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| November 2, 2003 This whole "posting once or twice a month" thing seems to be inevitable! Perhaps I'm too busy, but I think that serving is slightly more important than updating my web-blog =P The past couple weeks have been very... full! I guess the first item to celebrate is that I got a job! That's right, I'm going to be starting in the University of Toronto lab this coming January. It's real-life, cutting-edge research that I'm going to be working on... doing really ultra-cool stuff like handling protein-DNA, performing electrophoresis and stuff! I'm really very thankful that this first co-op term has gone so smoothly, certainly smoother than my midterms! =S CCF is nuts right now, but am I ever loving it! There's just so much to do, but I can honestly say that I've never felt so fulfilled or joyful being so busy. And I've been learning to cope with 4 hours of sleep when necessary. That's right, FOUR, not FIVE, not THREE, it must be four, or else Marianne turns into the zombie who will blow up the school in her analytical chem lab. Hmmm.. Kim says there's a problem with our toilet.. should really look into that.... Yes, back to CCF. We're madly getting ready for LIfeSong right now. I attended an actors meeting on Friday night after fellowship and ended up with the role of the mother of the roommate, which is cool! I haven't acted in so long. I'm glad it's only a small part though. That's all I wanted, otherwise I don't think I'd be able to sleep at all! The Purpose Driven Life cell group that Erica and I are co-leading has been going for two weeks now. I'm so happy with how God is working within the group. Almost instantly, I felt this sort of comfort level between all of us that I think will only grow. I think that I'm learning a lot too, especially about leading a study group, and about my faith. Alex and I have also been very busy with this seeker-solutions group. So far, it has been going very well. We're so thankful that we've had some people come out to help us brainstorm. Prayers still needed for leaders to carry it on next term! I helped make funky fruit salad with worship cell at Nathan's place on Friday. Let's just say that peeling gigantic pears with a knife isn't very ergonomic! ^_^ It was fun though. I enjoyed spending the times just chilling and chatting with the guys as we chopped up fruit for two hours. There's something about cooking together that's so fun (even though we weren't cooking, but you know what I mean!) Well, Kim's hungry, so I'm going downstairs to eat. I'll try to update sooner than last time. To anybody who is reading, may God bless you, and may you have a superb day! |
| November 10, 2003 Happy Birthday to Nanny! I love you very much, and am looking forward to the family being together at Christmas-time =) Well, well, well, midterms, round #2. Inorganic chem went really well today, thank goodness. Even though I didn't get around to studying really until Sunday, I studied all day, and it payed off. I actually understand spectroscopy now! *chorus of angels sing from Heaven* ^_^ I'm learning so much more about spectroscopy than I ever got out of the actual course last year... and it's really not all that bad! The teaching style definitely makes a difference. It's Stats tomorrow.. I guess I just don't know how to study for this course. I'm going to get up at a good time tomorrow and do some more problems to get my brain in the right gear. Right now though, I'm thoroughly zonked. Thank goodness there was no LifeSong practice tonight... I don't think I could have stayed awake for it. LifeSong's on Friday night! Coming so quickly! It's going to be awesome though. God's hand has been on it. It has come together so quickly, though the work is not done yet. The take-home message is the primary focus anyway... I have yet to walk through SLC to see the Jesus week stand. I should do that tomorrow after I meet with Yu-Ling. Will do.... I went to see Matrix Revolutions on Saturday with Yay, Leanne, and Victoria. Pretty good, I must say! Not like the first of course, but so much more was explained. Just too much flying... that's my primary complaint. Made it seem too sureel in some parts. I like skillful hand-to-hand combat with feet planted on the ground. You know, I was thinking to myself... what makes the violence in Matrix different than any other movie is that they are fighting things without souls (ie: machines). Even Smith is of course a program gone on a rampage. Always makes you think... and there are so many parallels to the story of Jesus it's uncanny! I think my jaw dropped through parts of the movie... there were even a couple lines of scripture actually paraphrased/quoted near the end. It's definitely a good conversation starter... for those who have seen it of course! My analytical chem lab today went well. I didn't goof anything up for once. I feel like I'm so lagging behind though. It's very discouraging. It would be worth it if my lack of speed was getting me better results, but it isn't. In fact, I'm really not doing all that well. It's a worry that I keep giving and taking back from God. You'd think that it would be easy for me to give the Creator of chemistry my worries about passing a trivial chemistry lab... don't think so! It's a moment-to-moment struggle. Well... it's now November 11. I should go to bed! Lest we forget... |
| November 12, 2003 LifeSong!!! With only 2 days to go, things are getting pretty busy! It's been really fun so far though. I am writing from the lovely Waterloo computer lab in Chem 2 right now as I wait for the LifeSong drama practice... killing time after the music practice. I am going to be doing keyboards on Friday for the CCF Houseband, and it's improving. Thank goodness it's a slow and sparse piano part! I think it's going to be okay though... well, I know it will be okay, because I've asked God that it will be, and I believe Him! My quiz in Analytical Chem was easy today, thank goodness! These quizzes are so stressful... they give us no indication of what material we should focus on during the week, and then give us stuff on the quiz that we don't deal with very much in class. Myself and my fellow Biochem Kids are thoroughly confused over the purpose of our tutorial sessions. They are most definitely not as helpful or well-run as they could be. But that's life I suppose! Not the end of the world.... I had a lovely nap in DC not too long ago ^_^ (Can you tell I'm looking for something to talk about?) I guess I'm just bored, and writing is something I feel like doing at the moment... perhaps to avoid starting my chem assignment that's due on Friday. I know, I know... I just... do you ever only have an hour or something, and think to yourself, "Well, that's not really enough time to get anything substantial done... I'll just go on the internet!" What a bright idea, eh? If I actually used the 20 minute periods scattered here and there, I think that I would have more time to do other things during the day. Procrastination is truly an art-form... on that I don't really want to develop any further mind-you. But I'm still writing... what does that say? LOL! I write so much when I'm tired. I suppose I should attempt to start my assignment. Perhaps I'll go to SLC and do it there while I wait for the LifeSong crew. *sigh* For anyone who reads this from the O-dot, just like to say I miss you guys and hope you're all doing well! Assignement is calling. Ciao for now! |
| November 15, 2003 Thank you God, for pulling us all through LifeSong! It went so well! The audience was really laughing at the funny parts, which was great! And most of all, I think that people really liked Pastor Ken. He was excellent, as usual. What a gifted speaker! Praise God for his unique combination of humour and insight. He has such a great way of presenting ideas in a non-daunting light. The piano went okay too... I made a couple of wrong chords, but it was partly because the band repeated the first verse without me knowing because the mikes weren't levelled properly, which was really a shame. But everything worked out in the end, and I survived my first improv experience. Thanks to all those who came out! It means so much to me that you guys were there. What a ride it has been! Never in my life have I stayed on campus until 6 am before! (Well... except when I lived there I guess.. but that doesn't count! ^_^ ) To all the actors, thank you for giving me such a great experience. I had so much fun rehearsing with you guys! Thank God that He got us through and that we had this awesome opportunity to serve him. Thanks to the backstage team, you guys rocked! I never realized all the dimensions involved with a production like this. You all did so wonderfully! Thanks to Dave, for letting us all use his testimony for this production. It's hard to share something you're not proud of... but God has used your life in a wonderful way =) Thanks to Yu-Ling for doing the video with such a busy schedule. It was so funny! A really great job. And of course, props to Nathan for putting up with all of us and being such a great director. You really dragged a lot out of us! Thanks to everybody who supported us by coming out to LifeSong, making refreshments, all that stuff! And last but not certainly not least, to everybody who gave me rides over the last couple weeks. I'm so grateful to you! (Mike M, Mike Y, JT) Well, it's over and life goes back to its regular level of busyness! Time to start studying for finals... oy veh! LOL ^_^ Must study chemistry.... P.S. I got my assignment done! Hurray! Not sure if I did it all right mind-you, but.... |
| November 28, 2003 What a great day! Oh yes, it rained, and it poured, and the wind blew, but nature could not take away the greatness of the day! After class, Victoria and I met up at SLC to commence our Friday afternoon outing. After waiting for a bit in the "pouring snow" =P the bus finally did come, and we headed off to up-town Waterloo for lunch at Quizno's. We shared a 12" Black Angus Steak sub... wow! Soooo good! It had a bit of a spicy bite, but there was a sweetness about it as well. And of course, it was served on this rosemary cheese bread. Amazing! (And Victoria's b-day treat! THANK YOU VICTORIA!) Victoria then surprised me with a birthday gift... and a Christmas gift too! I thought at first that she was joking, but she wasn't =) Yes, that's right, to relieve my exam stress, I'm going to be lounging in style in my new PJ's with a nice cup of Ovaltine in my new Snowman mug... the perfect picture of relaxation in my mind (no joke). Then we headed off to Liquidation World for over an hour of shopping fun, mixed in with a hunt for a rolling pin (which we couldn't find) and a stop at the photobooth. Overall, an excellent afteroon. Thanks so much Victoria for making everything so special! You rock, sista! Here are the pictures... Victoria, let me know if you don't want these up, k? |
| CCF was really wonderful as well. It was our last official program of the term, and thus the last time our team got to lead worship together. I'd just like to thank everybody for teaching me so much, and of course to Nathan, for doing such a good job leading. After sharing night, we headed over to Pita Factory for... well, actually, not pitas in my case, but a chocolate milk and brownies! The only unfortunate incident was that there was a fire in the men's washroom, and we had to leave because of all the smoke. My clothes smell like campfire, but that's okay! At least the restaurant is going to be fine. God is just so awesome! He has brought me so much... most recently, my chemistry lab. His power is so awesome in our weaknesses... it's just undescribable. I actually enjoyed my lab last Monday... now THAT must be the power of God! =P Hmmm... 2 minutes until my last day as a teen... scary thought... 20 sounds so old... but then, there are always people who are older than me! =D Take care, and God bless! |
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| November 30, 2003 Twenty years old... makes me feel like I some sort of wine... "oh yes, and here we have the 1983 variety..." ^_^ What a very strange feeling! I know that in the grand scheme of things, 20 really isn't all that old, but it is different than 19, or any of the "teens" for that matter. You know why I think it is? Lots of things happen to people in their twenties. Usual things include getting a degree, getting married, starting to work in the "real world", having children, etc. Now, I've been talking about these events for many years. You know, "When I grow up and go to university...", "When I graduate and get married...", "If I have a girl, I'll name her..." Those conversations are quite common. At the same time, I've never really spent time thinking, "When I'm 45, I'm going to..." You know?? It's all about this era. When you're 16, these things seem so far off, like you've got a lifetime to plan for them to arrive. Even when you're 19, you figure, hey, I'm not even 20 yet. That's a while away! But twenty... for some reason, it's like a being hit by the big reality truck of life with a big banner on the side that says, "You have now entered the decade that you have been day-dreaming about for the better part of your life!" On a different topic, church was really inspiring today. We looked at Luke 15 and examined the heart of God. For me, it was yet another reminder of the purpose of everything. Pastor Ken was entertaining as usual, but had some excellent insight. There was a new music leader today, and he seems very talented. I felt very focused today, which is the first time in a little while. My mind has been really distracted lately. I think it was a combo of stress, fatigue, and priorities on the wrong things. But, I've set my priorities straight(er), and I feel better... my head isn't as cloudy anymore! And I had a really refreshing chat about things with ImKim =) Thank the Lord who gives perfect peace to his people! Well... must study. My birthday can't stop the approaching exams (unfortunately!). Hmmm.... I wonder if now that I'm twenty, and supposedly an "adult", if I will be sitting at the kids table anymore at family friend gatherings... interesting... Love and prayers, Mari-J |