Snow and Prayer? What do those have to with eachother?

Boy, oh Boy, this time of year always reminds me how much i detest the snow and everything that comes along with it. Like many others of my peers, I've spent the last few days complaining about the horrible roads and weather conditions. This started on Friday, remember my post about going to Edmonton? Yeah, the weather continued to get worse...!! Typically, a drive to Edmonton takes 3 hours. It took me almost SEVEN!! 5 of those hours were just to get to red deer. After red deer, the roads were perfect! Not a hint of snow was visible anywhere in Edmonton so that was definitely a relief. The ride home had better conditions, but it definitely wasn't perfect, with road conditions gradually degenerating as we made our way closer and closer to Calgary. It was definitely a stressful trip, but the grace of God was really with us, and that was evident. We started off both trips with a prayer, inviting and asking for God's protection on the roads ahead. I love the calm and assurance I feel after prayer, just knowing that He is listening, and He will come through for us is the best feeling in the world. Recently I have been having a lot of conversations with him through the medium of prayer. Not necesarily because I want so much from Him. But because, I have so much from him, and I am filled with such gratitude and love for all that he has placed in my life. Every morning, I am thankful that He has blessed me with another day, and every commute I make, I pray for safety, and every destination I acheive I express my gratitude and thanks. So I'm sure you can only imagine how frequent these conversations have been with the turn in weather conditions! Aside from that though, prayer to me is soothing, and calming. It is an escape for me when I am feeling overwhelmed with emotions of helplessness and even happiness. I know I can turn to Him, because He was always there for me, and will always be there for me.

One thing I would like to work on however, is praying out loud in front of others. As of right now, praying is almost a private thing. I pray in my head, and feel almost vulnerable praying in front of others. Why? To tell you the truth, I think it is because being raised in a Catholic home, most of my prayers were memorized and easy to recite in front of others because everybody knew them. Having moved away from that method of prayer, I sometimes find myself overwhelmed and at a loss for words when giving thanks for the countless blessings God has put in my life. I guess I fear, that the loss of words, or pauses in my prayer may be translated into a lack of attention, or disinterest in my words? I don't know. It is really hard to explain, but it is something that I am trying to work on. I want to be more comfortable publicly sharing my love and gratitude to the Lord through the words of prayer, and I know only He can help me achieve that.

I'm not sure if this post makes sense, I feel like I've jumped all over the place, but that's okay. I've expressed myself to the best of my ability, my post is complete. :)

ASA TRIP!

It seems that this mobile blogging is already putting some regularity in the frequency of my posts! Today, the African Students Association at the U of C will be attending a conference in Edmonton. I volunteered to drive because my parents had a van that we could utilize...but looking out the window kind of makes me regret doing that! Haha...I hate winter driving! But I'll stick it out and drive regardless. I'll be sure to update you about the trip when I return. :)

Mobile blogging!

Its 2:20am so ill make this quick! I got a mobile blogging app so hopefully this will aid in me posting more frequently!

Thats it for now...more later!

Time Flies..

Yes, time definitely flies, I find my self often wondering where the day has gone, the week, the month!

The month of October, and now November have gone by very quickly, and have been overwhelming at times. While these months have brought many joyous moments that include, time spent with friends and loved ones, the birth of a new baby cousin (bringing my cousin count to 18), its also included moments of sorrow and loss. My dear Aunt passed away this month, and while her death was sudden and unexpected, everyday I strive to try to focus on memories of her life, and the times that I spent with her when I was young. It really makes you put life in perspective. Experiencing the beginning of one life with the birth of my cousin, and then the sudden ending of another with the passing of my Aunt, it reminds me to count my blessings, and live every moment as if its my last. Cliche, I know, but the reality of that saying really hit me these last few weeks.

I am currently in Minnesota, visiting my Aunt, her husband and their brand new baby. Being here brings back so many memories! Having lived here 10 years ago, I can say I grew up here. It is here that my family immigrated to from Tanzania so many years ago. It is here that I learned and perfected the English language, it is here that I "laid down my roots" so to speak. This place was def a foundation of my childhood.

I am leaving to return to Calgary on Wednesday, and while I am ready to return home, I hope I don't let so many years slip pass before I visit again. Now that I have close family here, theres reason now, more than ever to make sure I frequent this wonderful place more often.

I've been slacking with this blog, I know. But I am motivated to start writing more frequently, even if its just a few lines here and there...

Wish me luck on that.

More Later :)

Tired, Tired, Tired.... Oh.. and did I mention Tired?

Wowww, what an exhausting week! And the funny thing about that statement is, the week isn't over yet! Its only Wednesday, and I am up at 1:42 AM working on one of my assignments ....actually... scratch that. I obviously am not currently working on my assignment, instead I have decided to waste more time writing in my blog that I have been neglecting for the past 10 days or so... (sorry).

Its a lot harder then I thought it would be to maintain a blog. Especially when it feels that sometimes, I don't have very much free time, and the little free time I do have, I completely forget about the blog.

Anyways, where was I? Ohh that it has been a long, hectic, week, and I am tired.

Why, and how? I don't even know where to begin to answer that question? Lets just say that school, and work have been overwhelming. I really need to sit down and re-evaluate my plan on how I am going to balance the two out. Now, throw in time with friends, family, and loved ones, and thats when things really become hectic and overwhelming... Hmm I dont even know if this blog makes sense. Im typing for the sake of writing in my neglected blog, and I really don't want to unleash and start venting, because I probably won't be finished until 3 am, and no body wants that...

So lets just leave it there before my blood pressure starts rising again...?


Ok. Back to my assignment.

My next post will make more sense... My fried brain should have recuperated by then...

Goodnight.... er.. Goodmorning... i guess.

Eenie, Meenie, Miney Mo... To Which Church Should I Go?

So already I've been neglecting writing in this blog.. oh man!! This week seems like it has gone by so quick, but so slow at the same time! I had a few days off last week, and I was planning on getting so much done, but as usual, it was easier said then done.

It's Thanksgiving long weekend, and while most people will be enjoying this festive time with friends, family, and loved ones, I will be working all through till Tuesday. Today was day one of this working marathon, and I am so exhausted!

Yesterday however, I managed to exchange my shift with a co-worker so that I would be able to go to a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Sarah from church. It was a great time, and it felt so good to mingle and conversate with people that I hadn't seen in so long. Since I started working at Aspen, I've been working a lot of weekend shifts, and have not had an opportunity to go to Trinity in awhile. This weekend, I was excited because I thought I would be able to make it to church because I am working 12 to 12 on Sunday, but church usually ends at 11, so my plan was to go to church then work. That was before I found out that church would not be starting till 11. --Woah.. my browser just automatically saved my post for me.. im guessing in case of a browser crash or something.. wayyy cool!--

Anyways in light of this new schedule change, I've kind of been considering going to Hawkwood Baptist Church, just to see what its like. They offer two services, one at 9:30, and another at 11:00. Though I was born and raised in a Catholic family, I am not sure that it is for me. There are many things in Catholicism that I struggle with such as: reciting memorized prayers instead of having a one on one conversation with God, and praying to the Virgin Mary and all the Angels and Saints.

Since Booboo introduced me to the Baptist Church, I have just grown to prefer it more. Trinity is like one big happy family! Everyone was genuinely interested in who I was. The Catholic churches that I have been to, were very large with no one really interested in newcomers. And I just didn't like that atmosphere. During my first year of University, I was going through a lot of new changes in my life, and I had made a decision to put God in charge, and to let him lead the way. I wanted to grow and nourish a new and stronger relationship with my Lord, but I really had no idea where to start. Now that I feel that I am establishing my foundation of my new found and chosen walk with Him, I feel that I can achieve this through the Baptist Church and am so eager to see what He has in store for me!

Umm.. am I babbling now? Or am I still making sense? Im growing tired, and my eyes are beginning to close...

I just wanted to write a quick post, and it has turned into a novel.. haha

Chapter 2 coming up soon, Goodnight for now :)

My first post!

I've finally decided to start my own blog! Not because I feel that my life is so exciting that I think every moment should be documented here, but because this gives me an outlet to express what ever may be on my mind at any given time. I've tried the diaries and journals, and they used to work! But recently, I've found that I've really neglected writing in them. I am hoping that this blog will allow me to write more consistently, because after all, I am always on the computer, so it allows easy access!

So here it is.... let the blogging begin!

I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while now, but I guess my inspiration to start one now was a result of the ladies night I had at my house yesterday. I met Sarah and Sara (i know right?! lol) about 2 years ago through Trinity Baptist Church, my boyfriends church. Since then we've grown close, and I enjoy their company and friendship so much! Anyways, so yesterday when they came over, they shared some pictures with me when they went to Spain. (They both got a SWEET deal because of a typo from travelocity). Sara's pics were on her blog, and of course me being nosey, I did a quick read through, and it totally inspired me to create a similar blog to share what is going on in my life!

Thus the creation of Simply Lulu. Why lulu? My real name is Linda, and for as long as I can remember, I've had a bunch of nicknames associated with it. Lindy-Lu (Where are you?), Lindy, Lulu. I never really liked the name Lulu, and it was never a nickname I would pick for my self, but that's what my boyfriend Immanuel calls me sometimes, and through him using it as a term of endearment, I've fallen in love with it, and decided to use it for my blog. Lol this one's for you booboo! <3

I guess that's it for now...
More soon!.... hopefully!