Mission: St Nicholas: Quebec City

On Christmas morning my Mom opened up a special message in a colourful package from St Nicholas. "A huge storm took my sled off course," the letter explained, "I need the purest beeswax candle. The candle light will reveal my way home to the North Pole." Since my Mother makes beeswax candles, that clearly meant we had to make the trip to Quebec city and hide the candle in a special vault. That way St Nicholas could find his way home!

 I helped my parents make a scavenger hunt, so the children would have fun packing their bags. The next day we took off in two cars for the seven hour drive to Quebec City! 

Us older kids all gathered in my brothers car for the long drive

We stayed at Delta hotel right by old Quebec. Since there wasn't a room for ten people, we spilt into two rooms for five. The food at the hotel was fabulous and it wasn't very busy in the gym! I got the whole gym to myself for an hour! It has been a really long time since I've done any serious running. In high school I used to do track and cross country. I've been so caught up in jiu jitsu that I haven't had time to do other sports. To my surprise though my cardio is actually way better then it used to be before! I think jiu jistu has actually improved my ability to run!

Later that evening us older family members explored part of the old city at night. It was really spectacular, especially with all the Christmas lights!

The next day we packed up and went out as a whole family into the old city! The plan was for me to find a geocache large enough for the special candle. I tried, but being stealth in a high tourist location is difficult, and it was very, very cold outside! In the end we decided to hide the candle under a large Christmas tree in the town square! Not far from the tree we found a choir singing and St Nicholas with them, so the little girls were convinced that our mission was legit! 

The tree where we hid the candle! 

Old Quebec made me think a lot of Europe. The cobblestone roads, the architecture, the language, and music. It was cool to experience that European culture so close to home! It was very cold while we were there, so hopefully next time I come explore this city it will be much warmer! 

Overall it was a fantastic trip to end the year with! I definitely think we should do another St Nicholas related mission again next year!

Christmas 2018!!!!

"Maybe Christmas, the grinch thought, doesn't come from a store." -Dr Seus

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year! Not for the gifts, the lights, the food - although that's definitely one of the best parts! I love being with my family, getting away from the business of my life, and being able to relax! It is also the holiday celebrating the birth of my saviour Jesus Christ. Without him and my faith, I'm not sure where I would be today!

This Christmas was one of the best to date! On Christmas Eve we attended the community dinner. It is a free Christmas dinner for the whole community! I love it as it is a great way for everyone to meet up and share in the Christmas spirit. For those who don't have families to celebrate with, this is the perfect way to have company and enjoy a hearty meal. Santa also came for the kids with free gifts, which made my youngest sister's day!

Siblings chilling at the community dinner.

 We have a tradition of opening the sibling gifts on Christmas Eve! My youngest sister was the sweetest! She managed to get all seven of her siblings gifts without spending a dollar. Instead, she gave us personal items of her own that she thought we would like. It was so touching it almost made me cry! She gave me a purse-since I don't have one. Then a book about hyenas since I have a placement at the Toronto Zoo and she knows I like animals! I also got awesome socks from my sister Nancy!

Christmas morning I was bombarded by my siblings at 6am trying to roll me out of bed! We started the morning by open gifts! The best gift for me was a new bedding rake, and it was extra special since I have my name engraved in it as well! I will now be the fastest mucker in the barn with this awesome rake! Co-workers beware! lol (its being engraved right now so I don't have a picture!).

I also got myself a sweater with my jiu jitsu clubs logo on it! I really feel a part of the team now! I'm happy to be home with my family, but I'm really missing the training and my team mates!

I also got a toque from Absolute Equestian! I always wanted one of these, and now I have one!

We then went to church, where there was a round of secret santa gifts between my sisters and their friends. It was great catching up with my old friends, and celebrating the reason for the season.

Then we had an endless amount of delicious food and sweets! I feel sick to my stomach, I ate way to much, but it was so worth it! 

Right now we are in Quebec city on a family adventure (geocaching and exploring the city). Will be doing a post about that soon! Merry Christmas to you all! Wishing you a safe and blessed holiday!

Slow Down!

I find in our culture there is always this push to exceed limits, go faster, push forward, and essentially run till you burn out.

Now I am definitely not opposed with pushing yourself, giving 100%, and exceeding limits....

Got Gold at my first jiu jitsu competition last weekend. Ian and Sheri (Who I met in Africa) came to watch! They are such an awesome couple, so happy to have met them!

But sometimes we need to SLOW down!

And this is more a post for me then anyone else! I don't like to slow down! I have so much energy, I love exploring, experiencing new things, being successful, pouring my whole self into something. Non of this is bad, but I definitely over due it sometimes, and as I lay in bed my lungs filling with mucous, and my head heavy from clogged airways for almost a week now, I am beginning to realize that maybe I would recover quicker from ailments if I gave myself some time to recover.

I made a decision this weekend to give up doing something that I would normally not do! Two things actually! Ask for a day off of work, and give up showing Denver on the weekend.

I don't like taking days off work short notice, because I do love my job, I commit my time to it, and I want to be reliable. However, I always tell my co-workers they should take the day off when they are sick, so I decided to do what I advise and allow myself to heal.

Giving up the horse show was a little harder, I won't lie. I love competing and I feel like Denver and I really had a shot at doing well. I remembered the fable of a man though, who ran all day around this large section of land to claim it as his own. He covered many miles by the end of the day, but when he crossed the finish line he collapsed and died due to his greed for more land then he probably needed. In healthy circumstances would pushing myself to do well in the show and bring home ribbons matter? No, it would be good for character. However, being sick as I am and pushing myself would only be for my desire to hang a few more ribbons up on the wall. It would not be fair to Denver either, placing ourselves in that situation, and there will be other horse shows.

This is kind of a funny post to make before I begin National Novel Writing Month where I will literally put every spare minute of my day into finishing a 50,000 word novel in a month. It was a super rewarding challenge last year though and I want to do it again. Last year I wrote a novel called Witness about the end times and witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelations (Bible). This year I am devoting the challenge to complete a memoir about my Trip tp Africa! Here is a little sneak peak!

Synopsis

Memoir about my three month trip to Uganda. Twenty years of age, minimal traveling experience, and first time in an undeveloped country. A journey of discovering, unexpected adventures, making dreams come true, battling disease, and love.  

Excerpt

I want to take you on a journey across the seas to reddish soil, dark skin, affectious smiles, lizards, laughter, dance, and song! To a land with corruption deep in its core, where bloated chests heave, where dark powers reside, and blood is not uncommonly seen. 

Where I only shed tears once, where I was happy, anxious, excited all at once. Where my heart got captured and torn apart. The land deep in my dream land that I saved up to see, the dreams of the people I grew to know, and who became family. 

So enjoy the ride from car crash, sickness, laughter, dance, song; parched lips, deadly liquids, witch craft, spirituality, love, heart, and running from harm. 

So even if you are busy and challenge yourself relentlessly as I often do, take half a day off sometimes, do something you enjoy, make sure you sleep. Pause an activity and never feel bad taking time to admire beautiful things!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday evening I went out to the horse paddock searching for Denver. Him, being a dark colour, didn't make it easy! Suddenly, his dark face came out of the night, and nuzzled me. I pulled the grain out of my pocket and offered it to him. He then continued grazing, and I rested against his back peering into the darkness. His slow and steady breathing was calming, as I gazed up at the cloudy night sky. I could see the light colour of my breath in the cold, but I felt warm leaning on him. I thought back to when I had first got on his back at Cyndi's request. How nervous I had been, because every one told me he was crazy....

And he was!

Yet so am I! I thought about the falls, the progression, the horse show, and then to us in the moment, silent, yet bonding. I felt so thankful that Cyndi decided Denver would be a good match for me! 

Denver has taught me many lessons, and is always there for me when I need him. Whenever I feel down, he brings me out of it. After Africa, I was having a hard time adjusting back to my old life. He was my grounding, and focus. 

I have so much to be thankful for this year! I'm not even sure where to begin!

First of all, I am thankful for you my friends, family, and followers; For your support, guidance, and companionship over the year! Without you all, it would be really hard to go on!

I am very thankful for Cyndi and the barn family at Absolute Equestrian! Thanks to them, I have become a better rider, learned new skills, and increased in Equine knowledge! They are also a family away from home, and are always there for me when I need them.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to go to Uganda. It helped me grow in confidence, maturity, and gave me a more concicous and open mind. Plus, it was the adventure of a lifetime!

I am also thankful for the hard experiences I have had this year. Such as almost drowning in cow poop, and being sick with Typhoid. It made me realize how fragile our lives can be, and that we need to make every day count, because it could be our last! I am thankful that I survived the illness, and being stuck in poop, and that I still have a chance to live life and make the most of it.

The time I had with my family this summer was also a blessing from above! Hannah and I bonded over horses, I grew to like my sister Nancy more, realizing that being different from each other is okay! I also found my relationship with my mother improved and that we connected better then we ever had before. 

Hannah and I swimming with a horse

I am very thankful I had the opportunity to go to the Passion to Purpose conference in Regina this year, and am very thankful that Tom Shmidts Construction in Killaloe sponsored me to go. I learned a lot about my one passion (International Development), made many new connections, and friends. I hope one day to put what I learned into action even more!

And for all these things, experiences, and blessings, I give thanks to God, for they all came from him. No matter where I am in the world, in my travels, or obstacles that come my way, he is always there to carry me over. I don't expect anyone to understand, but in my world where nothing is constant, he is the constant. He is the only motivation I need to push myself in life, because I am so thankful for the gift of life he has given me!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. 

"Gratitude can turn common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward