I'm not using specifics for his protection. Please pray for "our friend" as he is in China. Something has happened, but he cannot say what. He will be flying home (home or "home" I am not sure) on Wednesday.

SO FUNNY...K, this was talking about small town USA, but a lot of it works for Canada too, well, in SK anyways...

You Know You're From a Small Town When...

The "road hog" in front of you on Main Street is a farmer's combine. The local phone book has only one yellow page. Third Street is on the edge of town. You leave your jacket on the back of the chair in the cafe, and when you go back the next day, it's still there, on the same chair. You don't signal turns because everyone knows where you're going, anyway. No social events can be scheduled when the school gym floor is being varnished. You call a wrong number and they supply you with the correct one. Everyone knows all the news before it's published; they just read the hometown paper to see whether the publisher got it right. The city limits signs are both on the same post! The City jail is called amoeba, because it only has one cell. The McDonalds only has one Golden Arch. The one-block-long Main Street dead ends in both directions. Second Street is in the next town over. There's no place to go that you shouldn't. A "Night on the Town" takes only 11 minutes. The mayor had to annex property to eat a foot-long hot dog. The New Year's baby was born in October. Running from the cops consists of hiding in the cornfield. You have to name six surrounding towns to explain to people where you're from. You have to drive five miles out in the country to smoke a cigarette. Headline news is who grew the biggest vegetable this year. There is no point in high-school reunions because everyone knows what everyone else is doing anyway. Driving cars up and down the main drag is a universal high school experience. You can name everyone you graduated with. You know what 4-H is. You ever went to parties at a pasture, barn, or in the middle of a dirt road. You said the 'f' word and your parents knew within the hour. You schedule parties around the schedule of different police officers, since you know which ones would bust you and which ones wouldn't - same goes with the game warden. You ever went cow-tipping or snipe hunting. School gets canceled for state sporting events. You could never buy cigarettes because all the store clerks knew how old you were and if you were old enough, they would still tell your folks. When you did find someone old enough and brave enough to buy cigarettes, you still had to go out to the country and drive back roads to smoke them. You were ever in the Homecoming parade. You have ever gone home for Homecoming. It was cool to date someone from the neighboring town. You had senior skip day. The whole school went to the same party after graduation. You don't give directions by street names or references (turn by Nelson's house, go two blocks to the Anderson's turn left and it's four houses left of the football field). The golf course had only 9 holes You can't help but date a friend's ex-girlfriend. Your car stays filthy because of the dirt roads, and you will never own a dark vehicle for this reason. You think kids that ride skateboards are weird. The town next to you is considered "trashy" or "snooty" but is actually just like your town. Getting paid minimum wage is considered a great job. You refer to anyone with a house newer than 1980 as "rich" people. The people in the city dress funny, then you pick up on the trend a few years later. You bragged to your friends because you got pipes on your truck for your birthday. Anyone you want can be found at either the Dairy Queen or the feed store. You see at least one friend a week driving a tractor through town. Football coaches suggest that you haul hay for the summer to get stronger. Directions are given using "the" stop light as a reference The city council meets at the coffee shop. Your letter jacket was worn after your 19th birthday. You have ever taken a trailer or dog to school on a daily basis. Weekend excitement involves a trip to the grocery store. Even the ugly people enter beauty contests. You decide to walk somewhere for exercise and 5 people pull over and ask if you need a ride. Your teachers call you by your older siblings names. Your teachers remember when they taught your parents. You can charge at all the local stores. The closest McDonald's is 45 miles away. So is the closest mall. It is normal to see an old man riding through town on a riding lawn mower. Everyone who played sports had to play on every type of team, or there wouldn't be enough people to have a team. Being able to hit a road sign with a beer bottle while driving down the highway is considered a necessary skill. A cool vehicle had big tires or a bad-ass stereo. You can remember when your town finally got cable. Driving to the party on a four wheeler is quite normal. You thought the 30-year-old guy that still was at all the parties was cool. The town population increases by one-third when the universities go on break. The best burgers in town are at the rink. You know exactly where to go when the party is at "the lake". You lost your virginity at a bush party. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from a small town.

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Well, I finally ventured out of the house today. Coralee and I met up with Cara and Bo-Yeun at Chinook Centre for shopping, a surprise birthday dinner for Bo-Yeun, and more shopping. We then went to DQ for blizzards, then to Cara's house for a movie. We watched The First Wives Club. It was pretty good. I'd give it about a 7.5/10. We got outside and realized it had been snowing. On Monday I put my brush and scraper in my trunk thinking that I would not have to use it again until Novemberish. I hope it doesn't stick around...all my winter clothes are in Eston! The drive home was definitely not as crazy as the drive to the mall and to Cara's...much less traffic at half past midnight. Anyways, I've got my interview in 11 hours. I guess I should get to bed.

Well, after stopping for a nice dinner in Strathmore last night, we made it home around 9pm. I just about caused an accident because I was expecting our turn-off to be on the right, but eventually Coralee told me it was on the left. It was close, but we made it. I don't mind city driving, but I h.ate driving when I don't know where I'm going. After we unloaded the car, Coralee's mom was giving me a run down on a few things, the I got to ask what seems to be one of the most awkward questions to ask and to answer..."So, what should I call you guys?" She talked it over with her husband and they decided that I am to call them by their first name. After this and a little more conversation, Coralee and I played Travel Tribond Kids. I was not very good at that game to start with...and I kept getting "Go back one space" while Coralee kept getting "Move ahead one space". Eventually things evened out and I started to catch up, but she still came out on top. I got all of my stuff unpacked and organized this morning. I still feel a little out of place here...especially since I have not familiarized myself with things around the house. Today's plans: call some FGBCers and hang out. Gee...sounds like tomorrow's plans too. I have my interview on Thursday. Please pray for me if you get the chance.

I'm doing okay with the people who are returning next year, but for a few of those who aren't I am having a hard time with. I am going to miss some of them SO much! They have been a big part of my life this year and they will always have a piece of my heart.

I am so scared to move to Calgary. It is so big and very unfamiliar. I can picture myself hiding out in my room for the first week, until I adjust to my new surroundings, at least a little anyways. Sure I have visited my new home a few times, but I have never lived there. I am going to be entering the home of a family who has been together for over 20 years. They know how each other works. They know what to expect from each other. They know the ins and outs of daily life with one another. Though they are being so gracious to me in opening up their home to me for the summer, and as loving and hospitable as this family is, I am not in familiar territory and that does not sit well with me.

I am already feeling overwhelmed. I just want to retreat back to my familiar surroundings: people, places, etc. But I know that is not what is right. God is making me grow up, which I have said that I wanted to do, but now that it is happening, it terrifies me. A new city, home, job, family, church....I am trying to trust God in this. I have to. I know without a doubt that I cannot do this on my own.

I love reading past journal entries. I am encouraged to see all that God has brought me through and to see how much I have learned and matured over time. Unlike these blogs, you can feel more free to write what you want. Sure, there's the possibility of someone reading it, but a wise woman once said to me, "What's the worst that could happen [if someone reads your journal]? They get to know the real you."

I took a learning test...these are my results:

Tactile Learner 40%
Visual Learner 38%
Auditory Learner 22%


Visual Learners:

use visual materials such as pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
have a clear view of your teachers when they are speaking so you can see their body language and facial expression
use colour to highlight important points in text
take notes or ask your teacher to provide handouts
illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorming bubble before writing them down
write a story and illustrate it
use multi-media (e.g. computers, videos, and filmstrips)
study in a quiet place away from verbal disturbances
read illustrated books
visualize information as a picture to aid memorization


Auditory Learners:

participate in class discussions/debates
make speeches and presentations
use a tape recorder during lectures instead of taking notes
read text out aloud
create musical jingles to aid memorization
create mnemonics to aid memorization
discuss your ideas verbally
dictate to someone while they write down your thoughts
use verbal analogies, and story telling to demonstrate your point


Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners

take frequent study breaks
move around to learn new things (e.g. read while on an exercise bike, mold a piece of clay to learn a new concept)
work at a standing position
chew gum while studying
use bright colors to highlight reading material
dress up your work space with posters
if you wish, listen to music while you study
skim through reading material to get a rough idea what it is about before settling down to read it in detail.

Well, I had my last FGBC class yesterday. I didn't realize it until Dean said, "And for those of you who this is your last class at FGBC, it is a good way to end [...with Revelation class]." I put it off as much as I could...I sat in on Dean's very last class this morning: NT Survey-->Revelation. Still a good way to end my classes. I can't believe I only have 3 exams and my internship left. There is so much that can be done in this short amount of time known as a year. I am finally out of the mindset that "I only have "x" amount of time left and into the mindset of "I still have "x" amount of time left in which to do things." Changing to this mindset has helped me to accomplish many more things that are important to me (ie. things with relationships). Anyways, I'm off to continue reading "Byzantium".

On Saturday morning I was in bed with my window open and had a cool (as in cold) wind flowing through my room. I began to contemplate wind. What is its purpose? For a few minutes I could not think of any. I mean, it's cold (well, this one anyways), it blows your hair and papers all over the place...I guess it causes decent waves for surfers and what not. But anyways, I concluded that a major purpose of wind is to show the power of God. This is the only reason why I like a strong wind. This is also why I love thunderstorms. They show the power, majesty, and beauty of God.

I have really been convicted lately about the way I live my life. There is so much truth that I have learned over the years and that I believe, yet I do not live my life in a way that demonstrates my beliefs...at least not to the extent that I want to. I am struggling with surrendering my life to God. It doesn't matter how often I say that I want to completely surrender to Him, I just can't seem to do it. I go back and forth between knowing that I can't do this in my own strength, but only by the Spirit, and yet God has given me a free will and I need to make the choice to give everything over to Him.

I had such a good time at church yesterday. We sang mostly older songs like "Ancient of Days", "Celebrate Jesus Celebrate", "Awesome God", "I Believe in Jesus", etc. These are the songs that we were singing at my old church and youth group when I started going back to church. It was really good to worship God through those songs again.

I don't think I can do it! I want to be here for the whole year next year! I have fallen in love with the community of this place and I forgot just how much until this morning.

Oh and by the way...our testimonies went well this morning.

I ended up being signed up for some strange dating site that, as far as I know, I didn't sign up for, so I went through and changed my passwords this morning. Fun stuff :P

There are 2 of us sharing our testimonies in Community Group this morning. In less than 1/2 an hour actually. I have yet to decide what I am going to share! As much as I love these gi.rls, I was definitely spoiled by the closeness of last year's Community Group.

I am contemplating working during 1st semester as well next year, then coming back here to do my internship. We shall see how things go. It is very up in the air right now.

Well, I better go figure out what to say this morning.

Friday afternoon to Now.
3 1/2 hour drive to Halkirk.
Arrive at Circle Square Ranch-->nice place.
Unpack, have supper-->good food.
Meeting.
Played Air Hockey with Cara.
Watched Finding Forrester-->glad I've seen it before 'cause I slept through it.
I think I went to bed after this-->comfy (bunk)beds.
Breakfast.
Meeting (2).
Lunch.
Meeting.
Menotr/Intern meeting-->good talk with Danielle.
Horesback riding-->FUN!
Read part of Byzantium.
Supper.
Meeting.
Free time-->read; played rummy, war, and go fish-->SO much fun! I love the guys! They're so crazy!
Bed.
Breakfast.
Meeting.
Prayer and Worship.
Lunch.
Pack.
Vaccuum.
3 1/2 hour drive to Eston.
Supper and 2 movies (which I fell asleep watching).
Bed.
Breakfast.
Computer.
There, now you're all caught up :)