An Early Christmas Gift

I got a big suprise today!! An early Christmas gift from the Alberta government!!

I received my high school diploma!! Sure, I was two and half years late, but I got it!! I was missing one course, any course at the grade 12 level. I applied to Alberta Learning to be given consideration for the 5 credits I needed for my upcoming experience in Australia. Some of my previous work experience was also detailed in my letter, and I was granted work experience credits, meaning that I met the requirements for an Alberta High School Diploma.

I had been worried that I would have to take a class upon my return from Australia in order to complete my diploma. I am extremely happy that I don't have to worry about that.

Another amazing blessing from God!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

I've been so hungry!!

Thursday morning I had my three remaining wisdom teeth removed. It was a nice easy procedure. I went in, they drugged me, and I have no memory until I woke up in the recovery room. It was kind of funny when my parents took me home. I was seeing double in both eyes, so I was actually seeing quadruple. They put a patch over one eye, but it is the stronger eye, so things were a bit blury. And my legs were pretty wobbly for the first while until the drug started to wear off. And my mouth was still frozen, so I had a lot of trouble speaking. In retrospect it is all rather amusing.

I spent Thursday and Friday just relaxing at home. Of course by Friday night I was bored out of my mind...and VERY hungry. I've been living off of soda crackers, jello, soup, cottage cheese, milkshakes, and juice. All very yummy, but not very filling. Saturday I had a bowl of KD for lunch, but it took me a VERY long time to eat just that one bowl and I don't have that kind of patience, so I've given up on that idea. Saturday I was ready to go out and do stuff again, so I went to the mall and Christian bookstore to finish my Christmas shopping. And in the evening my grandma (who is out for Christmas) and I went to see a movie.

Anyways, that's what I've been up to for the last part of the week. Tomorrow I'm back to work for a few days before Christmas. I'm still unsure which days I'm getting of for Christmas. I'm either working Christmas Eve or on the 27th, but I get the other day off, along with New Year's Eve...or at least that's what I'm told...we'll see what really ends up happening.

I want all of you to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Until later.

One more step complete...

Well, I have finished one more step towards going to Australia. I both filed my Student Visa Application today and received notice that my application has been processed and accepted. Which means that from today to December 13, 2005 I am legally entitled to study in Australia at the Salvation Army's School for Youth Leadership. I filed my application online this afternoon and it was accepted within one hour of when I completed the application. Hopefully Alicia will receive word on her visa application soon as well.

There are now 52 days until we leave for Australia, and 57 until our course commences. It is hard to believe that it is getting so close!! It doesn't seem all that long ago that it was January when I decided to apply. I don't think that I really believe at the time that I'd be accepted, let alone that things would got so smoothly in getting everything that needs to be done, done. We are both a bit scared about going, but we know that we will be together during our travelling and that God will be with us throughout the entire time, as He is at all times.

I trust that everything is going well for all of you. If I haven't heard from you for a while, drop me a note. If you haven't heard from me for a while, drop me a note and yell at me about it. I'll try to keep my progress up to date on here.

Bye for now!

...lover of Carebears!! 

Ryan...composer of Solo Secondo...missionary... 

This is Erin...sorry to those in the DYB for inviting her to join the band...lol. 

Steve playing with the Gameboy...he should've been doing homework. 

The band setup at Grande Prairie. 

This John, also known as SHREK!! Yes, his head nearly reaches the ceiling of the coach! 

The photo shy Elisha. 

The Weekend Promises Great FUN!!

Hi to all!!

This weekend the Alberta and Nothern Territories Divisional Youth Band (otherwise known as the AB & NT DYB) is going on a blitz trip to Grande Prairie. We have members from Lethbridge, Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie, so those from Lethbridge will travel to Calgary on Friday evening. The Calgary and Lethbridge members have a rehersal Friday evening. Then we leave Calgary at 4AM on Saturday morning (yes, we are all insane), picking up those in Edmonton at about 7am, and then continue on to GP, arriving sometime around noon. And it is going to be TONS OF FUN!!! I can't wait!!

Tomorrow I will get my passport from the Post Office, which means that I can send in my application for my Student Visa. That'll only take a couple of days, and by the middle/end of next week I'll have that completed. It has absolutely amazed me to see how well things have come together for going to Australia, and it has really affirmed in my mind that this is where God is directing me. From the events that led to my attention being brought to the course last January, my acceptance to the school, finding an affordable flight, my passport coming together with no problems, and having a job that pays well enough for me to be able to save for all the expenses, I have really seen God opening doors where they needed to be open.

I'll be sure to take pictures to post during the weekend, so you can all see just how much fun we had!!

Take care everyone and hopefully I'll hear from most of you sometime!!

I am healthy!!

At least that's what my doctor tells me. I went for a physical this afternoon, and after making a thorough examination of my health, my doctor tells me that I am healthy. He's sending me for blood work still, but that's just routine.

It's now past the middle of November, so it's time to start Christmas cards and gift shopping (please, keep any gifts you are giving me under $1,000). I've been told that as a guy I'm not allowed to start shopping yet. Apparently I'm supposed to wait until Christmas Eve...I wish I'd known that as I started a long time ago.

Our corps band sent an ensemble to Heritage Park on Saturday to play at a Christmas Kettle. It's all part of the 12 Days of Christmas event at the Park. We played from 11-12, then had lunch and played again from 1-2. We had a good time.

Alicia and I are down to 78 days until we leave for Australia. I'm getting more and more excited with every passing day.

Well, I think that brings things up to speed.

Have a good week.

I guess this is just about stuff...mostly related to Australia!!

Greetings and warm salutations to all!

I trust that life is treating all of you well. Life has been VERY good to me lately.

Last night I enjoyed watching the Calgary Hitmen destroy and humiliate the Prince Albert Raiders, with a final score of 6-0...which meant that we all got coupons for a free Wendy's burger.

Okay, now for the REALLY exciting news (at least I'm excited about it). Things are really beginning to look up for Australia. A couple of weeks ago I was starting to get nervous about things, but now things are looking good. Through a highly recommended travel agent we have found a flight to Australia for a pretty good price. I'll be flying with Cathay Pacific, an airliner based out of Hong Kong. They are known for excellent service. I took a look at their website (www.cathay.ca) and I feel very good about flying with them.

My flight will leave Vancouver at 1:45am on February 3rd. We'll fly to Hong Kong for an hour stopover, and then continue on to Sydney. I'll take a WestJet flight or something to Vancouver on the 2nd. School doesn't start until February 8, so that'll give Alicia and me some time to rest up and adjust to Australian time. FYI - Australia is about 18 hours ahead of Calgary time, or 16 hours ahead of Ottawa/Toronto/London(ON)...otherwise known at Eastern Time...sorry Liz, that also includes Thunder Bay.

Work is going as well as possible for a job I really don't like. My driver and I get along well most of the time. Today I had no work, as Rememberance Day is a stat holiday in Alberta. I only have 6 more paycheques left before I'll be done this job...a thought that helps me get through each day.

Tonight is the last night of the Junior Soldier Prep. classes that I've been teaching. The next few Thursday evenings I'll be doing catch-up classes for kids who missed lessons. Those being enrolled will be presented to the corps in a public enrollment on December 12, so those of you who attend Glenmore be sure to be out that Sunday to support them!!

Keep in touch!

Peter, the mastermind behind the event, and Dani after our adventure in Reverse Trick-or-Treating. (Sorry about the picture quality...or lack thereof) 

Courtney served as the buttlerett for the evening. 

Matthew, our resident Lord of the Rings expert dressed up as...someone from Lord of the Rings. 

Dani dressed up as...well, I never did figure that out. 

Reverse Trick-or-Treating!!

Hey all!!

Sorry for not posting for so long. A few of you have been complaining, but I really do have a rather routine life, so it's hard to come up with something to write...but last night I went REVERSE TRICK-OR-TREATING so now I have something to write about.

Reverse Trick-or-Treating works like this: You dress up in a costume, as is normally done, but instead of collecting candy, you go door-to-door handing out candy canes and singing Christmas carols. I know it sounds pretty weird, but if you do it with a group (such as the South Meadows Youth Group) it is really rather fun!! Above are some pictures of some of the costumes.

Saturday, our youth group (as opposed to the South Meadows youth group) went to South Centre Mall to play "Catch Me if You Can" only we had to wear costumes to that as well...simply because it was the day before Halloween.

Work is work, nothing really to comment on there. Corps life is corps life, busy as always. Tonight I have Kingsland Care Team, we're doing Halloween Clean-up (ie. picking up broken pumpkins and any candy wrappers around...just to help keep up the appearance of our community). I'm taking my work gloves with me for sure...any maybe my brother will let me borrow his headlamp as well.

Well, hopefully that is enough to pacify most of you for now.

Have yourselves a great week!!

My Blog

Greetings one and all,

First off, thanks to Erica for making me aware of Blogs. These are wonderful little things to help keep in touch. With so many of you living in Ontario or elsewhere than Calgary it can be hard for me to keep in touch.

I decided to go ahead and create my own blog, in the hope that it will make keeping in touch easier after I go to Australia. I still have three and a half months until then, but there are many things to do in that time and I'm certain that I'd forget if I waited.

I will be posting in the interm, so be sure to check up from time to time for new postings.

Anyways, life is good. I'm still working full-time, trying to save enough money for school. Church life is also good. I still love working with the kids. I'm teaching Sunday School, Jr. Soldier Preparation Classes (that's our fancy term for jr. member classes for those of you who are non-SA).

I'll be sure to try to remember to get some posts up to establish a habit of it.