This Year is Done!

Oh dear goodness I don't think you know how great it is to be on Christmas break right now...well let me tell you- It's fantastic!
I also cannot believe how much has happened in this year, especially when I think about my MS.  It has only been just over one year since I've had this "wonderful" disease. :)

So let me tell you a bit about this last semester. From what 'they' say this was the hardest semester of the entire program and so far, from the marks I've gotten back I have done quite well.
Granted this was a very hard semester but not how I expected it to be...the material was not particularly difficult, but there was a lot of it. We had a multitude of papers due throughout the semester, midterms, journals, clinical assignments, group projects, weekly posts. It kept me busy for sure. However I think I learned a lot about myself from this semester, and really the past 12 months.

Before this semester started, to be honest I didn't really think I could do it.. I had many, many people tell me that it might be best to do it over a course of two years because this year was so hard, and even those of good health had trouble with it. Part of me at that point was convinced that I would not be able to do it... but I talked it over many times with one of my good friends, who is also in our program, and my aunt/uncle. They were a great encouragement for me to just see it I could do it and if not pull out. What's the harm in that right? At this point I am thrilled that I did it that way and didn't listen to most of those other people.

I think after looking back at this semester and even the past year I really can do things I put my mind to. I know that was always the classic quote, that I didn't really take into any consideration. But its true--at least in this case and it makes me excited for the rest of school and the next few years.. or life-whatever.

But as I've talked about a few times in some posts one thing that has really gotten me through this nut-so year has for sure been finding joy in random things, or just going out and having fun for a few hours amidst a crazy week or something. Like making sock puppets, or cinnamon buns, banana bread, playing in mud pits, getting stuck in the snow... I have been able to find some time for myself in this craziness.. but I am really glad its done.


I also decided after I wrote a not so great exam..  it was time for some change, (maybe to commemorate the end of this year) so I chopped my hair off.. I like it.

Anyways, I am in Abbotsford, going to Seattle, hanging out with friends and family, it shall be fun. A few weeks off with no responsibility. Sounds great to me.

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas!

Kate

Almost Here!

There are a few things I love about this coming month...

1. December means that exams are coming, and its not the exams that I love... but the fact that it means the end of the semester is what i really like.

2.  "They" say this is also the hardest semester of my whole degree that I am just finishing up, and hopefully pass everything. (I think i should be ok)

Snipit of one gift

3. After all of these dreadful exams I will be on Christmas break. Which I am super excited about. I get to see some old friends, friends from the summer and we plan to go skating, going for coffee, taking pictures, reading books... yes I WANT to READ a book (for those who know me too well)

4. This next month, December also means this is NOT November, also known as the month where boys-attempted-to-grow-facial-hair-men-grow-facial-hair-and-girls-don't-even-pretentd-to-like-it

5. Also I am doing a handmade Christmas gifts for my family this year.. it started off a few years ago when exams came around and made my mom soap for christmas and really cool candle holders.
So I have found a fantastic website that is better than Pintrest for these ideas... and have started putting my pieces together. I am excited. Ill post them when I am done...

6. also a few other notes;
        - Prince George has snow
        - I woke up to a beautiful sunrise one morning. Orange filled my room... it was nice.

Oh I am do ready for this semester to be done.. its been a long one. I wouldn't say it has been harder, but defiantly busier. We just finished this week with 3 group projects. My first exam is on next Friday. Then I am done on December 12. Yippee.

Speaking of group projects I made a movie for one... which reminds me of a video that my dad sent me that would be sweet if you could also help his school win money for their Dry Grad. Click here for the link. and vote for them. It was a pretty good video. I voted for them.

Anyways.. I am almost done and will post another during break.
Have a good night,
Kate

needles are an unfortunate event.

This particular unfortunate event happens (usually) three times a week. Most of the time I am quite fine on injecting myself with this actually unknown substance (medication or placebo).

What is interesting about this subject is that I have worked with many people these days who do this injecting stuff quite regularly and do it willingly. However the affects of those drugs hit them within about 10 minutes and give them much different side effects.
This thought intrigued me once, that if injections gave me immediate effects than I would be much more willing to inject them into my skin.

I also would be willing to go back to summer and would pawn off who got to do my injection for the day on them. Some, or actually most of them agreed that they would do it... I promised it wouldn't hurt me--sorry them.. it wouldn't hurt them at all, might hurt me a wee bit. But it did make it more fun to have someone else who has never given a needle give me it. Some were a little bloodily and bruised nicely. But none the less it was WAY better then me sitting here... write a blog post about how unfortunate this event.

So I will lighten the mood. I have had a GREAT week!


 Some friends cam from out of town to visit. I love  seeing these friends--they make my life that much  better. It has been great catching up, going to listen  to music, eating good food. Last night we went to a  local pub and listened to a band called WillHorse.  IT was a lot of fun. Music was good, company was  great!! Few but good people that i knew there. We  had a blast!
 I also went to church today, which was really nice,  this event has might not happened for a while. But I  met some new people and saw some old friends. IT  was really good

 On another note, not really about church, but I did  listen to them while I was driving to and from  church. But my friend introduced me to this new  band called Husdon Taylor. (and no not the ancient  dead guy). They are great, so I think you should  know them too.

 Overall summary of my life/day/shchool: Life is  good.. and soon to be great. My day was a very  good one. I enjoyed very many parts of it. School is  busy and a greatly looking forward to that being  done for Christmas break.

 great night!
I hope you guys have a

Kate

3 More Weeks

This I was informed of today. We only have THREE more weeks left of classes. Then this semester will be done.
Today was one of those days...started out as one of those days where I clearly did not get enough sleep because I did not feel rested at all.
Anyways its not school that I am tired of tonight, but I am tired of being exhausted these days. As I write this I feel like I should be grateful of this past month I did have energy and barely thought about the fact I have MS nor did it bother me. But there are always some days that seem to creep up on me and today it hit me like a medium-large sized wave.
In class we were talking about--oh enough, I don't need to mope about my why I am moping. I will just tell you that I am exhausted and would love prayer from you guys.
I just need to get through these next 5 weeks of classes and then I'm done.
-ENERGY
-FOCUS; I am getting really worn out about the fact that I don't get to see many people and I am really starting to miss it. I know I will have time and friends again, but right now I don't have time. And I can't get distracted by that
I don't really have anything else to talk about, mostly because my eyes are not staying open. 
So thank you. This is all I have to say tonight.

Thanks,

Kate

...News

Not sure if you read my prayer requests on the left hand side of the page lately. But I thought maybe I should elaborate on them.

Fall is falling
away from me. 

It has almost been two months into school, and I really only have one more left. I keep thinking that the next month ahead of me is going to be the worst one yet, and then I finish it and update my calendar and think nope this one is going to be worse. However, lets go with the good news first...
I got a good chunk of marks/assignments back this last week. Two of my papers and got in the 80's. I also got my midterm marks back.. not exactly numbers that I need to share.. but I passed them. Which of course is great and at this point is all that matters. But I was talking with my aunt and uncle and I was telling them that I was glad that I chose to stick it out and not prolong my third year over 2 and not 1. Yeah it is hard, but I am happy that I am still able to look back and realize that I am still doing ok. In this, I am basis my "ok-ness" on whether or not I am passing my courses. Which I am. So school 'Kate' doing alright.

I also got a surprise today. And applied for some new technology through student aid bc and permanent  disability. LIke a new computer and such. Which put me in a great mood at the end of the day.

Computer Case

Now lets talk about this other 'Kate'--"MS Kate" I got steroids last month, if you remember reading about it. Unfortunately they are wearing off.. they were only supposed to help for a month, so I'm not surprised about it. It is just sad. I really was thankful that I didn't have any/none/nada pain in my hards. Now that it is slowly creeping back I am realizing even more how great October was to not have it.
My fatigue is also coming back. It is still nice that its not as bad as before. But it is still here.Which should be ok until the end of the semester. But, like I said before this could be a very long month. I am ready for break.

Adventure by the river.

Anyways those are some of the things going on. At this point I'm tired. Don't really do anything but school and starting to wish I had a few more friends to hang out with in Prince George. I just really don't have any time and if I did have time its almost a guarantee that I don't have the energy. Oh well.. this I can do for the year. That I just need  to get through this year. That is all.

So check out the left side of the page for updated prayer requests. I really do appreciate you guys who read my blog. It's great and does encourage me. So thank you.

 Kate


       

Fall Adventures

Granted I don't really have time for adventures, but today I am taking off. I may not actually be able to afford it, but I don't care. Today is my Saturday, and I have not had a day off in like 3/4 weeks. So today I played down by the river...again.

But lately it has been crazy foggy in the mornings, until like 12 o'clock too. I know I should be productive and have many assignments due soon, but I want to post.
Last week I spent about an hour down by the river on my own taking pictures and enjoying the fall colours. I just played in the puddles of the water, found great coloured leaves with my gumboots and favourite pair pants and greatly enjoyed myself. I know I put a few up last week, but I wanted to add some more.

And so I had to go back again...today. But I found a new spot and went to the other side of the river. The fog was so thick that I could barely see 100m in front of me.  Part of it was somewhat erie, but I loved it! Trains came, I drove along the river bed, again I had a had an adventure all on my own. And it was great!

One of my favourites of the day

I hung out here once...but today was more exhilarating. A train came!

Anna Brown. I named my car. Because, well because I wanted to.

I named my car: Copper. (This is because Todd and Copper (in fox and the hound) go on lots of adventures together.) My car and I lately have lots of great adventures. I have fun playing loud music, playing in the mud, going on road trips exploring new/old places...just me and my car. 

My car 'Copper'

~Kate

Foggy Mornings (and not in my head)

My 'new' Sailing Pants 

Well so far I have made it half way through the semester, or a quarter way done the year and still functioning... mostly. If you can call functioning as going to bed at 7:30 most nights, spending 18 hours at the university in two days, 16 hours in clinical, finding ONE thing a week to do that I enjoy and seeing literally only 2 of my friends in the last month functioning then there you go!

Beauty

However though in all seriousness I am doing alright. (I may take that back when I get my midterm mark back next Tuesday) But I am. I have worked hard on getting my assignments done at least a week in advance, I've been doing great in clinical, I don't feel like I've been hit by a bus everyday, just sometimes.

I do feel blessed that I have been doing so well lately. It has been nice to just stick my nose to the grind and just doing school. The anticipation of it is was I think really killed me at the beginning of the semester. I was feeling pretty scared and at first was not helped with different things in school and a few people suggested that I take this year in two, which also brought my confidence down. But now that I am getting things done, I've gotten a few marks back and I'm doing alright.

I think the best part of this month has been the amount of energy that I have had. The steroids were a great idea, sure I didn't feel great for the week after, but I just needed to remember what I felt like after that horrid week. The last appointment when I was down in Vancouver I also asked for some sleeping drugs, like I told you before, and they are GREAT! I almost feel normal, which is such an amazing feeling.

Awk, perfection.

Today actually I got up early, as usual and it was still foggy outside and I decided to have an adventure. Came home around 0900, showered, puttered around and then started studying. It wasn't until about 3:00 that I realized I hadn't thought about my fatigue all day. Which doesn't happen often at all. But it put a smile on my face and I felt thankful.

Thankful:
-for those who care about me,
-who pray for my on a daily basis,
-who put up with me (Christie, Anna, my family),
-for those I met this summer and who show their appreciation for me,
-I was feeling thankful for drugs that help me sleep,
-for music and for having the house to myself while I have dance parties alone
-for walks in Moore's Meadow and finding tree forts




These past few weeks have been crazy busy, somewhat stressful, but so far they have been good. I have had prayers answered and found joy in the little things. So that has been great.

Thank you for keeping up with me and walking along me in my journey and this crazy time.

Kate

What is this Nonsense?

This is my "How do I Have Energy Face"
Or just enjoying a Sunday Morning walk
 

Here is a riddle for you:

What is something everybody does,
happens at night,
can't live without it?

Yup--sleep.

However have you ever had bouts where you have either stayed up all night and you feel like a wreck. Or have you just plain old had just terrible sleeps for a long time? CRAPY!

But!

How did you feel when you got some of that sleep back? Well I can sure tell you how I feel.
These last 2 sleeps have been amazing! Which has also in turn carried on to me having a day with energy. In short I will tell you about my past 2 days.

Yesterday, I woke up thought, huh this feels different. This strange feeling carried on for the rest of the morning and even into the afternoon. It didn't take me long to figure it out, it was energy. Or rather I wasn't tired/exhausted. At about 5:00 I picked up my car from the shop, got in turned on my favourite CD which made me happy. I then thought about how I still wasn't tired.... I almost cried, or at least shed a couple tears. I then crashed at 5:30. But who cares.

This is my
"I'm Ready For  October"
face.
Thanks to Shannon
Corbett

Today I was perky, laughing...not that am not usually those things.. but there was an extra pep in my step. Just ask Christie! I did have an amusable day, with terrible classes, jokes, long labs, great chats. It is amazing what sleep can do.

Whats my trick? I asked for some sleeping medication. Hesitant at first, but sleep is too important to take it for granted.  So I take em, and they are grrrreat!

Anyways, sleep and energy. What more could I ask for? Oh yeah, to make it through this next month. Will be a challenge, but one day at a time. I'm ready.

Goodnight.

Kate

Some Good Things....

....and some not so fun things.

To be honest, I am not even sure what to say about this past week. So much has happened....so I might as well start at the beginning.


Last week I started my HIGH dose of steroids to help combat my increasing MS symptoms. Three days of the second highest dose of steroid you can get. I am only in there for an hour a day. But man are they quite the drug. Thankfully nothing like the last time that I had them, but still not a fun drug to take. (Trust me there are fun drugs out there to take and that is not one of them.) Day 1,2,3 were ok. I felt kind of gross on the last day from it. Then day 4/5 came around and I woke up on Monday morning and I had felt like I was gotten hit by bus. My face was all puffy from the drugs, even my eyes which was a new one for me. But I felt so gross, I went to my first class and by 1130 I was exhausted. Tuesday I woke up and felt like I had gotten hit just by a small car or something. But was alright.

However, my arm did look like this. This past week I have at 8 pokes from IV's and my regular medications.

Well I have learned a few things this week about myself and other things....and in no particular order.

1. Cab drivers in London, England are much more polite. They will come open the door for you, help you with your bags and give you a "Hello, how are you?" In Vancouver....not so much

2.  I love mud. But I think you knew that already. I also really love adventures. Last weekend Christie, Anna and I had an adventure.

3. My brain still shuts off at 1:00 like clockwork.

4. Oh, I like tea. I didn't know it could be good until a few weeks ago. However it also makes my body warm so its a give and take thing and I have enough heat going on with MS tea doesn't always help.

5. I really like the beach. Yesterday my family came and met me at UBC and took me into Vancouver we went for supper and then walked along the beach. It was beautiful and I just love watching the sailboats and huge freighters passing by.

6. I am really looking forward to having October done school wise I mean.

7. I also think I've decided my second favourite season is fall. Brings back so many good memories. Like playing in leaves at old abandoned houses, triking up on Tabor Mountain and playing with bear spray, playing along the river when I was little and like 2 weeks ago. I love the smell of fall. I really like the temperature at night. I love the way that the trees look all yellow, orange and wonderful. Good memories associated with fall. Hopefully more to be made this one too.

8. I love drugs that help me sleep. Last night I had a great sleep. Today I got a prescription for something that should help too. I probably shouldn't be quite so excited but I am. Sleep is important.

9. I really appreciate friends who pray for me. I got two messages this week tell me that they were praying for me, or if there was anything they could pray for. It made me really happy.

10. I also really appreciate having friends who also have MS. Not that I wish it on anyone, but I am glad to have friends who really truly get it. One of them I spend most of the day with today. She is great. Not that either of us were feeling all that perky it was nice to see her.

I am ready to go home. It has been a long tow days. Treatment days are long and tiring. But soon, just waiting for my flight.

Thanks for reading. :)

Here for an update on my hospital visits and what is going on with that... HOSPITAL VISIT_DAY337


Kate

My Hero

Today is September 17, a great day in my books because today is a day worth celebrating, there is a boy in my life worth celebrating. He is wonderful. This boy can always put a smile on my face...we have had good times, we have had bad times, but I love him none the less. This boy is known in my head as my 'Lil Hero.

Yesterday I was asked how I 'do it', how does it seem that I pull everything together in my life, she asked me how I was able to go through all of last year and still be on top of it. I told her a bunch of things...but I forgot to tell her one of the most important things...my 'Lil Hero.

He was one of the reasons that I did so well. He was the reason I didn't get down, that I didn't give up, that I didn't let life or MS win. He is the reason that I won't give up.

But today is a day to celebrate HIM, he is amazing. This not so little guy is 16, star setter for his volleyball team, last year the basketball team, and track team. This is a guy who is able to see the positive in life, he is a friend that everyone should have, he will stand up for you when your troubled, he will make you laugh when you need it, and cry when your least expecting it.

I love this boy, I love him with all my heart.
Today is his 2 year anniversary of being cancer free, today 2 years ago he had his last treatment.


This guy, is my 'Lil Hero.

Keep it up, keep going strong and being a great encouragement to me SJ. I love you.


-Kate

I Decided Today....

I decided today, as I was grocery shopping... I was on a mission, I was looking for vegetables, I wanted to make stir fry. I bought the sauce for it the other day and today was the day. 

I also co-wrote a paper today.. spend 5 hours on a Saturday sitting up at the uni in a quite perfect spot mind you writing a paper. I did have fun... However, today I decided....as I walked into the giant fridge, if I could live in a fridge I just might.

I can't quite believe that it has only been a week since school has started, so much has happened if I didn't think about it very hard I could fool myself into thinking that it has been at LEAST a month, or more.

Classes started on Monday and Tuesday. Then I have clinical 2 or 3 days of the rest of the week. I have 2 speciality areas, Gerontology (working with the elderly) and Mental Health. We do clinical practicum for 6 weeks at a time. It is going to be a busy semester, long, full of work, papers, midterms, assignments etc. However I am also trying and doing my best to stay on top of things.

This week I also went to the gym a few times this week.. and also went extremely blind. But I don't mean blind as in I can't see anything its more like a combination of these three pictures along the side. Its's not a dangerous thing, but it is just irritating.

I also caught up with the MS nurse this week. I had gone to see her to ask a few questions about my eyes and fatigue, but as I was sitting waiting for her my hands were hurting too much and I figured I would rather cry not in front of her office so I went home. A few days later my uncle and her found me on my clinical day and we talked. She saw my neurologist the night before at a presentation. They had talked a wee bit about me. They figured that I maybe should try steroids again.

 Oh, I haven't talked about my steroid experience have I? Well last time I took them, it is a 3 day experience, 1hr day trip to the hospital. I cannot say that these are my favourite thing. And no I'm not going to get jacked on them, bummer right? It does however make me feel terrible for 6/7 days, awful metallic taste, achy bones, nauseous, I get extremely anxious, irritable and wired. Last time my aunt thought a movie would be a good idea after my treatment... we got half way through it and the female actress was driving me NUTS! I was pacing back and forth in the living room, shaking a little bit. I couldn't handle the rest of the movie so I just went to bed.

So this time I am hoping that things will be better, I know what to expect now, how to get rid of the taste, etc. So this Thursday, Friday and probably Saturday I will spend at least an hour or so attached to my IV pole not feeling great.

I would love to say that I haven't had a tear sesh yet this year, but I have... granted it was only 3 or 4 tears and my friend thought I was faking it... which at first I was, but it was tears that had been coming for that whole day. It was a combination of missing clinical for dr. appointment, my eyes, the pain in my hands, the anticipation of school and all of the work. But it quickly passed and I snapped back into it and my friend made fun of me. 

What I did get from that fridge.
My supper!

But this whole story is why, I decided that living in a fridge, or at least for a little while...it felt really nice to be in such a cool place. It made my hand feel great, my body wasn't freaking out. It was really nice. So as i walked out of the fridge I decided that it would be sweet to live in a fridge... at least for a few minutes. :)

I really appreciate all you guys who read this, it means a lot. I do get excited to see the numbers on the side go up as days go on...I love hearing my mom tell me that her friends are looking for a blog update and want more specific prayer requests. Which I will update today.. there are a few. :)
But thank you again, I really appreciate the support and the encouragement that those of you give me.
I will continue to update my blog and prayer requests a little more often if I can. When I am not writing a paper or planning a presentation or studying for a midterm. 

My brain break...playing in the mud.

I hope you guys have a great day. 

Kate

September 5_A Year Ago

A year ago today I was sitting in Vancouver in the UBC MS clinic and the neurologist confirmed the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. It was scary but relieving at the same time. It was nice to finally have a name to all of my strange symptoms. But also scary because I knew very little about MS and what it would and could do to me in the future....Since then I have been reassured and been well taken care of through different doctors, nurses, family and friends. It has been a crazy year as some of you may know.. but a good one none the less.

Wow, I cannot believe it has been a year, to be honest it feels like it has been way longer. Then on the other hand it feels like it has just flown by.

Hmm... as I look at this year ahead of me I am scared, which is better than where I was at a week and a half ago, I was just plain terrified for this year to start. I have never been scared/terrified for school before, but I could feel it start to creep in when my hands started to hurt when I thought about it. Along with school I was not looking forward to being back in Prince George. Some of my really close girl friends have moved from PG, granted I got one back this year. But I still wasn't feeling like I wanted to be here and was quite dreading this year.

As I was sitting in church this Sunday I was getting a little distracted from the sermon and pulled out my notebook and started writing down how I was feeling, "worried, scared, irritated etc" and then I was talking to God about how I wanted to feel content with Prince George. I didn't want to be looking for something else, something 'better', but I wanted to feel happy (or joyful) here.

 However I also was thinking how hard it was to be joyful, when I was so tired, so drained and just didn't want to work hard to find the joy in things. I for a wee bit was ok with just giving up... It was at that moment that I looked up from my notebook and on the side it was titled "Joyful and Thankful Heart". Kind of a slap in the face moment...
It also went on to say "have an attitude of joy and gratitude in all aspects of our lives."

It was a feeling of "Oh yeah, this is what I've been telling myself all year, I can't give up now." It brought me back to one of the nights at camp where I shared my story at teen camp and I must have said it a dozen times, to count it all joy when you are tired, worn, frustrated, irritated etc. I know its not easy, but in the end it is worth it... that much I know for sure!

So looking at this year again, through eyes that well, sometimes work... I will take it one day at a time. I will do my best to find joy in the little things, or why not, even the big things :) I will work on being thankful and living with a heart of gratitude.

Am I still scared? Yes, I'm terrified and would love for that to change. I would love for the pain to stop and the numbness to go away, I want to be able to see again when I exercise, I don't want to give myself injections, I am irritated about those things... but I try to be only for a moment and then I remember that life is bigger than me, God is bigger than my MS and I know He has a plan for me.

I know this year is going to be hard, but I am hoping that it is another great learning experience. I know I have a great group of people who are coming along side of me and encouraging me and who have faith in me to do well.

I am excited to be able to look back at this year next year and see how much I've grown, or failed... who knows, but there will be something learned from this next bit in my life.


A year ago today, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis....everything changed.


Kate

Only Memories Now...

Looking back at this summer, even though it has just ended less than a week ago I think I could say that this has been one of the best summers I've ever had. I was working at Echo Lake Bible Camp and I get an overwhelming feeling of happiness when I think about how great this year has finished for me. Five months ago I'm not sure I was able to see how wonderful this summer could really be. I was too drained from everything this year: school, exams, quizzes, practicums, relationships...I was wiped.

However, I did go in to the summer with excitement and was ready for something different and new. I was ready to meet new friends, build relationships, and grow in my own personal life. All of which I did.

I distinctly remember sitting with some of the other staff members within the first week of camp and talking about how great the staff seemed and how lovely the camp director and his wife were. I was really excited and the staff at Echo Lake were wonderful. I loved watching them grow as the summer progressed.

One thing I loved about this summer was the surprises. Ok, ask me 6 months ago how I feel about surprises and I would tell you I dislike them immensely. For the most part was tired of having new things. I was ready for the old. So much of me wanted to go back to my high school self where I was confident in who I was, what I was doing, my friends, and my health. My world was 'good'. I would think that for a spilt second and then realize how much I had changed in the last year and how much I had learned about myself, my friends and my future. I do hesitate to say 'I wouldn't take it back for the world,' but I don't think I would trade all of this learning for an easy, 'same old' life style I was living.

But back to surprises:

1.  One thing I loved happened on one of the first nights. I gave a bit of my story/testimony/how God has been woking in my life. Afterwards, one of the girl leaders came up to me and gave me a huge hug and thanked me for telling my story. It was unexpected but warmed my heart

2.  Another surprise was a new friend I made. I didn't really know this person before I came out, but only knew of them. They were (and still are) older than me but I felt intimidated by them. However it was  great getting to know them better this summer and I feel like after camp that I would definitely call them my friend. I made lots of new friends this summer (not that it surprises me) and it makes me happy to know that there are people out there who want to be friends with me too... that it's not just a one way relationship.

3.  I was also surprised with my health. Every week we as a staff wrote down our prayer requests and then  picked someone else's from a hat and we prayed for them that week. Every week I wrote down "pray for good health!" Every time I chuckled too, because according to my diagnosis I do have MS which wouldn't be considered good health.. but that wasn't what I meant. I didn't want to get even more sick over the summer. And I did not. No cold, no flu, not a thing. It was great.

4.  Another surprise I got near the end of the summer when a friend from high school, whom I love dearly officially confirmed that she was moving to Prince George for the year. This was one of the greatest surprises of the summer. Many of my friends from town have moved away, or are new friends who live in other towns, so to know my good friend is going to be here for the whole year gives me great joy.


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Overall some highlights for me were:
-taking pictures and making videos for the kids every week. 

-spending the weekend in PG with some lovely girls form Northern Ireland

-picnicking with chinese food, laughing and hanging out way too late that night

-staff break to Terrace and Smithers

-going hiking, riding chair lifts, pancake breakfast in the middle of town, camping

-going on hikes and being able to see clearly on one of the hottest days of the summer, despite having MS!
-hiking up Mt. Pope  with lovely ladies--good bant! 

-hiking down was alright as well, my body was just falling apart (not MS 
issues) and there was a lack of encouragement... I am pretty sure all I heard was "Pain in just weakness leaving the body Kate."

-spending time on the floating dock with a good friend

-kayaking on the lake and down the Nechako River

-have a drive in--at camp, then sleeping outside

-spray painting the ROCK....hmmm

-having mud fights 

-I would say having the 'hottest wings ever', but I actually just watched other people eat them. 

-driving; I did a lot of driving this summer, I really enjoyed every minute of it. Whether it was with people, or on my own. Pumping music in my car while I am alone is still one of my top fav 5 things to do these days
-climbing under a table at dinner to coax a little boy out to come eat supper, we talked about kittens and puppies and eventually he camp out. All the while at the feet of the camp director, program director and a few others

-spending two free times belaying campers (made me really miss being a cabin leader, but made my week)
-rooming with my 'bestie' all summer

-chatting with people who came through my office

-spending an afternoon on the trampoline one weekend with some lovely kiddies playing 'Ring Around the Rosie'


-making a new friend on the big pillow at the start of summer, talking about camp, life, school, boys

-feeling like I was an important piece of something bigger than myself

-having people around me who would tease me about my MS (which I do encourage  I do it and don't worry I wont cry) "How many fingers Kate?" "Need to go to Spec Savers?" And more.. but those were the most commonly used phrases. 


Thank you so much for your thoughts and your prayers for me this summer.. it is greatly appreciated. I hope you all had a great summer as well.



Have a good night.

-Kate