Read into this what you will....

I Can't Say No

It ain't so much a question of not knowing what to do.
I knowed whut's right and wrong since I been ten.
I heared a lot of stories and I reckon they are true
About how girls're put upon by men.
I know I mustn't fall into the pit, But when I'm with a feller, I fergit!

I'm jist a girl who cain't say no, I'm in a turrible fix
I always say "come on, le's go" Jist when I orta say nix!
When a person tries to kiss a girl, I know she orta give his face a smack.
But as soon as someone kisses me, I somehow, sorta, wanta kiss him back!

I'm jist a fool when lights are low
I cain't be prissy and quaint
I ain't the type that can faint
How c'n I be whut I ain't?
I cain't say no!

Whut you goin' to do when a feller gits flirty, and starts to talk purty?
Whut you goin' to do?
S'posin' 'at he says 'at yer lips're like cherries, er roses, er berries?
Whut you goin' to do?
S'posin' 'at he says 'at you're sweeter 'n cream, And he's gotta have cream er die?
Whut you goin' to do when he talks that way, Spit in his eye?

I'm jist a girl who cain't say no, Cain't seem to say it at all
I hate to disserpoint a beau When he is payin' a call!
Fer a while I ack refined and cool, A settin on the velveteen setee
Nen I think of thet ol' golden rule, And do fer him what he would do fer me!

I cain't resist a Romeo In a sombrero and chaps
Soon as I sit on their laps Somethin' inside of me snaps
I cain't say no!

Simple

There is great joy in the simple pleasure of watching t.v by the fire place and having it be so warm that you fall asleep. Both my brother and i did that today and it was beautiful.

(i got a tiger skin rug for Christmas, it'll look great infront of the fireplace at my house in ancaster: applications for being my boyfriend can be submitted by email or in person ;) )

Dutch

I had my first croquet (crocket, crocuket..i don't know how to spell it!)last night. I'm not sure what I thought about it. Just please don't tell my Dad that I'm getting even more into Dutch culture.

Are you studying "too much" too?

-sometimes i study so hard i become an inuit with no arms


-sometimes this is what i feel like after an exam


-and sometimes i just can't handle anymore!

Different

Can you image how different the Psalms would be if they had been written by teenage girls?

Pondering whilst wandering

I was thinking while I was driving home tonight about what a wonder it is that we can make Christmas lights do so many things, yet we can't cure cancer.

Next Semester

Classes i am taking next semester:

• 19th Century Drama
• Church History II
• Old Testament Writings: The Pentateuch
• Theology of Mission
• Storytelling

are you in any of my classes?

I think there are a lot of people that need to hear this right now.

i've had questions, without answers
i've known sorrow, i have known pain
but theres one thing, that i'll cling to
you are faithful, Jesus you're true

when hope is lost, i'll call you saviour
when pain surrounds, i'll call you healer
when silence falls, you'll be the song within my heart

in the lone hour, of my sorrow
through the darkest night of my soul
you surround me, and sustain me
my defender, forever more

when hope is lost, i'll call you saviour
when pain surrounds, i'll call you healer
when silence falls, you'll be the song within my heart

i will praise you, i will praise you
when the tears fall, still i will sing to you
i will praise you, Jesus praise you
through the suffereing still i will sing

when hope is lost, i'll call you saviour
when pain surrounds, i'll call you healer
when silence falls, you'll be the song within my heart

- Tim Hughes

Is it too much to ask?

is it too much to ask to have employees remember that they have shifts?

is it too much to ask to have them be on time?

is it too much to ask to have them have a good attitude when working (i don't care what you think of me or the store, just please don't fight me every time i ask you to do the dishes or wear a hat!)?

is it too much to ask to have the basic rules followed?

is it too much to ask to have them remember that managers also have an outside life and are also going through exams?

is it too much to ask them to oh, i don't know, "work" during their shifts?

i know i don't command respect but is it too much to ask to have a little thrown my way?


i just don't think i should be having chest pains during shifts. i'm not getting paid enough to warrant having chest pains.

gah!

I am not getting paid enough.

I really wanted to lock the door, sit down in the middle of the floor and bash pomegranates over my head, while crying like a baby.

Oh Pita Pit, you are taking years off of my life.

Beautiful

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for the people you have been putting in my life lately. Thank you for the relationships we are developing. Thank you for making my friends such beautiful people.

I love you,

Laura

Can I Get a Witness? of It Is a Small World!

So in my meek fight for Christ at the Pit I saw some hope or something like it last night.

One of the girls I work with regularly is in one of the biological sciences at Mac. She wants to go to Australia for a program and will need a prof's reference letter. Being a second year at Mac she realizes that the class size is too big for her to randomly have a prof get to know her. So she has been going to her favourite prof for help in the hope that the prof will remember her and give her a good reference.

At work last night we were talking about classes and class sizes and profs and knowing profs by their first names. She said that she was able to address the aforementioned favourite prof by her first name: Pipa. I said, "Pipa? As in Pipa Lock?" And the employee confirmed that it was indeed our Saturday Soprano.

What does this have to do with witness? Everything. This employee totally respects Pipa and said that Pipa gets voted the best prof every year. What a victory for Christ to have such a well respected prof in the Science Dept at Mac fighting for the Truth!

There is too much light in here,
I can see myself.

All the evil comes to the surface,
Everyone can see it.

Every pore erupts with filth,
I chose ignorance.

The dark brings cold comfort,
Sweet and embraceable.

I linger in pools of loathing,
Lavish swamps.

I have sunk to a delicious depth,
None can find me.

Light is a dazzling pain,
I run.

Sing Along Messiah Anyone?

Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 2:00 pm
Massey Hall

This festive sing-along with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and Orchestra, led by a feisty Maestro Handel, is an annual tradition. The sheer joy you will feel as your voice joins a mass choir of 2,500 to sing the Hallelujah chorus may be the best Christmas gift you receive. Bring your own score, or purchase one at Massey Hall. Seating is by voice part, and non-singers are always welcome. A great outing for the whole family! The Sing-Along Messiah also sells out - don't miss out! (Tickets on sale Aug 2004.)

Massey Hall Box Office

http://www.tafelmusik.org/index.cfm?section=tct&subsection=the#messiah_sing

$20.00 Students & Seniors, $27.00 Adults

Does anyone know?

I have a series of bruises on my left ankle and calf that are remarkably finger shaped. I discovered them when changing for church this morning. Does anyone remember assaulting me in my sleep? Or did I forget about being dragged around by the ankle?

Success

So, those of you who know me well know about my 'little' battle with alcohol. Those of you who know my testimony are violently shaking your heads right now.

Working at the Pita Pit as the only Christian is hard. Very rewarding, but hard. It has been a constant struggle for my to find that fine balance between contextualized and pluralistic.

Every year we have two staff parties. A big one at Christmas and a smaller one at the end of the school year. The past two years at the Christmas party I have been drunk off my ass. I won't get into details, but be assured it wasn't pretty OR Christ-like. The past two years I have completely abstained from alcohol at the end of the year party.

This year's challenge: to drink at the Christmas party without getting drunk. In my opinion moderation is the key when being a light at these parties. Being drunk means that I'm just like everyone else. Not drinking at all means I'm weird, on medication or a nerdy Christian. Neither gets us anywhere in the Kingdom mission.

So tonight was the Christmas party. I set goals for myself. One drink at the pre-party cocktails and one drink at the bar. I knew it was going to be hard. I asked people to pray for me. Thank you, huge thank you to those who did. And I had another someone call me on my cell part way through the night to keep me accountable. Thank you to her too. I wore heals 'cause if I was drinking too much then it would be hard to walk, which would signal to me that it was time to stop. I wore my hair all nice, with a smokin' outfit and make-up so that I would have some dignity to maintain. And I didn't bring any money with me.

Hand in hand with God I walked into and out of that party tonight. I met my goal of 2 drinks! I consumed them when I planned and when we switched bars half way through I enjoyed a lovely cranberry juice. I sang a Carole King song at Kareoke which everyone loved. And then I came home..before 4am. In fact before 2am!

Thanks again to those who help and thanks to God for being the norm for awesomeness.

Messiah - In words

Ok, so no more funny pics.

After Saturday's performance I was driving Heather and Angela back up to Redeemer and I described how I felt about the performances using a sporting metaphor.

I said that I felt like singing the Messiah was like running a 400m hurdles race. Anyone who has run 400m knows that it is in essence running balls out for 400m. Throwing the hurdles in just makes for an extra challenge.

On Friday I felt like we as a choir had been running on course for a personal best time. Then we peeked to see where the competition was and tripped over the last hurdle. Ouch. But as with athletic training and performance you get back up, work out the kink and run again.

Bending the metaphor slightly to apply just to me I felt like I did run a personal best time. And I wondered how that could be beaten. I didn't realize that Friday was the semi-final and Saturday the final.

Again if you've ever run competitively you know that the body can surprise you with "an extra gear". All of those hours of training become worth it as you think you have reached your full potential and then all of a sudden there is another gear and you can push even harder and go even farther than you thought even possible.

That is how I felt about Saturday night (the second half - the first half, don't ask, or see the previous post). I sang the Hallelujah chorus so hard that I had chest pains after. And the Amen - who knew that we could go that hard (God did, He planned it that way)?

I feel blessed, like everyone else that I could be apart of it. I was one of those people that had never sung the Messiah before. I had never even heard the whole thing until I bought the CD. And I too struggled with learning the whole thing. I wanted to throw myself through a window and quit the choir the week before the performances. I was bringing down those around me.

Oh redemptive power. Oh endless blessings.

Day 2

How I felt about the first half of last night's concert....



How I felt about the second half of the concert and the answers to my fervent prayers of the first half.....

Day 1

How I felt about the Messiah before the Amen...



How I felt after the Amen...



How I feel today, having another chance to get it right...



Actually, this is how I feel about today...

Hey! I LOVE YOU!

Do you hear what I hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

Are you writing a paper too?

Wedding Shots

Hey, remember that wedding I was in? Well my cousin finally sent me a few digital shots.


These are my cousins Sarah and Katherine (and me).


Katherine and I


Kat and Grandpa


Jimmy (best man), Kathering (bride), Laura (maid of honour), John (groom)

click for larger images (they look better that way)

A reason to come tomorrow

Cupcakes and laughing:

Human Again

..i'll wear lipstick and rouge and i won't be so huge and, why i'll easily fit through that door. i'll exude savoir faire, i'll wear gowns, i'll have hair! its my prayer to be human again.

Where have all the flowers gone (a midterm essay re-write)

Where have all the hours gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the hours gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the hours gone?
Gone to first years every one.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Like a Chesty Blonde

So today I was thinking about music (and culture and everything) and I know that we are to engage everything and that we are to be careful about what we ingest. But then I was thinking about the music and the movies that we say, "oh i love watching Miss Congeniality, i don't have to think when i'm watching it." And so I was wondering if we are able to treat anything like a chesty blonde, we may not critically engage her but we are very aware of her presence.

Stewart

Virescit vulnere virtus (Courage grows strong at a wound)

Everybodyduck!

I just felt like posting some lyrics for some songs that I love hearing sung by my favourite Christian band; Everybody duck. Their worship CD Seized by the Power of a Great Affection always seems to have something to say to me.

Teach Me

Teach me to weep for the times that I've failed You
Teach me to wait Lord for Your hand to move
Teach me to watch for the dawn in my darkness
Teach me to walk in a way You'd approve
Take me, teach me to be more like You
All that you are Jesus I want to be
Take me, teach me to be more like You
Touch these blind eyes Jesus
I want to see

Teach me to wonder at all You've created
Teach me to whisper my thoughts in Your ear
Teach me to work at true love for my neighbor
Teach me to want the same things You hold dear
Take me, teach me to be more like You (x4)
-------------------------------------------------
Written by Darin McWatters and Tim Sovinec
Copyright 1998 Antinomy Music


Use Me Here

Use me here, where I am
I'm not gonna pray anymore that You'll change your plans
Despite my fear, I place my life in Your hands
the future can wait, tomorrow might be too late,
So Jesus use me here

I lay my heart's desires at Your feet, oh Lord
Take all the plans I've made and all my dreams
Blinded by triumphs of tomorrow I've let sin control today
So many drowning within reach, Father it's time
You heard me say...

I tell myself I want to know Your will, oh Lord
Still I confess I've had plans of my own
But from now on I plan to listen to Your will and to obey
No matter what the future holds I'm gonna live for You today
------------------------------------------------------------
Written by Darin McWatters and Tim Brinkman
Copyright 1997 Antimony Music/Lustiminosity Music

Mom's cats are junkies.

----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Stewart
To: Laura Stewart ; Johnny Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 12:08 PM
Subject: it's going to be a long winter
So I was just out and picked a huge pocket full of
CATNIP...
and they like it so much! It's not a drug!! It just makes them happy!

Mom

Prayer, its prayer isn't it?

I've been reading the increasing number of blogs about the need for some sort of movement in Redeemer. It seems as though we are at a cusp, a point were we need to grow and set ourselves apart or get very happy with our current rut. As the adage goes - go big or go home.

It seems to me and many others in the First CRC community that we are at the same point there too. The water is boiling but no one knows what is cooking.

This Sunday Tim Sheridan was outlining some directives for the new outreach/missions initiative at First and he spoke about prayer. Until then I had been bruising my brain about where these two communities would be going, how they would be going there and how they would be lead.

Prayer hit me like a tonne of bricks. What way is better to be both a medium and a message to those outside the First and Redeemer communities? No matter what denomination we were raised in, how we feel about election, gay marriage, tithing, 24 hour creational days, we can all agree that as Christians we should pray.

Prayer can/should/will (?) be a catalyst to uniting communities of Christ and to having that attractive light that people will notice. Following 1 Thess 5:17 can do us little damage and that constant communication with the Father can lead us down the path He desires for us.

I know that Redeemer will soon have a real prayer room (not a basement) with which I know there are people who are bubbling over with ideas and initiatives for it. I know that First has got plans in place for prayer walks and prayer groups for specific areas of the church life.

This is a very exciting time. I would challenge you as I challenge myself to truly engage your prayer life. Pray for your community, pray for guidance and it moves into uncharted territory, pray for it to be a shining light in the community, pray for discernment and pray for protection. Pray with others from the community and pray often!

An Open Letter to Satan

Dear Satan,
Your cover has been blown. I see you. And I desire, no, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that you would leave me alone.

I refuse to let you make myself a victim to mental illness, the weather, the moods of others or bloating. I refuse to only be tired and stressed out and to speak to my Father only once a day. I refuse to think for a moment that God is not always with me and ready to protect me from your greedy grasp.

I hate you. But you know what makes me hate you so much? That you bring my family and friends into the equation. That you would be so low as to take credit for the creationally normative life cycle of my Grandfather, the dying of my friend's Father, another friend's Grandmother, the state of my mother, the death of a a friend's cousin, the death of church members back home.... stay the hell (yeah hell, you know where you belong - forever separated from God) away from my friends, my family and well, all of creation.

You are nothing. I choose not to submit to your dominion.

All I can say is that I cannot wait till you are humbled once and for all!

In His name and His service,

Laura Elizabeth Stewart

Sometimes you do

Sometimes you do notice those personal growth changey things in yourself. Most of the time you don't notice the little things. Of course in a grand sort of way you know that you have changed but you don't really want to recognize and would rather make it easier on yourself to continue to see yourself as the rotten person you were.

Today I was having a conversation with one friend about another mutual friend and the rough time she has been experiencing. We noticed that these choices were of a self destructive nature and did not reflect a closeness with Christ.

After driving home and thinking about that for a while something struck me. During choir tour last year Matt McKenna told me that he saw a lot of growth in me in comparison to my first year at Redeemer. I honestly didn't know what he was talking about. I knew that in large drastic ways I had changed, but not in the subtle Christ like ways that Matt was talking about. Today I understood what he meant. He saw the small choices and actions I had began making that indicated a desire to be more like the One that created me.

That was a cool realization. Prayers and blessings to you who are seeking those same changes and for me who has so many more good choices still to make.

Fight or Flight

There comes a time in the semester when you realize that October is over and that you pissed it away.

There comes a time when you remember the hoard of reading you have put off.

There comes a time when that slew of papers that seemed so far away are only lurking around the corner.

There comes a time when I want to drop out and pick wildflowers for a living.

There comes a time when I have to say, "suck it up princess!"

And all God's people said: Amen!

A little lighter

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/101904/canadian-rap-city.gif

Email from Dad

Thursday nite, 8:47 pm

Mom and I just got back from visiting Dad at TGH. When we got there Martha was there. He seemed good. He'd eaten a good supper (turkey with all the extras), has a private room, says the staff has been good to him, was wearing a holter monitor (to see what his ticker is up to), had an ultrasound, had slept for a good part of the afternoon, had bed-head, and generally seemed like himself.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

MVP Manny

Update

Grandpa is getting more and more stable. There are no results yet as to what kind of damage this has had on him. He is speaking and getting more colour.

These seizures will become more and more frequent till eventually they kill him. It is sad, but in a way (that Carla showed me) it allows us a chance to tell him the things we want to tell him before he goes rather than having to only say them to other people after he is gone.

Thank you for your prayers.

I'll be splitting my time for the next couple of days between the Pita Pit and Alymer, if you need me email me or call my cell.

Pray for Stirling Stewart

Dear Grandkids of Grandpa,
Early this morning we got the call from Grandma saying Grandpa was having "another spell" and she wanted a ride to the hospital. So I whipped on some clothes and when I got to Dorland House they were just taking him out the door on a stretcher to the ambulance. He had apparently rally around this time before the paramedics came. Normally he is still fairly incoherent when they arrive and gets better with some oxygen.
Grandma was just getting dressed and in no hurry because when u get to the hospital, you just sit around and wait til they let you in to see him.
However this time we sat for a very short period of time b4 they came and got Grandma. Grandpa had one of his "spells" in the hospital ! This is a good thing. It lasted about a minute and a half, and was the typical spell with the flailing and calling out and passing out . So they popped him with Valium and Dilantin to stop the seizures.
At this point the Doc ( very nice gentle lady Doc.) made Grandma aware that he was in a coma and may or may not come out of it and IF he did go into a seizure, as per his living will (they asked Gma if he had one and she confirmed this) they would not make heroic efforts to revive him. So there sat Grandma and I watching Grandpa breathe. Grandma thought that "the family" should be notified, so I called Bruce, Peter (who called Paul), and Margaret(who called Martha) and gave them the heads up. The Doc said there was not much point in the family all gathering around while he was in a coma, and I told them all this . Peter, Marg and Jack came anyway.
Around about that time Grandpa started to regain consciousness. When we left he was talking some and had a headache.
Grandpa is in the hospital, in room 19. They will do some tests etc. He is in the best spot, and Grandma is glad he is there. She is scared, and when you offer up a prayer for Grandpa, do so for Grandma too..she needs it.

Will keep u all posted.
xxxAunt Bev

A New Club

I look forward to Rob Joustra's post on this, but I was mulling it over in my head and decided to comment on it.

Rob asked me if I had read a blog entry about Dating to Save. Ie, dating non Christian guys, converting them with your good looks and once they were Christians dropping them.

I think at a school like Redeemer this kind of outreach initiative would fly. There is a large quantity of leggy blondes (many of whom are well endowed - and not just by the Voortman family) that I feel could really show some unenlightened sap at Hess the love of Christ.

So girls, next weekend lets strap on some water bras and tight shirts, book a Redeemer van and witness at the bar!

Happy Birthday Sarah Vedder

It has recently come to my attention that Sarah Vedder is awesome. I am actually quite upset with those people who knew both me and her last year and did not alert me to the aforementioned awesomeness.

I suppose all can be forgiven now that I know.

If you see Ms. Vedder in the halls this fine Friday, touch her on the bum to symbolize her awesomeness and the anniversary of her birth.

Amen.

2 outta 3 ain't bad

This week I have been reminded that nervous sweat smells the worst. I am happy to have 2 of 3 speaking engagements over with. Here's to willing the Maid of Honour speech to go just as well as the others.

Sorry for the lack of blog this week, life returns to normal next week and I'm sure I'll have all kinds of pithy things to say.

Cul de sac,

Laura

Tea

On my way to work on Saturday I went through the Tim Hortons drive-thru and purchased for myself a cup of tea. Then I got to work and was not presented with enough time to drink the tea. Thereby becoming a wasted cup of tea.

That got me thinking about alllll the wasted cups of tea. I know I often make a pot of tea, leave to read while it steeps and then forget about it. I also will often leave cups of tea in my room till they start to grow mold.

Along with the wasted tea are there wasted or forgotten moments that should have gone with the savouring of that hot, steamy tea? Are there missed rendez-vous, missed breaths?

If you didn't think you were, you should

Just in case you were thinking about skipping out on this month's multicultural coffeehouse, I think my friend that you should think again: for I am hosting it.





Ps..i totally wrote mulitcultural (before i spellchecked) which sounds like mulletcultural, which would be an amazing idea for a coffeehouse.

I never thought I would be saying this....

When I was a younger woman of a highschool type nature I had a friend named Tara. Tara wore thongs all the time. She tried to tell me that they were comfortable and fantastic. I put up a strong opposition. Then in gr 12 I bought one and was instantly converted to the land of thong and have resided there ever since.

Then when I was a slightly older woman I had a friend named Rachel who tried to tell me that indoor tanning was awesome and relaxing. I told her that there was no way that it could be good. But then in preparation for my cousin's wedding I needed to eliminate nasty tan lines from India - so I tried the tanning - and I LOVE it! It is so fantastically relaxing!

There is just something so natural about being warm and surrounded by white light. Its like a little return to the womb. Mmmmm...womb.

I think I'm getting too girly. Oh wait..I just looked at the hair on my legs..sweet I am still a natural woman! Yesss!

Email from Mom

Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 12:41 PM
Subject: HEY HEY HEY


LAURA . I WAS IN THE WOOLER CONVENIENCE STORE THIS MORNING AND GUESS WHAT? THEY HAD DINOSAUR HAMBURGER HELPER ON FOR .69 ! YES THAT'S 69 CENTS...SO I GOT YOU A BOX. I MEAN HOW STALE CAN PASTA GET? IT'S ALREADY DRY AND HARD.

LOVE AND LOVE
MOM

Soul

When I was in my mid to late teens I used to get really, really frustrated with my singing. I would get so mad when there were things I couldn't seem to do, or when I missed a note (or missed anything) in a performance.

I was just starting to really get into jazz at the time and like any keen vocalist I got into Ella Fitzgerald and then Billie Holiday. I would spend all of this time listening to Ella and her phrasing and scats and get more and more frustrated with my own short comings.

Then for my 19th birthday my friend Sarah and I got together. I was expressing my frustration and how I thought that I could never become a singer because I could never sound as good as Ella. Then she gave me my present. It was a Billie Holiday CD and in the card it said, "Its not the notes you sing but the soul you bare."

Lightening bolts went off in my brain. DUH! Years of abuse and life had totally altered the sound of her voice to that rough sound we all associate with her. But her soul, oh her soul... Have you ever heard her sing Strange Fruit? Do it sometime, you might cry. Every song about heart ache, pain, oppression - you feel like she is singing all of the songs in direct correlation to life events. She appeals to a different level than that of Ella.

Sometimes I just have to remember that singing is not 100% about the aesthetics of the notes, but the soul behind them.

In the quiet misty morning

I've been in a tizzy lately. Not an outside tizzy, but an inside tizzy. The tizzy is in many ways the end result of too much thinking. Thinking about how much debt I'm in in correlation to how many years of school I have left, thinking about where I'm going to live next year - be an R.A, live on my own, find roommates that I can have for more than one year, thinking about the summer and what type of employment I need for the living arrangements I will have settled on or to follow where I think God might be leading me.

That kind of thinking just drives me crazy on the inside. I stirs up my soul like a hurricane to the east coast. I hate it.

On the weekend I went to visit a family that I am friends with. The husband of this family was a sort of mentor for me while I was a young Christian. He is also the executive director of Northumberland Youth For Christ. Often when I still lived at home I would go to him in a tizzy. I would spew out the things that were making me spin. He would sit there, listen to me, look at me for a minute and then say, "How has your quiet time been?" There would be nothing left for me to say.

There is nothing left for me to say right now. I know if he asked me right now I would fain some excuses about being out of my usual routine due to being sick and going home. And he would look at me again and I would know that my excuses have no validity.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to go do my devotions before school....

Better

Hey guys, I just wanted to thank you so much for your messages and prayers. I am feeling hoards better. Still really tired, but hardly coughing at all. My weekend at home wasn't exactly the relaxing time that I was hoping for, but it was great to be home and to have a little time to rest and a lot of home cooking.

It Seems

It seems (according to my GP) that I have bronchitis and the aforementioned pink eye. He told me to attend as many classes as i could and not to touch anybody or let anyone touch my face. Sorry all you face touchers, i don't mean to deprive you of your joy, i'm just looking out for your best interest.

As if!

So I have a pretty nasty cold, aches, pains, fever, cough, super de duper sore throat, swollen glands...the works. I'm trying to wait it out - let the Lord heal me. And then at 2am whilst rubbing mine eyes in a sleepy stupor I discovered that I have pink eye too! So if you don't see me for a few days its out of love and respect and not wanting to infect you.

Oy, I don't even think a pineapple would help this situation.

Handmaids Tale

On Friday Melissa, Amyann, Anj, Anton & Jackie, Krista & Jason, and myself went to see The Handmaids Tale set to Opera.

In the general sense it was awesome. It the out-there artsy sense it was awesome too. The Atwood novel demanded a certain amount of non-tradition and as an audience that is was we got. The music kept us on the edge the whole night, never letting us get comfortable (not that the story line would let us either). The sexual nature of the novel was evident in the opera which was not surprising but sometimes uncomfortable. The set was somewhat loosey goosey - which was perfect. The story mandated a certain amount of suspension of belief and the set carried on with that. It was very fitting and allowed the flow of the story to keep going despite the many scene changes. We had a great time.

In loo...

I couldn't come up with anything valid to say, so I thought I'd share a motivational technique I used on Melissa Kuipers.

Community

....remember that time at Church in the Box when I said that one of the reasons that I loved Redeemer so much was its community aspect and that the people just come together in times of need. I (in an unfortunate sense, which was redeemed) got to witness that again tonight....

- DD - peace and healing buddy, peace and healing

Opera

Ok, so we're settled on Oct 1, which is a Friday. So far confirmed are: Amyann Faul, Anj Colyn, Krista & Jason Taekema and myself, with 3-4 maybe's. I'm hoping to firm up those maybe's by the end of the weekend. I know that an apostrophe signifies posession but it didn't look right without one. I'm going to get the 18$ tickets if I can. Hopefully things are sold out. Eeee. More details to come.

LStew

The Sting

If ever there was a great movie it would have to be The Sting. Seriously it is so good. If ever you have a chance to watch it - do it! You won't regret it.



Mmmmmm Paul Newman....

Memories (all alone in the moonlight....)

So in the theme of Jenn and Rachel I thought I might share a first year memory that was brought to the surface by a current craving for McDonalds.

As I was thinking of this memory or "remembering" I was struck that it was one of the few good memories of my first year dorm that didn't involve alcohol but did involve at least half of the dorm.

Anyway its not even that great of a memory - during first year McDonald's had Two Big Macs for Two Bucks....oh baby. They (the crazy buggers)did this right before or during second semester exams. So my trusty steed Maurice transported my dormmates and I on more than one occasion to exploit the McDonald's corporation.

Opera

Based on Margaret Atwood's award-winning novel, The Handmaid's Tale is a cautionary story of a terrifying future perilously within grasp.

Driven by a theory that moral corruption is responsible for the fall of society, the religious right has taken over the United States, overthrowing the government and implementing a fundamentalist regime. Women's rights have been restricted under the guise of protection, and those of proven fertility have been enlisted to bear offspring to the childless elite. Offred, one such Handmaid, tells her story of abuse, compassion and sustained hope.

This acclaimed production debuted at the Royal Danish Opera in 2000. It makes its Canadian premiere with the COC.

Sept. 23, 26, 29, Oct. 1, 5 and 9, 2004 at the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinee performances begin at 2 p.m. Running time is approximately 2 hours, 45 minutes with one intermission.

Sung in English with English SURTITLES™.



Sorry about the date confusion in the email, you'll see all the dates above. Rob reminded me that the 26th is CITB - that's out, or atleast its out for me as I have to spend the afternoon at the school. Oct 9 is the beginning of Thanksgiving. This coming Thursday would be awesome if we didn't have choir till 6:55pm. I dunno, tell what you're thinking....

oh, Rach Legg, you can get tickets from ticket master.

Refresh

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This is how smart I feel....

Struggle

I'm struggling with Greek. Yeah I know its only the end of week two and its just going to get crazy after this; and that knowledge adds to the struggle.

I'm struggling because right now Greek feels like music theory - a demon I was never able to conquer - though I feel it was a demon that I wasn't meant to conquer. I am terrible with straight memory work, I'm an artist. I don't understand how I think, but I know that I do better in a history class when I'm tested on the meanings of revolutions and the impact of certain key players rather than on dates, places and names. So memorizing verb paradigms is like key signatures for me or like math (a class I have failed 3 times in my life)

I'm struggling with a decision to change classes. I have made such a big deal about Greek and have told so many people that I was in the class that it will be a HUGE slice of humble pie to switch into something else. Oh pride issues, I love you.

I'm struggling with the self doubt that clouds me in situations like this; it just seems to trickle into every part of my life. For instance: I've always had a dream of making a career out of singing. So the other day I did a concert for Kat Meerveld and friends, it was small, nice, intimate and truth be told I did a half decent job with my part of it. But post concert is the time Satan loves to attack me - he whispers things in my ear like, "you know they only listen 'cause they call themselves your friends and they have to listen and smile, and really they aren't even your friends they just feel sorry for you" and " your songs aren't that good and you don't sing very well, remember all the yawning, that was because they didn't like you." Sometimes I'm able to dust the devil off my shoulder, but most times his whispers echo in my brain. These echoes are there when I start thinking about Greek and how well maybe just maybe its not a mountain I'm supposed to climb. And then I say well that's cause you suck, remember how you sucked at the concert, remember how you keep gaining weight, remember how you're a tool in choir, remember how nobody called you that one weekend, remember how pathetic you are...and it just keeps going.

Granted, an old me would have drowned herself in a sea of booze to deal with this feeling, but the new me struggles to keep dragging herself into the waiting hands of a Saviour who doesn't believe anything she just typed. The new me is looking, craving discernment about Greek class and a career in music and working with teenagers.

I'm struggling.

clean

frequently it is better to clean the wound rather than leave it and let the blood dry

Friendly Neighbourhood...

Sometimes I wish that I was Spiderman and that I could shoot webs, I don't want to shoot them to fly around like Spiderman does. I would like to randomly and stealthily shoot webs in class, at people, at chalk boards - just generally be a pest. I think that would be fun.

The Moveable Nu

So one day I was traveling through Northern Greece on my mo-ped and was having a jolly time of it. When all of a sudden a gigantic Jackalope type thing jumped out from the bushes and went straight for my jugular with his teeth. I couldn't believe it; there I was rolling around in a ditch fighting for my life with a creature that the Lonely Planet books call "one of the most dangerous and deadly things on this earth." What were the odds? What is this creature called? A Moveable Nu! Very stealthy things they are. From a distance they look like a familiar deer or bunny, but up close they are a hodgepodge of antlers and carnivorous teeth. So friends I implore you, don’t end up bleeding in a ditch in Northern Greece like me – wear your Anti-Moveable Nu spray and carry a Bible.

Some more

There are a few more India pics on my India blog.

Happy Anniversary

I'm going home after work tonight to celebrate the 65th wedding anniversary of Stirling and Edna Stewart (my Grandparents)!




Yeah I know these are big pictures (from their 60th anniversary), but when you've been married this long you deserve big pictures!

Oh, and good news to us non-married types; my Grandpa didn't marry my Grandma until he was 25.

Flashcards

My first mistake was signing up to take Greek. My second mistake was not following that with signing up to go to war.

Wisdom

A heavy person doesn't notice hours.

-Ukrainian Proverb

Something to look at....

There are four more pics on the india blog.

Dating Service

After much discussion with friends of both the male and female persuasion I am proud to announce the grand opening of: Laura's Catalyst Dating Service

After some retrospection I came to realize that four of my ex-boyfriends were married to or currently engaged to the girl that came directly after me (one is also gay). This lead me realize that my dating relationships with males lead them to discover what exactly they want (or really, what they don't want) in a woman and to go for it with a new found fervor.

My service is that I will date boys who are seeking to know what they really desire in a life-long partner.

These boys can be single, but I will also date boys who are dating someone....allow me to explain: You're dating this really cool girl and you think she is the one for you, so you put it on hold for two weeks, date me, then go back to her and you'll know for sure!

Dating will consist of a minimum of two dinner dates, a movie date and one activity date. These can take place in a short or long period of time, whatever is most appropriate.

In my love for all I have a service for females too. It seems that almost every house I have lived in produces an engaged woman. So I will agree to have females seeking engagement come and live with me. Maybe I can set them up with the boys I'm dating. Who knows.

Book now, availability is limited!

Happy Birthday Kat!!

Its Katrina Jane Meerveld's birthday today. She is pretty and nice. I like her a lot and I am glad she is my friend.

So in conclusing Kat is awesome and you should tell her so by any means possible!

Ladies

Bierma moves in tomorrow. This will give our house a full compliment of sexy ladies. One of them is engaged, but Beermug and I will be filling our date schedules out soon. First come, first serve.

Stay tooned for Laura's Catalyst Dating Service.

Remain tooned for whatever witty name we come up with for our house. The only things I've been able to come up with are very dumb.

I have to keep the blogging to a minimum, must get my room cleaned before Lisa and her parents come tomorrow.

But after the move - oh baby prepare for a flood, or at the very least, a strong trickle.

Mira

I would like to congratulate the Ukraine on winning almost twice as many medals as Canada. Well done.

Beefy

In the spirit of Olympic competition I thought my computer could use a shot in the ass - so i'll be computitivly awal for a bit - unless i figure out how to hack into Marleah's computer. Ee hee hee.

But when I get this thing back up and in urine tested form - oh baby, oh baby. I'm looking forward to my techno year and may it bring me organization, ease with studying and a GPA above a 6.

K. Whatev.

Cougar

Tonight at work I saw a 70 year old woman who was dressed like a 40 year old woman who was trying to look like a 20 year old.

a letter to a budding Christian

Dear friend,
I'm really excited about your recent desire to know more about the One who made you. I'm super excited about your questions on what a life that desires a closeness to and a following of Christ requires.

Maybe this is off base but I might compare being a Christian to exercising or eating well. Both of these things are really good for you but aren't necessarily easy. They take practice, discipline, sacrifice and hard work. And as with leading a physically healthy lifestyle, leading a spiritually lifestyle has so many benefits. The type of benefits that show both outwardly and inwardly.

As you come to know Jesus (and you'll discover that He is AWESOME), you may encounter some obstacles known as friends and family. People who will ask you why you would serve a God who requires that you go to Church every Sunday, that you not drink for sport, and that you not engage in premarital sex. Likely you won't have the answers that will satisfy them - I don't. But you can tell them about a different kind of freedom. A life that frees you from the need to drink your face off, a life that is full of fellowship with other believers, and a life that has so much more richness than succumbing to the whim of every physical desire.

Of course there is also the enemy; Satan (aka the jerk of all jerks)(much jerkier than any ex). He will not be happy about your recent changes in heart (and soul!) Hey may try to run things a muck in your life. But you know you what the cool thing is? All you have to do is call on Jesus (Dear Jesus, Satan is really bugging me. Seriously can you please get him out of my face and out of my life? Protect me. Thanks. Amen.).

It is that simple. Having Jesus as a Saviour is more than just having the closest friend you've ever had. Having Jesus as a Saviour means having Him as a protector, a Father, provider, a love so strong it makes your heart full...just everything you could ever need. He is actually always there for you and always there with you. You don't need to wake Him up or turn Him on. He knows what is in your heart and in your head and loves it when you share that with Him.

I don't think I have the words to adequately describe all of the things Jesus is and can/will be. I will say that I wish my life was more of a testament to His amazingness. In many ways it is - those are the ways in which He continues to bless me. You know the things He has brought me through and that in no way should I be alive and typing this letter. But I am also human and keep deviating from the path He has set before me, and the rules He has graciously and like a parent made for me. Yet, even though I sin He loves me, He wants me to know Him and though I am dirty He keeps wiping me clean and loves spending time with me. Gah! So cool.

So friend, I hope you keep on journeying in the direction of Christ. If I can ever help just let me know.

Love and Hugs,

Laura

I don't need it on DVD

I don't need The Passion of Christ on DVD, I have it in my heart.

Update

Marleah called; she said that Tim made it through the surgery fine. She said that he was doing pretty good, although that could just be the pain meds (ha ha). It is possible that he will get to go home tomorrow, though he may need to spend another night in the hospital. Tomorrow will look after itself I guess.

Thanks for your prayers.

Ow

I would just like to share that my shoulders and neck are so tight that I have been getting chest pains as a result.

Agh!

Prayer Warriors!

Hey believers,
Marleah is about to leave the house to go and be with her fiance Tim who will go under the knife this afternoon for an emergency appendectomy. It is routine surgery, but anytime it becomes emergency well...you know. Please pray for Tim and his loved ones as they wade this out.

If I hear anything in the way of updates I will post them here.

I swear I'm not pregnant

Guys, I have the strangest craving for artificial banana products...like pudding and popsicles.



I dunno.

New Rule

Canada must finish higher in the Olympic medal standings than the countries it exports it's child labour work to.

I wonder

I often wonder when I'm driving home from work, what the people I see in other cars or on the sidewalk are doing? Why are they out so late at night/early in the morning? And then I wonder if they are wondering the same about me.

Voice recognition in my car

I've decided that I need voice recognition word processing software in my car. I am coming up with far too many witty blog ideas whilst traveling and then they minute I get to a computer they are gone.

Which leads me to a life long wonder...what happens to ideas that get forgot? Is there a realm where these ideas float around? Are they happy when they get used, are they sad when they sit remembered yet unused? Are you allotted only so many, and I should put more pressure on myself to remember them because when I'm 71 I won't have anymore as I used them all up?

Deep

Deep thoughts on the other blog.

Whereabouts

Just letting you know I'm still in Brighton, and I'll be there until Wednesday around noon, at which point I will travel back to Hamilton to start work. And I will be back in Hamilton full time. So if you want to get together you can call me there after Wednesday.

Oh Awkward City

Ok, so I'm sitting in Simon LeSieur's livingroom. That in itself is not so strange, the strange part is that noone from Simon's family or Simon are here. I'm at the apartment all by myself with a set of keys.

Later today I am singing at the wedding of the lovey Krista Tuininga. This wedding is taking place in Exeter, Ontario (north of London). As I am part of the ceremony it was required of me to be around for the rehearsal. In my infinite wisdom I had decided that I would drive back to Hamilton after the rehearsal. Stupid me, I forgot about jet lag and its oh so fun dizzy spells. So driving two hours from the rehearsal, hanging around in Hamilton, getting ready there, driving two hours back for the wedding and then driving two hours back to the Hammer after started to sound like a very bad idea. A solution would be to stay in the London region..but alas most of the people I know from this region are attending or are IN the wedding of Rachel and Jason in Hamilton today. Arg, what is a girl to do? Well, you call up your buddy Simon, explain that you have just spent 5 weeks with him and wouldn't it be awesome to have me stay at his house. And then your buddy Simon tells you to come on over! Hooray.

So I wake up this morning to find out that Simon and his Mere have to leave around 11am, and that is way to early for me to have make-up hair and dress done, so I figure I have to find somewhere else to get ready..but no, that Smit/LeSieur hospitality extends even further, and they leave me to lock up their place for them. Oh Jesus, you provide when I need!

If you see me at a wedding today give me a poke, 'cause I may be asleep standing up.

Back on Canadian Soil

Hey all,
We landed late last night and are safe and sound in Toronto. I'm just waiting here being debriefed and looking for my parents. My Mom says sweet corn is in season and that she picked a pail of yellow beans, so I'm going to have fresh veggies for supper, oh baby!

I'll try and get some real stuff up here soon, I need to recover from get lag and dial up internet at my parents'.

Call me in Brighton for the next few days, or in Hamilton for the weekend. The cell will be back on my person after this afternoon.

I Always Have To Find Out the Hard Way

So we took our first round of malaria meds yesterday. No problem, I've been on the same ones before. Should be good.

My family is still all around and doing things after this weekends celebrations for my Grandpa's birthday. So we had a bonfire at my parents' house. I had four drinks. Only four. Not four with supper, four with dessert and four at the fire. Just four. Four drinks should do very little to me.

But I only had two meals and less than four hours sleep, so I could understand when it started to hit me a little harder. Then around 2am I decided to pack it in and call it a night. I was feeling pretty queasy, but not too worried because I do not vomit after drinking (especially after 4 drinks).

I get ready for bed, and then I puke, I go to bed and then I puke, I puke twice in the night and a few times this morning. And I think, what on earth is wrong with me!! Then my Mom comes up to me and says, "I was reading the papers that came with your malaria medication and they say to avoid drinking alcohol."

Opps!

Coalition for the Extermination of Dial Up Internet

I'm leaving for my parents' place in about an hour. I'll be there till we leave. So if you need to get a hold of me, do it there. Need the number? Email me.

Once I leave the country I'll likely only update the India blog. So check there. Though, if I have funny off colour stories to post, they will exist here! Whoot!

Keep yourselves safe and single till I get back. And then we'll party and pray like its no body's business!

Which Is More Expensive?

After being informed of my roommate Marleah's happy news (see previous post - i'm not linking it for you - you can scroll down there you lazy thing you) I got to thinking....

I discovered that since I moved out of my parents house in the fall of '01 I have always lived with at least one person who was a smoker or engaged or both.

And yet, I am neither. I wish I was better at math so I could break down some stats about that. Then next year when I'm needing new roommates I can let them know how likely they are to either start smoking or get engaged.

If you're thinking about living with me next year maybe you should start saving your money (ack...i sound like the ING guy! DUTCH!! ack!)for cigarettes or a wedding.

The Cat Is Out of the Bag

Marleah Moelker is engaged! She and her boyfriend Tim got engaged last week. Whoot, whoot, whoot!

They have started a blog that will document their progress as an engaged couple. So, check their blogs, check the new blog.. but whatever you do, make sure you offer you congratulations!

Over 200

I'm over 200 posts in two days short of six months. Not that Blogger would tell me that - my dashboard says I've been at 91 posts for three weeks now...grumble

So to honour myself I'm going to pick out a few highlighty type posts that you can revisit should you choose.

Skittles and Healing
The Aforementioned List
Plug and Play
For Gideon - My Christmas Adventure
From A Close Friend
Brains Please
Fantasy
Open Letter
A throw out to...
Couldn't Decide
Beat Poetry

A Poem

i see you moon & you wink
the stars twinkle and laugh
all at me, the fool

you share your light
but not your love
enough to tempt & tease

i share contempt & hate
you see inside my heart
and you see it empty

-me

Volleyball or RJ's Killer Over Hand Serve

Yesterday after church I joined the beach volleyball crew for the first time. It was excellent fun and a had an awesome time. I did find it funny that the only two girls there were both named Laura (and we rocked the court!).

Today I am so very sore. In retrospect it may not have been the wisest decision to bike to the school, play volleyball for almost 3 hours and then bike back against the wind. Especially since I hadn't really played vball since highschool - and when I play things I play them hard. My body prints were ALL OVER the sand.

Also today I have some bruising on my fore arms. I'd call that the courtesy call of Ben Goheen and Rob Joustra with their killer serves!

I'll see you guys on the court when I come back in August!


All of those little red marks are broken blood vessels.

Fun Times @ The Tiki Party!

Mel, Laura and Kate: shaken, not stirred. Notice the awesome lights at the top of the pic


We're a tiki totem pole!


I dunno?!? I guess you have to be this photogenic to be a manager at the Pita Pit

Pictures courtesy of Mel

Relationships

Sometimes I really hate how relationships have to change. Like when someone used to live 30 seconds away, and then 5 minutes and then across the world..but then they move back but they're still kinda far away and you wish that they still lived 30 seconds away. Or if they only are on the other side of the country and you know you'll be able to see them in relative soonness, but the relation of that soon is dependent on your mood and how much you miss them at any given moment. Sigh.

Tiki Party

I have to say that I am a little excited. I am going to a Tiki Party tonight. It couples also as a birthday party for my lovely pita rolling pal Melissa. She is 21 today...anyway back to this party...

Melissa's Dad has gone ALL out for this gathering. He built a palm tree out of a birch tree and palm leaves (or something like that), he put beige carpet around the tree to make it look like sand. There are tiki torches, a kiddie pool that has lights, and a spiked punch complete with floating gummy sharks! Baby! I am pumped for this.

I stopped by Dollarama to pick up a few 'accessories', ask me for pictures sometime.

Party On!

ps I cannot wait to see Melissa and her Dad's girlfriend Diane in their shell bra's...sweet..I'm jealous.

I said it and then i couldn't believe that i said it...

About a song that came on the radio at work:

"it just makes me want to take off my shirt and put on roller skates.

whatever.

I finally get to annouce someone

I would like to present my first Pita Pit convert to blogging: Melissa Steep. Please welcome her into the blogging community, clap, clap, clap...

It Cuts Me Deep!

My guitar is f'd. And you know what? I'm tired, I'm PMSing and I smell like meat, so if I want to say f'd then I'm going to say f'd! F'd, f'd, f'd! Hold me in the highest contempt. I don't care.

The tuning peg (like the whole bloomin' peg) for my G string (insert G-string jokes here) is wrecked. And that hurts me. It means I can't practice...

I should back up. The plastic part of the peg was cracked, I made a note of it and was going to have it fixed when I took it in to the 12th Fret for its yearly(ish)tune up. Then I remembered that I really needed to change my strings before Rachel and Jason's Stag and Doe. So I change les strings. I go to tune the next day and the plastic thing breaks off. Merr. I follow that up with a series of bone-head moves to tune the guitar and end up essentially crushing the metal. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So like I said I can't practice for the S&D, but that leaves me without a 'tar. And cod sarn it I want my guitar! I was fretting about what to do, and this fretting in my own special style was of course out loud - to Marleah and her boyfriend and many others...anyway.. Tim says he can get a buddy's Norman for me to use for Thursday and Friday! Well I'll get it Thursday night and I have to work all day Friday but you know...So I'm glad for that but..

It hurts that my guitar is sick. I don't like it when its sick. Its like a part of me is sick. Oh sickie! Lamentations, lamentations!

I'm dumb. The end.

Its After Midnight So....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL BREIMER!!

You = Awesome
Me = Privileged to be your friend
Everyone = Blessed by you

For Father's Day?

Comb Over Cap
Item No: 39171
Price: $14.98
Item is in stock

Red cotton brim with flesh-colored latex top and "stylish" comb-over effect is guaranteed to get laughs--great over-the-hill gag! Adjusts to fit geezers of all sizes!

From: Things You Never Knew Existed

The Up/Down Dichotomy

Sometimes I have to laugh at nature's joke on Hamilton - the Niagara escarpment. It is no mountain that is for sure (though I have an email in to a sciency friend to see just what the requirements are to attain mountain status).

I think I would have liked to have been around when Hamilton was starting out. Who decided to make the place on top of the hill and at the bottom of the hill the same town? And then you've got Ancaster and Dundas which are almost like little mirrors of each other (with Dundas being much more awesome). It all seems a little ridiculous.

As I was driving to church yesterday I wondered how many businesses would be redundant (and eliminated) if the escarpment flattened out. Also, since there is hoards of housing development going on top of the mountain would there be an extra 100,000 people in Hamilton? Since there is a big bump in the city, taking up space, do you think that they'll try and find a way to make more houses of the slanty variety - right on the escarpment?

Just ponderings.

Cute

This was a messenger conversation between my Mom and I:

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
when dad wakes up you should tell him that he needs to change your online name

Chad Sexington sez: "I wish it would quit raining, and I'll probably regret saying that before the summer is over." says:
yes..how canI do it?

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
ok...you there is the little MSN Messenger icon at the bottom right hand of your screen

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
do you see the icon? it will be a little grey bust of a person

Chad Sexington sez: "I wish it would quit raining, and I'll probably regret saying that before the summer is over." says:
hey i found it

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
double click on it

Chad Sexington sez: "I wish it would quit raining, and I'll probably regret saying that before the summer is over." says:
i did

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
did a "window" pop up?

Chad Sexington sez: "I wish it would quit raining, and I'll probably regret saying that before the summer is over." says:
yes

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
excellent. near the top of that window you'll see your online name

Chad Sexington sez: "I wish it would quit raining, and I'll probably regret saying that before the summer is over." says:
yes

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
right beside it, to the left will be a little white box with a tiny downwards arrow in it

Chad Sexington sez: "I wish it would quit raining, and I'll probably regret saying that before the summer is over." says:
yes I see it

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
click on it, a menu will come down. choose "Personal Settings"

I'm the Mom, and I say LARGE poutines give you big time drop ass!! says:
ok I typed a new name lets se what happens

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
it worked!

I'm the Mom, and I say LARGE poutines give you big time drop ass!! says:
it WORKED!! IT WORKED!

I'm the Mom, and I say LARGE poutines give you big time drop ass!! says:
I'm so cool!!

!Schenectady! straw hats and fanny packs says:
this is the truth!

Updated Info on the Stag and Doe, Yo!

(pasted from an email....)

RACHEL AND JASON’S CONCERT STAG AND DOE!!!



The marvelous RACHEL EPPS and the stunning JASON LEGG are soon to be married!



On June 18th,

there’s going to be a HUGE party, and YOU want to be there!



The evening features a BBQ starting at 6:30pm, lots of FANTASTIC games, and an amazing CONCERT starting at 8pm!

This gala is in the wonderful Dylon Nofziger’s backyard, so you will want to come prepared with lawn chairs. The event is also BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze), but there will be lots of delicious refreshments available at the party. The concert features amazing musical talent, such as the great tunes of James Blomendaal, Laura Stewart, Ashley Hayman, Mikey Arce, Nathan Martin, Ben Goheen, and Mira Ponomarenko!

So buy your ticket today! Tickets are $8 and we would love it if you bought them in advance from Mira Ponomarenko at 905-304-6510, Ashley Hayman at 519-622-8026, or Dylon Nofziger at 905-304-9145.

Directions to Dylon’s backyard:

-from the 403 (and/or QEW… just take the QEW to the 403 Brantford):

Take the Garner Road exit. Turn left onto Garner/Rymal Road. Just before the Redeemer University College building, turn left onto Kitty Murry Lane. The house in on the right, and is #421.

-from the LINC take the Garth St exit. Turn away from the lake (if you’re going East take a left) all the way down Garth Street. Almost at the end, turn right on Garner Road/Rymal Road. Just past Redeemer University College, turn right on Kitty Murry Lane, and Dylon’s house is # 421.

Soon and Very Soon

I just wanted to say that its 2 weeks and one day until Marie Stevens and Lorraine Dykstra are back in Canada. I will be glad when they are. I have missed them greatly.

Something I Love (notice the sarcasm)

Something I love is when my co-workers choose to go out in large group and get trashed. And on their way out they have to stop into the store and on their way back they have to stop in at the store (at which point they put their face all over the window we just cleaned and then start humping the window which we just cleaned the face print off of).

Then surprisingly when they all have to come into work the next day they do a shitty job all day and ask others to come in early and cover for them because they aren't feeling well. So then when I come in (with my other evening staff) we are behind on all of the work and have to bust our butts to catch up.

I love it. I just love it.

Duty

As a dutiful roommate it is my job to inform you that Marleah Moelker turns 21 tomorrow (June 9, 2004). So please feel free to bombard our house with phone calls and gifts of a celebratory nature. You may also wish to bombard her inbox or the comment system on her blog.

Happy Birthday Mar!

I love it when my mom sends me emails while she is on drugs...

bg info: abby is one of our cats, and my mom has to take drugs for her back issues, she also went to the dentist today

----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Stewart
To: Laura Stewart
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 6:32 PM
Subject: abby just walked in front of the screen


At least she still love me. Dad held her this morning and I tried real hard to get some hair balls combed out of her. Man her yeowled and cried and flattened her ears and got all hot...but she still love me tonight. Gotta love the animals huh!
My teeth hurt but my ear is not blocked any more. In fact my teeth are clean and so are both ears.!!
I hurt and burn in the legs tonight too. Johnny gave me a couple of Tylanol3 and gravol about 15 min ago so that will make me feel better.
I love you.
Mom

A Trip To Bramladesh (aka Brampton)

Yesterday Dylon Nofziger and I took off after lunch to see fellow India team member and awesome cool girl, Alaina Frankruyter. Fun times were guaranteed, and we were not disappointed.

We (Dylon, Alaina, Sandy Newbigin and Dean Schat {the horse}) had many an adventure. These included: making horse calls to other horses, tormenting craft show participants, buying three way toooooo large frosters, taking pictures at the corner of Van Kirk and Van Scott (agh the dutch are everywhere), the small goose/gosling debate, playing catch by the pond, deep conversations with Sandy Newbigin, spraying me with feta, yummy hamburgers, fresh eclairs, Neptune, Patcholi, Fred, Lavermint & Peppendar, and learning how women have no place on the g.o.l.f course.

Also on our way to return a movie we drove through Alaina's old neighbourhood, which is also James Bloemendal's neck of the woods. So in my bold fashion I pounded on Jimmy's door and spent the next half an hour with him, Christy and the rest of our posse. I think he was surprised to have three Redeemerites show up at his door. Sucker.

It would have been a perfect day if not for my stupid head which left me nauseous and quite for most of the night. A little vomiting, some drugs and a night's sleep helped with that.

Amen.

Link

I created another blog just for the India trip. So whilst I/we are gone and you want to see if I'm still alive you can go to: http://namastenamaste.blogspot.com

I will only be able to update it when I have internet access (duh), and I have NO idea how often that will be.

Cheers.

A New Skill

Hello, this is part of keeping my summer blog warrior status. Everyone can post pics but me. It was embarrassing! So I tried that Hello picture thing. It was scary and wierd. I thought I'd try the old fashioned way. But where would I host my pics? Ah my "personal web space" at sympatico. Excellent.

So this is a pic of me before leaving for Andrea Winslow's (nee Kraay) wedding. Note that even though I have two contacts in, my eyes are two different colours.

Throwing Vegetables or Streaking, I Couldn't Decide

The lovely PM, PM was in the hammer today. In fact he was in Westdale doing a walk about. A very thrilling event indeed for west Hamilton.

Though I'm not sure the commuters enjoyed having traffic interrupted by a campaign stop. His bus was parked almost in the middle of Westdale's busiest intersection. Plus the police cars, news vehicles and body guards furthered the congestion.

I will admit that I called my parents to tell them that I could see the Prime Minister from the front window of the Pita Pit. And our store owner waited with the crowd for Mr Martin to come off his bus, in hopes that he could convince the Prime Minister to come to the store for a pita. His efforts were in vain.

Thinking

Ok, so I've said time and time again that I'm not a thinker. And I mean that in the sense that I don't sit around thinking about theories or relations. But I will state that I do think, a lot.

In fact I have a problem where I can't stop thinking. I know to those who don't know me very well I can seem pretty laid back and casual. But the truth is that I am super anal retentive. SUPER retentive. My bum is actually twice the size it appears to be, but its so tight that it looks smaller.

I am the type of person who likes to have her ducks in a row. It makes me nervous and unsure when they aren't. This used to be a much larger problem then it is now. As a maturing Christian I have been learning to trust that God with take care of my ducks in His own way.

But still I think. And think. And think. Mostly I am preparing for things in my head. I try to think of my activities for a day and what I might encounter while doing those activities and how I'll need to react and such. Its very tiring.

My friend Daryl tried to challenge me on it and said that it was a pride thing. I don't think it is. I think if it was about pride than I would be more outwardly organized and I would be doing different activities.

I think that rather than pride it is an issue of fear and confidence. That if I am not prepared for all things then I may let someone or more likely myself, down. So then I must be prepared for everything. Nice logic.

I do try to curb this thinking. A lot of it can happen at night. So, I rely on my trusty PC to pump out a couple of episodes of the Simpsons to distract me and laugh me to sleep.

I am aware that I am not the only one who cannot get their brain to shut off. Weigh in...

Deep Question

After I get married will people still call me Stewie?

A throw out to...

Fro Yo. Mmmmm baby I love that frozen yogurt. Baby, baby, baby. It hurts me bad, but I loves it anyway. (damn you milk products!)

Dear Fro Yo,
I love you a lot. I know that my monetary situation dictates that we don't see each other often enough. So I wanted you to know that I will always love you, no matter what you do to my stomach or colon.

My favourite parts of you are peach and blueberry. Oh Fro Yo, you're just so awesome. Why do you have to tempt me so? Thank you for being the way you are, even if you are a dangerous rebel. I thank God for you (seriously).

Please have a good day,

Love and Licks,

Laura Stewart

Sparkle Gel

Many moons ago my hair was quite short and most days I gelled it. As a gift one year my Mom bought me blueberry sparkle gel. I really like blueberry and she really likes things that sparkle. This gel was fine in my short easily managed hair. I loved to put it in for special occasions.

Then I grew my hair out. And after awhile I had dreads put in. I had these dreads for the banquet in first year and to spice them up my unknowing self put the blueberry sparkle gel onto the dreads. Let me tell you I was finding sparkles for months afterwards.

So the gel went into storage. Until Saturday night when I had a spontaneous urge to gel my hair. Out came the sparkle gel, but the memories of what a pain in the ass it is didn't come with it.

By the end of the night I was covered head to toe in sparkles and I am still finding them in the oddest of places.

There should really be a sparkle gel awareness website.

An Early Morning Shout Out!

Today's first kudo (can you have one 'kudo'?) goes to Katrina Jane Meerveld (or Quatrain Marbled).
She is:
a)awesome
b)beautiful
c)one heck of a friend
d)super observant
e)always willing to go the distance
f)sacrificial
g)giving
h)set on God
i)smart
j)hard working
k)kind
l)gentle
m)a great hugger
n)generous
o)funny
p)very musical
q)consistent
r)with a good head on her shoulders
s)compassionate
t)crazy enough to be roommates with Melissa Kuipers!
u)a good sister
v)a loving daughter
w)a willing employee
x)really hospitable
y)dedicated
and z)just great and i love her lots!

Way to be awesome Kat!!

A Report/Reflection On My Weekend Preaching experience

So in previous post I mentioned that I would be leading the service and doing the sermon at my parents' church on Sunday. Well Sunday is now over and the preaching has happened.

I spent 18 years attending this church. Both of my parents have served as stewards and elders during this time period. My Grandparents, my Uncle Peter and my great Aunt Doris also attend the church. I know this church in side out and receive very regular updates on the happenings regardless of if I have requested them.

I also have a strong dislike for this church. I find it very dead and unwilling to grow. During my time there I tried in many ways to facilitate anything, with very limited results.

So when an oppourtunity came to speak to the people who claim they have raised me I jumped at it. Though after I wondered what I may have got my self into. How do you tell a group of people that you love dearly (though often want to strangle) that they need to be hit in the face with the 2x4 of God?

After some prayer and thought I decided on a theme of unity. I picked Eph 4 to speak on and tried to emphasize the need for them as a congregation to come together and act as one body; that they needed peace. I came from the angle that they were rooted in the historical mission of the Church and couldn't abandon that for petty bickering. I also tried to encourage them to encourage each other more, and to recognize the gifts that lay within the congregation itself.

I was afraid that I would end up at the back of the church at the end of the service shaking peoples' hands to silence and dirty looks. But I got so much positive feedback. A lot of people said they had a lot to think about, others really liked the historical aspect, and one tight-assed farmer told me he got goosebumps.

God is great! I was seriously scared about the outcome of delivering this message. I knew it had to be said, and who better than I to say it, but whoo Lordy am I ever glad it went over well. God really opened some hearts and ears.

Now lets all hope I never preach again.

Kudos or Props

I was thinking that I need to give a shout out to more things than I do. I complain a lot in my posts so lets positize this thing up a bit:

Today's Props go out to:

Sarah Vaughn and her magnificent voice. She has one of the greatest gifts of phrasing that I have ever heard. Her music is like butter for the ears. She also seems to have great arrangements too. Whoot.

My Mom and her ability to procure anything second handed. I was in need of curtains, a microwave and a toaster for my new place. And for a grand total of 20$ I now have all three. Way to go Mom.

Tough Weekend To Be A Farmer

This weekend my Dad and Uncle had to shoot our very best cow (for those in the know she was classified as Excellent), another cow aborted and another cow went down (meaning she couldn't get up) right before calving. Though she gave birth successfully and after a lot of phosphorus and potassium she is up again.

Remind me not to marry a farmer.

You better

Bierma's Mom just got diagnosed with cancer. You better pray for her, or I'll punch you in the neck.

Make or Break

Before I became a manager I never realized how much the people you are working with for a shift can make or break that shift. I mean its always awesome to work with fun people. But if those people are slow as dirt, well it brings the shift down.

At the Pita Pit things are slightly slower in the summer due to the lack of university students. So most shifts only have two people working them. A manager, and a normal staff person. This puts some pressure on the manager. They are responsible for EVERYTHING, and there is a lot for two people to do.

Ok, so where is this little rant going? There is an employee that I work with a lot, who is one of the sweetest people I know. But he is slower than anything that you can think of that is slow. And I have to babysit him. He's been working at the store for a while now, and works mostly the same shifts, so he should know the routine. But I am constantly having to urge him to do things and to pick up the pace so we can get customers out in a timely manner. Agh.

If I was regular employee girl it wouldn't matter so much, I could just work hard, try to pick up some of his slack, whatever. But when there is only the two of us, and I am responsible for the entire store and its functions, then it makes a difference. I can't just trust him to do what needs to be done. Argh.

I think I need to talk to him about it, or to one of the general managers, 'cause I may have a break down over this guy. Whatever, a month and a few weeks till India.

Love.

A Trend I'll Go With

create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide


This will be accurate after August 11, 2004.
You Dutch kids should be familiar with the red fleck in Europe ;)

Only in the United Church

I've explained the history of my home church to some of you before. Its kinda weird and lengthy, if you want to ask me about it you can.

Anyway, there was a bit of a witch hunt this past winter and a good chunk of the congregation was hunting the pastor. Things happened, rulings were made and things were supposed to be settled. The pastor had to take all of these classes, and do essays and crap like that, all while pastoring two churches. Well lo and behold, she is stressed-to-the-limit and her doctor has ordered her to take two months off.

So the church is taking care of sermons for the first month. I am leading the service and delivering the sermon this coming Sunday. (evil laugh) Here's to hoping that God speaks some sense to them through me.

Jesus, God, Bible?

Looking at the cover for the order of service for the wedding we were at:

Dharshika: (reading the cover) "On this day I will marry my friend", shouldn't it say best friend? She's marrying her best friend.

Laura: No stupid, Jesus is her best friend. She's not becoming a nun!

Pics

I put some recent webcam shots on my Webshots site. You can check them out here.

Relax

So I went to another Redeemer wedding yesterday. One of many happening this summer. One of many past, present and future. Its a great relationship breeding ground.

It seems that when talking with friends recently at some point the conversation ends up at marital status, or something on personal philosophies about the opposite sex. There is really nothing wrong with this.

But does anyone else feel a weird sort of pressure? The pressure to be paired. I mean its not really there. No one is actually applying it. Though there are many of us that feel it. I should note that it is a specific type of "us". The single "us".

I had a great chat with a friend this weekend about singlehood and the like. She made a great note. She said that her friends at secular universities are not nearly as captivated by the marriage/love finding thing. They are comfortable with being in their early to mid twenties and being "alone".

That really hit home to me that I get easily caught up in the MRS degree fever. That I see all of these couples getting married (most of whom are younger than I) and my nesting syndrome kicks in double time. Why?

After talking to God about it, He really just told me to relax, "easy Nitro!" I am only weeks away from being 23, there is loads of time to pick up an intended. Why must I have my 'man'dar (like radar only sexier) on all the time and have it searching so hard? Seriously, I need to relax.

Maybe if I wasn't always pushing my agenda instead of going with God's I'd that I'm being called to a celibate life, or that I have so much to do before I find a husband, or that He and I have some things to work on. There are a million things I'm deaf to hearing because I'm trying to shove myself into a formula that was developed for someone else. I have my own formula.

Just relax Stewie, just breathe.

Endless Amusement

Oh spell check, you're so funny:

Katrina = quatrain
Meerveld = marbled
Peterborough = featherbrained (whatever!)
Dharshika = (nothing)(suckers)
Kraay = Karachi

I love you Quatrain Marbled, I'll see you on Friday.

What A Terrible Idiot Am I!!

Next week has new hope. I am so silly. How could I forget even for an instant that I will be spending time with the beautiful Naomi.

Maybe you should pray for me if I can forget something like that. Tisk, tisk, shameful.

Oh What A Beautiful Morning

Sleep till 8. Lounge till 9. Make a big pot of Earl Grey, sign up for long distance service, eat some girl guide cookies, fill out visa applications for India and revel in the new fact that my brother is back in Brighton. Ah this morning, life is good.

Last night I picked flowers out of my back garden and then spent the rest of the evening in fellowship with some cool people. And the cool people train is going to keep on rolling! What fortune I have to get off work early enough to catch part of the choir bbq! And it gets better; Friday daylight is to be spent with the lovely Katrina Meerveld, Friday evening my friend Kim is coming to visit me. Kim is one of those awesome married with kids type people. I don't see enough of her, but living in Peterborough will do that. The train doesn't stop at Kim though. Also on Friday night Dharshika comes into town so that on Saturday we can go to Andrea Kraay's wedding. Wahoo.

I feel bad for next week, as it will sadly be unable to even compare itself to this week. There, there next week, its ok, stop your crying.

Pre, For sure Pre!

So my grandparents have decided that its time to downsize. By downsize I mean they are going to move to a retirement residence. Part of this process is weeding through their belongings, deciding what to keep, what to sell and what to give away. They've been working for a week and a half and have barely made a dent. (Note to self, don't acquire so much stuff)

Anyway, in the stuff they have been going through there are things they want to remain in the family, so there has been divvying (is that how you spell that?) going on. My Mom garnered for me some of my grandmother's old toys.

The toys consist of a a broom and a mop. The broom is actually more like a carpet sweeper and comes with a replacement head. The mop comes with floor oil.

Now I don't count myself to be much of a feminist, but I can't help but gasp at how pre-feminist revolution a mop and floor oil are as toys for a little girl. Oy.

This is my brother's media shot for his university baseball team 

Work

Hey kids,
So I got what looks like my work schedule until I leave for India. Thought I'd share it with you in case you were ever thinking of doing something with me.

Mon - Thurs: 5pm-10pm
Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat: 11pm-close (4am plus cleaning)

It may may shift a little here and there. Ie working will 11pm or starting at 4pm or whatever. And this set schedule starts on Monday the 17th.

Now you know.

Hy, My Name Is...What!

My entire life I have been under the impression that my last name is easy to spell. There are only 7 letters, its fairly common and growing up most of the people on my road shared that same last name (no, I'm not from Dunnville).

The most difficult thing about my name is that there are two different spellings of it. EW and UA, I don't mind defining which one it is. Not a challenging thing. Or so I thought.

It wasn't until I came to Redeemer that I discovered that in reality my name is uber hard to spell. I guess hanging out with Christian kids adds another version to the spelling list. One that ends in D.

So I'm here to set the record straight. My last name is spelled: Stewart. My preferred spelling of my nickname is Stew(ie). Please no Stu, or Stuart, or Steward. I understand that you really have know way of knowing which way it is spelled and I can't be mad. But if you read this, just tuck it away in that brain of yours and next time you're writing my name, please spell it correctly.

I think that if I can adapt to spelling Vander van De Huizingspaalmenstrasma correctly, you can learn my name.

Thanks :)

On a happy note

My brother comes back to Canada in 3 days!

Sometimes you feel foolish

It had been a while since I'd had a major crush. Then one night it hit me that I was falling for this guy. I explored those feelings and developed a first class crush (I'm totally crushing!). I did some normal girly things and flirted my face off, tried to encourage any feelings he might have for me, tried to get to know him better. Of course I didn't do anything straightforward like tell him about my feelings. And now I'm glad I didn't. For the the other day I found out, that indeed he is totally crushing on another girl.

Agh, my heart. I cried a little, and with this post I officially move on.

Count to 10 and then think

This is a rant.

If you go into a restaurant or a store and for some reason you think the prices are too high, the place should be organized differently, the furniture should be clear..anything operational about the place...please think about who you share those things with and how you choose to share it.

Yelling at a kid wearing a visor and apron (or any other uniform) is not going to get you anywhere. I hate to tell you but, that kid can't do a thing about the price of the product. If you have a problem take it up with the owner, the head of the franchise chain, anyone other than the poor sap who is making much less than you do, and is serving you.

Thank you.

My Thoughts On It

(listening to Isabelle Boulay - mmmm, finally own one of her CDs)

I went on choir tour. And I'm not sure how I can convey the experience to anyone who has never done such a thing. It has been equated to a week at camp or a retreat and everyone gets all close and high on the experience. There are a lot of good things about that comparison, but it doesn't do a good tour full justice.

There is something different about touring with a choir that will keep going. You will see so many of these people again in the fall and start working towards building a group that can worship God to its fullest capacity. As a group you can draw on the experiences of the previous tour. When you are tired or frustrated you can remember Edmundston and Grenville, you can remember the beauty of that worship, you can remember and see what the choir (with God) is capable of.

With those things in mind you can keep in sight that choir is not about being yelled at (A,B), soaring solos (S,T), classes or filling seats. When you have looked into the eyes of moved audience member or graduating student you know that it is all about our beautiful Creator God, and He is awesome.