Beach Volleyball in TO

Hmmmmmm...first time for me to play volleyball outside,and on the beach. Let's just say, I didn't like volleyball as a kid b/c my arms always hurt after playing. Luckily, I wore shorts today, it was cool, not too warm today. Although, I'm a bit tanned/slightly burnt it was worth it. There were a number of us who went today from Emmanuel as well as friends of friends and two new friends.

So it's nothing new, that I don't know how to play volleyball. Soooo, a lot of 'em tried to teach me. Tyrone and Pas, two new guys that we met, tried to teach me the "frog" technique...lol. A&M, also gave me a few pointers. Our two new guests that came to play w/ us came back an hour later to play some more, but since N and I went down further to the beach, I guess they left...lol...thinking we had left already. After several hours of volleyball, I needed to stop as my left wrist/arm was hurting a lot, red and swollen. It was all good fun. AFter playing w/ DNMAOMBC, most of us went to DT chinatown and had a nice dinner to finish off the evening. A few of 'em stayed a bit longer and did some walking while the rest went home.

Thanks M for driving me homehome=) It was an interesting day. God works in different ways...Great way 2 outreach to people, make new friends and encourage each other. Great teamwork everyone! Thanks O for organizing.

Ottawa Trip (May 19-22)

Ok, soooo now I'll highlight some activities/sightseeing done while I was in Ottawa...
Friday~ In car#1: Daniel, Si, Marc and me, In car#2: Elaine and Herb
Car#1 left at 4pm while car#2 left at 6pm. Both cars were in Kingston around 9pm and met up for dinner at "Copper Penny"...Somewhere between Pricess St and Division St. It was ok dinner and it didn't rain yet. Somewhere between Kingston and Ottawa the rain was pretty heavy...I don't remember much b/c I was asleep in the backseat. Both cars arrived safely in Ottawa shortly after midnite.

As we all unloaded our luggage and took a quick tour of the living room, I was startled/scared when I saw a couple spiders. No matter how much, the guys joke about it and tease me about it, I don't like spiders or any buys period. Both Marc and Herb killed the spiders for me because I was really SCARED! The guys that stayed at the house(Dan&Herb) got the basment and us girlz got the main floor bedrooms.

Saturday~ Breakfast at Tim Hortons and began our journey/adventure in Ottawa. We parked the cars at the World Exchange Plaza (FREE parking) then went to the lookout point behind the gallery, stopped by the chateau laurier and we did a tour of parliament hill. Parliament Hill was a long wait...lots of security check. Went to Dow's Lake afterwards to see some Tulips and went to Hull, Quebec just briefly and took pictures of "Arret" signs...In addition, our group dropped by the Govenor General's garden and then went home. Unfortunately, I was feeling sick saturday, both Elaine and Herb took care of me while I was sick. Let's just say, when I'm medicated, I'm not as grumpy anymore=) While Herb and Elaine cooked Spagetti/meatballs, I was napping. The headaches were getting worse, so the "Tynenol" and nap did help. I woke up several hours later and wached "Shopgirl" with Elaine, Herb and Jen. After the movie we played Monopoly. The game went on for hours, before Elaine and I decided to team up and bring the boyz down. LOL. Daniel owned a lot of property but had no cash, while Elaine had cash and property but not enough to build homes as Daniel had the other properties. Unfortunately for Herb, he kept landing on my "Railroads" and soon found himself a little tight financially until he and Daniel made deals and teamed up. Elaine and I did the same, since I had lots of Orange and Gold money($500/$100) while the boyz had a lot of Yellow, pink and white currencies. It was a good game none the less. Thanks so Si for being "Netural" and the banker.

Sunday~ Daniel and Si headed back to Sauga and the rest of us went to OCAC. Very nice Church,lots of people. Pastor Daniel taught about Judasim in Sunday school, similar to MCAC. Sunday school in a separate building. Had lunch in chinatown, just two blocks, look left, look right, and that's Chinatown. For the rest of the afternoon, the four of us, HEMB went to the Art Gallery, yes it wasn't free...=( Although, it was worth it. The artwork was superb. I am a fan of Monet. Oh, btw, gotta mention, had my first "Beavertail". It was yummy! Dunno if it was worth$3.50. It's just deep fried batter w/ cinnamon and sugar on top. At the same time, stopped by the Byward market and went home for dinner. Since I didn't help cook w/ dinner Saturday b/c I was sick, I made dinner on Sunday for the gang. BBQ ribs w/ Stirfry Brocoli on rice. Later that nite, we went to listen to Dave Chin's Band...a friend of a friend of Elaine's at Zaphod Beeblebrox (Club).

Got home around 11ish or so...Watched a bit of TV before most of us falling asleep on the couches...Woke up around 1:30am and went to my room to sleep...Other details of what happend here, I will not write about...but if you really want to know, you can ask me.

Monday~ Had leftovers for breakfast and went home back to sauga. The drive back was only 5hours!

Overall, it was a good trip...Great time of fellowship, getting to know each other and depending on each other. I hope everyone had a good time.
For further info, read Elaine's site: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=41326329&blogID=124376394&MyToken=e3718673-e209-4aa3-afeb-1e930e44305d

TULIPS IN OTTAWA

Unfortunately, The Tulips were almost all gone in Ottawa when we were all there; however, we did find some. Here's a pic of me surrounded by tulips. This was taken near Rideau Hall.

Can't believe the weekend is over...I am now back in Burlington. Above, are some photos from my trip to Ottawa w/ friends from MCAC. I do have a big fear of spiders. The boyz had to kill them for me. The drive up there was pretty long...A little over eight hours. The weather wasn't as co-operative until Sunday. Saw a little bit of sun. There's so much to write, it will take a few days.

Where did the weekend go?

Wow! Once again, the weekend is over...so fast...so sad...

Last nite(sat), our Fellowship went to Daniel's bday potluck/bbq. Despite the rain, it was a nice turn out of people. I will admit, only Marc, Geoff and Emily were on time...at 5pm. For once, I showed up at 5:10pm. A little late, I know..CST(Chinese standard time). Although, it was still early...hehehe...of course, as soon as I get there, booze is of course offered, well given to me already. Fortunately, I didn't have to drive home (phew), otherwise, I would not have drank...hehehe. There was soooooooo much food...of course, us girls (Emily and I) we shared a lot of food, such as hamburger and hotdog. Well, I did share pie and cake...and i had a bit of Marc's veggie kabob...thxs for sharing=) What can I say? When I went to grab a kabob, none left...I had to wait=( Lots of meat meat meat...Alana's favourite..."Pork-on-a-stick". Speaking of which, KBBQ in June?
Geoff, was the professional photographer of the evening and well Josh as well...Lots of pics to go around...I'm sure the pictures turned out well, at least some of 'em.

T'was a nite to remember...Yes, I can remember what I did that nite!!

Today, I went to visit HCAC, for mother's day...I spent the day w/ my mom and family, had a bbq at home, and no I did not burn the FOOD. While I was at the Chruch, I saw old friends I haven't seen in ages, whether it was from TO or Ottawa. You could say, it was the one weekend, the rest of us kids come back to get reaquainted and leave again. A lot of the "Aunties/Uncles" asked me how I've been and whether I attended a "Church" anymore...They noticed I've been absent now...Of course, I told them that I'm now at MCAC and that's where my life has been for the past year but more so in the past six months. They're happy to hear that I still am a Christian but miss me all the same. A couple friends want me to come back in June but I can't...I rather invite my friends to MCAC...It's just life is soooooo fast paced and I'm involved and committed at MCAC. Perhaps, one day I'll go back and visit...Just not in the next couple months...There are families that are close to my family as well, us "kids" grew up together, however, we don't get together anymore. The only way is for the parents to organize something in Hamilton to bring the rest of us "kids" back together to hang out. The "kids" are all over the GTA, and well, we all have our own lives to live...none of us return unless it's for a special occassion. Of course, now when I go back, the obvious question is, what have you been up to? When are you getting married? LOL...The typical questions...Anywayz, I got a lot of "miss you's". come back and visit...which I will try but no guarantees of when.

The rest of the day after Church, BBQ at home w/ the family. It was nice to spend time w/ my mom. I know I need to spend more time w/ her. I'm never home, I'm always out...My mom has sacrificed so much for me growing up and as I grow up, I spend less and less time at home. Although, it is a fact of life, I should always remember and not take for granted what my Mom has done for me.

As this weekend comes to an end, I look forward to this coming weekend as I'll be heading up to Ottawa...My first trip to Ottawa. Sorry Helen, we will miss your birthday this weekend, but we'll call you from Ottawa.

My Thought for the day...

Ok, I'm not sure what sparked this line of questioning...but how will each of us be remembered when we're gone? When each of us dies, what will people remember about us? What kind of lives have you or I lived? Have we done all we could to glorify God? Did we go and do the "Great Commission?"

The earth is our "temporary" home, a passing place until we go to Heaven to be with our Heavenly Father...One day, He will come back and take us back with Him w/ open arms...There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering. Oh, how I long for Jesus to come and take us back w/ Him.

While I'm still here, I will make life best as I can...To treasure what I have, be content and blessed everyday for what God has given me...He has given me so much, I am so blessed...Though I did not have much growing up, the Lord has blessed me and my family w/ a home, our health and love for each other. I've learned to appreciate the sacrifices my family made for me while growing up and what it means to truly be there for one another...I count my blessings everyday.

It's a Small World After all...

Yesterday, I went to Pmall A.K.A. Pacific Mall in Markham. It was a nice day out, a little on the cool side but nice. I was joking around w/ friends that I usually see someone I know at the mall but then it's usually just talk. Well, that afternoon, we bumped into one of our friends from "HCAC"/"Ottawa" depending on how you look at it. The group of us also saw a family from "MCAC" as well. There must have been thousands of people there at the malls, yet I was still able to bump into people I know...kinda cool.

Bubble tea was good though...Sorry Josh, we all thought you were a "liar"...but you're not...Just us girls, couldn't find the "MooMoo"...A.K.A. the "cow". However, we all did have "real BBTea"...the good "stuff." While us ladies went to look at Hello Kitty, well more for me, hahaha...the boyz held our drinks and vice versa while they went into the computer store. A lot fo these stores were no food and no drink allowed=(

Anywayz, it was a lot of FUN!

P.S. For those of us that went on a stroll at Erindale Park, I'm sure everyone had fun! Great time of fellowship and good exercise. Looking back, God's creation continues to amaze me. Sometimes, city life is sooo busy and hectic that I tend to appreciate God's wonderful works.

Am I too cold hearted?

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking...one of the things I realize is that a lot of my friends are going through the "job seeking" transition. A lot of my friends are looking for jobs and as much as I'm trying to use "my connections", sometimes I feel that I'm not really doing enough. I mean my mind and heart say one thing but what actually comes out of my mouth is something different. I care about my friends a lot, and I want what's best for them. I keep them in my prayers and ask them how he/she is doing but why do I still feel like, I'm not giving my 100%? My friends have been there for me in the past year or so and I want to be there for them as well, but sometimes, I don't know why I'm hesitant...If you know me, you will know that I use MSN and email a lot as opposed to the "phone"; however, that's been changing lately. It's so different, I mean talking to someone on the phone, hearing his/her voice and their emotions. I think, one of my faults is that I care about them so much it hurts me that I can't help them more. I just wish they realize that I will always be there for him/her...It's hard for me to express how I feel sometimes, b/c I'm afraid of being hurt or hurting others. Sometimes, I'm too blunt w/ the things I say...or comment on.

Well enough babbling for now...

To all my friends, "I hope you all know that I will be there for you, you are the World to me...That's what Friends are for."

My Deepest Friends

Tonight at prayer study, we learned about chapters 15 and 16 of the book of Revelations. The seven angels carrying the "bowls of wrath." a.k.a. "seven plagues." Turning the sea, river/springs into blood, putting sores and illnesses on people. Also teaching that then number "seven" means complete in the book of Revelations, that "six" is a man's number...

In addition, to the great teachings, I got the chance to pray w/ two great women. We all shared about our problems/struggles/frustrations in life...but also shared how God has helped each and everyone of us during those times. He never leaves us, He carrys into His arms and holds us tight. At the end of our prayer, we all shared a great big group "hug." It's nice to show how much you care about your friends, just listening them, encouraging them and hugging them.

Tonight, one of my praises during prayer night was my friends. I've been very fortunate and BLESSED to have found such wonderful friends in Emmanuel Fellowship and TO. I've met so many people in the past year and have grown closer to them since. I know the people in my Fellowship are part of my "closest friends"...we share in the good times and the bad. You've been there for me, encouraged me and always told me "everything will be okay." I don't know what my life would have been, if I never met you. I've met some friends earlier this year in TO and I'm so glad that we've become great friends. I've also had the opportunity to spend time w/ friends whom I did not know well in the past, but over the past six months, have gotten to know them better. Friendships are honestly very hard to maintain...as I and everyone around me ages, it becomes harder to spend time w/ everyone you care about. One of my friends had this conversation w/ me awhile back and yes, it is hard to maintain, but at the same time, it takes "two" people to make the effort, the commitment to make any friendship work. I value my friends because they bring out the strengths in me and help me w/ my weaknesses. Everyone helps me mold into the Character I am today. I guess it depends how close the "friendship" or how deep it is. If it is important to you, I'm sure you'd make the effort.

All I can say, is that I count my BLESSINGS everyday that I have all of you in my life. I love you ALL!