Things I see out my window

1. Ferries. They pass all day long. Big and white and sleek, sometimes shining in the sunlight, other times appearing suddenly out of the fog. On a calm night we can even hear them gliding by, the sounds of the motors carrying across the silent dark waters (poetic i know. but thats really exactly how it is!)
2. Eagles. They are everywhere! There's a tree just down the hill toward the pier that they sit in, perched precariously at the top looking majestic and superb. The turn their heads and survey the land (which happens to be Barnabas) like they own it all. I love watching them!
3. Clouds. They happen a lot around here...must be that time of year. They hide the nearby mountains, once in a while allowing a small glimpse of their majesty and grandeur, or SOMETIMES (on very rare occasions i've found) they show the whole coastal mountain range that is visible from Keats. I've even seen Garibaldi! But more often than not they wreath the steps to heaven in mysterious cover, nearby Gambier peaks flirt with mist while the lower island is completely immersed. How romantic.
4. The ocean. Being as Barnabas is right on the waterfront we tend to see the ocean a lot. Obviously. For me it never gets old. The smell, the sounds, the ever-changing colours....I have yet to see a seal or otter or whale or sea animal of some variety but logs float by a lot and trick me into getting excited. And birds are always fooling me into thinking that at last a seal has appeared. I've decided that I will go swimming at least once a month while i'm here. I'm expecting a very very cold experience...also rather enjoyable i'm SURE. Ocean swimming is one of the more ridiculous things i enjoy (in a twisted sort of way).
5. SUNSHINE! In the time I've been here we've had TWO days of sun! And today is one of those days. I just peaked out the window and sunlight is illuminating the Barnabas hillside, the grass is green, the water is blue, the flag on the pier is blowing gently in the breeze.

I love it here.

Barnabas Young Adult Weekend. COME!

This post is mainly to encourage my peers to consider registering for the upcoming Young Adult Weekend here at Barnabas.
I wouldn't usually promote something like this, it's not something i enjoy doing...
But as the weekend draws closer and we get into serious planning mode I am becoming more and more excited about what God is going be doing in our hearts and lives during the retreat. It is going to be a fantastic weekend! We're partnering up with Tyler and Emma Milley (they've also done the past Young Adult Weekends) who are two amazing people with hearts after God. They have a special vision for encouraging and teaching young adults and leading them into deeper relationships with Jesus.
Not to mention we have tons of incredibly fun activities planned! Possibly (most likely) a themed dinner....maybe a campfire.....lots of time for hanging out (sitting in the hot tub, hiking, playing pool or other games, etc), and tons of time for just worshiping God and enjoying the incredible place that Barnabas is.
The retreat is running from February 18th to the 20th. I'm not too sure on how much the cost will be but last time it was only $75 (and that includes all your meals and accommodations PLUS incredible speakers!) which is an incredibly good deal for a retreat center like this for an entire weekend. So i'll be letting you guys know as soon as i find out!
Please come! I'd love to see more of my friends up here enjoying the beauty of this place, ALSO I miss you all very much and would love to see your beautiful faces. There, could you possibly need a better reason? :)

White White Snow!

It snowed today! I woke up this morning, completely oblivious. Showered, dressed, went into the kitchen to find myself from brekky, and just happened to glance out of the window into the dark outerworld...."my it looks mighty frosty out there" I thought and then took a closer look (pressed my face against the glass) and gave a massive SHRIEK! The world was WHITE! and BEAUTIFUL! and SNOWY!
Anyways, it turned to slush this afternoon. Very disappointing.
So ya...that's all for now...just thought you guys might like to know that useful tidbit of information...

Things I've learned at Barnabas:

1. Gumboots are amazing. i have worn mine every single day since i arrived. between the Shep and Applegate is a large large expanse of grassy MUD that i delight in squelching through every day!
2. The Bible is amazing. I knew this before but am rediscovering it again. Every day during Hour of Power God speaks to me through His Word and it is fresh and new and beautiful!
3. Barnabas is amazing. The view out my window is different every single day (and yet it's the same mountains!) and i never get tired of it.
4. My fellow interns are amazing! I fell in love with Anna and Christina the moment i saw them walk off the ferry and am loving growing closer to them every day. Brady i have known for years and i'm so glad he's here, a familiar face!

First Impressions

So, I was fully expecting to arrive at Barnabas and have no internet or cell service because LAST time I was here that was the case. But, surprisingly enough I turned on my computer this afternoon and VOILA! Internet! So I thought I'd blog now (Brady informed me that its not often that we have wifi over at Shepherd's, the house we're staying in). And apparently if I walk out to the end of the pier down by the water there is usually pretty reliable cell reception. We'll see, I may just decide to turn my phone off altogether.
So far I've met Rob and Cathy (They run Barnabas), Phil and Evelyn (They do all the camp maintenance), Ruth (Who according to numerous people is the most awesome person ever. High expectations to live up to but I can already tell, as Anne Shirley would say, that she's going to be a "kindred spirit"), and of course the other interns Christina and Anna.
Out the window I can see the mountains behind Langdale, and two massive bald eagles circling overhead. It is overcast, cold, and getting dark. I've been told that tonight we will most likely have some snow! I'm glad about that, it'll be snowing in Vancouver tonight and I'll be missing it.
That's all for now, hopefully I'll be able to give a fuller update later, so check back!
Love
A

It was too good to last

See what i mean folks? This is what you have to look forward to over the next 3 months. Sporadic (at best) posting. Those 3 posts just sapped all blogging energy out of me. Yesterday i sat here for 15 whole minutes staring at the blank screen trying to sum up enough energy to begin thinking of potential blogging fodder. It just wasn't happening though...all that caffeine rich tea i drank to stimulate my brain cells went to waste.
But anyways...don't be too hard on me, at least i'm blogging now right? And i'm sure most of you out there have experienced at least ONCE a bad case of extended writers block. Eh? Right? Ya i thought so.
Today is a going to be a full day. It's my last day in town before i leave (at the crack of dawn tomorrow if you must know. In dad's boat!) and I still haven't packed any of my clothing, or canceled my car insurance, or packed any of my books (there's a lot of them), or even showered yet (and its already noon! shameful!). I'm just sitting here under the massively hot heater vent in the school room downstairs debating whether i should bring my super skinny jeans or not. i mean, i already have 4 pairs of jeans i'm planning on packing what would one more matter? But it would probably mean i couldn't bring those 2 t-shirts that i really wanted to bring. Who wins in a t-shirt vs. jeans cage fight? Not even sure. I guess I'll be finding out later on today (much muuuuch later, like around the 2am mark which is when my most effective packing happens).
Adios for now!