4 weeks!!!

Christmas is only a month away! Heres the last video of the Christmas Carol, maybe the grinch will be next...maybe not.....you'll have to wait and see!!





I also thought I'd post some pictures of christmas stuff in the downtown eastside.

Dashing through the snow....I mean rain

So, I miss snow. And my family. I come home in 5 weeks from today!!! Christmas eve!

5 weeks!!!!





So I'll actually give you a small update on things in my life this time. Im sick right now, but I just got a flu and Pneumonia shot for free. So maybe that will help.

We're starting kettles this weekend! Its gonna be good I'd say, stressful I think, but good. Hmmmm....I started watching gilmore girls on weekends and I fell in love with it all over again.

well I cant really think of much else to say...so Im gonna go!

6 weeks!!! we're getting closer! I'd just like to clarify...Im not really excited for the gifts, santa, etc. but more for spending time with family and friends.

Christmas is on its way still!

7 weeks till Christmas! Its getting soo close!!!

8 weeks!!

8 weeks till Christmas!



I heard this song last night and I thought it was cute. Enjoy!

Christmas is coming!!

Christmas is only 9 weeks away!!



Im sooo excited for it!

Are YOU washed?

Im doing a deliverance prayer station for the prayer room at Youth Councils this weekend. This song came to mind.

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Hello, Celebrity savings, how can I get you saved?

So last night, I had a dream that we saved mary-kate and Ashley Olsen. So Caitlyn and I decided to start saving celebritys. And we'll call it Celebrity Savings of Jesus Christ.

Thats my news.

Worship

So one thing I've noticed is, in the last year or so, I've really struggled worshiping with all I have. I'd give my "all" for one song and then I'd just sing and kinda stand still. When I was at the Building a House of Prayer conference in Kelowna last weekend, there was something in me that just kind of...released. We watched the Passion of the Christ between sessions, then that night I was able to just release. and like...sometimes I'll stand still, but it wont be the "umm...this is enough worship, I just wanna sit down" kind of standing its like the..."Im so consumed right now that I just don't want to move, i just want to let it soak in" and its awesome! It feels so nice to be able to worship freely, without something hanging over my head.

the truth isn't sexy

Check out the new website for the Salvation Army Campaign against Human Trafficking.

http://www.thetruthisntsexy.ca/index.php

Kelowna

We cooked Pasta with a cup and a half worth of 18% creamers. We didnt have milk.

Sally fell in love with a big stuffed moose.

a couple pictures

Just some pictures of life. One is of Me and Carlye dressing up, haha...another is in the war room, and just a random.

War College

So...I've been here for 2 and a half weeks, this is my second week of classes. Its been really good. I went through a time of homesickness which was...horrible haha but its getting better. Sometimes, it gets depressing down here, seeing all the pain and addiction, but at other times its so amazing cause you get into conversations with the people who are in pain and addicted, and hear their stories...some people have amazing stories! I have so many stories, but a lot are stories that aren't really bloggable cause you cant get the full aspect of what they're like without seeing expression. And for those who are worried, haha...thanks for the concern! I'd like to say though, people down here know that we're with 614, and its well respected, so if anyone sees us in a potentially dangerous situation, they'll step in and help. And they're very protective also because they see that we're clean, and dont want to see us getting into anything that they're into. I think they look at us and it gives them hope that they can come clean as well. Its really cool.

Keep the prayers coming for sure!!

48 hours of homelessness

I spent all of wednesday, all of thursday and part of friday homeless. It was a powerful experience. The feelings that I felt were loneliness. Even though I was with 6 other people...and God...I just didnt feel right. I also got scared, I got a feeling of uneasiness. It was an amazing experience but I can honestly say that I never want to be homeless legitamitely. The feeling of not knowing where your sleeping is safe and all the emotions that built up over the 48 hours, I wouldnt want to do it. Im so thankful to God for a roof over my head, for a bed with warmth, pillows and everything else.

East Van

Well...I live on the downtown east side of Vancouver now. Its pretty awesome. Classes are great, students and teachers are awesome...and the best part of it all is the community. Actually...I love it. Its really cool. They're such a tight knit community and Im a part of it now. I've met a few neighbors and stuff, not as many as I'd like yet but I've only been here for 4 days. Its pretty awesome though.

Ok

K...I have 10 minutes to do this.

Camp this summer was Amazing. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it...I was a little uneasy...but especially looking back...it was amazing. Theres so much to say...but I dont know where to start. Amazing campers, amazing staff...JUST amazing. Honestly...I really dont know what else to say.

Camp 2008

Camp has been quite an experience this year. For those who don't know, they've decided to merge two camp staffs this year. So Beaver creek camp, and Pine Lake camp staffs are one staff running both camps. There are 2 kitchen and maintenance staffs, one for each camp, but the rest is all one staff. So the first week of the summer, half of the staff was at Beaver creek in Sask. for teen camp, and the other half was at Pine Lake for moms and tots. Then we all came together for Holiday 1, 2, 3 and teen camp at Pine Lake. Holiday camp one was a good camp, everyone was still trying to figure out the program, and get to know the staff they didn't already know too well, holiday camp 2 was a gongshow, as usual. It was that week that I almost quit, as well as a few other people. But we stuck it out, Holiday 3 was alright...the worst that really happened was lack of sleep....but its camp, of course thats gonna happen. And then teen camp....OH teen camp. I loved it. I just wish we had more time to minister to the campers. Teen camp only ran monday - thursday because we had to pack up and move on friday. I felt like the campers didn't get the time they deserved. But it was amazing nonetheless. The staff had fun, therefore the campers had fun. I like teen camp, because you get to hang out....and you don't get the stupid fights like "she called me a name". The campers are really good. Teen camp, for me, was by far the best so far. And now we're in saskatchewan. We have been here for a week, so we've done adventure camp 1 already, it was alright. I made a mistake and ate gluten last weekend, and then on monday....so I was sick and tired all week...but it was ok. Now, coming up is Adventure 2, then 3, then we're done. I can't believe its almost over. I can't believe I'm going to be living in Vancouver in less than a month! I'm so excited for it.

Anyways, I should get going.
Courtney AKA - Buttercup...or Bcup

Saying good-bye is hard

Saying Good-bye to someone is one of the hardest things a person goes through, if not THE hardest thing. Whether its saying good-bye to someone who has passed away, or whos moving away...or if your moving away and you have to say good-bye to everyone around you.

I have been working through 2 of those good-byes. My grandfather died...which has been really hard. He died on May 16. I was doing alright with it for a bit...after the funeral and everything...I was fine, I went to yc and danced and had fun and it was all fine...and then I had my grad...and I looked up to my family...and he wasn't there and it was so hard. He was always there for milestones in our lives...he was always there no matter what. And never complained about it. And I started recovering, again...or at least I thought I did. Then last week...we had a grief lesson at sunday school and that just brought out more emotions...and this last week...my emotions have been rolling. Because of that...and because Im leaving soon. Im so excited to go to Vancouver and Im going out of my mind here...because I know something bigger and better is coming up. And friday, we had a bonfire with some people from school...and saying good-bye to them was incredibly hard. And then today, they did kind of the "final good-bye" at church...and it wasn't too hard for me...but then I looked around and there were people crying...and then there was my mom who was like...weeping...haha.

I dont want to say good-bye...but Im so excited to leave. Everyones like "I dont want you to go" "i cant believe your leaving" and its like...i feel like I shouldn't be as happy or excited as I am. Everyone around me is so bumed that Im leaving and everytime I talk about it...I just want to jump in the air and dance...I know it sounds corney, haha...but its the truth. Im excited beyond belief.

Anyways...thats all Im gonna say for today

2 Corinthians 5:13

I was sitting at the computer listening to Leeland and all of the sudden these words came into my head. The inspiration behind them actually came from 2 Corinthians 5:13

- If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you

So I take this as...be insane for Jesus...dont hold back. Do whatever you can to please God! If God wants you to buy a homeless person lunch, do it. If God wants you to raise your hands in church, even if no one at church does it...do it anyways. Give God all the Glory, Honor, and Praise that he deserves...no matter where you are in your life!


Are you quiet? Are you shy?
Are you always passing by?
What the lord has said to you
What the lord has done too

Are you Happy? Are you stoked?
With what the lord has provoked?
What else has he said to you?
What else can he do?

Be insane in the name of Jesus
So he can see us
Go Crazy, make it big, and make it loud
So he can hear us

Grad '08!!!

So I graduated yesterday. So stoked for it!!! It all kinda went by in a blurr though.

AND!! I shaved my head today!!

PS! Jesus is truly amazing. People are hung over today and Im tired with a headache, lol...but Jesus honestly gave me the strength to not drink.

Im to tired to say much...so I'll leave you with pics and a video.