Some Poetry

Yesterday I was in school with the kids and they were doing poetry, and I felt inclined to write a few poems of my own. And you can feel free to read and critique them, also if you would be interested in buying a full book of poetry by Ryan Malech you can place your order today.

Rain
Morning again
I open my front door.
A reminder I am still in Vancouver,
My heart sinks lower as rain falls further into the mud.
Another soggy morning,
nothing new.
A change would be nice.
Sun is preferred but never expected.
Welcome here... Rain.

The Biggest
The BIGGEST and the Greatest
One in the same really.
I was never the tallest,
but I tried the hardest.
Never finished first,
but always cheered the loudest.
My stature was not huge,
nor big or overwhelming.
But big is on the inside,
my Heart gives a constant pounding.

So that is what I came up with please share your thoughts, perhaps in a poem of your own.

New Ideas

So since I have moved to Vancouver one of the things that I have heard a lot of that has been a pretty new idea to me, is this whole "Go Green" idea.

Seems like a good idea to me, I mean why not turn off the lights when you aren't using them, and recycle as much as you can, and get grocery bags that you can re-use. All good ideas. Today the lady preaching at church did a whole sermon on preserving God's earth. I think thats cool, that is why we should preserve it, God gave it to us so let's take care of it right.

I just sometimes think that maybe this isn't as important as some people push it to be, I definitely agree that we should take care of His earth. But maybe before we learn how to take care of his earth we should try to learn more about how to take care of/treat his people. Not just Christians but everyone, since we are all made in His image that would make us all His people.

I just think that sure if we are recycling and doing all this stuff to take care of the earth, but if you can't treat people with respect that everyone should be deserved then perhaps you have your priorities out of place?

A New Leaf

So I felt it was time to turn over a new leaf.

I am calling this time "Run Fat Boy, Run" I realize this a movie that just came out recently. However I have not seen this movie I feel that it probably closely resembles my life at the moment.

I decided earlier this morning that I was going to start a new hobby, although there is a current dispute going on as to weather running can actually be a hobby, I am making it my new hobby.

If you have a comment on weather running can actually be a hobby or not please note your thoughts and then add a comment on what your hobby idea for me would be, this would have to fit in the phrase "_____ Fat Boy, ______"

So it couldn't be like "Do puzzles Fat Boy, Do Puzzles" because that would still leave me as Fat Boy.

Thanks for all your help during this time of change for me.

If you would rather..

Intern Retreat 08' - Sun Peaks Resort, British Colombia, Canada

Day 1

- The drive out includes two stops at Tim Hortons
- Arriving at a the amazing destination
- Settlers of Catan (I win)
- We are all introduced to Bohnanza (The Bean Game)
- Playing the "If" game and "Would you rather", to make things easier we decided to combine them
- BBQ
- Hot Tub

Unfortunately this did not come with the downfalls of the long drive out, and it also snowed non-stop. For your Winnipeg child who is used to seeing snow in April in Manitoba, and moved out here to get away from that, I was not impressed.

Day 2

- A day of spiritual refreshment and renewal. Lots of devotional time, and just time to relax and
enjoy God's creation
- A walk around through the village
- Frolicking in the snow, and trying to come up with some good group shots
- Jumping over top of Kristin many times making sure I didn't make the camera
- Settlers of Catan (I win again)
- Bohnanza
- Poker Night (I also win, and bring in the cash, that's three wins this weekend... but who's counting?)

Again another great day with lots of fun and joy to be shared with everyone, again does not come without some downfalls. It once again proceeded to snow all day. And we find out that as fun as games like Settlers and Bohnanza are, it is impossible to play these games without us all getting incredibly upset at each other. So much so that some of us proceed to take some alone time to blow off the steam from the game. This is mostly a Settlers thing, Bohnanza is better for keepings friendships, however I never win as you see, and yet I continue to play and enjoy it. Every time the same thing, I feel that I have a good game, and lose drastically. Weird. After two intense games of hatred and stabbing each other in the back we decide we need a game where no one can affect anyone else in a negative manner. Poker is the game of choice, and we all find out that Debs is either really lucky of has a gambling addiction. Or there is the slight chance she is actually a good poker player. None the less I was able to overcome the odds. But Props to you Debs.

Day 3

- Juno (the movie) in the morning
- Eating lunch
- Bohnanza
- Cleaned up
- Walmart
- Home

Synopsis of Day 3. It went as expected I would say, your typical last day. I once again proceed to enjoy playing Bohnanza and not even get close to winning. Also strangest Wal-Mart trip of my life I have never seen so many people to happy to go to Wally World. Luckily this helps us decide to start planning monthly outings to Wal-Mart. Right On! Even though I don't really understand the hype I fully respect their happiness and joy in the planning of these outings. It will make us tight.

Our Love Language

This is a collaborative blog entry. You can find exact replica's of this entry on the following blogs: House Mom, Debsy and R.Mal

Everybody has a unique way of communicating with other people. Here, at Urban Promise, Vancouver, we like to ensure that the people around us know exactly what we are saying.

One of our favourite ways of doing this is by using the verbal device known as "Emphatic Repitition". Emphatic Repitition is a term coined by our very own Ms. Kristin Cato. Basically, when you feel the need to repeat a word/phrase that has just been said in conversation, repeat the word emphasising the individual syllables with a slightly higher pitched voice and a little more force.

Here is an example conversation. Names have been altered for the protection of the real life people involved.

Toby: Hey Fiona, What are you doing?

Fiona: I'm googling emphatic repitition

Toby (High pitched and slightly forced): Em-pha-tic Rep-i-ti-tion

Another element of our love language, which Matt Wall R.I.P contributed, is known as the "Grumbly Voice" and is often used to make a point. It is said with a strength and a confidence that can only come from God.

Here is a real-life situation, in which the Grumbly Voice was applied. Whilst doing the morning crossword

Ryan: Ok Matt, here's one for you

Matt: Hit me with it

Ryan: The clue is 'an X-rated dance'

Matt: Bump n GRIND!

Note that Grind was said with alot of emphasis and a slight, raspy grumbliness in the voice.

This is the love language of Urb-an Prom-ise. If you want to fit in, USE IT. BAM.

Just say Yes

You know sometimes you are trying to figure out what to do, and everyone and their dog has a different opinion of what you should be doing. And what they think "the right choice" is. Finally you make the decision, which you know is the right choice. But then still everyone and their cat has a reason why you made the wrong choice.

But you are so positive that you made the right choice, and you can feel it and everything points to it, then you explain to people how clear the right choice was... and they still don't get it.

How come people just don't get it?

It's Official

So everyone, as some of you may know. I have decided to stick around at Urban.Promise. for the Summer Day Camp. Which will keep me in BC until mid August. It's for real. I will be looking for a job for three weeks between the end of After School Program and the Summer Program. So I sure hope I am able to find something for those three weeks, first of all for something to do during that time, and secondly to have a little bit more money in my pocket on the way home. I sure hope it all works out as planned.

On another side note I got a cell phone yesterday. So if you feel interested in phoning me to find out whats happening and that we should stay in touch, send me an email with your number and stuff and I will send you back my number and stuff. That would be neat.

Worst Birthday Ever

So today was one of the boys at camp's birthday. And I have to tell you this situation, I wish I could remember every word of this conversation. I will do my best.

Let me set the stage.

We are playing team hand ball, and this one guy gets upset because the other team cheated and scored, I was giving the ball back to his team explaining that it was no goal, he had already stormed off, knocked over a few stairs, dumped the garbage can, and locked himself in the bathroom stall and possibly broken the toilet paper dispenser. I follow him in.

R: That is unacceptable and you know that.
T: I don't care this is the worst day ever and it's my birthday.
(He kicks the toilet)
R: You can't keep kicking and breaking things you will have to fix or pay for anything that breaks.
T: I don't care this is the worst day ever and it's my birthday.
R: Thanks you already have told me that.
(He walks out of the bathroom stall)
T: Well I just hate cheaters.
R: If you would have waited instead of storming off you would have found out that he didn't get away with it.
T: I still hate cheaters.
R: Thanks you already told me that.
(He kicks a vent)
R: You can't keep kicking and breaking things you will have to fix or pay for anything that breaks.
T: You already told me that.
(He got me)
R: So whats up man tell me whats going on here?
T: This is just the worst day ever on my birthday.
R: I am getting that, but what happened?
T: I had to stay in at recess and lunch...
R: How come?
T: Doesn't matter.
R: Go on
T: Then no one knew it was my birthday, I came here and had to play with cheaters.
R: Dude everyone has had a bad birthday before it happens.
T: Oh ya what is your worst birthday?
( I try to think if I have ever had a bad birthday)
R: Umm..
T: See told you.
(It came to me)
R: My worst birthday, my sister stuck her hand in my birthday cake and no body could have cake.
T: So who's sounds worse.
R: I think mine sounds worse, there was no cake for anyone.
T: Do you even remember what happened to me today?
R: Yes.
T: Then tell me.
(Oh crap, I can remember a bit)
R: You had to stay in at recess and lunch, and you had to play with cheaters today.
T: Thats not all.
R: Umm....
T: See you weren't even listening to me.
(Here comes a completely different battle. HA It came to me)
R: And no one remembered your birthday.
T: See mine was way worse.
R: I had no cake!
T: SO. .... I had to stay in at recess.
R: So.
(Maybe not the best thing to say, but you have to understand our relationship, that's just how we do)
T: And everyone forgot it was even my birthday
R: SO.
T: And I had to play with a cheater.
R: I have played with cheaters before.
T: On your birthday?
R: Yes.
(Nothing is said for a while, although he is done crying now)
R: You can choose to make this a good birthday with what we got, or you can sit here and continue to sulk about it. But we are going to go out clean up the garbage and pick up those chairs.
(Says nothing but just kinda gives a groaning noise)
R: I want to help you have a good birthday, but you need to help yourself have a good birthday.
(Probably one of my better lines)
T: Fine.

Ryan wins and he proceeds to have a good birthday. A reminder this whole conversation happened in the bathroom.

New Website

Hey Everyone if you have not heard. UrbanPromise the place that I am working for just put up a new website and you should all check it out, because it is really good.

www.urbanpromise.ca

Enjoy!