Pocahontas v. Avatar

It's crazy how similar these movies are. Hahaha... James Cameron is so full of himself.

What a day. 14 months, over. What an end to such a big chapter of my life. Donezo. Next up... Caronport, Saskatchewan.

I have no idea where I'm going to end up by this time next year; it goes from being intimidated to thrilling to back again. Grace has led me safe thusfar, and grace will lead me home. Lead me to a home, Father.

Challenger.

Rivera left yesterday. Ellie, John, Bob and myself (the Qwanoes K7 contingent) came together to say goodbye to her yesterday at tuck, circled up and prayed and said goodbye and laughed (though Ellie and Rivs were crying), and sent her off... it sucks, the circumstance under which she was leaving, the risk that it is... but we often have to take risks to make gain. Really proud of these steps she's taking, going to miss her a lot in this last week-and-a-half.

Light up this whole town.

Yesterday was staff day off, and TJ, Sarah, Victoria, Dan and I went out for the night. We started at DQ in Duncan, hit up Wal-Mart, and found out that we couldn't see Inception anywhere except Vic, so After a bit of persuasion, we decided to make the drive. We drove through the Malahat, and it always amazes me how beautiful it is. Though I don't plan on living in BC again after I leave at the end of August, I will miss the drives; the Malahat, the Sunshine Coast, the Sea-to-Sky. There's nothing like it anywhere else in Canada. We drove the 45 or so minutes, all belting out Taylor Swift songs (minus Dan, who either didn't know any or chose not to join in). It was such a fun night, my heart was light, there was a sense of adventure and the movie was incredible. Times like these are such a blessing.

Write something down; the lyrics to that song, the people that you love, the one moment today that was worth hanging on to, a conversation you want to remember, something you want to do tommorrow, a list of places you would like to see. Something that is beautiful in the middle of the chaos. Write it down because it is real.

(via here we collide, a new project of to write love on her arms.)

To fix what's broken.

Before this week began I was reminded, in a simple, stripped-down way, why I'm at camp. Why ministry exists. To fix what's broken. And this week, I've been put in a cabin that is 100% an answer to prayers for opportunity to do so. I'm wearing thin, I'm tired, and I'm being emptied, but I have so much joy because I know that this is so good. Praise him from whom all blessings flow, because this is a blessing; Praise he who empties me for his glory, because it is a joy to be filled and emptied by him!

I'm so worn out but this is easily my favourite week of the summer. Thank you Father.

New York, these streets will make you feel brand new.

I can't wait for season two, and for their version of "Empire State of Mind." Sosososo stoked.

Family camp.

This week is family camp. It's pretty chill, to be honest. I'm working with Ozone, a youth group of sorts for 12-14 year olds. It's nothing like counselling at all. I'm also working challenge course, for a lot longer hours than usual, but we get way more hours off in a day than we usually would.

But I am sick. Very sick, off and on.

And I am tired; all the lack of sleep from the first 5 weeks of this summer is hitting me hard.

And I am discouraged. I don't know that I can go into it on here, or that I'd even want to if I could... but my heart is in shreds. It really, really hurts. I can't muster up much hope at all, and I feel overwhelmed and hurt and kind of scared. So... please pray?

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

I'm on the left, with my buddy Nathan from New Zealand.

1. I've been on more flights in the past 8 months than I have in my entire life. Flying used to be a very rare occasion, now it feels like routine.

2. I've also hit more states since this last year of college than I have in my entire life. I went from having been to four American states to seeing most of the south, fifteen states in twelve days. I really wish that the tour had worked out.

3. I've been meeting a bunch of sweet new people this summer at camp. Very much the silver lining to not being able to finish the internship.

4. My current favourite song is the new Taylor Swift single, "Mine".

5. My other current favourite song is "Light Surrounding You" by New Zealand band Evermore.

6. I'm kind of homeless. Sometimes that terrifies me, other times it's exciting.

7. I really need to learn to manage my finances.

8. I flipping love the TV show Glee. They just released a novel, like a prequel to the series, and I can't wait for it to come in the mail. I started watching it after my cousin died, it's such a feel-good show.

9. I'm also waiting for a letter from Tessa in the mail. I love letters so flipping much. I'm also waiting on one from my buddy James, but I don't think that will ever come.

10. I went swimming last night in the ocean, and I've never swam in phosphorescence - it was like fireflies surrounded my arms and legs while I swam... one of the most magical things ever.

11. When I was twelve I was published for the first time, in a magazine called The Magazine Not For Adults.

12. I was also published in The Province for winning a contest to write your own ending to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows... this is how I skipped the 2-hour line at the midnight book release, and is also actually how me and Tessa became friends.

13. Most recently, I wrote the foreword to my friend Jon's book, which is now on sale in book stores and online.

14. I've hung out in the $16,000,000 (est.) penthouse suite of Shangri-La on more than a few occasions - each time without an invite, and each time more epic than the time before.

15. I can't wait for school in the fall; I'm going into my second year at Briercrest, going for my Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry. So so so stoked.

some of them seem dumb, but some of this could be cool.

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 02- The meaning behind your blog's name

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Day 12- Why you made your blog

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

Day 24- A letter to your parents

Day 25- What I would find in your bag

Day 26- What you think about your friends

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

Day 30- Who are you?

This is the end, if you want it.

Today I learned some fun facts about my BFF, Relient K frontman Matthew Thiessen...

#1. He's helped make at least four songs off the new Jack's Mannequin record.

#2. He dated Katy Perry. (She kissed a girl, maybe he minded it.)

#3. His engagement broke off earlier this year (Maybe his fiancee minded it too.)

#4. He name-drops John Mayer, Vedera, Natasha Bedingfield, and Lights.

#5. He just started his first full-length solo record.

While I'm becoming more and more dubious about his character each day, I've at least got some sick new music to look forward to.

Alive Inside was such a good night. Got to shoot it on a really good camera as well.