Went to see the Chronicles of Narnia on Saturday night ... AMAZING ... hint hint ... go see it ... hint hint. The characters chosen for the roles suited them so well ... especially Lucy and Mr. Tumnus.

This week is still going hectic. I can't wait till the break ... 3 more days!!!

My family is doing a lot over Christmas.
Christmas Eve - Mom's side of the family for snacks
Christmas Day - Home in the morning and party over here with my dad's side of the family
Boxing Day - Christmas dinner with my mom's side of the family

Looks like I'll enjoy 3 days of pigging out ... yumm! The food is always so good!

Sarah is back tonight. I can't wait to see her tomorrow It's been a while.

New Years ... I think my dad and I are going to the Park to hear Great Big Sea! That makes me really excited! I just hope the weather holds out and I don't get trampled ... 30 000 people are expected to be there!

Well ... off to read some more English (Life of Pi) ... good book I reccomend it!

Rachel

This week has been do draining ... emotionally and physically. I'm just so tired! I have 6 projects on the go and I'm just so worried over it.

But then I'm reminded ...

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
~Philippians 4:6-8

What an amazing thing God does each day as I come home worried about all the stuff I need to get done. He reminds me that worry is pointless. Talking to God really does settle me down and gives me so much more motivation than I thought I had. It's like the work is still there but he'll help me get through.

Off to bed ...

Rachel

School's crazy right now .... still ... unfortunately. Teachers are trying to cram so much in before Christmas and it amounts to a lot of stress.

Toronto on Saturday to go shopping shall be fun ... I hope. Probably not the same as last year but it still should be fun.

Must see: Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe OPENS THIS FRIDAY!

Well ... Christmas is here ... just thought I'd send a reminder to not lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. It's so easy to forget to focus on what Christmas really is around homework, shopping and familt get-togethers.

Don't lose focus.

Rachel

Wow ... it's been so long since I've updated. I've been so busy with school/homework and extra curricular stuff I just haven't had time. This weekend was amazing. It was the Santa Claus Parade. I'm so glad I went! 5 hours community service for riding a float! Too bad I finished my hours last year. Anyways ... I had a blast with Sabrina and Natasha. The pics are posted at www.msnusers.com/rachelg2004. We got to ride an open trailer with no seatbelts from school to the parade line. I would have to say that is by far the scariest, most risky thing I do think I've ever done. It got sooo cold so Sabrina, Natasha and I walked to Timmy's. It was the first time I've ever seen a horse and buggy going through a drive thorough. If you've never tried those hot smooties please do ... they are so yummy!

I went to get some oboe reeds at a music store in New York. It was a nice but short trip with my dad. That evening I had dinner soo last (8:00) cause I wasn't very hungry. I attempted to do homework but that didn't happen.

Today was church ... the end of the 40 days of community. I slept all afternoon (1-4:30) - that was not planned. I thought I'd go for 20 minutes, wake up, do homework, eat and then go out with Annie. Well I did get most of my English project done. Now I still have 2 huge Geo. projects (due 1st week of Dec.)  and a Bio. culminating activity. I'm so sick of school projects/tests.

Here's a song to chew on.

Alright (Superchic )

There's so much on my mind lately
I can't make out my own thoughts anymore
I don't know where one begins and the other one ends
I wish that I could push a button and turn it all off
Just for a little while
Long enough to take a breath and then I'll know

It'll be OK
It'll be alright

There's so much that needs done lately
I can't make out what's important anymore
I don't know where my needs begin and someone else's ends
I don't wanna let anybody down, 'cause I feel like I've fallen down when I do
But for now would someone else please volunteer to say

It'll be OK
It'll be alright

Life is hard for everyone
So let's blow it all off
Just for a little while
Let's take a break
It'll still be there when we get back
I always try to solve all our problems by working real hard
Going just another mile
But every now and then I think we should let it go and say

It'll be OK
It'll be alright

This is my last verse and it's for everyone feeling not so great today
We don't know what's coming just around the bend
Always hard to believe in your own life
Easier to find belief for a friend
I'll hope for you, you for me
And together we can say

It'll be OK
It'll be alright

Wow! It's been a while ... a long while. So ... not much significant has happened. School is a lot of work right now ... especially this week ... 4 tests and new assignments and such. At least I only have 2 more to go. I have an English test and I'm not motivated to study right now which isn't too good considering it's already 7:00. Sr. Tour Band went well today ... we're gearing up for the craft show yay - yes that's a sarcastic yay. I'm sure it'll be fun but It's a lot of my Sunday taken up.

Mel's B-day tomorrow! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL! She's 17!!!

I'm going to her b-day party Friday after H20 which leads me to I'm going to have a chat with Terry tomorrow after school ... Gotta talk with him about some things in regards to youth stuff and my busy schedule. 

Natasha's Party was amazing! It was so cool to see what her culture is like. It was for her b-day (250+ people at her party!) I tried some Indian cuisine and wow was it spicy - good but spicy! I learned to Indian dance which was so much fun! The pics are up on my site.

Been reading a lot about Paul's letters to the churches and am learning quite a lot from what he has to say as to how things should go in the church and how to talk with people if you have a problem with them. Interesting stuff! Take a look!

Well ... I'm off to sit in front of the fire and maybe get to some studying done.

School
Bio test Wednesday - not looking forward to it ....
I'm excited about Arts Council ... there's some pretty awesome things happening this year ... and I can't wait till the tee's come in if we're allowed to get them.

Family
Thanksgiving's coming soon and I'm really looking forward to some time with family - my mom wants to go away again this year but I don't think that's going to happen, although plans are underway for a Blue Mountain trip for Boxing Day. My sister hurt her thumb in volleyball - we're glad it isn't broken.

Music
I haven't been practicing piano yet again ... and I was on such a good start the first 2 weeks. I need to get back on track cause I really enjoy playing when I do. Oboe again this year - music not till second semister. I think it will be a good music year. Winter Show theme is "A Call For Peace" and I've got some pretty cool ideas about this one and maybe get to participate in the writing.

I'm off to watch the Amazing Race - BYE!

TGIF and 3 tets complete ... I honestly can't thank God enough for weekends.

I just discovered a new band worth the listen. They're called Palisade. The lyrics are deep and they do a few vocally beautiful old hymns with a bit of a rock edge at times.

So ... The Bible Mel bought me has some pretty awesome but frightening statistics written in it ... just so you know they are American ststs ... here's a few:

47% of adults think girls should wait until marriage to have sex (44% for boys), yet 89% do not think girls will wait (91% for boys)

80% of the videos on MTV that tell a story combine sex and voilence.

Bullied kids are 5 times more likely to be despressed.

Approximately half of all new HIV infections occur in people under age 25.

9/10 parents think that today's media contributes to kids becoming too materialistic, using bad language, jumping into sexual sctivities at a younger age and behaving antisocially.

58% of teen guys say tattoos and 54% say piercings are not sexy.

Well, I'm off to NOTL for a walk with the family. Hope you enjoyed these stats. They sure do prove how the world (especually the lives of teens) is totally going downhill!

School - going good .. tough semister ... lots of homework.

Friends - I miss Sarah. It's nice to talk to her on the phone, going to have some tea with Annie tonight.

Birthday - went good I guess except all my family came over and I had a lot of homework so I was up kinda late.

Driving - I'll take my test probably on Sept. 22 when I have a half day of school. And my family got a new Toyota Corola! Yeah ... I don't have to drive a van!!!

Reading - Got a really cool Bible from Mel ... it's the New Testiment in a magazine with all these cool comments from people and in depth look at a verse.

Music - Gaetz Ave! BUY THEIR CD! They're also coming to the Falls on Tour. Mel's uncle is their record producer ... I'm excited ... and they have a B3 in their music!!

Today was really good ... I think. I have an awesome Math teacher and Danielle, Natasha and Natsuki are in my class. Geography Travel and Tourism sort of stinks ... the kids in my class aren't the britest group of students and most don't really care to be at school. There's only 14 people in that class. Biology is full of farmiliar faces and tough competition and it's a really large class. I think I'll do well in that. English is okay ... the people are good but the subject matter is dull ... today we talked about how the English language came to be and brainstormed a bunch of other languages. I'm looking forward to a good novel study in that class. I just washed my hair and am probably going to bed soon so I can get up early again tomorrow. Sarah ... if you're reading this, hope you have/had a great first day of school and miss you lots!

Sarah's in Saskatchewan ...

School starts tomorrow ...

Summer's over ...

I'm sad ...