Day One (Horsey's point of view)
     After Ellen gave me to Anne to keep her company, I found myself sitting on a chair, waiting for the others to get ready. I don't know what it is about these humans-- racing around grabbing snacks, and pillows, and extra bags and such. Don't they know what "packing light" means? Oh well...
      Before too long, everything was ready to go and goodbyes were being said. After a prayer huddle for safe travels, strength, and fun times, last minute hugs and kisses were exchanged among the family. More than one tear was shed but soon we were heading down the road toward an adventure!

Horsey keeps herself occupied on the long drive with a good book.

     While the humans slept (all except the driver, of course!) I had fun looking at all the scenery along the way. It didn't seem all that long until we were at the outskirts of Winnipeg and turning into a gas station to pick of a relative of the humans, Quent. He was coming up with us to Nanuk and would be there for a couple of weeks. I like him.
     On the drive to Thompson, we stopped at Tim Hortons for a bathroom break and some Timbits. We were just starting through the door when a commotion stopped us. Gathered around a garbage can, four girls were exclaiming over something. It seemed a little strange for them to be exclaiming over a can of garbage so we went to investigate. They had found a little bat in the corner!

     Anne got off a couple of pictures before it flew up almost right in her face! It then flew into a couple windows before getting chased off by a couple of sparrows. It was pretty neat!
     Other than that (and Mom maybe seeing a black bear), the trip to Thompson was pretty quiet.
     Quent had picked out the hotel for us and I found it to be quite a nice place. An added bonus was that Boston Pizza was right across the street so it was easy to go and get supper!
     We tried to get to bed earlier so that we would be rested up for our drive to Gillam, but the shows on T.V. were actually good this time! But, as soon as the lights went out, we all fell asleep pretty quickly.

Horsey watching t.v.

Day Two.
     After an early Continental breakfast, we were on our way to Gillam! Quent had driven to Gillam before but we never had. We had been to Gillam before but we had always either taken the train or flown.  We had been told that the road was really bad but we found that it was in pretty good shape, considering, that it usually was! We made good time and were in Gillam before lunch.
     After a delicious lunch in a restaurant there and a quick stop for some groceries, we were off to the airport to load the plane and be on our way!

Horsey and Anne by the Islander

     It was a great flight, made even better by the fact that Anne got to sit in co-pilot's seat with me, which meant that she didn't get air sick! We saw two polar bears, York Factory, hundreds of geese, a black bear, and an old shipwrecked boat.
     Soon we had arrived at Nanuk lodge and were settled in. Thankfully, we got the generator going right away but it would be a day or two before we would get water.
     The adventure continues!

Introducing... Horsey and her Faithful Sidekick, Anne!

     This fall, I am working at my Uncle's lodge in northern Manitoba with my sister, Elizabeth. The morning that we were left, I went downstairs to say good bye to my youngest sister Ellen who was still asleep in bed as it was earlier in the morning that she was used to! Just as I was about to get up off of her bed after giving her a hug, she bolted upright, snagged her small pink horse, and shoved her towards me.
     "Here, take her so you don't get lonely."
     Once I had hold of her, Ellen dropped back into bed and snuggled into the covers. I thought of a few things to saw but I couldn't as I was too choked up to be able to squeeze anything out of my throat.

     That little horse has traveled with me everywhere I've gone so far. As a thank you to Ellen, I will be writing down some of my adventures with Horsey, but from her point of view. Prepare for some pictures and tales from Horsey and Anne's adventures at Nanuk Lodge!

A little fun in Saskatchewan!

     Wow, I really have to appologize for not updating this blog earlier! My fault entirely!
     This past Friday, Mom, Elizabeth, and I had the pleasure to go to YA (Youth Advance) at Bethany College in Hepburn, Saskatchewan. It is a Christian college that a couple of my friends are going to. Every year it has a Friday to Sunday gig for youth to come, have fun, and check out the college.
     I had gone to YA the year before with a couple of friends, but this was Mom and Elizabeth's first time there. We caught a ride with Mrs. Chase and four other teenagers. You can imagine that it was quite a noisy and cramped trip most of the time!

It was a six hour drive but thankfully the weather and the roads were nice. The hoarfrost on the trees in the morning made it a very beautiful drive.
     After we were settled into our rooms and had met our new room mates (we shared bedrooms with the students), we had a bit of free time before supper. They had decorated the school up real nice and had a coffee bar and cotton candy machine so it was easy to stay entertained!
     Supper was in their gym and was a delicious affair. After we were finished eating, they treated us to the drama "The Cottonpatch Gospel." It was a modern, slightly western version of the life of Christ. It was a very entertaining play with many interesting points to make you stop and ponder. They always have such acting and music there!
     That evening, most only got to bed around 1:30 a.m.! We had our first session with the speaker who had an amazing life story! He was a very easy speaker to listen to and had many points that sometimes quite literally took your breath away. When he talked about the Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, some of his points really hit home for me.
John 8:1-11
[1] Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
[2] And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
[3] And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
[4] They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
[5] Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
[6] This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
[7] So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
[8] And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
[9] And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
[10] When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
[11] She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
     One of the things that the speaker said was that it was significant that Jesus stooped down. When they brought the woman caught in adultery they 'set her in the midst.' A circle would have formed around Jesus and the woman. People probably wouldn't have wanted to get too close so that they wouldn't get hit with stones. When Jesus stooped down, He was putting himself right there with the women- telling her with His body language that He was with her. If they had started throwing stones, they probably would have hit Him too! That is what Jesus does every day for us. He doesn't stand to the side and look down at us, He kneels down in the dirt with us and suffers as much or more than we do.
     The speaker (sorry, but I can't seem to remember his name right now!) had many more good points like that. We all enjoyed him and came away with something to think about.
     After the first session with the speaker and singing along with their great band, it was snacks and game time in the dorms! Although we went to bed a little earlier than some, we could still hear them hooting, hollering, and singing songs (it had to do with one of the games!).
     The next day we had different session we could go to in the afternoon. They had a bunch of different session topics you could choose from. They had everything from REALationships to Girls Only to how to be an effective worship leader! After the sessions were done, some went out and played dodgeball and a few other games but Mom, Elizabeth, and I decided to stay back and rest a bit.
     The rest of the weekend was filled with short skits, great music, delicious food, and great company! I didn't hear of a single person who didn't like it!
    
     I have decided to include the link for the college's website: bethany.sk.ca

Eighteen Years

     Well, I am officially an adult. Legally, I am now allowed to vote, drink, smoke, chew tobacco, go to "adult" prisons, get married, and not listen to my parents advice. According to whoever came up with this, I am now wise enough to get along on my own. It doesn't matter what my upbringing has been, what experiences I have been through, or how well I handle the two t's- temper and temptation. I am now old enough to take care of myself. There are only two things that can happen from now on. I can either fail or... I can thrive. No matter what you do in life or whatever others do to you, you will have both of these happen to you in varying degrees, at different times, or  sometimes at the same time. You can't escape it.
     Thinking about this has me a wee bit scared. I know, I know, every teenager goes through this. The thing is, it has never, as of today, happened to me yet. It will never happen again. That in itself is scary. I will never be able to again use the knowledge and insight that I will (hopefully) gain during this time in application to my own life. If I ever have kids of my own, I will tell them some of the same things that my Dad and Mom have told me. But they will have to figure it out for themselves: it is the only way that they can learn. It will be the same for me.
     Goodbye childishness, hello... who knows what!
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man (or woman in this case!) I put away childish things."           1 Corinthians 13:11
    
     P.S. Just so you know, in this case, I would classify "childishness" as imature behaviour, pettiness, and other things like that. I always want to have a child-like wonder, faith, and imagination!