*it's about freaking time!*
i think that's the catch phrase of the week :) so i absolutely appreciate all the support we have had over the years - especially from tom ;) - and i am very happy to say that derek and i are officlally ENGAGED!!

derek has given me the priviledge to tell the whole story, but i don't have time to do it justice! suffice it to say, i did eventually catch on because he was acting wierd all week. on wednesday i receive an email from tom saying he and jacinta wants to take us out for a nice dress up dinner as a belated christmas/birthday gift. they got a great "deal" at vong, in the mandarin oriental hotel. it's supposed to be the nicest restaurant in town. anyway, i was running late so i texted jacinta, and she texted back saying they'll be late too because "tom's being a jerk." those were her words :) so i get to the mandarin, and as soon as i see derek i knew he was up to something. i actually thought he was going to do it the night before because he changed plans last minute, but it turned out he just wanted to go shopping at the nike store.... so i was a bit sceptical this time because it was just such a random thursday night, and we have a million other things to do before we leave for vancouver on sunday. so i play along to see what would happen. he just keeps saying stuff like "do you know what's going on?", "i don't know what's up with tom & jacinta"... "i don't think they'll come".. etc. etc. and finally he gets a call from tom, and they have this pretend conversation which was the clincher for me. so derek tells me that they weren't coming, but the dinner is set so we have to go otherwise it'd be wasted. so we went upstairs, and all the waiters were conveniently flexible about the change of plans, and had our 2-person table all ready. they give us rose champagne and derek and i chitchat for a bit, and by now i'm pretty sure what he's going to do, but i texted jacinta anyway to see if she would give anything away. then out of the corner of my eye, i see the waiter poke his head out from behind the kitchen area, and derek signal to him. he brings out this huge platter thing, and set it in front of me and said this was our first course that was especially prepared for me. he lifts the lid off and there's the ring on the plate :) then derek said a lot of mushy stuff and got on knee and asked me to marry him :) :) :)

then we had an amazing dinner which i'm sure we couldn't afford, but God is good anyway, because just that afternoon a couple in the church gave us a rather large love gift for our vacation.

so that's it.. i think derek should tell HIS side of the story about all the planning and stuff.... and why he waited so long ;)

*nias?*
the thought of going to indonesia scares me a bit, especially when i am still quite sick. but i know i'm not going for a nice memory. this is something i've always wanted to do - to help the disadvantaged. i don't want to go because i want to be able to say i was there. i feel that this is something i'm called to. there are so many thoughts swirling around fighting with the congestion for my head space right now. the team leaves in 4 days and i really hope that i will be well enough. what scares me more, i think, is the thought of not going. i had the ok from my pastor last night to miss the first church leaders' retreat, and i thought all was clear. but it's nearly 5pm and they still haven't called to tell me whether i'm on the team or not.
i just saw some sattelite 'before & after' pictures, and it scares me to think about how these people are going carry on with their lives. even though the island that the team is going to is mostly christian, it doesn't lessen the need. in fact, this island has not had ANY outside help until this week, when an australian group called SURFaid finally set up. all the attention and aid has been focused on banda aceh and the main island of sumatra, and there are these smaller islands off the coast that are just as badly, if not worst, hit by the tsunamis just stranded and waiting... waiting.

these are some articles on nias that derek found. take a read, and find a way to help. please.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1314496/posts

http://news.corporate.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20050106/06jan2005084241.html


why haven't they called yet??

_______________
(2 hours later)
they called. cannot.

what do you think?

from andy rooney of 60 minutes:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night! to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom.

Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing. Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.

Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know.

A woman over 30 will look good wearing bright red lipstick. This is true of younger women or drag queens.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old
waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.
Andy Rooney

one week into the new year... so what's new??

news on my side: praying about going with a relief team to medan, indonesia. there will be an info & vaccination meeting next week, where all will be confirmed. the trip is from jan.16-22. please pray that the doors will be open for me to go in terms of work, church & money. doing missions in community development has been one of those things that's been on my heart for a long time. and personally, i feel like i need to get off my butt and do something. i've had enough of being in a funk.

going to canada in... 23 days!!! i cannot possibly express my excitement. it's going to be the best 2 weeks in a very long time.

my friends from vancouver, will & ghislaine, are in town but THEY WON'T CALL ME. poo. it'd be lovely to hang out with them before derek's full blown immersion into canadian culture...

after the trip, keith & christine are coming for a visit again, AND my best friend in canada vienne is moving to hk!!!! even more excitement for this little 30-year-old.... whoop whoop whoop