the sky is falling; today is a new day

Ok, so I promised a second update on my birthday. This 25 year old woke up at 6am and couldn't fall back asleep. I had a tummy ache and too many things going on through my little head. Ah! I finally got out of bed at like 845.

I convinced my auntie to take me out for lunch. She just told a friend that she'd go out with her before my call... so I played the role of a bratty niece who emphasized the fact that it is indeed my birthday... and I'm giving her the privlege to take me out! Yay! hehehe... she canceled with her friend and took me out! Aw she loves me!

At night Esther said she'd take me out for the night. Cool couz mom was getting concerned I'd spend the evening home alone... reading. Dad's out of town, mom's working, Brad's at Alpha... Anyways, we had an awesome time. We always do. Everytime we chill, it's like we get high.. no, it's better than getting high! Thanks Esther! You really are the (my) best friend in the world!

That was that. Laughed tons, cried some... what a day!

Had 1.5 hrs left till the end of the day... of which I would have split 50 bucks with Brenda... had she not reminded Ali to call me. Darn. We bet that Ali would forget to call me on my birthday... she forgot until Bren reminded her about calling Cynth... then Ali was like.. wait... what day is it? Too bad..!

Well, I am officially 25. At 10 something last night, I have lived 25 years.... now it's 25+1 day.

Happy birthday Me.

Happy birthday Amy (Grant).
Happy Birthday John (F Kennedy Jr.).
Happy Birthday Barbara (Bush).
Happy Birthday Christina (Applegate).
...

birthday shelaine happy

Happy Birthday to ME. Yeah me. Here's a self-hug.

You're a whooping 25. Get ready for an even better year!

Hmm... I'm really talking to myself eh? Ouch. Thought that's not suppose to happen for another 50 years...

Welcome to my royal birthday. Turning 25 on the 25th. November 25th... writing at time 11:25. I believe I was born sometime at 10pm

Anyways... a recap of my birthday week!

Sunday
Party! Yay! Had friends come to BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum... and just ate and hung out! Theme was "Childhood." People had to dress up as their favourite childhood hero or their selves as they were way back when... Also got people to get into groups... write and sing me a song using a childhood song! I was mighty uncomfortable but mightily blessed! Did my little "speech" too... better than last year, I hope.. heheh...

Thanks to all the showed up or tried to show up or called me that day. I felt so ~special~ really! The people who came braved about 60,000+ extra people downtown that day.. with the Rogers Santa parade, the BC Lions Western Final, and a Gwen Stefani concert too.

At first I was kinda mad with God, saying why did He allow me to make a dumb choice like this that would be too much of a hassle to change. Then he reassured me by showing me that this is like a HUGE party for me. I get to celebrate with 60,000+ extra people!

Wednesday
A great mid-week time. It was just want I needed. I went to Samuel's Mantle in the morning, prayed for people and had people pray for me. Reaffirming my life and the future. At night I met up with Rebecca from Pais and we just chatted and encouraged each other. Then we prayed for each other other. One thing she mentioned confirmed two things said to me at SM that morning. Crazee! God really is connecting things in my life.

Something I really needed, mid-week.

Thursday
My kids... Gladstone Christian Klub girls... Mary and Jen, made me a cake and got me a stuffed Winnie the Pooh! Yay! I love those girls... and the boys were all saying Happy Birthday to me as they came in. I felt so special. Would have made me cry. But like a proud parent, I was beaming. I love them tons!

Class was great today too. Looked at the Lord's prayer in a way that I hadn't seen it before. Wow. You know, you read something all your life and then finally things are making sense. It's nuts!

Went to Uth Mix at night... a collaboration of different "sounds" of churches across the Lower Mainland... choirs, dance, rap, bands... very cool.

Then a bunch of us went out afterwards for "dinner"... great food.. Alleluia cafe. Gotta try it. Lotsa meat for mighty cheap. At midnight, a candle in an ice cream scoop with crepes came out...

Friday
So today is Friday. My actual birthday. I've felt like it's been birthday week and it has been! Yay! May it be "birthday YEAR"... and I feel special all year round!

Woke up this morning at 6am. I forced myself to stay in bed for another few hours... because I just slept at 2am... Couldn't sleep, felt ill... I'm like great. I AM getting OLD...

Anyways, I'll let you know how today goes. Lord, I want a GOOD day... already on tap is reading my textbooks and writing reports! YAY! (sarcasm... and lots of it!)

a clean room...

Ah... You can usually tell the state of my life and mind by the deterioring state of my room. The messier and more disgusting my room gets, usually, the more stressed and messy my life is getting.

And when I feel like I need a shake up, I clean my room.

Today was such a day.

I just finished my paper yesterday night...
I'm finding more reasons to laugh... laughing is great... it truly is medicinal!

So now that I feel I need to "reset" my life so that I won't be feeling too "off kilter"... I cleaned my room! It's a great feeling. I can walk in the dark without tripping or fearing that I'll cut my foot!

Gotta try and keep it clean now!

Any tips?

wowed, continued...

I went to a Jesus Loves Vancouver crusade on Wednesday night. I was feeling a bit depressed and unmotivated all day. I needed to worship God. I needed a revelation of God. I needed an encounter with Christ. It's just what I needed and it's just what I received.

About my previous post (two posts ago)... Thanks Kevin for your comment... Hmm... Driving back to the airport that day, I got a phone call from the lady that we just had dimsum brunch with. This was our conversation:
"Hi Shelaine... I was going home and repeating your dad's name... because it sounded so familiar. Does your mom work at an Safeway or something like that?"
"Yes, she use to work at IGA... whyyyyy?"
"I remember staying at someone's house in Vancouver in 1982 for two days... the wife worked at a supermarket and they had two kids..."
"Uh yeah.... that's US! I was TWO!" meanwhile my mouth dropped...
"Oh, I just want to let you know that I'll be praying for your family..."

That's the gist of my "wow, You (God) really do love me!" Out of nowhere God reveals His love for me by touching the core of my heart. I felt incredible favour. I was "tickled pink."

This was truly the cherry on top. To meet a stranger, or so I thought, and to have her say she'll be praying.

Thank you Lord.

loving it

We just spoke at this Enoch Youth Outreach Society event. A very Cantonese event. Kinda like a follow up to their Leadership camp they had a few months prior. Anyways, it was an awesome night. 2/3's of the worship was in Cantonese with the rest being in English. First time speaking in a "very-Chinese" event... and not the last!

Thank you Lord for this incredible gift.

I loved it. The sense of "this is where I belong" and "this is a feeling of home" were felt yet again.

More to come.

Lord, what next?

wowed.

God, you never stop amazing me.

Maybe I should stop being surprised at His goodness and favor and start just living like it's expected. Couz then even crazier things will happen!

All of you got my Ottawa/Toronto email, right? If not, email me and I'll send it to ya.

By the end of the trip, I could sit there, sigh and say, "Wow, Lord, you really do love me. You don't have to prove it, but once again you do show your love to me and 'tickle me pink.'"

Incredibly blessed.

Ridiculous favor.

I love you Jesus.