25 before 26.

I'll be honest. I love having a birthday at the beginning of July.

First of all, birthdays in the summer are awesome. You have the sun, the beach, the cottage, it's great. But also, it means that January is my "half-way" point each year.

Shortly before I turned 25, I decided to make a list of things I wanted to do while I was 25. I started it, but then took a bit of a hiatus. This week I re-visited my list, added a few things, and turned it into a "25 before 26" list. So here you have it. I have just under 6 months to cross a few more things off this list :)

1) Move out on my own.
2) Take a trip on an airplane. 
3) Roadtrip!!
4) Leave the country (even for a short time). 
5) Make a budget - and stick to it.
6) Exercise more and eat healthier. 
7) Get a tattoo.
8) Get better at doing my daily devotions. 
9) Take a course. 
10) Get my very own pet.
11) Run a half-marathon.
12) GIVE more.
13) Make a snow fort.
14) Find the BEST cup of coffee in Toronto.
15) Go to a concert. 
16) Go Paddle-boarding.
17) Get a new job.
18) Go snowmobiling.
19) Go to the drive-in movies.
20) Go skating.
21) Go fishing.
22) Sleep outside.
23) Watch a live sports event (preferably professional). 
24) Have a picnic.
25) Be a better friend, sister, aunt and daughter (be intentional).

September, Again.

Most people dread September. This just seems to be a fact. But I'll be honest; I love September. Hot coffee, warm sweaters, cool run in the country, and OH the riding boot fashion combos!! What's not to love? To me, September has also always been sort of a "Fresh start". Kids return to school, I get a fresh set of giggling 3 year olds, and the trees prepare to shed their old tired leaves. This September, this seems to be particularly true for me. If you know me well, then you know that this was an especially difficult summer for me. Sure, I had some amazing moments, but there was also a LOT of pain.

So this September, I'm looking forward in anticipation for the things and people God is bringing into my life. I'm leaning on him, I'm trusting, and I'm holding on in hope.

52 Days.

I can not believe that in 52 days I will be finished my program and into the "real world". Sometimes it feels like this 8 month program will never end, but mostly it just feels like this school year has flow by.

This week I'm on reading break. I'll admit, it's slightly less excitement packed than previous breaks spent roadtripping to Florida, riding an Elephant through the jungles of Thailand, or exploring Korean Cities and islands. However, it is nice to relax, stay in my PJ's til 2pm, read, catch up with old friends, hang out with my family, and spend time with a special guy. (Not to mention having time to do time-wasting things I never have time to do such as give my blog a make-over). I also have a bit of time to prepare for my next placement!

I'm SUPER excited to be spending my next 6 weeks in a Montessori preschool classroom. I think it will be very different than my last placement, and I'm sure the time will just fly by.

And after my 52 days are over, new adventures begin. Moving home, Finding a job, and getting used to life NOT being a student. It'll be an adventure, that's for sure.

And so I'll leave you with one of my current musical addictions. Fun - Some Nights.

Sunday Song - People Help the People - Birdy

This girl is amazing. And only 15. WHAT!? Enjoy :)

God knows what is hiding in that weak and drunken heart
I guess you kissed the girls and made them cry
those Hardfaced Queens of misadventure
God knows what is hiding in those weak and sunken eyes
a Fiery throng of muted angels
Giving love and getting nothing back

People help the people
And if your homesick, give me your hand and i'll hold it
People help the people
And nothing will drag you down
Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain
i'd be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
That turned, all those good hearts away

God knows what is hiding, in that world of little consequence
Behind the tears, inside the lies
A thousand slowly dying sunsets
God knows what is hiding in those weak and drunken hearts
I guess the loneliness came knocking
No on needs to be alone, oh save me

People help the people
And if your homesick, give me your hand and i'll hold it
People help the people
Nothing will drag you down
Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain
I'd be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
That turned, all those good hearts away

People help the people
And if your homesick, give me your hand and I'll hold it
People help the people
Nothing will drag you down
Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain
I'd be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
That turned, all those good hearts away

A new year, new adventures.

I've been meaning to update my blog for a while, but, alas, life gets busy!

It is now halfway through January. We're well into the first month of 2012, and I couldn't be more excited for what this year has to offer. At the start of every new year, I can't help but wonder where life will take me, and I honestly never cease to be amazed and surprised.

2011 was truly one of the craziest years of my life so far. At the start of it I had no idea I would end up changing my profession, applying to school, lose my job in Korea, go home empty-handed, enjoy life in Port Perry for the summer, take a crazy road trip out east with friends, move to Oakville, and have some incredible new people enter my life. All those twists and turns I went through in 2011 brought me right to where I am right now, at the start of a new year. It's pretty cool to look back and see just what God was doing through everything. And I can't help but be extremely thankful for his hand in my life.



I honestly don't know what to expect from this new year. And that's a little scary. That's also very exciting. I will yet again be graduating, yet again be moving on to something new, and yet again be trusting that God will bring me to where I need to be at this time in my life. It might not be overseas this time, but it will definitely be something just as exciting. I'm excited to see best friends get married, family grow closer, loved ones realize their dreams, and relationships grow.

2012 is going to be a good year.

Sunday Song - Christmas Lights - Coldplay

Okay...I know it's Thursday and not Sunday..but I've been busy :)
Enjoy this Coldplay tune!

Christmas night, another fight
Tears, we cried a flood
Got all kinds of poison in
Of poison in my blood

I took my feet to Oxford Street
Trying to right a wrong
Just walk away, those windows say
But I can't believe she's gone

When you're still waiting for the snow to fall
Doesn't really feel like Christmas at all

Up above, candles on air flicker
Oh, they flicker and they float
And I'm up here holdin' on
To all those chandeliers of hope

Like some drunken Elvis singin'
I go singin' out of tune
Sayin' how I always loved you, darlin'
And I always will

Oh, when you're still waiting for the snow to fall
It doesn't really feel like Christmas at all
Still waiting for the snow to fall
It doesn't really feel like Christmas at all

Those Christmas lights light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin' on

Those Christmas lights light up the street
Maybe they'll bring her back to me
And then all my troubles will be gone
Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin' on

Oh, Christmas lights, light up the street
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Those Christmas lights keep shinin' on

Sunday Song - O Come O Come Emmanuel - Sufjan Stevens

I love Christmas. And I'll admit, that's only really happened in the past few years. This year I think I'm more excited then ever. I think this is probably due to the fact that I was thousands of miles away last Christmas. This Christmas I'll be home with my family. My WHOLE family.

SO, since I'm in such a Christmasy mood, I decided to share one of my favorite carols, sung by one of my favorite artists. Enjoy :) And, Rejoice!

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.