Test Results Are In

For those of you who remembered about my science fair project last week, the results are in! And unfortunately there were not real connections between colour of text and ability to remember the words. I still believe there must be some correlation between colour and memory, but our brief little test was not sufficient for proving any real relationship. Blue was remembered slightly more than the other colours (red, green and black) but not enough to really make any definite statements.

Regardless of the project results, it was still kind of fun to pretend like we were back in elementary school doing projects that end up on cardboard backboards! The prof seemed to really like our idea which was bonus:).

And for those of you who live in wamer climates....let me just say that tonite it is colder than -50 CELSIUS with the windchill. THAT'S COLD! But at least it is sunny.

Where Should I GO?

This past while, I've been thinking a lot about my future in missions, and it seems that I have been quite a few interactions with people from the organization that I went with last year (SIM).  It's just interesting to be thinking about this again even though I am not even half-way through my education degree.  I have been trying to learn how to be content with where I am, what I am doing rather than always wishing for something different or continually planning for the future.  But while I still am wanting to be content, my heart keeps thinking about where I could go and what I could be involved in.  While I have been thinking about where to go, my family has been starting to ask me about what I want to do when I am finished school next spring (unfortunately I do have to start thinking about this even though it's so far away).  My dad is pushing for me to stay around and get some experience before going abroad again.  I just don't know where I should be going.  For now I'm not going anywhere in the near future.  I will continue to ponder and pray about this.  Whether I should be going anywhere, and if so, where specifically and doing what?  And what organization?  The options are really endless.  

IF you think of it, you can pray about this with me.  Thanks to any and all who read this little blog.

Here's a picture from the summer.  For those of us living in a winter climate, it's a little pick me up!

Make it a great day!

Random Thoughts

So It's been about a week since my last post, and for those who actually still follow this little blog I thought I'd update you on what's happened this week in my life (in no particular order).

1. I celebrated my actual birthday with family and a very tasty meal cooked by my mom (apricot glaze chicken, stuffed mushrooms, mandrin cashew salad and cream puffs for my cake! YUMMY)
2. I taught my weekly piano lessons
3. Went over to my friend's place for small group (we're studying the book of Philippians)
4. Played a rousing game of wizard
5. Actually started working on one of my 2 major projects for the term.
6. Exercised 3 times (this is an accomplishment for me:)
7. Went out for coffee with my language partner (a really sweet woman from South Korea)
8. Baked a batch of tasty carrot/raisin/cinnamon muffins
9. Only watched 1 episode of CSI
10. Started testing people for my science fair project (testing the affects of colour of text on people's memory...I'll report on the details later.)

Looking over that list, my life seems fairly boring and laid back. It's definitely more relaxed than previous years when I was in school full time. Of course life gets busy in little spurts, but for the most part I am enjoying life one day at a time and taking pleasure in whatever comes my way. It's good!

Take care of yourselves.

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

This past weekend was probably one of my more fun birthday party memories. I turn 22 on Tuesday, and so planned to celebrate with my friends over the weekend. One of my good friends came out from Winnipeg to spend the weekend and then a couple other girls from school and church joined in on the fun. We watched my first university level volleyball game (of my life!) and then headed over to my place for some fun times! To some it may seem rather childish, but for 3 teachers, it was sort of like a dream come true. We spent a good chunk of the evening decorating gingerbread houses. It was like a dream because we weren't supervising or directing the actions of young children who are more interested in licking the icing than building with it. We could let our imaginations go crazy and creativity reign. It didn't take long for the simple idea of a gingerbread house to grow into an opportunity to talk about the 4 seasons...each of us took a different season and then my sister, added a zoo (just for the fun of it!) Unless you really know me, this probably sounds like a crazy idea for a birthday party but we had a blast. I've posted some pics from the night to show off our creations. Mine was the one with the bear swimming pool!

You can't really see it, but the table was covered in little baggies full of candies. There definitely was some tasting going on while we built!

This was our finished product (minus the zoo). We had spring, summer, autumn and winter!

The proud builders show off their work. It's so great to have friends whil like to have fun and aren't afraid to reach into their inner childhood:)

Anticipating a great 22nd year,

Vanessa

First Day Back

This is kinda how I feel tonite:)

Hi friends! Well today marked the first day of my second semester of teacher training! Hooray, only 34 more class days! Just joking. I don't mind being back into classes. I'm pretty tired today (first day in weeks that I've been up at 7:00am)! My classes don't seem too hard. Lots of work, but nothing that I can't do (it'll just take a bunch of time). Sadly, some of the good friends I was making during first term only have 2 of my 4 classes with me (they're english, social studies kinds of people and I stay with the science/math people:). I think the stress will raise during the end of my term as the big projects come due, but with good time management it'll all work out...for those of you who aren't in school anymore you can stop laughing now:)-

In more exciting news, this weekend one of my best friends, Julia, is coming to Brandon to celebrate my birthday with me. We are planning to go watch some volleyball (her cousin plays for the university team) and then chill out at my place while decorating some gingerbread houses! I know it's a bit late, but I didn't get a chance to do any decorating this Christmas time so we're extending the fun into January. Having someone come out sort of makes up for the sadness in my heart that other special people in my life can't be in town for my birthday. Here comes year 22 of my life!!! Wow, I'm getting old:)

I guess I should start something tonite for school, so that's it for tonite.

A New Year

Here it is, 2008 has come upon us with all the wonder and awe of the unknown. I find new things exciting and scary at the same time. This year holds fewer unknowns in comparison to last year, yet God seems to always have something waiting for me:)

As I turn over the calendar to January, I can't help but start thinking about the summer months coming up. I love winter, but after my journey to Ethiopia last year, I have a keen desire to be hot again! Hence this picture, it was taken before one of our banquets during girls camp last summer at pioneer camp. We had a beach theme. I've agreed to direct girls camps in July again. It's just as daunting as last summer, but this time there are a few more months to plan and work things out. I am excited about returning to the island and seeing how God will be at work this summer in the lives of campers and staff alike.

I start classes again on Monday. I'm sort of excited because I like routine and it means that I will be that much closer to accomplishing my goal of becoming a certified teacher! Of course there's the saddness of knowing I can't laze around reading books, sleeping and socializing all the time once I leave holiday time. Oh the tough life I live:)-

I've decided I actually need to do something today, so off I go to do housely things like take out the trash to the lane bin, mop the floor etc....exciting things!

make it a great day!