Its been a while

Okay, here's the update, only cuz everyone at school is blogging I have remembered that I have one too... this is for you Noah.... cuz you've been complaining for SO long... just kidding, you know I luv ya!

Lets see... where to begin...

.... Well, for those of you who are tuning in for the first time my name is Sarah and I am really bad at blogging. I don't have a computer, and I am really bad at finishing what I start. I am a supervisor at a Tim Hortons and a first year student at Kawartha Lakes Bible College.

As of today there are 69 days left until my best friends wedding. I get to be her maid of honor, and am (thankfully) paired up with her fiances brother as he is one of the best men, and I am one of the maids of honor. There are two. I am really thankful for this because my ex of almost 4 years dating is the other best man. That could be a bit awkward. I think that is the only part of the wedding I am not looking forward to. On another note my friends Jacquelyn and Chris are now getting married, Sept. 1st I think.

It has been a really frustrating week, and I want to thank all of those who have stood by me and helped keep me sane, it was really scary and I am very greatful to have such compassionate, caring and wonderful friends. Although things aren't quite back to normal, and I am still having minor freak outs and crying randomly, I don't feel nearly as bad as I was earlier. I love you SO much (you know who you are) for the shoulders and the time, I don't know how I would have made it through without your support....okay.. the gushy moment is over.

School is really hard, I really didn't know what to expect when I first came here, and after the first week I didn't thinkI could make it this far, but I have recieved a lot of encouragement, and grace from my peers and teachers (thanks again guys). I only have 7 weeks left, I think, and its getting to be a crunch time, but I find I am losing the ambition to finish, hopefully it wont last.

If anyone has caught on that I am actaully posting again don't get your hopes up, it will be a weekly thing b/c I don't have a computer on Rez.

Here's a short prayer list if you find the time:
Tasha H. - for strength to battle dicouragement and depression, (i love
you tasha, and will see you soon!)
Heather - Gods healing hand to lift you up and restore you
Noah - Guidence and encouragement
Trevor - Strength for family support and wisdom, to continue your
witness and help your brothers
Rachel (my sister) - That your heart will be softened to His word, know
that He loves you no matter what you have done (we
all love you)
Gloria & Ed (my parents) & Arthur (my brother) - that they will know
God and be recpetive of His truth
Riverside (my church) - To continue to deliver the truth to His people, and to develop good Christian leaders
KLBC (my school) - for funding, health and guidence to staff and sudents

Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.
Job 14: 5
Lets not forget that we only have a little time, don't waste it or spend it lightly, always remember to call on Him for strength and encouragement, we are designed with limits, but He will help us and lift us up when we aren't capable to continue on.

The good new and the greater news

Alright, so here it is. I took a midnight shift Saturday night and went on no sleep until Monday at like 2am. Here is the filler....

At about 11:45 my friend Tyler shows up to see me into my birthday with company, so we just chatted. A little while later this guy comes in and asks if we have a recycling box...then pulls two beer cans out of his pants pockets (uncrushed..ya). After a short second of blank staring I told him that 1. we unfortunately didn't have a recycling and 2. I couldn't accept them even if we did because they were alcoholic in nature. He smiled and said that's cool, I understand. Wished us both a good night and left. So, at 12:5am he and his buddy (who had also passed through that night) came in and sang me happy birthday...I didn't even mention to them that it was...I still blame Tyler for this...but it really made my night. At 7am as I am ready to leave Gen G. comes out front with a choc. chip muffin and a glow pop smashed into the centre and wished me a happy birthday infront of the whole store and customers. (I love you Gen!)

So I go home, shower, change and return to Tim Hortons to go to church.

This Sunday was especially significant, not just because of the birthday thing, but because it is the 2nd birthday since I've been born that has been on a Sunday, (since I was born on a Sunday) and my first birthday as a Christian. Also, we only have communion once a month (first Sunday of the month) Which also happened to be yesterday. Steve lead us in communion yesterday and he did it in a really unique way. He had Tasha hand out a little piece of paper to everyone and asked us to write down our greatest strength and out greatest weakness. Then he told us how God uses our greatest weaknesses to be our greatest strengths...then, when we were ready to give up the weaknesses to go to the front throw them down before him (God) and take the wine and bread (well, grape juice actually) and return to our seats...that was powerful.

Oh, and Kayla gave me the cutest little teddy bear, she is such a sweet girl.

After church Noah, Steve and I went out for coffee and a good chat.

Last night Rose and I went out for Margaritias and saw Land of the Dead...it was terrifying! The graphics and special effects and so much more...although I could say some more but, I wouldn't want to ruin anything for anyone so, so see it for the grossness, not content.

My parents bought me a digital camera, it's really fun to play with. But I am so scared of breaking it. Well, have a great day and take care of yourself.

One day left

Happy Canada Day everyone!

I know it was yesterday but I have the opportunity to use the computer today.

One day until I'm 22, oh yay, another birthday. My best friend Rose & I are going to go see Land of the Dead in the evening, I hope we can go early enough and maybe catch War of the Worlds, if it's out yet.
I think I am going to take my mom out for dinner on Wednesday, after all tommorow is a big day for her as well.

Well, not too much going on here, so have a great day and take care!

Taking the Plunge

So, yesterday was the big day, I was baptized! The final event in a week long journey of continually being soaked, but let's start at the beginning.

Last Sunday after church I had my final Dragon Boat practice. Noah and I went around to finish picking up the last of our picnic lunch for after the practice. We had set everything up on the grass and began to enjoy the afternoon. Carol & I went over to the boat to get started, just as we were all settled into the boat and ready to cast off the rain came down in sheets, literally out of nowhere. It must have poured 3 or four times before the practice was over.

After the practice Noah, Kim & I went and dried off and returned for the Church in the City, Celebration 2005 in Del Crary Park. It began to rain before the event began but people prayed for it to stop raining, and as it began...It did. When it was over it began to rain again, but not at all through the entire event.

That night I hung out with Noah until about 8pm. Walking home past Tim Hortons Rose, Deanna H. And Ian were their waiting for me. So a large group of us ended up going to Beavermead to go swimming.

On Monday Noah, Joe, Carol, Stacy, Elfrieda and I went to a food handling course. It was such a cool thing to do. We were being paid from 9am-4pm to sit and learn about washing our hands food temperatures. It was also an expensive course, but the store was paying for it as well. I ended up with a 46 out of fifty (yay!) and then went downtown afterwards with Joe & Noah where we bought Josh & Tonyas wedding present for Saturday June 25th. On my walk home after leaving Noah I bumped into Chris S. Where we sat and chatted it up on a random cement stoop. We sat their until it really began to rain and I had to leave.

Over the course of the week I have managed to be outside during EVERY rain storm, sunshower, thunderstorm possible. *sigh* However, I am glad that I didn't get sick.

Sat. June 18th was the Dragon Boat Festival. Our team name ended up being The Perky Paddlers...lol...But hey, it could have been worse...Heard any good Timmy Ho jokes lately? I get to hear them all the time. Our team ended up placing 3rd, which was cool, considering their are about 4 teams in our division...But on the bright side although it was a fairly cool day I did get soaked twice. One more day left and I KNOW I have to get soaked again.

Sunday June 19th 2005, Fathersday, baptism, just a little nervous. So for Fathersday I bought my daddy 4 of the A&W large mugs...I ordered them over the phone...If I had of known how freaking BIG they were I would have went with the mediums. They hold about a liter of POP! Who needs that much pop in one sitting?

Sunday came, and Pastor Norm had me read a little testimony in front of our church, along with four other people who were being baptised. My friend Jacqueline came to visit me for support, even though she's catholic, and can be forgiven for that (just kidding Jax). We went over to the neighbors house, since they let us use their pool, and I was fourth in line...That water was a bit chilly, but somehow more refreshing than normal...

I am just incredibly thankful for everyone that has helped me to get to where I am today knowing Christ, so, thank you, and I hope you can continue to help me and others grow. Thank you Noah for EVERYTHING, thank you Jerry for smacking the sense into him when he needed it most, thank you Pastor Norm & Riverside for their witness and strength and teachings, Thank You God for wanting me to be a part of your life...

...So, ya..Stay tuned for later postings...Now that my sister is home from school and is addicted to the computer I don't know when I will get an opportunity to use it again so until next time, take care!

Midnights suck!

Monday night, all is well, I am doing a 4-11pm shift with the assistant manager. Around 6:30pm she jokingly asks me if I want to do a 11pm-7am shift that night at the Sobeys Tim Hortons. I laugh and say no, I was going to go swimming with some friends after work. I said sarcastically to her, "the only way I would go their would be if you let me finish my shift here so I don't lose any time." About an hour later one of my boss's (K.) arrive and starts the conversation with "so , which one of my little volunteers is going to Sobeys tonight?" Crap. Long story short I miss swimming, finish my shift then head up to Sobeys. About 1am my head starts hurting, by 2 am it's throbbing, by 3am I feel like vomiting, by 4am I can't really stand up, by five 5am I have to leave (you don't really want to know why I did, but I am sure you can figure it out). So, the girl I am working with really hates me now for leaving her, my boss (K.) is really angry with me and so is my manager. *but not Cheryl* The really funny thing is that my other boss (M.) told me a few months ago I was no longer able to do double shifts, lol, when he finds out what happened he is going to be super pissy with (K.). I really hate being put in positions that usually result in people being mad at me...or each other...grrrr.

On the brighter side tomorrow is my little sisters graduation in Belleville!! YAY!! I need to be up at 6am so we can be out the door and on the road by 7am, but that's okay. It is also another friend of mines graduation as well, we started off together in first year in MST, but she left in the end of our first semester. But she is happy where she is now and that's what matters.

Well, I hope you all have a great week and chat with you later.

The Truth, The Whole Truth, and NOTHING but The Truth, So Help Me...

I worked the 11-7 shift again last night...funny story in that one...but I'll come back to that...One of my first customer through drive thru last night really set the tone for what I was thinking about while working. While ordering they were obnoxious, loud, some were a little rude even...once they arrived at the window (the driver I recognized instantly and became very apprehensive...but that's a different rant) he instantly apologized for his "drunk" passengers, but I am sure he had a few too.

While he was handing me the money he said "Well..even Jesus had a few at the last supper...(uh-oh, to people who really know me this wasn't such a smart idea on his part...okay ...lets tell him WHERE he went to WRONG with this) to while very quickly responded to with a sarcastic laugh and said "well, I'm sure HE didn't get stupid drunk like some people" (ooops, did I just upset your girlfriend in the passenger seat?), when suddenly out of no where some chick in the passenger seat practically yells at me "How do you know...where you there?! Mind you she didn't say it so clearly, it kinda took me a second to but the sentence together...hmm...this is going to be fun, I wish Noah was here for this conversation...so I told her something to the tune of, obviously not, but I had read about him in the Bible, to which she gave me one of those, GAWSH! I didn't expect you to actually say something and shut me up (for a couple of seconds anyways). So driver buddy jokingly smile at me and kinda laughs a little under his breath and continues to say "well, if he had of it sure would have helped with what came next"...um...can anyone else point out a couple things wrong with that...so I said to him that was the point, he suffered for us, all the painful crap that we deserve he took on...but he cuts me off and says that when he is better capable to discuss theology he would come back...ya, you may want to sober up a bit and read up on it first too...grrrrrrr...so, that brings me to the tone of WHY do people persist to think this way about Jesus...hmmm, hm hm hm...it makes me SO angry some times. But the truth is, IT'S TOTALLY OUR FAULT! By our I don't mean the entire planet in one, but our to all the hypocrites out there. How many times has someone seen an ambassador of Christ smashed of their a**, or behaving in ways that are completely inappropriate! Don't we set the example now? Aren't we supposed to live as Christ lived? I can't even count the number of times I have heard people say "Christianity almost sound appealing but I don't want to support an organization that steals money from its people, lies to its congregation and allows for BAD touching... ( mentally & physically). It BLOWS MY MIND! Our witness to the rest of the world is so important...I wouldn't want anyone to look at my lifestyle and be turned away thinking if that's how Christ lived I want no part, or, this person is totally full of it! She says one thing, but look at what she is doing!

.............hmmm...........

What is truth...defined it's simply " the state of being true something which is true accuracy sincerity, integrity agreement with fact"...well, that's an alright definition, but if I had absolutely NO idea what that word already meant, it really wouldn't have helped me to much, other than the accuracy, that's pretty good. The little dictionary in my Bible says "that which conforms to the facts". So, what is the fact here? The fact is people can't see the truth about God through the people who want to share his word and love if they live contrary to that of how Jesus said to.

I am praying for patience

Okay,
I realize its been a while since I last posted...but it has been a crazy couple of weeks. So, the two midnight shifts I had done on the 12th & 13th were insane...the first night Darren & I had practically NOTHING finished by 5am when Melanie arrived, but with her motherish patience she helped me finish most (if not all) the cleaning and stocking for the store front, Darren however, was supposed to do the bake which didn't even get started until 4am...oops...it apprently took the bakers until 11am to catch up...sorry Geoff & Helma. Friday night went more smoothly just about eberything was done until about the dreaded 5am hour approached us again (this time I was working with Matt) when one of the 6am starts called in sick (AHH!! Saturday morning is crazy busy!) and then Matt fell super behind in his bake once he started the donuts & timbits (surprisingly everything else he baked was quick & easy), but at least he didn't knock over a full tray of finished Choc. Chip muffins like Darren @ 6:45am...lol..sorry Darren that was funny. Matt did one better, around 6am one of the canisters that hold a flavour of donut filling fell off the shelf and off Matts wrist, that he has broken SIX times already...*sigh*...so in a scramble to apply first aid to him AND finish his bake AND help our already short staffed store front keep up with the wave of grumpy morning customers I decided...NEVER AGAIN! I really don't want to EVER do another midnight shift again. The most frustrating thing about the whole thing wasn't the 500 timbit order for 6:30am, or that the manager I called for help couldn't make it until 7am with the supervisor, or even that I had to pull one of the store front staff off the counter to help with with the bake...it was trying to make Matt sit still and keep his wrist flat on a table FOR MORE THAN 30 seconds!! Every time I went to check on him he was either out front of the store having a smoke, attempting to move the mop bucket to empty it, do dishs or something ELSE! AHHH! All because we didn't have any tensor bandages in our first aid kit...which by the way (funny enough) was just refilled because all of our management staff had just completed their first aid training. Really makes you want to laugh...NOT!

I had the Saturday and Sunday off thankfully. Saturday I met Noah downtown for about noonish and we walked around and talked and stuff, always fun. Sunday we went to church and then to Mark Stephens for Lunch/Dinner and bible study. Steve came with us and Kim arrived later in the evening.

I worked Monday morning 7-4pm, Tues. 6:30an-3, then Wed. & Thurs. 3-11pm...so, I was pretty wiped out by this point considering I was up by 8am both Wed. & Thurs.On Wed. morning I did my volunteer for the Early Years drop in program until about 1pm, it was fun, then on Thurs, morning I met my assistant manager and coworker Deanna for brunch at Eastside Marios, that was fun. But I still had to work Fri. 11-7am...AHH! So, I went and spoke with my manager and told her I couldn't possibly do another midnight shift and that was that. Saturday morning we went to the Metro Zoo then the Mandarin Buffet for dinner. Sunday we went to church and after we all went to the Riverside Zoo to have a picnic hosted by Ellens parents (Marks wife). It was SO much fun. Noah & Steve thought it would be fun to do crazy stunts downt the super slide thing...and Steve ened up with slide burns on his front hip bones...ouch. After all of this everyone went home and Noah & I hung out with intentions to go to the evening service at Westmount...but to our dismay it wasn't open, so we hung out and did a bible study on the spiritual gifts. Cool stuff.

Monday morning I went to work for 5am, I was supposed to be done at 1:30pm, but I stayed until 2:30pm instead, at least we recieved time and a half. I came home and slept from 6pm until 5am today...so there you go, my life up to date.

I hope to be volunteering fot the schools cool program that they are running out of Prince of Whales or keith Weightman from July 11th-Aug. 18th during normal school hours. This should be fun.

Finally, I would like to ask everyone who can to pray for my friend Steve. He has been going though a lot of personal anguish over the last couple of months (most of it self inflicted) but not all of it. I hope you will pray for him to find peace with Jesus and finally be able to give up all the things that are holding him back. Thank you.

With love and hugs I hope you have a wonderful day! Unitl later, take care.