Amy’s Oasis

It was always nice to talk to Steve on the phone.  I would get home from school some nights to a telephone call, and the knowledge that someone loved me and wanted to talk to me in spite of the late hour was so comforting.  It was a good long-distance relationship, even though both of us hated the phone. But there was nothing quite like the days when we got to see each other face-to-face.  Suddenly the voice over the phone and the message on my inbox was there in the flesh, and he was real . . . the emotions would be so intense that I would be shaking and would feel that I didn’t have the strength to walk or even talk - all I wanted to do was look at this person without ever fully meeting his eyes.  The initial awkward moment would pass and eventually we would be comfortable with one another, but we never fully got over the amazement that we were there together.  Then he would leave and I would be intensely lonely . . . more with each visit and departure.  Soon there will be no goodbyes - not in that kind, anyways.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find life on this earth hard.  I get bogged down with the weight of my own sin and the sin of other people.  It seems an eternal cycle that just keeps on getting deeper with no end.  Praying is good.  Connection with my Savior is great.  Reading God’s word to me fills a deep inner ache.  But still . . . I long for the face of Jesus intensely sometimes.

What will it be like - that initial moment of meeting?  I think I understand a mere fraction of it.  The pounding heart, the mind-boggling amazement, the bursting emotions - I understand those.  But to see the face of my Savior?  The one who with one glance can kill a multitude?  The one who single-handedly defeated sin and death? That is something I cannot comprehend.  What will it be like to be gathered into those arms?  To hear His voice, with all its depth of power speaking words for you alone?  Will we ever get over that amazement?  Will we ever not be gripped by the awesome wonder of it all?

The long-distance relationship is good.  But oh, let me tell you - face-to-face is infinitely better.  And soon - very soon - there will be no more goodbyes.  Remember that.

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A few minutes ago I looked in the mirror on my way to 1) the computer and 2) bed.  Everything about the way I look and feel right now has a story to tell about my life.  My oversized t-shirt, which happens to be my dad’s Camp Tamarack 2004 t-shirt that I stole before I left. (I love (& miss) my dad . . . my family.)  The fact that it isn’t washed.  (I’m too busy to do laundry. :P)  The washable marker stains adorning not one, but both of my arms.  (The masterpieces of two very busy and precious tots.) The tender spots on my face where Hendrick whacked a very hard tiger against it. (To get me to laugh and make funny faces, don’t worry. :)) My sore shoulder muscles. (From hanging on for dear life on a tube on Saturday.) My sunburnt face. (From hanging out at the beach on the weekend and at the park today.)  The dry, rubbed skin on my nose where I have been blowing my nose for a very long time.  (My body’s decided to do a spring cleaning on the dead cells hanging around.) The sparkle in my eye. (Which apparently tells the world that a certain special someone is never very far from my mind.)

My warmed heart, which speaks of a life full to overflowing with all the rich and fulfilling things that bring God glory and man happiness.

My blog seems to be slightly suffocating in the ever-tightening whirlwind of life.  It will soon be revived, though, and many more pictures and words will grace the page of Amy’s Oasis.  (I think.)  The true Oasis never dies, no matter what happens, and the Living Water keeps flowing in the wilderness, even though it does not always spill to the publication of the web.

Life is busy suddenly, in the split second it took to go from PEI to Ontario.  I feel a little bewildered and stunned, not quite sure what hit me.  I have not even been here (as in the general vicinity of what I used to call “home”) for a week and I am in a rat-race of life that PEI somehow manages to escape.  Going under the speed limit in PEI means that you are relaxed and enjoying the scenery and probably just going about your everyday life.  Going under the speed limit in Ontario means that you are harried and stressed and the freeway is CLOGGED and you are forced to have your foot constantly on the brake even though everything in you cries out for speed and acceleration to your destination . . . and you are probably just going about your everyday life.  To use the words of my beloved fiancee: “Why do we live in Ontario again?”  But no - God is incredibly good and provides all that we need for everything, which I praise Him for with an overflowing heart!  Every new situation brings a deeper awareness of His presence and a deeper love for Him!  What a blessing it is to have that peace that surpasses all understanding!

Can I just count a few blessings right now?

1)  A faithful, changless, limitless, tender, loving, just, all-wise, all-powerful, amazing, awesome God who I am priveleged to call my Savior and my Friend!

2) A wonderful fiancee who is becoming the very model of the first blessing and who will continue to become made in His likeness for eternity who I am incredibly honored to call my Beloved and Friend

3) Families who are loving, supportive and accepting - who I cannot thank God for enough

4) Friends whom I am honored to help and to be helped by, love and be loved by, hurt for, pray for, laugh with, grieve with

4) The opportunity to help out in different areas during this time of preparation

5) A wedding date which is fast approaching and which I long for more and more as it draws nearer

6) Memories of this past year which will last a lifetime

Etc, etc, etc .  . .

Praise you, Jesus!

All your life you dream of what will happen to you and what you will make happen in the future.

But God somehow calls you into His dreams for you and what He makes happen is always so much more fulfilling than anything you could have dreamed possible.

My time here in PEI is coming to an end . . . my wonderful cousins are here right now, and so far we have had an awesome time - randomly seeing seals while we were canoeing, laughing hysterically over things my little brothers and sisters say, talking, and all the other  . . . things . . . that we do together. 

Still not posting pictures . . . I’ll have to wait until I see my computer techie again. :)  (Can’t wait!!!!)

Love you all,

Amy

 . . . Your faithfulness . . . Reaches to the sky

Red roads

Leading to Somewhere doing Nothing

Or else to Nowhere doing Something

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I am in Anne’s country - and enjoying it immensely.  I have tried in vain to post pictures with our very slow dial-up connection, and I am sorry to say you may not see pictures of us for a while . . . (go to Steve’s blog if you want those).  I think that this is just what my family has needed.  We are living in a white renovated farmhouse which is very cute, both inside and out.  There are fields of red dirt all around us, and just across one is a very large tidal river.  We can go canoeing in it, swimming in it (although it has been too cold so far), walking beside it.  What I have enjoyed most so far, however, is just the peace and relaxed atmosphere.  People here leave their doors open and tell you to just walk in anytime, even when they are gone.  They invite you to everything, and you feel as if you have just entered one big family.

Some things I have learned from my family so far:

1)  To be engaged means to do battle with the enemy, according to the dictionary. 

2) You are not a true Islander until your bellybutton is stained red with the dirt and rocks of the Island. (Don’t ask.)

3) Five girls are DEFINITELY louder than five boys. Definitely.

4) Karissa loves me “Way too much” and “Much more than you love me”.

5)  The Princess and the Pea story can come true with marbles in tents.  (Again, don’t ask.)

6) Biting sarcasm is indeed a way to show love.

7) Living is more important than thinking deeply about life.

You have to be mature when you are engaged.  At least, that is what you have to tell engaged people in order to get them to stop sassing you.  (This one doesn’t work, by the way.)

9) Dirty looks are also a way to show love.

10) When a chair that was first broken and glued together by your fiancee breaks under you, that is a time to consider dieting.  (I wouldn’t ask about this one either.)

That is just a few helpful hints that I thought I’d pass along - some family wisdom and experience. Hope you benefit.

Yeah.

This is Steve.

 . . . and everybody’s reaction to him.

 . . . . All but me (who just happens to be a very patient person).  I said Yes!!  We are getting married and are so thankful for the gracious love of our precious Redeemer and Lord in all that He has done for us! 

(Comic provided by the very illustrious Benjamin S.)

I am done.  I am done.  I am done school. So hard to believe!

Why is it that I feel more incompetent then when I started and so much more aware that there is nothing that I can do to benefit the human race or the God who created and sustains me?  Hmm . . . methinks that is just where said God wants me.

So, you can officially come to me with your problems now. ;P I don’t feel like I can help you, but I know God can!   

In the course of the next couple days, I will be packing all my earthly goods, saying goodbye to my friends, and saying hello to boyfriend, family, and Prince Edward Island!!!!!!!  So incredibly excited.  Why is it that God gives us this much joy while still on this earth?