Friends

I am so happy that God has blessed me with some of the most awesome people on the face of this planet as my friends. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a friend as 1 a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations 2 a familiar or helpful thing. I think that parts of this are true. I believe that family can also be your friends but I also believe that the bond can be more than just a mutual affection. There are those surface friendships that you have with your coworkers or classmates that can be the mutual affection friendships but there is something truly different about those real good deep down life long friends. I know that all friendships, deep or surface, are opportunities given to us by God. However, the deep ones I find are the true blessings from God. My friends remind me daily how much God works in my life especially through them for me. I want this blog to show how I truly feel about these friends so I am going to write about all that come to mind. If I forget about you let me know because it is late...haha... For those that read this the length of what I write about you should not matter and if favoritism is shown it is not on purpose that's why it is alphabetical order. So here it goes...

Andrew Nippard you are awesome plain and simple. I still remember the first time I met you and your family. You guys came over for some tubing and I think we had a BBQ. Some of my favorite memories from our friendship has to do with BBQs and it is something that I hope we both continue doing until we can no longer chew steak. I enjoyed the few late night conversations we had when you were in Australia and I did not realize how much I missed having you around until that awesome trip we had in Jasper. There were a lot of laughs. The thing I value most in our friendship is how we just get one another. God has let us click together in a way that I think is just awesome. I hope to see more of you before I head off to England and I'll have to teach you how to cook some wicked food.

Brandon Ubersteinerottenreiner I miss hanging out with you a lot. I miss the rook and poker and even the dreadfully overplayed pool and pingpong. I liked fishing with you a lot this summer and you are in my prayers and thought a lot. Make sure you give me a shout next time you come into the city.

Brent and Lana I do not know if you guys read blogs or not but I think you guys are awesome. You guys make Edmonton for me and I thank God for such awesome people. I enjoy our Sundays and I hope they continue long into the future, well at least until I go to England.

Carmen & Drake Farmer are the two best Farmers ever. Drake I do not think you have any idea how much you have helped me over the years. Your wisdom is truly beyond its age and I thank God for it. My fondest memories of our friendship would have to be just hanging out. I do not believe that there is a time that we have hung out where we did not laugh and I love it. Do not believe the words that come out of my mouth because deep down in my soul I love all Frencg people because of you...and because of their food. Even though most of this paragraph is dedicated towards Drake I still have not forgotten about the wonderful and beautiful Carmen. I can honestly say that before Peru this summer I never really had the chance to get to know you Carmen. I guess that was just another blessing that God gave me in Peru that I did not fully realize until now. I am looking forward to getting to know you better and have just as many laughs. I also am pleased to inform the both of you that when you decide to have children that I am a fully qualified babysitter and I would love to mold the minds of your children...haha...oh yah if you have more than two I get to name the third one.

Chad Skinner even though it has been a while I still think your fun. You'll definately have to come visit me sometime in the city so we can catch up. I loved the summer sleepovers and the late night food creations. I do not know what happened to your desire to be a Chef but I'll carry on the torch for both of us.

Dave Schienbein you are my main man for music and I love you for that. If God did not place you in my life I would not have 75% of the CDs that I have now and I probably would not have liked camp because you made it for me El Jefe and Chico. I miss having the TV nights and the indigestion that I got from those 7-Eleven nachos but it was well worth it. Hanging out with you and your brothers is one of the simple pleasures in my life that God blessed me with while I was in Cold Lake. I hope to see some of the laughter than we all shared move into Edmonton with you in January.

Grace Schienbein you were a major part of the best summer of my life. I thank you for all of the endless hours and hard work that you put into planning the trip to Peru. The only thing that could have made this summer better would have been if you were able to be on the trip with us. I pray that God blesses all of your life ambitions and that I also never find out what your brothers really meant by all that melon farmong stuff. You and Dave were the biggest influences on me going to Capernwray and if I have half as much fun as you guys did it will be worth while.

Hanna Jackson you rock. I do not care if you make fun of me for my poor map recognition. I guess you will have to be the navigator in our travels. I have never been more excited for anything in all my life, that is travelling Europe with you. I am excited to see what God has for us in Europe and I am happy that I am embarking on one of the greatest adventures ever with you. Can't wait...

John Schienbein I think that you are possible one of the wisest men I know. I thank God that I am blessed with a friend that knows as much as you do. I think that the most favorite memories are from when we cooked for ALPHA. I enjoyed the fellowship as well as the TinTin, Different Strokes and the necessary quality control on the tastings. I hope that you also move into the city before I leave for school so we have a chance to hang out more often.

Jon Richardson you are the man. Not because you have a nice car or because we can hear your subs from 10 blocks away. It is because you finally get the point of Christianity and I love that you learned that. I pray that you come to know and love God as I have. I encourage you to keep the communication going and come visit me more.

Kyle Keller lay off the tuna and hot sauce before I die from methane inhallation. Because of this problem I say to the rest of you, never live with a Keller...Drake you know what I mean.

Sari Moreland you are the closest thing I have to a sister and I thank God for you. You successfully hold the claim to easily the most awkward moment in my life and you should be proud. I was thrilled to be able to experience Peru with you and I will never forget that trip. In addition to Peru, Jasper was also awesome and I hope it becomes an annual experience. I know that God has something exciting for you in the future so even though Cold Lake sucks right now just remember the future will be awesome.

Shawn Sales I plain out love you man. We have had a lot of laughs over the years and all of them I cherish. I always enjoy hanging out with you but if you ever headbutt me again I will have to break it off. Make sure you vidit me more often.

Stephanie McAuley you are my favorite nurse. I think its awesome all of the disgusting things you get to see on your practicum. I do not think mine will be as exciting as women giving birth in the hallway but I will try and make it fun. It is too bad that our schedules do not clash better but we still have to make the best of it. May God help you with all of your homework...because I am done!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Tanya Sales I also had an awesome time with you in Peru. Even though you had a crush on someone I know is gay that is OK I will not hold it against you (for everyone else, this is a major inside joke so please do not interpret). I hope we have more of a chance to hang out next time I come back home. Even though it will not be for a while.

Tyler Fehr you are quite possibly the most beautiful grizzly bear I know. Not only are you as hairy as one but you also eat like one and I think thats awesome. I thank God for blessing me with such a great friend. I was also happy to share Peru and Jasper with you because the experiences are beyond words. I look forward to all of our future meetings even though we are in seperate cities. I have forgiven you for cheering for Calgary in the playoffs. Make sure you come visit me and I'll give you the necessary culinary skills to get you a girl.

If I missed anyone please comment and I will for sure put you on. Thankyou all for making my life thus far awesome and humurous. Peace out and God bless...for now. I also have to show you guys my workplace accident. I was out for four days and I was a complete mess...

Well I was just minding my own business at work wearing my sexy uniform...

When all of a sudden the unthinkable happened and disaster struck...

Thats okay chicks dig guys with scars (7 whole stitches)...