Changing plans?

Well, I had a positive mantoux test last week when I was at the travelers health clinic getting shots. So, I've been exposed to tuberculosis. Sigh... This means that I might have to postpone my trip to Africa because I have to make sure I'm healthy enough to go. I might have to take some treatment, which is apparently quite hard on the body. We'll see what happens. Unfortunately I won't find out for another month after my appointment at the TB clinic. So, I have to wait to book my ticket and such until after then. I guess if I have to postpone until 2009, maybe I could go for the entire 9-10 month campaign in Sierra Leone. Something will work out. I know God has a plan, and I'm excited for whatever happens. I just have to pray and trust Him. Easier said than done sometimes.

We're probably moving out of our house in a month. I'm trying to de-junk my life, which will be really good for me. I had a stack of probably 50 nursing magazines that I'm finally getting rid of, and a tonne of cd cases that were serving no purpose except to clutter up my shelves. So, it's good to simplify my life. Soon I'll have to go through my clothes. Yikes. I realize I definitely have more than I need, and I'm sure Africa will be an eye opening experience for me.

My first post! Al's wedding, Easter, Upcoming events...

Well, I decided it would be easiest to create a blog for my upcoming trips to Africa to keep in touch with dear friends and family. I'm at home in Meadow Lake right now for Easter. We spent the last few days hanging out, eating mom's awesome cooking (crab legs and butter!), playing games, watching movies, doing taxes, etc. It's been nice and relaxing! 

Breanna, Dad and I were just playing 3-13, a card game, and I won. I kept getting all of the wild cards! The last 5 or 6 rounds I averaged at least 4 out of 6 wild cards in my hand. They were both slightly annoyed. Ooops. Nothing I could do about it though, so I just enjoyed it!

We watched Cinderella this afternoon. It was fun to go back to my childhood and watch something so idealistic and wonderful. I love the mice Jack and Gus-Gus. I found myself yelling at Gus-Gus to look out for Lucifer the cat who kept trying to trap and eat him. Oh, how I can get into a movie. If you've ever watched a slightly intense movie with me, you would know how I yell or cry out or sob.

We also watched Amazing Grace, a movie about William Wilberforce, who campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade for about 20 years before his bill was finally passed in Britain. It definitely made me cry. Very good movie for anyone who would like to watch a serious, but uplifting movie.

I have had most of the past 2 weeks off from work, because I was a bridesmaid in my cousin Allison Anderson's (was Rawling) wedding. I made her wedding cake, which took me about a week, and was definitely a little too big for the occasion, but it was my first one, and I was happy with how it turned out! It had 5 tiers with 3 flavours of cake: coconut with coconut buttercream filling, chocolate with raspberry filling, and marble with white chocolate buttercream filling. It tasted pretty awesome! It was one of the best weddings I've been to, and the bride and groom were so obviously in love. It was so good to see a couple who had saved themselves for marriage, as it's so uncommon these days, even among Christians. It was great to see friends and family and dance together! Unfortunately, Grandpa Paulgaard couldn't be with us because he was sick in the hospital. Sad, but he's okay now.

I have to be back at work for Monday morning. I only have 2 1/2 months left until I'm done my job at the UAH in Edmonton. Then I'll be off to Wilderness Ranch Camp for the summer, and then Liberia! Crazy! Time is flying! I'll miss my coworkers, but I'm definitely counting down the days until my year of adventure begins. However, I want to enjoy every moment of these next few months with my dear cousins and sister and roommates. I don't know if I'll ever live with them again, which is sad. We have so much fun together and are the best of friends. I feel incredibly blessed by God to live each day with such awesome friends by my side.

We're probably moving out of our house at the end of April. I'm not quite sure where I'll live for May and June. Lots of changes coming up in my life. I'll have to put everything in storage for the next year until who knows what happens the next year after serving with Mercy Ships in Africa. 

Well, I should get to bed soon as I'm feeling sick. Oh yeah, that reminds me, I tested positive for my mantoux test on Thursday, meaning I've been exposed to tuberculosis. Yikes. Now I'm not sure if I'll have to get treatment or if my trip will be delayed. I hope it all works out! I'll be praying that God will work things out in the next few months: appointments, plans, flights, preparations! Life is certainly exciting!