Pleasantly Surprised

Yesterday was a bit of an interesting day. It began with the sex conference. That was pretty interesting, I guess. Learned a bit more about endorphins and which lubricants to use with condoms (don't use oil based lubricants because they eat away at the condom... use water-based!). I was a bit disappointed because there was not a whole lot said about Christian perspective on sex and such... it was more just talking about everything else... The Birds and the Bees, the physiological aspect, and just an informative shingdig.
I had a volleyball game last night as well. That was absolutely embarrassing. The team was playing so poorly and entirely as a bunch of individuals and us benchies remained on the bench. It was so disheartening, but oh well. Not only did we lose 25-8 in one of the sets, but my team was a disaster! I was reduced to being colorfully called a rookie. I may bring this up some time in the future because it's a great story... I just don't want to offend anyone before things are cleared up or say anything I'll regret and have to apologize for.
But the highlight of my day was definitely at 3:10 when I was told by numerous people that there was a package for me at the front desk. When you live in rez without any family, there is nothing better than getting a package! Nothing better than getting any sort of mail for that matter! Any sort of male... even my voter's card was rewarded with a celebration. Anyways... I went to the front desk and there is this thing with my name written so big! That explained why so many people told me to go to the front desk.. you could see my name from a mile away. Anyways, I went and retrieved my package to discover that it was a dozen roses!!! My brother Anthonie sent me a dozen roses for my birthday!! I was so excited! I went around rez showing everyone because they were so beautiful! And, I'm not gonna lie, they smelled absolutely divine!Aww.. I love my brother! I love him so much, and not only because he sent me flowers! I love him because he is so wise and he cares so much for other people. I think I've noticed just how much I love him since I've been gone. I know that's what everyone always says, but it is absolutely true. I used to take him so forgranted and just reduce him to an overprotective brother. But he's more than that - granted he is still overprotective... excessively so maybe, but we all have our faults :). He is so loving and I know that I can go to him with anything and he'll give me an honest and unbiased opinion. Take yesterday, for example, we were having a discussion in Michael's room about Oral Sex and whether or not it is actually sex (I think it is) and there weren't many people in the room who agreed and so I emailed my brother and asked his opinion and such. I didn't think it was odd, but apparently most people don't email their siblings asking about sex. That's what I love about Anth though, I can email him and know that he will give me his educated opinion. Yup... I love my brother.
Hahaha... I have a bit of a confession to make. I just thought about it right now. When my sister, Lindsey, turned 16 Anthonie sent her a dozen roses from Halifax (that was where he lived at the time) and so I'd always dreamed of the day when he would send me flowers. I did have quite the imagination, but we don't need to get into that. Well, I forgot about this childhood dream and my 16th birthday came and went without any excitement. I didn't think much of it, however, until I was looking through pictures at home - as I so often do. I eventually got to Lindsey's 16th birthday pictures and there was one with her and this big vase full of roses and my heart sunk. Haha. I was so sad that I didn't get any extra attention at my birthday. I was a bit bitter at the time... and for months afterwards. Oh females and their unnecessary drama. Anyways. I eventually got over it, but that was something I thought of instantly when I read the card. Heh heh. I must admit, it was definitely worth the wait. I appreciate it much more now! Anyways. I should be going to read Othello, I have two more acts to polish off before tomorrow... G'night.

He's Three!!

Happy Birthday Christopher Michael Boessenkool! I wish I could be there to play with you today! I love you.
Love Auntie Ashley

C.S. Lewis

He whom I bow to only knows to whom I bow

When I attempt the ineffable Name, murmuring Thou,

And dream of Pheidian fancies and embrace in heart

Symbols (I know) which cannot be the thing Thou art.

Thus always, taken at their word, all prayers blaspheme

Worshipping with frail images a folk-lore dream,

And all men in their praying, self-deceived, address

The coinage of their own unquiet thoughts, unless

Thou in magnetic mercy to Thyself divert

Our arrows, aimed unskilfully, beyond desert;

And all men are idolators, crying unheard

To a deaf idol, if Thou take them at their word.
Take not, O Lord, our literal sense. Lord, in thy great

Unbroken speech our limping metaphor translate.

C.S. Lewis

I am taking Theology this semester and this was the first thing we looked at in class. Our professor, Roy Berkenbosch, put this up on the overhead and gave us a couple minutes to talk amongst ourselves about it. I don't know about you, but when I read this initially it all flew over my head. When we started discussing it, however, I really began appreciating it. I'll try and be concise.

If you read this... I guess I would call it a prayer or a reflection of some sort... anyways, if you read it... I don't know. I found it rather powerful. I'll just share what I found most impacting.

Our concept of who God is is less than who the true God is. The opening line shows that only God knows who He really is. God is far greater than we could ever imagine and our words are unworthy of who He is. We cannot be literal because he is so much greater than anything we can say and his majesty surpasses words that we may use to describe it - our words are insufficient and inadequate. Our arrows are aimed unskillfully and they miss the target. If our words are taken at face value then we are blaspheming God and reducing him to something far less than He actually is.

I don't know... there is so much I could say and that I want to say, but I'm not very good at articulating my thoughts and I'm afraid I will just lose you so you can just read that for yourself and I'd encourage you to reflect on it. It's a good piece of literature.