Bookworms

Wow, not hard to tell that final papers and exams are coming up, this blog is a fantastic method of procrastination!
Well, this year, Joey has turned into a hardcore book-buyer, pretty sure he comes home every other week or so with another one, and even joined a book club! I am a huge cheap-skate, so sometimes i don't appreciate it right away, but then after thinking about it, I think books are a pretty good thing to spend money on, and we both have been learning a lot. Probably him more than me, 'cause he gets to read them more, but I have read a few this year...

My number one recommendation so far this year: "Reaching for the Invisible God", by Phillip Yancy. I have read a few of his books, and generally like them all, but this one is amazing to me. This is a book for everyone to read, whether you don't believe in God, or whether you have grown up believing for almost your entire life. It is REAL, made me realize that I'm not the only one who still has tons of questions, and with the tendency to become cynical with the church and 'christianity' at times. Shows how we are still humans, living the Christian life, and how that doesn't usually progress like the people on the covers of '7 steps to being a perfect christian' or all those other books claim it is. I don't know if i'm really getting the point across, but it is HONEST, and a lot to think over. I usually read a book in a couple of days, this one has taken me a really long time to read.

Another good one: 'God in the Alley', by Greg Paul. I'm pretty sure that's the name of it, but not 100%. He started a 'church' for the inner city in Toronto, only it's not really a church in the traditional sense of the word. Anyway, his focus is on 'being God' to others, and 'seeing God' in others. Even in broken lives, in this fallen world, we can see glimpses of his beauty, and can be that to others. It's about seeing these small glimpses everywhere, even in flawed relationships, a reflection of the One who is perfect in this beauty.

umm....i'm just starting "Blue Like Jazz", by Don Miller, of which I've heard rave reviews. I'm a couple chapters in, and again, i can say HONESTY. no attempt to hide flaws, which is something i need to see, because 'perfect' people make me feel depressed and hopeless. How can we learn if we are not honest with ourselves and with others? Miller is really artistic too, the way he frames things is really cool, challenges me to really look at things, deeper than what i see at first glance. Yes, i did just say 'really' three times in that sentence. This paper-writing is getting to me!

so, probably no one read this comment, i don't know if i would on someone else's blog! I like pictures a lot more :) Hope it convinces someone to read these books though, lifechanging!

7 days and counting...

Only 7 days until classes end for my last year of undergraduate studies, woo hoo!! Between now and then, I have 3 papers and a presentation, but i'm kind of a geek, in that I like to get things done pretty far in advance, so things are looking good right now. I still have moments of sheer panic, but then I realise that it IS possible to get everything done, and STILL have time to update my blog, haha! I'm trying to get in as much time as possible with all our friends here too, since we will be separating soon, after 4 years together :(
So, a little update on our plans...we are moving to halifax at the end of april, taking over a sublet from a friend of ours on Windsor street, by the Forum. We are super excited about that, and looking forward to making some new friends, and hanging out with both my sisters who will also be there. Joe is taking a french course at Dal in the summer, so he can graduate, and we will both be job-hunting, any tips are welcome! The apartment is furnished, so we are trying to figure out what to do with all our stuff now, as my parents have sold our farm, so we can't dump everything there anymore! We might try to sell some, because we will be away for quite a while, because we are planning on going to.............................
South Korea! teaching English, hopefully for two years, in the fall. We both have major student loans, so we want to get as much out of the way as possible, so we can be free for what God has for us in the future. So we don't have concret plans right now, so if people know people who have been/are there, let us know, we need contacts! We are super excited to go and live in another country and see God use us and teach us there too.
So that's pretty much it, lots of changes after this month, which are a little scary, but i think we are ready for something new. I do love Sackville though, and I'm making the most of my time left here (good thing I got some work done in advance!)
A'ight, I guess that's all our news for now, we'll keep you updated!
p.s. it is always Gemma who is writing, pretty sure Joe barely knows this blog exists.

American Idol Fan!

Ok, so some seasons I watch AI faithfully, and other times I only watch the hilarious ones at the beginning with the really awful singers.
Anyway, I'm trying to schedule my studying and paper-writing around the show, 'cause i LOVE it!
My prediction is Chris Daughtry.
He is awesome, a great songwriter and he knows how to arrange the music to suit who he is. Simon Cowell told him yesterday that he was "the first artist we've had on American Idol who has refused to compromise" what an awesome thing for someone to say about you! Not even just musically, but he seems like a really great guy, who names his wife as his hero and inspiration, and is totally devoted to her and their kids. That's always good to see!
Anyway, last night he sang "Walk the Line", and it was amazing. (hopefully the link works)

I think he might be a christian too, his old band is called Absent Element, and they played at some churches with a DOVE award winning band called Day of Fire. I'm hoping! We definitely need some good music out there!

Person i love, but think he is the worst singer and should get voted out: Kevin Covais (chicken little) he's so cute!!!

What does everyone else think? Does anyone else even watch this?!!

Grad Banquet!

So, graduation is getting SO close for me! Only 2 1/2 weeks left of classes, insane!
Last night (thursday) was the grad banquet, so the girls and I got dolled up and dragged Joey along with us. It was a great night, the meal was good, and it was fun to hang out with everyone in our graduating class. The grad movie and slideshow were great, and the whole night just reminded me how awesome my time here at MTA has been. Recently I have been getting pretty stressed out about papers, and since I didn't get away for christmas or spring break, I had a bit of a case of the Sackville blues. Last night I really realized that I need to enjoy the rest of my time here, 'cause we all split up after this, we're the last of our group to graduate, so no more Sackville reunions, who knows what comes next?! Anyway, we had an awesome banquet, hung out for a bit with Tina at the 'swim house', and then went out dancing, we even got Joe up there with us! Good memories!

Joe and I at the banquet

Bermuda Girls '06!!! Shout out to my girls, Jacqui, Jane, Lanna!

Liz, Tina, Jacqui, Lanna, myself getting ready for dancing!

Randomness

Ok, so I promised I would post some pics, and I finally remembered to bring the camera with me to school, so here goes...

A pic of our BEAUTIFUL kitties, Spaghetti and Meatball (Joey named them!). I love them to death, and talk to them a lot when Joe is at work, but they do shed hair, poop and ruin furniture way too much for my liking. They are counting down the days until they get to go back to Wallace and play outside!

Here is Meatball, looking oh-so-cute.

Spaghetti in her second-favourite place to chill out. She's getting kind of fat to stay up there though, she keeps slipping off. Incidentally, her most-favourite place is ON the keyboard, especially while I'm trying to work!

Joe went to shave his beard off the other day, and came out of the bathroom looking like this! Nice. I think he's trying to be cool to fit in with the kids at work! Don't worry, it didn't last long, he's bald now!

A pic of the gang at the rugby seven's tournament in Truro. Wowzers.

Exciting Weekends!

phew!! it's been a while since i posted, and it feels like a lot has happened since then....
two weekends ago, joe and i went to halifax for a missions conference called Jesus to the Nations. It was awesome, with great speakers, and I think we got an info CD from every booth possible, who knows what is in store for us in the future?! it is exciting to think about it. We both have loved living in Sackville and going to MTA, but we are definitely ready to move on. Graduation is so soon!
My whole family (except for Naomi), was also in Halifax, so it was really awesome to hang out with them, it doesn't happen very often, and it's usually loud and crazy when it does. I think Joe is finally getting used to it, but I think he's sworn off driving in a car with all of us together!
oh yeah, that weekend I also went to the Jeff Somers Band release party on Friday, which was awesome, and then we stopped in to see LifeSupport in Truro on the way home, and hung out with them for a while. Both are awesome bands, check them out if you are in Moncton (JSB), or Antigonish (LS). So, a pretty good weekend in all!

This weekend we took in the dirty and dangerous Truro Rugby Sevens tournament, in which our soon-to-be-married friends Sally Wilson and Mark Bernard were playing. It was an awesome time, with a bunch of Truro aggies in their workboots and carhartts cheering on an insanely violent group of rugby players. Dad, I think Joe may be starting to like this sport! Wish you were there!
Oh, I also saw Joel Plaskett play the other week, and the Novaks and Sam Roberts this weekend. (I work security, so I get in for free, it's awesome!). Joel and Sam were awesome, I love their shows, but I was not a huge fan of the Novaks.

Anyway, this is way too long. i'll post some pictures as soon as I remember to bring my camera here!
later.