Outtatown Withdrawl Syndrom

**If any of the following apply to you, you may be suffering with OTWS or in severe cases, EJ (emotional jannaitis). Please consult your Divine Physician for help or post prayer requests below. Seek help now!! When caught early OTWS and EJ are significantly less fatal.**

Do you ever just doubt yourself?
Do you ever question everything thats ever happened to you?
Do you ever wonder why people love you?
Do you ever wish you could transend space and time?
Do you cry in the shower?
Do you ever miss something or someone so much you could practically die?
Do you ever cry for no reason?
Do you ever feel scared you'll forget whats happened?
Do you eat your feelings?
Do you fight a war against your mirror everyday?
Do you feel frustrated that you're never satisfied?
Do you ever wish you could be transported somewhere else?
Do you ever think about those kids in Kliptown?
Do you ever want to go back?
Do you see their faces at night?
Do you get frustrated because you can't help?
Do you cry one minute and laugh the next?
Do you miss spooning?
Do you miss the stars in Mdumbi?
Do you feel like you should feel incredibly blessed and greatful?
Do you feel bad because you don't?
Do you feel like you're on a roller coaster?
Do you feel like me?
Do you post all your mixed up feelings online?


Okay, so I'm silly. And really must stop posting so late at night when my brain hardly works and my emotions are on over drive. I think I've lost my mind! :S

i.miss.africa.

That Was...

So today was my very first day at home alone. I woke up, and nobody was here. Nobody, not a single person. So that was exciting and what I've wanted basically since I came home. It was also incredibly boring.
I snuggled with Mel who was oddly enough very affectionate today. That was funny.
I worked really hard on something I wanted to send Caryn, and it wouldn't attach or send. That was annoying.
I looked up flights online to see how much it will hurt me financially to fly to Windsor. I was pleasantly surprised and am now super excited to take a few days off work and fly out, maybe mid/late June. That was exciting.
I watched American Idol, and it was pretty okay. Except two of the girls, Kellie and Katherine, man. That was excruciating.
I haven't showered since Saturday. I have nowhere to be. No one to smell good for. So I opted to not shower until tomorrow morning. My mom and dad are probably pretty pumped for that! lol. I promised Ash I'd shower before our date. That was a promise I intend to keep.
This post is silly. I'm going to watch House now. The end.

20 Thoughts in 3 Seconds

**warning! these are actual thoughts that managed to evolve in a three second period in janna's head. believe it or not there is method to this madness. the contents and rapid pace at which which they evolve may be hard to follow, so viewer discretion is advised**

scene: laying on jordan's couch, late afternoon

1. wow, this is a comfortable couch
2. i could fall asleep on it
3. look! there's even a blanket and pillow
4. maybe i'll crash here some night
5. but i'll need to wear my retainers
6. last time i slept without my retainers was mozambique
7. i was sick
8. terrell brought me a bun
9. man he was so sweet
10. i miss terrell
11. now i might cry
12. seriously, i could
13. i am an emotional headcase!
14. i should e-mail caryn
15. i'm a terrible friend
16. i wonder if she's mad at me for not e-mailing her
17. i hope not
18. man am i tired
19. i hope we go home soon
20. wow, this is a comfortable couch

Isaiah 53:5-6, 12

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace
was upon him,
and by his wounds
we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned his own way;
and the Lord had laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

"Man of Sorrows," what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood;
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless - we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full redemption - can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die,
"It is finished!" was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high;
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
To His kingdom us to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

-- i hope you all remember Christ and the amazing sacrifice He made for you out of love on this day --

The ABCs of...Me

A- Age: 19
B- Band you're listening to: Bonnie Tyler
C- Crush: Terrell Wiebe!
D- Dad's name: Owen
E- Easiest person to talk to: Terrell - goodness we could about anything!
F- Favourite ice cream: soft chocolate
G- Gummy worms or gummy bears: bears!
H- Hometown: you all know where it is
I- Instruments: Trumpet, Piano, Guitar
J- Junior High (high school): SCS
K- Kids: what does that even mean? I like them.
L- Longest car ride ever: from Pretoria to Glencairn - 18 hours!
M- Mom's name: Jody
N- Nicknames: Banane, Diane, Janna Faye, Nelson
O- One wish: I wish Terrell was still here.
P- Phobia[s]: Holy crap moths, clowns, and bats!
Q- Quote: "Everything sucks when it happens." Oh Zachary.
R- Reason to smile: I am loved! and sweatpants.
S- Song you sang last: "Naked" by Avril...I was playing my guitar.
T- Time you woke up today: 10 am
U- Unknown fact about me: I've never been to Boston in the fall...
V- Vegetable[s]: are good and rare to find raw in South Africa
W-Worst Habit: picking at my face probably
X- ermm. yeah.
Y - Years since you've been to church: I was in church 4 days ago
Z- Zodiac sign: Aquarius, not like it matters.

The Adventure Continues

Oh my word, it has been SO LONG since I've talked to you guys! It makes me sad! Its just that we've been so busy, and not really near a phone in so long...

My last e-mail was in JBay? Yes? While we were there we went to this place where they have an after-school program for kids and we got to play with them for 2 hours. It was incredible. Mom, thats why I came to Africa, for those kids. They just latched on to us, wow, it was unbelieveable how needed I felt. And then all these girls surrounded me and did my hair! They were braiding it, twisting it, gave me pigtails and finally settled on a rather nice half pony. It was SO cool, and they were so gentle...this one girl who was doing ym hair was just gorgeous, wow! After JBay we went to this "adventure" camp, aka a really spider infested place in the middle of nowhere! There were these huge spiders all over our beds, it was hard to sleep, plus we got up at 4:00 to drive to Mdumbi.

The drive there...indescribeable! Sincerely, it was beyond gorgeous! And green...hills and little grass huts on the hills...cows ALL over the roads...then pigs...then goats...sheep...yeah there was lots of stopping for livestock. It was the most hilarious drive of my life, George could hardly go two feet without stopping for a farm animal. And boy was it dusty! All the city folk could hardly handle the gravel roads. But once we got there it was amazing! If you go to the outtatown website, click on South Africa, and the picture you see of the beach is the view we had at Mdumbi. We were a 2 minute walk from the beach...apparently one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and I agree! Man I loved it!

So we spent the week doing the second module of Knowing Yourself, which was SO GOOD. We did personality type quizes, learned what our spiritual gifts are and encouraged each other in our small groups. The encouragements were so amazing, everyone said such lovely things to me, I have it on paper show you when I get home. It totally confirmed that I achieved my goals I've had since day one - to make good relationships with everyone that I could, and to completely grow and change. So many people commented on how much I've changed this semester, how my self esteem is up and how I've grown into a strong and beautiful woman of God. I cried! It was so amazing to have them just encourage me for no reason at all!

PLEASE TELL BABA THAT I RECIEVED ALL MY MAIL!!! All 13 items! :) She's been worried sick, I'm sure. I prayed for her on her surgery day, I'm so glad it went well!

Yesterday was a very scary day. We went swimming in the ocean, but the undertow was INTENSE. Like super super strong, pulling you out farther and farther into the ocean. Caryn and I got completely sucked out, it was scary! We were out SO far, and we were swimming as hard as we could and getting no where. Eventually we managed to get over to these rocks, barely getting a grip on them. Caryn had to grab my leg! We climbed up and out of the water. Later, Ash got swept out, and I went and retrieved her. Then Mae, and she can't swim all that well, and all these boys were around but no one made a move, so I went out, and it was scary because I wasn't strong enough to carry her and swim. She was screaming bloody murder practically, and I was yelling "help us! help us!" but everyone was kinda stunned and just stood there. Finally I yelled ay Mae to grab my foot and hold on and I swam us to the rocks. It was so scary, we got onto the rocks (after severely cutting up my feet, hands, and butt) and hugged for like 10 minutes. Man that was scary! Thats when I decided that that was 3 rescues too many and I was done for the day! More life threatening bonding moments!

We left Mdumbi at 3:00 am this morning and drove through pouring rain (it has been FREEZING all day) to a place outside of Pietermeritzberg where I went white water rafting! It was so fun, we sang and amused ourselves the whole way, and the rapids were sweet! It was super cold though, I think I'll take some vitamin C tonight so I don't get sick. It was sweet....Pappy managed to fall out and smoke his knee on a rock. It was split open so bad you could see the bone. Poor guy never gets a brake!

So here we are staying at a jail in Pmbg. It is so sweet! I love it here...too bad its still raining, especially because the overnight hike is this week. I leave for it on Wednesday. Man do I want to call you before then, its been a ridiculous amount of time since my last call, and I hate that - I cried the day we got to Mdumbi when I realised there was no phone! So I will call this week, I promise! I should go though, this has taken me a while to write. I love and miss you guys SO much!! Keep e-mailing me about whats going on with you, I love to hear it.

Love,
Janna

Too Much to Summarize

So...its been a while. Haven't had too much time to write. I don't even remember when I last wrote, but I'll go from my birthday on. :)
Okay so the next day we started work projects. I was in a group at a church in a township near Stellenbosch. Seriously, it was Extreme Makeover Church Edition. We scraped, sanded, and completely painted the outside of this church. It looked gorgeous once we were finished. It was rewarding work, but I was sick all morning the first day (almost vomiting) so I fell asleep on the floor. Yeah I was such a huge help. It was alright, the guys on site were mean and somewhat obnoxious - saying stuff like 'what, you going to cry? Go on girly, cry. Too bad your mom isn't here' and the like to Jenn when she was frustrated...yeah they were very picky as well. One of the old men called himself "The General"...yeah, it was a challenge but I liked it all the same.
On Valentines Day (Mae's birthday!) we were treated to a theatre in Cape Town to see a performance of Umoja, a South African history musical. It was AMAZING! Look it up, it was SO good! The music was incredible, I almost cried...yeah it was so good, I bought the DVD so we can watch it together. Yeah it was great. Terrell, Ash, Mae and I went out for cake to celebrate Mae and my birthdays. It was fun as well. Hey, I got presents from people! Ash gave me a necklace, Larissa gave me underwear, and Terrell gave me a towel. Its sweet!
We went on the wine tour on Friday. It was so gross! All it taught me really is that I hate wine. It was funny though, because most people hated it and the looks on their faces after a sip was priceless. It was fun, I spent most of my time taking pictures of people. It was so hot that day (+45!) and was hard to enjoy. That afternoon we travelled to Bonnievale, to a wilderness camp where we slept outside under the stars. On the way there we stopped, were told to put on clothes we could get wet and walked 5 minutes to this cave. We had to walk through it, which was a huge challenge for me - small, dark space; spiders; water up to my neck and BATS. Oh my word, millions of bats! I hate them! I was so scared, they were flying at my head and yeah I was so freaked out that I cried the whole first half of the cave. One hit me in the ear! It was SO gross! But so cool...I hated it and loved it at the same time. If there weren't bats it would've been so much better.
The weekend was fun, really hot and humid, but fun. We woke up to rain only once. I did this killer high ropes course with a zip line, which was cool and we swam to this deep part of the river where we swung off a rrope into the water. So fun! And painful - biggest swimsuit wedgie of my life. Yeah it was good, we had a church service there ourselves on Sunday morning. And on Monday at 4:30 am we left for BUNGY JUMPING! No I didn't do it, but I did like cry watching Ash do it - I was so proud of her! Only 8 of us didn't do it, but we watched them all go and cheered our heads off. So good, everyone as so pumped after it, including me!
Now we are in Jeffery's Bay, its so nice here by the ocean and not too much wind. I like it! There are all these Quicksilver and Billabong outlet stores, so everyone went shopping like crazy (except me, pretty much!). Sizes here are so whacked. Like a large and small is practically the same size..yeah its weird. Anyhoo...yesterday I went on a horse trip (I know!) and we got to gallop by the ocean. It was INCREDIBLE! I loved it, it was so beautiful and liberating! Whee! It was a little scary but mostly cool. The best part was riding on sand dunes...I felt like I was in Hidalgo. No Viggo, though....lol!
Well, I should go, we leave for an Adventure Camp tomorrow. It should be okay, I'm slightly adventured out though. Oh well. I'll write when I can, sorry its been so long! I love and miss you guys so much!
Love,
Janna

After Table Mountain

I do think I'm spending too much money on these internet cafés...but at R10 an hour you can't really go wrong! Here I am at yet another. We are doing homestays this week, I'm staying with a beautiful 64-year-old widow named Judy with CARYN!! Yay I was so excited! Judy is hilarious, she is a chocolate loving emotional headcase just like us. She's really nice, and her oldest grandson turns 20 on my birthday! Cool or what? Her house is really small, but really girly and cozy - lace and stuffed animals EVERYWHERE. Hilarious! I'm having so much fun, this homestay has turned out better than I thought it would.
So where was I last e-mail? Table Mountain. This longest, hardest and steepest hike of my life! Ridic! It took us from 2:00 until 4:30 to get up, and from 5:15 to 7:00 to get down. It was really windy, and really scary, I wanted to quit SO many times! Especially because the trail we were on was burnt to a crisp from the fires last week. But the view made it almost worth it. Too bad I can't walk now.
Now we're in our host family's homes, doing service work. Yesterday we painted 4 houses in a township. Other people were putting in windows, doors and ceilings. It was really hot, and their were some gross local guys around making us uncomfortable, making obscene gestures etc. It was gross and made me want to leave. The leaders and the guys were so mad, and really did their best to protect us and make sure we were never alone, so that was good. Last night Caryn and I watched TV (SA Fear Factor is SO weird!) and that was about it. Tonight I hope to read and perhaps watch The Amazing Race - its the one where they go to SA. All we're doing is work projects for the rest of the week. Today we got done early and here I am in Muizenbug, eating ice cream and going online. I should go soon, though. I really missed not being able to call home on Saturday, I'm excited to call soon!
Well I should go. Please e-mail me whats been going on with you! I miss you guys!
Love,
Janna

Table Mountain

Hello there once again! How are you guys? I'm at another internet café, killing time before I hike Table Mountain. The fires seem to have stopped and I hear its one of the most breathtaking views in the world, so I thought I should probably take this opportunity and run with it! I'm not really looking forward to the actual climb, but thats alright. Its only a group of girls going, so that should be fun. Hopefully I'll find someone to go my pace.
This week, what have I done this week? Well, on Sunday we went to this incredible church, I want to go there always, it was so good! I loved worship and their pastor(?) had a really powerful message. They gave us donuts afterwards, and random people came up and hugged us. Then we went to Robbin Island that afternoon, which was alright. I mean cool to see but it was a long day, and the tour guide was hard to hear, but it was still interesting. Everyone got sick on the boat ride back to Cape Town, Zach even puked. SO many people on out site have been sick (vomiting, explosive diarria ) and it seems like that boat ride didn't help. But yeah, I've been feeling alright, really tired though.
On Monday we went to the District 6 museum, which was cool. Then we went to Muisenburg, and visited a church run by reformed gangsters, and we learned all about the gang wars in the areas. We actually weren't allowed to get off the bus in some areas b/c a shoot out could occur at any time. It was intense, kids followed us everywhere and were all commenting on my shoes (the Nikes), which was sort of scary b/c I mean people get shot for their shoes! But it was alright. On Tuesday we began Conflict/Resolution classes, which were really interesting. I liked them alot actually. And the lady who did them, Micheline, is a councellor and I just loved her, she was so good at reading where we were at and what to do next. She led the exercises really well. So we had class until yesterday. We had the afternoon off, so we went to the beach and had a picnic. I slept on the beach and almost got taken out by the tide.
Today is table mountain, tomorrow is church and market shopping. Then we get divided up into host families again. I'm not totally looking forward to it - I mean I liked it last time, but this time I just don't feel like being seperated from the group again. I dunno, I'm sure it will be fine but I'd rather stay here with everyone. I appreciate all your prayers - your continued prayers for our site would be incredible! So if you could pray for them that'd be sweet.
Its my brithday in 8 days! Crazy, I feel excited but kinda not b/c its on a travelling day :( Yeah that kinda sucks. Oh well, its the day we reunite after homestay and it'll be exciting. Plus people have told me they will make it special for me, so thats nice. I'm really good though, healthy and pumped to build houses next week!! Thats what we're doing it will be sweet. Well time is of the essence so I should toodle. I think all the girls are going skinny dipping tonight! It should be fun. Well I really should go, I'll call today when I can.
Love,
Janna

Baboons, Sharks, and Penguins, OH MY!

Hey all! Here I am in Fish Hoek. Its about 5 minutes down the coast from Glencairn, where I'm staying. Its really nice here, man!
So this has been a pretty eventful week. On Wednesday we had two speakers talking about apartheid and on Thursday we had a guy/girl day and we girls visited some markets. I bought a Jesus fish necklace and a bracelet that looks like the SA flag. It was cheap and super cool. We had lunch on top of a mountain, observing the coast. We had just finished eating when everyone starting screaming. I looked up to see the biggest baboon of my life! It bared its teeth like 3 inches from Carmyn's face, grabbed our lunches, knocked Mae off the bench she was standing on with me, and ran off! I looked around and everyone had run away but me and Mae. I was like, "Mae are you okay?" And she was half laughing, half crying when she said, "No. I think it touched me!" Then we hugged for like 10 minutes. It was terrifying, but hilarious afterwards! Now we are all really afraid of the baboons, especially because they are so vicious and b/c we have so many at camp.
After the baboon scare we went to another beach and swam with penguines!!!!! It was so cool! Or should I say cold - the water was FREEZING! But it was so much fun, and they'd swim by you as you stood in the water. Then we dried off on the beach. The boys were climbing Table Mountain and on the way down they had to re-route due to a forest fire! You should look up pictures of it online, it was insane! They easily could've died, the wind was so strong that day. They didn't get back until like 10:30 that night!
The next day I woke up dark and early at the unGodly hour of 4:30 am to go SHARK DIVING! Yup, me and 17 other drove 2 hours and sailed 45 minutes to see some Great Whites. It was so sweet, I went in a cage with Terrell, Mae and Josh R and we saw the shark! It was fighting with their bait, so cool! It was a really long day and I took 2 Gravol and almost puked but it was SO worth it! I loved it, man to get the chance to do that was incredible! Plus my wet suit was unbelieveably hot! I'll tell you more when I can!
Today has been an assignment day, with 3 due by supper. I'm done them all. Tonight my worship team is leading worship and then I have prayer committee. Tomorrow we go to the jail in Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was kept. Cool or what?
Well I don't have much time left (stupid internet cafes!) and I should probably go. I love you all! Happy almost birthday daddy! 51!
Much love,
Janna xoxo

Life in Cape Town

Hey guys!!
So after a gruelling 18 hour drive, I find myself in Cape Town. Its SO nice here! Right by the ocean (Indian, I think) and its so breezy that I actually find it cold most days. Crazy! Wearing a skirt here is pretty risky too, with the wind blowing it up every 5 seconds. I feel like Marylin Monroe! But it really is beautiful. We got here at 8:00 am yesterday morning and had time to settle in before breakfast at 9:00. Then I got my suit on, slapped on the SPF 45 and headed to the ocean (about a 10 minute walk). It was really nice out, it felt like the afternoon. I wasn't sure if I'd swim, I was really tired, but Caryn and I walked down the beach and thought it would be funny to skinny dip some time...but we thought, there's really no time like the present! So we ran in, removed the suits and...yeah. It was so funny! But mostly scary, I was so worried that someone from our site would run by. But after frantically fighting with my suit to get it back on, we stumbled on to the beach laughing our heads off. I still can't believe we did that! Then we ran down the beach and frollicked in the water with Charisse, Janice and Dave (fully suited of course!). WE were catching all these sweet waves...it was so much fun. I started feeling nauseous from all the swallowed salt water, though. I've never spit so much in my life. It was so much fun, man I LOVE the ocean! We didn't go out too far because they told us to be careful - they've seen at least 9 great white sharks this year in the bay. Crazy, I know! I didn't even think about it really. But yeah it was an amazing morning.
I was exhausted by that and from my 3 hours only of sleep on the bus so I had a nice nap after lunch on my bunk. We're staying at a camp here, I forget what its called, its kind of run down and dirty but it serves its purpose. The food is really good too. Last night we had curry...yum! But yeah everyone but me walked to town (about an hourlong walk!) and used the internet etc. They all came back super burned! Its very misleading here, the weather. Its so windy it feels cool and you forget how hot the sun is. But yeah, it was funny, waking up alone and looking out my window to see a huge baboon ripping into a garbage can! It was about the size of an 8 year old boy, it was actually kind of scary! And they told me that they were really fierce too and we should avoid them. So randon though to wake up to baboons!
We had super last night and then our weekly community meeting. It was good, I love being back with everyone! I shared about how happy I am this semester with my self (body image wise). Guys I feel so beautiful here its ridic! And everyone was so cool about it, people told me they had been praying for me and stuff, and said that I was inspiring and that they were happy to see me happy. It was incredible. Marcus was proud of me. :) But yeah, then pretty much talked to the girls in my room and went to bed. Today we had quiet time all morning and now I'm at the mall in Fishook for another 20 minutes until we head back. I should probably go, I'm running out of time!
I love you guys!
Love,
Janna xoxo
P.S. Everything here is so BIG...sometimes I really just miss the smallness of Strathclair.

So this is Goodbye...

Hey everyone!!
Sorry for the last minute post, I realize how rushed and crappy this will be, but yeah, I have very limited time. I just wanted to say that I'm leaving for south africa tomorrow morning, we fly to Toronto, then Frankfurt, then to Johannesburg (I hope I'm spelling all these places right). Its probably a 30 hour flight all together, I'm excited and nervous. But yeah, I just wanted to say that I'm leaving, and that I'll miss you, and that I love you all and was very excited and happy to see you while I was back. And if I didn't see you, thats super unfortunate because I really would've liked to. Well, please pray for me and my team, I'm sure this will be a crazy life altering experince for us all, and I just pray that we're ready for it. Also pray for safety, I've never been on a big plane and I'm a little scared of keeping my luggage together and bad weather - its a long time to be in the air! Contact will be limited too, but if you want to write me send me an e-mail or mail me at:

c/o the Goulds
1 Cambridge Rd, Prestbury
Pietermaritzburg
Kwazulu - Natal 3201
South Africa

So yeah, I hope you all have an amazing three months, you are amazing and I think you're the best ever! I'll miss you ridiculously. Love you!
Much love,
Janna
P.S. Enjoy the cold winter. :)

The List

ten things i want to do in my lifetime:
1. see Relient K in concert
2. fall in love and get married
3. become a youth pastor
4. have a family of my own
5. master the guitar
6. travel around Europe
7. start a band
8. write and publish a book
9. have blue hair
10. help lots of people find Jesus

nine things on my mind:
1. only 5 days until Africa!
2. I'm excited to have painted nails
3. Narnia...I'm always thinking about Narnia...
4. I miss Terrell
5. my nose is itchy
6. I wish I owned "Bewitched"
7. I eat too much chocolate
8. my hands are brown and sparkly - oops
9. how will I make everything fit in my bag?

eight songs i love:
1. Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap
2. Always - Hillsongs United
3. My Real Life - Amanda Stott
4. Standing in the Rain - Billy Talent
5. Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
6. All These Things I've Done - The Killers
7. Red Letters- DC Talk
8. Getting Scared - Imogen Heap

seven things i do almost every day:
1. complain
2. brush my hair
3. work out
4. miss people
5. eat a lot
6. laugh
7. say "Holy Crap"

six things (not people) i love:
1. rainbows
2. snuggling with my cats
3. getting e-mails
4. track jackets
5. dancing
6. playing the piano

five people i enjoy the company of: (not in any particular order)
1. Ashley
2. Terrell
3. Brynne
4. Caryn
5. Everyone who's reading this now...I LOVE YOU! I love too many people.

four most recent movies i’ve seen:
1. The Chronicles of Narnia
2. Fun with Dick and Jane
3. Batman Begins
4. Bewitched

three skills i have:
1. writing stuff
2. singing
3. being sympathetic - I cry when you do

two things i’d change about myself:
1. I would be happier with how I look
2. i would be less of an emotional headcase!

one bit of advice:
1. there's nothing better than a hug for no reason at all!

Cutest Snowman EVER!

Okay so I don't have too much energy to post...but here's a picture of the cutest thing I've ever seen!

P.S. I'm done both my assignments! HA HA HA!!

I Celebrate the Day

by Relient K

I realise I posted this last year, but its worth posting again. I hope you all have a safe and blessed Christmas, I love all you guys, and really remember why we celebrate today.

With this Christmas wish is missed

The point I could convey

If only I could find the words to say to let you know

How much you've touched my life because

Here is where you're finding me

In the exact same place as New Years Eve

And from the lack of my persistency

We're less than half as close as I wanna be

And the first time that you opened your eyes

Did you realize that you would be my Savior

And the first breath that left your lips

Did you know that it would change this world forever

And the first time that you opened your eyes

Did you realize that you would be my Savior

And the first breath that left your lips

Did you know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare

The things I've felt in prior years

To what this midnight made so clear

That you have come to meet me here

To look back and think that

This baby would one day save me

And the hope that, that you give

That you were born so I might really live

To look back and think that

This baby would one day save me…

And the first time that you opened your eyes

Did you realize that you would be my Savior

And the first breath that left your lips

Did you know that it would change this world forever

And the first time that you opened your eyes

Did you realize that you would be my Savior

And the first breath that left your lips

Did you know that it would change this world forever

And I celebrate the day

That you were born to die

So I could one day

Pray for you to save my life

Pray for you to save my life

Pray for you to save my life.

Best Day EVER!

Ok, so yesterday was like the best day ever. I had so much fun, but now am so tired. It was sweet. I invited people over for a movie night, and they all ended up spending the night because of the crappy road conditions. Scott came over for a bit which was exciting because I haven't seen him in a long time!
Well the best part of the entire day was when TERRELL CALLED ME! Seriously, made like my week, I was so happy! Plus we talked for like 74 minutes...yeah it was amazing to hear from him! :)
Ok so Ashley and Curtis arrived, and then Kaitlan and Brynne. So we snuck into the school and scared the little kids by throwing a ball in the gym...ha ha that was fun. Then we went and found Brad, and Kaitlan gave him his Christmas gift. We invited him over after cadets was finished. Then we watched Codie get his truck hopelessly stuck in the ditch. Then we headed back to my house, where Henk was waiting - in his yellow shirt! That truely made my joy complete!
So we watched Weekend at Bernies, which is pretty much the funniest movie ever. Brad showed up. Then we watched The Odd Couple 2, which we mostly talked through. I checked my e-mail and Caryn sent me the best e-mail ever! It made like my entire day! Yeah, it was amazing, I really love that girl.
So after the movie Curtis and I started throwing orange peels at each other. He was behind the loveseat and I was in front of the Christmas tree, and we pelted each other with peels for like half an hour! It was hilarious! My aim was good, but my consistancy was terrible! It was funny, I hit him square in the face so many times. I was like crying I was laughing so hard! That was like the funniest 30 minutes of my life.
Then we decided to go for a walk. So Brynne, Henk, Curtis and I head out to walk the streets at like 2:00 am. We walked everywhere, the streets were completely dead. We even stood in the middle of the highway for like 10 minutes, and it was dead. So we walked around and told freaky stories and decided to walk to the graveyard, which is across the highway by the school. So we went out there and it was really dark. We were walking through really deep snow, and then we hit this super deep snow drift. Curtis teetered, and then fell on me, who fell on Brynne, and we were stuck in this huge snow bank! I couldn't stop laughing, and I also couldn't get up. Henk had to pull us up. So we trudged on, and got back by the school. Then we saw this huge drift, and we all ran and jumped in it. We did that for so long, and took all these dumb pictures. We just layed in the snow for a crazy long time. I was freezing by the time we stood up and walked back to my house.
We got back to my house around 4:30, and Ashley was sleeping. They had watched Liar Liar when we were gone. Then we all put on dry pants and watched a TV Evangalist on mute, with me doing narration. He had a huge head! Goodness. Then Curtis and Kaitlan tickled me until I thought I would die. I also ate a sick amount of chips. But yeah, around 7:00 we decided to get some sleep. I woke up at 10:00 today. Crap I'm tired, so off I go to have a nap. We were gonna go to see Narnia today, but the roads are too icey.
So yeah, that was a ridiculously good time, I am so content with how that went. Here's a pic of some snowy craziness for your enjoyment. :)

Joy to the World!

So today has been cool...church in the am, and guess who was there?? HENK! Whoo! Made my whole day, seeing that kid! And he seemed pretty pumped to see me as well, which made it even better. He looks great! And yeah, it was amazing to see him, and he's coming over this week, I am so excited! Man I missed that guy!
Then I went to Baba's and decorated cookies with the sibs. Thats sweet, I mean thats a tradition that we've done since I was like, two years old. I love that we still do that. It was fun, and very messy (I dropped an iced cookie on myself, it was all over me!). And we had supper there as well.
Then we had the carol service at church...lets not talk about it...and the fellowship after it was thoroughly enjoyable! I talked with Matthew, and sang in Ukranian with Kristin, oh what a time! Plus Kaitlan gave me her vest ("I saw Elizabeth..." lol) which is brilliant! I am so happy and wearing it as we speak. After chatting with them (and Henk again!) I went home, we put on some carols and finished decorating the Christmas tree! That was fun, I love that part about Christmas because each ornament has a memory and we have a few good laughs every year.
Then - now this is the important part - I talked to my uncle on the phone, and guess what? HE'S GETTING ME A GUITAR! That's right, ladies and gents, by December 25 I should have my very own acoustic guitar! Yay! I am so beyond pumped right now! I'm going to pay him back, but STILL! And he said that his friend as the music store likes to swing him some pretty sweet deals...
So yup, thats pretty much that, sorry this is so poorly written. My journalism skills have completely dissappeared. How sad. Like my cheesey Christmas title? Love it! Laters.

You Are So Good to Me

Okay, I just wanted to post to say GOD IS SO GOOD. Like, amazing! Okay, firstly, I bought this amazing Worship CD (WOW Worship) and it has all these songs that we sing on Outtatown but not at my church, so I was extremely happy about that and have listened to it non-stop.
Also, I've been Christmas shopping the past two days, and managed to finish, hardly spending any money at all. It was amazing. I usually debate and deliberate over what to get people, and it was all there for me. It made it so unstressful and fun.
Then today, I dunno, I've been working out and eating well and stuff, trying to slim down a bit before Africa (for myself) and then today we ate out for lunch, I bought a chocolate bar and ate cake and cookies after supper! I just feel like the past week has been wasted! So I was sitting at the computer, moping because my arm hurts too much to work out (stupid Twinrix) and I came online to see 4, count 'em FOUR e-mails from my Outtatown friends for me. And they made my entire day and put me in a very thankful and happy mood. Happy to be alive, thankful for having people like them in my life. Wow, I love you guys, you don't even know how much. I just praise God for you.

You are so good to me, You heal my broken heart, You are my Father in Heaven...

P.S. I saw Aaron in the mall last night!! I haven't seen him since like, April, and he gave me the longest hug ever and it was SO GOOD to talk to him! Man I forgot how much that kid rocks!