If "home is where the heart is" than my home is in Saskatchewan.

(Ariel shot of a small town in Saskatchewan)

(Flax field. Easiest one to identify, other than sunflowers of course)



(This picture was taken at Kenosee Lake which is about 20 minutes from where I grew up. It's the view from 1st hole's tee-off box. Sweetest hill for tobogganing ever, just for the record.)


So I’m sitting in class and while I should be listening intently to the guest speaker (he seems like a nice guy, he really does) I am here blogging instead. I am dreaming of where God is going is going to take me (yikes! The guy just called on me. I really shouldn’t have nodded without knowing what exactly he was asking. Ps. When he smiles he kind of looks like Jack Nicholson) and what he is going to do with me. I am proud to be from Saskatchewan and I dream of spending my life here, raising my family here, hopefully making a difference within my community. I love rural Saskatchewan. I was born and raised there, it is my home, and I think it always will be. I do like cities, as long as they’re small enough, like Regina, but there is something about living in a small town that makes me feel at home. Yeah some like to call small-town people “nosey” and “hicks” and yes, at times we may be. But honestly, I view it more as being concerned and interested in others lives. And Yep, I can be a hick at times, but I am somewhat of a city-person as well. I really do like living (well when I go home to my parents place anyway) in Regina. Honestly, I do. I see the benefits and short-comings of both small towns and cities. And although there are a plethora of advantages to the city life, my heart is in the open. It’s in a small town surrounded by vast open space. SO… where do I see myself in 10 years?? Oh probably living in a small town somewhere here in this beautiful province working at who knows where. I am working on completing my BA in Business Administration although I am not always sure why. I am more concerned with people, and ethics, and things of that sort, than I am about making money. I don’t want to be rich in regards to monetary wealth; I want to be rich with friends and love. Sounds ultra cheesy, I know. But it’s true. I don’t want a huge massive home, but yet still one that I can have people into at any time. I want to have a home that welcomes everyone and is used to bless others. I dream of being involved in my church in whatever capacity that may be. Sometimes I think I should practice piano more because I may need it for whatever church I may be. I love to worship and I would like to be able to lead it again. I want to have people over to just talk about God and their journey with Him. I also want my children (I’d like 4 I think, but obviously flexible on this matter) to be involved in community life. I want them to play school sports or be in the school play or whatever it may be. Ideally I’d love my sons, and daughters if they so desire, to play hockey. I grew up in a hockey rink, literally. I love the game. I enjoy people who enjoy it and I want to be able to reach out to them and establish some solid friendships. I want to give to people. I want my life to be an offering to God. But I don’t want my life to be remembered for the insignificant things I did, like attended over 1 million hockey games, or things that often define who I am, like that girl who dances when she worships God. I want to be remembered for what I did for others, that woman who showed us God and His love. In the end it really doesn’t matter if I live out this above dream, as simple or specific as it may seem, but what matters is how I reached out and loved people. And if I can do that best living in a city, working in a sky-rise, and sharing an apartment building with 50 other families, beautiful. I don’t want my dream to interfere with how God wants to use me. But it sure would be nice to be able to live it out eh…

For the love of naps...

The Benefits of Naps
By Dr. Gregg D. JacobsJuly 27, 2004
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Many people feel a mid-afternoon slump in mood and alertness, especially after a poor night of sleep. Many believe that this slump is caused by eating a heavy lunch. However, in reality, this occurs because we were meant to have a mid-afternoon nap.
Several lines of evidence, including the universal tendency of toddlers and the elderly to nap in the afternoon and the afternoon nap of siesta cultures, have led sleep researchers to the same conclusion: nature intended that we take a nap in the middle of the day. This biological readiness to fall asleep in the mid-afternoon coincides with a slight drop in body temperature and occurs regardless of whether we eat lunch. It is present even in good sleepers who are well rested. Sleep researchers have also discovered that the afternoon dip in mood and alertness is associated with poorer performance, particularly after a night of sleep loss, and a simultaneous increase in sleepiness-related accidents.
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So... who really cares?? Well I do! All you haters out there who get all up in my face about taking naps from time to time should now be silenced. It is part of a healthy lifestyle. I do sleep at night. But come afternoon my body cries for more rest. You make fun of me, but at least one of us is taking care of their body in regards to sleep (just forget about all the other ways I don't take care of my body properly, we're not discussing those right now). As I have always said, and will continue to say (I'll probably teach my children this vital principle), "A Sunday is not a Sunday without an afternoon nap." And yes, this is applicable to all other days of the week. So do the world a favour, go take a nap. Maybe you wouldn't be so snarly with me if you did... ~brenna/Queen of Napland

See this sad face?? Look deep into her eyes... she has a story to tell. This young girl named *LaBrenya has suffered most of her life with CLS, Caf Lonliness Syndrome. In her early years it displayed itself in rushed food consumption and the chugging back of liquids in order to hurry the time she spent in the caf. This unfortunate problem has now carried over into her post-secondary years. (Typically people with this condition show signs of the syndrome and are treated early on in life. She is a rare case.) For the past number of months, LaBrenya has ventured into the caf at her post-secondary institute with the intentions of "meeting the masses" or "hangin' with her home-girls" but as is common with the disease, her hopes were set too high. Much too high.
We now come to the part in the story where you, the reader, may want to take a break and grab a handful of tissue. Go now. You ready for this? Well, admist her struggle to overcome, or at least deal with this tragic illness, LaBrenya has befriended another young lady with the same condition. The chances of there being two girls still struggling at this age with CLS is extremely rare. And dangerous... So, the last week these two young girls convince themselves that they can make friends and that people do like them, and to prove this to not only themselves but the world, they stroll into the caf once again. They choose a table in the middle of the dining area, sit a couple seats apart as not to make people think they are having a meeting, and proceed with their eating. These poor girls sat there for over an hour without a single person sitting down. Just picture this. Two young, attractive young girls sitting alone at a table set for 10. It was so sad. They told us that this same thing has happened to them 5 times before. *tear* It was at this point that our producers had to leave the campus, something about it not being right having 2 grown men following 2 young girls around with video cameras... This is where the story ends for us, but for these two young girls, LaBrenya and her friend, the journey is just beginning. Hopefully someday they will be able to fight this disease and educate others on the struggles of living with CLS.

*name has been changed to protect the innocent

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>Okay seriously though people, Charisa and I have gone into the caf to hang out with people, connect with the student body, and what happens?!?! THAT! We sit alone at a table set for 10 without anyone joining us. Even a hello from people we know would be a good healthy start! How am I to represent the student body when the body won't talk. Is the whole body just a big ol' eye watching us, waiting for us to spill food on ourselves so they can whoop it up?! Well we won't spill, so look away! Please, just sit with us once. It has happened 5 other times and it is disgraceful. As members of student goverment, we are shocked at the lack of communication you have with us. Pfff, I guess that's what we, as big shots in this school, get for trying to have contact with you, lower-class peasants of the world. Honestly...

~brenna