Easter

Well, I know Easter was a few weeks ago, but only now am I finding a few minutes to write about it. As I'm sure you can imagine Easter in my house is very exciting and maybe even a bit crazy. The young ones still like getting up early but this year I didn't hear them wander into the living room until around 6AM and they amazingly enough were content until 7AM when they finally got me out of bed. So, I wander to go get ready and they go to wake up the rest of the kids, the next thing I heard were the pots and pans being banged on, what a wonderful wake-up call! Very glad I was already up!

After everyone was up and functioning for the most part the Easter egg hunt was on! Even after six years in this house the Easter Bunny is still finding some very good hiding spots for the colorful eggs filled with chocolate and candy! The taller of us in the house (no, not me!) 

assisted in lifting the young ones up to get at the eggs, or even just look in the possible hid

ing spots. After a fair bit of searching the kids decided that all the eggs were found (although for the next few days they continued to pop up in the most random of places!) and I started the breakfast preparations. 

The morning went very well, and before we new it was time to get ready 

to go for an afternoon dinner. We had Easter dinner at one of my mom's friends houses. It was nice to be with them all and was great to get to know everyone who was there. And the kids had lots of fun with all 

the other kids who were around. 

Eventually dinner was over and it was time for me to head to the church. We had a great Easter service in the evening,

a wonderful way to end a wonderful day!

PWRDF Meeting and Winnipeg!

Well, it was cold, very cold in Winnipeg and there is snow... at the end of March; Kamloops has flowers growing but I guess the rest of the country hasn't got that message. I've been in Winnipeg since Friday afternoon and it's been wonderful, and the weather has really not been as bad as it could have been. Currently I am sitting in the Calgary airport awaiting my flight to Kamloops. My adventure began on Friday at 4:30AM when I got up to depart to the airport, I was all organized and all ready to go and got there perfectly on time, no issues at all (this is always a very good thing) and my mom came into Kamloops to drive me there, which is always wonderful, especially since it meant that she had to leave Savona at 4:30AM to get me there for 5AM. Got to love mothers!! So, I get on the plane and we are flying along and I realize that the folder with all the stuff that the Youth Leadership Team was going to need for youth group and a bunch of stuff that had to go to church on Sunday is still in my room in residence, I forgot to give it to my mom. And it's not like my mom can just walk into my residence room and get it, so I went into planning mode as I tried to figure out how she was going to get this file. And me with my brilliant 6AM brain decided that I'd email my roommate (way too early to phone) while waiting for my next flight in the Vancouver airport, text her so she knew I emailed her, and see if she can take it to the front desk for my mom to pick up. Then I phoned my mom to tell her my crazy but organized plan, and it all worked out in the end, thank goodness for my amazing roommate and mom!! I successfully made it to Winnipeg in one piece with all my stuff and I didn't get lost, my pick-up at the airport found me and the rest of us without any issue at all, I love smaller airports!

It was amazing catching up with the PWRDF Youth Council once again, having not seen each other since November. They are an amazing group of young adults from all across Canada and we always enjoy one another's company. Great stories, wonderful planning, exchange of experiences, and really just a whole lot of fun. It's quite a shame that we only get to see each other about twice a year. (No significance with the picture of the church, it was just really pretty!)

We met together all day Saturday and then Sunday until just after lunch. It was a productive meeting with lots discussed and achieved, everything from the recent Burundi delegation trip to the diversity of our council. I acted as secretary for the meeting, and wow, what a lot of typing that was... now the task of reading over and fixing it up comes! We celebrated Earth Hour with a worship service and discussion about our carbon usage and such; and all by candle light, which made it that much better. Oddly enough though, Winnipeg saw a gain in energy usage during that time, we all decided that it was directly caused by the Beyoncie concert, but who knows. 

We were privileged enough to get to meet in the Canadian Food Grains Bank's office space, and had a presentation from them, so we got to learn about their

program and what they do. The CFGB is an organization that I didn't know too much about until this weekend but I definitely am excited to learn lots more, their presentation intrigued me!

Winnipeg is quite nice, really, the buildings were built forever ago so they are beautiful structures with lots of bricks. I got lots of opportunities to walk around with different people and see a bit of the city which was exciting, it doesn't always happen when I am somewhere for a meeting just for the weekend, after all, it's just for a weekend which turns out to be a rather short period of time filled with lots of meetings. Because I'm from Kamloops which has an incredibly small airport compared to most others the flights coming in and out are few and far, and never when you really want them. So, even though our meeting ended Sunday after lunch I couldn't fly out until Monday morning. (Don't worry, I will still be making it for the afternoons class, as long as getting out of Calgary goes well.) But the extra night meant that I got to go to Matt and Jenn's place and visit some more, which was very nice.

The buildings in Winnipeg are very tall and very, very flat. Some had odd angles that made it look like there wasn't even another side to it.  At one point we were walking around looking for a place to have lunch and there was this sign that said, "Caution falling ice" I was then 

informed that large amounts of ice fall off the top of these building and it can be very dangerous, which totally makes sense. But really, what am I supposed to do?? Walk with my head faced towards the roof of the buildings watching for ice? I think not!

The metal detectors you walk through while going through security seem to pick up everything this last trip, normally I get through with no issues but now my watch, necklace, button on my jeans, underwire in my bra, and zipper on my sweater all set it off, crazy! I guess it means that it will be a very safe flight! This whole time change thing never easily allows me to figure anything out. I thought I had an hour wait in the Calgary airport but it's a three hour wait... I just don't understand how I can't wrap my head around this time change stuff. 

It's been a great weekend though but it seems that a lot has happened in APCI and in my family since I left on Friday morning super early, so I'm a bit frazzled and not too sure about much of anything. Not sure about what to think or what exactly is going on... all that great stuff. I guess I will find out soon enough, then it's back to the books for a two week stretch of classes bef

ore the semester is over, exams, then finally summer!

Fear Factor!

Yep, it was Fear Factor week at youth group on Friday, all I can say is gross and ew! Did I participate, nope; did I leave the room at times in fear of vomiting, yep! I still can't believe what some of them ate, it amazed me. There were the ones who ate nothing, or who smelled it and ran away, and in the end it was lots of fun. We had spam, roasted eel (I'm told it tastes like smoked salmon...), raw eggs, clams, escargot, liver sausage, curry paste on crackers, curried mustard leaves (looks like runny green stuff...), and a blended up Happy Meal from McDonalds.  I think there were at least two people who got it all down, personally it all scared me. I don't think we'll need to do this event for a few more years, after all, too much of a good thing is never good! :o)

We had a youth service on Sunday evening, it also happened to be my first service as a Lay Minister of Word and Sacrament. It went really well, the youth did the readings, prayers of the people, part of the sermon, the songs, and helped with communion. It was so nice to have so many young people with us for the evening, and since I'm still young... us young people

did it all! I didn't freak out like I anticipated I would, we let it be what it was, and had a joyous time together. Being the one leading the service and standing behind the altar triggered a feeling of fascination within me, it was being a part of the service in a different way. (Picture of the Fear Factor survivors ----->)

The sun has been shinning over the last few days, I think spring might actually be on its way, I'm so excited! Although I'm starting to see grey clouds and some wind once again, I can only hope that it blow right over. Well, rain is nice for a short period of time... 

I am entering the last three weeks of school and then exams, I can't wait to be done, but at the same time realize how many assignments there still is to finish, including a ten page research paper on "teens and sex" that must be finished before I leave for the weekend. I'm off to Winnipeg for the Primates World Relief and Development Funds Youth Council meeting this weekend, hopefully it's not too cold, and hopefully I don't get lost. (If you don't hear from me for awhile please come find me!)

I wish I was still in silence... at Sorrento Centre

I have attended my first silent retreat, it was only for a weekend and I could have continued for a few more days of silence, but nevertheless it was amazing. Don't be surprised if I one day take off for a longer silent retreat; I was definitely not ready to go out of silence when Sunday worship ended, I could have continued in mediation, thought and prayer for a few more days. There was just something about it, something about the silence, something about the yearning of my heart and this need that had just began to feel like it was being filled. I really resonated with the idea that when we wonder where we are going in life we need to ask ourselves "what is my deep desire?" The desire that is deep within our heart, below the surface, what is it that I need to listen to?

We gathered together on Friday for dinner and shortly after started our first session which was all about the practice of the Awareness Examen. The Awareness Examen is an exercise where you look at the last twenty-four hours and how it was filled and what feelings you felt during each of those activities. Then we ask ourselves what gave us joy in the day and what gave us anxiety or disturbed us. As a secondary question, after doing this exercise for a fair bit of time, one might ask "where is God in my life" but as a starting point it was recommended just looking at the joys and anxiety. By naming our feelings we can own them, and then we can offer them to God. We sat for a fifteen minute block of silence taking part in the Awareness Examen, had night prayer and took off to bed. 

I woke up with a cold nose... no one told me that I had to turn up the heat in my room - I thought it was all controlled in the building as a whole!! (Yes, I worked at the Centre for four months and did not know this!) We had two sessions on Saturday, one on the use 

of imagination, Ignatius, where you become "personally present through the imagination to an event in the life of Christ" and one on "Word into Silence" where you choose a word and keep reciting it in silence. We looked at a piece of scripture from John for the Ignatius exercise, the story of the nativity. I couldn't get the image of the stable with Mary holding the newborn baby Jesus with the smell of straw and joy out of my head. Even though I knew that it should be a not so pleasant smell my imagination was never able to reach that... it was a stable after all! We did the "Word into Silence" for thirty minutes, reciting (in our heads) 'maranatha' which means 'Come Lord, Come Lord Jesus', when thoughts or images enter into your mind you are suppose to acknowledge them but quickly go back to reciting your word. This was probably the hardest for me, I had a really hard time getting thoughts to stay away and I think to reach the point of having the maranatha recite from my heart rather than my head is going to take many days and many weeks of this practice. I particularly enjoyed this method, so we'll see what happens. Our final session of the day combined all three practices for a total of forty minutes in communal silence. Doesn't sound like a lot when you look at the whole time spent in silence, but sitting in one spot, in one position, for that long can make a knee sore! 

We had morning, evening, and night prayers throughout Saturday and I spent a fair amount of time outside enjoying the sunshine and beautiful world. The Centre was filled with snow, it was beautiful and gorgeous, and I took the chances of walking on top of the three feet or so of snow to stand in awe of the view and wonder of our world and our God. I also did a lot of journalling and took a well needed nap. I had individual time with the retreat director, Bishop John, which gave me not only some direction and assurance but also some of my thinking. 

We concluded on Sunday with a session that provided some direction on how to continue of the the practices in 'regular life', and also on the importance of scheduling that time with God each and every day, and to keep it like we would keep any other appointment. After worship ended our period of silence also ended, we engaged in conversation before departing on our ways. 

When I first stared working at Sorrento Centre Bishop John was doing a silent retreat with the clergy from his diocese, I was amazed at the extent of the silence and was in awe of the peacefulness I felt just being in the presence of them all. So, when I saw this opportunity to take part in the weekend retreat I decided to attend. And my excitement just continued to grow as the time grew closer, and now I'm excited to see where my next silent adventure will have me!

Another week is over!

Yeah! I've made it through another week. One more paper written, one more journal done, and another test complete. Now next week it's time to write everything else, let the work begin. I am most definitely tired at this point, emotionally and physically, and it takes a lot to have me feel like that, I think it's just been a crazy two weeks. I'm taking off to Sorrento Centre this afternoon to take part in a silent retreat, I'm super excited and nervous to find out what it all entails.

The leadership team is doing youth group tonight, I'm sure they will all have a blast. The youth couldn't believe I was ditching them for a weekend of silence... still excited though!

We had our Nominating Assembly for the Bishop nominee for the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior on March 7th, my first time ever being part of it. It's fascinating, and happened so fast (we are also a smaller group in comparison to some of the larger areas). Rev. Barbara Andrews was voted in as our Bishop nominee which is super exciting, I worked with her all last summer, I'm excited to see what the coming years will entail. 

So, I am leaving my homework, laptop, textbooks, church work, youth stuff, and everything in-between at home this weekend. I'll bring my Bible, journal, notebook, drawing pad (along with the crayons and pencil crayons!), one book, and maybe the stuff I'm reading for the sermon I'm preparing for with me; and I'm just going to try and let the sprit guide me with the time I have. Like I said... I'm exited! 

Now if only Saturday turns out to be a very nice day... I may go crazy if I have to be indoors and silent, outdoors amongst the trees is my way of doing it!

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!!