this has been long overdue. many times i have begun to write posts, but failed to complete them in fear that they were too boring or mundane. i even took pictures, but my inexpensive camera deleted them all, so now i will update you with words.

life has been busy in northwest calgary. i finished school/exams at the end of april, and i've been working full time at the optometry clinic since then. i've also been trying to help my friend down town on fridays during the day, so all in all it's a fast work week.

my parents are moving the same day i leave for europe, which means that there is much to do before then. as it stands now, i will probably be moving in with jordan, but we're not sure if we'll be able to get a place for august because i'll be travelling. planning the trip is also a big job, but we're on top of things. just this last week i got my plane ticket and eurailpass in the mail. exactly one month from yesterday and i'll be gazing on some of your sweet faces. hoorah!!!

God has been dealing with a lot of stuff in my heart this past month. i'd have to say that it's been the most difficult time since i got back from norway. there's just a lot of issues that have arisen, and God has been gently and sometimes not so gently reminding me of my need to trust him with EVERYTHING. scary but true.

enough of matters of the heart. this particular topic could have its own xanga entry, so i'll cut it off there. this past weekend i went to a huge conference of 16,000 youth in edmonton. i met up with leah and enjoyed a stressful weekend of shuffling kids around. no, in all honesty, it really was fantastic, but really very different going as leader than as a youth. it was powerful, though, to see so many kids lifting up their hands to God. beautiful in fact. i think my favorite part of the weekend was the chris tomlin worship concert and also newsboys. why newsboys, you ask? aren't they a bit of wash-outs? honestly friends, their fire fascinated and consumed me. at one point, the lead singer stopped and spoke for 10 minutes about his own story, and the awesomeness of God. my favorite quote when speaking of the 3 kinds of christians was when he said, "guys, God doesn't need us to make him look cool, he needs us to be obedient." to which i yelled "amen" with the remainders of my voice.

phew. now with all that off my chest i will say farewell. i can't wait to hear what you are all up to.