Some addictive thoughts

Well, it's definitely been a while since I've actually written a blog, and seeing as I'm sitting at work right now with not much to do, I thought I'd give it a go.

As a random update, I've started a new job as of last Tuesday. My job for the day care agency finished as of a week and a half ago, and I was fortunate enough to have a job interview the next day. I am now the Reception/Admin Assistant for Melbourne Central DHQ. It's full time hours (830-430, Monday-Friday), so that will definitely keep me busy, as well as provide me with some funds, which is always a good thing. It's been a bit of a challenge so far, as DHQ has just recently moved locations and everything is still being sorted out after the move, as well as the fact that I'm just not an office person...but God is good and giving me the wisdom and strength to get through. (Having Matt on call to answer any techy or random office questions has helped a lot too lol)

I thought I might write a post based off of the widely talked about "World of Warcraft." For anyone who hasn't heard about this game, feel free to check out the link to the website. It's pretty much a Role Playing game that is online, so you play and interact with people all over the world. You play in a fictional world, where you are a character that can be an elf, a dwarf, and many other races you'll find in a fantasy world. I'm not very good at describing this game, but perhaps someone else who is good with words with leave a comment and put in a better description *cough* Matt *cough*.

I have become quite familiar with this game as I've been playing it occasionally since January, as well as the controversy that surrounds it. For anyone who hasn't heard the arguments against World of Warcraft, it's that it's addictive and people have changed their whole lives around in order to have time to play this computer game. (I've heard things like that people have lost their jobs or stopped going to school in order to play World of Warcraft.) I'm definitely not going to write anything against this argument, as I do agree it's addictive and people spend way too much time playing it, but going to go for a different spin.

Recently, there was some news coverage over a boy named Cameron, and his addiction to WOW (click here to watch it). It was a bit of a joke to all of us who play, and the game was spammed with people trying to search for "Cameron" in the World of Warcraft online community. But, what I actually was more frustrated with after watching this news story, was from a youth worker perspective.

If you watch the documentary, you'll see several shots of the mother breaking down and crying and saying she's tired of it, she doesn't know what to do, and she describes how her son's addiction started off as casually playing, all the way to not going to school so that he can play for 16 hours at a time. Again, I'm not going to argue against the ability for WOW to be addictive, because just like video games, television, and many other forms of entertainment via technology, it certainly has it's addictive tendencies. But what I am going to say is, how can a parent blame the game for taking over their child's life, when they've just stood by and watched it happen?

In the news clip, they go through a great deal of effort to play on emotion and get the point across that both the mother and son are helpless victims to the game, and they're at a loss as to what can be done. Surely the mother could start by cutting off the internet connection? Or removing the computer from his room? I know that there are situations where parents have difficulties remaining the "parent" with a teenager and often lose the power struggles to their child...but then instead of blaming a computer game for taking over their child's life, should they not look at possible underlying issues like why did he get so addicted to something in the first place? Or why is the parent afraid to just get rid of his internet connection and/or his computer?

I think that I'm just tired of society and media being so quick to put the blame on things. Things like, it's not the parents fault the child is addicted to something, it's whoever produced the addictive product. How about that maybe in today's world there are too many parents who are too busy to take an interest in their child's life to know what's really going on? Or that parents aren't willing to make that really hard effort to communicate to their child that they "don't understand."

Two weeks ago I spent a horrid 4 days at a day care centre in Brunswick. What made it so bad was that there were 3 and 4 year olds who already had their parents wrapped around their fingers. These children were just learning how to talk, and they already knew how to manipulate and get everything that they wanted, and what to do if someone dared say the word 'no' to them. And a lot of that behaviour was due to parents who poured everything into work, and had nothing left to give their children.

Our society is continuing to put less and less importance on family, and spending the time and effort that it takes to have communication and build relationships among family members. I know that we will continue to see families with single parents, and families where both the parents need to work full time in order to cover their finances. But, in no way shape or form does that mean that there isn't time for family...for parents to pour into their children, to know their children, and to be the positive role model and mentor that every child needs to look up to. I know plenty of families with parents who both have to work, or there is only one parent present, and they have more then enough time and love to cover their children with.

I think I've gone on more then a bit of a tangent and ramble with this post, so I better conclude it and leave it there.

Blessings!

CONGRATS JESS!

Congrats to Miss Jessica Hynes on running her first 10km race! AND in finishing in 58 minutes and 47 seconds!! You're a star Jess, I'm so proud of you!

(The picture above is of Jess right after her race standing with her sister Julie.)

Video Clips

I've uploaded a few videos...

Click here to see a segment from the Melbourne Staff Band, where you can see their smooth dance skills added to their playing talent.

Click here to see a clip from our Resi fundraising Formal, and some dancing skills.

Click here to see a clip from the Resi mini camp we went on, and get a look at some authentic Australian bush dancing!

Crazy week

Well, things have definitely been busy in the last little while.

Crazy week started off on Sept 16, when we had a fund raising "Formal" to raise money for the youth at Reservoir who are planning on going to Fiji for a youth conference in the new year. Then on Sept 17, we had "family fun day" for the kids and their families at Shop 16 in Resi, and ran carnival games (with a jumping castle) all afternoon. Then on the 18 and 19, we went away to camp, again with the kids from Reservoir. It's school holidays right now in Melbourne, so we had a mini camp for 25 kids, which was really good fun. Then from the 20-23 ACC (Aggressive Christianity Conference) ran, which is sort of an Australian version of SA ROOTS. I participated in the children's venue, and we had just under 40 kids attend that. Seriously some of the most amazing kids I've ever met within the Salvation Army, and I definitely had an amazing time getting to hang out with them for a few days. I spent Sunday pretty much just staying in bed as I was absolutely wrecked from the craziness of the week, and then Sunday night I had my old room mate from the Order come and crash here for 3 nights. Oh, I did get to the "Melbourne Show" two days, which is like the Exhibition in Toronto, so that was pretty fun. And yesterday, today and tomorrow I've been working 9-6 at a daycare centre that I've been at previously, with absolutely fantastic kids. So...needless to say, I've come down with a cold after the extreme business of the past couple of weeks and I'm currently dealing with a runny nose, cough and a lovely man voice as I'm just trying to get through to Saturday, when I can have some much needed down time.

Well, I think that gives an overview to what I've been up to lately. I've posted pictures from all of the events that I listed up above on my msn space, so click here if you'd like to check those out. I also have a few new videos to upload, but I'll post those once I finally get them onto the computer.

Blessings!

I walk by faith

I walk by faith, each step by faith,
To live by faith, I put my trust in You.

Every step I take, is a step of faith,
No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Every prayer I make, is a prayer of faith.
And if my God is for me,
Who can be against me?

I walk by faith, each step by faith,
To live by faith, I put my trust in You.

The Crocodile Legend

For the past six or seven years, I've had only one answer to the question "who is your hero?" Despite different reactions from those I've talked to or the grimaces and laughs I've gotten from those I give my response to...I've stayed firm in my opinions. Steve Irwin...Australia's Crocodile Hunter...is my hero.

I can remember many nights back in high school, getting out of bed at midnight to watch "The Crocodile Hunter" with my dad. At first I thought he was just a crazy guy on a weird late night show....but then I got absolutely addicted to his documentaries, and just fell in love with him.

Since I was a kid, I wanted to travel to Australia. Then as a teen, it because a personal life goal to not just get to Australia, but to meet Steve Irwin. Besides the joke that I was going to go down under to find myself an Aussie husband...I have always genuinely had the dream to come to Australia and meet The Crocodile Hunter. I've even obtained a bit of a collection of Steve Irwin stuff...including his movie, a few documentaries, posters, and a very cheesy board game with a crocodile that actually moves. Despite many Australians that I've met here not being a huge fan of Steve, I've remained determined to get up to Queensland to his zoo, and meet him.

Yesterday, apon getting picked up from work, I had Matt look at me very seriously and ask if I had heard the news. I had no idea what he was talking about, so he quickly filled me in on the tragic headline of the day.

Steve Irwin had died.

While filming a documentary, Steve was swimming with sting rays and was stung in the chest by the tail of one of them. By the time he reached medical help on his boat, it was too late, and there was nothing that could be done. He was gone.

I didn't believe it was actually true, and thought it a very unlikely story, until I heard it announced on the radio.

Since yesterday, the story of Steve's death has absolutely taken over Australia. Nearly the entire newspaper today was filled with articles about him, and it is the headline of every news broad cast. In about an hour there is a tribute for his life being shown on tv. Even in day care today, several children were talking about how sad it was that "that poor man died."

Steve leaves behind his wife (Terri), his daughter (Bindi), and his son (Bob). He also leaves The Australian Zoo, as well an absolute legacy of his work, genuine passion, talent and love for his crocodiles, as well as all the animals he worked with.

Despite even now there being bound to be critisims of both Steve Irwin, as well as me classifying him as my hero and writing a whole blog about him...I don't care. It's absolutely tragic to lose such a passionate and genuine man, especially considering how rarely we see people in our world today put as much time and effort into taking care of looking out for the well being of this beautiful world that God has given us, as Steve Irwin has.

Prayers with his family as they deal with the shock and grief that this has brought. And may his legacy live on. For up to date articles and video interviews regarding what happens next, click here.

The joys of child care

You know you've worked at too many daycares when...

- you know all the Wiggles songs off by heart (and the actions!)

- you know the title of the children's book that the kid sitting next to you on the train is reading

- you're surprised when other jobs don't have nap time after lunch

- you're saying "good girl/boy!" to teenagers

- all your pants have play doh, paint, glue, clay, sand, or all of the above deeply ingrained into the fabric

- you're reminding your friends to say please and thank you

- you can put any child puzzle together in 5 seconds or less with your eyes closed

- your back and knees are numb to pain due to having to squat into childrens chairs, pick up toys and children, sweep floors, pack up sand pits, wipe runny noses, tie up shoes, and clean tables that are all only a foot off the ground

- you have to resist the urge to wipe the nose of the person sniffling next to you

- you no longer refer to animals by their name, but by the sound they make

A trip to Camelot

Well, twice in the span of one week now I've been able to cross something off of my list of things I wanted to do while in Australia.

I got a call last night from my friend Sarah, to ask if I wanted to go see the musical production of Camelot today at the Arts Centre. It turned out I didn't get a shift at work, so it worked out well because I was able to enjoy a free ticket to the theatre.

Sarah's friend is in the chorus, so she got 2 tickets to todays dress rehearsal for friends and family, before they had their first official show tonight. It wasn't the best musical I've seen, but I definitely enjoyed it none the less, and really loved the chance to get to go inside Melbourne's Art Centre, and see such a beautiful theatre.

After the show, we were waiting outside for Sarah's friend to come out, when I saw someone I recognized from TV (actually we saw an Australian comedian earlier, Tim Furgeson, when we were picking up our tickets, who Sarah pointed out to me...but it really didn't mean much to me lol). There's a new comedy show that started this year called "Thank God You're Here." (click here to see more about it.) Pretty much they get four Australian comedians each week to individually walk onto a scene that they know nothing about and do improv for the entire span of time that they're in the room. The title of the show comes from the first line that is said by one of the extras in each scene every time a new set plays out. And...(the lucky guy)...Matt actually gets to go to a filming of the show tomorrow night with a friend who got a few tickets, as it's starting up it's second season.

Anyways...the person I recognized outside the Arts Centre after the musical, was one of the girls who is on the show every week, who was obviously a friend of the lead actress who played Guinevere. So....I got Sarah to stand so that it looked like I was taking a picture of her...and I snapped a picture of the chick I recognized from tv.

The picture in the middle shows Sarah on the right, and then the comedian from Thank God you're here on Sarah's left (with arrows to two different pictures of her from the tv show) and the girl beside her is the lead actress from Camelot (with an arrow to the picture of her shown on the outside of the Arts Centre). Oh..and it turns out, the guy on the very left in the picture with Sarah, is the Australian comedian I saw earlier when we were picking up our tickets..though I wasn't meaning to take a picture of him lol.

So overall...another new experience for me here in Melbourne. Now...just need to see those marching penguins...

Blessings!

A night at the footy

This past weekend I FINALLY got to a game of AFL (Australian Football League). It's nearing the end of the season, with the grand final rapidly approaching, but I finally managed to get out to a game of footy to see what all the fuss is about.

It was definitely an entertaining game, and has the intensity from both the fans in the stands and the players themselves, that we see in hockey over in North America. The game had just literally started, when 4 players were already fighting (caught that bit on film lol). But it is a fast paced game, which makes the time pass quickly and provides for a very interesting sport to watch. It took me about a third of the game to get all the rules down pat, and to try and understand the logic behind a lot of the rules...but once I had it all worked out, I throughly enjoyed myself.

The game was the Essendon Bombers verses the Hawthorn Hawks. I went to the game with Matt (who is an Essendon fan), and Nathan (who is a Hawthorn fan), so that in itself also provided some entertainment. Mostly because Nathan is a typical AFL fan and sported his colours for the game, as well as contributed his thoughts (both positive and negative), verbally as the game played out.

So, I guess if nothing else, the AFL is just another passtime that is a typical characteristic of a true Aussie (including making sure there are lots of good looking blokes with stylish hair on the field)...and a very entertaining way to spend a couple of hours.

Click here to see a few photos from the footy...and click here to see a couple of short videos I took as well. (The first one shows the two teams coming out onto the field. Note the classic theme songs of both teams - as well as Nath singing along to the Hawks song. And on the second one, note the boys fighting at the beginning.)

Blessings!

Lights, Camera, Action!

A couple weeks ago I not only had my first experience at seeing a movie filmed first hand...I also was able to get involved in some of the tech work.

It's only about a 3 minute film, and it was all shot in one night, but none the less....I still enjoyed the experience.

A friend here in Melboure writes and produces short christian films, and wrote this particular one for a christian film festival. He asked Matt to play one of the two characters, so I got to go along to see the movie magic. Once there though, I was able to offer my services and be both the slate and sound operator...oh yes...I was multi-tasking.

Turned out to be a pretty decent film, and to watch it, just click here. If you've seen V for Vendetta, then you'll understand where the idea of the dictator came from. Don't forget to watch the credits at the end for my name! I think it's probably the first time I've ever had my name in film credits...

Blessings!

Classic Music Video

Came across this music video and I thought it was absolutely fantastic...so I thought I'd share it. Best use of a treadmill I've ever seen!

Click here...

Nothing too much is new with me here. Just been working shifts at different day care centres, hanging out at some of the youth and kids events at Reservoir, and enjoying the sunshine that is coming out more and more these days.

Blessings!

I was bit by an Aussie spider, and lived to talk about it...

Since Wednesday, about mid day, I've been having the most bizarre bursts of stabbing pain in my upper right leg, just below my hip area. When it first started, I thought that I had something sharp that had gotten stuck in my pants and was stabbing me every time I pulled up my pants, or they rubbed that area of my leg, and got really frustrated that I couldn't figure it out that whole day while I was at work. That night, I had a shower and changed into my pjs....and to my dismay, I still was getting the sharp bursts of pain. I was awake half the night worried about what was going on with me, mostly because I couldn't think of an explanation as to what the cause of it was.

All day Thursday and Friday the pain continued. It was suggested to me to go to a doctor to check it out, or to talk to a chemist at a pharmacy...but I wasn't even sure what I could tell them as there was no marks on my leg, and I wasn't exactly sure how to describe the pain that I had be experiencing.

Today, however...a mark has shown up. I decided to take another look at my leg, as I've been checking it at least 5 times a day since the random pain started..and sure enough, bite marks. To be more specific...spider bite marks.

Wednesday morning at work (which is a day care that I spent the week at, working with toddlers), it was my turn to serve the kids their morning tea. So we were all sitting at the story corner on the floor, where I fed the kids their fruit. After a few moments, one of the 3 year olds pointed and shouted that he saw a spider. I turned to see that he was right..and that a HUGE spider was dangling just inches from my face. I remained calm as I didn't want to freak out the 10 kids I had sitting in front of me, and slowly started to move away. But before I could get myself into position to get a shoe or another object of destruction...beautiful courageous 2 year old Stefan, gave a huge swat to the spider. And literally...it disappeared. It was just gone. I looked everywhere, with the help of a few of the curious children (I even thought I felt it in my hair a couple times)...but to no avail. It was just gone.

After the kids finished eating, I told the lady who I worked with that a huge spider had shown up, and I described what it looked like to her. She said, "oh don't worry, that's only a daddy long-legs. There's only one spider in Melbourne we have to worry about, and that's not it." I thought that she was ridiculous, as I know what we in Canada call a daddy long-legs, and they're about half the size of the spider I had the privledge of meeting.

But..to conclude this wonderful tale...I have since put all the pieces together and have realized that either by just landing on me and getting a good bite in through my pants, or by *shudder* actually getting into my pants and giving my leg a taste...I was bitten by the spider that came to dine with us at morning tea. I even googled some Australia spider images, and sure enough, I was bitten by a daddy long-legs....just not the kind of daddy long-legs that us Canadians would have pictured in our minds.

Here's a bit of a visual for you...(Di this is for you lol)

And seriously, no exaggeration...this image is pretty much the exact size of the spider I met. You can check out some fun facts by clicking here.

So I guess if nothing else from this lovely experience...I can say I've been bitten by an Australian spider, and survived. Good times.

Adventures with mum

Well, I've had a full on past two weeks, as I had my mum visiting from Toronto for 12 days. We definitely saw a lot, both in Melbourne and in other parts of Australia. It was a fantastic visit, and good to see a family member, and just have another Canadian here to run amuck with.

I've got the pictures posted from our adventures, as well as a few videos. Click here to see the pictures, and click here to see the videos.

Oh, job update. For those who I haven't told, I got a job with a Child Care agency, who sends their employees to different child care facilities and day care centers to do casual work when a centre is under staffed. I've gotten a tax file number now, to work in Australia, and under my visa, I can work for up to 3 months for them. So, my availability started yesterday, and I actually got called in straight away to work with toddlers at a day care facility. (I have never wiped so many runny noses in my life! I'd take my punk kids with attitude swearing at me over a group of 9 toddlers any day! Di, I give you huge props for doing this work!) It's not guaranteed how much work I'll get, but it pays well, so even a few shifts every now and then helps out heaps!

Blessings!

From the bottom of a canyon...

Here's another passage from the book I'm currently reading, "Through Painted Deserts." It's one of my favourite things I've read so far from this book, so I thought I'd share. It's what the author, Donald Miller, wrote in his journal to himself, from the bottom of the grand canyon, while on his trip across the U.S with his friend Paul.

"I figure you might forget what kind of person you were back when you were on this trip. I want you to know you weren't a bad guy. But you fell into thinking a lot of money and a lot of stuff and a lot of social collateral would get you somewhere. And I don't know who you are now, and what you've done with your life, but try to remember, God doesn't expect you to accumulate a lot of stuff. You were really happy here in the canyon, you know, I promise it's true. I guess I just want you to remember there was a time when you did a pretty difficult hike, and you decided that you didn't need to carry a bunch of stuff on your back because the climb was too hard. And I don't know who is around you, whether you met a woman or have some kids, but I really hope you have shown them this stuff, that life is going to be okay, that you just have to enjoy it. If you can't buy a nice car for your family or anything, don't worry about it. Just go into your kids' room and kiss them on the forehead, okay, 'cause there is all kinds of beauty and it doesn't have anything to do with having some stuff. Also, don't kick yourself around. If you can't climb out of a canyon real quick, just do it slow. And also just remember that this guy Paul is one of the most incredible people in your life. There was a time when he showed you a lot of grace. I don't know what else to say. You're a pretty good person, you know. God made a whole beautiful earth and decided to put you in it, to experience all of this beauty. You can't do that watching television all the time. Nothing else. I have to go climb out of a hole. Maybe you do too. All the best. Feel like I'm talking to myself, for crying out loud."

HAPPY CANADA DAY...

...FROM DOWN UNDER!

My Three Amigos

I've been thinking the past couple of days about my family, and what they mean to me. I guess being on the other side of the world for 6 months is an easy way to learn to appreciate some things you might take for granted when you're used to having them in your every day life. I'm also just really really excited that my mum is going to be here in 15 days, and can't wait to see her!

I thought though, that I might write a blog dedicated my three beautiful siblings. We've always said that no matter what might happen, or where we might go, we'll always be close and there for each other...and I've definitely felt that since I've been in Australia! So I thought I'd take a minute to attempt some words of appreciation for my brother and sisters...

Donna. My sister with the gift of gab. My basement roomy. You have always had this amazing ability to just know me, without me having to explain anything. You could always finish my sentence of "I have a crush on..." before I had to tell you who. And you always knew if I was in a crummy mood or not having a very good day, just by what music I put on when I went into my room. I always know that if I need something, even if it's not a very big "need"...you'll go above and beyond to try and make it happen. I think you're easily the most selfless out of the four of us...always willing to do a favour, or willing to try to help with finding something, or you'd pick up something random on your way home from work...just to make someone smile. I think I've gotten to talk to you the least while I've been away...especially now that you're off being a hippee and tree planting out west...which has definitely been hard since for the last several years I've had your listening ear and encouraging words at my disposal whenever I needed it, and even when I didn't. I just want you to know that I am so proud of you. Your life plans change nearly on a monthly basis...but you always accomplish what you set out to do. You're full on in your nursing schooling now, which I know you're going to make an amazing career out of. And every day that you're out west planting those trees, I just grow more and more astonished at your incredible strength and might...and get so excited to see how God is going to use that to just change the world.

Dionne. My sister with the gift of sweetness, and a personality that everyone falls in love with. The "mum" out of the four of us...the one with the cooking, sewing, and scrapbooking abilities (and no I'm not teasing Di, I actually do appreciate these talents in you!) I think out of anyone I'm related to..we've had the best fights. I guess it's just that stubborn red-headed gene that we've both got. But no matter what silly argument we had...I always knew that it'd work out okay. You never held a grudge, or came back 2 hours later to continue on the same issue...but you know how to let things go, and only cling to what was important. We used to think that we could never share a room...due to the fact we are opposites on the "cleanliness" scale, amoung other reasons. BUT...we learned that was a lie, and I had an incredible week of being your roomy at Territorial in August last year. I was so glad to have that week of hanging out with you, and just journeying through a lot of "God" stuff that we both worked through that week. And it's always good times when we're both beyond tired....and have to help someone move...and attempt to carry a fish tank down 3 flights of stairs...and then in a car...only to have you kill the poor fish 2 days later. You're my sister with a beautiful smile, a kind heart, and a real love and patience for those people in our lives that others might label off as "annoying." I am so proud of you for perservering through to become a graduate in your ECE program. You've got so many incredible strengths and talents Di..don't ever forget that. I'm so proud of you for all that you've struggled through in various aspects over the past couple of years, and have just come out on top of. God's got such a beautiful plan for you!

Bradley. My little bro. My protector. I remember coming down the stairs the night I was going to my semi-formal in grade 11. I came down just in time to hear you, at 11 years old, telling my date that he better have me home at a decent hour, and treat me right....or else. You're the most like me out of the family (sorry if that's a bad thing!) I know Di, Donna and I had it out for you right from the get-go when we informed mum that if she had a boy, we were throwing him out the window. And I guess there were a lot of times it was a struggle...and honestly, it's beyond me how you survived your childhood with the three of us, and Jocelyn, terrorizing you (well I guess you terrorized us too...). But I've always appreciated our talks bud...and anytime we were hanging out. Whether that was when you were still in a crib and I was forced to share a room with you...or when you were still small enough for me to wrestle you to the ground despite all your attempts to fight back...or when you're hiding out somewhere and I seem to be the only one who is able to find you. But I think I appreciate our talks more then anything now that I'm away...getting to hear you play your newest learnt song on the guitar over the phone, or seeing ridiculous photos of you in a rasta hat, or hearing all about your night out at prom. Every day I'm so impressed with how smart you are, how mature you are, and how many "big questions" you take on as a challenge and try to work through. You have such a huge heart of gold Bradley...you're an absolutely genuine guy, who is so selfless and cares so much for everyone around you. You have such a better grasp on life then I did at 17, and I am so thankful for how amazing you have turned out.

Thank you to all three of you...for all the laughs, for the fights, for the memories, for always being there, for being my pillars of strength, for your listening ears, for knowing me better then anyone in this world and loving me anyways...and for just being you. God has blessed me abundantly...and I'm one very lucky oldest sister.

Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road...

"...life may be much easier than the rest of us believe it is, that most of the things we worry about are not worth worrying about, that a low bank account or unfashionable clothes won't give you cancer. And this is precisely how it sometimes feels to me, that a low bank account or low social status will give me cancer.

I tend to think life is about security, that when you have a full year's rent, you can rest. I worry about things too much, I worry about whether or not my ideas are right, I worry about whether or not people like me, I worry about whether or not I am going to get married, and then I worry about whether or not my girl will leave me if I do get married. Lately I found myself worrying about whether or not my car was fashionable, whether I sounded like an idiot when I spoke in public, whether or not my hair was going to fall out, and all of it, perhaps, because I bought into Houston, one thousand square miles of concrete and strip malls and megachurches and cineplexes, none of it real.

...None of the messages are true or have anything to do with the fact we are spinning around on a planet in a galaxy set somewhere in a cosmos that doesn't have any edges to it. There doesn't seem to be any science saying any of this stuff matters at all. But it feels like it matters, whatever it is; it feels like we are supposed to be panicking about things.

...it hit me that, amid the screaming noise, amid the messages that said buy this product and I will be made complete, I could hardly know the life that life was meant to be...Nobody stops to question whether they actually need the house and the car and the better job. And because of this there doesn't seem to be any peace; there isn't any serenity.

...We drive around in a trance, salivating for Starbucks while that great heaven sits above us, and that beautiful sunrise is happening in the desert, and all those mountains out West are collecting snow on the limbs of their pines, and all those leaves are changing colours out East. God, it is so beautiful, it is so quiet, it is so perfect. It makes you feel, perhaps for a second, that Paul get its and we don't - that if you live in a van and get up for sunrise and cook your own food on a fire and stop caring about whether your car breaks down or whether you have fashionable clothes or whether or not people do or do not like you, that you have broken through, that you have shut your ear to the bombardment of lies, that never, ever stop whispering in your ear. And maybe this is why he seems so different to me, because he has become a human who no longer believes the commercials are true, which, perhaps, is what a human was designed to be.

...This is what we were made for, to watch the beauty of light fill up earth's canvas, to make dirt come alive; like fairy dust, making trees and cacti and humans from the magic of its propulsion.

...could the thing you and I were supposed to feel, the thing you and I were supposed to be, cost nothing?

...maybe when a person doesn't buy the lies anymore, when a human stops long enough to realize the stuff people say to get us to part with our money often isn't true, we can finally see the sunrise, smell the wetness in a Gulf breeze, stand in awe at a downpour no less magnificent than a twenty-thousand-foot waterfall, then square miles wide, wonder at the physics of a duck paddling itself across the surface of a pond, enjoy the reflection of the sun on the face of the moon, and know, This is what I was made to do. This is who I was made to be, that life is being given to me as a gift, that light is a metaphor, and God is doing these things to dazzle us."

-Donald Miller

Congrats Di!

Congrats Shorty on finally getting to say you've graduated your program!! Now you can offically call yourself an Early Childhood Educator! Love you and miss you, and sorry I couldn't be there to see you!!

Click here for more pictures from Di's grad...

Through Painted Deserts

A couple days ago I picked up...

...after my dad had let me know that it had recently come out. I'm just a couple chapters into the book, as I'm trying to pace myself and not race through it as what usually happens when I read Donald Miller because he's just such a brilliant author. I had forgotten how much I loved this author's writing, as it's been ages since I read a previous book of his, "Searching for God knows what." In just reading through the introduction to this book, I immediately re-fell in love with Donald Miller's writing and remembered why he's a favourite of mine. Just wanted to write a short quote that I read last night...

"It's interesting how you sometimes have to leave home before you can ask difficult questions, how the questions never come up in the room you grew up in, in the town in which you were born. It's funny how you can't ask difficult questions in a familiar place, how you have to stand back a few feet and see things in a new way before you realize nothing that is happening to you is normal."

I think I'm especially enjoying this book because it has a lot to do with leaving home and the questions and discoveries that happen when you go exploring beyond where you've grown up in...and a lot of what I'm reading feels exactly like what I've been going through and continue to go through while I'm in Australia, but just written out in a much more articulate and interesting way in the words of the fabulous Donald Miller.

Definitely glad I picked it up...

Blessings!

D I S C O, that's the way we disco...

I just had the wonderful privledge of being a leader at Melbourne Central's kids camp this past weekend. My body is absolutely aching, and I'm feeling a bit under the weather...but it was most definitely good times none the less.

A highlight to the weekend was getting to be in charge of the campfire Sunday night. To everyone who reads this in Canada...try to wrap your head around this like I've had to...in Australia, there is no "camp culture." And when I said there's none..I mean nothing. Going to a kid's camp for 3 days is HUGE for both the kids and the leaders, and there are no such thing as campfire songs. Well, there's the traditional, have someone play a guitar and sing along with whatever songs they can play on guitar...but that's about it.

So..I decided to use the opportunity of being in charge of the campfire to introduce a few things into Australia. There was a wonderful rendition of "I've come to marry the princess" done by Matt who taught it to one of the other male leaders at the camp. As well....I introduced "There ain't no flies on us" and the "DISCO" song to the kids. It's great to know that kid's internationally are just the same...they get addicted to the DISCO song. I'm glad I wasn't on the bus ride from the camp to Moreland Corps...because apparently it's all they sang for the entire trip. They even got me to lead a singing of it at the concert Monday afternoon. So now that every camp leader in Canada officially hates that song...now Australia can be infected by it too (lol).

I got to meet and hang out with heaps of amazing and brilliant kids. From little 6 year old girls who you just wanted to put in your pocket because they were so cute, to the older kids of the camp who just provided a laugh in every conversation you had with them. It even felt like I was back at camp at home when I had to sleep without a pillow because I'd given it out to a camper, and I had a sweater smelling like pee because I let one of the younger boys wear it.

The weekend definitely made me realize how much I really am going to miss being at Camp Wabana this summer (well, summer in Canada). There's lots of things I guess I won't miss...but getting to hang out with kids 24/7 for 2 months straight...definitely something I'm going to miss hard core. I guess the idea of our camp culture is something I took for granted because I've just always done it, so it's something to be added to the list of things I've come to really appreciate because I'm so far away from home.

You can check out pictures from the weekend by clicking here.

Blessings!

P.S Mum is coming in 28 days!