miles in my moccasins

Sesame Street personality quiz

2007-02-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

So, this is what they said:

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them!

You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you

You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil

How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Not all right on, but surprisingly accurate with others... check it out, and let me know what cast member comes up.

I'm "it"....

2007-02-05T18:21:00.000-05:00

So, apparently I have been "tagged" 3 times now, and it doesn't look like this will stop until you blogging feinds get what you want...
Here's the deal (for those who don't know):
Each player of this game starts with the "six wierd things about me" blog post. People who get tagged need to write their own six weird things post and state the rules clearly. At the end of the post, tag six more people, and don't forget to leave a comment on their blog to tell them that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1. I own two copies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (novels, not movies... because the second copy had the coolest elven writing on it!), plus a map of Middle Earth.

2. I freqently break into random dance moves, most of the time accompanied by a self-made soundtrack...

3. I have zero self control when it comes to desserts, baked goods & Lindor chocolates (seriously... I could easily eat an entire bag of those things... and may or may not have done this in the past...)

4. I have a sick, sick sense of humour when it comes to slapstick... which is why it's best that I never work in an emergency department... "you did what?"... hilarity ensues...

5. When I am looking for a tasty treat that reminds me of home I pick up oreos with peanut butter, take off one side of the oreo, spread the PB on and squish it all back together... or straight up chocolate ice cream only all mushed up so it's like soft ice cream... mmmm

6. Growing up my siblings and I never fought (seriously, like, some minor teasing here and there, but that's it) & I listened to pretty much everything my parents said... wierd.

So that's the list. Most people in my "blogging commnity" have already been tagged but here we go:

1. The Pat of Pat & Ali
2. Robyn Bright (let's see if we get any life back here...)
3. anonymous blogging lady (this is a real person, she can reveal herself if she wants)
4. Dan Carlson (out on the east coast)
5. I second the request for Kevin Bacon
6. And add Jon Bon Jovi to the list

Only the lonely

2007-01-22T18:47:00.000-05:00

well... I've done it. I've caved and joined the Facebook craze... I tried, I really tried not to, but sometimes there are people that send you that little pre-manufactured invitation & you think, "Man it would be great to be in contact with them again", and, so I've embrace the technology and am determined to use the powers for good (heh). It actually has been nice to be in touch with some folks from the past & for those who are not in this general geological area. But, it got me to thinking (like most things do...) why is it that people love this stuff so much? And the thing about it is, (here's it's slogan), "you'll never feel alone again". Not entirely true, but close. Because of these websites, blogs, msn and all the other messaging ways we can be only a blog post away & for so many people, this may be one of the only ways to have this kind of feeling.

The thing is though we still do feel alone sometimes, humans I mean. Loneliness is one of the worst & sometimes best feelings we can experience. I would never had said that this was a good feeling until recently... it's an emotion that totally drains you. It fuels lies that bury themselves deep inside & it stunts who you are, and who you're made to be. When you feel totally alone, it traps you. You wish someone would call, just so you could say you don't really feel like doing anything & when no one calls, you bury yourself deeper... but I have also found that it is in these times, when there is no one else, there is Christ. Loneliness brings you to your knees, and so many times that is where we need to be. Because that is when you know how incredible He is and how you need Him. You know His love for you & the unbelievable grace poured out for you, and that is the safest, most lovely places you will ever be.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insult, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

some entertainment

2007-01-16T00:45:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone... two short, yet entertaining bits for you:

Gansta Feet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt0KLj3XgTo
University of Iowa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uuA7fG58KI
(the second one, don't believe the story of it's making... but it's cool anyway)

cheer
Beth

Look closely

2006-12-19T00:08:00.000-05:00

Do you see in this picture... it's not my hair, but it looks oh so familiar... I found yet another... white hair.... Now, I am not one who dislikes the white hairs... or am ashamed of it, but let's be serious here, I'm only 23! And this is not the first. There have been others... many others. Where do they come from? Why does this happen? Why to one and not to others? My wonderful Grandma Audrey, she had stunning black hair until her twenties, then it all went to white... this is not my hope for me. It's funny how a couple little white hairs can make you feel older then you feel.. if you follow what I mean. But you just give it a little tug & out it comes, no one the wiser (or prehaps I am less wise... since that's what white hair seems to represent). And maybe someday I will let it all out, make my hair into a fro and sport a trendy velour jump suit...ha... yes, maybe one day...

Email forwards...

2006-11-30T16:18:00.000-05:00

Hey... these are pretty cheesy for the most part... but they made me laugh a bit. Enjoy!

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white? " "Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life." The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So why is the groom wearing black?

**************************************************************
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!" While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off and started running again. As she ran she once again began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!"
************************************************************** An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, so they won't take me out dead!**************************************************************
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her, five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "Honor thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."
************************************************************
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, "Johnny, what is the matter?" Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."
************************************************************** Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong lecture about the devil. One said to the other, "What do you think about all this Satan stuff?" The other boy replied, "Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad."

Wouldn't it be nice...

2006-11-29T16:49:00.000-05:00

I just love this commercial... I even woke up laughing to myself one morning thinking of it... take a look..... IIIiiiiiii invite you!

"My yoke is easy and my burden light" Mat.11:30

2006-11-22T00:49:00.000-05:00

Most Christians read; "Try hard to make my yoke look easy & my burden non-existent". Why don't we get this? We don't get the freedom that Christ bought for us. It is for freedom that Christ set us free! (Gal.5:1) so why do we let ourselves get bogged (not blogged) down trying to be perfect & make perfect decisions? So the world can see what good & righteous people Christians are? That’s exhausting! It’s frustrating, heavy, very hard, & never what God intended for us! Praise God! Through Christ we are set free from the law of sin and death to live by the Spirit (Rom.8:2) & the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17).

Some people may be reading & think; yeah, I know this. Live in the Spirit. Freedom, joy, peace & righteousness, not in my strength, all fruits of the Spirit & not by my own efforts… I know all this & believe it & could rhyme it off to anyone who asked… but am I living that? Do I actually experience freedom in my life, or am I always “making a positive confession” & never actually taking hold?

What if it really was for right now & not later? Now, not after I’ve spent more time with God, after this situation moves forward, after I know God better & am more mature… would that be crazy? What if people really lived all this “new testament” “Spirit lead life” stuff? Imagine what our cities would look like. Imagine what our streets would look like. Imagine our schools, our libraries, our supermarkets, our city halls, our governments, our jails, our hospitals, our neighbourhoods, our families, our finances, our relationships & marriages, our friendships… Imagine if we could grasp it, just even a bit of the freedom that Christ bought for us…

Guess what…

It’s happening…

6 people baptized in water
4 people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit
1 brother-in-law saved

And it’s only the beginning….

Beth's Tree

2006-10-11T13:40:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of the tree my Dad calls "Beth's tree"... It's found in the fields behind my house where we practically grew up. These fields and the sugarbush near it were home to many a birthday party hike, after school fort-building sessions, winter skating extravaganzas and a lot of other childhood memories. I like this tree. I picked it out long ago as one of my favourites and my Dad remembered... now he calls it only by it's name. I liked it because in all the tree line it is always the first to change in the fall. And when it changes it's so beautiful and full, it's goes all out! I like that in the winter it stands there firm even though there's no other tree like it nearby. It's confident in it's placement and is just waiting for the next season to bring it new life. I know this may sound sort of strange, the personality I associate with this tree... but I think, if you're paying attention, God can teach you all kinds of things about yourself and how he's made you... this tree in our back fields inspires me... I would like to be like that tree. Confident in the seasons God brings, solid and bold in the changes He brings. Picked out by the people who see it as something unique and beautiful, and called by a name that the Father never forgets...

"... they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting for the Lord for the dislay of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3

2006-09-14T11:56:00.000-04:00

church.

E K K L E S I A

A passionate time of praise and worship, and a powerful message from the Word of God.

7pm in 90 University (residence lounge) at the University of Ottawa

Right now I am so blessed to be part of what God is doing on campus at the University of Ottawa. There are so many people, that I know, and many that I have never met, that have gone before me to build what God started before the beginning of time. It's so good when God opens up your eyes to see a glipse of what He's doing, and how eternal His plans are.

It's like in the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Matt.20:1-16. "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard... About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing around here all day long doing nothing?' 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered." Then at the end of this parable they are all given the same amount of pay for having worked, some the entire day, and others only one hour. Of course the men who had worked all day "began to grumble against the landowner" even though they received what they were promised.

I thought, this is so much like us sometimes... God calls us out of purposeless standing around into His plan and purpose, to work and to serve Him, because he deserves our love, but also because of the beautiful promises He gives to us... yet sometimes we too can start to grumble against the landowner, feeling that we have worked hard for something, and not received the reward perhaps we had in mind. But, who are we to judge? Should we not be captured with something bigger and more important then just ourselves? Be glad because God is doing a great thing! Be satisfied that God is the giver, and everything is His anyway! "Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have a right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph.2:8-10

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24

O, don't you want it!

2006-08-25T19:44:00.000-04:00

First, I just want to direct you all to a post on Jon's blog that caught my attention: http://aliveawake.blogspirit.com/ A Place for Our Voice. It reminds me again how important it is not to be naive of the world and people around us. And instead of creating a Christian sub-culture to bring people into we need to be speaking real truth into the world we live in right now. I can't remember who said this, but it's not Christian-ized government we want to see on Parliament hill and in other nations, but the Kingdom of God which is much bigger and much better then any "Christian-based" government! The trouble is with this is that it has become far too easy to get comfortable with all the Christian culture and arranging your life the way a "chrisitian" should live. What to say, what to do, what to buy, where to buy etc. etc. etc. that people are missing out on a living God and a growing kingdom that is so much more then all those things!

NOW:
I am reading a book right now called Fire Begets Fire by Dennis Ignatius. Here are a couple things that really caught my heart:

"There is a veil over the church today. It keeps our eyes focused on religion, on doing things, on attending events, but it keeps us away from the most important thing of all, intimacy with God Himself. The enemy has used many deceptions to keep us from intimacy with God. Perhaps he has told you that these things are not for today. Perhaps he has told you that you are not worthy to experience the presence of God, that only a very special few can ever get near to God. Perhaps he has told you that mere religion is all we can expect from God while we live on earth. Perhaps it's our own unbelief, our own doubt, our reluctance to separate ourselves and be holy, or our own unwillingness to pay the price to draw near to God that keeps from ever claiming our greatest birthright as children of God - to be in our Father's presence, to behold His face, to hear His voice, to feel His touch..."

"The Holy Spirit is setting before us all an invitation from the God we love and serve, that our God waits for us to seek Him with all our heart, to pursue Him with a holy desperation... [He] desires to stir our hearts to pursue Him. He is eager to turn that flickering flame in our hearts into a raging unquenchable fire!"

This is for everyone!

If you are a Christian, you have given your life to Jesus and are living for Him, praise God! Let's start pursuing Him with everything we have! Don't you want to see His face! Know His voice! To feel His presence for real!! I want that so much! To know Him for real!! To see Him for real!! To hear Him for real!! Stir up this hunger there is to know Him... intimately, personally... for real in your life.

If you're not a Christian... ask yourself "If I believe that God exists, and that He is real, why would I not want to know Him?" I believe that there is a hunger in each of us to know our Father. To know the one who loves us more then we could ever understand... we were created to be in a relationship with God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You may not believe that right now, but ask yourself... "Who is God? In my life, who is God? Who is Chirst? And what do I believe?" Then listen, see what happens...

God is real. His plans and purposes are real. And the intimacy He offers is real.

Are we willing to pursue Him? To give our lives to Him? And to change to be more like Him?

R.N.

2006-08-19T16:45:00.000-04:00

Just a quickie... I passed!! I'm a real nurse now (we never wear those hats anymore though).... the C.N.O. sent me a letter with a nice note congratulating me on my successful RN exam! Praise God!

2006-08-13T19:13:00.000-04:00

CUBA

2006-08-13T18:06:00.000-04:00

So... we're back... I spent last week in Cuba with the church there and let me tell you... it was a fantastic time! I have never sweat so much in my life! Nor have a spent as much time in a van, or eaten so much avocado, rice and beans in my life! It was a great time to go and see what God is doing through the people in Cuba. That in a country that many people think is forgotten and decaying God is raising up an awesome church, filled with His Spirit, love and passion. The people of God are truly the best people in the world! The people of Cuba are some of the most hospitable, serving people I have met and they know what it is to love... they love the Lord with everything they have. They love each other the same way, and loved us too! Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus talks about who his family is. He says "whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." He always hits it right on... whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister and mother... God's family is such a wonderful thing! The people we met in Cuba, and from the UK truly are like family I just hadn't met yet... I love how the kingdom of God brings people together like that... no matter where you are from, what you grew up like, who your parents on earth are, what language you speak, how much money you have, God's purpose, his ever-increasing kingdom covers all that, and brings us together. Above are a couple family photos from the trip. The ladies from Camaguey. Pastor Miegel & friend seeing us off. Jo and I. The whole team of us, including 7 from Canada (although you'll only count 6 because Sarah had to leave before the photo was taken), 6 from the UK, and 2 lovely ladies, Cecilia & Kaila, from Cuba. Patrick and I with our brother Demetrie. Jo and Pastor Miegel's daughter. Patrick with Maria.

I love the people in Cuba and I look forward to seeing how God will change that island, just as he is changing our own nations! We can learn a lot from our family around the world... how exciting! Plus it makes for some great travels!

peace

Beth

2006-06-27T03:39:00.000-04:00

well everyone (actually just anyone, anyone who has been faithful enough to continually check this blog even though not too much has been happening lately...)... here it is, 3:35am on Tuesday morning and i'm at work (believe it or not... ) it's pretty quiet right now, clearly since I am blogging... This is my first night shift as a nurse at my new "real life" job. I'm working as a pyschiatric nurse in Ottawa, and so far I really like it. Although there are many, many things I still need to learn, and that I have to sort out in my heart and mind about this type of nursing, and mental health in general. The thing is... what is happening/has happened to people that they are not able to function, because something is going on with their minds... and what can we do about it? really as a permanent solution... a cure....

I know what Jesus thinks about this... I was just reading in Matthew about Jesus healing the two demon possessed men. It says that they "met him coming from the tombs" and that "they were so violent that no one could pass"... here, we would call that a code white... then they say "What do you want with us Son of God?" "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" They recognized him when the people around didn't. In fact later in the chapter the people "pleaded with him to leave".... why did they do that? were they afraid of the authority he carried? or maybe just because they didn't know? wouldn't they be glad to have someone around to calm and rid them of violence and disruption? or maybe they were just angry about losing a herd of pigs! all of that to say, the demons responded to Jesus, as far as we know, without him doing anything except show up on the road... then they recognized who he was, and were subject to his authority... can we do this? is this something God was showing us, part of his will and plan here on earth?... yes, I believe that... check out Matt.10:8 "...and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Mark 16:17 "...they will drive out demons..." Matt 28:18 says "all authority in heaven and earth has been given to [him]" and "[He] is with [us] always"...

God's will for people is freedom... absolute and complete freedom, wholeness, love, peace, joy, righteousness, and all of this through a relationship with Him... Jesus Christ, God the Father and the Holy Spirit.... I believe that this is the answer for the sickness, saddness, and misery some people live in... but how do we go about it? How, with rules of professionalism, politics, mistrust, independence... how do we (the church) display the freedom that Christ offers people? and do we offer it to others? are we living in it ourselves? are we living it out with each other?

Do we recognize Christ, the Son of God, and take hold of what he is doing in this world, or do we plead with him to leave?

Ask BIG and raise your expectations.

2006-05-17T19:46:00.000-04:00

He said:

His glory will fill the earth Habakkuk 2:14
He is the true God, living and eternal King Jeremiah 10:10
His kingdom of peace is ever increasing, and will never end Isaiah 9:7
Broken hearts will be mended, captives will be freed, prisoners released, mourners comforted, beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, praise instead of despair... Isaiah 61:read it all
The harvest is here John 4:35 now is the time of salvation 2 Cor 6:2
He can will do it Isaiah 9:7(again), Isaiah 60:22 (but, also one to read all of) Proverbs 19:21 Psalm 33:11 Isaiah 46:10 (and many more)

Also, [He] is able to able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20)...

What else is He saying? And do you really believe it?

Beth's first foreign post

2006-04-16T21:47:00.000-04:00

hello everyone from the Dominican!

so, it's been 6 days here on this island to the south and we have had some fantastic fun. My brother, Paul, and his wife, Janice, live here in Santo Domingo and teach at the Carol Morgan School. We have been to the north shore (La Terrances) and to the south (las solerias sp?) and all over in between. Paul and Janice have a wonderful 1991 Toyota four-runner which has been our trusty steed for the past few days... aside from one mangled batteria... i will try to get some pictures up here when i get back... the Dell and I will have to have a chat...

now, what have i learned so far:

1. I need to learn spanish... for sure
2. Young Drivers has a lot of work to do down here
3. the best Italian food is in the Dominican...(not that i've been to italy)
4. people are afraid of poverty and those living in it
5. money and/or the illusion of money is an awful thing
6. santo domingo is a real city, richest rich and poorest poor
7. how salt is mined
8. intial trust is a God thing
9. getting to know your family is one of the best things you could ever do
10.the kingdom of God... the most beautiful thing... and i look forward to it's spread

peace to all of you

i'm home on tuesday night

Beth

There's no end to the world's problems. Or is there?

2006-04-07T00:16:00.000-04:00

this is what i now have stuck in my Bible (thanks to the sticker maker, yes, sticker maker, my lovely friend Kate bought it for me) ... it was some little bit of magazine i had cut out awhile ago... but i'm hit by it now... teamed with another clipping saying "you make it happen"...

I am graduating... in fact I have finished my last undergraduate assignment/exam and am only waiting for the piece of paper now... i will be a nurse... again, waiting for a piece of paper... and i am getting very excited about how God uses the passions and desires in our hearts to make changes in our own lives, which will continue the changes He has already begun in our world...

I had a conversation last night with a friend i had worked with this semester. She and i are in a similar curcumstance right now, and the only advice i could give her was to go to God... that was the difference between how i handled the situation and how she was trying to... we experienced the same emotions, tried the same 'worldly' ways to manage, and all the rest... but i was able to confidently say that it was only by God's grace, faithfulness and peace that i was any different then her...

praise God that He is the answer... He is The way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6)... and He is more than enough...

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14

talk about it.

road trip to my favourite united states...

2006-03-23T15:19:00.000-05:00

well everyone.. here we go... off to Ocean City, Maryland... 3 nights... 24 hours driving... 7 vans... 35 high school students.... it's going to be fantastic!
peace
Beth

Psalm 67 (NASB)

2006-03-16T13:07:00.000-05:00

God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us -
That your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

sons of God

2006-03-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

"Perhaps it is no wonder that the women were first at the Cradle and last at the Cross. They had never known a man like this Man -there had never been such another. A prophet and teacher who never nagged at them, who never flattered or coaxed or patronized; who never made arch jokes about them, never treated them either as 'The Women, God help us!' or 'The Ladies, God bless them!'; who rebuked without querulousness and praised without condescension; who took their questions and arguments seriously, who never mapped out their sphere for them, never urged them to be feminine or jeered at them for being female; who had no ax to grind and no uneasy male dignity to defend; who took them as he found them and was completely unselfconscious." Dorothy Sayers (taken from The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey)

Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

Men; you are sons of God... and the women around you will expect no less.

2006-03-11T22:43:00.000-05:00

I read in the Ottawa Citizen today that Tom Fox, one of the hostages taken in Iraq who was working with the Christian Peacemaker Team, was killed. This is what a spokesperson from the organization said "In response to Tom's passing, we ask that everyone set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done,... In Tom's own words: 'We reject violence to punish anyone.'" Thank the Lord for this response. And "With this in mind, we constantly pray for [them], that God may count [them] worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of [theirs] and every act prompted by faith." 2 Thes.1:11

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you." Eph.4:32

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that they may know your Father in heaven..." Mat.5:44

"Blessed are the peacmakers, for they will be called sons of God." Mat.5:9

2006-03-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

"Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' "No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin'" John 8:10-11

So, here it is... the last day of my 2 month placement... and I must apologize for falling off the blogging track during these couple months. But, here we are now...

So, for the past 2 months I have been part of the City of Ottawa Street Health program. It's run from the Sexual Health centre downtown Ottawa, and so, we share space with the sexual health clinic and the SITE program, which is needle exchange. SO, I have spent the past few months going out to shelters and drop-ins, exchanging clean drug use items and doing shifts in the clinic. This whole center is based on a Harm Reduction philosophy... which means the goal is to minimize harmful effects of the choices people make. I will say the first day I was working in the SITE office, about to pass out a clean crack pipe to someone... I had to really think about what I was doing & why? is this a job I can do with Christ? Is this program going to help anyone stop using? is it going to make people start? How do I bring Christ into this situation? And then... the story about Jesus and the woman caught in adultry comes to me. This is a story about Christ coming along side someone who expects judgment, shame and guilt... not love, forgiveness and another chance. This is the same for the people that I have been working with... for so many of these men and women all they experience is shame & judgement, not just from the health care system, but also from the communties they live in and the people around them. Not only that, but also these are people who would never set foot in a doctor's office for help... and certainly not a church. So, I have come to love this idea, and this job... because it provides a safe space for people to come... a place without judgement, but a place where someone is going to care for them... I love that I can do this not just as a nurse, but as a Christian... These are things that the church can not hide from... sex, drugs, mental health, homelessness... these are all things that influence the people Christ loves... oh.... how exciting! There's another way!! He is so good!

Mat 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Mom?

2006-01-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

Here's where you turn when mom is busy...
http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=cookingschool&m=cookingschool/video_display&vid=89

I thought this was how... i just wanted to be sure.

2006-01-11T11:45:00.000-05:00

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Pvb.19:21

The Prayer of St.Francis

2006-01-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is dispair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, but to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

This is on a bookmark my Grandma wanted to get rid of... I don't know much about St.Francis... here's a link, should any of you want to learn a bit more about him ... I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!

2005-12-15T00:11:00.000-05:00

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you." Eph.4:31-32

I am reading right now, Philip Yancey's, What's So Amazing About Grace? And here are a couple parts from it that struck me;

"When I feel wronged, I can contrive a hundred reason's against forgiveness. He needs to learn a lesson. I don't want to encourage irresponsible behaviour. I'll let her stew for a while; it will do her good. She needs to learn that actions have consequences. I was the wronged party - it's not up to me to make the first move. How can I forgive if he's not even sorry?"

"...and yet it seems so unfair, to forgive injustice. I am caught between forgiveness and justice."

"Like grace, forgiveness has about it the same maddening quality of being undeserved, unmerited, unfair."

" I have often said, 'I forgive you,' but even as I said these words my heart remained anrgy or resentful."

"The gospel of grace begins and ends with forgiveness. And people write songs with titles like "Amazing Grace" for one reason: grace is the only force in the universe powerful enough to break the chains of enslaved generations. Grace alone melts ungrace."

We have been talking in Ottawa about needing to grow up in God. This maturity that we are all going for (Eph.4:13) is something that we need to take seriously. Not without joy, because that is something that God gives us (Rom.14:17), but that we need to believe that this maturity is what God wants for us, so let's start doing something about it.

Forgiveness is one of those things. One of those things that requires maturity, and builds it too. To be able to say, "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please will you forgive me." is hard, and sometimes to say, "yes, i do forgive you." is even harder. But, Jesus went further then that. He said, "I am here to forgive you. I came to forgive you. It doesn't matter what you've done, or who you are, or who people have told you you are. I forgive you, because I love you. I love you so much. I do not want to be a part from you any longer. I love you." He was the one who was wronged. He was the one who we turned away from. He is the one who has every right to leave us and not speak to us, and still, that is not what he did. That's not what He does. Before we go to him, before we ask, he has done it. He has already done it all to forgive us (Romans 5:8). What a wonderful God we serve! Oh, how thankful I am to know the God of incredible love!!

This is what God calls us to be like. "...Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Col.3:14). As the Lord forgave you... Forgive like, the same way, God forgave you... This is not a selective thing, God is not selective, (Rom.10:13). Ask Him about it... He is good. Always.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Eph.4:14-15

p.s. Be careful who you're calling bald... check out 2 Kings 2:23-25!!

"So they pulled their boats up on shore, left eveything and followed Him." Luke 5:11

2005-12-05T16:14:00.000-05:00

oh kate... you know me so well... i am in fact avoiding the studies right now... i have tried everything, but i just can't make myself start. I've changed locations (now seated on the brown engagement couch, engagement couch for those who may be wondering is because long ago, 1975 my mother wanted a couch instead of a ring... how romanitc), I've tidied my room, tried to find some inspirational music, written a list of all the things i am thinking of instead of the politics and economics of nursing, caught up on some emails... even turned on the dreaded msn... but now... well, now after this post... i don't know what i can do to avoid... cell is at 7:15pm tonight... i should maybe spend more time just listening to God... even though that is basically what this day has been so far...

"beth... you need to work now"
"I don't want to. can't we pray some more? don't you want to talk?"
"yeah... let's talk about you finishing this degree so that i can use you in new and exciting places"
"oh"
and that kind of ends it for a bit... then we start over again...

Sometimes i just think about those first disciples... and i wish i could do that... drop everything and follow Him... just drop the books and quit school and spend all my time just doing things that I think disciples should do... but then, i know that God has much bigger plans then i do, and he knows what he's doing... that why i gave my life to him, and don't try to run it on my own! And then there are verses like Colossians 3:17 "and whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." and vs.23 "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

But i am very excited about where i get to go next semester (providing i do actually get down to the sytudies) I have written confirmation now that i will for sure be working in street health coming in January! So, i will be working in the shelters and on the streets with the homeless folks, and sex trade workers.... i am very stoked about this... and i know it's something that i have talked about a lot here... but it is awesome to finally be here... i am excited about having a valid way into this community of people and to be able to offer them a valuable, practical service, on top of it being a fantastic way to build relationships with these people, so that I can show them yes i am a Christian, no, it's not my job to judge you, yes, i will care for you and love you, and yes... there is something better then this, there is a reason for hope, you can be made new, God exists and despite what anyone may have told you and whatever you are experiencing He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. I am excited about the oppotunities this placement will give me. I know God is going to be doing some awesome things... i will keep you all posted...

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

2005-12-02T16:53:00.000-05:00

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ"
Philippians 1:27

twenty-two

2005-11-18T12:05:00.000-05:00

So, today is the day, 22 years ago when Marilyn went into the Campbellford memorial hosptial and came out with me... I can't help but be reminded of all the things I am thankful for!! There are so many, but I fondly recall the enlightening verses given to me by two of my most lovely friends, Mr.Bright and Ms.Van Patter this day two years ago...

Eccelesiates 12:3-5 (NLT)
Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind too. And when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chriping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white haired and withered, dragging along without any sexual desire...

So nice to be encouraged as a brand new believer that my life with Chirst will be filled with such wonderful things!

But truly it is, and I am so thankful today! Praise the Lord, because he is good!!!

Psalm 121

2005-11-14T22:52:00.000-05:00

I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over you-
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forermore.

Jeremiah 17:7&8
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He is like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

AMEN!

"Jesus didn't just practise what he preached; he preached what he practised."

2005-11-08T12:13:00.000-05:00

This is straight from Roger Aubrey's blog and it has stuck with me for the last couple days... but especially tonight. He preached what he practised... he lived the kingdom of God and his life was perfectly in line with what God the father asks (John 5:19-23)... that is incredible! But not unbelievable... and that's what makes Jesus so awesome... the real, living, breathing Son of God here on earth, doing eveything the Father asks, so that we could know Him (John 10:24), and have a God that knows us so initmately(Psalm 139)... He knows what we need(Mat.6:8), he knows our fears, he knows who we love to spend time with, and those we need to make time for, he knows what work we have to do, and the time it requires, he knows our families, our friends, our classmates, our profs, our neighbours... and he loves them, he loves us... and he showed us that when he lived here, he died here and he rose again here (John 3:16)! Oh man!! I love that!

So, all of this goes back to the first comment... "he preached what he practised" Now, as a Christian, as someone who has given over my entire life to God, I need to be like Him. I need to preach what I practise... and if I am to preach the Word of God, which is the power of God (1 Cor.1:18)... I had better be living it. "Do not merely listen to the word and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22) How can I tell someone about the goodness of God and the power of God to change circumstances if that is not alive and a reality in my life. I believe that God can and does heal people... better start laying hands on some sick then Beth... I know God can and does meet every need... start testifying about the "random" cheques that appear in the mail... If I am living what is true about Jesus,and about myself because of what he has done in my life, then the real and living gospel that is Jesus Christ will be seen and heard everywhere I am.

A guy I worked with this summer said to me, "Yeah, Jesus was a great guy. If people actually lived the way he did this place would be a lot different"... If people actually lived the way he did this place would be a lot different.

2 Timothy 1:8-10
1 Timothy 4:12
Romans 12:1-2

What i learned today:

2005-10-29T02:42:00.000-04:00

1. that sometimes when a fire truck is driving through an intersection it's like the world is in pause
2. i like a chilly day when it's not rainy
3. God is really awesome (that's an every day thing...)
4. "Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because the water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live." Ezk 47:9
5. Patrick can sew
6. my hair doesn't "tease" well
7. there's nothing quite like fresh sheets & a wonderful duvet
8. Edem squeaks
9. Annie is an excellent tour guide & seamstress
9b. how to spell seamstress
10.the Hilton is ultra swank
11. all about liver failure (hepatitis)
12. about wigs
13. how to sit wearing a knee length paper bag

2005-10-25T21:19:00.000-04:00

well friends... as you may have noticed, both on your own, and by kate's comment... i have not been a faithful blogger... thank the Lord there are other strengths! BUT i noticed that my blog was a link from kate's and thought, how embarrassing! Not a single update since May! So, here we go... another attempt...

it's the end of october, fall is in full swing. Although there has been a distinct lack of fall type weather... it went from sunny and warm to cold and wet with little in between.... however, the colours are wonderful... i love the fall! i love the trees! i love the smell! i really like fall, and am a little sad to see it go... although i also love winter... aaannnd the canal has been drained and some huts have been put in already, which makes me very excited!

I am going to be starting my final placement on the 31st of this month... i will be going to CHEO and will be working on the same floor as Noah Bright! this is going to be a challenge... not working with Noah... but working with these families and children who are so sick.. I am excited about the challenge, and to have this experience as part of my education... in the new year i will be working full time with a nurse doing my consolodation (basically an unpaid internship) and then April 7th classes end... and the new phase starts....

It is so awesome in times like this to know God, and to know that he has a plan and purpose for your life (Jer.29:11). I am so thankful that i don't have to make that up... and that He has known me since before I was born (Jer.1:5)... and knows everything about me (Psalm 139)... i am so thankful. "Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit"Jer.17:7-8

Praise God who goes before us and doesn't leave us or forsake us! (Deut.31:8)

change

2005-05-12T20:33:00.000-04:00

This is what i am so excited about for this summer... a summer of change... and not just change for the sake of change, or solely because people are moving, marrying or birthing... but because we are become more and more like Christ each time we spend time with Him…
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 “Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Cor.15:51 “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed it’s coming.” 2 Peter 3:11-12 “You were taught, with regards to your old self, which is being corrupted by it’s deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:22-24 and so on… there are so many exciting things in this book my friends… if we would only start believing it… all of it… i am so looking forward to learning more about Him, and in turn myself and then putting it to use (James 1:22-25)… as Dave says “this book is about Christ and me”…

There are some exciting changes happening around these parts already… as you may have read in Kate’s blog baby James was born… the giant 11 lbs. 12 oz. baby that came from Mary’s womb!! (yipes I say!), Ben and Maryann will be married in less then 10 days, the lovely Annie has moved into the yellow room at the Stewart St. loft, Catherine is our neighbour and really living here with Nathanael in the fall, Steve and Sarah have moved into the giant apartment (which has a pool in the back yard!) down the street… and that’s just this month…. it’s wonderful! AND to think that all these wonderful changes God is bringing about for good because “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” 1 Tim.4:4 “Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor.15:58

Are you ever going to post again!?!

2005-04-26T23:34:00.000-04:00

this is what sylvie says to me on her way out the other day... so i figure it's high time i update the cyber-world on what's going on in the life of beth. also, now kate will not try to break into here and post her psuedo beth postings... so... what has happened since december 20th.... hrm.. well since it is just about the 27th of April... so in four months, an entire semester some things have changed.... i suppose the first is that i can no longer be sad about being left out of couple-dom.... although i wouldn't say i was really "sad" about it... but anyway, that's changed... however similar to the last post it is exam time again... funny how these things suddenly become a priority during exams... in less then 48 hours i will be finished my 3rd year of university, and 8 months closer to being a real nurse... although i will say that i am starting to look forward to the idea of being a nurse, and being able to have a job that i really care about and do well... i also like the idea of having work and then nothing attached to that... and by that i mean not having homework piling up while you want to do something other then school.... er... work... or you know... i've been thinking a lot about community health and working with vulnerable populations, which means drug users, homeless people, alcoholics, mentally ill... basically a lot of people not everyone wants to work with, but i think this would be a wonderful area to work in because they need to know that someone cares about them and that they are not forgotten... i think it will be incredibly challenging... but for now that's the dream-job.

This semester has been very good... school has been a little overwhelming at times, but somehow it's almost over and i've made it.... God as usual has been great on campus and off. we are going to be making some great moves towards a united christian community on campus and that is very exciting! i am looking forward to next year and what God will do on campus. My family is wonderful! Sergent Keene hung up his gun last month, joined the retired cops golfers... my mom and dad went to visit my brother in the Dominican (where he works with his wife)... which is very exciting because my brother and i get to really talk about Christ together now! He's lovin' Jesus down south!! it's had been really awesome to share this life with my brother and to know that we are joined now not just by familiar ties but by the blood of Christ too!!
Oh yes, which reminds me, if you have any spare time this is a sweet blog to check out : http://rogeraubrey.typepad.com/ It belongs to Roger Aubrey, a wonderful teacher from ministries without borders... it is very good to read... well... i suppose this is the update for now... i hope to keep this more up to date now that i'm a "lady of leisure" as Sarah says!

Be blessed!

and then there was one...

2004-12-20T19:20:00.000-05:00

Well... it's happened... there's only one woo-able member of our household... kate was done in by the soups... her and Thom now have hot dates of puzzle making and reading matilda... but it's alright friends... do not fret... i am welcome on the tri-dates... except i don't get to hold hands...

it's exam time... i have now completed two of four... it is the 20th of december... i think it is sad that there are so many of us students trapped here until the 22nd writing exams... i mean it's a big university, i would think that they would be able to get us through this time earlier... i don't know... i suppose i don't have a lot of faith in the effciency of the u of ottawa... and i am sad that i am talking to many people who are already done... enjoying the nothing-ness that is part of the christmas holidays... reading books you enjoy... spending time with the family... seeing old friends... eating a ridiculous amount of baked goods... and not having the homework looming overhead... well.. in about 35hours i will join them! hurrah!

i will say that i did have a lovely time at home last week, although it was a little rough to be away from the posse for so long... the four of them and me.... it was great to spend some time with me mam and me da and little jill... who isn't really that little... and i did get quite a bit of studying done which is probably for the best... not when i brought kate home with me though... it was back to the kate and beth poor study habits again... but we did have a wonderful day in peterborough. we dropped off ben's christmas gift at maryann's, it's always nice to see where people call home.... then i passed my G test (yyyyyesss!) so i never have to take another driving test until i'm 80... i like that my friends... i definately like that... and then we visited the peterborough family... Carla, the Amanda's and the Best's... i just love that church family.... this is the way it's supposed to be i think... that everyone has a wonderful extended family all joined together by Christ.... i am always amazed by the way God joins people together so quickly and meaningfully.... like the way kate, patrick, thom, mattie and i weren't really friends before this year... even though i went to high school with these three boys... i never would have imagined that they would be my closest friends.... well... i tell you... God is good...

yipes! i just got kissed in the ear!! ka-ate.... hah! which reminds me of when we were at my home... my mom and dad had some guests over for supper... one of those, dinners you would rather just take a plate and eat downstairs because you don't really know the guests... anyway, kate and i were "invited" to join, which means we had to... so we thought maybe we would make it entertaining... by making the ambiguous comments like "well we met in 1st year and really hit it off... so now we're living together..." and so on... mind you the joke never made it past our own make-believe conversations... i think that's for the best...

well.. i think that is far more then anyone really wanted to know... it's time to stop... off to the studies...

a bientot, see you soon
beth

walking in a winter wonderland!

2004-12-01T12:56:00.000-05:00

well... today there is a wonderful blanket of snow on the ground!!! for anyone who really was interested it started to snow around 3:45am last night, and it continues as i type!! it's time for one of my most favourite sounds of all... the crunching of snow underfoot... in fact i enjoy this sound so much that i have put myself in harms way just to hear it... if anyone remembers the scafolding that used to be near the new bio-science building... i learned why the only un-tromped snow was situated directly below the steel bar... surprisly (or probably not, but at the time i sure was surprised) these bar are in fact right at forehead level... anyway, some may wonder, why would i know when it started snowing last night... well, i will tell you... i was in fact typing away trying to finish the essay due today that kate and i started at 12am last night... i am so glad that kate and i encourage and motivate each other so well in other things, in the really important things, like helping each other find what in our lives is preventing us from being more like Christ, and helping each other to walk into that... however, when it comes to school work i think that maybe we just get along too well, and have too much fun together instead of 'buckling down'... i will say we had a fine dance party last night, and excellent dinner with the boys (which included an incredible barely soup, made from scratch by our very own Thomas Anderson) and an even better cell (i was so excited i actually thought that i may throw-up...) . Since Keri Jones came we have been talking a lot about the words we speak, and how important it is to keep feeding in the good... we talked about how important words are, and how we need to not only read the word of God, but also need to hear it... that means more reading out loud... i mean God created the entire universe by speaking right! so we need to weigh our words in the same way... because if we now have Christ in us, we have the same spirit in us that created the world!! and we need to speak truth into our lives and the lives of others because it's so powerful! in fact when we actually realize that we have Christ in us, we are invincible!! i like that. i am very excited about what God is doing here in Ottawa... and let me tell you... it's big... and i mean dang big.... but for the rest of today i will have to do this essay... which i certainly do believe is part of the plan.
peace out
beth

Things I would rather do then my essay...

2004-11-27T20:53:00.000-05:00

- make muffins
- do laundry
- organize my cd collection
- answer old emails
- read old letters/journals
- talk with Kate
- make a list
- plan ahead, for the summer, for september, for my life
- write down future ideas/dreams in serious detail
- eat
- post on an online journal
- read random online journals
- podge
- read
- pray
- sit an think
- clean my room
- count and roll change
- wash the dishes
- play my neglected guitar
- anything... really almost anything...

keep pace!

2004-11-14T22:26:00.000-05:00

Well, well, well... here i sit again... it's been awhile (again)... some of you may have been wondering if I do in fact still exist... the answer is yes... i do... which is probably evident from this posting... anyway, that's more then enough about that.

Last week in the city of ottawa we saw the northern lights!! i just love that. the first night it was a total surprise, we had no idea that they would be out. I just happened to be walking around that night and looked up (as i usually do, to check out th few stars that can be seen) and to my great delight there they were... i can't even really describe it, because it is so lovely and awesome... light beaming down from the top of the sky and meeting an imaginary treeline that is constantly in motion... mmmm.... i love that.... and then to see them again two days later from the our roof... ahh! God is so good! things like this to me are so incredible because it's so huge, these awesome lights in the sky, so beautiful, huge and awe-inspiring... and God made that!! and they are nothing in compared to Him! also, what a wonderful gift to us, these beautiful things all over the place!! i just never never never want to take those things for granted... also, there was a thin layer of ice on the canal! that means a few things.... 1) the temperature of the water is at least 0 2)winter is fast approaching 3) the canal will soon be skate-able!! another thing i am very happy about. I will be very happy to see the snow fall... and the ice feeze....

this week kate left for Maxville so early... she was gone for so long... but it was alright because we had a sweet night at the youth center on friday, a lovely morning with the ladies of our church, an excellent mask-making afternoon, followed by a sweet mask party (at which we (myself, kate, krista, pat and mattie) we in the minority of people actually sporting a mask), the first time viewing of Shrek 2 and another lovely morning with the kiddies of our church... i'll tell you this much, it's a busy month... i am looking forward to december and spending some time in the wonderful campbellford... to see the fam and also to do some nothing... but, here we go, through one more month!

here's another tribute to c'ford... the home of the toonie...

http://www.bigthings.ca/ontario/campbell.html

*you may note that this link will actually lead you on to many other big things in canada... a little less exciting then hoped... but still good

Romans 12:1 (msg)

2004-11-06T19:46:00.000-05:00

well, this is it, tonight's the big night the debut of Church in Rez! 7pm in the new rez lounge there will be many people getting to together to praise God.... it's going to be grand! the thing with this event is that Jesus has been ahead of us all along... it's really been awesome to see how He has brought all this together, i feel a but like i have just been running to catch up to what He's doing... i hope the room is too small tonight, it's always good when your buildings become too small to hold all the people... even though the winter weather is fast approaching... we could maybe find a way to rent the Coral centre eventually... that would be a sweet deal.... which by the way when you say "sweet deal" you need to stretch it out a bit... like, sw-ee-t deeeal... that's what Keiran told me last night at the youth centre, apparently i was not pronouncing it correctly.... i just really love spending time at the youth centre.... and last night was particularily good because everyone was in the mood to chat... there are some stellar youth around these part i tell ya... it was also really nice to feel like i actually am getting to know some of the kids that are there often... it's a great place... i will say that, i will say that.
I will also say that my clinical placement goes better then i expect each day i go... each thurday and friday when the alarm goes off at 5:50am i go through the list of possible excuses for not going in... eventually conclude that none of them would actually work... and roll out of bed, catch the good ol' 85 and make my way to the General... it's a little overwhelming at times all the information we (as nurses) are going to know about each patient we are caring for, and learning to keep track of who going to what scan at what time and why they're going... but i suppose that's what we're here for... to be a little overwhelmed then learn to deal with it... like i said, each day does get better, because you learn to do something better, or something new... but you also learn about how much you don't know... mehn, that's why we get to be students... i will enjoy this time of learning stuff... before real life happens and i have to know...
right now kate is wearing a milk jug as a helmet of salvation... it is very sweet... the little folks of our church are making the armor of God week by week... sweet... very very sweet.... also, i must mention that we looked all over the place for 4L milk jugs... if you were wondering you can get juice, chocolate milk and regular milk all in these, but only at Mac's... and now the challenge of drinking all this milk... it's quite a feat i will tell you that.... even i, the milk fiend am having a little trouble... anyway... here we go... it's going to be another grand night praising God!!

2004-11-01T19:04:00.000-05:00

where to begin... the weekend with jillian was great. i just loved having my little sister up here... and it was like she had been here always... a little scary because in my mind she is only supposed to be 8... she was asked multiple times while she was here if she was going to school or moving here! sheesh, she's only in grade 10 people, let's not hurry it along! anyway, like i said it was lovely to have her here. also really nice to spend some time with miss.linger and Nat it's been awhile since the last visit.

So, the absence of posting is due to the excess of school work... it would be a lie if i said i didn't have moments of panic every couple of days... there seems to be less and less hours in the day (even though we just gained an hour)... but clearly, there's enough time for me to sit here and type away...hmmm... maybe i just have some prioritizing to do... clinical has started, going to the hospital twice a week now... adding 16 more hours of class, to make a 40 hr school week... BUT because i now have a permanent schedule it means i will be able to be at the youth center on fridays, which is grand! i really like how that place works and what it provides for kids in the area... i hope my career in the future will be able to be so Christ centered...

yesterday was hallowe'en... but besides a few hours of costume preparation, you would never know... kate and i missed out on trick-or-treating at the PM's house again this year.... kate had a good little cry on the floor when we found out... telling us all that hallowe'en was ruined again... but i must say she still pulled out some impressive costumes... prehaps we will have to have some sort of event where these can be appreciated to their full value... i mean, you won't get me into a full piece red jumpsuit with stir-ups for no reason at all... the cape i will surely sport any ol' day... but i have to work myself up to step into the full piece.

We just finished watching the discovery channel's Eco-Challenge in BC... what a spectacular race!! i think it would be incredible first of all to be buff enough to compete in that, secondly to be experienced enough not to die doing it, and lastly just to be part of it period. there's dreamy talk of kate, mattie, pat and i entering this... with trusty tom as or guide... but i am certain that kate and i at least would need to step up our non-existent training program to maybe at least owning and using bikes... which is something i think i would like to do, wether there is an adventure race in the future or not... it's just so much faster to get around on a bike... i don't know what i've been thinking all these years... except that i do recall breaking 2 bikes in one summer... and having someone else breaking the 3rd.... perhaps the ottawa city streets will be a little less rough then the moira lake shores...

procrastinating

2004-10-22T19:19:00.000-04:00

today is a beautiful day! as i was walking down to the pharmacy to by some packing tape i saw two things that made the day even better...

1. a mom on a bike with one of those sidecar-esque baby carriers teaching her son (who was sporting a very cool helmet) how to ride his bike (looked like training wheels were very recently removed) on the street... giving him directions on how to look both ways and describing to him way it was so difficult to stop on a downhill slope

2. a man with a leaf blower... this in it's self isn't particularily funny... but he was blowing the leaves off of the sidewalk... and the thing was, there where only a couple leaves... not even like he needed to clear a path... i laughed out loud when i saw what he was doing... i got a bit of an annoyed look... probably due to the laughing, but i just couldn't help it... it seemed completely absurd that this man was dead serious about remove 10-15 leaves from the sidewalk beside his home... some people i don't think i will ever understand...

i am supposed to be studying for my microbiology midterm right now... because Jill will be here all weekend, this is the last chunk of time i have to really hit the books... but i just can't make myself do it... it seems that today i have the attention span of a goldfish... which i've been told is not very long, mosly due to the belief that they have a memory length of only 3 seconds... i don't really know how they do goldfish research... maybe if i do poorly on this midterm i will look into being a goldfish researcher... starting with this quiz i just found. www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/fun/quizzes/fish/index.shtml hmm... i think this is a sure sign of procrastination... back to work.... or maybe outside...

here's a little article on fish-y memories... fyi...http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jan2000/948571851.Zo.r.html

burning the wick at both ends...

2004-10-21T03:46:00.000-04:00

what a lovely gray day it has been... you know those days when the sun just doesn't really want to shine but it makes spending a cozy day inside all the better... that's what today was for. although i did make a fine trip to the Bible store on Lisgar st. i picked up a bible for my little sister who is joining me in ottawa this weekend... i am very glad about that, i really love to spend time with her, I am so happy about the way relationships progress, espcially in families...

on tuesday kate and i went to a wonderful conference about health and literacy... it was a day when we got to pretend we were real nurses... but also it was very interesting. I stopped at the National Aboriginal Health Organization booth and talked to them for awhile... they passed off all sorts of free literature and added me to their mailing list... i am so excited about this!! a little while ago my lovely roomate maryann was talking about how she asked God to give her something to be passionate about, and how He responded and gave her such an awesome desire to do social work and research with multicultural people... and i was thinking how that is really something that i would love God to help me with, (because He is so gracious and loving, He loves to help us...) not to be luke warm about things anymore... but to really have something to dig into... and over the past couple days i have just realized He is doing that right now with the opportunities to go work in the north! i am so excited about working in northern communities and really getting to know about the people, the way they live and how i can be a part of this! who knew that the possible native mishap way back in the keene history would turn into so much more then a runnning joke between kate and i!! God is so good!

Also, i have been thinking lately about God's order for the world and how hard it is to be patient to see that come sometimes... and especially in those situations when you want something to happen right away but you know it's best to wait on God... because, His timing is always, without question better than ours... just like it says in Psalm 27:14 "wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." and Psalm 130 Isn't is wonderful that there are answers...

but it was worth it....

2004-10-18T03:21:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful past couple days it has been! This weekend was full of lovely things... first of all i quit my job... which i am very happy about... and now a will hopefully have more time for people and school, which i am even more happy about. Also, Church in Rez is sailing ahead with nothing stopping it, some days i feel like i am just barely keeping up with where God is taking us... and that is a sweet feeling! we will have a table at clubs week, which is this week... i am so excited to see how well it will go! the first one is on the 6th of november... any questions feel free to get in touch with me. And then there was Joe Boot... there was a lot to digest and to take out of the things he was saying... and it was so good. just a couple points of the many that stood out:
-how people are so offended by christians 'forcing their religion' on people... but how secularism is forced on to us every day of our lives, in school, in the media and pretty much every where we go... i had never thought of the beliefs of the world being considered like any other set of beiefs or "world view"...
-also he told a story about a man lost at sea on a raft, he was saying that instead of using the stars, which are fixed points of reference he chooses to find his own way back to shore... the trouble is he keeps moving along with the raft and can never find his way anywhere because there is only himself and his raft... and how this is just like when people decide to follow their own opinions... but as christians we have a fixed reference which is never changing that we can always follow....
there where so many other points he spoke about, and it was all so good.... i really love to be challenged to think about things differently and i also love to have another way of approaching questions about why i believe what i believe... because i am certain that God uses all the things you learn to teach you things, or other people things later on in life...

Also this weekend we went to Gatineau park... mmmmmm... i love the park.... we went hiking up into the woods back to the lusk caves... it was so cold and so dark, but sooo fun! the water in the cave was freezing... like numb your feet in about 5 seconds sort of cold... but nothing beats an evening out of the city with some of your most favourite people! i really would like to live somehwhere like that when i grow up... near some wonderful lake or river... surrounded by awesome forest... oh yes... i think i would like that very much....

it is exactly 1 month, minus 21 minutes, away from my 21st birthday...

how embarrassing!

2004-10-12T23:21:00.000-04:00

well i never.... sorry folks, you may noticed that the next two postings are quite similar.... i didn't realize the dial-up campbellford internet actually came through on the weekend... that'll teach me to talk down about D&R computers... sorry, you will have to endure some of the same commentary twice... even some duplicate witty observations... but it is too late to edit now... i don't have the energy... now, honestly, to cell!

back in o-town

2004-10-12T23:10:00.000-04:00

and yes, i do mean the excellent boy band from a few years ago... of the "liquid dreams" fame... how sad that i even know that... hmm... we'll have to do something about that, i hope my little sister doesn't read this... she would definately dissaprove. However there was talk this weekend of her coming to visit this weekend, which would be absolutely swell. it was a lovely weekend, just as anticipated... i finally met my new baby cousin, the newest keene, and i am happy to report she no longer looks like my uncle gary ( a 57 year old man ), but has grown into a beautiful little keene girl. also, learned that my cousin is engaged... which brought about the 'teasing' remarks of "you're next beth" with the raised eyebrows... minus those prodding questions, the weekend was great! i got to see all the family, both sides, spent some quality car ride time with my ma, pa and sister jill, saw a fair number of campbellfordians from the campbellford district high school days, and wandered through the woods, both in warkworth and seymour township. I just really appreciate the time i get to spend at home so much, especially in the fall... i think fall is near the top of my list of favourite seasons.... perhaps even THE top.

I also must say i truly enjoyed the boating experience in warkworth... 6 in the rowboat... that didn't really row... so nice... plus we saved a dragonfly, so there will perhaps be a few less mosquitos next summer.

on a somewhat related note, did you know that about about 295,000 litres of water is required to produce 910 kilograms of paper (one piece of paper from the photocopier represents 1.5 litres of water). i learned this after taking this quiz: http://www.worldvision.ca/home/content-archives/content-stories/world-water it is all about water in the world... i am amazed at how blessed i am to live in canada... i am always glad to know about this sort of thing... to be more aware, and therefore more conscientious... really i just wanted to use the word therefore...

also, i am quite enjoying this City of Angels soundtrack i have rediscovered from home... i mean there are a couple songs to skip over, but in general, an excellent assortment.

anyway, that is the news.... we all survived the possible salmonellae and shigellae bacterial infections from the turkey... which our prof conveniently brought up before thanksgiving... what could be better!

off to cell!

from The Ford...

2004-10-11T02:33:00.000-04:00

this is just a short note from my back home 'stomping grounds' (term stolen from kate)... I have just returned from a sweet weekend away visiting my family. I must say, that new little Keene girl is absolutely lovely... happy to report she no longer looks like my uncle gary, the 57 year old man... also, i learned my cousin has been engaged for the past 3 months and i was never informed... which sadly now brings about the expectant comments from the Keene family... "i guess that means your next beth" hah... i know there is less joke in that statement then they like me to believe... anyway, it was a great all round tour... i am very lucky that i can visit my whole family in only one weekend... so, tomorrow, the visiting continues... breakfast with cahyee (hurrah!!) since the time at the wonderful Front Street Bar and Grill didn't quite make the cut as far as valid visit time... although it was like every field party that i ever went to squished into one country music playing, smoke filled bar... good to see some old school faces... but i am very happy that there is more to my life then that... also, hope to make the trek to peterborough to see the Bests (of the best thanksgiving...www.katevp.blogspot.com) and pick up kate... since it has been a total of 3 days without seeing her... but for now, i must return the computer to miss jill...

blue skies, red leaves and a tin roof...

2004-10-06T18:03:00.000-04:00

the view from my window......so, here i am, inside, on one of the most wonderous days... why you may ask... well, the truth is i am waiting for the phone to ring... i am a casual employee for SCO (a couple hospitals in ottawa) which means i am at their bidding on days like today when i say i am available. The thing is it works out really well when they call in the morning, because then i work 0730 till 1530 and that's it, i have the rest of the afternoon free... but when there's no call in the morning, i have to wait around my house until the evening shift starts to see if they will call... ... the only reason i would consider owning a cell phone... But while waiting around my house today i was able to be fairly productive. I finished the book i have been reading, The Torn Veil, which is about Gulshan Esther who grew up in a very devout muslim family and spent the first 19 years of her life as a cripple... but then Jesus healed her and she left so much behind to follow Him... her life is filled with some incredible miracles, and she has an increbible, inspiring amount of faith. And the thing is her story is all true, this woman is real and is still alive today and still speaks all around the world about her faith and shares her testimony. It is absolutely a recommended read.
On a completely different note, you should see kate's room... i don't think i have ever seen that much of the floor... the girl went all out my friends, all out... it is so clean! We are hoping this is the beginning of a new era for kate... no longer will you have to carefully plan a path through the mess! hurrah!
Tomorrow i am off to the magnificent Campbellford (www.visitcampbellford.ca) for thanksgiving weekend. I can't wait to spend some quality time with the fam... and i can hardly wait to go for a walk in the sugar bush... the fall is the best time for this... the colours are incredible, temperature just right and always a bit of smoke from chimneys and leaf piles in the air... it is just perfect I am also going to get to see my entire family (minus my brother, the Dominican is not quite on the way to London) including the first Keene girl in 14 years! it's going to be a lovely weekend!

it's like you have an inside joke... with yourself.

2004-10-06T15:05:00.000-04:00

That is what maryann said to me yeterday.... because i was going about my things but every once in awhile my thoughts got me to grinning... not really sure why, although i often re-play conversations and events from my memory and usually that is the cause of the randomn outbursts of laughter... but some days you just wake up feeling good.

In the ESL class that kate, mandy and i were working in yesterday we had a very good time... we learned from the students that my hobbies were dogs and soccer... the funny thing is that neither of those things are actually what i was trying to convey to them when they asked that question... first the soccer... try explaining rugby to a table of elderly chinese ladies who are just beginning to speak english... it's not one of the first words on the vocabulary lists... anyway, trying to explain that it was a bit like football, and sort of like soccer, except you tackle people... they must think we're crazy trying to act these things out... anyway, apparently after all the efforts all they took away from it was that i played soccer... which isn't entirely a fabrication... but not exactly what i was thinking... and then the dogs... oh dear.... this is the question on e man asked me... "Do you like little children, dogs or cats?" as if those are the only three things you could like... i thought it was an odd grouping, but told him i liked little kids, and liked dogs better then cats... again, only part of the message got across, and now i'm the dog girl. It's a good lesson, this ESL placement. so good to learn what communication difficulties there are and how to handle them. It is also so fun! But i have learned there is a lot to say about using short and to the point statements when you are trying to speak about something important. we, (kate and i for sure, and i think a lot of people in my age bracket), tend to add a lot to what we're saying, which help to make stories good... and it's better then just the bare bones story, but sometimes you just need to get down to the important stuff... not too often though :) Like in that wonderful movie Big Fish... that movie is all about the details in stories... but it's also like the gospel... because when there is time it is awesome to talk about all the incredible stories about Jesus and the old testament folks, but first you need to cut out everything else and just focuss on Jesus, what He did for us and why we need Him to save us. I guess what i'm saying is it's like talking with the ESL people... you may be telling them an great story about all sorts of exciting things, but if they missed the foundation of the story it's all going to be lost. Just like you can talk about how great and awesome God is and what He does, but if you don't get Jesus... well, it's not going to make a whole lot of sense... anyway, that is just one lesson i have got so far from this community health placement... it's going to be a grand year!

ooooh me so happy!

2004-10-04T01:18:00.000-04:00

"i can't sleep when you do that" -Beth
"when i love you?" -Kate

this morning i woke up to a mini puppet show... featuring myself and a toddler version of kate... i tell ya, you never know what to expect around here...

i just love sundays. today i had such a nice time at our meeting. Robyn and i hung out with the kiddies of our church body, got some sweet outside time played hide and seek, and played on the 'play structure', which apparently has replaced the term jungle gym, which really makes a lot of sense i suppose, as i don't imagine there are many gyms in the jungle... it is also such a nice time to talk with these mini-folks about God it's amazing what they know and what you learn from them when you actually take the time to listen... i am so thankful to have those guys in our body and i really look forward to watching them grow up.

Yesterday i learned to drive a standard vehicle... it is very fun. I am glad for good teachers, ones that are so patient and are so calm, because really it's not a big deal to stall the car in the parking lot or to burn a little rubber trying to start on a hill.... but i must say i am pleased with the afternoon lesson and even drove home from the school... street lights, pedestrians, other cars and all. Now it will be so easy to get to and from Maxville... those Benjamin's will be so happy.

But to return to today, and how i love sundays... today was a little out of the ordinary, meeting, lunch, hang out, homework day because i made a trip to the sports complex. Today was the first time since leaving the rugby team i went out to watch a game. Unfortunately today was also the first loss of the season for the Ottawa U ladies, but it was really nice to be there and see my old teamates. i won't lie, there were times i wished i was on the field... but in general it went much better then i first anticipated... i know that i would have absolutely no time to do other things, and even less time then i have now to hang out with friends, so it was the right choice to make... i just wonder when i will play again, or have the boots left the pitch forever???

another day, another dollar... later

the three of them and me...

2004-10-02T03:42:00.000-04:00

well, back from my first night at the Youth Center in Maxville... it was a pretty good time. I really like to leave the city every once in awhile, espcially at night, when you get to see the stars in their fullness. That's something i notice a lot when i go home, the stars and the sound of the river... ... anyway, the youth center is very cool... in fact i was was completely surprised by the quality of 'hang out' this place was... it has everything a bunch of young people might want... food, a pool table, x-box, quality chess board, and oh yes... nail polish. Some of you may not believe this, but right now my nails are actually painted... granted it is a clear polish, but i am astonished to look down and see 10 shiny finger nails looking back at me... i don't really mind though, mostly because i got to spend some time with a couple of the girls at the center. it reminds me of my childhood... you see i was very much a tom-boy for a good part of it (mushroom cut and all) then took a strangely girly turn and now have returned to my preferred tom-boy-esque self, only i think i will bypass the mushroom cut this time...
I have these Switchfoot lyrics in my head;

And you're on fire
When He's near you
You're on fire
When He speaks
You're on fire
Burning at these mysteries

mmmmm.... well i think it's time to rest mes yeux....

ways you may be awoken at apt 4...

2004-10-01T11:36:00.000-04:00

1. work calling asking if you can be there in 15mins
2. excited friend leaping into your bed
3. the crows.....
4. the never ending construction/demolition across the street
5. HAMPSTERDANCE!

back on the bandwagon...

2004-09-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

well, here we go, a fresh start... like i said it's all about the new beginnings... this is not completely unlike the feeling you get at the beginning of a new school year, at least i usually get at the beginning of a school year, the feeling that you are really going to change your study ways, and really be motivated to actually put in the time to do better... i know for some people this is not an encouraging comparison, because that studious feeling usually exits around the time of the first midterms... but for me this it is appropriate, because there has in fact been a change in my thinking about school and various other commitments... and so i am feeling that this will spill over onto this online journal... lately i have been thinking about making my yeses be yes and my noes be no... instead of trying to do everything and finding nothing done to a satisfactory level. What my dad says, (and probably a lot of dads day) "do it right, or don't do it at all" rings louder and louder... oh doug, what a lovely man he is... i will be so happy when he knows the Lord... i just love that family of mine... .... oh yes! i feel that i need to fill some people in all things campbellford in this journal... starting today with World's Finest Chocolate(www.worldsfinestchocolate.com) . Now, let us all be clear that this is a brand name, this grand claim belongs to them simply because they got it first... Campbellford, Ontario just happens to be the only producer of WFC in all of Canada, which provides chocolates and various gift wares for schools, athletics and community clubs fundraising... as well as an outlet store for the people of Campbellford and surrounding areas... because i have grown up selling these covered almonds and mint meltaways they will always have a special place in my heart (and stomach) however i welcome any samples of what other people may deem superior chocolate to the World's Finest... however, nothing but the best comes from Campbellford.