this is what i get for staying home.

seriously. what the heck?! today was the most unproductive day in history. i am never staying at home to do work ever again.

although i said that the last time i stayed home to do work. will i ever learn??

frilly fruhaha's.

winter is officially officially here. i think in a previous post i might have thought winter had offically arrived, but i was wrong. it has only now arrived. i see long and dreary months ahead. days filled with icy sidewalks, compacted snow, grey skies and slush. salt on your jeans, pant legs wet, cold sniffly nose, pepetually cold hands weather is now here. some of you will recommend that i just deal with it, while others, i know you sympathize, and i thank you.

so, to veer my focus from the icy conditions we are now experiencing, i am concentrating my energies on...wait for it, it's going to be amazing...BOWLING! yes, that's right, bowling! i LOVE it. i haven't been bowling in a good few years now, but tonight is the night when that all changes. clara organized a navs event for anyone interested, and i knew i couldn't miss this. *sigh* i'm imagining it now...the satisfying feeling of pins falling...brings me happiness. (doesn't take much, i know!) can't say that i'm a stellar bowler, but it is all in the fun. in approximately three hours from now, i will be lacing up those retro bowling shoes and sending pins flying. the countdown is on.

passion toronto: the event.

last night was amazing. two bus loads of us queen's students travelled down to toronto to attend passion toronto. we got there at about 5:45pm, and waited in line for a while before we got inside. in total, there were about 4500 unversity students in Ricoh Coliseum for the event. the night was filled with worship led by charlie hall, chris tomlin and david crowder band. each of the guys came on individually and did a set, all of which were interspersed with prayer and talks from louie giglio - who, by the way, is an excellent speaker.

charlie hall sang this song 'marvellous light' which i simply adore. i have been listening to it all day today! chris tomlin's worship was fabulous - maybe it's because i bought his new album over the summer and just love it to pieces, but he was definitely one of the highlights of my night. i LOVE that guy. he tried out a new song with us last night, and it was great. he is a really genuine worship leader, which is awesome. louie giglio spoke after chris' set and talked about how big our God is, and how small we really are. he showed us amazing images from the hubble telescope of galaxies and magnificient things just existing out there in space - all created by God and there to praise Him. it really reminded me how infinitely small we are compared to God - we are but a speck on the radar, but He cares for us so much..!! one of chris tomlin's songs says 'your grace is enough' and man, it truly is!! the final set was done by david crowder band, who i really enjoy. they are higher energy than the others before them, but i definitely also appreciated their songs. all in all, last night was an amazing experience, and i am so glad passion decided to come across the border to share their ministry with us.

we got back into kingston in the wee hours of the morning, i got in at 2:45am, and headed straight for my bed. after that experience, i've got to now buckle down and really get my nose to the grindstone as i finish up these last days of class. nine more days until we are unleashed from the shackles of classes and assignments. it will be glorious :)

strep and passion toronto

seriously, strep throat? i am praying that that's not what it is. although, if it is strep at least i can get some meds to make it stop hurting! gahh. i definitely just got over my cold not too long ago, and now this? so weird. i usually hardly ever get sick.

but despite the possible strep throat, i am so excited for Passion Toronto tomorrow. note to others who are going - be sure to pack lotsa food to keep your physical hunger satisfied! our spiritual needs will be fed when we get to Ricoh stadium ;) and it will be fabulous.

but, in order for me to fully enjoy the experience of Passion Toronto, i will need to first be fully rested, so i am thinking a good night's sleep is in order. speaking of which, i'm off to bed!

snow, scarves and smiles...? :)

it's official. winter is near, if not here already. today, i pulled out of the depths of my closet - are you ready for it? my winter coat! *gasp* yes folks, believe it. as i was standing at the front of the class today giving my presentation, i could see the snow falling outside, and i felt i had brought out the coat at an appropriate time. i no longer feel dread at the thought of snow, i have now embraced the beloved precipitation and eagerly anticipate its arrival in full force.

____________________________________________________
on another note, here is the count so far (because i feel this is necessary):
1/3 papers
1/2 presentations
0/1 take home exam
0/1 in-class test

i am making progress, slow and steady. fifteen more days, and i will be somewhat free. what a glorious day that will be...*sigh*

things are looking up.

essay number 1 is handed in. after tomorrow, presentation 1 will be over. by sunday, paper 2 will be done. and then, i can tackle the monster that is my seminar paper. what fun it will be!

speaking of fun :D i am going to PASSION TORONTO!!!!!! i am SO excited, and cannot wait!! it is going to be an amazing night of worship, prayer and a speaker - chris tomlin and david crowder band are going to be there. and get this: it is free. free!!! man, God is going to be glorified in an amazing way that night, and i can't wait to be a part of it.

and just one more thing....CONGRATULATIONS CHRISSY AND ROB!!!!!!! :) i am SO happy for you guys!!!

now - back to work... peace out folks.

i love this song... "This is Life" (Tehilla Toronto)

Eyes can't see the way you hold me
Or how I'm hidden in Your heart
Minds don't know all You've told me
Or how I ache for where You are

It's invisible to the world
Incredible to the angels
Not since Eden have they seen this sight
Everlasting life

Chorus:
You are all over,
You are around,
You are inside
This is life, this is life

[ this is my favourite part ]

Bridge:
I come in empty, I leave filled
Bring my sickness, I leave healed
Broken-hearted, You mend every piece
I come in captive, I leave free

i did what?! with a little heavenly help, of course...

today, i did something never before done in my history. i went to stauffer to start writing my paper that is due on tuesday, thinking i'd get about half of it done today, and the rest tomorrow. i sat down at the computer and started typing - eight hours and ten pages later, I AM DONE! yes, you read right: DONE. it was such a bizarre feeling - the thoughts flowed with such clarity, the words came out in perfect order, and before i knew it, the dude was announcing that the library was closing in fifteen minutes and i was printing out a copy of my paper to proofread. just goes to show, that when God is on your side, ALL THINGS are possible!!! hallelujah!

looking good vs being warm

i woke up this morning to the dude on the radio telling his slumbering audience about flurries in the forecast. then i was walking to school and i saw, yes, believe it, ice on the road. i believe the time of year has arrived where looking good is sacrificed for keeping warm. in the summer months i can afford to mix it up because it's just so much easier. but alas, winter is coming (yes, i've pulled out of denial and have accepted reality) and warmth is essential to survival. if anyone has tips on how to look good AND stay warm, let me know :)

i republished my blog with this snazzy new template and promptly lost all the links i had on my other one. congratulations to me.

there's a verse that i love especially at this time of the school year:

'for our light and momentary troubles [ie. papers/exams/assignments] are acheiving for us an ETERNAL GLORY that far outweighs them all.' 2 Cor 4:17

it's during this time that i tend to fail in terms of devotions and spending time in the word because i get so caught up in doing what is urgent. i need to rememeber that despite all these things, there is a greater goal to which we are headed, and the completion of the urgent (papers, assignments) needs to be trumped by the completion of the IMPORTANT (reading the Word, praying)! somewhere there is a verse that says that God will redeem our time - if we spend time with Him, he is sure to reward us at times like these by simply redeeming our time. somewhere there is a disconnect between knowing and doing, and rectifying that is sometimes the hardest thing to do. but with Him all things are possible. all things.

blegh

who knew that the history of patriarchy could be so dry? if you did, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?! oh the things we do to earn a degree.

oh look! a post!! what a novel idea...

kwan, this is just for you.

it has been for-freakin-EVER since i last posted. tons has happened and i guess i was just too crazy busy to post. not that now is a better time - someone please inhabit my body and take over. PLEASE! all you would have to do is write three papers, do a presentation, write a test and a take home exam within the next four weeks. you can do it, come onn!! for further information, feel free to contact me, i would be more than willing to oblige.