Diagnosis

Well it's official. I have a sinus infection. It's sucking the life out of me but at least I know what it is. I am on antibiotics and my doctor said that if it isn't cleared up after this round or if it comes back again right away then we will do something more about it. It's nice to know that she won't just prescribe the same thing again.

So I brought her a bunch of tulips. I apologized for being a crappy patient, never listening, never coming to see her until I was almost dead. She was surprised to say the least. Apparently hardly anyone listens to what their doctor tells them, or at least in her experience. I promised her that I would do as she told me. I don't think she really knew what to say other than she really appreciated that.

It made me feel good too. Not because I made her day a little brighter with flowers but because I did the right thing. It would be easier just to acknowledge to myself that I was going to do what she said instead of taking the time to apologize to her and to tell her that I trust and appreciate her.

Now tell me, who in life doesn't want to be appreciated?

Third Times the Charm

So I have an appointment with my doctor today. I again have a chest, sinus, possible infection thingy. I'm really tired of being sick. This is the second time that I've gotten it since I came back from Sri Lanka. It may have to do with allergies. Steriods definitely make the symptoms go away but I want to know what is causing it not just mask the fact that it's still in my body!!! Is that too much to ask?

So I've had a distain for medical doctors for most of my life. Part of it I think is that my Dad hates going to see the doctor. He has to be half dead before he'll go. The other part is that when I was little I got very sick and what the doctors prescribed didn't help me at all. I ended up having to go to a naturalpath who helped immensly and I recovered probably with better health than I had before. I guess I developed this theory that doctors are not very helpful which fueled my dislike in seeing them.

While I was in Grande Prairie for my sister's wedding I went to see my old doctor. All the memories I had of him were negative. I surmised that because what was prescribed before didn't help then he must have been a bad doctor. Well I was wrong. I couldn't have been more wrong. He is a wonderful doctor who takes a lot of time with his patients. He tried all kinds of things when I came to him with this problem. He wanted to much more but I was only there for a short period of time.

When I go to my appointment this afternoon with my doctor I am going to apologize to her for not being a good patient. I'm a really sucky patient. I rarely listen to what my doctor tells me. I think I might buy her some flowers. That would be nice... she deserves them... she puts up with me.

Well I'll let you know how it goes.

6 Days

So I've only six days left before I get my head shaved for a fundraising event. I'm starting to think about it a little more and I'm feeling a little more nervous about it.

When I came back to school this semester I was in my room unpacking and this thought came to me that I should offer to have my head shaved as a missions fundraiser. I told Vicki about it and she told me that the missions rep had wanted to do something like that for College Connection. So now it's all worked out and I am getting my head shaved. Did I mention that it was in 6 days?

There are some benefits to this though. I've always wanted to shave my head but have never really had the "right" opportunity. Well graduation pictures are taken and I have 3 months until graduation to go my hair back. Lucky for me it grows quickly.

So I will post some pictures during and after the shave. I don't know who is going to be shaving my head yet. They're having a draw to see who the lucky winner is. I hope they know what they're doing!!

I do think though that I should be allowed to wear a bandana or toque in chapel because I don't want anyone mistaking me for a temple prostitute!!

Atheism is a non-prophet organization

Hey Babe, Thanks for the Hankies

We had an interesting chapel today. We've been focusing on the Holy Spirit for the month of January and the speaker today was talking about the gifts. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be but that is usually a good thing. We ended the service by having a time of prayer.

The speaker had brought along a man from his congregation who has the gifts of knowledge, wisdom and healing. He came around and prayed for everyone who wanted prayer. When he came to me he asked what I wanted prayer for and I told him that I wanted him to pray about the gift of prophesy that I believe I had but I wanted to know how to use it better. The first thing that he said to me was that I had been listening to man. I was a little confused how this referred to my gift of prophesy but it totally rang true in my spirit. He confirmed with me that I had the gift of prophesy and we talked about how to use the gift. It's an outflowing of my intimate relationship with God. I can't expect to "have it figured out" or perfect it. But what the "listening to man" really spoke to for me was what I believe God had been speaking to me about becoming a pastor. I've been discourage by comments made and attitudes shown. I need to learn to trust God, what he is telling me and not let the opinions of others interfere.

I'm not saying that I'm never going to listen to what people have to say but I know that I will not hold it in higher regard than what God says to me. He is the one that I answer to and He is the one that makes all things possible.

PS
I know the name really doesn't have anything to do with what I wrote...except for possibly Rebecca and Vicki

Rememberance...ode to the OT

Remembering can be such a fickle thing. Some things we love to remember, some we try really hard to forget but don't always succeed, sometimes we don't remember the things that we should or maybe it's that we don't think of them often enough.

Tonight a fellow student came to my room to talk. We ended up remembering the time when we became Christians and the times since when God had been so faithful to us. It's good to remember. It brings hope and encouragement. Not just for myself but to those I share with.

I'm also reminded of the Israelites and their tradition of passing down the stories from one generation to the next of the miracles that God performed, His faithfulness at every turn and all the promises that He kept. Reflection on these things are good for body, mind, and soul.

Preach It?

So I haven't blogged in a while...life is good here...God's been speaking to me about a lot of things...things that He's mentioned in the past...

One of those things is getting my credentials. I have had to change my program to the Pastoral Theology major due to my desire to have a money paying career (It wasn't entirely my idea). Lately God has been nudging me to consider pastoring first before I go overseas. I think this is something that I would enjoy and could possibly be good at.

I have been assured that the PAOC has a place for women pastors, which is good but I hope that place is not in a dusty corner. I don't think I'd handle that very well. I'm not worried about it though because God knows the plan and it's probably way different than I think it is. I guess I'll just keep going until He says "stop" or redirects me else where.

Moving on up...yet down at the same time

I've been incredibly bless by a sudden turn of events here at CPC. The intern has decided to take the semester off and I was offered her room. It's actually roomS! I now have a bedroom and a living space with a bonus couch and fridge!! I can't believe it. Another great thing is that it is on the first floor not the second at the back where I was. Yay.

Summing up 2005

So this questionnaire has been making the rounds so I thought I'd do it too. I did modify it because I didn't like some of the questions.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I travelled half way around the world, put up tongue and groove wainscotting, wore a sari, was the maid of honor at my sister's wedding, taught English and many more things.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any New Year's resolutions last year but I have for this year. I am very optimistic that I will achieve my goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friends Julie and Harvey Mitterhuber had a baby boy named Ethen, my counsins Derek and Erin had a baby boy named Tyler and my cousins Cherise and Hugo had twin girls but I can't remember their names ... Mackenzie and something.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No one close to me died but I did experience death in a new way while living in Sri Lanka. They don't hide death there, it's a normal part of everyday life and it was an adjustment for me but it was a good thing because it takes some of the fear out of dying when you see it all the time.
5. What countries did you visit? The countries that I visited were Singapore and Sri Lanka. Within Canada I also visited Manitoba, Alberta and Vancouver Island.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? 2005 was a really good year so the only thing I can think of is a more permanent home here in Canada, which won't happen until Fall.
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched in your memory, and why? October 8th - my sister was married.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Teaching. I found something that I am good at. I even taught English for which I have had absolutely no training. Good Times.
9. What was your biggest failure? I had many failures this year but I've learned a lot from them. I didn't really have one big failure but several little ones that have led to disappointments and self reflection.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes I got a nasty chest/lung infection while I was in Sri Lanka and then again when I returned home.
11. What was the best thing you bought? The best thing that I bought ... my rust color, beaded sari
12. Where did most of your money go? What money? My money went to living expenses in Sri Lanka (also purchasing saris;) and when that ran out I called my dad:) Thanks Dad.
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Seeing Rebecca and Matt Baker, my friends in Sri Lanka.
14. What song will always remind you of 2005? Brown Girl in the Ring by Boney M
15. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer? Happier overall even though I really miss my friends in Sri Lanka, at about the same level of fatness, and definitely poorer because my money was worth so much more in Sri Lanka!!
16. What do you wish you'd done less of? When I returned from Sri Lanka I wish that I had spent less time being by myself
17. Did you fall in love in 2005? Almost
18. What was your favorite TV program? CSI. My parents brought a CSI shirt back for me from Las Vegas.
19. What was the best book you read? Silence by Endo
20. What was your greatest musical discovery? Hindi music
21. What did you want and not get? the totally amazing coral colored, gold beaded sari
22. What was your favorite film of this year? I don't really watch that many movies
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 33 and I went out with my brother, Dad and Mom to Tony Roma's for dinner.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Staying in Sri Lanka until the school year was finished and seeing the students graduate.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Most of the time I was wearing a shalwar or a sari so I'd have to say that it was ethnic:)
26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I don't really fancy celebs.
27. What political issue stirred you the most? I don't think that there was an issue that really stirred me because I was away for the year but while I was in Sri Lanka I was made very aware that our political issues in Canada are really tame compared to elsewhere in the world.
28. Who did/do you miss? I thought I'd miss my friends and family more when I was overseas but what I missed more was food that I couldn't get in Sri Lanka. Now that I'm back I really miss the friends that I made in Nuwara Eliya. Agatha is getting married!!!
29. Who was the best new person you met? Kyle and Blossom Patmor, teachers of Beacon Hill Academy
30. Quote a few song lyrics that sums up your year: Hmmmm...... I don't know how to spell Hindi

I'm here to stay

So I'm back in Saskatoon and for once, since coming back from Sri Lanka, I feel as if I am home. Everything is familiar even though it is a little strange being back. I keep having these, "I can't believe that I'm here" moments...especially when I think about living in dorm.

Living in dorm is not that bad. There are good things and only a few bad ones...which I can deal with no problem...shared bathrooms, curfews, noise, etc. The benefits far outweight the negative things:)

It's been good seeing some of my friends and family. I haven't had a chance to see everyone yet but I'm sure that within a week or so I'll be able to make my rounds.

I got a cell phone so I'll email everyone the number and if you don't have email you won't be reading this so I'll call you.

Coming Soon to a School Near You

I can't believe that I am going to be in Saskatoon today!! It's 12:30 am and I am leaving at 7am to go to my favorite city and my home!!!! I'm excited to be coming home even if it's only for four months. See all you CPCers really soon.

Yay