I just realized I have three credit cards... that's scary!!!!

Hey guys, I haven't written in so long, it's crazy.

Things are going well, the last couple days have been so crazy, but so fun! It was my friend Zoe's birthday and we had a party for her at my friend's flat last Wednesday which was really fun.

Thursday was pretty cool, there was a meteor shower at 2am. So a bunch of people were hanging out and we walked halfway to the city. Then went to this hill that's near our house and a ton of people were there laying on blankets and we all watched the meteor shower (I actually only saw one, I think). We stayed there for a pretty long time then came home and made hot chocolate and hung out till 5 am. A bunch of people got together in the morning and made french toast breakfast with real canadian maple syrup [which everyone loves so maybe someone should send me some ;) ].

Then it was Alex's birthday, and we had a birthday weekend for her. So fun. We did this whole spa day for her (I love having a skill where I can do these sorta things for my friends). Everything was a surprise, I did her hair and her nails and Jasmine did her make-up. We also rounded up a bunch of dresses from some of the girls here so that she could have a bunch of options. There's nothing like wearing a new dress on your birthday. The theme was black white and pink, and she was so surprised and loved it. We went to Max Brenner's, which is this chocolate restaurant thing, it's friggen sweet. We were going to go to karaoke, but the karaoke place ended up being super lame so a bunch of people went out dancing, and me and one of my friend's didn't want to go so we ended up walking home. Which was also fun. The next day we had a big surprise party for her. Me and Jasmine made her the sweetest cake in the whole world, it took us like 3 hours. Again, everything was black, white and pink. She was so surprised and super happy!! That was Friday and Saturday. There were a bunch of English guys here that she knew from home so they hung out with us all week-end.

Sunday was church, as per usual, and it was amazing, as per usual, but it was exceptionally amazing this week. woohoo!

We had a long weekend because it was ANZAC day (which is like remembrance day) so we went to the beach all day on monday, and I was going to learn to surf, but conditions were too crazy and the lifeguard yelled at us! haha!

Tuesday I had class then went out with a friend and WROTE MY FIRST SONG!!!!!! Sarah is amazing, she really really helped so much. I asked her to teach me stuff about song writing and she was just like okay, let's write a song, so we DID!! woohoo!!! I love her!

Wednesday I spent the whole morning cleaning my flat for inspection and dancing like an idiot (for you Jen and Mady), which my roommate got on tape so that may surface on youtube sometime (cross your fingers it doesn't). Then we went to the beach and got super lost, which was hilarious. Finally, we made it and I got my first real surfing lesson! woohoo! I'm super sucky, but that's to be expected, and it was really cold. The water was warm but being wet just on the beach was horrible. But the beach was amazing, there was like no one there except us and it was so chill, the sun was out and the waves were so cool. I could have just sat there and watched the surfers all day, but I got to try it which was way better anyways. Luis was teaching me, it was so sweet, I really tried to get up but it was kinda scary. Thank the Lord for my rash guard shirt, I would have died of frost bite, and my whole stomach would have been scratched up. Next time I'll get up for sure (cross your fingers). Then my friend David came by and we stole other one of my friend's guitar's and worked on my song in the stairwell, which was pretty cool, good acoustics down there! He's the man!!!!!!!! =)

Anyways, that was a pretty crazy week. Super awesome, busy and tiring. I'm stoked on life, writing a song, meeting crazy Brits, surfing, meteor shower, staying up late, breakfast dates.... freaking damn. =)

Koza - Papa Goat

So, me and one of my friends were talking last night about our families, and I just thought I would put up some stuff.

So my Dad is the best! Just thought everyone should know. I am such a Daddy's girl it's unreal. He is so awesome and I miss him so much!!

I was thinking about that time we went tubing down the Elora Gorge!! We both had monday's off when I was working at Scizzorhands and we were just thinking about what we should do for the day and just decided to go, even though it was cold and really random. I loved it! Going out in our wet suits, looking hilarious but it was totally worth it. And then I almost drowned and my Dad just stood on the edge taking pictures and killing himself laughing.

And we always cook together!! Seriously I'm so grateful, I think I would be so useless in the kitchen if I hadn't started cooking with my Dad. He makes the craziest stuff, and everything has to be a masterpiece. It's always an experiment. From full on live lobsters to torching creme caramel, it's always a tasty adventure.

Our annual Stampeder's vs Argo's games. I love it so much. There's something about going to a football game with my Dad and sister's on a gorgeous fall afternoon. Getting booed from all the Argo fans as we walk around T-dot in full on Calgary cowboy (and girl) gear, watching our team win (as per usual) and making fun of those same Argo fans after the game. It's always a good time. Everyone always falls asleep on the way home and it's up to me to watch the road and talk my Dad to death in order to make sure he stays awake.

And when we drove my car home from Calgary. Such good times, finding a hotel at 3am and the only place we could get was a smokers room in this crappy little town, we both woke up with smokers cough. Flem's Hardware and listening to sweet home Alabama for hours on end (it was when it first came out by Kid Rock and they played it so often that sometimes every radio station had it going at once. It started out as a sweet song, got really annoying, then was almost funny because of how often it was played).

My Dad is hilarious (but don't tell him cause then he won't stop his 'dad' jokes). Always making everything fun. Like a shopping trip to Ikea def wouldn't be complete without taking 'bathroom' pictures in the showrooms.

I learn so much from my Dad. He's so helpful, always trying to get us to start our own businesses, and encouraging us in our various interests. And when I did show interest in starting my own business he called all his contacts about getting me appointments with his lawyer friends and people that know stuff that could help. Always supporting every decision, even when it took me across the country and eventually across the world. Calling me every morning when I first moved out, then again for months right before I moved back. Even if I didn't appreciate being woken up early, it was nice to know I was loved and missed.

Anyways, I love my whole fam jam my mom and my sister's are so awesome and I would die without them, but I'm such a Daddy's girl and I was just missing him so I thought I would write it on here and say thanks for everything! I really appreciate it and love and miss you!!

<3

You are my Everything, and I will Adore You

Romans 1:16-32
Vs 20 "For His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. so they are without excuse."

Paul is talking about how the people have become unrighteous even though God has showed Himself plainly to them. They are in the wrath of God, and Paul is saying that they don't have any excuse because God has shown Himself to them. This verse is saying that God's great power is shown clearly through creation. The earth screams of His goodness and power. From the gigantic stars that can fit inside a spoon, to atoms and parts of atoms that are unexplainable in behavior! How can we ignore it? How can we feign indifference? How can I go on in life ignoring the presence of God that is revealed around every corner? I am without excuse! Wow, I can't go through life and pretend I didn't know. There is no possible way you can't acknowledge the splendor of God's greatness. The earth is buzzing with it. It's like the wind, where does it come from? Where is it going? Where does it stop? It's so incredible, so strong and powerful and at the same time it is soft and refreshing. Now that I have seen God's love and power I am responsible! I can't go on the way I did before, I can't continue to ignore His voice. I can't walk away unchanged. I'm so aware of my weakness, my inability to see a bigger picture. I don't know what my life holds, what's around the corner. I'm tired of making my own decisions and watching them fail, watching them lead me nowhere, watching them hurt others and myself. I can't do this. I can't do this on my own! I have a responsibility to respond to what God is doing around me. There is no other option. Now that I have seen, felt, heard, I am responsible! Faith without action is dead. It's nothing. I can't even function without going to God about everything. Things run much smoother when God is involved. On my own, I am a mess. I want my whole heart, soul, mind, spirit to be focused on God alone. This is so hard. There are so many distractions. Things I want to hold onto. I am struggling hardcore. I am insanely overwhelmed, continually overwhelmed. My heart can't take much more of this, I am literally at a loss of breath constantly. Luckily for me, God doesn't ask me to do it all, to carry it all. All I have to do is hand it over, daily. His strength is so so much more than mine. His capacity is never ending. I feel like a cup that is overflowing and God is a huge bowl around me catching the rest. I need help. Thank-you Jesus for everything. Love, joy, peace, grace, forgiveness. I am in awe. I love you!

You are God of all Else I'm Letting Go.

Genesis 3:8-10

Adam and Eve heard God toward them and there were afraid to they hid. God asked "where are you?" God doesn't need to ask, He already knows, maybe he asks so that we'll understand where we are, that we're not walking beside Him anymore. Adam tells God that they were afraid because they were naked so they hid. How many times are we afraid because we are naked and vulnerable? When we sin, suddenly we have something to hide. When we realize things aren't how they seem, that we are walking vulnerable, we hide. Maybe it's time to step out of our hiding, expose ourselves to God and be vulnerable before Him! Later is says that God clothes them. He will take care of us. We can't just go through life hiding behind trees, jumping into bushes, we need to cast fear aside and be completely vulnerable before God. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. Give God the chance to clothe us, to mend us, to take care and support us. This first requires stepping out and surrendering ourselves to God!
Thank-you Jesus for you love and support. I want to stand before you vulnerable and fully surrendered. Help me make the right choices, I can't make these decisions on my own. I'm completely alone and susceptible, right now. I can't rely on anyone else but you. I'm desperate Jesus. Speak to me, use me. All I want is more of you.

You are Good when there's Nothing Good in me.

Romans 2:1-16
Vs 4 "Don't you seen how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you?"
Vs 8 "But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves."
Vs 15-16 "They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their conscience and thoughts wither accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim - that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life."

In the context of the whole passage, Paul is talking about judging others, and how we will be judged. He's also talking about the law and good and evil. These four verses stuck out to me the most because I never want to forget God's love and patience with me. It's everything! It's amazing, I don't deserve any of it. Every time I try to do things on my own He just waits patiently for me to come back to Him. There is an abundance of grace that is so overwhelming, second chances that are never-ending. His love is so much more than anything I can get from the things of the world, from other people. Anything I have to offer outside of the love of Christ is dirt. It's nothing. God's love is so pure and holy. I want to be filled with God's love so anything I give out to my friends and family is not out of my strength, but out of God's. Jesus, remind me daily about your love and grace. I want to be consumed by it. I never want to take what Jesus did for granted. Vs 8 really got me. I am constantly battling this in my heart. I want to be in God's perfect will for my life. The things He has for me are so much more than the things I can conjure up for myself. His ways are so much more effective. Thank-you Jesus for you grace and I give my heart fully to you again today. I can't live for myself anymore. Thank-you again for the nagging on my consicence. I don't want to have a secret life. I wanna be fully transparent, so that every angle of my life shows who you are. Thank-you for your strength and compassion.