One year down.... 7 more to go?!

Hello friends and family!

I know this update is a long time coming. So much has happened since I last blogged, and I have been so busy with university that I've had very little time or extra energy to do this. I'll be backtracking a little here.

My first semester of university was a learning curve for sure, but I still did fairly well, getting a B+, A-, A, and A+ in my four classes. This put me in the "scholar's circle" of above average GPAs at school. This is huge for me, since I had been out of school for 10 years and I didn't really know what to expect going back at my age as a mature student. To know that I was able to get through all my assignments and make it through my tests with decent grades was really a victory for me! Second semester was great in some ways but stressful for several reasons (reading/homework + relationship stuff). One of the electives I took was an Entreprenuerial class in business where I learned all about startups, how to be an entrepreneur, and I gained various tools that I can apply ot my life both now, and down the road when I start my own business/clinic/retreat centre. I even got a letter of recommendation from my professor who happens to be the a venture capitalist and the man who brought Dragon's Den to Canada! I really enjoyed his class and am keeping the textbook from it for future reference. Still waiting on my final grades for winter semester.

While I've adjusted to city living, I will fully admit that the longer I am here the more I long for the outdoors. I've been daydreaming more and more about moving back out west. The thing is, in 2017 university in Ontario may become free, and right now I have OSAP funding my schooling so I need to stick around here for now. As much as I long to be close to all my family out west, they are so spread out, it really isn't practical for me to move right now.

My exams finished April 25th and I have been job hunting for the past month now. Over a week ago I got a job that I had applied for and was really excited about. I was to be trained as an urban beekeeper! This is a skill I have always been interested in learning, but I didn't know that I could do it in the city. Unfortunately, a few days after getting the job and doing a couple hours of training, my new boss called me to tell me they had given the position to someone else they just interviewed (right after hiring me) who already had previous beekeeping experience. I understand that as a startup company only hiring two people in Toronto to oversee the whole operation they need people with as much experience as possible because it is a lot of responsibility and a really sharp learning curve for someone who has no background in it. Still, I was disappointed because I had already dropped my summer class for this job which required me to leave town for training, and I was SO excited to become an expert beekeeper. On the bright side, I know that God must have another job in mind or some other way He is going to provide for me that I don't know about yet, and it may work out better for me in the long run...I just have to trust. I keep reminding myself of all the times God has provided for me in the past, His unfailing love, and the fact that I have never been without a place to lay my head. I re-enrolled in the class I dropped and am going to school Tues & Thurs evenings from 6:30-9:30pm. It's one more elective I can get out of the way for my degree. Yay!

I have been so happy to biking all over again now that the weather has improved. I love the exercise. On Tuesday I decided that in my desperation for the outdoors I would bike all the way to Scarborough Bluffs which I had never been to. I also really needed to get out of the apartment after so many weeks of being cooped up studying and getting "soft" again around the middle. *sigh* ...student life! I packed a blanket, book, water and food for the day and evening and set off. Along the way I found people slacklining at the beach which was not too busy and very warm and peaceful. I stopped for a water and food break and then approached the guy whose slackline it was and asked if I could use it. I slacklined and made some new friends while giving some tips to someone who needed help learning. The clouds blocked the sun and I started shivering so I set off again and finally made it to the bluffs at 4pm! It was 30 km one way. I explored a little and then read my book before having to set off to bike to Ryerson for my first evening class of spring semester. When I finally got home later that night I had biked 60km in one day! It was really invigorating and really rewarding to know I covered that much distance with just my two legs to get me there. :) I plan to do more of it to help me get in shape for Warrior Dash coming up on May 28th. I have a lot of work to do before then. Being active outdoors makes me feel so alive and I know I need to be more intentional about scouting out new parks and patches of green in this concrete jungle, or I really don't know how I will survive my whole undergrad here! Ultimately, God has been giving me the grace needed to get through this time and I have so much to be thankful for.

Praise reports: I am so thankful for my incredible roommates who have been so easy to live with and really loving and supportive of me. They helped make the transition so much smoother and easier. I have made some great new friends here, including one who became especially close over the past few months. I am thankful for the parks, the lake, that I am a female living in a country where I am allowed to go to school and I wasn't forced to become a child-bride at 14. I am thankful to live in a country with so much freedom and diversity. Since moving here God has been doing some deep healing in me and helping me work on different relationsips. The church I found has been instrumental in the healing process and walking me through more forgiveness and into more freedom. I was part of a small group in the fall and winter semesters. I have been challenged and growing in my faith walk, which I am thankful for.

Prayer points: I would appreciate your prayers that I would find a job that I can enjoy, work hard at, and that will support me this summer. OSAP will come through again in the fall, but until then I'm on my own. I am hoping to get my motorcycle gear out of storage and borrow a motorcycle to get my full M licence this summer. Please pray that I'd be safe and protected... I've never ridden a motorycle in Toronto and driving in a car down here is stressful enough! I also need to find a new place to live in the fall since my roommates are expecting their first baby and my room will be needed. I'm hoping for a quiet neighbourhood fairly close to school with quiet, clean and respectful roommates. Ideally an elderly couple with a spare bedroom to rent. :)

I hope this update finds you all well, healthy, content, and taking time to rest amidst the craziness that life can become.

Blessings to you and much love!
- Emma