How the TIMES have CHANGED!

Wow... it has really been a while since my last posting and I've been trying to figure out what I want to write for this one because A LOT has happened to me in the past 2 and a bit months or so since I've last written. So let's do a QUICK recap... 

1. Christmas Break happened and it was AMAZING... why you might ask?

VanDusen Gardens with my family

a) I got to go to back home to BEAUTIFUL BRITISH COLUMBIA! I was greeted by Mama Mac, Papa Mac and my dear brother... such a joy to see my family at the airport and to spend my holiday with them. I then got to see my WHOLE family on both sides to celebrate Christmas. It was so refreshing and wonderful to see everyone again (especially with everything that happened with Grammie and Oma this year). God is continually loving my family and I have felt SO blessed by His GOODNESS.

Kevin and I testing out my new camera... we had way to much fun with it

b) "The Boy" (don't worry, he has a name... I'm just going to introduce him later) I liked came out (45 mins away from me) and spend time with me. We went out for sushi a couple times and were able to enjoy meeting each others families. I got to meet his mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and aunt and he got to meet... well... my aunts, uncles and cousins on my mom's side. We had a lot of fun seeing where the other person grew up and who they grew up with.

c) Our best friends got ENGAGED ON NEW YEARS EVE! We knew it was going to happen as well because Caleb told us "the plan" and showed us the ring... so we were anticipating their phone call that evening and it was the most excited I've been for a friend in a while. 

d) I got to visit with friends... I had the opportunity to go to Camp Squeah and into Langley, Surrey and just stay in Ladner to meet up with close friends who I hadn't seen in a while and catch up with them over coffee or food. It was a busy Christmas break... but SO AWESOME! I'm so blessed to be able to witness the Lord in people's lives.

e) FINALLY, "The Boy" I liked eventually told me his feelings for me... and I was SO happy to hear that "the Boy" I liked, liked me as well.

2. "The Boy" eventually became my boyfriend...  That's right, my 20 year single streak is officially OVER!

Ok, "The Boy's" name is Travis... and he makes me SO happy! We have been friends since September and we have been dating now for over 2 months. It feels like longer already, but these 2 months have gone by so quickly.

Who would have thought that I had to move all the way to Alberta to meet a B.C boy?

We have way too much fun together... he makes me laugh till I snort and brings so much JOY into my life. And we have done TONS so far this semester already. We've seen concerts, been to the Art Gallery, the Legislative building, gone out for dinners, gone out for coffee's, made food together, seen movies, gone for walks in the blistering cold, gone on a road trip to Fort St. John and have just stayed in and enjoyed each others company and conversation. I'm definitely spoiled and am SO blessed to have this man in my life... God's will for my life is GOOD and PERFECT... =)

Honestly... I don't understand why the Lord has blessed me with such an amazing man!

3. Academics are actually ENJOYABLE this semester... especially when dance is considered an academic.

That's right... I'm dancing for SCHOOL! I dance 3 times a week for 2 dance classes. One is Modern Dance and the other is the Spectrum of Dance. They are both SURPRISINGLY challenging. I've stressed out over dance routines already because... 

1. I've had to do a solo... and I have NEVER done solo's before

2. The majority of the Spectrum of Dance class is done in groups... group work is really hard to coordinate when everyone is in class at different times and you have to practice outside of class time.

3. Modern class is all about your own movement... My movement is ballet. I don't really have my own movement! I have technique, but not my own style. This has left me in quite the pickle, BUT... it's challenging me. 

But being able to dance again has been amazing. Even just having the opportunity to take a dance class makes me so happy... but to get credits for it is like a cherry on top of a really amazing milkshake.  

So now... things that I get to look forward too... hmmm... Clara and Caleb's wedding is coming up pretty quickly now. I am the Maid of Honour and Travis is the Best Man (this is when everyone normally goes "Aww, it was meant to be!" I don't know how many times I've heard that when I tell people this) Anyways, I have been looking forward to this wedding for a VERY long time. It will be such an amazing day and I'm honoured to even be a part of it. 

This semester is almost over and I'm looking forward to coming back to BEAUTIFUL BRITISH COLUMBIA. The snow is FINALLY melting here, but that makes Edmonton a BIG mess. But the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, so really, I can't complain. Yet, it will be so nice to return home and spend a summer at HOME! 

There is much that I have to look forward too... I seriously cannot complain! =)

It has been a BIG year =)

Looking back on 2010, I have experienced QUITE a bit... so I have decided to make a list!

1. I've moved away from home
2. I have my very own apartment that I share with my best friend
3. I have made new friends and have connected with old ones
4. I have experienced loss
5. I have been homesick and have missed my friends and family in B.C
6. I have made my own meals
7. I led a Leadership Training Program at Camp
8. I have started a new school where I am learning how to be a teacher
9. I have made grocery shopping mistakes... and laughed about it
10. I have experienced my nose hairs freezing together (-35 degrees)
11. I started celebrating Christmas in the beginning of November
12. I've been so stressed that I have fried myself out
13. I took a hip hop class and learned a little about gliding, pop and locking, tutting, and krumping
14. I have dyed my hair
15. I helped lead a multi day backpacking trip in Manning Park
16. I have been challenged in my faith by family, friends and the Holy Spirit
17. I have been blessed by surprises
18. I have been loved and cared for by friends
19. I got braces
20. I have had my wisdom teeth removed
21. I have skipped class
22. I have procrastinated (what I am doing now)
23. I have swallowed a dime (don't ask me how!)
24. I've summited 2 mountain
25. I have gotten my first "A" in a University course

Now... 2011 is here... and it is looking SO GOOD!

Life... It's Beautiful

Well... this past week and a half has been more difficult then most.

One of the reasons I started this blog was so that my family and friends at home could see what I was getting up to in Alberta. Most of this information is not new though.

My Oma passed away last Thursday (Nov. 4th 2010) at 2:00 in the morning...
Wednesday night (the 3rd) was a difficult night. After I had received an email from my ma about my Oma's condition (she wasn't responding to anyone), I needed to study for my EdPsych midterm as well as finish up a paper for my Profession of Teaching course. It was a stressful and emotionally draining time... however, my friends out here are truly amazing and treated me so well. They were there to listen to me and to just be with me as well as help me study as I was trying to get things done while thinking about my family...

The next morning was VERY difficult.

I was getting ready to go write my midterm for EdPsych and I received a phone call from my mom about Oma passing away. I was able to be with Clara for 20 mins or so before I could go write an exam 30 mins later. I wrote my mid term... then I handed in a paper... then I skipped my class... I could not handle it.

However, I have GREAT friends. After I left my class, I went home to calm down and take a breather and to be alone for a little bit. Then Caleb, Travis and Clara came back from Value Village where they went Christmas shopping... (yes, we like to celebrate Christmas a little bit early here). So I headed over to the guys place and was greeted with big smiles, hugs, an eggnog chai latte, Christmas music AND a STOCKING! Then we played Bohnanza and I WON... they didn't even let me win... I won all on my own! My friends out here are TRULY GREAT!

My last midterm was last Wednesday... and last Wednesday was Oma's funeral. As soon as I was done my test it all started sinking in. I REALLY wanted to be there and to see my family and to see my Opa, but I couldn't. All I could do was pray for my family... that the LORD would bless them and hold them close and calm their hearts.

Oma LOVED to hear about ALL of her grand childrens lives. Last year when I lived at home, I would run some errands with Oma like take her to the bank to make bill payments or to the super market or the farmers market. We also made a few hospital runs so that she could get eye surgery. Eventually, Oma started asking questions about boys... BOYS... my 85 year old Oma asking me about BOYS? I wish I had a story to tell her each time, but I really didn't. Every time she asked me, "so Jenna, are there any boys in your life?" I would always reply with the same old, "No, no boys for me Oma." After, she would always say, "it's ok, he's coming for you Jenna... and he'll be great!" And then she would try and force feed me some more stale candy...

This has been QUITE the year for me and my family. Kevin and I have lost 2 grandma's and my parents have lost both their mom's (within half a year)... and we have never really lost anyone before. We are so comforted in knowing that BOTH our grandma's had a great relationship with Christ. But I just miss them A LOT! And it makes me realize how AMAZING my parents are.

When Grammie (my Dad's mom) passed in May, my mom and dad were ALWAYS checking up on me and Kev to see how we were doing with it. They always wanted to check up on us because we are the "grandkids" even though they are the ones that just lost a mom and a mother-in-law. Even with Oma, they have both been seeing how we are doing with it. I have EXTREMELY strong parents... and I am so proud of them.

But Christmas is coming! I'm SO excited to see my family again and to be around them and love on them and hold them and do family things.

Elyse, Kevin, Holly, Adam and I... just some of my wonderful cousins

God has been SO good throughout this WHOLE time. I cannot believe how well he has blessed me out here with my little community of friends. They have been ABSOLUTELY amazing and I can't thank them enough.

Full of Praise and Thanksgiving!

Hello ALL!

It has been a while, and I apologize. School has gotten pretty busy. Mid terms have started... and they will never END. (Seriously, they are not going to stop until finals...)

However, I'm tired of reading right now, so I've decided to write and reflect on the past few weeks. Basically, I'm taking this opportunity to escape from school and reflect on the things that have brought me joy. =)

Thanksgiving was 2 weeks ago now I believe. That weekend was A LOT of fun. 

There was a big group of us (Caleb, Clara, Luke, Travis, Jackie and myself) and we headed out to Calgary to Clara's home. Her parents had prepared an AMAZING Thanksgiving dinner for us. WE WERE BLESSED.

The next day, they took us on a hike to Nihani Ridge. It was absolutely beautiful. We summit-ed the peak and it literally BLEW US AWAY! Seriously, the wind was so strong that we were knocked off our feet. 

Later we went back to Clara's home and were treated to a Korean BBQ! It was SO delicious. After dinner, we then headed out to Claresholm where Caleb's Mom and Dad have just moved to. Even though they had just moved, they kindly opened up their home to us and hosted us for yet ANOTHER Thanksgiving dinner. It was BEAUTIFUL! 

Needless to say, I felt truly blessed by both families. They opened up their homes and fed us amazing food and treated us like family. It was a gift to all of us and I was overwhelmed by their generosity.

The next weekend we were planning on having Jackie over to hang out. I opened the door for Jackie to come in and welcomed her to our home and then... SURPRISE! Melissa popped up from around the corner of my apartment building. We had NO idea that she coming... it was a CRAZY SURPRISE, but lovely to see a dear friend again.

That same weekend, I had been planning on dying my hair. I decided on a dark brown so now, I am officially a brunette!

Haha, it was a lot of fun to do!

But since I've been out here, God has been so FAITHFUL to me. I've been having a hard time with mid-terms and school and it has been causing me some stress and anxiety. In addition, my Oma's health has not been the best and I've been concerned about that and my Opa's situation because he's living without her right now. My Oma has been in the hospital for a while now (probably a week after I got here she was put into the hospital). She was pretty sick and that then turned into her having a hard time breathing and her heart was starting to act funny. There have been times since I've been out here where I've wanted to be at home to support my family. HOWEVER, throughout it all, God has supplied me with scripture that is full of his wisdom and He has blessed me with people in my life to pray with me, pray for me, encourage me and affirm me in why I am here. 

It has been easy to get discouraged by school, but through worship, prayer and scripture reading, I've only felt the Holy Spirit continually bless me. Jesus has blessed me with much LAUGHTER and JOY! 

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 14:25-27

In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. -Romans 8:26-27

God is SO GOOD! Unbelievably GOOD! 

I miss you all and hope things are going well with you. 

Peace and Love brothers and sisters from Edmonton! <3

P.S: There were some flurries tonight... and soon, it will snow fo REALZ!

Feeling Like A Student

The time has come...

MID TERMS ARE AMONG US

(It is not until these times when I start feeling like a University student. OH THE JOY!) =)

It is time to stay up late... make recipe cards for remembering definitions (all thanks to my geog 12 teacher)... remember key concepts and models... late night snack to keep the brain juices flowing... stretch... yawn... memorize... and LEARN!

But truly, I am getting an education and that in itself is a gift (even if it may not feel like it at times). I'm officially preparing for mid terms. I have 2 this coming week... one on Wednesday for Health Ed and one on Thursday for Ed Psych. 

Because my classes are so huge (200-300 students), my mid terms will consist of multiple choice questions as well as a true or false component. 

30% of my grade will depend on 40-50 multiple choice questions. I feel SO comforted... *did you catch the sarcasm?

I would prefer to write a paper that I can take my time on, however, I'm in University... it happens. 

I'm just looking forward to the weekend now. IT'S THANKSGIVING AND I'M GOING TO PARTY! Actually, I'm just going to be doing a lot of traveling and visiting with friends and their families. Both Clara and Caleb's parents have graciously opened up their homes to us for Thanksgiving. I believe there is 6 of us that are planning on going down to Calgary and then down to Clarsholm to visit their families. 

It shall be a grand adventure... but till then... 

STUDY TIME