my August in pictures.

so, friends, it is high time that i post some pictures of some of the highlights in my life over the past month. on a side note, i cannot believe that it is already (almost) September!!! where did this summer go? if you know, please inform me.

let us begin with my trip to NS at the end of July until August 9. one of the major events while i was there was the Bokma family reunion. and our birthday, but it really wasn't that big...

Beppe and Pake, the 2 who started it all (aren't they so cute?).

it was wonderful to be near family that had traveled both far and near to be there. this is Tante Linda and my cousin Hans with me on a bus tour of southern NS.

Pake and myself, outside the famed bus.

this is a picture of a secluded (or at least that's what i was told before changing into my bathing suit and meeting a friendly stranger before i was finished) beach in southern NS.
much of the fun and fellowship had during the reuniting was centered around the karaoke. you should've seen me all fired up, singing "Have You Ever?" in memory of my unrequited love in jr. high. for now, you can see Rachel breaking it down in the back.

this is a picture of most of the beautiful Bokma family in our matchy matchy t-shirts.
"we're FINALLY 21!"
i'm not sure why that's so exciting, but i think it has to do with the fact that we're not "only 20" anymore...

we went for a (free) mini-golfing escapade the day i left. it's a good idea to distract oneself with such activities when avoiding dealing with the emotions that are coupled with separation for an extended period of time. [ok, so my camera conked out for forever at this point in time, so my photo documentation of the following weeks is not as extensive as when i had a functioning camera. your understanding is appreciated]

next, after less than a week back in Vancouver, i was off again, this time headed not so far east to Pinawa, Manitoba for 10 days for a YWAM staff conference/retreat. as previously stated, few pictures were taken (none actually of the retreat or in MB...), so savor these next 3 snapshots...

this picture of Jana, myself, and Rene, depicts how excited we were to be on the road for 6 days total (3 there and 3 back).
this picture is of some of the gang that filled 11 of the 12 seats in
the 15 passenger van (you can see the van in the back).

this picture of Jana, myself, and Rene depicts how excited we are to be arriving home the next day.

it really has been a great August. "thanks!" goes out to all those who contributed to make it this way!
and, i know that you're probably thinking "wow! 3 posts in a row. Rebecca has repented of slacking off, posts-wise." yeah, sorry, this is just not true. i had lots to fill you in on. if things change, i'll let you know. right now, it's after 9 PM, and i have much more to do once i cross "writing a post about my August in pictures" off the list.

sometimes...

sometimes i hate looking at other people's blogs, because then i feel bad for not writing on mine often enough. and then, when i finally do get a creative urge and time, i write about how i never write....
it feels like life has thrown me somewhat of a curve ball this week. that, or i just wasn't prepared for what it would hold. after being home in NS for a bit over 2 weeks and then being in Vancouver for less than a week and then proceeding to jump into a van with 10 others headed to Pinawa, MB, for a YWAM Canada conference/retreat for 10 days total, i just didn't know which way was up. the aforementioned trips were all very special, meaningful, and important to me (and i'll post more about them soon), but i guess i didn't know what to expect next. over the course of this past week, our DTS has been cancelled and is now on again, i have had the joy of discovering some of the not-so-fun aspects of my anal personality, i have prayed about and think i know what is next after my commitment to YWAM is done, i have said goodbye to some close friends, i have taken on some new responsibilities that in hindsight might be a bit much, and more...
but, today is a new day. i don't feel as bewildered as i did earlier on this week. and over the last while, i have been learning some stuff. like how taking risks and trusting that God will always be with me wherever i am and whatever i do is much more freeing than being afraid of failure. that i can be excited about the future while still remembering the past with fondness. and how to proceed when i realize how stupid i can be to the people i care about.
it's been a weird/difficult week, but a good one. one of pain and change and transition, yet also one of perspective and hope and grace.

(picture taken by Rachel Anne Bokma)

an excerpt from my journal...

i hope to write in more detail regarding my life in the last month, but for tonight, i will just post an excerpt from my journal entry for today...

I just wanted to write down the thought of the day from our kitchen windowsill counter, since I find it so apt in the cynicism and jugmentalism that I too often find myself in:

"Living simply means concentrating on what's important in light of eternity, and not taking the rest of life too seriously."
-Annie Chapman

it is always so easy for me to fuss about whether or not the kitchen is clean to my specifications or if i feel life is being fair to me, but at the end of the day, i need to just get over myself and move on. this quote kinda puts it all into perspective. all too often, i need that swift kick in the pants.
well said, Annie. well said.