Happy 20th Birthday, Becca!

I'm in beautiful Haliburton for Miss Becca's birthday! It's gorgeous here, despite the rain.

People from Haliburton are loopy... you should see what they've named their streets as! But we still love them, despite their loopiness!

More to come later...

How Sad Are We?

Well, I am sitting in the library on campus in May with Nathan right beside me. How sad are we? We didn't know what to do, so we decided to come and check our email, see if any of our friends had written any new blogs (thanks for giving us something to look at, Alex), and talk to each other on MSN even though we're sitting directly beside each other. Oh Guelph. It's so different here. Nate is currently very interested in looking up his DE courses for this summer; his excitement sometimes scares me ;) He just grabbed my arm and said, "I can't wait for this course!" and he had a big smile on his face. A warning to Lauren: he has four essays to write for his Religion course and he just said, "That's where Lauren comes in." ha ha, thanks for coming to Guelph to hang out with me, Nate!

I spent last night in Waterloo with the girls --Heather, Jill, and Mychal-Ann. Thanks for such a hilarious night, ladies. You girls are fantastic!

***Must edit in: I also had a great conversation with Katie and Alex. They were in the Soo playing pool. Katie did super well, even while talking to me on the cell phone! Way to go!***

Well, I better be going... off to babysitting I go...

Our Greatest Fear

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech

My best friend and I went out tonight and we saw the movie Akeelah and the Bee. I enjoyed the movie very much because I am a sucker for inspirational films that encourage individuals to believe that anything is possible. There is something special about watching someone overcome obstacles and challenges presented before them with courage and with love. L-O-V-E.

The quote above struck a cord with me. I do believe it to be truthful, at least, in regards to how I have felt. For me, it has always been easier to claim inadequacy, than to claim the gifts God has given me. I have said to myself one too many times, "Who am I to believe in me, as it only makes me arrogant". What I have come to realize is my own arrogance for thinking that way. I have been fearful of what others may think of me if they see confidence in me. I believe I am also fearful of claiming my “light” because if I do and I fail or it does not turn out the way I envisioned, I will be less, when in fact I will be more for having had that experience. I realize if I do slip into the darkness or complacency, I am not doing as I am called to do – to serve my Lord and to serve others. By slipping or accepting defeat before even trying, I am automatically missing out on beautiful blessings. God has taught me so many times that He is faithful and trustworthy. He has taught me that although I may fall, there is a reason and He will pick me up again and I will learn something from that experience. I have learned that if I try, it could encourage others to try. Who am I to try to pick and chose my battles and experiences? God is in control, and He will make the situation what it ought to be. I am a child of God and I have to be aware of my light to truly live and be effective for Him. YOU are a child of God and YOU need to be aware of YOUR light to truly live and be effective for Him.

"'You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.'"

-Matthew 5:14-16

Ode to Friends

As I reflect on each blessing God has given to me, I have found myself overwhelmed at each gift of a friend He has placed in my life. I cannot even begin to articulate how blessed I am or how blessed I feel. My prayer as a little girl each day was to have friends because as a child, living in Toronto from the age of five to eleven, I felt very much alone. I was the girl the other kids laughed at. I was the girl who walked around the school yard by herself at recess. I was sad and I was lonely.

As a pre-teen, I found friends. I learned what it was like to be in the popular crowd. It was fun to be included, but it came with pressures, and I slowly realized I did not have a place in that crowd. But what a blessing that time was. I learned so many valuable lessons and I am thankful for the people that were in my life at that time.

Just before I reached the age of thirteen, I really struggled with life. Putting it lightly, I was depressed and hurting myself. But the Lord put amazing friends – true friends – in my life. I have never been the same.

I value my friends because I know what it is like to have no one. I value my friends because each one is amazing. I value my friends because I know they are real. I value my friends because they trust me and allow me to love them. I value my friends because God has shown me what a joy, gift, and blessing each one is.

My best friend’s dad told me this weekend that it is rare to have as many close friends as I do. I am still close with my friends from high school and church, while living away from home and developing new close friendships with people from university. There have certainly been difficult times, but I would not trade those times for anything.

To my Aylmer friends: Thank you for your love over the years. Thank you for fantastic memories and the new special moments we still create together. Thank you for sharing with me. Thank you for welcoming me home. Thank you for being open and sharing with me the areas of your lives that have changed. Thank you for accepting and embracing the parts of me that have changed. We have always been a special group.

To my Guelph friends (including my very dear Haliburton friend): Thank you for the past (almost) two years. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for challenging me. Thank you for being real with me. Thank you for listening and for walking along-side of me as I figure out where God is taking me. Thank you for sharing with me and for your trust. Thank you for your constant encouragement.

To my “random” friends: Thank you. You have taught me so much and you are such a blessing. I am thankful for you and I love you.

All of my friends are amazing. Thank you. Above all thank You, Lord, for being the best friend anyone could ever have.