Oh How the Years Go By

Who's pumped for 2007? Thats right its me baby! Ready to ring in the new year with two of my close friends and my darling parents. And a lot of food! New Year's is never really a super huge party anymore, but its still fun. Plus there's punch (eh Brynne?)!

Hmm...2006. What a big year for me! Went to Africa, held babies and orphans, tried to make a difference, swam with sharks, got attacked by b a b o o n s, swam in the ocean, hiked mountains, made new friends, g r e w in God, fell in love, chose a career, worked for 4 months, gained and lost a bunch of weight, got bangs, studied, cried, worshipped, d a n c e d, counselled, prayed, laughed a lot, and had a love/dislike relationship with life.

Overall a pretty good year, I'd say.

This past year has brought me so much and I am so thankful to have had it; I can only look forward to and feel ready to embrace what the coming year will bring. If its anything like this past year then I know at least one thing to be true - it is in God's hands, and I trust Him to continue to lead me along as He has thus far.

Change of Plans

After a frustrating and painful morning (liquid nitrogen, I hate you!) we cancelled our trip to see the movie. I can't believe its not playing yet! Ridic! Anyhoo, so because my foot hurt we decided to go tomorrow and have supper and go bowling instead of wasting money on a movie we don't want to see. So pumped! Bowling with Henk is always the funniest thing ever!

I went to Brandon today anyway, with my sister. She got her hair cut and I got some pictures printed ($10 worth, or 58 ha ha!) and I booked a hair appointment for myself for tomorrow. That is a necessity. I bought some pretty clothes from Giant Tiger as well. Brown ones.

After her hair cut we had supper at Joey's (yum!) and saw The Good Shepard with Scott. It was weird. And dark. And disturbing. And weird. And Matt Damon is a good actor, but yeah it was weird. But nice to see Scott! And then we talked about the movie practically the whole way home, and now here we are.

Home sweet home.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that yesterday afternoon KB and I pulled out our instruments from high school band - her trombone and my trumpet. I almost had an aneurysm. It was pretty hilarious! And fun, I played taps. Afterwards I has the sickest lip hickey ever, it was sweet!

Fun Times

So the past few days have been fun - Boxing Day with the Bryce clan and two crazy cousins. I was happy to have a tea party with Kiah, watch Cars with Elijah and that Tyler could come for a few days! I enjoy him, even though he kicks my butt at crokinole.

Went to Brynne's yesterday, saw her fam and her massive television. I want. LOL! It almost gave me a headache though! But we exchanged gifts and I got a sweet action shirt from her, I love it! It was fun, and she decided to spend the night and so we rented Stick It and Step Up after having supper at Choy's. Of course as soon as we got home I got a severe head ache, so I spent the night on the couch feeling nauseous and exhausted. But we watched both films, which were pretty good (Stick It was nothing like I thought it'd be - but still pretty good) even though I had a 15 minute nap between the two.

Today we woke up, ate, chilled, kept eating, talked for a few hours, watched Step Up again and then I took her home. It was really funny because I told a story and Brynne shot water out of her nose...ha ha! Oh Nargus!

Scary story!!! I was listening to my new Christina Aguilera CD, and the first song on the second disk has carnival music in it, and it scared me SO BAD. I hate clowns, and carnival-esque stuff, yikes I was like totally freaking out and shaking so Brynne made me change the song. Ug, I still feel all shook up *cue Elvis voice*.

Yup tomorrow I go to the doctor, hopefully get a wart removed (yahoo) and then off to Brandon with Henk, Brynne and Bakes. Life is good.

Glorious Impossible

so this song is basically defining my christmas this year. here it is being sung by the gaither vocal band - good stuff. hope you like it. i am not as in love with this version as i am of the one on our christmas in south africa video, but it is still great. how much do you love the dark-haired high tenor? i want to hug him!

Its Christmas Eve!

Today has been quite the day! First, there was church and it was a great service. It was a Christmas/Baptismal service. I definitly cried, Pastor baptised his son and they were both crying when he dunked him. Actually each of the three people that got baptised were crying, so that was nice because it showed that it meant so much to them. It was very happy and emotional. Plus a lot of people were home for Christmas so we got to see a whole bunch of people that I haven't seen in like a year.

Then we had lunch, read the Christmas story from Luke, sang "Joy to the World" and opened presents. I got some sweet stuff! I got Amanda Falk's CD, the movie Cars from Jordan, some sweet action socks, guitar strings, a Newsboys devotional book, Philip Yancy's new book about prayer, some scrapbooking stuff complete with some sweet action albums (so now I need to print pictures and get started on my OT albums) and last but not least, a knitted black toque from my sister - with a brim!! Oh baby!!!! What I have wanted for a long time and everyone says they will mock me for wearing it, but just you wait CMU, I will be wearing it when I get back! Ha ha! Putting it on ruined my hair though...

Anyhoo tonight is supper at Baba's (bring on the nylyshynky!) and fun family times ensuing after that. And tomorrow is Christmas day at Baba's, where more presents wait (which is absurd! I have already gotten so much). I am excited to see my aunt and uncle and eat too much!

Mostly though, people, I feel really excited about Jesus this Christmas, about the 'glorious impossible' that came to earth to die for all my sins and faults. Praise God, eh? I mean we are so undeserving, but He loves us all the same. Thats pretty sweet.

Merry Christmas!

roly poly annoying-oly!

i am really sick of feeling fat!

SO sick of it!

its gotten to the point where i feel uncomfortable in my own body; uncomfortable existing.

its not even an emotional feeling, its purely physical.

yuck! it makes me angry. and its not fully my fault.

i wish bran worked. grr.

--i am not always this negative. its just been a bad couple of days--

Shopped Out

So I spend a majority of my day in the mall. Ew.

I can't believe when I was 14 that was a hang out location of choice!

Christmas shopping was frustrating and hard, so needless to say I was in a bad mood.

Then I came home and had 4 e-mails: one each from Mike, Chaput, Dayna and Terrell respectively.

So now I am happy and full of homemade cookie. Yay!

BRYNNE COMES HOME TOMORROW! Thats happy!

Candlelight Service

Last night was the Candlelight Service at church.

I like candles.

And carols.

And Jesus.

So basically it was a good night.

Home Again, Home Again!

So I am now home! After a bio exam and the longest, frightening and most snow-filled drive home, I am back in the Strath Dot. Kristin and I ate and then headed to the church Christmas Concert, which was hilarious! Between Mike knocking down the nativity, Luke the shepard joining the angels and Mary and Joseph sprinting to Bethlehem, I laughed until I was sore. It was nice to sit back at watch the concert for once and not be in it.

I can honestly say that I was welcomed home with open arms. I think I got a hug from over half of the congregation and then some! So many people told me I looked good and my great aunt (Baba's sister) commented on how much weight I had lost, even encouraging me to eat more dainties and expressed concern that she could feel the bones in my fingers. LOL! It was funny and so nice to feel so loved.

After the concert I watched the Gaither Homecoming in South Africa video with my family - AMAZING. I loved it SO MUCH! SO many good songs and funny moments. I had chills like the whole time, so many moving songs (especially the Iaacs singing "Blessed Assurance"). PLUS!!!! They went to the school we went to and delivered shoe boxes! The one in Soweto that we painted and sang at! It was incredible to behold.

Today I slept in and hung out with the fam. I even ventured to SL to see Baba. I forgot how much I miss driving! Baba gave me a pretty bracelet and fed me too much. Tonight has been pretty chill - watched Montreal kill Pitsburg 6-3 (what a final 30 seconds!) and watched some AFV with the whole fam, including Jordan! I laughed too much and feel ill. Well soon I'll head off to bed so I can function at church tomorrow. Love to all!

AH! HENK CAME HOME TONIGHT! I will probably see him...tomorrow...

Homesick

So I realise this song is about someone dying, but it kinda sums up how I feel right now. So many people have left, and I just want to go home, not study/write an exam! So here is a great song by MercyMe to express myself.

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times

And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you

But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry

Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways

The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know

But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same

Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes

And in Christ, there is no end

So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have

To see you again

To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Canmates: The Pros and Cons

CON: They play loud, crappy music.

PRO: They never listen to country!

CON: Their sink is DISGUSTING!

PRO: Its their sink, and I have my own.

CON: They use toilet paper faster than anything.

PRO: hmm...I guess they buy more sometimes.

CON: They never unlock my door after they shower.

PRO: I get to hone in on my lock-picking skills.

CON: They don't empty the garbage.

PRO: They take out the recycling.

CON: Talking is sometimes awkward.

PRO: They are pretty nice.

CON: They do laundry by hand and leave the floor a wet mess.

PRO: They usually de-hair the shower.

wow making this list has made me realise how gross bathrooms are! ew! and that a two week break from them will be lovely and is much appreciated.

Pouting

Ok, so right now I am totally pouting.

I was listening to Barenaked Ladies and decided to look them up on Ticket Master b/c I knew they were coming to Winnipeg soon.

And they are!

On February 13! Great birthday gift!

Oh wait I have choir tour....

So now I pout.

I mean I'm really pumped for tour, but like, it does mean no reading week which sucks...sigh...

Divine Text Message

guys...God is so great....

i was just sitting here looking at my bib lit with dismay when my phone went off.

tyler had texted me!

it said, "janna we love you and are praying for you. you will do awesome.

you can do all things through Him who gives you strength."

and i never expressed any concern to him at all, and i was just feeling overwhelmed....

totally a God thing.

off to study now, i hope it goes well.

p.s. terrell's mom sent me a letter and my soul is very thrilled. :)

p.p.s. look guys, i have the cutest boyfriend alive! seriously!

too tired to function

so i've been up past three the last four nights in a row...

should probably sleep sooner tonight.

do you ever have a day where you think you'd find it totally satisfying to cry? that was me today. didn't cry though, shucks.

i burnt my tongue on hot chocolate tonight and it hurts. plus i have soy milk in my lungs!

inspiring song line of the day:

"I won't hate myself to be loved by you."
-Hedley

(whoooooooaaa, whooooooooaaaa) yeah its a good song.

i sound stupid. good night all!

Christmas Gala!

So last night was the CMU Christmas Gala. It was so fun! I wore my grad dress, which made me so happy. It didn't even feel too tight, which was sweet. Terrell dressed to match me and that was happy as well. I don't think we've ever had that many pictures taken together ever in my life! After food, a boring program, and many many pictures we headed to the Blaurock for the after-party that included a crazy awesome band and lots of Mennonite dancing!! Here are some pictures from last night.

who's hot? its me and t-rell!

dookhie and myself behind the trees.

kissing caryn!

pregnant with Jotham (mom he says hi and apologises by the way ha ha)

pooped from dancing.

Afterwards G, Terrell, Caryn and I hung out in G's apartment. It was fun! I felt weird after the night was over, however. Lately I've really sucked at dealing with fun things coming to an end. I get depressed and feel like crying. Maybe it happened as well because I had been looking forward to the gala for so long - I just want to go home now that its over. Unfortunately I have two exams coming up before then, ew. But tomorrow Bakes and I are going to house-sit for Alison's aunt while they are at Todd's funeral, so I should get some good study time in then.

Exploited

Has anyone heard the new Gwen Stefani song? I mean first she takes "If I Were A Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof and now she uses "The Lowly Goatherd" from the Sound of Music.

IS NOTHING SACRED?!?!?

I mean what will she sample next? "I'd Do Anything" from Oliver! ? "If I Only Had a Brain" from the Wizard of Oz? Perhaps she'll use something from Hello Dolly, or Jesus Christ Superstar. People, I will not be surprised. So watch out, your favorite musical may be exploited soon!

Random Fun Things

Last weekend at the mall I set off alarms everywhere I went because I didn't remove the 'Please remove after purchase" tag. Each store kept scanning my bag, but my pants kept setting it off. Finally in Shoppers, after setting off the alarm entering and leaving the store, the guy scanned my bag and I showed him that it was indeed my pants by going through the entrance again. He looked at me, tapped the counter and said, "hop up." So I sat on the scanner thing, wiggled my butt a few times and got off. No more setting off alarms for me! So funny! Everyone in the store was howling when I got up on that thing...maybe it was mostly Brynne...

You guys, God is awesome. I accomplished everything on my to do list today. That was exciting! Plus I even found time to watch curling with Baker! That was great, even though Ferbie lost...grr! Anyhoo, Bib Lt homework - check. Steal Baker and Terrell's cameras - check. See a movie with Brynne - check (Little Miss Sunshine...it was weird and good and sad and hilarious). Hang out with Terrell (?) - check! Even though it was only for like 15 minutes, those 15 minutes mean so much to me. I am happy for anytime spent with him. What can I say? Easy to please!

I should be sleeping so I can accomplish my to do list for tomorrow. I am going to fast and pray for all the students preparing for exams and for the Outtatown students that are preparing to return home for Christmas. It is a difficult time! I am looking forward to spending that time in prayer.

Goodnight my lovelies.

P.S. I quit hockey and feel great about it. This was the first Sunday in a month where I didn't feel stressed at all.