These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011:
A.C.E Student Convention. The boys in suits, the girls in skirts and blouses, the office-ness of it. I love office wear. Anyway, it was spiffin. Seeing a certain someone again and trying to decide yet again whether I liked them or not. Still not confident on the answer to that question. Hanging out with Sarah and getting on each others nerves. Good times.

Going on long as bike rides with Ian. The Ben Morven Track, and trying to bike to the Rowing Club.

Here is Ian trying to cross the river. I was videoing him because I thought it would end with him being in the river, but it didn't work out that way. A real bummer.
Girls Group. The awkward discussion about sex and things that girls need to know. Learning about integrity, confidence, courage. Learning to trust one another. It is still a work in progress, but our little group of girls is becoming more tight knit.
Excel Touring Team.  We billeted two girls, Reg & Lil, and it was really cool having them here. Reg was shy and afraid of Jake (our dog), but Lil and I had some mean jamming and singing sessions outside at like 10pm. Each year we billet two girls, and each year they seem to get better and better. =)

Drumming for Church Band. At times I would call this a highlight, and at other times I would say it was part of the year I did not like. But it is all a learning curve, and the things that are harder to do and take longer to accomplish are usually the things that are worth while.
The cousins coming to NZ. This was both a good and bad time of the year. I enjoyed their company, but the boys got on my nerves a bit. Joe was all right because he is more placid, but Issac was flipping mean and annoying at times. Emily was pretty good, although she does bring out the eleven year old in me.

 Jet and Phil's wedding. This was the one time of the year when both sides of my family came together to celebrate one thing. Usually it is a couple on one side, or a few over from the other side. But it was all the family (well, a lot of representatives) over for at least the weekend. And then everyone was under one roof for the classic and much-loved Uncle G's big breakfast cook-up which was held at brunch time on Sunday morning. That was grand.

Me and Jet getting ready for the wedding

Making up random songs. For this guy in my life that is now going away, I have written two songs. It's funny, cause I don't like him that much, but I have liked him for a year and a while. I'm not sure why I wanted to write two songs about him, but I guess its because he took me on an emotional rollercoaster (but I think thats just his personality, haha) and my way of dealing with his being great one minute and confusing the next was to write a song about it. One song I wrote was annoyance, and the next was happy go lucky. And now I am somewhere in the middle. I have also written some songs about God, who is becoming my True Love. I get told that I have a nice singing voice... but I'll take their word on it. =)
Doing the To-do list with Sarah. What a great time. We still haven't done everything on the list, but there are a few days left in the year to get them completed. For more information about the to-do list, look at the page I have devoted to the list only. (Look up the top of the page. It goes Home (I think), Ruby Through the Ages, and then The To-Do List

Knitting on the brain

Since I began knitting on that Monday a couple of weeks ago I have been doing it every day. My family came over for Jet and Phil's wedding, and I knitted every day... accept for the wedding day of course. Was a little bit busy then, getting my hair done, and my make-up. And doing the whole walking down the front of the church and standing there looking at the bride-my sister- and the groom looking at each other. And then the photos... and the reception. After that came the dancing. After I got warmed up I was into it. So was Emmie, my 12 year old cousin. She sure is a hyperactive crazy child. She brings out the immaturity in me.
Played the drums on Sunday at church, then at night it was the International Night, so there was no drumming for that, it was just a church family hang out time. Which was cool.
My cousins and Aunty (my uncle went back last Monday because he had to work) went home to Aussie this morning. I don't actually miss them. It just feels like they were over here... and now they are gone and things have gone back to normal. It was cool having them here though, apart from when we got on each others nerves. Which happened a little bit.
I have been knitting scarves for the past week. A scarf a day keeps the doctor away. That is my current motto. But now I am knitting squares of double knit wool, and then I shall sew all the squares into a blanket. It is going to be pretty cool. The center-piece is the Russian flag. White, blue, and red.
Enough talking for now. I am selling books on TradeMe, and if you are in New Zealand or around the area check them out. They are all in great condition and I am getting rid of them by putting into action selling everything I have. I'm starting with the things that I really don't need. Then I'll move onto the bigger things.
"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Ruby.

The Wedding

It is the week leading up to the wedding. I am excited. My only sister is getting married. It will be different not having her about the house anymore. But she will be in her own home, which will be cool. Then I can go up there and see her and my brother-in-law. And catch the goldfish in their goldfish pond. Shhh, don't tell them I said that.
In a blog a while ago I mentioned some things in my life that I was feeling God was wanting me to cut out, but I was not ready to give them up. Well, one of the things that changed since last Sunday night was that I gave up one of those things in particular. My life since that Sunday night has been great. It has still been hard because I seem to be able to feel really happy and then really sad all in the space of a couple of hours, but I am not the one who has to deal with my emotions alone, God helps me.
  How I relate to boys has changed since then, also. Before I was so sure that I wanted to get married young, and everything like that, and I would be devastated if my life ended without me being a wife and mother,  but now I feel more content that whatever God wants for my life will bring me the greatest pleasure. The greatest joy. I am not sure that I will marry or not, but I would still like to. I think that the want to get married has been put in its proper place: somewhere down the line, far under where God stands as my True Love. I am learning that I do not need to put my future happiness in having a husband, but that my happiness will be placed in God, who will never let me down.
Moving on... my hair is growing longer. I can tie it up in a ponytail now.
Before I close I want to clarify that the reason I have grown in my relationship is not because of a church service on Sunday night. That was where it started. But it continued with me reading my Bible each day, praying, and asking God what He wants me to do.
  Your friend in Christ,
Ruby.