Great Day!

Today was the best day of my life! Why, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you. It started off with a good day at work. I got to take care of this 7 week old baby. She was so cute! Yeah, yeah. I know what most of you are thinking. Who cares? Right? But I do! I never get to take care of babies. And guess what her name was. Maliah! (Like Aleah, except with an "M"). There was also this little girl (about 7 years old) who brought with her a little Bible - it was actually the New Testament, like those little red ones they gave out at school. She was reading it to Maliah while she was sleeping. It was the cutest thing ever, and it was really cool, too. I asked her what she was reading and she told me and then she said that she wanted to read it everyday so that she could finish the whole thing. I just thought it was pretty amazing to see such a young kid saying stuff like that.

Then, I had two hours of in-car with my instructor. He's hilarious! It's always great driving. I went on the highway for the first time. That was exciting. Everyone was passing me though 'cause I was doing 110km/h and they didn't like that. But it's so much easier than I thought it would be. I can't wait until I get my license!

Then I went back to work again for another exciting time. (No sarcasm intended). I worked by myself (stupid Rustom!). But I have figured out a way to make kids listen to you and have fun at the same time. No one has figured that out yet at work, except Rustom. See, if you give them too many rules and yell at them all the time, they don't listen. Imagine that, eh? But see, everyone is always yelling at the kids and telling them to settle down or be quiet or don't do that, you might get hurt, type of deal. You know what? When there's more rules, the kids get hurt more. I only had one get minorly injured. And that's because they didn't listen to the ONE rule I had. But she was 3, so you can't really blame her. Haha. We (this 11 year old and I) were pushing the kids on the riding toys really fast around the daycare. It was great fun!

But that's not really why my day was the best. See, when you apply for OSAP, some people qualify for this scholarship, and I was one of them. So, I just checked the box, and I had completely forgot about it until today. I received a letter in the mail saying that I had just won a $3300 scholarship!! It was amazing!!! Sorry, I don't mean to brag or anything, 'cause I'm not trying to, but I was just SO happy! I told my mom that and she started laughing so hard and crying at the same time. It was great! (You have to know my mom to understand). So yeah. Praise God for that!

Anyways, I've rambled enough. Have a good night!

Sorry all. I haven't abondoned this blog or anything. It's just that I have nothing really to say. And I still don't have anything to say, I just thought I'd let you all know that.

The same old stuff is going on with me. Pretty much work. Today I worked a double shif anf it was brutal. In the morning it was pretty crazy and one of the parents left the door open and a baby escaped (I didn't know because there was so much going on) so this guy comes in and is all pissed off and is like, "Did you know there's a kid out here?" So I went and grbabed her and shut the door. Then tonight, my volunteer was taking all the kids to the foutain outside thr daycare door and her son ran out and one of the kids had to chase him in the mall to catch him because my volunteer was holding a baby and I was helping a girl who had just had an "accident" in the washroom. It's times like those when I don't like my job. But ah well. My work also screwed up my pay and cut 12 hours off my paycheque so I had to straighten that out, which was a pain.

School is in like two weeks! Like some of you, I'm xcited! Everyone assumes I'm nervous, but really I'm not! I have two classes with my friend from high school ad one class with Juliet. The class with Juliet is Religious Studies.....go figure, eh?! I still have to buy my books and pay the first deposit, in which I found out once I relaxed, was that I'm only a couple hundred short of the full tuition price, which is fine.

I watched three movies on the weekend. Actually, they were rented and they are kind of old. But the first was League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. My first impression of it was distorted due to the circumstance in which I was watching it. But, I actually like it now. I mean, it's not as good as say, Spiderman or something, but it was still pretty entertaining. The second was Daddy Daycare. Yeah yeah, be quiet. It was a "cute" movie. It was clean, which is surprising considering it was Eddie Murphey. I don't know if there were any "plotholes" in it, because that's not why I watch movies. It was fairly funny, but nothing special. The last was S.W.A.T. It was alright. I mean, the whole story line was kind of crazy. The action was okay and all. There was quite a bit of language in it, and the amazing part was that it wasn't all said by Colin Ferrel. I really didn't like the girl in the movie though. She was too tough for me. I don't know, maybe you guys like that or something but she was kind of creepy.

Anyways, not really a whole lot going on. Enjoy your night and go outside 'cause it's really nice!

London Outreach Centre

That's where we went this morning. It's located inside the Lamplighter Inn at Best Western on Wellington Rd. The service started at 10:30am, which wasn't the greatest thing for me, but hey, I got to sleep in. The worship started off the service and it was alright, but the first two songs they played I didn't know. I've heard better worship though, and they kept repeating the verses and choruses a lot, which I didn't really like because I didn't know the songs! But it was still good. They actually had a female drummer, which I have never seen before. She was good too. It was a little loud though because she was using real sticks in a smaller area. Probably smaller than Faith's sanctuary. It was funny because their worship team consisted of like five people because they only had one singer and he played guitar, so no, they had four people. Drummer, piano, singer/guitar and electric guitar.

The pastor was fairly good too. I enjoyed his sermon this morning. He's like Leonard, he takes a few Sundays to get through his sermons! He said he was going to be taking the next few Sundays to get through his topic. He spoke about building a personal relationship with God, and not just doing the rituals Christians do, but actually getting personal with God. He also touched base on the fact that Christians need to lighten up and have fun. That everything doesn't have to be spiritualised and we don't have to be reserved and all uptight about being Christian. That we need to go and have fun, that you don't need to pray before a baseball game or something like that, but he said he doesn't disagree with praying, it's just that some Christians have a tendency to become uptight in their faith, which is true. I thought that was pretty cool, because I know a couple Christians who are like that (none of you, don't worry). He was pretty funny too, making small jokes and what not about different small things, you know.

Overall, it was good, but it wasn't great. I'm still sticking with New Hope, because I like the worship better and I like the people better. Not to say London Outreach Centre had bad people, it's just they weren't my kind of crowd. I don't think there were any youth there. If there was, they were all under 12 and went to Sunday school. That's what I didn't like. They were all approximately 30 and over with small kids. So it didn't really appeal to me there. It looks like New Hope is still up there in the rankings.

For some reason this morning, for the first time in awhile, I really really missed Faith. Usually I'm alright because I see everyone and it's all good, but today, I just wanted to be at home in our church. What I miss the most is the worship team. You know, just fooling around and having fun and playing songs I like best. That's what I'm really missing. We weren't alone this morning because we went with the Clarkes, but I missed playing hockey and stuff after church. Because this morning, they all kind of left and there was no food, or fellowship or anything. But yeah. How are you all doing with church scouting?

Antwone Fisher

Wow, two in one day. It's a miracle.

Anyone see that movie? I think it's an incredible movie. For all of you who haven't seen it, it's about this guy named Antwone Fisher, obviously. He was born in the Ohio State Correctional Facility for women, since his mother was in jail and he was placed in an orphanage. He found out that just two months before his birth that his father was shot and killed by a girlfriend of his. He never even knew Antwone existed. Antwone's mother was supposed to come and claim him after she was released from prison, but she never came for him. He was placed in the care of Miss Tate, a single foster parent. He lived with two other boys, and some woman in her twenties. Regularly, Miss Tate beat the boys down in her basement and she would tie them to a metal pole and whip them in the back with a wet rag for the littlest things, such as putting fingerprints on the walls with their dirty hands. The boys would scream and wail, but she thought she was teaching them a lesson. Antwone soon figured out when they were going to have a good day or a bad day just by the cooking Miss Tate made in the mornings for breakfast. If it was eggs and bacon (or something like that) he knew he had to watch his back the entire day. If it was pancakes, then he was in for a good day. Pancakes weren't often made.

Also, Miss Tate didn't even call them by their names. She would call all three boys (excuse me for the language) Nigger. Each boy knew who she was calling just by the way she would say the word. Soon, Miss Tate didn't beat Antwone as often. She would tie him to the metal pole in the basement as usual, and threaten him with a stick lit on fire and she would wave it in his face, close to burning him, so as to teach him a lesson. Then she would put out the fire and keep him locked down there with no lights until morning. And this was no comfortable basement, either. It was one of those old, dark, dank, creepy basements.

One day, when Antwone was six, Miss Tate and the two other boys went out somewhere for a couple hours, and the young woman who lived with them was there to watch Antwone. He was scared of her because she also beat him. She also made Antwone do stuff with her and she would practically rape him, because if he didn't, then she would beat him. He was six and she was in her twenties! That's just a little disgusting if you ask me. Antwone got tired of it and he was scared, so he ran away to his friend Jesse's house and stayed with him for a bit. When he was older, he was kicked out of Miss Tate's house because she went to beat him with a shoe and he grabbed it away from her, but he didn't touch her with it. So, he lived on the streets and in shelters, wherever he could find a place to sleep. He stopped by Jesse's house again after a few years of not seeing him. Antwone and Jesse went to the store to buy some food or something like that, and Jesse pulled a gun on the store clerk. Antwone was trying to get him to stop and so Jesse turned around to talk to him and the store clerk pulled a gun out and shot Jesse in the head in front of Antwone. It was messy, too, so you could imagine how he felt.

After that, Antwone joined the U.S. Navy. He would get in fights and stuff with the other Navy Seals and so he was sent to a psychiatrist where he talked to him all about his past. After working things out and what not, the psychiatrist sent Antwone to go find his family, and he did and he ended up being alright and he had a beautiful girlfriend, yadda yadda.

This whole story was based on the actual life of Antwone Fisher, who still lives today. I just thought that his whole life was just amazing. I mean, people actually go through these things and have childhoods like his and sometimes even worse. I believe that Antwone Fisher was lucky to have come out of it alive and to have made something of himself. There's just so many people out there who have faced challenges like this and you hear about how all these hoodlums have done nasty things and gang war and rape, etc. But you rarely hear about, or see, the ones who come out alive and go above and beyond where they have come from. I just thought it was a spectacular movie and the story was just incredible. I recommend it to those who have not seen it. But, I just thought it was cool and it shows that even the most troubled person can succeed in life.

But what I don't get, is how these kids get placed in foster homes and such, with foster parents who beat their children and treat them like crap, and they don't even love them. I mean, why would anyone want to take in a child if they don't love them and if they don't care about their life? It's just more work for them, not to mention a lot more money for the cost of living and paying for their food and clothes, etc. So why do people do it? Why would they treat kids like that and take them in if they don't want them? I just don't get it. But anyways.

Have a good night!

Why??

Ugh. I just got a letter in the mail from the OSAP people and for some reason they re-evaluated my file because some changes were made (changes in which I did not make, so who knows what they're talking about) and now they're giving me less money!! They used to be giving me an extra $1000 or so dollars, but now, it doesn't even cover my tuition. Why the heck would they do that? Argh. Well, good thing I'm smart and have some money saved up. But still, it sucks.

I guess that's why prayer is good. Because people (or the governmental system) likes to screw people over! Sorry, I'm just a wee bit disappointed right now. AAHHH that makes me so mad! I had everything worked out and it was all good and now this happens and I want to hurt someone (not in the literal sense though). But then again, I guess this relates to my previous post and trusting in God and such. Anyways, I hope your day is better than mine! :)

God really does listen

For the past long time, I've been praying about something, and not really thinking that my prayers would be answered in such a way as they were. Just today, I was thinking about what I've been praying about, and right at that moment, my prayers were answered. It was amazing! That's never happened to me before, so it was cool. My parents told me that some anonymous person/people (I don't even know who they are, they didn't want me to apparently) had been praying and felt lead to do something for me, and it was awesome! The funny thing is, no one even knew I was praying about it. God really does work in mysterious ways. Also, the whole perfect timing thing works, too. It was just at the right, most precise moment, which I thought was quite miraculous! I just wanted to share that little inspirational thing with you just so you know prayer really does work and God is always there, even when you can't see Him or it feels like He's not, He is. He shows Himself through examples just like the one I said. So when you think He isn't listening, just remember the whole perfect timing thing, and know that God is ALWAYS there. I just thought I'd share that with you! Enjoy your night. :)

Driver's Ed

I had my first in-car lesson today. It was quite exciting, let me tell you! I was so nervous in the beginning because I didn't want to kill anybody and we had his two little boys in the back with us. First of all, the car was horrendous! The front tire was kind of low, so it pulled to the left; the engine was really loud and made a funny noise; the gas pedal took longer to gain speed; and the brake would bog everytime you used it, even if you were pushing lightly. But it kept my speed in check, which was good. Surprisingly enough, I went really slow! This is amazing, because usually I have trouble driving at least the speed limit. I drove about 40km/h through my area (I usually do like 60km/h) and on roads posted at 60km/h, I drove live 5km/h under and everywhere else actually. But, to my surprise, no one was ever on my tail. It was completely different from my driving experience last weekend! Hehe.

But the scary thing was, all these horrible things happened to me that have never happened before!! First off, a car pulls in front of me, then a dude on a bike rides in front of me, then a man crosses the street in front of me and a lady another time. Also, I was coming up to this red light (I was still far back, not even stopping yet) and the light turned green, but just before I went through the green, a guy comes zooming through the red light! My instructor's like, "Whoa! Did you see that?!" It was crazy. He made me drive downtown as well, which was freaky. There were these people standing on the street corner dancing like folk dances or something whacked out. It was weird. I got behind this guy dowtown and we kept hitting all the red lights. Well this guy would stop so his back tires were on the white line and then he would roll forward. Brake. Roll forward. Brake, until he got into the middle of the intersection and when the other people's light turned red, he'd go before our light even changed. He did this a few times. Like really, what's the point of even stopping in the middle of the intersection? Why not just pull a Greg and look both ways then drive through? It was crazy, I tell ya.

Needless to say, there were no problems, he didn't have to use the little emergency brake on his side or anything, which was good. We just cruised around for two hours! He's so funny though. I used to be his neighbour when I lived at my old house. We were just driving along and he was listening to something on his cell phone or whatever it was he had, and he was jotting down all these notes (completely unrelated to the session), so it was good. We even listened to the radio.

Totally unrelated to everything, my new found love: cheesecake! Oh man! I never knew I liked it. In fact, for a few years, I thought I hated it! I had a little bit at a wedding once and it was alright, but I had some at Costco the other week and it was amazing! Tonight, I went to Plantations with Melissa and Juliet and I had a massive piece of chocolate fudge cheesecake, and oh, it was SO good! I couldn't finish the last two bites though because I had just finished eating dinner before I went there. It's so expensive! But definitely worth the money spent. I advise you all to eat lots of cheesecake...then go for a run. ;) Have a good night everybody!

What? No church?

That's right!

For the first time in I don't know how many years, we didn't go to church just for the sake of lack of interest. It was weird! I mean, I ALWAYS go to church! Where did you all go anyways? I got to sleep in and we went to Ipperwash and I got a nice tan...erm...slight burn....I don't tan. Sad, eh? Anyways, that's all.