I know, it's been awhile!

I know, it's been awhile since I've written. My semester is quickly coming to an end, five more weeks to go. Although that is incredibly exciting there is still the matter of the four tests, four papers, two journals, two oral presentations, and two take-home exams to complete. But once that is all finished, excitement will brew even quicker... then summer!!

So, what have I been up to these last few weeks? I had a BCYAYM Council meeting in Vancouver. It was a great meeting, not too much work to do coming out of it, and it was great to see everyone again. We went skating as our group activity over the weekend, I haven't skated since grade four, but I managed to stay on my feet and had a ton of fun. Next year I'll have to do some youth skating events... its was just that much fun! Who knew it would be so enjoyable?!? The church service we went to was great, there were a few surprises though, like sitting down during the Eucharistic Prayers, I have never done that before. And yet when we noticed that we were the only ones still standing we quickly took our seats. The other thing that got me was that the children never came back for communion, which surprised me. It was an amazing church building though and really nice people, I have totally fell in love with the nursery (we got to sleep in it... yep, air mattresses and sleeping bags...) and the Sunday school rooms had some of the neatest murals on them. 

We had our Annual General Meeting probably about a month ago now at St. Hilda's, it went well. I have landed myself the position of Warden for the parish, not totally sure how that happened, but it is quite an honor to have so many believing that I am capable to carry it out. Other than that there were not too many surprises. Still doing what I normally do, I have a "new" batch of Sunday school teachers which is very exciting for me, I've taught it for seven years and the program needed some fresh minds and ideas. So, now I just coordinate it, make sure there is someone there each week, all the supplies are around, ect... And I love it, it also means I get to sit in the pew for the whole service!!

I was took a course that the Cathedral in Kamloops offered for six weeks, "I'm An Anglican! So What?" I really enjoyed it, and all the speakers were amazing. I learned a lot of the "little things." Those things you always wonder but never ask - yeah some of them actually have answers now!

I also went to my first Ash Wednesday service. We never had them in Savona, or if we did I they were held during the day and I was in school. This year I went to the evening service at the Cathedral, it was very powerful and made me think a lot, which is always good. I was a bit nervous going just because I had no idea what to expect at the service. But it ended up being really great and I'll probably be at all future Ash Wednesday services. That brings up to the topic of Lent. This year I decided to give up television. And not that I watch a whole lot of it, but I often have it on as background noise, or sit between classes and watch something so my brian doesn't need to think much. Well, now my spare time is filled with reading books, which is great, and I'm going to bed much earlier because I'm so exhausted, my brain now never stops comprehending. I can't wait for all the snow to melt and the world to dry so I can go on a few walks in the hills beyond residence. 

I think that is pretty much all that has been going on in my end of the world and in my life. March is looking fruitfully busy. APCI is nominating a new bishop this Saturday, I am still in the reflecting process of who I am voting for, but I'm excited to find out who it will be. March 13-15th I am at Sorrento Centre doing a Lenten Silent Spring Retreat, which I am extremely excited to be apart of, not totally sure what to expect, but I believe it will be a good experience. March 22nd the youth are doing the church service, and I am doing my first service as a Lay Minister of Word and Sacrament, a service of reserved sacrament. It's exciting, not the easiest scripture to have youth reflect on, but I'm sure once I read it all through a few more times some brilliant idea will come to me. Then at the end of the month (March 27-29th) I am in Winnipeg at a meeting of the PWRDF Youth Council. It is amazing how quickly March will go by, I'm afraid that if I blink it will all be gone. :o)

Bulletin Boards

I enjoy making bulletin boards at the church. Making them with youth, by myself, making them themed and not themed, complicated and easy. And always colorful!! So, recently we have done a lot of "new" bulletin board displays. On the large board in the Sunday school/youth room (well, hall) we made one themed around Martin Luther King Day, we talked about how we should all treat one another equally, how things were different years ago, and all that stuff. And my brilliant brain decided that one of my favorite poems would attach to this theme and make a fabulous bulletin board display! The poem goes like this: "We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are dull, some have weird names, some are more popular than others - but they all have to learn to live in the same box." So, I spent my week coloring massive crayons (I loved it), we made an amazing crayon box at youth group, and some Martin Luther King activities to go all around it. It was fabulous!

Then yesterday we talked about loving our neighbors and did a bulletin board around that. You know, we had to get into this whole Valentines Day theme somehow. So, we brainstormed who are neighbors are and how we can show love to them. 

Decorated it all with a whole bunch of wonderful foam hearts, and put it upstairs on the bulletin board, I've never done anything with the board upstairs, so we'll see what the congregation thinks of it all. We ended our evening together with a game that involved racing for candy, it is one of the only days that I easily get away with feeding the youth candy, it was tons of fun. Deana made cupcakes for us all, they were so tasty, we pretty much just had a great time together!

Last week I wasn't at youth group because the British Columbia and Yukon Anglican Youth Movement's Council was meeting in Burnaby. So the Leadership Team did the meeting and they did some artistic responses to two Psalms. Psalm 96 and 121 - they did a great job and we now have some poster board sized artwork along the wall by the stairwell. 

I think I'm done doing bulletin board stuff until spring comes - when a new array of ideas enter in my brain, ideas that I of course must do something with! Excitement!!

I thought Spring was coming...

I love the snow. Those of you who know me well know that I love the snow with a huge passion. It's peaceful, beautiful, white, pure, pretty, and just coats our world in a blanket of elegance. Well, the last few days Kamloops has been very warm with the most beautiful blue sky's and bright sunshine. It's been lovely and I started getting excited about the green grass, trees with leaves, no winter jackets, and flowers blooming. Especially excited about the blooming flowers. I think I spent all of yesterday with Spring Fever, my two hour lecture felt like days long because all I wanted to do was be outside, I even felt like running - which is almost a foreign concept! :o)

So, I wake up this morning, open my blinds, and guess what I see... snow! It was snowing, big fluffy white snowflakes. I had no idea what to even think, my brain was lost in a world of confusion. I guess I'll see what the coming days bring. Spring excites me but the snow is still elegant. 

On another note, I start reading break next week, and I keep forgetting about it. Now, that is a crazy concept, how does one forget about not having any school? I think I am feeling that a week off in March would be better for me, I am busy every weekend so being able to spend an extra few days somewhere without missing classes sounds like a nice idea. But that's okay, March will just be like October! 

Other than the three to four assignments I will be working on I'm hoping to spend some time back up at Skeetchestn Community School (where I graduated) and maybe in a few other places visiting people and catching up. And maybe, just a bit of time for relaxing!

New Years Eve and Winter Update

New Years Eve was amazing. Wesley, Taylor, Rhys, Aaron and our cousins Wylie, Brandy, Oliver, and Drew all joined together for a night of celebration. I of course found out I was hosting this amazing event just weeks before, and of course responded with complete excitement. I made tons of food, snacks of all kind from fruit to pizza bagels. We watched movies, played games, and had tons of fun together. We rang in the new year with sparkling apple juice in fabulous plastic cups. I was informed that I couldn't make anyone go to bed before 2am by Rhys, so I listened to him. It was great, it was peaceful, and it was fun. I truly can't imagine celebrating the new year any different.

My aunty Janice and I took my cousins Oliver and Travis, alo

ng with my brother Rhys on a great winter adventure. The earth was covered in ice, what was once a creek was ice. The boys had a ton of fun, and we all laughed when I successfully fell through the ice, it hurt, thankfully it wasn't that deep and I only had a bruise or two as a result. The most amazing image was when the sun was shinning on the snow and it all looked like diamonds. It was pure beauty. 

Sara, Deana, and Stewart

Sara is fourteen and in grade nine. She keeps busy with a million and one things it seems like and is working as a waitress at the Roadhouse Cafe in Savona. School is school and she enjoys spending time with all her friends. Sara is still as caring as she was when she was younger, and I don't think her love for animals will ever go away. 

Deana is sixteen and in grade eleven. She works also at the Roadhouse Cafe doing prep and cooking. Deana has been helping with youth group this year and is absolutely amazing to have with the group. She is looking forward to her last year of school and graduation which comes at the end of it!

Stewart is now eighteen and in his first year at Thompson Rivers University in the Culinary Arts program. He loves the program and is doing quite well in it. Stewart also lives in residence, so we get to see each other from time to time, which is very enjoyable, of course! He is also working part time during the school year, and already wondering where he will end up for his first apprenticeship this coming summer. 

And there you have it, a picture and short update on all the kids - definitely took me longer than I had planned but at last it is done!

Wesley

Wesley is very much a Forde. He loves being outside digging, biking, running, playing, sports, swimming, hiking, watching large digger things work and buildings being built. He is the one who will lend a hand with any handy job that needs to be done and would much rather be doing anything else if it means he can get out of homework... Typical Forde boy!

Wesley is in grade seven, twelve years old. I can't believe that he will be in high school next year, I remember when he was in Kindergarten and I had to go and comfort him because he didn't want to be there. Well, he has definitely grown up!

He is a regular attendee at youth group and plays on the community soccer and softball teams when they are happening. In the summer you will find Wesley at the beach. I see his future including some kind of a trade... maybe something in the building/electrical area of things, you know so if I ever run into issues he can come and help his older sister out who will probably still know nothing of those areas!

Still can't believe he'll be in grade eight next year... they grow up all so fast!!

Taylor

Taylor... Taylor is still very much the youngest girl in our family. With an older brother and two younger ones she is right in the middle, and she deals with it amazingly! The boys, are well boys, and Taylor is, well a princess of sorts. But she knows how to speak up, and chase down those boys when they are being... boys. Taking after me I guess, must always know how to pin a brother down to the floor when necessary! 

Taylor is in grade four, nine years old, and growing up quickly. She loves school and learning and does very well in all areas. She also can not wait to be able to join youth group... next year!! Weekly Taylor tries to convince me to let her, and unfortunately I can't because I would then have to let everyone else!

Taylor has taken a liking to photography, taking many pictures both indoors and outside with her new camera. It has opened a new area of joy in her life. She also loves coming to church and participating in Sunday school, and she gets along with almost everyone - old and young!

She likes doing quiet things but also enjoys playing outside or with the boys. She loves horses and is always willing to lend  hand. Taylor and I have a pretty close relationship with each other, probably because she is the youngest girl and I am the oldest girls. And we are both kind of quiet, at least when we want to be!