if possible,

I would like to break free.
Into something new.
Something beautiful.

Oh, I will.
I know.
Soon...

truth in a small rhyme

Oh the things that I think and do and say.
The things on my heart which do not go away.
So perfectly clear and a muddled mess.
I am being put to a variety of tests.

you don't say

Recently I've been thinking on (keeping) secrets.

There's the kind you don't want anybody to know about. Ever.

Then there's the kind that aren't really bad per se; you just haven't shared it with anybody (or only a select crowd).
Maybe there's no point.
Maybe the right moment hasn't come up.
Maybe you're a closet fan of something.
Or somebody...

that's a lot of gladness

I'm glad I'm me.
I'm glad I have the friends I have.
I'm glad my family is pretty chill.
I'm glad I am a student.
I'm glad that I am given opportunites to grow.
I'm glad that I am challenged.
I'm glad I have the ability to love.
I'm glad my heart is so much a part of me.
I'm glad to see others happy.
I'm glad I smile so easily.
I'm glad God created humankind.
I'm glad music exists.
I'm glad that God gave me the ability to express myself.
I'm glad that I'm a B+ student.
I'm glad eyes are so beautiful.
I'm glad scarcasm exists. (I'm not being scarcastic. Really.)
I'm glad that we can try to live in harmony.
I'm glad babies are part of this world.
I'm glad that laughter is alive.
I'm glad we can be there for others.
I'm glad we can remember.
I'm glad God knows.
I'm glad we can be a student of the opposite gender and learn more all the time.
I'm glad we have so many people that love us.
I'm glad that the word encouragement exists.
I'm glad that God gives people special talents.
I'm glad photographs exist.
I'm glad for dancing like nobody is watching.
I'm glad for moments that take my breath away.
I'm glad my heart can pound.
I'm glad for God's faithfulness.
I'm glad that you can make plans.
I'm glad for colour.
I'm glad that honesty exists.
I'm glad that we can sing.
I'm glad we can have joy.
I'm glad that we can speak to each other.
I'm glad we can always learn more.
I'm glad that we can always have hope.
I'm glad we can dream.
I'm glad that we can surprise each other.
I'm glad we can pray 24/7.
I'm glad we can share experiences.
I'm glad you live and breathe.
I'm glad God is in charge.
I'm glad we can stand together.
I'm glad that hugs exist.
I'm glad that when we are weak, then we are strong.
I'm glad we can go crazy.
I'm glad we can have life to the fullest.
I'm glad that I can be glad.
I'm glad this list could go on for a long time...

"for when I am weak, then I am strong"

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7.

I thought I knew how camp would go and I thought I would be fine because I was an experienced counselor...
It was not to be that way.
Within 3 hours of campers arriving I was already stretched to a limit I had never reached before.

STRENGTH was the theme of my week. I was continuously asking God for it.
Also wisdom, joy and love to propel me forward and help me complete what I had been called to do.

Encouragement from my fellow counselor's and the staff surrounded me and if not for them, their words and the knowledge of God's presence beside me...I feel for sure that I would have burned out. I didn't though. I made it. Through prayer, perserverance and extreme dependence on the LORD. I came out on the other side with a smile on my face having conquored a battle.

Maybe I did loose myself to tears and laughter a few times merely because I had to let it out somehow...but God kept me together, in more than one way.

All in all it was a beneficial experience and I am so glad I was there. Obviously I needed to grow some more...

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf; be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

(P.S. I lost something.... )

oh, reality

Tomorrow, I go to Campfire! for another week of counseling.

(I like being able to type that, mean it and not just be wishfully thinking.)

I got that excited feeling...

deep into the night...

face to face, at the kitchen table.

there is nothing like a good heart to heart with a friend.
a chat like that is in a class of it's own.

life surrounding life

--/
Splintered again
How many more times
Will her heart be repairable?

Fighting so hard
How long will it be
Till he can run without hindrance?

Closed in so tight
Is anybody able
To get through to her?

On and on
Will he ever stop and look
Or will he keep breaking down?

His eyes stuck in her mind
Will she ever be able
To tell him "I love you"?

Knocked down
Will there be
A rescue for him?

All mixed up
Where in the world
Can she go, trust and spill it out?

Mesmerized from the first moment
Will there be an opportunity
For him to tell her she's beautiful?

They don't leave
Will these thoughts plaguing her
Ever beat a retreat?

So much pressure
Will the voices all around him
Finally cease to give an opinion?

We stand and then we fall
And then we stand again.

There is so much
life, surrounding life.

--/

(I just wrote this based on thoughts, things, events and people observed recently.)

EVERY

Because of the LORD's great love we are NOT consumed,

for His compassions NEVER fail.

They are NEW every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Yes, oh yes...sigh

Gilbert loves Anne of Green Gables

...and I do too.

I am back!
Back from the wonderfully beautiful province of Prince Edward Island.
Population, 140,400 (or something very close to that)

I could totally be persuaded to live there. It's just so different then Ontario. There is this feeling of close knit community and everywhere you go you are bound to meet someone who you know. There is a good balence of farm country, villages, towns and cities. And almost everywhere you turn you can see ocean. Ah!

My family went to see Anne and Gilbert the Musical (the sequel to Anne of Green Gables) It was their love story. And I definitely love a good clean love story so I was hooked from the opening song. I enjoyed it so much and have the soundtrack to remember it for many more days.

We also went to Summerside and Charlottetown and for a coupel drives along the coasts. We even made it to one end of the island and I walked as far as could and stood on the very tip and felt accomplished.

I love Anne of Green Gables and her whole story quite a bit so it was a joy to see into her forgettably fictious world that L.M. Montgomery created for her. We went to "the house" and it was quite lovely.

We also did a fair bit of shopping. Kathleen will not be spending much money on things she does not need for a while. :P

Downers were the mosquitos (there were SO many) and the wind which blew all night long almost every night. AGH! I kind of got used to the wind and got to the point I could sleep all the way through.

On the Sunday we were there, we attended the United Reformed Church of PEI. It is a relatively new church plant. It is near Charlottetown and a family who we met at AOC this year go there. Currently they meet in a small Presbyterian church and therefore have slightly odd services times. There are currently about 9 full time families and it is the only URC church on the island (hence the name, I suppose!)

On the way there we spent a day in Quebec City. AH, it's so beautiful as well! Simons is one of the best stores in the world and I wish they would bring it to Ontario. They are ahead of the trends so the clothes you can buy there are not like all the other stores around. I like that.

All in all it was a good trip and we were able to see all of my mom's family along the way. Which really isn't that much, but I learn the importance of family more and more all the time.

Now I bide my time while I wait for 2 weeks to go by till Campfire which I am beyond stoked about for more than 1 reason...