How the Weekend Went

Well apparently Tjos needs to know how the weekend went, and I would love to talk about it so that is the topic of this specific blog. After I wrote the last post, Owen and I stayed up till 1am just talking. It was pretty great to not have to rely on a phone or email in order to have a conversation with him. It was also great to be in his arms again. When my dog Charlie met Owen he kind of just sat in front of him and stared at him. I must admit it was kind of creepy and I've never seen him do it to anyone ever before. I think that Charlie may have thought he was our chaperone for the evening.

On Sunday we went to church. At church a couple from the congregation spoke about their recent trip to Niger to work with (guess who?!!?) Tim Tjosvold for a few weeks. I basically started crying right there, cause they spoke about how hard they found it to go a place unfamiliar to them and also full of spiritual oppresion. Now you would think that it was the fact that I'm heading to Mexico City in five months that would bring on these tears and in a way it was, but it was also because when they were showing us pictures of their trip I remembered once again how much I wanted to go to Africa. So I was crying because I'm going to Mexico City, because one day I want to go to Africa still and also because I'm thinking all of this and Owen is sitting next to me and there's absolutely nothing in me at this point that wants to leave him for long periods of time. Anyways I gave myself a headache through all that crying.

Later Owen and I went to see X-Men 3 which I would recommend if you're into fun action movies. To kill some time we went into Future shop to look around. That was a bad move as we are both still poor. We showed good restraint through and only left with one cd each... and one movie for me too. Anyways after the movie we went out for supper and it was fun to be on an actual date with my boyfriend again. I like him. He is great.

Anyways then we went for a walk and after that we stayed up and watched Ocean's Twelve, the movie I had just boughten (only $9!!). After that we stayed up talking again. Some interesting spiritual stuff happened during that time of talking. Its kind of a long story so I won't tell it all here, but it was really cool to see how God used the both of us in unique ways to work through what was happening. I think both of us just felt peace after it all and had some good promises from God given to us.

On Monday Owen and I went shopping because he needed new shoes. That was kind of fun because I've never gone shopping with him before and it was quite an experience. Anyways after heading to the second mall, the first store we went into he found what he wanted. After coming home we went for another walk and then had supper with my parents... and then he left. I cried. I miss him again. I knew that this would be hard, but now the reality is sinking in.

EXCITING news

Hey Guys, I'm currently waiting for Owen to arrive. I'm so excited to see him. We've now spent just as many weeks apart as together, so we deserve some face to face time as far as I'm concerned. He's staying till Monday evening because that's the way it worked out with our working situations, but even that was a complete answer to prayer.

Speaking of prayer. I now have my official prayer cards for onSite. Yay! I'm now officially a missionary I think... and I didn't even freak out like I thought I would. Apparently I'm handling the issue of Mexico well at the moment; it waits to be seen if that'll continue.

Also related to Mexico, I sent out my fundraising/prayer letters this past week. That sure bombed. Sorry guys, apparently I need to re-take emailing and formatting 101. I will get out actual copies to everyone in ways that they can open/actually have included in the email sometime on Tuesday I hope.

Other than all this excitement I've been working almost everyday. Its really good. I enjoy my job greatly as there are a number of challenges that I've never faced before in all my years of working with children. This past week was a gong-show though as recess was canceled a few times so the kids were super hyper and easily angered. At least because I'm still new I didn't have to deal closely with the more major events. The people I work with are pretty great too. I hung out with two of them on Thursday night as one lives in HUB at the U of A and invited us to watch the Oilers game on the big screen. It was sweet, except for the fact that they lost that game. Oh well, now we're western conference champions and that is amazing.

That's all for now because Owen is here and I now must go and greet him :)

Starting Work

I completed my second day of work today. I started on Monday though. I was pretty nervous that the kids may not like me, or that the staff would hate me, but it seems like those feelings were unfounded. As soon as the kids started to come in I was surrounded by four girls asking me countless questions. An example:

"who are you?"

"amanda"

"do you work here now?"

"yes"

"do you know what my name is?"

"no i don't"

(they proceed to tell me their name) "do you know what my full name is?"

"no i don't"

(they proceed to tell me their full name)

"that's a very pretty full name"

"do you know that I like a boy?"

Anyways you get the picture. It was pretty funny. I haven't worked with elementary aged children in about a year and I had forgotten how much I enjoy them. Especially the young boys... I just love that look they get in their eyes when they're outright lying to you and think they're being clever about it. I have also realised that should I ever have sons, I may be suckered into believing things I shouldn't just because all I can do is laugh at them.

Other than starting work all I've been up to is actually starting to write my fundraising/gather prayer support letter for onSite... don't tell Emma. I probably should have finished it in like March, but I'm still doing procrastination recovery in May. I should get back to it... until next time, may the bird of blessing poo on your head!

Scraping Plaster

This is the ceiling I helped scrape the plaster off of for my Dad in the bathroom he's remodeling. That is just one adventure I've done since being home.







In other news I have gotten a summer job. I'll be working for Thorncliffe After School Care which I found out about for sure today. I was pretty excited for a few reasons. The first of which being I am BORED now with just mooching around my house all day everyday. I mean I have been able to get a lot of wanted reading done, do some onSite tasks that have become backed up and oh wait, how else could I watch my dog make a bed out of this hand towel! Second of all, the new job means money which means less stress about affording to go to Mexico, as well as trips to visit people that I plan on taking before leaving for Mexico.

My life seems to be picking up now as in other exciting news Owen is back in Canada. He's going to call me tonight and after two weeks of just emailing I'm pretty freakin' excited about that.

Well, let me tell you I have watched approximately seven episodes of Star Trek in the past week so I can now beat any of you in Star Trek trivia... oh wait I could do that before too, but now I just feel pathetic about it. Have a great day!

Picture Time - Left Over From School

These are a few pictures from the past semester at school.

The first here to the left is of Tayla my R.A. who love's to be called Tay-Tay as well as put into suitcases... and sent to boy's floors. It was exam time so we had to destress somehow.

The classic cookie stuck between a doorframe and the wall. Owen and Tay-Tay did that one night with a random cookie piece that was in the stairwell. They were throwing it at each other and then bam! there it was in the crack. Crazy cookie.










Here is Natalie taking out some pent-up aggression on Jessy. They're my room mates, and just to note... Jessy did deserve this, a moment before Natalie snapped Jessy had thrown a boot at me and it hurt! I forget what she did to Natalie though...



Of course I have to throw in a picture of Owen. Mainly because he puts pictures of me in his blog. I don't know who took this one, but its my favorite.
Then the next one is of Owen and I too. I was hiding. Obviously!
The next one is my absolute favorite. Its of Leah and Julie-Anne two of my closest friends from this past year who lived across the hall from me. They were studying one night when they realized that their room mate Nicole was no where to be found... what else where they to do, but put on Moose hats, princess crowns and go and find her? I love them dearly and miss them tons.

Well there you have it! I'll post soon about Tay-tay's wedding and all that entailed and anything else that is fun that might happen anyday now.