So this is my bathroom buddy Sabrina! We've had lots of fun getting to know each other over the past week.

Here's my bedding and stuff around it.

My closet

Our beautiful bathroom. We decided that we would not live in a boring bathroom since bathrooms should always be fun and exciting - if you've been to my bathroom at my house, you'll understand!!

This is the sign outside my room. I'm sorry it's backwards. I took the pictures with my mac so they go backwards for whatever reason!

Our RA made us all record cover door tags, and it's so fun to see it!

This week has been rather stressful and with a few tears, but it's starting to get better. Being back in school is rather overwhelming and I have a whole lot of homework, but yeah. I switched one of my courses to a different one, and I already feel a lot better after that decision.

I also am done all of my training at OSF which is great. I just have to find time to study for my server test, and then I will be a server! And you should come visit me and I'll serve you and you can give me a lovely tip since I'm a poor student!!

This week I decided that my room wasn't me enough, so I brought more pictures plus some of my African stuff, which has already made it more homey!

Some lovely pictures of friends. The only issue is that I haven't printed pictures since I got home, so I'll have to get some recent pictures, since all of mine are 1-3 years old!

I also had an opportunity in church this weekend to share about my trip to Liberia and some of the stuff that went on, so that was a cool experience. I was surprisingly not nervous, and rather enjoyed it! It made me miss Africa though!

Have a great day!

Come visit me sometime!

Moving On With Life

Camp is over.
I have had an amazing last few weeks.
I have a job.
I'm moving out on Sunday.
School starts soon after.

Camp. This summer was a great experience and I'm glad I went. There were a lot of issues that I had to deal with, and I probably worked harder this summer than any before, but I had a good time, and stretched myself to do new things. I had to rely on God in new ways as I dealt with new struggles, and a few of my campers became Christians -- which is awesome!

The past two-ish weeks since camp have been great. I have spent time almost every single day with friends, and it's been a great way to finally see people and catch up after being gone. It's amazing to me how some friendships just pick up exactly the same, which is just lovely!

My friend Kat and I hung out a few weeks back and went to see Mama Mia which is a great movie. I feel like it's HSM for adults, so just perfect for me! The theater had life-size posters of the HSM cast, so we had some fun taking pictures with them and laughing a lot!

I have a job! On a whim last week I sent in my resume to Old Spaghetti Factory and ended up getting hired. I had my first bussing shift last night and it was good. I was pretty tired afterwards but I'm glad I'll be getting income. I have to take a servers test next week to be a server, so that is a litle daunting, since it's rather long. I don't have an extensive knowledge of alcohol, so I have a lot of learning to do! My Mom and I are going down to the States tonight though until tomorrow, so the border crossing will be study time. My Mom will be as ready as I will be for this test! So if you're ever in Abby and hungry, you should come to OSF. Just email me and I'll let you know when my shifts are as soon as I know them! I do know forsure that if you come for lunch on Monday - I'll be bussing!

Sunday comes moving day! I'm excited to be out on my own again, but it's different than the ship because it's school! I'm glad that we live so close to CBC so that I can come home whenever I want to and pick up things I've forgotten!

School starts soon after. Registration and meet-people things are Sunday to Tuesday, and then classes start on Wednesday, so that will be a whole new adventure.

One other thing that is super exciting is YC Abbotsford! Youth Church is a group of people who are around the ages 14-25 who have started a church movement in BC. South Abbotsford is joining in and we'll be having a youth-young adult service every Sunday in our sanctuary starting September 21st, so if you're in those ages, or interested in seeing what will be going on, stop in some Sunday at 7 pm!

Summer '08

I came home today for the start of my staff break and I realized I hadn't blogged in about a month. Though I think only three people read it nowadays since I'm home, I still want to keep it slightly updated, so here goes for the past few weeks.

Summer Camp 2008! I'm working at Stillwood which is a blast and hard and good and bad and every emotion every single day and yeah. Through every moment where I want to run away God is faithfully reminding me that He's using me. I had an incredible experience where at the lake I had a talk with a seemingly tough kid about God and he was asking me tons of questions, and he became a Christian that evening, which is so cool and just, yeah, God is so good! I was so blessed to be a part of eternal change in a life!




Last week was a really great week. My cabin was pretty fun - kinda crazy - and my co-counselor was just amazing. We didn't really know each other too well before getting in cabin together, but it was cool. I graded with her sisters and I'm pretty good friends with them, so it was cool to be with their 'little' sister! And I can't even begin to explain how much I laughed all week. I actually don't think I have ever laughed so much in a week. It was great, and my heart needed a week where I could just have fun.





I try for the most part to put pictures up with purpose and I put this next one up because I dressed up as a 'healer' - a Super Healer - on Super Hero night, and I had ferns in my hair, on my arm, and green eye shadow all over my face! Very fun!



Probably the major issue with last week was that on Monday I had a decent concussion which has slowed me down a lot, and hindered me quite a bit. I've tried hard to just truck on even when my head hurts like crazy crazy, and it's getting to the point now where I only have headaches maybe half of the day rather than all day.
We were playing a game-ish thing at camp where you run through a bus over and and over, and being the amazing hardcore counselor that I am - I joined my campers until I managed to run full speed into the frame of the door on the bus (the emergency exit --- definitely didn't duck low enough). I remember it yet I don't so that moment is a bit fuzzy. I got out of the bus and then just kind of stood in place for a few minutes. People were asking me how I was but I just didn't answer. Luckily one of my good friends just walked over and guided me to the nurses station where I stayed for a few hours. I layed down and then was woken every once in a while to make sure I wasn't, I don't' know - dead? I'm not sure. I don't quite know why you have to stay awake, but whatever, I didn't sleep much.
So last week was hard in that way for sure, but it's alright. The hardest was just trying to keep a smile on when my head hurt more than it ever has before, and trying not to be frustrated that I wasn't getting better. I try really hard to get into things 100% at camp and it was rather humbling to have to say no to a lot of things and to take it slow and let myself rest, since at camp I try to just go-go-go.
Again though, having my counselor with me was great. She's a lifeguard, and just really aware, so she's make sure I wasn't pushing myself too hard, and she would stop me from doing things that weren't wise!



Then this week was just a short week - peewee camp - and went from Sunday until Tuesday evening and it was fun. My girls were insane and just yeah - young and wild! We had four counselors for eight kids, so basically two of us just had fun all day long and the other two (who are counselor's in training in for their first week ever!!) got great experience! We were always around and available and quick to step in, but we let them just learn lots and just step up to the situations that arose!!!

Last weekend was great. Maria and I hung out for a few hours on Saturday and made grilled cheese and just chatted. It took us a few tries to get the grilled cheese right, but eventually it worked, and it was great. I'm always blessed after hanging out with Maria, so it was fun to see her again. It's hard to be home in Canada and yet never see people, so the two of us make a real effort to see one another as often as possible, which is great!




Please continue to pray for me this summer. It's a weird summer, and I constantly question my plan of being at camp and of going to CBC in fall, yet I know that God's called me to this place so I just keep trusting. Every time I open my Bible I get drawn to Isaiah 43. Check it out!

Picnic in the park

Today is the greatest day of the year in BC so far for me!!! My friend Maria and I went to Mill Lake and had a picnic and quite enjoyed ourselves!
We had so many people coming up to us telling us that we were rather cool for having a picnic basket. The basket was a gift from Kirst for grad last year and it got it's first try today! Quite successful!


So this is my car ...
Drew Samuel Civ
Drew because I love that name, Samuel because I love that name but like it better as a middle name, and Civ because my lovely car is a civic!

Maria and I have learned over the past year through many phone calls and emails that we are similar in so many ways and it's a friendship that is such a blessing. Every conversation with this girl leaves me encouraged and blessed!

Cucumber sandwiches!

Our bread wasn't quite defrosted yet, so the sun helped!

These verses are a promise from God to me in this time. In everything, I trust in Him because nothing else matters at all.

Psalm 13

How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

I love you Dad!

~~ I wrote this first bit in a comment to a friend today. As I wrote it, I thought I would share it wish you as well, because it was a thought I often forget. ~~

~~

I think the quality that I value first after His grace, for which I am endlessly grateful, is His faithfulness. As much as I choose to question Him, I can say that through everything - He is faithful.

~~

Over the past few weeks my heart has been torn figuring out who I am in Christ and who I am in Canada and who I am going to be in the future.
Today in church pastor Dan made a comment similar to this about how there is a jewish saying that goes something like, 'There are two things in life that you can never worry about. The things that can be fixed and those that cannot. Those that can be fixed should be quickly and should not be thought of further. And those that cannot be fixed cannot be fixes so we should not worry.' I've said the quote wrong, but it struck me funny. There are many things in my life that I worry about, and they can be put almost entirely into those two categories. I won't write more about this because I'm not trying to write a deep post, but it's just a thought to share.

~~

So I must say that one intention of this post was to show a picture of my car, however my camera batteries are failing me today and so that is not an option. So I'm trying with my cell phone, so I don't know how lovely these pictures will be!

~~

Now to the important part. Dear Dad!

~~

Dear Dad,
Now you might have wondered why I didn't make you a card today. The reason is simple - I didn't think about it. I considered buying you a card but I knew that none would suffice. I considered writing you a song, but since you already have my CD you can listen to what I've written already. So here is a letter for you.
I love you.
Sincerely with everything in me I can say - You are my hero.
Thank you so very much for being the Dad that you've always been. Today is called 'Father's Day' but that is too formal. You're not a Father. I've never called you that except in jest. You are my Dad. My Daddy! My soccer coach and my cheerleader! I've never doubted you love. You have sincerely told me every time you see me that you love me. You have told me that you love how I always end phone conversations with 'I love you Dad'. Sometimes I forget, but don't think that I don't still think it.
Dad, you have been so much. Parkinson's is a disease that I hate. I do. Sometimes I get so angry with the disease and the fact that it is taking over your life. Yet you are so strong. You still do so much. Too much often. So much that my heart breaks whenever I see you because it just hurts everything in me to have a Dad who won't be able to run with my children.
However, you have made up for it. You still are willing to pick me up at two in the morning if my car breaks down and you still make sure that I get enough sleep. You tell me to clean my room even though I don't live at home anymore. But more than that, you tell me that you love me.
You tell me through your actions.
Kirsten and I talked a while ago about how we have never had to look far to see a beautiful and strong and amazing marriage. I have never doubted your love for Mom. You have been faithful to her and made sure that she knew that you love her. Thank you for opening her door in the pouring rain and for telling her that you love her before you hang up the phone.
I get scared sometimes Dad. I worry about your health and I worry about so much but you have taught me that I don't need to.
Every time I ask you why you aren't angry with God for giving you Parkinson's, you calmly explain yet again that you are thankful for what you do have and that you have so much and that you - I can't even explain it Dad. You are so great!
Thank you so much for encouraging my music. You were the first person to get one of my CD's here in Canada! (Well, other than the Canadians aboard the ship but that doesn't matter!)
You wanted to hear it. You make sure others hear it and you encourage me so much!
I can't even begin to thank you for everything. You are a man of God. Even now I just turned around and saw your Bible open on your desk. You seek God and find Him. You always pray for me and I feel those prayers. Sometimes you just stop me and tell me you're going to pray for me before I go out. Sometimes I get bothered because I'll be late or whatever, but I am truly thankful for the fact that you care so much about me. You care so much that I have all that I need.
You got me the car! It's so beautiful and you always make sure that it's driving well. Thanks!
While I might not be very good at showing you that I love you, I hope that you know one hundred percent that I love you.
How else would I have my soccer trophy's on my dresser. They're on display so that I never forget my best coach! (Sorry Greg)
Dad, you inspire me. Your faith to God, your family, your work, and everything you do makes me want to work hard. Whenever I make a mistake, I hope you won't find out because I want your love and I never want you to be mad at me.
Thank you so very much for loving me. I know my arrival into this world wasn't exactly expected at my arrival time, but I made you stay young! You never stopped me from doing what I needed to do to figure out me. Maybe some day I'll get a paying job Dad! Thanks for supporting me as I went to Africa. I am so thankful that you came. It was so great to see you!
You are the one person in this world who deserves the title of world's best Dad! You are so great Dad and I love you sooooooooo very much!
Love you forever then longer,
Nadine Karina
P.S. These pictures aren't in the right order, but I know you won't care Dad! Love you.

The future is awaiting me

It's one of those days when that title scares me.
Right now I'm at Kirsten's place having a last-time-in-this-place-sleepover-ever kind of night. We've been cleaning amongst other things. It's weird to think that I'll never be here again. I'm glad I got to come back again though!
Tomorrow is moving day so that should be fun. The 'social event of the season' - I'm sure!
So, future ...
It's so scary sometimes. I'm so reminded lately that God is in control and that He loves me and has a great plan for me.
So ... I've applied to go to CBC so yeah. That's the plan! I think it's rather hilarious since I would have never said I would ever ever go there. I was a MEI student for so long and had no desire to stay in Abbotsford, go to Bible school, and especially, go to CBC. But God's got different plans, so there I shall go! I actually am kind of excited. It should be good! I'm just going to take first year Biblical Studies and then see from there. I can switch programs year two potentially so yeah. I'm not really quite sure what I want to do with my life, and I figure putting another year fully in God's hands is all that I can do.
Another thing ... I can't get over how many songs have been pouring out of my lately. I counted and I wrote eleven songs in the month of May! Three in my bus ride to Vancouver today! Only about 5 (I think) have music to them, but some of them have been actually not bad! Haha. If you want to hear one of them, it's a video on Facebook, so yeah, check it out! Also, if you haven't heard my music that I recorded then you can go on Facebook, add the application iLike and then look up my name! There you shall find several of my songs. I hope you'll enjoy them!
Oh ... I bought the car! It's a '96 Honda Civic Hatchback, and it's black with a blue stripe (horrible I know, but what can I do!!!!??!)
Um, other than that, who knows? I hope more than my typical three people read this! Comment!!! I'd love to know who's reading!
I'll post pictures sometime when I'm home!
love love love

Living life the Canadian way...

So, it's been almost a month since I arrived home. I'm working up at camp, so I don't have my own computer for blog posting, so these will probably be coming not too often. I'll decide in fall whether or not to keep posting.
Home?
It's funny cause when I think of the word home, I just don't know where it is.
Yet, seriously, it's so fun to see friends. The other day I talked to a best friend for 3 hours on the phone, and last night I sat in a friends car in a parking lot talking for over an hour. This is me. The girl who loves to talk with her friends and be there, and sometimes lean on them (okay, more often than not!)
I'm still figuring out who I am here. God's cool when I take the time to go to Him. Gotta work on that more.
Anyways, this is like an email today. :)
I got a cell phone. It's kinda fun! I feel important when I hear it ring!
I'm buying my first car soon. I drove a car last year and it was my 'first' car but I didn't pay for it, and this one I shall, so I'm excited! I'll post a picture once it's official!
Okay, so seriously, I love the radio! I love listening to new music.
I played my piano today. I hadn't really played any of my songs since I left. It's hard to play here. On the ship I had the International Lounge, and I was usually alone, or with friends (miss you Lindsay!!) but now it's like, in our living room so my parents are around, and it's just different.
Not wrong, but not the same. That's the statement for everything. Life's not wrong right now. Everything is the way it 'should' be, but it's not the same. Either that, or it is the same, and I wish it could be different.
I feel like my only tie to Liberia is through blogs. I pour through my friends blogs reading all the things they've done, and missing those moments madly.
So, to whoever is reading, I love you!
Always and forever,
Nadine
P.S. (to keep it conventional <-- right word? --> to this 'email' format for blog, prayer is always needed. I'm still working out what my plan is for fall. I really am not quite sure. Just exploring options, and questioning each one, and then making a new decision twenty minutes later! As well, just figuring out like, who am I now, who am I in Christ, and who will I fight for is what I'm working on. Which friends am I going to hang out with and pursue for continued friendship? Whatever. Pray always!
P.P.S. I've got nothing...