A page from Kevin's Book

Looking down on stars
the world is so far and cold
or is that just me?

To All My Ladies

I know that there are countries out there where women are still severely undervalued and mistreated, however I don't think there are many who will disagree when I say that Canada is not I repeat NOT one of these! Over the past several decades, Canadian women have fought and won their equality. We no longer are looked down upon because of our gender and it's awesome.

That being said, we as women must learn to acknowledge ourselves at the same level as the that we demand from society. We need to stop blaming stereotypes that we are acting on. We cannot whine and complain when we are seen as sex objects because it is women who put us there. Instead, prove them wrong! Show them you are intelligent an capable of leading and being strong. The days of the woman behind the man are over and it is time to stand beside them now. The world will treat you how you teach it to treat you. I know that most of my girlfriends, especially the ones that read this are capable and more than willing to make an impact on this world. And so I ask you to go forward and teach the world to treat you with the respect you deserve. Don't hold back, but let yourself be empowered!

"Kill Your IPod"/Something Different #2/Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday and Hayley just sent me an article that has inspired me to give something up for Lent. That's right! My beloved ipod is going to find itself a new home in my drawer until Easter. I'd love to be able to say that I was going to take the 2 week challenge mentioned in the article, but I don't think I could handle giving up all forms of entertainment for the next 2 weeks. Let's see how creative I can be without any music to stop/redirect my thoughts. Let's see how I do on my own. Always up for something different.

Other Important Updates:
-I passed my managerial accounting midterm by an absolute miracle
-Spaz (aka something different #1) has unfortunately passed away

Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's been praying for me. God's really coming through for me this week and building my confidence with school and it's awesome!

Something Different #1

Just to keep everyone in the loop, I'd like to introduce you all (well, kind of anyway) to my new favorite. He's little and black, and his eyes bulge out the side of his head and his name is Spaz and I pretty much have loved him since Lisa pointed to him in the pet store. I know that sounds rediculous, but it's nice to have something that I can admire and take care of that I know won't hurt my feelings. Ever. He's something different in my life because maybe if I know that there is something out there that depends on me for its very survival, I'll get less wrapped up in how many of the pictures i end up in when the cameras come out, or how many boys like me or how many of the girls come to me with their problems. It's calming to watch him swim. I don't know why. Maybe because he's so peaceful. I like him.

Update on Andrea

First of all, I'd like to point out that Hayley's analogy about Andrea in a snowbank (www.hayleythenurse.blogspot.com) much more realistic than some might expect and is actually partially based on true events! This blog is meant to update you all on Andrea as she confronts her goals, fears, and challenges for the new term. They are as follows:

-I would like to, as my mother has suggested numerous times, "do something different", in order to actually be able to manage without reaching hysterics and perhaps even pull my marks up, whether or not law remains a possibility for the future

-Love and care for all of the people around me properly, and like Jesus would want me to

-Actually maintain a schedule of time be myself, maybe even reading the bible, praying, etc in an attempt to find out what exactly the above point requires of me

-Make more female friends

-Be comfortable and confident in being who I am

That's about it for now. I"ll try to let you all know how it's going as it goes. In the meantime, I hope you all have a good night!

Doing it on our own

I just finished reading Melissa's blog; this is kind of my response. (huffyfluffy.blogspot.com sorry I still donno how to link)

As you seek Him, and grow with Him, God teaches you what you need to know. He gives you the tools you need in order to do things, and He lets you figure it out for yourself, using what you've learned. It's sort of the trial and error, kinesthetic approach. As far as I'm concerned, that's the part that makes you value what you've learned. It's the lab that makes you care that HCl and Mg more or less explode when they're mixed. In theory, who cares? In action....it's SO awesome! I've really learned that recently. The best feeling ever is when you can finally realize that even though you feel like you're trucking it out on your own, God is there.

I was talking to a friend of mine recently. He tried Christianity for a while, for some reason or another, it didn't take. He's developed this idea that if anything good happens to him, it's cuz he's worked hard an earned if for himself, and he shouldn't have to thank anyone for it. I suspect that it may be a somewhat common theory, but he's the only person that has ever directly told me about it, so I have no way of knowing that for sure.

Here's the connection:
I do things for myself too. The trick here is that God gives me what I need to do them. He helps to do the rights things and he helps me to do them wisely....most of the time anyway. I'm not gonna say for a minute that I'm perfect, but I get it right from time to time. He doesn't walk through my life for me, putting X's on exactly each spot on the ground where I'm supposed to step. He points to the traffic lights, then I have to correctly interpret whether it is best for me to follow the turn signal, wait for the solid green to go straight, or attempt to merge into the next lane and hap-hazardly turn right.

Anyways, it's late and finals have me stressed out so I'm going to make sure I'm clear here. My point is that even though God is on my side and is giving me what I need to get things done, I'm still doing it for myself. There's this thing called free will. God made us to be thinkers. He wants us to imagine, learn, create, grow. And so He gives us tools and gives us the freedom to get there on our own 2 feet.

So here is my challenge to all of you tonight: I want you all to stop for a few minutes today, or tomorrow, or both, or sometime soon and think about what God wants you to create. Pray about it. You never know what you'll find out about yourself if you ask Him.

If you want to, send me an email or leave me a comment when you know the answer, I'd love to hear it!

Lagaan Wonderings

So I watched Lagaan tonight, or the first half of it, and it got me thinking. It always gets me thinking. It made me think about Graeme Hackworth, and about what he said to us. He showed us clips of this movie throughout his lectures at my dts. The clips showed the beautiful colors, fluid dances, and poetic songs within the movies. Art at it's best. When he showed us the clips, he pointed out how the songs made reference to their gods. One is even a prayer. His question to us made my jaw drop. It was so simple, yet not one of us could answer. If they can create such beauty for lifeless idols, why can we not do more for a God who is alive, who feeds our spirits? Why can Christians do no more than follow the mainstream and attempt to stay no more than 2 steps behind in the music industry? Why do they look down on controversy? Things as simple as POD's album cover art got it banned from many Christian stores. We have the answer! Why do we run from the challenge? I don't have an answer either, but I will be on the search for one soon. My industrial relations prof said something today that stood out in my mind: "When you get out in the real world, you'll realized that people can't be bothered to think" It's true. We are content with our routines, happy in what we know. It needs to change. How can we improve on what we fail to question?