-- Life as of late :o) --

Fifteen days no blogging! Well, it's been a busy but pretty good fifteen days, I must say. The highlight of this month was my Dad's 50th birthday on May 26th! Happy Birthday once again Dad! I love you so much, and now, fifty times more ;o)

I got the opportunity to go home to celebrate Dad's birthday because it was the long weekend. The Friday night, I got to see my high school buddies and we played an awesome game of Hard Target. Hard Target is essentially a huge game of hide-and-seek but very late at night and around the whole city! Very fun =) The most wonderful part was seeing everybody again. It seems to me like we're growing closer together the longer we spend apart. I really felt something different in the group dynamic this weekend. I'm so thankful for them, even though I barely get to see them.

On Saturday, Becki (my sister!) arrived around 3 pm, and she treated us to new songs on her guitar. I was so happy to see her! We haven't seen each other since Christmas. I still smile to myself when it hits me all over again that I actually have a sister!

Friends and neighbours started arriving for the party at around 5:30 pm. I think that Dad was tickled pink! I was tickled pink for him! He was surrounded by the most valuable things in life... his family and his friends. Becki made him this collection of family photos (hers and ours) for Dad. It is really beautiful... Dad was really touched. It contains moments from her childhood, her parents, her girls, and then Mom, Dad and I from our first and second meeting. I know that it'll always hang proudly on our wall. Leslie, Ron and the girls bought Dad an apron that says: "It took me 50 years to look (crossed out) cook this good!" It looks so cute on him! We got great pictures to commemerate the evening. I must say that it's truly one of the best evenings I've spent on a long weekend back home. The company certainly wasn't lacking in any way =)

Sunday was marked by Shrek 2 with Dad and Troy with Sarah, Mandas, Oli, and Mat. Both very good movies I felt. I got to bed pretty late, and then was gone on a bus before I knew it at 11:30 am on Monday morning. One of the best weekends, and certainly the fastest... I guess that's just life.

The only thing about having a weekend like that is it makes me want to go home... I think the difference is that I haven't really been home for 8 months, and there was no break in between co-op. But I still love it here! Just today, I was hanging with my fellow biochem kids, and a thought passed through my mind saying, "I'm so blessed to have such great friends!" Still, I long to go home, but might not have my wish for quite a long time. It all depends on where God wants me in the fall. A couple of jobs have come up in Jobmine working here with Alzheimer's. I've had a deep interest in Alzheimer's ever since I started going to Madonna Nursing Home, so it is a golden opportunity. And then, there's a job in Ottawa that looks really awesome too! I applied to both... I'm just glad that it's in God's hands. I'm having an interior struggle between "I want to be in Waterloo to serve on committee so bad!" and "I want to be home for once so bad!" I didn't really feel like that before the weekend, but I guess I just got enough to realize what I'm missing.

Besides that, school has been busy as usual. Assignments and labs seem to be my life... I barely have time to study, and round one of midterms is coming on Wednesday already! Mixed in with interviews, it's enough to get anybody a little apprehensive. I just pray for focus this weekend that I don't waste my time and study well. Then I'll be able to survive =P

On one last note, I met up with Victoria for lunch this week to start off our accountability sessions. I'm really excited about it! With how good friends we are already, I see it growing deeper and deeper as we spend more time together and share what's most important with each other.

And so, a big thank you to Jesus! For my family, for my sister, for my friends scattered among cities, and for lasting relationships that will endure all eternity.