looked at His child with compassion, "My child, allow me to be the one to hold your hand. I promise I will never let go and I will never let you fall."
The child's hand firmly within his Father's they continued their walk. There were still times when the child was tempted to leave and the path did not smooth out, but as long as his Father was holding onto his hand he never got lost and did not fall.
The child was able to enjoy the journey on the path less travelled.

stag and doe

What: STAG AND DOE for Sarah Vedder and Tom Smith
When: November 4th
Where: RCAF Assn 447 Wing - 9300 Airport Road, Mount Hope
Directions:
From Redeemer
1. Right on Garner
2. Left on Fiddlers Green
3. Left on Butte Rd.
4. Left on Centre Rd
5. Park in lot with mounted Jet.


I give my Katrina guarentee that it will be an amazing time! Come by dorm 37 to buy your ticket before they run out. They are selling fast... at least the ones me and Liz are selling. (we are winning by the way, Angie and Maria)

candy corn day!

Interesting fact of the week, on October 30th it is the official candy corn day!
I bet you had no idea.
You can thank me for informing you of this vital information by buying me lots of candy corn. kapeesh?

Mmmmmm so delcious! Probably one of my favourites in the world of candy.

creation calls

I have felt the wind blow

Whispering Your name

I have seen Your tears fall

When I watch the rain

How could I say there is no God

When all around creation calls

A singing bird, a mighty tree

The vast expanse of open sea

dove - campaign for real beauty

I normally don't advertise certain products, but Dove has won me on this one. Watch these two short clips... it gives you something to think about.

I wish I knew how to put clips on here but just bear with me and click on the links.
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/flat2.asp?id=6852
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/bblank.asp?id=6853

katrina needs

ya ya ya, I know this pretty a lame excuse for a blog and I've definitely having been slacking. Im going to blame it on being busy.
three cheers for school!

go to google and type in " [your name] needs" and then write the first 10 appropriate responses.

katrina needs to be more mysterious (apparently you can read me like an open book)
katrina needs a visit from 'What Not To Wear' (hmm I thought my style was pretty stellar)
katrina needs to get those eyebrows waxed (ouch that sounds like it would hurt)
katrina needs no introduction (I guess Im that good)
katrina needs a little space to manage her life (little space? no thanks I like wide open spaces)
katrina needs a new man (new... i think that requires me to have one now)
katrina needs her eyes examined if she thinks that Ereka looks like J-Lo (who's Ereka? and i have 20/20 vision thank you very much)
katrina needs to value people on their succes in life (hmm interesting)
katrina needs learn that there are consquences for bad choices (already learnt)
katrina needs to take Acting 101, because she obviously doesn't know what she is doing (what!Im a very good actor and Im witty! obviously.)
katrina needs your prayers and best wishes (thanks)

a true love song

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of calvary

Chorus:
Just to be with you, I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you, I'd give everything
I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
But all of those dreams are an empty emotion
It can never be done
I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea

Repeat chorus
I promise, I would do it all again.
Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

life aint always beautiful

Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart
Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day

But the struggle makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has it's own way of takin' it sweet time

No,life aint always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life aint always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

reconciliation

This past Sunday, the pastor preached a message on reconciliation... it was pretty powerful. There was one particular statement that caught my attention and still has me thinking.

When we are reconciled to God, we do not have to work inorder to restore His trust, because He has completely forgotten the sin we have committed.

I don't know about you, but I know that I have always struggled with forgiveness. I generally trust people very easily, but once the trust has been broken I find it very difficult not to hold that against a person. I have grown up with the mentality that you should forgive but you don't forget. I have always felt that it's the responsibilty of the person who has hurt you or betrayed to try and rebuild the relationship and trust.

True reconciliation, God's way, is when you completely forget what has happened and start with a clean slate. No matter what.

An extremely hard concept to grasp, but imagine how freeing it would be if we could actually do it...

in dedication to steve irwin

In the summer of 2002, I spent every Saturday night watching Animal Planet just to see Steve Irwin face incredible dangers. I loved his "crikey" saying and would just be memorized with his unflinching attitude towards animals that I would have nightmares about. Now the unsinkable ship has sunk, so without furthur adue, I dedicate this post to him.

At times nature can be cruel, but there is also a raw beauty, and even a certain justice manifested within that cruelty.
The alligator, one of the oldest and ultimate predators, normally considered the "apex predator" in its natural eco-system, can still fallvictim to implemented 'team work' strategy, made possible due to the tight knit social structure and "survival of the fittest pack mentality," bred into the canines over the last several hundreds of years by natural selection.
See the attached remarkable photograph courtesy of Nature Magazine ...
Note that the Alpha dog has a muzzle hold on the gator preventing it from breathing, while the remainder of the pack prevents the beast from rolling.

Maybe if he had a trusty side kick like these little guys, Steve would still be hunting those crocs.

mixed feelings

Here I am, spending my last night at home for the next couple of months *sigh. Even though I am super stoked to come back to Redeemer and see everyone again, I do leave with mixed feelings.
You see, being back at home and living with my family has been incredible. I love it here. I’ve always heard that home is where the heart is and now I know it. My heart is here; this is where the people who love me and know me the most are.
Being away at school and then coming back has made me realise how important my family really is to me. My mom has become my number one confidant; I know that I can tell her anything and she definitely gives the best advice around. I have come to fully realise and appreciate how much my dad loves and cares about me… I love the feeling of not having to worry cause I know he will always take care of his little girl. Throughout this summer I have grown closer with my siblings. Though this might sound kinda lame, I just enjoyed hanging out with them this summer, talking, playing catch, cards, watching movies etc. It has been fun.
Coming back home has definitely grounded me and made me realise what is truly important to me in this stage of my life. So, I come back to Redeemer with a sad, happy face. I know I’m going to love my time back in Ancaster, I just wish that I didn’t have to leave so much behind.
I guess when it’s hard to let go you know it has been good. I’m thankful that I have a family and a home that is hard to leave…
God is good all the time, and all the time God is good – wherever we are, whomever we are with.

i made the paper!

Yes... my picture made it in the sport section of the Winchester Press. I think I'm famous; I will be available to give interviews and sign autographs when I come back to Redeemer on Thursday.
































You can check out the story through the link on the side that says "Winchester Press."

putting baseball on a pedestal

A common theme that I often experience in my home country of Canada and in my circle of friends is the lack of respect and appreciation for the sport of baseball. All my life I have been ridiculed for my sport of choice with phrases such as, “Baseball isn’t even a sport.” Or “Anyone could play baseball, all you have to do is hit a ball and run the bases.”
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I have been playing baseball since I can remember; starting off in the back yard with my dad and brother with our big red plastic bat, tball, junior ball, and eventually to Winchester’s Big League Girls Fastball team.
Baseball is in no way a simple game, a pansy sport, or boring. I have the “battle scars” and the injuries to prove it. Nothing gives me the adrenaline rush like an intense game of baseball, nor do I enjoy nothing as much as watching than a Blue Jays game.
Although I cannot make you like baseball, I am going to try to explain to you why I love baseball and what makes it such a great sport.

- the fact that you have to think about every play before it happens, the strategy involved with baseball in amazing
- “turning two” (making a double play)
- catching a line drive
- tracking down a ball in the field, making the occasional diving catch
- making the sweeping tag to get a runner who is attempting to steal a bag out
- gunning out a person at first base
- the intensity of having two out bases loaded, tie game
- three up, three down
- hearing the crack of the bat
- having a full count
- out running the throw to first
- stealing bases
- feeling of a grand slam
- sliding home
- having no time limit
- your beautiful worn in glove that you wouldn’t trade for anything

Did anyone else notice that for the August Time Out, under the Blue Jays vs Boston game description, it says, “Come out and see baseball players in red socks.” I can’t believe it! It should be more along the lines of, “Come out and see the Blue Jays rock those red socks off of Boston!”

I would also like to give a shout out to my sister Erika, who drove in the winning run in our final game for our baseball finals. We won the series 3-2. I wasn’t able to be there for the last game because I was at camp, but my sister did me proud! :)

I leave you with this: appreciate baseball, respect baseball, and support the Jays. It will be worth it. Trust me.

"thank-you-ma'am"

Everyday I get a word of the day sent to me in my email from Merriam Webster. Today I got this one and I thought it was really interesting, so I am sharing the wealth of knowledge.
Now it is your responsibilty to taked it and to use this word in your everyday life. I would be impressed.

thank-you-ma'am \THANK-yoo-mam\

noun : a bump or depression in a road; especially : a ridge or hollow made across a road on a hillside to cause water to run off

Example sentence: "That night on the way home, thinking of his pleasant visit, he was suddenly shaken out of his tranquility ... when his touring car hit a 'thank-you-ma'am' in the unpaved road." (Hugh Manchester, Centre Daily Times [State College, PA], August 22, 2000)

Did you know? "Thank-you-ma'am" might seem like an odd name for a bump in the road, but the expression makes a little more sense if you imagine the motion your head would make as you drove over such an obstacle. Most likely, the jarring would make you nod involuntarily. Now think of the nodding gesture you make when you're thanking someone or acknowledging a favor. The "thank-you-ma'am" road bump is believed to have received its name when someone noted the similarity of those two head bobbing motions. It's a colloquialism particular to American English, and its earliest printed use is found in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1849 prose piece, Kavanagh: "We went like the wind over the hollows in the snow; — the driver called them 'thank-you-ma'ams,' because they make every body bow."

kingdom bound 2006

A week ago, my family and I embarked on our first family vacation in 5 years. Having a farm makes it difficult to get away. Our destination: Kingdom Bound 2006. Here are my highlights.

- Having a 5 hour trip become 8 hours due to the border, travelling in a non-airconditioned van with six people.
- Going back 10 years and playing the game MASH with my sister and her best friend. I ended up marrying Owen Wilson, but only making 14,000 a year.
- Hearing Mercy Me sing "I Can Only Imagine" live. Wow, definately brought tears to my eyes.
- Randomly seeing Steve Pyker in the Great Big Wheel line and hanging out with him and his friends for the day.
- Almost having the chance to over come my fear of rollercoasters, but then just when I was about to go on it broke down. Very comforting.
- Coming to the Thousand Foot Krutch concert with an open mind and leaving with a closed one. Screaming music and I do not get along.
- Seeing Ryan Geleynse reading his U2 book on the grass and therefore meeting Jesse Dostal too! I was pretty stoked and we ended up spending the rest of KB together.
- Having the priviledge of hearing Casting Crowns live!! I got to hear the "God doesn't need you, He wants you" speech live.
- Playing miniput with Ryan and Jesse, I got the award for most improved, Ryan for biggest choke, and Jesse for champ.
- Spending countless times and money at the batting cages
- Ryan's endless attempts of convincing me to go on the biggest steel roller coaster made, with a straight drop of 200 feet, and me finally agreeing. IT WAS AWESOME. So props go out to Ryan for being able to get me on it and face my fear of plunging to an early death. We went on it again and ended up waiting 2 hours just so that we could get the very front of the rollercoaster. It was worth the wait.
- Hearing Third Day in concert, the lead singer has the most awesome voice I have ever heard.
- Jesse convincing Ryan and I to go on a water ride at 8 o'clock at night. We went on it and got soaked. We didn't dry all night. Though it was stupid, it gave us a really good laugh at ourselves.
- The guys trying to convince me that this one water ride wasn't going to get me wet... they were wrong, I was right.
- Ryan and Jesse's terrifying dance parties at 180 feet in the air on the Fairis Wheel, while I was freaking out praying for our safety.
- Busting out the dance moves with Ryan and Jesse to Newsboys - they sang the Breakfast song and Take Me To Your Leader. whoohoo!

It was such an AMAZING time.