More of Barrhead

Wearing Christa's sweaters... trying to be thugs... we look stupid.

Modelling Christa's gr. 9 outfits for her mom.
I'm a tree! Just call me Spruce!
We were pretty excited... not gonna lie.
Such an awesome suit! Obviously well loved.

Barrhead Bliss!!

Looks like 10 is the limit for the number of pictures you can have on each post. So... I'll have to do this once more.

Here's Deanna and I ready to eat!

Here we are in front of Ramzi's on our way out of Barrhead

We also decided to quadding today. It was so much fun! Here Christa is all fired up to go!

Preuss got us stuck going up a hill so Deanna and I got off and then the quad rolled back onto my foot and convenientely stopped. We tried to push it up the hill but we just kept on slipping so we let it roll down the hill in and then Christa rode it up without our obese bodies on the back. Here I am celebrating that we get to go again!
Deanna and I waiting for P to make it work
Thumbs up
We went to a frozen lake and made snow angels!
Deanna fell at least 5 times... it was so funny! Oh man... here she is the first time she slipped.
We all wrote our names on the ice too!

Reading Week #3

So Deanna and I ventured out to Barrhead with our friend Christa Preuss. I'm not gonna lie, it was so much fun! When we arrived her mother served us an incredible dinner of carrots, potatoes, ham, salad and buns galore. Then we watched Red Eye with her brothers after dinner. They decided to show us their gymnastic abilities afterwards, which was quite humorous... and slightly impressive. Oh man, then we realized just how horse crazy Christa was as a child. She had books full of horse artwork, horse books, horse everything! She even had the book titled, "The Horse Plan". Oh my goodness! So funny! She had lists of how she could raise money, how she would take care of the horse and her days were each planned out. She even included play time with her hamster Woody. Oh man, that girl had letters to a horse named Stella and goals for her life. The two that stood out the most were: 1. Believe in the magic of your dreams and 2. ALWAY BE A HORSE CRAZY KID!!! Needless to say, we laughed for a very long time.
The next day Christa had a hair appointment so Deanna and I toured Barrhead. It was so much fun. First, we visited the mall, conveniently titled "The Mall". We entered it and were surprised to see that it was really more of a long hallway with four stores in it... if Curves can be included as a store. We were quite impressed, to say the least. Then we had some fun with a tree there...

Deanna and I were heading back to see Christa and who should we see, but Joyce Wierenga shopping with her grandmother. I think she was a bit surprised to see Deanna and I wandering Main Street.
We also visited the greatest burger joint of all time! It's called Ramzi's and it was absolutely divine! I have another picture that I'll add later, but oh man... that was a mean Canadian Burger!
Preuss also showed us around her old high school so we made her pose for a picture. What a hot poster girl.

Pizza Hut

Curtis and his refrigerator

Laura crafting our pizza
Those are Pizza Stickers
Deanna had an ugly face at one point of time... she tricked me

Wrestling!

I forgot to include that us girls wrestled yesterday as well. Brittney and Amber tried to gang up on me, but I'm "lanky" and they couldn't pin me down. I 'owned' them! (that one's for you Michael Ui... I learn from the best).

Pinning Brittney

Me and Brittney attacking Amber

I have them both in a headlock... with one arm
Futile!

Laura's House

Squished into the car

Slam-it Uno!

Me and Deanna Lynn awaiting Dinner
Group Shot! Amber, Deanna, Curtis, Dave, Brittney, Laura, and Me
Brittney is tough

Reading Week #2 aka Sunday

Sunday began at 7:00am for me. You see, my friend Laura was auditioning for Canadian Idol and she didn't want to go by herself so I selflessly volunteered to skip church (uh oh) and keep her company. So we headed to West Edmonton Mall where we were ushered into a glass cage in which we were expected to await Laura's turn.
She just so happened to be the lovely number 10917.

Anyways... Waiting was pretty entertaining. At first I was just watching people. It was so interesting to see how everyone acts in stressful situations like this and watching people warm up and being amazed by some of the talent. Lots of people are very interesting looking to and it was quite entertaining to just watch and soak it all in. After that, as Laura got more and more nervous, we started playing speed. It was pretty fun. The camera men came and filmed us, which definitely made Laura excited. I wasn't, however, because I suck at speed and started sucking more when there was a camera beside me taking a shot of my side profile, my hand, and Laura. They could see my cards and how slow and terrible I was... I was a loser and, not so surprisingly, ended up losing the game. We also had to do this really lame thing where we had to sit there with a bunch of other people and clap while this annoying girl sang and we had to look happy and excited while I just felt like a poser. And then we had to do it with Ben Mulrooney.. if that's his name... and he doesn't seem like a very nice man. Yeah.. I felt dumb, but oh well. Then came more waiting and some swing dancing and some more singing. Here's me waiting... hahaha.

Laura finally got to go and sing. She sadly didn't make it, but we enjoyed ourselves and that's really all that matters.

After the whole Canadian Idol ordeal, I came back to rez and pretty much sat around for a while. I actually really like it when it's quiet. I was the only one there who was awake and I just hung out for a bit. Watched a bit of the olympics - men's hockey (come on boys!). And then seven of us headed to Laura Boskers house for dinner! SO GOOD! Her mother made potatoe's, pasta, apple sauce, pork chops, corn, and I'm pretty sure there was something else but I can't remember what. It was absolutely delicious! So good! And then we hung out with her parents for a bit (both of who are hilarious). We played slam-it uno too... SO MUCH FUN! It was a gong show. Man, it felt good to be in a home with a family, even if it wasn't mine. There is something about a happy home - any happy home - that just makes me so full of joy. It made me miss my family and appreciate them all the more. We played dutch bingo and found out that Laura's dad went to Dordt with one of my aunts and that he met my brother in California at a conference of some sort and yadda yadda yadda. I love dutch bingo! It's so exciting to see how we're all connected and how so-and-so knows so-and-so who's related to so-and-so until it eventually makes it to you.

When we came home from Laura's we sang Karaoke some more and then Laura, Curtis, Dave, and I hopped into Laura's car and I drove to Pizza Hut so we could get some free pizza from Laura's sister. We helped her do inventory for a bit and Laura showed off her talent by making us two large pizza's with tons of cheese and meet... and mushrooms on half of one for me and Deanna Lynn. So yummy! We drove them back to King's though and Dave and Curtis ate some in the car, thus provoking mine and Laura's rage. Haha. I couldn't eat because I was driving standard and I didn't want to get grease all over and Laura didn't eat because she didn't want to eat it without me. We finally got back to rez and ate our Pizza in Dave's room because there were a bunch of people in Laura and Britt's and we didn't have enough for everyone.

A bunch of the people in the other room were doing things that I dislike participating in so I stayed in Dave's room and hung out with Laura. Then I went into the other room to get the cord for the camera so I could put these lovely pictures on here and a bunch of the people were trying to offer me alcohol and they were asking me why I don't want to get drunk with them and such and so I turned to them and said, "Because I believe that getting drunk is a sin." I don't think they appreciated that too much, but I didn't feel like dancing around the issue and decided to take the blunt approach and tell it to them like it is. They then started asking where it says that in the Bible and I told them about our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit and how we're supposed to honour God with our bodies. And they were saying that alcohol is a gift and I agreed, but if taken in excess then it was abusing it. Then one of them said that Jesus got drunk. And I said that, no I don't believe he did. But they were convinced that Christ got drunk. To make a long story short, I got out of there as quickly as possible.

I'm pretty sure the rest of the story doesn't need to be publically told, but they ended up doing some stupid and inconsiderate things and so I lost it on them! Reasoning with drunk people is like talking to an egocentric 3 year old who cannot make arguments for themselves and thinks that if someone else has done it then there is an open invitation for them to repeat it because it isn't bad or rude or absolutely revolting. I'm pretty sure I haven't been that angry in a while... a very long while. I was bawling and I threw my shoes at the wall and so I decided to go for a walk outside to calm myself down. So... today I have the gruesome task of cleaning a whole lot. I'm definitely not looking forward to it.

It frustrates me when I get mad. I hate it! But sometimes I feel as though there's nothing else to do. Talking doesn't always work so I thought I'd show them my raw emotion - my disgust, my sadness and, quite evidently, my anger. I wish I could be more Christ-like and I wish I knew how to show them that they are wrong and that they can't do the things they do! Why do people get drunk? What is so appealing about it and how can they try to defend it from a Christian perspective? Why would you intentionally get drunk?? I feel as though they don't respect me and my opinion though because I've never been drunk. I've only ever consumed on sip of alcohol (wine at ukranian christmas) and so they think that I don't have a valid argument. It is so discouraging and sad. Well... I'm going to go start cleaning. I'll post some pictures first.

Lonely Rez

Reading week has finally begun!!! Rez is so quiet though because everyone has gone home, but alas, I have volleyball every day this week in preparation for provincials next weekend. I would much rather go home, but I guess hanging out with Deanna all day will have to suffice. We've made some plans for this week. We're going to Barrhead with Christa and Marie on Monday night and then we're going to Latin Dance lessons and Karaoke on Tuesday night... and we're planning on going to Claire's house one day (to play with her puppy and eat... we don't even like Claire.. hahah I'm lying... we love Claire, but her puppy and food are the most appealing parts).
This morning I slept in till 9:00 and sat in bed for an hour or so before going across the hall to cuddle with Amber and talk to Laura. Laura was going to try out for Canadian Idol today and she was so nervous so we were trying to get her to practice in front of us. She adamantly refused, but eventually sang a little diddy with the computer.Oh man.. she was trying to convince one of us to go with her, but I had volleyball and Amber had to work. She was going to have to sit and wait alone so she packed some homework. We gave her a huge hug for good luck and then went to my room to talk for a bit. About 10 minutes or so later we see her walking back to her room so we called out and asked what she was doing. She told us that she wasn't going. Our mouths dropped and we ran into her room. I was almost crying and Amber was yelling at her and she was saying how there are good singers and then there are amazing singers and that she's only average and she won't make it anyway. So I sat there dumbfounded with my heart pounding and my throat constricting and Amber was yelling at her telling her to put her work back in her bag and to get back out there. We were ready to do anything to make that girl go sing because she has so much talent and she is so cute and we just love her and know she could make it and do so good. So we were desperately trying to convince her to go and then she started laughing at us and said that she was going and that Theresa volunteered to go with her so she was getting different work to do. We just about lost it! Oh man... We had our adrenaline rushing and we were getting so emotional and then it turned out she was just lying. I couldn't even believe it! It was hilarious, but it took forever for my heart to stop pounding. So... she eventually left Amber and I choked in her room.
Deanna and I went for breakfast at 11:30. So yummy! I love breakfast. Then we had volleyball. Warm-up was so fun. Deanna and I played our little game.... the "hit the ball back and forth and keep it bouncing because we're really only five year olds who are easy to entertain" game. Goodtimes. Hitting warm-up was fun too... aka I could actually hit today and wasn't hitting with my elbow. Umm.. Bench warming is actually quite entertaining too. Christa Preuss, Deanna Barwich and I wear our black hoodies and stand at the end of the bench cheering, talking, doing high kicks, dancing and generally just making fools of ourselves. We are the biggest losers I know, but we have so much fun so it doesn't matter. Then pepper during the time outs is a gong show! We're lucky if we get a rally of any sort.We lost...
Deanna is falling asleep per usual so I think I'll go jump on her...

He pretty much has the same birthday as Michael

Happy Birthday Justin! I love you!

More Team Fun

My team also decided to have a 'crazy hat day'. It was pretty fun... not as fun as dressing up, but what can you do?

Here's Deanna and I being goons... Pre-practice

Here's Mac's Artwork

Here's us all! Marie with the Sombrero, Ninja Ange, Christa Pruess, Claire McAlpine, me, Sheena, Deanna Lynn, Heather... and Lorraine, Oriana and Bailey up front.

Claire and Sheena

Claire, Ange the Ninja, me and Proyce

Christa and Claire McAlpine

Heather, Oriana, Christa and Bailey

Oriana Pysyk and I




Sheena, Claire, Christa, Oriana, Heather

Volleyball Fun

Our volleyball team had a dress-up day a little while ago and Michael's computer is finally cooperating so I am able to post some pictures. Yeah yeah, we're hideous, but it was so much fun so it doesn't even matter. Those spandex, however, were SO hot! And I'm not referring to their attractive qualities, but merely their ability to keep my body warm and perspiring.

O+

Yesterday was ... rather eventful to say the least. It began a bit stressful. I woke up at 7:30 to cram some more for my bio midterm that was scheduled for 9:00am. Feeling entirely unprepared I walked into L116 and began to write. The multiple choice was tough. I was second guessing myself like crazy! Anyways. I start nearing the end of the multiple choice question and I noticed my good buddy Deanna walking up to the front without her exam to ask the professor something. I watch her, knowing that she didn't feel well, and she suddenly collapsed at the front of the class. So, there's Deanna lying on the floor not moving and Dr Peters hovering over her talking to her quietly looking a little bit shocked. I couldn't concentrate because I was worried about her and seeing the poor guy trying to take care of this young girl/woman he doesn't know... so I went got up, left my exam behind, grabbed Deanna's water bottle and went to help him out. She was conscious when I got up to the front but she looked so pale and she was sweating profusely. So we kind of move her behind the desk so she's not awkwardly lying there infront of the entire class. I sat there with her head in my hands rubbing her ... I guess it was behind the ears. The poor girl. It was so sad. So Dr. Peters went out to call for a first aid attendant and I just sat there with Deanna. He comes back and he's like, "Thanks for coming up here to help Ashley." and then he was like, "Deanna, how are you feeling?" So either the guy is amazing and knows our names already or he went out and, in the process of calling for help, found out our names. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the first one because he really is the nicest man ever. So our Chem lab instructor Cindy Slupsky came in and just sat with us because everything was ok and we brought Deanna up to her room eventually. I then had to go to Dr. Peters office and finish my midterm. It didn't end up going to well, but that's ok. Anyways, Deanna's feeling better now and we're both done our exams.
Umm.. oh yeah. I went and donated blood yesterday too! That was quite interesting as well. First, I made friends with every single person who helped me out. I would have these long conversations with them and... I'm quite amazed at how much someone can open up in just a short amount of time. I love getting to know people and asking them questions and finding out what they're passionate about. Like, the first lady who pricked my finger to see if I had enough hemoglobin in my blood, well she went to school for English and Arts originally and didn't become a nurse until she was 30. She had to go to university for bio and chem first because she'd never taken them in high school. She told me all about how they test for hemoglobin and that she's been working at the Blood Donor Clinic for over 15 years now and yadda yadda yadda. Then came the man, Will, who screened me. We had a big long discussion about each of the mandatory questions he had to ask me. He told me about this great biology book he's reading and thoroughly enjoying. Apparently every living cell responds to endorphins and is healthier when they experience joy. Like... every one of our little macrophages responds to endorphins and it affects how they work. I was.. quite impressed actually. And then he asked me if I was ever up at 6:30 in the morning because he was going to be on TV. So I politely asked him what he was going to be doing on TV and he informed me that he's a musician and that he was going to be performing and stuff so I acted all interested for him. So, he volunteered to write down the name of the book he was reading and the time and channel the morning show would be on. I was like... alright. Then we talked about Africa and nursing and everything else. Then, cause I really don't like needles, I was jokingly telling him that he'd better be good at this (this was as he was prepping me for my donation) and he assured me that he was. Anyways, to make a long story short, I had blood running down my arm because he did something or other and I was laughing at him. It worked out though... they took my blood. Nearing the end of my donation, as I was applying pressure to my arm, Will returned with a piece of paper and he says he has his email on it for me so I can email him and ask him questions, or if I want to come to a live concert I can get free tickets, or if I just want to talk. And I was like... oh no. So I took it and then went to eat my soup. Lynae was convinced I was flirting with him, but I assure you, 30 yr. old men are not my type. That wasn't even the most eventful part of our blood donation. The greatest/most entertaining/funniest/not so exciting part was when Amy collapsed on her way to the chair. She'd felt dizzy and then collapsed and so I grabbed her legs and held them up and the nurses came running and put a pillow under her head and her feet on a chair and clothes on her face. Tracy (an RN) sat with us for a while and Amy graduated from lying on the floor to sitting on it, then to sitting in a chair, and then, finally, to leaving with us. It was definitely good times.
Umm.. Then I watched the King's Basketball team beat NAIT. I was sitting with Eric and he was cheering for NAIT because his roommate Church is on it, but King's won and it was quite exciting. After the game was over Eric, Church, Deanna and I went to Eric's house and hung out for a while before going to see Zorro.. the second one. It was an alright movie. Sequels are never as good.. unless we're talking Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or Return to Snowy River.
And that was pretty much that. Stayed up way to late for having donated blood, but that's alright.

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.