Update

~It is my birthday on Monday, I will be 22! Shoot...I am old, I am going to die soon

~It's official...I have my first cold of the new school year (even though I am not at school...but anyways)

~I will be going to Ottawa soon to visit my girls...(November something) which is good...I need some distracting.

~I almost died today, a rock flew up and hit our windshield and my dad swerved and we ended up in a ditch...we are both alright, just kinda scared.

~Darren DeGraff has been promoted!!!! ACK! No longer in charge of the Youth, he is now the Director of Leadership...I think he is stalking me!!!

~So my hair is now black...with orangy/red/brown/blond streaks through it...not sure if I like it yet...we will have to wait and see.

~Today the children drove me insane!!!! Honestly....I lost my voice yelling at them...and I wanted to quit on the spot but Gill told me that I would regret it in the morning...so I stayed...and she was right

~Someone bought Krispy Kreme Doughnouts for the whole staff today...it was nice, I like doughnought...yum

~I cleaned my room yesterday...good thing to...I found the socks that I had lost a month ago under my bed...scary thought

~I have discovered that I have a great love for Great Big Sea music...I love them!

~I have choir practice in about an hour and I cannot sing...why am I going again? I have no idea

~Is this getting pointless and rambling?

~Yes, I think it is...

~Maybe I should end this now...good idea...I like it

Favourite Song for Today....

What I really meant to say:
Cyndi Thompson

It took me by surprise
When I saw you standing there
Close enough to touch
Breathing the same air
You asked me how I'd been
I guess thats when I smiled and said just fine
Oh, but baby I was dying

What I really meant to say
Is I'm dying here inside
And I miss you more each day
There's not a night I haven t cried
And baby here's the truth
I'm still in love with you, yeah
That's what I really meant to say

And as you walked away
The echo of my words
Cut just like a knife
Cut so deep it hurt
I held back the tears
Held on to my pride and watched you go
I wonder if you ll ever know

What I really meant to say
Is I'm dying here inside
And I miss you more each day
There's not a night I haven't cried
And baby here's the truth
I'm still in love with you

What I really meant to say
Is I'm really not that strong
No matter how I try
I'm still holding on
And here's the honest truth
I'm still in love with you, yeah

That's what I really meant to say

That's what I really meant to say

That's what I really meant to say

The New Me

So apparently I have taken a liking to "upgrading" my life...what does this mean you might be asking yourself...well my friends it means that now I am a "professional" in the (gulp) "REAL WORLD!" So, I went out and bought myself a new tv, a new dvd player and this fancy laptop to spend more time online...this can't be good.

But I also wanted to add in this new QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

What have you always wanted to do but have never done?

Answer...then I will

Daily Devotional

Let It Go!!!
"Get rid of your sins" Job 11:14 (NLT)

God's way is to tell it like it is. He doesn't put a bandage over an infected wound. He insists that it be lanced, drained, cleansed and given time to heal. "But I had a child out of wedlock. I've been to prision. I've had an abortion. I've failed badly." Do not get discouraged; God is not moved by our virtues; He's touched by "the feeling of our infirmities." (Hebrews 4:15) Listen: "For since He Himself has now been through sufferings and temptation, He knows what it's like...and He is wonderfully able to help us."(Heb 2:18 TLB) "Can someone with my past touch God and their future be forever changed?" YES! "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; the sinners plunged beneath the flood, lose all their guilty stains."
The rewards of repentance are awesome. Job writes "Prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid od your sins and leave all iniquities behind you. Then your face will brighten in innocence. You will be strong and free of fear. You will forget your misery. It will all be gone like water under a bridge...you will have courage because you will have hope. You will be protected and will rest in safety. You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help" (Job 11-13-19 NLT) Go ahead, step into the river of God's mercy and let it flow over you, setting you free. Whether it's the guilt of something you've done or the pain for something that was done to you---LET IT GO!

Soul food reading: 1 Sam 1-4, Jn 12:12-19, Ps 78: 56-64, Pr 20:25

How weird am I?

Okay, so a past post got me thinking about how strange and quirky I really am...I thought that I would share some of my quirkiness with the world...

~I am a daycare teacher yet I cannot stand the thought of my own children (when I have them) being stuck into the system...how weird

~I want to go to Alabama because of a movie and my love of accents

~This also applies for many other states too...the Carolinas, Texas...just to name a few

~I mismatch my socks...all the time...even when I go to church...sometimes I colour co-ordinate my mismatched socks...like if I am wearing black pants and a red shirt, I wear a black sock and a red sock...not only this, but I mismatch my earing and my ponytails, and my mittens in the winter and sometimes even my shoes (depending on the circumstances)

~I am very stubborn...pretty sure I do not actually want to lead at Fall Retreat this month, the only reason I wanted it so badly was because Kathy told me "no"

~I'm a shop-a-holic...pretty sure I just went out and bought a TV because it was cute...not to mention all the other nonsense things I have boughten over the years...a tennis skirt, a yoga mat, a fuzzy pink rug...come on, what is with that?

That is all that I can think of right now...what else makes me quirky?

Questions of the Week

Okay, I have 2 questions, that I want answered before I give you my answers:

1. What song (and it can be any) would best describe "you" in your opinion of course

2. And what song would you give to me?

Places I want to go...Part 2

More places:

~Alabama
~Alaska
~Arizona (grand canyon)
~California (L.A, San Fran)
~Colorado (skiing...sure I don't know how, but I could learn)
~Miami Florida
~Hawaii
~Chicago, Illinois
~Lousiana (just not anytime soon...my thoughts and prayers are there)
~Boston, Mass
~Las Vegas, Nevada
~New York, New York
~The Carolina's
~Texas
~Washington DC
~BC
~Alberta
~Manitoba
~Sask.
~Newfoundland
~Cape Breton
~England
~Scotland
~Wales

Places I want to go...

Here is a list of all the places I want to go in the future:

~Mexico
~Panama
~Costa Rica
~Anywhere and everywhere in the Caribbean
~Bolivia
~Brazil
~France
~Ireland
~Italy
~Monaco
~Portugal
~Spain
~Austria
~Czech
~Denmark
~Germany
~Sweden
~Greece
~Israel (once the bombing stops)
~China
~Japan
~Russia
~Rwanda
~Australia
~Fiji
~New Zealand

Places I have been...

Here is a list of places that I have been (including states and provinces)

~Ohio
~New York
~Tennessee
~Michigan
~Kentucky
~Georgia
~Florida
~Vermont
~New Hampshire
~Maine
~Quebec
~New Bunswick
~Nova Scotia
~PEI
~El Salvador

NEXT EDITION:
Places I would like to go

Hello Kelly Lyrics!

These are the lyrics to my favourite Hello Kelly lyrics! Look them up, listen to them, they are fabulous!



Paperbag Princess
by Hello Kelly

Hey Elizabeth, don't raise the drawbridge darling.
I've been waiting a long time for someone like you.
For someone like you.
You hide behind your insecurities.
The paper bag around your waist
And the mud upon your face puts them above you.
But I still love you.

Cause I'm standing in my tin foil armour,
My dollar store broad sword is by your side.
And did Ronald break your heart when he called you ugly?
And can I hold you arm?

Hey Elizabeth I'm just a peasant school boy.
But I've been waiting a long time to hold your hand,
Or something like that.
I'm not a soldier and I'm not a king,
But I can play a mean guitar
And you can talk to me about almost anything,
Without worrying.

Cause I'm standing in my tin foil armour,
My dollar store broad sword is by your side.
And did Roland break your heart when he called you ugly?
And can I hold you arm?

Hey Elizabeth don't think that I am ok
Cause I've got problems just like you, but I am fine.
Cause you are mine.
If we put our faith into God above,
Then He will protect us both, and He'll keep us strong
As long as we have love.
And we've got love.

Favourite Arcade
by Hello Kelly

could you look into my eyes
and tell me that you enjoyed
everytime we played your game
you always brought me down the same old way
when i come up to this place
its your favourite arcade
i'm drowning in your skin
but i just want out of it oh (2x)

i never bargained for this pain im feeling now
this fever pierces every part of me somehow
my tongue is twisted
and i can't look down no matter how hard i try
well i walked away
from my favourite charade
i thought i loved you
yesterday you were just in my head
i guess you thought that i would cave
hey girl, i guess your still the same
how do you like me now
now that i'm on my way
it's always the same game you play oh
i never bargained for this pain im feeling now
this fever pierces every part of me somehow
my tongue is twisted
and i can't look down no matter how hard i try
i know that it don't matter
how hard i try
i know that it don't matter
how hard i try
how can i hate you when you buy me flowers?
how can i trust you when they always die?
i never bargained for this pain im feeling now
this fever pierces every part of me somehow
my tongue is twisted
and i can't look down no matter how hard i try
i know that it don't matter
how hard i try
i know that it don't matter
how hard i try

Eulogy
Hello Kelly

The problem with your smile
Is that its gone
And all your laughter
Will have to wait till after
And the problem with your clothes
Is that their off
They're folded nicely
And packed up tightly
Cuz your gone

Time is burning
I am learning
Just cuz your gone
Doesn't mean your gone
Cuz your name was written down
I never thought that I'd see you bleed
But your skin is soo cold now
I wish that you'd
Stop pretending to sleep
And our tree house
And our Saturdays are gone
Now that this is over
I guess its my turn to be strong
Well I want this I need this I'm helpless
Without this
And time is burning
I am learning
Just cuz your gone
Doesn't mean your gone
Cuz your name was written down
And though I walk these halls alone
Just cuz your gone
Doesn't mean your gone
Cuz your name was written down
(As I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
And if I die before I wake
I pray the lord my soul to take)
And the problem with your eyes
Is that they still shine
Time is burning
I am learning
Just cuz your gone
Doesn't mean your gone
Cuz your name was written down
And though I walk these halls alone
Its just when your gone
I feel your gone
Cuz your name was written down

New Favourite Band

Hello Kelly is the rock you've always longed for.It's the rock that takes other music and adds what you always thought it needed.

It's the grittiest alternative and the hardest rock and the catchiest pop - with melodies that drill into your mind and synth that drills into your throat. It's the kind of honest story-telling that makes your friends wonder what you're smiling about. It's the kind of show that makes you rock out like nobody's business and has enough class to make your grandmother join the mosh pit.

Hello Kelly is five young men who, after doing time in their own musical endeavours, decided to unite and give birth to something truly original and innovative. Frontman/songwriter Francois Goudreault Jr. says this about their goal: "I remember when rock and roll was something that people talked about. I remember my parents filling my ears with Van Halen, The Scorpions, and Triumph - when conversations around the barbeque were about an artist's latest guitar effect, not an artist's latest clothing line. I want people to remember Hello Kelly like that."

So why Kelly? Kelly is the poster girl for every typical teenage anthem. Front-row at a punk show, or hard-rocking in the hallway walking, Kelly is listening to rock and roll and appreciating every moment of it. She has got her tastes and her opinions, but she has also got her insecurities. The world pushes Kelly around; putting words in her mouth and thoughts in her head. There is a band who wants Kelly to wake up and make her own decisions, build her own dreams and define her own beliefs. Wake up and face the world Kelly, give rock and roll a new name.

Coming onto the scene as a brand-spanking new band isn't always easy, but this is a challenge that Hello Kelly meets with clenched fists.

In Spring of 2004, Francois worked with jamie k... (Thousand Foot Krutch) to produce Hello Kelly's debut EP: Modern Day Nostalgia. "I think everybody has moments when they wish they could be in their backyard playing with army men and skipping ropes - because those moments were never fake or constructed, like so much of life is today. Everybody's always going to have good memories from their childhood, and that's what we're trying to trigger with this project."

Hello Kelly is rock for the good times and the bad times. "There's a strong spiritual element to our music because we try to let our own beliefs infiltrate the art; that's the best way to make it unique and personal. It's not about promoting a religion or telling people what to believe - it's about putting our experiences out there and letting the art speak for itself. Hopefully that makes people move: at the rock show and in their perceptions."

THE BAND:
Francois Goudreault, Jr: Vocals, Guitar
James Watts: Bass
Will Arkell: Synth, Acoustic, Back-up Vocals
Kane Bender: Drums
Mike Donais- Guitar and vocals

Website: http://www.hellokellyonline.com

Chicken Little

Top 10 Places ranked best to buy chicken fingers in Ontario by none other than me:

1: Shakespeare Arm---Guelph Ontario,
2. Swiss Chalet---Anywhere but may they rest in peace
3. Any Firkin Pub--anywhere ontario (personal favorite is the Bishop and Firkin-Burlington)
4. East Side Mario--Anywhereville, Ontario
5. Kellie's Diner-Port Lambton, Ontario
6. Kelsey's--Again Anywhereville
7. Active Kids Daycare-Mississauga, Ontario
8. Wimpy's Diner-Guelph/Kitchener, Ontario
9. M&M meats-Anywhereville
10. Burger King- corner of Hurontario and Matheson in Mississauga, Ontario

My second home...

It has been a very sad few days for me, it is finally sinking in that I will not be going to my second home this summer, my second home being Camp Hermosa. This will be the first time in 13 straight summers that I have not spent a minimum of 1 week at this place, I have cried many a tear over this...if any of you are laughing...I'm coming after you, I might be small but I am fiesty...I can take you! But seeing as only hermosa people really read my blog anyways...how sad is that? tangent...I apologize...I am asking all my hermosa folks to please write down in my comments their favourite hermosa moments so that I can laugh about something...here is a list of my top favourite hermosa moments (camper, leader, staffer)

-you whore, you stole my sleeping bag
-writing songs about my feet
-man I feel like a woman
-ish
-swimming in the campfire pit
-bloody toe lists
-sponge bob is where?
-lacoon broke the car
-it wasn't the nanny, it was the granny
-why jaya's pajamas are wet
-bunkfood juffet

Okay, I am taking all the good ones, now it is your turn, cheer me up, make my day brighter, make me laugh.

It has to stop

Okay, I have been trying desperatly to come to grips with the terrorist attacks on London, I have been trying to come up with some sort of logical explanation of what I am feeling. So far, I have had no luck in this area, but I felt that I needed to write something down anyways.
To say that I am angry, that would be a gross understatement. I am livid, beyond myself, yet at the same time saddened and deeply distressed. 9/11 was horrible, Madrid was devastating, and now London...what is next. I feel like we are just getting back to a state of normal life and then something happens that puts everyone into a state of terror. I can honestly say that I am scared, scared of what this world has become...where people just strap bombs to whatever they feel like and blow up innocent people...there were children on those trains...but I suppose that does not matter in todays world. It needs to stop, someone needs to put an end to all this terror and destruction...how many more innocent people have to die before it ends? Plus, most of you know that I am not a big fan of the Americans, (most of my family is American, that is why I can be so open about my dislikes) but I hate the fact that they are using what happened in London to focus on themselves...the moment that the bombings become public knowledge, the Americans were on higher alert...worry about someone other than yourself. The only comfort I have been able to get out of this whole ordeal is to remember that God is faithful. God will protect us, that no matter what happens today, tomorrow or the next day, God will still be there, holding us and comforting us. I just hope that one day, everyone will know that kind of love and comfort.
Wow, this was a pretty bitter post.

Whoa

Wow, look how crappy of a job I am doing on this website...not writing since April...and not being able to spell anything...I am horrible...but seeing as it is after my bed time...I will not subject you all to my late night sleep deprived rantings...I will save that for later...but here is a list of up coming topics for me to cover:

My love of chicken fingers and where to find the best ones
How much I am going to miss my sweet pink girlie Alicia
How much I miss my fab 4 ladies and Karl
How much I love my boyfriend
My most recent travels
My crazy rants about my misguided family
My stress level and the fact I am reaching a breaking point
The story of how I have come to work with a boy

Good times coming up, so keep checking back

Thats the way the cookie crumbles I guess

Hi All, okay, once again, it has been super long since I last wrote here. I really truely am the worst blogger in the whole world...whatever, I will survive...and maybe I will try to get better...I doubt it, but you never know. So, lots has happened since I last wrote in here...but I don't remember most of it...but I will write about what I do...does that work for you? Good...

~Work is going really good...I am really happy with the place I am working at right now, which is such a relief, seeing as I will be in brampton for what appears to be a long time still, it's nice to have something to work at that I like. my co-worker is awesome, we really have become good friends, yay Alicia! Although, the sad news is that one of my children will be leaving because his mother died on Thursday...that is horrible, I loved this kid and now he is so sad and I do not blame him in the least.

~I quit Sunday School...yep, I sure did, I am no longer the teacher of the Jr.Youth class, I finally threw in the towel, I had had enough of their constant bickering and trying to take advantage of me...so I am done...not sure what I will do now...I might attend my dad's class...but I don't know.

~My sister graduated yesterday from Emmanuel Bible College, so did Parker and his girlfriend Jen. I went, it was a really long ceremony, but it was great, I cried...but whatelse is new right? I got to catch up with Parker which was nice seeing as we have not really talked to each other in close to 2 years...wow, that is a long time. And Ames was there, that caught me by surprise, but made me have happy...I miss my entire Fab 4 but getting to see at least one of them makes me smile.

~Graham is coming home on Tuesday! YAY!!! My boss has given me the afternoon off so that I can met him at the airport...yay, I really like that, I have missed him so much and it has been way way too long...I just wish that I got to spend more time with him than just an evening...but I have to work the next day.

Anyways, I am about to be late for church.

What's that on his back? A monkey?

~I am seriously the worst blogger on the face of the planet...actually second worst...Ames when did you last write?

~Happy Birthday to the love of my life, Graham, you are very old today...seriously...you are going to die soon...one toe in the grave even. I love you

~Worst day at work in my life...child wiped his B.M all over the floor...it was not amusing...who is laughing? I can hear you...IT IS NOT FUNNY!!! Okay, maybe it is a little funny...I am crazy...padded room...here I come.

~Graham comes home in 15 days...yep I am counting...and yep, I am sure going to meet him at the airport.

~Women's Sunday was yesterday...crazy long service...seriously, I was dieing by the end of it...not fun so much...and then the "luncheon" afterwards...was death on a plate...everything...I almost died...good thing I am semi-aware of my environment.

~I took a first aid/CPR class on Saturday...so now I can save lives, good for me

~I feel nauseous right now...but you did not need to know that

~Tired, so very very tired

~Good bye now

Update

~Happy Good Friday Everyone, I will be headed off to church in just a few hours for our Friday Service, it should be really good.

~My sister and brother in law are coming to stay for the weekend, that will be fun, I will get to spend some quality time with my sister. That makes me very happy.

~There is a concert tonight at my church, all bands that I have never heard of, so that makes me less happy...but I will still go regardless.

~On Wednesday morning, I cut my elbow open, yep, I should have gotten stitches, but I chose not to...not sure if that was a mistake yet or not...but we shall have to wait and see.

~What did I do to my elbow you ask? Stupid story really, see...I was in the bathroom at my house, and for those of you who know my house, the bathroom upstairs has a little ledge type thing with a very pointy corner...dangerous really. Well, I was adjusting the sweater I was wearing and I banged my elbow really hard off the corner of this ledge...now, at first I did not think anything of it because it was the general area of my funny bone, so whatever right? wrong, I continued to fix my hair and brush my teeth, when I noticed that my elbow was stinging, so I glanced down and my sleeve of my white sweater was bright red with blood...I freaked.

~Work is going well, I have been very busy and we had our Easter party yesterday during the afternoon, complete with egg hunt, the children were thrilled, but so loaded on sugar, so we sent them home.

~I might be going to the Raptors game on the 15th, the youth group has signed on for the BCOQ Centre court event...interesting

~Our Youth Group now has a name...yippee...we are called "Youth F.I.R.S.T" (F.I.R.S.T stands for Fellowship, Inviting others to share God's Love, Responding to the needs of others, Showing our love to God through worship, and Training in God and to obey His Word)

~I got to see some pictures of my friend Ben's little daughter, she is adorable.

~I have noticed that a lot of my friends are "asking questions" in the sense of NOT asking the questions, just hoping that I will understand what they mean, "loud and clear but the answer is still no"

~I am sick, I have had this cold for over a month, and now I have an ear infection and the possibility of pink eye. Great.

~I have to go get ready for church now.

A Good Old Irish Blessing

So, as it would turn out, I was told today by my grandmother (my dad's mom) that the West Family is actually a good old Irish Family...so now I am British, Scottish and Irish...I am a nice mix. But to celebrate this new found knowledge...here is a blessing:

Always remember to forget the things that made you sad
But never forget to remember the things that made you glad
Always remember to forget the troubles that passed away
But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day
May you always have work for your hands to do
May your pockets hold always a coin or two
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again, my friend
May God hold you in the palm of His hand

God has not promised skies always blue
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through
God has not promised sun without rain
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain
God has not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, troubles and woe
He has not told us we will not bear
Many a burden, many a care
But God has promised strength for the day
Rest for the labourer, light for the way
Grace for the trials, help from above
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Updates

~Today is my mom's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

~I have been in the process of updating my address book and I am almost finished, I just need a few more addresses...hopefully those people know who they are, and they will get back to me really soon.

~My sister and her husband are coming to visit today, that makes me happy, I have not seen them for a while because they have been to Florida...I am jealous

~It is supposed to snow here for the next 4 days. Boo

~I am currently working on a scrap book for all of my camp hermosa pictures, it is taking me longer than I anticipated, but I am having fun

~Suddenly I got a chill

~I have to be at church in half an hour and I am not dressed for it yet

~The Youth Group watched The Princess Diaries 2 last night at our meeting because the VCR is broken...it was actually selected by one of our male students...it was a good time all around

~I will be singing in a trio on Palm Sunday, how exciting.

~I am cold again

~I should go and get ready for church

~Plus I need to eat some breakfast

~And I need to photocopy my lesson plans for today.

~And I am really going now.

~Bye Bye

~Quotes for the week (because you know I won't write until next Saturday or Sunday):

~~~~You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. -Beverly Sills

~~~~If you think you can, then you can. ANd if you think you can't, well, you're right. -Mary Kay Ash

~~~~Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn't. -Erica Jong

Seriously...who hired these people?

Okay, so I am in the process of reading several books right now...yeah, I know, it is probably not a smart move to try reading 4 books all at the same time..."it can get confusing" some have even said...but some of these books are "homework" so to speak even though I am clearly finished with the whole schooling process. But one of these books is called "I know you Love me, but do you like me?" It is about how to be the best friend of the person you are dating/married to. It is actually a really good book. One that I find I am agreeing with throughout the whole process...unlike the other books which when I calm down enough about them, I will write about them too. But in this "I Know you Love Me..." book, there is a whole list of those stupid labels on materials things...apparently these have caused several marriages/dating relationships to end because woman think that men are stupid for writing them, and men feel the same about women. Here they are:

On a Sears Hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping

On a bag of chips: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.

On a bar of Dial Soap: Directions: Use like regular soap

On some Swannson frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: defrost

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box: fits one head

On the bottom of Tesco's Tiramisu dessert box: Do not turn upside down

On Marks&Spence Bread Pudding: Product may be hot after heating

On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothing while still on the body

On a bottle of children's cough medicine: Do not drive a car or operate heavy machines

On Nytol Sleep Aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness

On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning: keep out of children

On a Swedish chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chainsaw with your hands

On Sainsbury peanut bottle: Allergy Alert: Product may contain nuts

On an American Airlines Peanut package: Directions: open package, eat nuts.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS!!! WHO HIRED THEM???