Opportunities and Overwhelmed

This is just a quick update and hello to the world of blogging. I can tell you that as I write this I am taking a brief break from finishing up some of the hundred or so things I have to get done this week, and am feeling a little bit crazy. We've been having a week full of rehearsals with worship teams, creative movement, new songs etc...and that takes its toll as well as sermons to write, orders of service to prepare and upcoming assignments that are due. I can honestly say that even now I have never felt so fulfilled as I do right now. That thought makes me shake my head and wonder about my sanity but even in the moments where I could sit down and cry from my to do list I still feel a certain degree of peace that this is where God wants me to be.

I will be fortunate enough to be able to go to the Olympics in Vancouver come February and that is an extremely exciting prospect. I think it's going to be a wonderful time of learning and experiencing. Seeing the many ways the Salvation Army participates in large events will certainly be good for me.

Today was also the day to find out our Winter Assignments. This is an opportunity for us to participate in the many Christmas activities in and around the corps and other services of the Salvation Army around the country. I was thrilled to find out that I am heading to New Westminster, BC for 10 days and am looking forward to the many opportunities I will have there. I will also be praying for my session mates and the Prayer Warriors as they head into their various assignments.

So, I'm overwhelmed with opportunities here and most days...it's a good thing :).

Family Visit/Thanksgiving Weekend

Well, it was a great Thanksgiving weekend here as my family all showed up in Winnipeg to celebrate my grandparents 80th birthdays and 55th wedding anniversary. I was very pleased to see my two youngest cousins who I haven't seen since they were toddlers and aunts and uncles who I don't get to see very often. Oh and I got to see my dad too which was okay ;).

As we spent the weekend going from meal to meal I was given ample time to reflect on the many things I have to be thankful for. For family who is close and gets together at least every few years. For being able to go out for dinner and have my choice of food. For freedom of religion that we can all worship Christ together at church, and many other things.

I was of course thrilled to have my family from Calgary all come in....yes all 6 of them drove out, and this made my month. In the past 18 months or so I have spent a great deal of time with them and have really missed them these past two months. Getting to spend two whole days with them really cheered me up. It was very hard to say goodbye but I know no matter what happens, they'll always be there to puncture my ego and remind me of my roots :). Love you guys!!!

Welcome Weekend

Well, I'm now official. This past weekend was the official march in for the 2009 Ambassadors of Holiness session for the College For Officers Training. I was overwhelmed by the feelings that assailed me as I marched down the centre aisle and was met by the territorial commanders, and as I watched my session mates do the same thing.

The weekend began with a visit to each of the first years condos by Commissioners Francis, Majors Bond and Major Ivany. I was very pleased to see that they are willing to take the time and meet with each of us making it clear that their interest in us is vested and personal. Sunday morning was a chapel service for the cadets and their family/friends and the leadership of the Salvation Army that were in the city. There was an opportunity to hear testimonies from Joyce and Peter and I was given the opportunity to perform a creative movement piece with a second year cadet Elizabeth.

A little bit later in the day was the public service at Southlands where surrounded by members of the Salvation Army from all over we were welcomed into the session by the territorial commanders. The service was excellent with some more opportunities for participation including an interview of our flag bearer and a cello solo.

I was happy to have my Mom and Eric & Gilles there as well as a chance to get to see Fred and Wendy. These are all people who have influenced my Christian walk in many different ways and it meant a great deal to have them there for the two days.

Arrived

Well, it's yet another post for August, but if I'm going to write about being on my way to Winnipeg I have to write about arriving.

I made it into Winnipeg safe & sound on Friday. I have been spending the weekend shopping, setting up and generally moving in. I am also very fortunate to have a great deal of family in Winnipeg who are not at all mechanically inclined by still got the few pieces of furniture I had put together alright. Also, fortunately with my Dad & Glenda here for the weekend I was able to get out and do any and all shopping required and am now happy to say that I am well set up. I'm sure odds and ends will pop up along the way but for now...I have arrived.

Look for more posts as school gets going. I'm going to try to stick to my minimum of once a month but I am hoping for more as I start all this new stuff up.

On my way

Well, it's finally here, I'm actually on my way to training college now. The end of a long road of paperwork and steps is glaring me in the face. In a way I'm more excited about this then anything in my entire life. In another way I'm more nervous about this then anything in my entire life. I suppose those both make perfect sense and both are perfectly natural. This is a huge change that will encompass the rest of my life in one way or another no matter how it turns out.

For all that I've been living on my own for 10 years now I've never "left home" and now I'm doing it. I wonder if I'll break down when I realize that I will not be getting back in the van to come back to Alberta....we shall see. I am not the breaking down type of person so it's hard to say.

So here I go, continuing the journey that's brought me this far, and we'll see where the rest takes me.

Farewell Sunday

Well, I can't believe it, not only has my farewell Sunday come but now it's gone. It was both a really good day and a really sad one. I had an opportunity to speak and I talked about growing up in such a great church. Surrounded by people who love me and have always taken care of me. I have never been and never will be able to say that I have no one there for me and nowhere to go because there was always someone at Glenmore who would be there for me.

That response time was the only time I started to cry during the morning and those who know me will know that crying at all at something like this is unusual but it was a big day. After the service there was a time to chat and enjoy some great desserts and cake. I had a great time chatting with friends and family and getting an opportunity to say goodbye. There were lots of hugs, and laughs and memories. I will always miss these people but I know that they'll welcome me back for holidays, and visits no matter what happens.

I've included some pictures from the day.

My crazy family

My best friends

Cutting the cake

Response time

It may be a rut but it's all mine

Some people will tell you I'm in a rut, others will say that I am a creature of habit. Personally I say I'm just content. I am the person that tends to buy the same items at the same stores all the time. As I've been moving I started to wonder if they'd notice I was even gone.

Calgary is a bigish city and todays society is not focussed as much on customer service, so I think between those two items they probably won't notice one less customer no matter how regularly I buy items from their location.

I am excited to set up new habits, locations, items and stores in Winnipeg. It never takes me long to hunt up those haunts of mine. I remember when I was working in Australia for 3 weeks and within the first three days I had my routine firmly established. Now if that was somewhere I was living for only 3 weeks imagine if I'm there for 2 years. I might have my routine established in the first day - we'll have to see.

You may have guessed from the above that I'm not exactly thrilled about change in my life so I've been having feelings of extreme excitement warring with my inherent dislike of change. However, in my new quest to be more positive I've been focussing on the excitement and reminding myself that this gives me a great chance to make or break habits that need it.