I wrote 3 mini-entries during my weekend, because I didn't trust myself to wait till I got home to write accurately.
#1
"This weekend, Mom, Grandma and I are at Singing Waters. Mom kept asking me whether or not I was nervous. Finally I answered that I was sumply apprehensive, since she had previously warned me I would see things I've ever seen before. Due to my (and Mom's, and Grandma's) Baptist upbringing, we/I am not much used to seeing much 'excitement' during worship time. Hey, they used to not allow any dancing, so it's lightened up some, hahaha. (Also, I'm writing this while the speaker is.. speaking. Poor form, yes, but I feel that I must write anyway.) Perhaps the most 'abnormal' thing you'd see at my church is someone closing their eyes or raising a hand in worship. I used to think it was silly or strange, but now that I'm older I understand that it's simply and outward expression of the joy and Spirit outpouring that someone is feeling. So far today (this is the first session, Friday afternoon), I have seen the above two, plus a flag waver, the occassional call-out of single words like "glory!" or "amen", handmotions that could be taken for a rather simple and meaningless signlanguage, and a woman doing actual sign-language. I didn't mean to stare, but it was fascinating to watch that one, perhaps because I could understand most of it (if I didn't know the words). These aren't meant to be watched, or anything. I was looking around because I was curious. Sometime later Mom told me that we're basically the only Baptists there. The rest were Pentecostals, and the main difference is a slight but important doctrine issue.
Our group this weekend only has about 40 people, perhaps less. I am bad with those kinds of estimates. But no matter the number, it's a smaller-than-normal group. (EDIT: Later we learned that it was because another group was renting part of the facility for their women's retreat. As they were eating with us and using the same sleeping facilities, they had to reduce our group number.) We managed to get a room to ourselves. 3 single beds. I joke that our room is the most comfortable because on each door there is a room number and a single word, like Hope, Freedom, Gentleness, etc. Ours is Comfort. And the views are amazing. There's also a fair amount of hiking trails that I wish to explore. Bring on the bugspray! Now I'd better tune in and figure out what's being said..."
#2
"'Situation Shower: Code Awkward'
I am not liking the bathroom situation so much. Actually, there's something about the whole living-arrangement. Our room is still great, though as far as I can tell the hallway outside is co-ed. Yes, I hear male voices going into the room across from ours. And the bathroom is too. Shower layout is that there is one semi-translucent red curtain separating the toilet stalls from the showers. Within that there's one shower with a same curtain + liner, and the other with a frosted glass door. The challenging parts were prepping myself for the shower unobserved (even silhouettes are unwelcome), and figuring how I was going to grab my towel post-shower for redressing purposes. For some silly reasion, the towelhooks are too far away from either shower to easily reach, at least not without exposing yourself somehow. And it was only mid-shower that I realized about the co-ed-ness. Soooooo... I hate that people can just walk in. Awkward. I know we're supposed to be 'at home' and comfy, but... that's taking it a bit too far.
Sleeptime!"
(Added: Later I went and saw that it's only the single bathroom that is shared, but the one mentioned is actually somewhat clearly marked 'Ladies'. I refused to use the aforementioned shower again.)
#3
"I cannot explain today's session (Saturday morning). So much so that I am writing again during preaching. I'd been sitting for a few songs, since my feet were hurting, and it got really Spirit-filled. Today, flag-lady had blue flags with white peace doves. At one point she was walking around the room waving a flag over everyone's head. I can't hope to explain reasoning; it just felt like the right thing to do at the moment. I happened to open my eyes just as she was coming by me, and as the flag of peace passed over me I got the most amazing chill. (Seriously, don't expect an explanation.) And the 'course pastors'-I guess a sort of spiritual counselor for the weekend- had been Spirit-led to be with particular people in the group. Just as I was wondering who the woman-counselor was with, I heard a loving--but foreign to me-- voice ask if she could put her arm around me. And she said some wonderful things to me that I will not share. Later she came back to me and her hands were on my shoulder and head. I was so chilled, not with cold mind you, that I could barely feel the hands. In honest fact, it felt like a hat. I believe it was the Holy Spirit. And even when she left me, the tingling chills were still so intense that I wasn't sure she was gone. I had to look around unnoticed for her. And after all that, preacher-man called for anyone who needed physical healing to come to the front. (Edit: I heard woman-counselor beside me praying over someone, and she was praying in tongues, which means she was suddenly speaking a different language. Sure, sounds like nothing, but the odds are that those that can speak in tongues don't know what their words are meaning, it's the Spirit through them.) Physical healing, did someone say? That would be me. Feet, and potentially fractured ribs. And, my feet might be healed at this point, I don't know. They sure feel better a bit, so far. We'll see after session; Mom and Grandma want to talk to preacher-man afterwards, and I'm sure Mom will bring it up."
(Added: They ended up leaving early, so no chance to talk to him. And I was too shy to stay on my own. I truly believe my feet could be healed right then, but they weren't. However, it was becoming easier for me to sit, as I've been having some trouble with ribs more and more lately, so I don't know what happened there. It could be anything.)
---------------------------
The weekend was truly amazing, from re-learning things, hearing new things, experiencing new things. Preacher-man was really good, used all sorts of great illustrations to get points across. My attention was actually held... most of the time. Perhaps my favourite of the stories he told was about his time in... oh I forget the country now, but it was 3rd-world. His host for the stay brought him a new baby, and was told she was born blind. The mother was standing nearby, and she had all the signs of gonhorrea (sp?). Preacher-man tested the baby's sight for himself by moving his finger in front of the baby's face. No movement registered in the eyes; there was just a blank stare. Preacher began to pray over the baby, and after 3-4 minutes she started to wail. Preacher figured she was hungry, but then realized it was high noon. He shielded her eyes, and she stopped crying, for she had just been newly Preainto the sun. He tested her eyes by again moving his finger in front of them, and lo and behold! She could see! Truly a miracle. I can only hope to retain and remember that which I've taken from the weekend, as I settle back into my routine. Something key that I took away was a glimpse of what I'm supposed to do with my life. Just a small glimpse. I want to act on it before I lose courage and perhaps the sight of it.
Preacher-man's website (Guy Chevreau)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Back again..
Well, not that I was ever truly gone; I found ways around not having the internet. Hooray for haxx! But yes, it's back. Not because I have a 'decent/proper job' (the mail STILL hasn't come through), but because I have a few good reasons for needing it. One is because I find myself increasingly interested in Ella's autism and surrounding disorders--better yet 'differences'-- and while I was talking to her mother last Sunday, I learned of two programs I can take at college that would certify me to be a sort of therapist for these kinds of 'differences'. Another good reason to have my internet access back is for small group notifications. This group is different than the one I was in before, with my old babysitter. That one dissolved and I've since gotten involved with another group from that same church. It was somewhat awkward because
Em & I actually re-met some youth from our previous church...8 years later. Yeap. But we still enjoy it, everyone is pretty friendly.
In other news, we have a tinypig! It might have been last Saturday when I started on a random super-hyper time. I'm pretty sure everyone in the house was horrified/scared/just plain freaked out at me... including me. Em and I were banished to the mall because we were both getting pretty worked up over absolutely nothing at all. Actually, me driving in that state is a very very bad idea. I was laughing so much I almost couldn't see, and my brain was so dysfunctional that it would be the kind of time where I would stop for green lights. It's happened. Anyway, we ended up exploring the petstore and I saw a very sad-looking and lonely adult hamster. I didn't think of it much at the time, just sort of an 'aww that's sad'. Next morning I woke up and almost instantly got it into my head that I would 'save' this poor adult rodent from a lonely end. It was a sudden moment when I told mom my intentions. She was hesitant, but reminded me that 'it was my money, but that does sound sad'. Somehow I had gotten it into my head that it was an adult guinea pig in that store, but upon our (that is, mine and Meg's) arrival, I re-read the label and saw 'adult hamster'. Great. Unfortunately, it had already been in my head long enough and loud enough that I was going to come home with an animal that day that I had to get one anyway. It would have to be a pig of course, but the only ones there were babies, which generally isn't a good idea with older ones such as my two. Despite many warning sirens in my head, and Meg's mouth, telling me not to do it, I went ahead and selected a cute baby. I had already picked out the name before I left, Trumpkin, after who I thought was the badger from the second Narnia movie. Not for any particular reason mind you, I just thought it was cute (matched the colouring of the pig too!) and fit our T-theme. Except Em set me straight that evening, telling me Trumpkin was the dwarf and Trufflehunter was the badger.
See pig here.
The toughest part about bringing baby home was going to be making sure Twinkie and Tribble weren't going to kill her. They're quite old enough to not be used to small quick things running around the cage and stealing their food and their water. In accordance with the petstore employee's advice, we introduced them to each other on unfamiliar territory--the bathroom floor. It went pretty well, baby was skittish and nervous as expected, Tribble (the white ruffly one) met baby first. When Twinkie decided to be social, there was a bit of 'poking' as we call it, which just means Twinkie was trying to demonstrate who's boss (her) by pushing them both around with her pointy nose. Tribble did the same, just not to Twinkie. They were actually fine when I put them in the cage. Meg and I watched them for a good while, making sure there was no excessive pokings. Come nighttime, we put their pigloos in the cage usually, but since we sold Taffy's old igloo some time ago there was no place for baby Trumpkin to sleep, not that 3 igloos would fit in the cage anyway. Em took an old shoebox and cut a hole in one of the sides for a door. It's very cute. Fortunately, Twinkie hasn't tried to weasel her way into it. It's a complicated process, figuring out the order in which to 'bed' the piggies. Gotta put a pigloo over Twinkie first or else she thinks we don't realize she's the Alpha King Pig anymore. Then comes Tribble's (and it seems each pig likes a separate colour), and usually Twink insists on checking both places out for no reason, but since we got baby the two big ones seem to realize that she is smaller and they need to be nicer to her. Cute really. It's actually weird now, how I 'bed' them with a routine like they're actually human babies. Ack! Anyway, the next morning I had to teach the big ones to share food, which was done by.. I forget. but it worked! Now they all get along just fine.
Well, there was my pig-rant. I really don't expect anyone to be interested in reading it, but congrats if you are. Heh.. even now I can see Trumpkin following Trib around the cage, which seems to happen sometimes now. It's like Trib adopted her and is protecting from Mean Old Lady Twinkie.
Small band-news, promise. I'm really enjoying it now, getting to know the other 3rd trumpeters. (I did get to play that other solo again, but I don't know if it's properly 'mine' or not) Anytime I play something special they look over and tell me I did a good job, which is really spirit-boosting. And I don't know if I've already mentioned this, but one rehearsal when I was reading the 1st trumpet part, one of the regular 1st-trumpeters had obviously been listening to me play because he told me "You play beautifully, that kind of thing is not something you can teach." Best compliment ever, especially coming from him because he has beauuuutiful tone and great skill.
Anyway, that's all from me for now, definitely time to get to sleep. Band is tomorrow, after all.
PS I had a moment of utter terror right before writing this, as I realized I left my flash drive in mom & dad's computer from last haxx, all the more because it shows up under my name.....
Em & I actually re-met some youth from our previous church...8 years later. Yeap. But we still enjoy it, everyone is pretty friendly.
In other news, we have a tinypig! It might have been last Saturday when I started on a random super-hyper time. I'm pretty sure everyone in the house was horrified/scared/just plain freaked out at me... including me. Em and I were banished to the mall because we were both getting pretty worked up over absolutely nothing at all. Actually, me driving in that state is a very very bad idea. I was laughing so much I almost couldn't see, and my brain was so dysfunctional that it would be the kind of time where I would stop for green lights. It's happened. Anyway, we ended up exploring the petstore and I saw a very sad-looking and lonely adult hamster. I didn't think of it much at the time, just sort of an 'aww that's sad'. Next morning I woke up and almost instantly got it into my head that I would 'save' this poor adult rodent from a lonely end. It was a sudden moment when I told mom my intentions. She was hesitant, but reminded me that 'it was my money, but that does sound sad'. Somehow I had gotten it into my head that it was an adult guinea pig in that store, but upon our (that is, mine and Meg's) arrival, I re-read the label and saw 'adult hamster'. Great. Unfortunately, it had already been in my head long enough and loud enough that I was going to come home with an animal that day that I had to get one anyway. It would have to be a pig of course, but the only ones there were babies, which generally isn't a good idea with older ones such as my two. Despite many warning sirens in my head, and Meg's mouth, telling me not to do it, I went ahead and selected a cute baby. I had already picked out the name before I left, Trumpkin, after who I thought was the badger from the second Narnia movie. Not for any particular reason mind you, I just thought it was cute (matched the colouring of the pig too!) and fit our T-theme. Except Em set me straight that evening, telling me Trumpkin was the dwarf and Trufflehunter was the badger.
See pig here.
The toughest part about bringing baby home was going to be making sure Twinkie and Tribble weren't going to kill her. They're quite old enough to not be used to small quick things running around the cage and stealing their food and their water. In accordance with the petstore employee's advice, we introduced them to each other on unfamiliar territory--the bathroom floor. It went pretty well, baby was skittish and nervous as expected, Tribble (the white ruffly one) met baby first. When Twinkie decided to be social, there was a bit of 'poking' as we call it, which just means Twinkie was trying to demonstrate who's boss (her) by pushing them both around with her pointy nose. Tribble did the same, just not to Twinkie. They were actually fine when I put them in the cage. Meg and I watched them for a good while, making sure there was no excessive pokings. Come nighttime, we put their pigloos in the cage usually, but since we sold Taffy's old igloo some time ago there was no place for baby Trumpkin to sleep, not that 3 igloos would fit in the cage anyway. Em took an old shoebox and cut a hole in one of the sides for a door. It's very cute. Fortunately, Twinkie hasn't tried to weasel her way into it. It's a complicated process, figuring out the order in which to 'bed' the piggies. Gotta put a pigloo over Twinkie first or else she thinks we don't realize she's the Alpha King Pig anymore. Then comes Tribble's (and it seems each pig likes a separate colour), and usually Twink insists on checking both places out for no reason, but since we got baby the two big ones seem to realize that she is smaller and they need to be nicer to her. Cute really. It's actually weird now, how I 'bed' them with a routine like they're actually human babies. Ack! Anyway, the next morning I had to teach the big ones to share food, which was done by.. I forget. but it worked! Now they all get along just fine.
Well, there was my pig-rant. I really don't expect anyone to be interested in reading it, but congrats if you are. Heh.. even now I can see Trumpkin following Trib around the cage, which seems to happen sometimes now. It's like Trib adopted her and is protecting from Mean Old Lady Twinkie.
Small band-news, promise. I'm really enjoying it now, getting to know the other 3rd trumpeters. (I did get to play that other solo again, but I don't know if it's properly 'mine' or not) Anytime I play something special they look over and tell me I did a good job, which is really spirit-boosting. And I don't know if I've already mentioned this, but one rehearsal when I was reading the 1st trumpet part, one of the regular 1st-trumpeters had obviously been listening to me play because he told me "You play beautifully, that kind of thing is not something you can teach." Best compliment ever, especially coming from him because he has beauuuutiful tone and great skill.
Anyway, that's all from me for now, definitely time to get to sleep. Band is tomorrow, after all.
PS I had a moment of utter terror right before writing this, as I realized I left my flash drive in mom & dad's computer from last haxx, all the more because it shows up under my name.....
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Spies! They're Everywhere!
I was totally cheated out of a proper bedtime snack today. I was just about to fix myself a bowl of nommables when I heard something between a hiss and a whisper "Get to bed." In about a quarter of a second I thought two things: "Oh, how nice. Em heard me return home and has come downstairs to tell me something funny" and "Ummmm... Em's not here..." For serious, it sounded just like our beloved Pilfadoodle. So upon realizing that last statement, I could only stare nervously into the next room to see who it was that scared half the life out of me. Of course I saw no one, but I still kept my back to the kitchen counters and carefully returned my unused bowl and crept upstairs--not before smuggling two muffins with me. I haven't been that startled in a long time. And I have no idea who made that noise, or even if it WAS a 'who'. Spy instance #1
Band doesn't usually make me so hungry, I guess it was different today because I felt somewhat hyperfocussed for the last quarter of band. It felt great, hitting all my notes and nailing all my rhythms, especially when my part-mates couldn't! Heh... Actually, I was glad to be back on 3rd. There's something familiar about being the bottom of the sound pyramid. Plus that's where 'they' keep all the 'young'uns', so I feel comfortable playing around them. It is kind of annoying how 'cliquey' those older chaps on the 1st part are. They've all got about 5 solos each, it might be nice if they would offer them to others. Like me. I know, though, I am still considered a newcomer; I can't just expect them to let me be all important just because I think I am personally improving. It was nice being able to socialize with people this time, instead of just listening to the old men complain about how high the notes are.
I've got a full day of babysitting tomorrow (hmm, if Mthyr is teaching in the morning, perhaps I can sneak on and publish my two entries. That's right, two!), I imagine I will be quite tired when I return. At least, I assume it's to be a full day. Arriving for 9:30 means I will probably leave at 3pm at the latest.
Perhaps I can sneak on the computer again (spy instance #2!) to talk to people. It was most lovely to have a few minutes or so with intarnets, and to see people again. Hey, I know it's only been 3 days, but still. Feels long enough to me. And I noticed a random/umb in the tokbox room today... or was it someone I should have known? Because how do randumbs get into tokbox? Anyway... Yes, I wish I had published my entry and sent off that email I need to send before the 'net randomly cut! One second I was talking and typing away, and the next I see an error that I was disconnected! It's like somehow Fthyr has set the computer up to disconnect itself when it detects usage. Is that even possible? It's happened like this lots before, so I'm not worried about being discovered or anything. But it is annoying.... (Spy Instance #3!)
Anyone remember that job I had in the summer with the special needs kids? Well there's a little girl at church, Ella, with mild autism. It's become my job to assist her in Sunday School, just like I did for my job. Even though it causes painful replays of the days' events leading up to the termination of that job, I really enjoy working with Ella. She's very sweet, and I feel a real connection with her. Mom noticed it too, she told me that she notices Ella looking up at me for clues and help when she needs it because she knows I can help her. It's definitely rewarding work, having someone that trusts you like that. I knew I had to do something when I learned of all the trouble (not quite the correct word, I know) that was arising from Ella being in the toddlers' class, just because she couldn't handle the un-structuredness of it. The only problem is that I am the only one who either a)knows what they're doing, or b)has an interest in it, as far as I know. The issue with that is that I am the main 'slide technician', and all of the children's departments are really lacking in workers. So everyone that is on one schedule is also on the others. Soooo we need to get people interested in helping out. I wouldn't mind teaching others about how to work with Ella, but I can't think of anyone who would be able to.
Lastly, footdoctar took my orthotics! Due to my report that I had to cut my morning workout short due to footpain (did you know it was possible to limp on a cross-trainer? Neither did I), he took the right foot's, and is going to send it back to the lab for some 'internal adjustments'. Should be about 2 weeks till I get it back. In the meantime, I am not to wear the other one. It sure feels weird walking and driving without the orthotics. I hope they can figure my feet out soon; most people don't even need to go back for adjustments after the first check-in. Cursèd feet.
And with that cheery thought, I must be off to bed! Goodnight!
Band doesn't usually make me so hungry, I guess it was different today because I felt somewhat hyperfocussed for the last quarter of band. It felt great, hitting all my notes and nailing all my rhythms, especially when my part-mates couldn't! Heh... Actually, I was glad to be back on 3rd. There's something familiar about being the bottom of the sound pyramid. Plus that's where 'they' keep all the 'young'uns', so I feel comfortable playing around them. It is kind of annoying how 'cliquey' those older chaps on the 1st part are. They've all got about 5 solos each, it might be nice if they would offer them to others. Like me. I know, though, I am still considered a newcomer; I can't just expect them to let me be all important just because I think I am personally improving. It was nice being able to socialize with people this time, instead of just listening to the old men complain about how high the notes are.
I've got a full day of babysitting tomorrow (hmm, if Mthyr is teaching in the morning, perhaps I can sneak on and publish my two entries. That's right, two!), I imagine I will be quite tired when I return. At least, I assume it's to be a full day. Arriving for 9:30 means I will probably leave at 3pm at the latest.
Perhaps I can sneak on the computer again (spy instance #2!) to talk to people. It was most lovely to have a few minutes or so with intarnets, and to see people again. Hey, I know it's only been 3 days, but still. Feels long enough to me. And I noticed a random/umb in the tokbox room today... or was it someone I should have known? Because how do randumbs get into tokbox? Anyway... Yes, I wish I had published my entry and sent off that email I need to send before the 'net randomly cut! One second I was talking and typing away, and the next I see an error that I was disconnected! It's like somehow Fthyr has set the computer up to disconnect itself when it detects usage. Is that even possible? It's happened like this lots before, so I'm not worried about being discovered or anything. But it is annoying.... (Spy Instance #3!)
Anyone remember that job I had in the summer with the special needs kids? Well there's a little girl at church, Ella, with mild autism. It's become my job to assist her in Sunday School, just like I did for my job. Even though it causes painful replays of the days' events leading up to the termination of that job, I really enjoy working with Ella. She's very sweet, and I feel a real connection with her. Mom noticed it too, she told me that she notices Ella looking up at me for clues and help when she needs it because she knows I can help her. It's definitely rewarding work, having someone that trusts you like that. I knew I had to do something when I learned of all the trouble (not quite the correct word, I know) that was arising from Ella being in the toddlers' class, just because she couldn't handle the un-structuredness of it. The only problem is that I am the only one who either a)knows what they're doing, or b)has an interest in it, as far as I know. The issue with that is that I am the main 'slide technician', and all of the children's departments are really lacking in workers. So everyone that is on one schedule is also on the others. Soooo we need to get people interested in helping out. I wouldn't mind teaching others about how to work with Ella, but I can't think of anyone who would be able to.
Lastly, footdoctar took my orthotics! Due to my report that I had to cut my morning workout short due to footpain (did you know it was possible to limp on a cross-trainer? Neither did I), he took the right foot's, and is going to send it back to the lab for some 'internal adjustments'. Should be about 2 weeks till I get it back. In the meantime, I am not to wear the other one. It sure feels weird walking and driving without the orthotics. I hope they can figure my feet out soon; most people don't even need to go back for adjustments after the first check-in. Cursèd feet.
And with that cheery thought, I must be off to bed! Goodnight!
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