So, I've had some random days. Yesterday, I went four-by-fouring with Erin and Adrian. Adrian is always an adventure. We found a hiking trail starting in Coquitlam, but it was blocked off with large cement blocks.

So, we were like "That's dumb, we want to drive up the mountain in our truck. Why don't we pull the cement block out of the way?"

There was a Chinese woman waiting for the bus across the road, so we drove around the block until she was gone. Then we stopped and Erin, very stealthily, put our tow rope around the block as Adrian drove (partly on the sidewalk, partly on the road). I'm not sure how many cars saw us (at least 5). The block tipped over and we dragged it almost to the sidewalk, Erin unhooked it and hopped in. And we took a drive around the block again (to make sure none of the cars that saw us drag the block would see us drive up the trail).

We turned onto the trail. The rain was lightly falling, Adrian had his window rolled down, enjoying the fresh air as we drove up the mountain. It was a beautiful trail.

About 1/2 km up the trail there was another set of boulders and also posts to prevent anyone from driving up the trail. So we just gave up. And did a 10 point turn to get back down the trail.

So we went to Buntzen Lake. "Oh this trail is closed for dangerous conditions. Let's go see!!" The trail was closed because a bunch of trees had fallen in the winter storms. So we climbed on tree trunks in the snow until I was so cold and wet that I couldn't feel my fingers or toes.

Then, we went for ice cream! (I also had tea).

Classic, I hung out with Maia afterwards, went to Death by Chocolate for supper (and almost died) and watched The Devil Wears Prada at Liz and Anna's. It was the perfect day.

South Africans Take over Vancouver

Yesterday Maia and I went to Vancouver with four South African guys - David, Yanni, Ben and Neku. They were so much fun!! And it was the perfect day. The sun was shining and we easily found each other after parking (which can be a hassle sometimes). My favourite memory from yesterday - Neku chasing me down the street in Gastown (which was a complete surprise from such a quiet fellow). We did the classic tourist thing - took pictures of the steam clock, went to Lonsdale market, Robson street (and lululemon). Altogether, an awesome time!!

Oh, and tomorrow Jessica and I are going snowshoeing. Hurray!!

Tolkien. (that's who is in the picture). Imagination.

So, I've been reading G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy, something I have attempted many times, but I haven't actually finished because of... well, school reading. So, Chesterton's got me thinking. He says what keeps sane people from insanity is imagination. It is the attempt to rationalize everything that drives you crazy. I agree with him. And somehow being justified in my imagination is something that I need (especially right now).

It is good for my little mind to think of my life as a story. It is good for my camera for me to see beauty all around . And I think all of those memories that I hold on so dearly to have sparked my imagination. (I remember being in the mountains for close to a week with my siblings, and reading a Narnia book while lying on the moss on the forest floor - some part of me remains on that forest floor). The stories that have meant so much to me were epics (I love lord of the Rings... I think I have read it two or three times front to back, And there was one friend at Upward Bound in Austria who said to me "We get to play lord of the rings again today!!"). There is more to life than the mundane. Imagination has the power to bring color and energy to the life. I want to make so many more beautiful memories with friends. I want to be silly and run around in the fog. I want to take pictures of random things (which pretty much describes today!)

Oh the people in my life...

are great, what can I say? Those people that tolerate my cheekiness in class, my tears in homegroup, my neat-freakiness at home, my sense of silliness anywhere else. How I could I live without them. Honestly. Because I feel like I am completely dry of any deep profound thoughts, this is what I am thinking right now: Some times I feel dumb that I am me. I don't know if anyone would get that. But I sure am weird.
I'll let you analyze the data:
- I am turning 23 this year and have never had a boyfriend
- I started castrating calves when I was twelve years old (maybe this one has something to do with the first one).
- I have a tropical plant named Wesley.
- I buy cut flowers for myself
- I actually enjoy running in the rain (today is perfect!)
- I dance like a ballerina in my house
- The radio stations currently programmed on my car radio: classic rock, pop, contemporary rock, classical, christian, and country. I mean, who listens to those?
- I have a giant purple ball that I am staring at right now that is covered in nipples
- I asked the pharmacist for emergency contraception yesterday (this is weird, yet again, looking at the first note)
- My public high school graduating class consisted of nine people (and I was valedictorian YIPEE!)
- I have hiked and snowboarded in the Alps
- I like owning an orchid, it's the only plant that dies if you water it, but keeps going if you never water it
- I see naked people all the time at work

Yep, I'm weird.

God, I am sick of snow and cold. I feel like a wall of ice is separating me from the fresh energy and new life of spring. I feel like hibernating until I wake up and things are warm. Am I suffering from seasonal affected disorder? Maybe. Or maybe it is just that I want to skip the gray cold lifeless parts of life to come even faster to the good times. I know that you are changing me more than ever right now. I can feel my passion for you and your word and your people growing, but still, God, why are your lessons so hard?

Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

I guess underneath all that snow is the promise of life. Last Wednesday when it snowed it felt like I was underneath a huge white down comforter, I felt completely protected and surrounded. Maybe the gray cold is more like a crysallis, a cocoon, and I am in the middle of metamorphsis. I have this problem of not being able to see what God is doing while I am in the middle of his latest scheme. But I have confidence that a few months from now, hindsight will be (as always) 20/20.

So the time has come again! Jessica and I will be making another turkey on January 26th. For Thanksgiving we had a very limited invitation-only dinner. This time, we are making the invitation open to who ever.

There is a catch - cost of admission is some sort of food item. We are hoping for a TON of people to come... but a few catches, I haven't checked the youth schedule and I actually haven't invited anyone yet. heheheheheehe. It will all work out. Anyway, expect an invitation soon.

Snow Day!

So, I'm a clean freak. After one of my coffee dates with a friend from school fell through because of the crappy roads, I decided that I was going to clean! Somehow it feels good to have everything organized and tidy. As if I wasn't domestic enough, the snow has kept Jessica and I both in the house today. I am such a nerd. But maybe cleanliness is next to godliness.... (hehehehehe)