Christmas lights.

I have been done school now for almost a week, and I feel like I haven't really done anything productive that I was hoping to do. My to-do list is a page and a half long, and I think I've crossed off 2 things. My number one thing I want to do is catching up on my letters, and number 2 is working on my correspondence course. Should be fun trying to do that, in between work and family/friends/Christmas events =)

In other news, my boyfriend's family is the best. They're leaving tomorrow to go to Edmonton for a week, to visit Sister and Brother + Wife + baby Nephew! Since I'm not going with them, they had Christmas dinner with me yesterday! And then they showered me with gifts =) I feel so loved and special. Awesome.

Finally over

Well friends, I officially finished my assignments last Wednesday! I am done and it feels so good!! I have an exam tomorrow and the next day, so I have it pretty easy. The exam on Thursday is making me nervous. Its one is those exams that won't have anything to do with lecture notes, but rather writing about abstract ideas. So that should be fun. Not. But I'll still pass all of my courses so I'll be good.

So today, since all I need to do is study, I have accompanied Chris to the city to his exam. Yesterday he drove in an hour, wrote his exam in 20 minutes, and drove an hour home. Feels pretty useless. So today we're gonna at least make something out of the trip. Not sure what we're doing, but our options are going to the museum, or watching Voyage of the Dawn Treader. My vote is for the movie but we'll see if I win ;)

Fill in the blank Friday 1.8

1. I wish that I had $50,000. I'm not greedy, that's why I'm not asking for a million bucks haha. That would just get rid of all my debt and still have a considerable amount leftover for a shopping spree =)

2. Yesterday I worked in the evening, and couldn't fall asleep until 2 am.

3. Today I will go to my last day of class for the semester and dance the night away at my school's Christmas banquet!

4. Tomorrow I will sleep in and work all evening.

5. Maybe someday I will be able to fit into all of those clothes I put under my bed again.

6. Someday I will be able to wake up next to the man I love (cheesy and sappy? Yes) (also, I do not know when that day will be but someday)

7. I love my friends, Christopher, my family, Coldplay, hot chocolate, staying in bed til noon reading, shopping on Amazon, and my church.


Have a great weekend, my friends =)

And that's how I like it.

Research Methods - 1 paper (with partner)
Environmental Science - 1 presentation
Global Problems & Change - 1 paper
Biblical Poetry - 1 project
Intro to Theatre - 1 performance (with partner)
Literature for Children - 2 lessons

I have no more papers!!!!! YAY!!!! Today I'm performing my scene for Intro to Theatre, and tomorrow I'm presenting in Environmental Science, and then I am done like dinner until next Wednesday!! I'm so happy :)

(I feel for all friends who still have crazy assignments/stress left! You can do it!!)

Coldplay has my heart forever.

Fill in the Blank Friday 1.7

1.   Holiday spirit  sometimes feels fake to me, like it has too much with shopping and spending money, not enough about celebrating the important things like family and Jesus' birth.

2.  The holidays are incomplete without  family, watching Elf half a dozen times, and awesome Christmas services at church.

3.  My favorite things to do around the holidays is  catching up with family and friends, watching Christmas movies, and eating way too much chocolate.

4.  A holiday tradition my family and I have is   nothing. When I was growing up my dad was a long-distance trucker, so we couldn't really count on having the same traditions every year. So we just spend one day together as family, usually Christmas Eve. That's it.

5.  Holiday music is    best when people make it their own.

6.  This year, I'll be spending the holidays   working on a correspondence course while Chris is gone for a week, working, hanging out with friends, catching up on writing letters, and of course spending a lot of time with my family.

7.  Holiday wish list  anything from my Etsy wishlist, books, and clothes. I'm easy to please.

Sometimes I write smart things.

This is a paper that I wrote for my Global Problems & Change class, and part of the assignment was submitting it to a newspaper or something. I think that I could have done a better job, but it still got printed in my local newspaper. So that was cool. I thought that I would post it here for you lovely people to read.

Most people in North America believe that slavery ended when Abraham Lincoln abolished it as the president of the United States. But what these same people do not realize is that slavery still exists today, and experts believe that it is worse today than it ever has been in human history. They estimate that between 27 and 30 million people worldwide are modern-day slaves. And what’s more, slaves exist in every major city in North America. This is not a problem that exists “somewhere else.” It is here and it is now.

            The most common reasons that people are enslaved today involve economic reasons. Globalization has created more opportunities than ever before for people to move across the world, and there are evil people in this world who take advantage of that. Impoverished people across the world are so desperate to survive, they allow themselves to be lured in by false promises of a better life. Their captors then traffic them to another country before they know what is happening to them.

            When people hear about child soldiers, debt bondage, and forced marriage, they are actually hearing about slavery. Women are often abducted and sold into the sex trade. A common misconception in Canada is that women who are in the sex trade choose to be in it, but it has been said that “A lot of the girls in brothels never meant to be in brothels. They got there because someone threatened and forced them into it.” And this does not happen only in undeveloped nations. The 2008 movie Taken, starring Liam Neeson, highlights the situation of women being abducted in Western Europe and sold into the sex trade.

            In Canada, human traffickers peddle young girls to work as sex slaves for as little as $2,000. If this seems unlikely, simply Google “Montreal,” “escort service,” and “young girls.” Young girls have been taken from places like Cameroon and sent as slaves to the states of Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey. In addition, many people will remember the scandal involving Craigslist in 2009, where it was brought to light often that their “escort service” was little more than a façade for sex trafficking.

It is true that trafficking happens in Canada, but Canada is also a place of transit. People are brought to Canada from other nations, and then transported to their destination. There are people in Canada working to combat this disgrace to civilization. Conservative MP Joy Smith has been one of the leading activists against human trafficking in Canada, and has recently submitted a private bill requiring a minimum sentence for those caught involved in human trafficking. There are many organizations that are dedicated to ending human trafficking. Not for Sale, Exodus Cry, International Justice Mission, and others are solely devoted to freeing those in slavery in today’s world.

Condoleeza Rice once said, “Defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our time.” Human trafficking is an atrocity that must end as soon as possible. People were never meant to be owned by other people. As Christians, there is a clear calling to fight injustice, and to be Christ’s earthly aids in doing everything possible to free those who are in bondage.

The light is shining brightly!

Research Methods - 1 paper (with partner)
Environmental Science - 1 presentation
Global Problems & Change - 1 paper
Biblical Poetry - 1 project
Intro to Theatre - 1 performance (with partner)
Literature for Children - 2 lessons

YEAH BABY finito with 2 classes!! That last paper is 1/3 done, and I'm hoping to finish that and get my powerpoint ready for my Science presentation. I wrote my final exam for Science yesterday, so I'm pretty much done with that too! Oh I can see the end and it is glorious, my friends :)

Current homework status

Research Methods - 1 paper (with partner)
Environmental Science - 1 presentation
Global Problems & Change - 1 paper
Biblical Poetry - 1 project
Intro to Theatre - 1 presentation (with partner)
Literature for Children - 2 lessons

Current total = 7

Yay!!! Single digits!!!! Tonight I have to finish that last project for Biblical poetry, and then hopefully that paper for Research Methods tonight or tomorrow.

[EDIT] Collage for Biblical poetry is done! I'm debating whether I want to Mod Podge it or not - kinda scared to cuz it's on posterboard and I've never done that before.

Mail post 1.15

 ::Incoming::

 From the lovely miss Belen

From Mikaela in Finland

A first letter from Soph in Australia

Check out the awesome stamps from Asierleigh

A fantastic postcrossing card from Finland. I love it!

Fantastic architecture from Portugal

::Outgoing::

 

A postcrossing card out to Finland (who ironically happens to be going to Olga)

 

Finally, the only letter in ages out to dear Olga. 

Movies I can't believe I don't own.

You know how everyone has some of those movies that they just love and could watch over and over, but somehow don't actually own a copy? Here are some of those movies for me:

Somehow I'm still alive.

Research Methods - 1 paper and 1 presentation (with partner) = 1
Environmental Science - 1 paper and 1 presentation = 1
Global Problems & Change - 3 2 papers and 1 presentation = 3
Biblical Poetry - 1 paper and 1 project =1
Intro to Theatre - 1 paper and 1 presentation (with partner) = 2
Literature for Children - 2 lessons

Current total = 10

Yay, I'm almost down to single digits!!! :)

This is next week: Monday has a paper and presentation of that paper. Tuesday, two assignments and an exam. Yay... NOT. Wednesday has another exam, and then Thursday has another paper. Hurrah.

Fill in the Blank Friday 1.6

1.   Black Friday is  not for me.

2.  Christmas shopping this year will include  something for my mom and dad, and a collective gift for Chris' family. Otherwise I'm already done.

3.  Holiday shopping makes me  eager to think of the best gifts for my loved ones, be they store-bought or homemade.

4.  This year my Christmas list will include   anything from my Etsy wish list, Josh Groban's new album Illuminations, stationery and stamps, Disney movies, and the newest Shopaholic book.

5.  Bargain hunter, or full price shopper?    I don't hunt for bargains, but like any good Mennonite I will not pass one up.

6.  The best and worst things about shopping is   spending time just looking at stuff and the worst is that it just costs so much money!

7.  Online shopper or in-person shopper?   I LOVE online shopping, but I like to be able to touch things and see it first before I buy it too. Totally depends on the thing I'm buying.

Cute to the 10th degree

My cousin posted this video on Facebook, and I just had to share it with you. This kid is absolutely adorable, and he has freaken mad skills! I love his facial expressions most of all. Just watch it, it will make you smile =)

Little Kid sings Jason Mraz

Current progress.

Research Methods - 1 paper and 1 presentation (with partner) = 1
Environmental Science - 1 paper and 1 presentation =2
Global Problems & Change - 3 2 papers and 1 presentation = 3
Biblical Poetry - 1 paper and 1 project = 2
Intro to Theatre - 1 paper and 1 presentation (with partner) = 2
Literature for Children - 2 lessons

Current total =12

This helps keep me sane, thanks.

Wish (Want It, Seeit Happen)

This is all I want for Christmas

Thank you.

[EDIT] "This" being Josh Groban's new album, Illuminations. Not Josh Groban himself. Geez.

Where did my brain fall out? Oh there it is.

Hola, mi amigas.

After counting my assignments again on Monday, I realized that I was back up to 14. There was a paper and a presentation I forgot on my original list. I finished that paper I forgot, so I am down to 13 assignments

Research Methods - 1 paper and 1 presentation (with partner) = 2
Environmental Science - 1 paper and 1 presentation =2
Global Problems & Change - 3 papers and 1 presentation =4
Biblical Poetry - 1 paper and 1 project = 2
Intro to Theatre - 1 paper and 1 presentation = 2
Literature for Children - 2 lessons [this is my correspondence course, so I actually have to give myself due dates otherwise I don't do anything for 3 weeks at a time]

(FELICIA stares blankly at the screen. The gears in her mind can be heard distinctly as she begins to clue in to what she has just typed.)

What?!?! That's still 14!!!

(FELICIA runs into a corner to cry. After losing her mind for several centuries, she comes back to her laptop and sits down in a calm manner.)

Okay. I'm cool now.

I have come to terms with the fact that I very plainly do not know how to count.

Oy...

Blanks that I filled in 1.5

^courtesy of Lauren

1.   The most spontaneous thing I've ever done was changing my major. When I started school I was going for a business degree. At the start of my second year I really did not want to continue that, so I just changed it to something I actually enjoy, English Lit and Sociology.


2.  The best gift I've ever received was life and love and redemption.


3.  A time that I was truly and genuinely surprised was when Chris asked me out for the first time. I honestly had no clue he was interested in me. None.


4.  I can't leave the house without my cell phone and lip gloss.


5.  My favorite day of the week is Sunday because I can sleep in (compared to a regular day) and take my morning easy, then go to church and be with friends, then I usually have lunch with either my family, Chris' family, or friends, and then I spend the day just relaxing and enjoying my time (provided I'm not bogged down with homework for the next day).

6.  Something that can always make me laugh is doing Mennonite accents with Theresa. Sometimes I am reduced to tears because we are so ridiculous. 

7.  My perfect day would include sleeping in, then staying in bed and reading for a couple hours. Then take a nice bath featuring bath bombs from Lush, and having a lovely lunch with Chris. Then maybe hit up the Winnipeg Art Gallery for a few hours. Head over to Chapters or any bookstore and browse for a few hours. Then head out to Casa Grande with my friends and spend the evening talking and going into a food coma. Concluded by going to the cheap seats and watching a ridiculous midnight movie and staying out til all hours in the morning over coffee.

Wants.

Lately I've been seeing super cute/cool things on the internet that I just want.If I was making any cash right now, half of it would end up being spent on things I find on the internet. My weakness is online shopping, I'll admit it right here.

 

Okay, so these I want to make and eat. You can find the links by clicking on the pictures.

What a day... (Mail 1.14)

Hi friends. How are ya? I finished one of my papers today. It was due this afternoon for a double block class, so I wrote the last half page and kind of proofread it during class, then printed it during the break. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. So I haven't bunches of time for mail lately. Haven't been getting much either so it's okay, I guess.

::Incoming::

 

Sweet letter from my honey <3

 

From lovely Olga in the Ukraine

:: Outgoing::

For Miss Laura. This is from my new Don't Eat Mail stationery, which I love.

Postcrossing cards

(This stupid picture keeps uploading upside down and I can't figure out why!!) Doodles for Jiajia. This is what I do in class.

Here's some exciting news: Today my boyfriend became an uncle!! His brother and sister-in-law had a baby boy today (which also happens to be one of my dearest friend's birthday!) I can't wait to meet this little man at Christmas! Oh, I'm just so excited.

And just to close, my friend's mom had her surgery today. Everything went smoothly (as far as I've heard), but they found cancer in one of the lymph nodes under her arm, so she's in a lot of pain. They're going to talk to the doctor tomorrow about it. Please keep the whole family in your prayers. Thank you so much, friends :)

Insanity in 3... 2... 1...

I have 14 assignments to finish by December 10. That is 14 papers in 5 weeks. I am not kidding. My professors are obviously trying to kill me.

When I actually counted it last night I just about had a panic attack. I don't know how exactly I'm going to survive. But when it's all over it will be Christmas break, and I will relax and be happy.

If you feel so inclined, you can send my mailbox some love. Just check out my address on the side there, and send me anything that will make me smile. Even if you draw a smile on a blank envelope, I will be happy. Your prayers are also much appreciated.

And another prayer request - on Monday, one of my dearest friend's mother is having a double mastectomy. Monday also happens to be my friend's birthday. Pray that the surgery will go well and that chemo will not be necessary. Also pray that my friend will be able to sleep - I think that in the past month she hasn't gotten more than 6 hours of sleep in one night. Thank you for your prayers from the bottom of my heart!

Filling in the blanks 1.4

1.   My last haircut was  just after school started... so 2 months ago. I got my regular bob cut a few inches shorter.

2.  My most daring hair moment was when I put in pink and blonde streaks. Or when I went 2-toned. I think that was my favorite. I'd love to do it again.

3.  A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is  the extreme pouf that seems to be popular. Think Amy Winehouse beehive.

4.  I've always dreamt of being a (blonde, brunette or red-head)  red-head, at least when I was a kid.


5.  My go-to hair do is  air-dried, so it has a bit of natural curl, and just side-parted and down.

6.  My biggest hair disaster was  definitely the time I tried to colour my hair really light brown or something, and instead it turned into this terrible brassy orange shade. Yuck.

7.  A hairstyle I am dying to try is  all upswept and braided and wavy and sexy.


8.  My best hair day was  the day I got my hair dyed two-toned and my cousin styled it. It was the best.

9.  The worst hairstyle I ever had was  grade 6. The whole year.


10.  My hair is  naturally dark brown, wavy, and fun to play with.  

A letter to a person I wish I could meet.

Dear Chris Martin,

You are the most wonderful songwriter in existence. I love you. No really. Please keep making the loveliest music that ever resonated in my heart.

PS I think you're so attractive because your name is Chris. That just seems to happen to me lately.

Your devoted fan,
Felicia

A letter to someone from my childhood.

Dear Jessica,

My goodness, how our lives have gone in different directions. We still live in the same town but we might as well live on separate continents. I was sorry to hear that things didn't work out with him, but then I also hear from my mom what you're up to (since our mothers are still dear friends) and I kind of wonder what goes through your head these days. At any rate, we had good times as kids. I hope you find your way back and remember those days once again.

God bless,
Felicia

A letter to an internet friend,

Dear Belen,

You are such a sweet girl. I'm so happy I stumbled across your blog. Your handwriting and your smile are both beautiful and I love seeing them. Let's keep in touch for always, k?

Your internet buddy,
Felicia

Confession time.

I hate Halloween.

Loathe it.

I think it's the stupidest "holiday" ever. What's the point? - dress up in costumes and eat candy from strangers. I'd rather stay at home in my sweats and buy my own chocolate to eat.

I think it's stupid when youth groups have alternative event things. I mean, it's not bad if your church does that. My church does that for the little kids. I just think it's stupid. Why are you even acknowledging it?

I guess my ideas about Halloween come from my parents, who did not dress us up and take us trick-er-treating once. I also remember listening to the Adventures in Odyssey episode about Halloween when I was a kid. And I honestly don't care to celebrate it.

Sorry if this rant post doesn't make any sense to you. But Halloween doesn't make any sense to me.

[I don't mean to offend anyone who happens to celebrate Halloween. It's just my opinion and you are welcome to yours and I don't think any less of you. I just think the whole holiday is stupid and pointless. Like Uggs with mini-skirts. Or Justin Bieber.]

A letter to the person I want to tell everything to, but am afraid to.

Dear boyfriend,

At this point in our relationship, I'm finding that I need to share with you more and more the deep things in myself. I am more than happy to tell you the happy secrets. But there are some ugly things as well, things I can't even really handle, and I don't want to tell you these things. You keep telling me you want to know my heart, and I want you to know it better than I do... but at the same time, these terrible things that I loathe about myself, about my feelings, about my heart, and about my past... do you want to know them too? I'm scared. I know by now I have nothing to worry about... But if I don't like these parts and I don't even want to know them about myself, why would you?

Pray that I'll get over this. Because I need to tell someone, and I want it to be you.

Yours forever,
Felicia

A letter to someone I’ve drifted away from.

Dear Candida,

When I see you at church with your 2 daughters, I wish we still talked. They are beautiful and I just want to cuddle them while I talk to you about life. It's sad how it went, when you got engaged and I wanted to go to school, and we just started moving in opposite directions. But I'm almost done school, and I am in a relationship now, and I wish that maybe our lives would drift closer to one another. If that happens, I promise I'll throw out a rope and we'll see what happens. I remember our times when we used to laugh and share our hearts and be absolutely ridiculous and wear mis-matching socks together. I hope you remember these times as fondly as I do.

Your friend,
Felicia