A Final Toast to 2010

So, 2010 is at an end. Is that not hard to believe? It was an amazing, painful, joyous, sad, fantastic, and absolutely God-filled year. God was with me through the high times and the low times. At the end I think I can confidently say that God is amazing! And He is.

It was an interesting year, for sure. Friends got married, friends continued their courtships with the one God has in mind for them, friends began their courtships and met the ones God has in mind for them. Friends are having babies, friends went off to England. And then you have me. What did I do this year? I got a job- three in fact. I made a movie. I traveled to another country. I ate at a Roy Rogers' restaurant. I spend lots of money on books. I made phone calls. I learned to cook. I read books. I graduated from high school and completed one semester of college, and am looking forward to throwing myself back on the books for the second semester which will complete my first year. I hear those Criminal Justice textbooks calling out to me. But to be honest: I can't say I did those things all by myself, because it was God with and in me who helped me do those things. So I should say we. We got a job. We made a movie. We traveled to another country. We ate at a Roy Rogers' Restaurant. We spent money on books. We made phone calls. We learned to cook. We read books. We graduated from high school. We turned 18 and left childhood behind, forever. And as odd as it may sound, it's the honest truth.

(Come to think of it, I have had an exciting year, have I not?)

2010 was definitely a faith walk. There is no question about it. It has entailed a lot of grown up decisions and acting mature and responsible- which quite frankly, I enjoyed. (God in) 2010 had me learning more about budgets, pizza making, and a whole lot of other stuff. I listened to new music, watched new tv shows (Jeeves and Wooster= In. Sherlock= out.). I saw Voyage of the Dawn Treader but, upon subsequently re-reading the book, found the book in pretty near all respects to be infinitely better. We finished making The Treeslayer II movie, and we hope to make The Treeslayer III at some point. I read slightly over one hundred books less than last year. I learned how to start a lawn mower by myself. I started running as a form of physical exercise. I went to Ohio. I went to Ottawa. When I leave home, I'll be able to survive on a diet of green salad, fruit smoothies, and cookies. Did I tell you that that's all my future family and I will be eating when I've grown up and have a home of my own? Cookies. Cookies for breakfast. Cookies for lunch. Cookies for dinner. Cookies for dessert. Cookies for midnight snack. Cookies for the in-between-midnight-and-breakfast snack. Kidding, kidding. I won't allow those in-between-midnight-and-breakfast-snacks. Actually, I hope to be able to cook a lot more than just cookies by then- and since I'm sure I've got several years to go, I shall attempt to make good use of them forthwith. ;-)

It's hard to believe we're now facing the beginning of another year, another decade in fact. Here's what a rundown of 2010 would look like for myself and my family:

January:

A new year! Hmm, can't remember much about January. Oh yes, there were some things, some re-directing of my life by the Lord. Thanks God! You did indeed know I needed that.

February:

Winter Olympics! I shall never forget that intense, and I mean intense, Men's Gold Medal Hockey game between Canada and the U.S. I somehow wondered how we ever ate that popcorn. I remember how it was when we thought we'd win, only to have the U.S. score with about thirteen seconds left, to tie the game. I remember how nervous we were in the intermission between the third period and overtime. I remember overtime. We were sitting on the edges of our seats. I don't remember Sidney Crosby's actual goal, but I remember the seconds after he scored it. We were jumping up and down and screaming and shouting and hugging. An American friend said they wished they could have watched the hockey game with us. Hehe. No. It's a good thing they weren't there. I doubt the cheering and shouting would have been as loud or unashamed. ;-) The Olympics were good. Yup.

March:

I get a job, what ho, what ho! I also am half way or so through Sir Winston Churchill's Second World War Series. Capital reading, that.

April:

Hmm. I remember most about April that a friend got married, and we had enough money for Ohio Bound 2010 by April 25th, 2010. Several months ahead of time. God was good.

May:

Planning, planning, packing, praying, and more planning. Oh, and there was work as well. My third job started up as well.

June:

Ohio Bound 2010! :D The Christmas Card, Leah, Leah, and more Leah, the sleepover at Leah's house, watching Roy Rogers movies and painting t-shirts. The Before You Meet Prince Charming study we did. Fun times. Seeing the Parellis in person. Watching Ocean(s) in the theatre with Leah and some of her family. Book shopping. Oooooohhhhh yes. Work, and of course, I graduated.

July:

Some of my family go to Ottawa to see the Queen, they had fun despite the multiple thousands of people who also went to see the Queen. July was a hard month- some things happened that in a way we still haven't "gotten over" yet, although perhaps that's not a bad thing. We learned some valuable lessons on how not to do it, real friendship, and how God is our King and Sustain-er even when the pain hurts so deep, the tears so hot as they fall. And I wasn't even at the centre of events. Oh, there was work too.

August:

More work. August was kind of a slow month, I guess. We mainly occupied our time with filming.

September:

First year of college! :D My sister's birthday, my birthday, the limited release of "The Treeslayer II". My uncle comes for a visit. Work, of course.

October:

Reading, work. That's about it.

November:

An unfinished political/true love/mystery story that shall now never have an ending. But I know who did it, so it's all good. Jeeves and Wooster. 

(loose paraphrase here)

"Indeed sir!" 

"You know Jeeves, you have this way of saying 'indeed sir', that if it weren't for feudal duty, you would be saying 'says you'".

Prince William's engagement to Miss Middleton, good stuff, that. It truly brings out the unashamed monarchist in me! :D

December:

Staff Christmas party at work, more work, Christmas, and now we're here. Amazing, eh? Soooooo.We had a visit from Mom and Dad's close friends from the past, which was fun, and so this year has closed out with a whirlwind of social activities. ^.^

So here's to Two-Thousand Ten! May we never regret the year. And Here's to Two-Thousand Eleven, may it be a smashing year, filled with excitement, adventure, and God's grace! 

Well!

My sister and I had the happiest of news today: another friend is engaged! This friend is such a godly, young lady, we are really really happy for her- it would be hard not to be so. She's been a fantastic older sister in Christ for us, it's just so wonderful! :D Congratulations, dear Sarah! This does make me happy, I feel like I could internally dance for joy or just smile all the time or laugh or something of that sort. :D 

All this time that's running by won't stop until we stand still 'Cause we are incomplete until we finally breathe

Well, Christmas is over. Can you believe it? We had a good Christmas here- I was very blessed (and not just with presents, but with good health!). My parents gave me: It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, and Though None Go With Me (the former two I have of course seen). From my older brother, I received Shakedown: How The Government is Undermining our Democracy in the Name of Human Rights by Ezra Levant- I had been wanting to read this book since I read Mr. Levant's Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada's Oil Sands, which is another excellent read. You should read them. (Yes, that is a shameless plug). From my sister I received Hawk Nelson's Live Life Loud CD and a red winter headband. Thank you, dear sister! From my two younger brothers I received some ordinary headbands, of which I was in great need. =) From my best friend from Ohio I received a lovely necklace. So yes, I was blessed! Very, very much! On the afternoon of the 25th, we re-watched The Christmas Card. I cried a lot at the beginning- this is the kind of movie where you don't cry at the end, but at the beginning. After that, it we took the boys outside, and my sister and I did a photoshoot for The Treeslayer III. We got some very cool pictures. :D And of course, supper was excellent. 

But I am ready for the New Year: bring it on, I say! =)

Happy Christmas everyone!

Happy Christmas everyone! I hope each and every one of you have a splendid and wonderful day, filled with family, friends, and God's love beyond anything imaginable! =)

Oh the traveling life, the traveling life of me! First cabin and captain's table regal company!

Just a few of my favourite songs from  musicals...

Oh For Grace to Trust You More!

For who are so free as the sons of the waves?

I have English blood coursing through my veins; the blood that embraced the Royal Navy. That's why when the sweeping views of the Dawn Treader came onto the screen, thrills ran up and down my spine. It was simply amazing. I shan't try to describe it any other way, I don't think too many people will understand how special it is.

Not that I loved the entire movie- mind you, although I did find 95% enjoyable. I could have done without the green mist, Jadis' reappearance (when Edmund said "But you're dead!", he in essence never spoke truer words), the whole seven swords issue- I think that was my biggest dislike, and probably a couple other things.  

I would have liked to see more Caspian-Ramandu's Daughter scenes, perhaps though this will be touched upon in The Silver Chair. Ah well.

As to the spiritual aspects: the best I can put is that they are still good ones even if they may not have been the ones C.S. Lewis' put in his original book (which I like better). I could relate to what Lucy was going through for the large part of the story. Perhaps one could say it wasn't entirely foreign to the original story, as in the book Lucy did look at that particular part of the book of spells or whatsoever it was called. I also liked the emphasis on that we can't change ourselves, God has to do it for us. They got that part- and Eustace- right. I particularly am impressed at how good the themes and lessons are, since from what I understand Mr. Apted is an Atheist.

It's going to be a controversial movie, people are going to love it, hate it, or like it but not like certain parts. As of now, I fall into the middle. I think the movie will grow on me, but I think I'll love the book better still. (It happens with most books now a days, and is not only because of the changes in this particular movie). But I must say, I love the soundtrack! There are hints of the former Narnia themes, but there is something new and adventurous about it. I like it.

One last word: I cried at the ending. Reepicheep's thirst for Aslan's Country, that led him to leave all that he loved behind, convicted me that I should have that same love for Heaven, that I should not cling to this world or what is in it.

So, in the end, despite the changes I have not given up on Walden Media yet, and in fact am still looking forward to what movie they do next, and will probably go see it in theatres.

"You musn't sell, delay, deny, A freeman's right or liberty. It wakes the stubborn Englishry..."

What Say the Reeds at Runnymede? by Rudyard Kipling

At Runnymede, at Runnymede,
What say the reeds at Runnymede?
The lissom reeds that give and take,
That bend so far, but never break,
They keep the sleepy Thames awake
With tales of John at Runnymede.

At Runnymede, at Runnymede,
Oh, hear the reeds at Runnymede:
'You musn't sell, delay, deny,
A freeman's right or liberty.
It wakes the stubborn Englishry,
We saw 'em roused at Runnymede!

When through our ranks the Barons came,
With little thought of praise or blame,
But resolute to play the game,
They lumbered up to Runnymede;
And there they launched in solid line
The first attack on Right Divine,
The curt uncompromising "Sign!'
They settled John at Runnymede.

At Runnymede, at Runnymede,
 

Your rights were won at Runnymede!
No freeman shall be fined or bound,
Or dispossessed of freehold ground,
Except by lawful judgment found
And passed upon him by his peers.
Forget not, after all these years,
The Charter signed at Runnymede.'

And still when mob or Monarch lays
Too rude a hand on English ways,
The whisper wakes, the shudder plays,
Across the reeds at Runnymede.
And Thames, that knows the moods of kings,
And crowds and priests and suchlike things,
Rolls deep and dreadful as he brings
Their warning down from Runnymede!

"The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test..."

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,

And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

Ten Years Ago...

My feet are cold. It's awfully hard to write a good blog post when one's feet are freezing, don't you think? For some reason along the floors of my room it has consistently been cold this winter. I don't know why.

Not only are my feet cold, but it's raining outside. Wonderfully raining, oh wait! I think I see some snow mixed in with the rain. Unless the pollution has become so potent that the rain has started looking like large, white, droplets. On the whole, however, it looks quite un-December like. 

Wait! It's actually December? Wow. Of course, I knew it was December before, any ignorance is simply feigned. Quite fake, not at all to be believed. Today is a monumental day, however, in my family. Ten years ago we moved to our current location, leaving behind the city where I and my sister were born, our city of many years, and moved to a little town of 700 people in another part of Ontario. Ten years ago. I remember the days leading up to our move quite clearly. Most importantly are these:

~The 2000 federal election, won (again!) by a Liberal. I was quite put out about that, and wrote about it in my journal. But no worries, six years later, we ousted 'em from the Halls of Power, and have proceeded to do so in every election since.

~One of the televised Prime Ministerial debates. I don't remember much of it, but I do remember watching it.

~Visiting my grandmother on my Dad's side for one last Christmas before we moved. (No worries, we have seen her since then.) That was the year my sister and I got our first Barbies. We didn't play with them until we were in our late pre-teens, and quickly grew out of them. I remember we also were given The Tigger Movie on VHS that year by the same grandmother. And for some reason, at one point that evening when we were out, my family walked past a set of large stairs leading up to an apartment building, and I saw a newsstand with a newspaper that had a large picture of the re-elected Prime Minister. 

~The night before we moved, our (adopted) Uncle and our (adopted) Grandmother came to help us finishing up the packing. My sister and I went to sleep on mattresses on the floor, amid the boxes.

~The moving day in general. Dad and I took some things to the dump. After our house was empty Mom and I went back through it one last time. I remember the living room and my sister's and my bedroom, and how empty it looked. 

~And of course I remember that day in general. You know how old I was then? I was only eight years old. That's the age of my first of two younger brothers. My second of two younger brothers is the same age that my sister was when we moved here. It makes me feel.... old?

Life here over the past ten years has been really good- God has blessed us so much! A run down of these past ten years would look like this:

2000: We do our epic trip out West in the summer, hitting the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and traveling home through the states of North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and maybe one more. Not in that order, of course. On our trip, we visit friends from Mom and Dad's college days. (They went to college in Saskatchewan). Funny how it works out, ten years later, we've reconnected with 90% of the friends but one family through Facebook,and it mainly happened this year (ten years later). The one family we haven't yet connected with was a particularly memorable stop: there was four of their kids and three of us. We ran around the little hamlet they lived in, most notably playing natives. Oh, and getting locked in their church's library. (I think. It was either that or climbing trees). (As I write this, it's currently snowing, yay!) That was a fun time, alright. Our trip took six weeks, in all. We came home, decided moving out west was not what God wanted for us, waited, and then bought our house up here. Part of me still thinks moving to a different province would have been fun. ;)

2001: Dale Evans dies. It's not as if I knew this at the moment, but I went back through my journals and found I had an entry from the day she passed on to Heaven. Paltry me, I wrote about stickers and pencils that day. Then there was 9/11.... I remember that day too, really well.

2002: The 2002 Winter Olympics! Canada winning Double Gold in Hockey was definitely a stand-up-and-cheer moment. Especially the women. :D Then, of course, a few months later my first younger brother was born. That was really, really exciting!

2003: What happened in 2003? Obviously 365 days' worth of events... I turned eleven, which is always a huge thing for a girl. 

2004: My second younger brother was born! That was also the time our then pastor's wife came over to take care of us, and we played pirates, and ONE of us (not mentioning names!) got dressed up in a costume dress and stood on the coffee table, which we had moved over near the couch to better make a pretend ship's deck. The aforementioned a-costumed person stood on the table and was the pilot of our ship. I was the cook. :D

2005: My 13th birthday. Officially old. Until I turned 18, that is. 

2006: January: The election that gave us a Conservative Prime Minister! :D I remember Mom and Dad voting in that one. I also became a Roy Rogers fan that month. April came along, and my sister bought her first horse, Prince. August came along and God gave me my horse, Ruffian. That year I also first met the friend who has truly become my other sister, Leah. :) We met through the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans forums.

2007: March was when Leah and I really became friends. :) It was late March, March 23rd, I think. 

2008: What a year! My sister gets another horse, Twosox- the dear sweet Right Brain Introvert that taught us so much about RBIs, and consequently, taught me about myself. Prince Caspian comes out in May, and my family travels down to meet Leah's family, instituting the first Ohio Bound trip. =) I think it's in 2008 that we give Mom a horse for Christmas as well, bringing our herd to four. I also turn 16, in September.

2009: 2009 was a hard year for me personally, one of the most challenging ones I've faced. My family was a huge support to me though, as well as two or three girls who I am still indebted too. On the more positive side, I mow lawns all summer, as does my two older siblings. The year that started out rough got "worse" with my grandmother dying, my family leaving our church of 8+ years, and one other life changing decision for myself, all happening within a time frame of two weeks. It was tough, but God was even more faithful. His faithfulness and goodness to my family and I still brings tears to my eyes. What started out as a hard year ran its course into a glorious but still unsure ending.

2010: Obviously, I cannot tell how this year will end. To sum it up: Ohio Bound 2010, where I see Leah again, we meet some of my sister's friends, and my Aunt drive Mom, my sister, and I, the entire fourteen hours to Leah's town in one day. We survived the journey. :D Crossing the Border was an Epic Moment- which actually spurred me on to study what I'm currently studying in college right now. I knew that trip was planned! ;) We also survived the journey home, pulling in to my Aunt's driveway at the wee hours of the morning, tired but content- we sang our hearts out on the way home, listening to one CD for I would say over four hours. On that trip home we also were able to meet another NarniaWebber- wisewoman. She invited us to her house for lunch, which was wonderful! :D The three hours we spent together went by so fast. =( But enough of our trip. In other words: both my sister and I start work at two different restaurants. Which provides for some fun competition as we have a couple times had fun "arguments" over which menu was better, what prices were better, and etc. She works mainly waitressing at the local Chinese Food Restaurant. I, however, am part of the Kitchen staff at the.... North American food style family restaurant. I also make the pizzas on my shift. :D So she and I have housecleaned, lawn mowed, and restaurant'ed our year away. We also make a movie over the summer. I turn 18, can now legally vote, and start college.

It's now December, 2010. How will this year end? I don't know...

A few more days and I'm on Christmas break, I did a lot of extra studying and have most of my other courses finished for this semester. This previous one, I studied American Government on Mondays, Canadian Law on Tuesdays, Criminal Justice on Wednesday, and History and Political Science on Fridays/whenever I could fit it in. This coming semester looks like it will be: Sociology on Mondays, Law on Tuesdays, Criminal Justice on Wednesday, Psychology on Thursday and finishing up stuff on Friday. Throughout that all is the Bible courses from Moody, which I am also taking. Fun, eh? Political Science is my overall focus, with History coming in second, but Law has also been a lot of fun. =) 

But now that I'm on Christmas break, I have to think up some Christmas break reading. So far it's War and Peace- continuing that, and Statecraft by Margaret Thatcher. (Both re-reads). Perhaps even those biographies on Winston Churchill that I have to read. We'll see, though.

To sum up this post, it is still snowing- the snow on the grass makes it look like Parmesan cheese on a green lettuce salad. My feet are no longer cold, thanks to the socks I put on, and that mashed banana-raisin-sunflower seed-honey lunch I had is sitting nicely. Mom and Dad and my sister are out, my older brother, myself, two younger brothers, and family friend who is helping with major upstairs bathroom repairs are the ones left in the house. Mom, I think, effectively put me in charge. I love this feeling of responsibility, it's really really really fantastic! :D Anywho. It's now 1:28 EST. Which, of course, means nothing. 

Until next time, then, cheerio!