Wednesday, July 23, 2008

WHOA! - I'm back!


Well, to the few of you who still read this (and who may perhaps stumble back upon this page despite my long absence), my apologies for not keeping up to date. Thanks for not giving up all hope in me!

Somehow school became busy, and - those of you who know about 'facebook' - it became the new hip happenin' thing, and thus blogging somehow seeped into the back of mind for a while.

Myself crazy at the end of school...


However...I have returned to give an update.

Now let me see...*sigh*...what is new?

I've finished my second year at University, and it was one brutal fight to the end. My studying pal Rika and I described it as running in a race: you finally see the finish line coming closer - and just as you think you're almost done and holding back from throwing up - you're told you still have another lap to go. By the time we finished all our papers, we got knocked over by the quickly aproaching finals. I'm hoping to procrastinate less next year in hopes of that better survival tactic. I can laugh about it now, but my head sure was spinning at the end of April.
My stack of books for my papers...

Immediately after finishing exams, I packed up my belongings, and hopped onto a plane to lovely Alberta. I had a fantastic holiday week visiting with my amazing Grampa, great family and awesome friends. Visiting the McTeers (family) and some Capernwray pals


I arrived back home on my beloved Vancouver Island to the welcoming embraces of my folks. I enjoyed some good relaxing and 'babying' by my parents. I've also been blessed to be back at work for my 3rd summer with ACTS (Africa Community Technical Service: http://www.acts.ca/). It's an amazing organization which works in Africa, helping to provide clean water and other community development projects. I work in the office, doing this or that, and some things in between.

So, summer has consisted of work, sunshine, lounging at the beach, getting back into reading (not textbooks!), volleyball with friends, firesides at camp, and lots of happy moments.

In a few weeks, our family is taking off to Germany for my brother Jeff's wedding (to his fair maiden Antonia). It's hard to believe I will be in Germany soon, let alone that one of us siblings is getting married. But overall, I'm pretty stoked.

One huge highlight!! Jeff flew home for a week in April, so the three of us siblings were able to reconnect for a few hours at Trinity before he went home to the island.

Phew...that's a decent recap on half a year of my life.

Most important through it all though, is the faithfulness of the Lord in my life. In each step along this journey, the Lord has never disappointed me. Through the intensity of exams, stressful moments, hardships in relationships, and transitions - to the peaceful moments, endless laughs, and friendly memories - He has walked beside me and continues to reveal His character. I am thankful to be serving and to be in love with a God who knows me inside and out.

I suppose most recently, I've been learning to just trust in Him. Life sometimes takes different turns we do not always expect, and I realize that His plan IS better than mine...

Thanks for reading to all of you who have:)

Blessings and Peace with you,
Jen J