Fact: the milk comes in a bag.

So, I'm in Canada!!! I've been here since Friday night, stayed with Heather's friend Mel (whose sister is doing NET Canada this year) until yesterday night, and now I am staying at a house with some NET Alumni/staff members. It's been tremendous so far. I haven't actually begun NET yet, that's why I am able to be online, but it's coming on fast.

I've met TONS of new people in the past couple days. It's crazy and it's about to get crazier.
We might go out to music training tonight to see their talent show, so I'd get to meet some more "netters" then. (For the record, I do not enjoy being called a netter. Makes me feel like I'm twelve. But that's what they call us, so I guess I have no choice now that I've signed up for it...)

Canada is awesome so far. I have done away with all my American change, so I don't get confused. The money is so similar.
Tell you whats not similar, the milk. Well, actually the milk itself is just normal milk, but the packaging is all sorts of weird. They have milk in bags. So so strange. I went to have cereal this morning and I was looking for a carton or a jug of milk and I couldn't find any. Thought that was strange cause they had told me that there was cereal and why would they offer cereal if there was no milk, right? So eventually I found soy milk and used that. Then I was at the store today with two of the girls and they are talking about buying milk and whether or not they already had some. So thinking that I am being helpful I chime in "Oh yeah, this morning I couldn't find any milk. It's probably been finished..." So they bought it and we come home to find out they DID have milk already, it was just in bags. Sorry, I'm American...

Another thing; beer. I keep being taken aback whenever someone asks me if I'd like a drink. I keep forgetting that it is legal here for me. (Don't worry, I'm keeping myself in check and am very responsible.)

Other than beverages, Canada has some awesome people. Everyone I've met so far has been tremendously nice and tolerates me poking fun at the way they say their "t"s and "softdrink" instead of soda.

Also, Tim Horton's is awesome. Like Dunkins, but better cause it's new to me and everyone loves a novelty.

On that note, I think it's nap time. Enjoy the pictores from the roadtrip up, which was amazing and scenic.

ready to leave, but I still have a to do list

So I've preparing for this day for the past couple months and I've wanted to write something inspiring and captivating to let people know how extremely excited I really feel about all this, but words are failing me.

I can't think of anything in my life to compare it to. I am scared and nervous, but calm and completely relaxed at the same time.
I have been completely overwhelmed by the continuing generosity of our friends this week. I'm now almost halfway to completing my fundraising goal which is AMAZING because I won't have to worry so much while I'm off.

I've found the address that y'all can send me things at, but keep in mind that I will only be there until SEPT 25. So feel free to mail me things if they'll get there in time for the 25th, and after that I will get a new address for you.

Kelsie Grimes
c/o NET Ministries of Canada Inc.

1820 St. Joseph Blvd.

Orleans, Ontario K1C 7C6

So in less than 7 hours, I'll be off to Canada. Apparently I've a lot to learn about Canada since all I know is that there are ketchup chips and that there is a fair amount of frozen tundra. We'll see what new factoids I come away with.

Yesterday I went out climbing for the last time until Dec. so naturally I was depressed and needed a pick me up in the form of Boulevard dinner french fries and Cafe Dolce cappuccino. It was terrific and amazing and a perfect last night with the sisters. I think cappuccino is my favorite coffee drink; but not at Starbucks, Starbucks cappuccinos don't seem the same. Good thing I have like 50 other favorites at Starbucks to fall back on when I am disappointed by their cappuccino.
I finally bought a Central Rock tshirt, so you better believe I will be representin the gym over in Ireland. I told Erin that I am definitely going to have to find somewhere (anywhere) to climb over there, even if it's just once. I'm sure I can search one out.

Which reminds me, last night Erin, Heather, Colleen, and I made an Ireland To Do list. It is basically exactly what you expect a to do list to be; a list of necessary things to do while in Ireland. For example...

1. Kiss the Blarney stone
2. Drink a pint
3. Find a shamrock

...and so on and so forth. So if you have any suggestions to add to my list, please let one of the sisters know, and it will be added to my list ASAP. Or you can just post it on here in the comments section! Keep in mind that I am going to be living a missionary lifestyle and will have limited funds and freetime. Even within thsoe restrictions, it is a pretty exciting looking list so far, and continues to grow. I should also mention that one condition of the list is that I photographically document each and every thing on it. Needless to say, photos will be shared with all of you wonderful people on this very blog.

That all said, a millipede looking bug just ran across my carpet, and that completely grosses me out. Good thing I'm leaving my room in 7 hours!
Farewell to you all until I get internet access next. Pray for me during my training please!!

Love you all!

Awake is the new sleep.**

I know I should sleep, I know I should. But most nights I find it impossible until about 3:30 am when I basically fall over from exhaustion.

Yesterday I lay in bed for a couple hours staring at the ceiling, then the wall, then the suitcase, then the ceiling again; cycling through those views like a broken record, all the while just thinking about leaving.
Plus, I'm no good at sleeping in this room alone. Mickey left to visit with our cousin Jenna at our grandmother's so I've been alone the past few nights. I just like knowing that someone else is in the room, we don't even have to be talking or doing anything, just knowing that someone else is there makes it feel right for me to sleep somehow.
I don't like being alone in general though, unless I'm praying. To me it just makes no sense, there are billions of people in the world, why should you ever have to be alone. At least I know that while I'm on NET I won't be alone hardly ever. Heath said that team members are with each other almost 24/7 so thats one thing I won't have to worry about.

I think it's mostly excitement keeping me awake, with a little twinge of sadness. I'm gonna miss a lot. I have officially said good bye to 1/4 of the family; Amanda(plus baby and hubs) a few weeks ago, and Mickey & Nat yesterday cause they went to Penn until Sat and I leave Fri. I haven't cried yet, but I think I might very soon, perhaps even in the course of writing this entry.
I was playing with Emily today, trying to get in as much babytime as possible. The weirdest thing is that I will come back and she will have nearly no recollection of me. So strange.

I gave Natalie some quality advice for going to high school when I said bye:

1. Don't wear heels to school. It's not worth it.
2. Everyone there is dumb, just so you know.
3. You can wear my clothes, they're cool.
4. Have fun; work hard, but have more fun.
   

She'll follow it, if she knows whats good for her. It was the least I could do as a confirmation sponsor.

I think I told Mickey she could wear my clothes too, not sure if that was a mistake or not... Just kidding, Mic, I know you'll rock them out. (Just don't lend them to anyone outside immediate familia, I'd like to still have a wardrobe when I get back...)

Heaven help their teachers.

Today was ridiculously hot out, it's been such a strange summer in New England, just when I thought it was winding down, we get this hot streak. Last week there were actually leaves falling in our front yard, and now I am melting in the sauna that is my room. My hair and nature is all confused.

Heather finalized out plans for the Epic Canadian Dropoff trip this weekend, apparently it includes a visit to Upper Canada Village; which from the website seems like Old Sturbridge Village, just more Canadian. The cartrip is also to include a great mock singalong to every Taylor Swift song that we know, sounds promising, eh? (Already embracing Canadian lingo.) You know you wish you were coming along.

Tomorrow's gonna be more hot weather I guess, Colleen, Erin, and I are headed to the gym for a bit, then back home to write all my thank you's, and finally out to Springfield tomorrow night to visit with my Western Mass friends before I jet. Should be another packed day. Only 3 days left though, gotta get it in somehow.


**Please note that this post's title was stolen from a wonderful artist named Ben Lee. I wish I had come up with it myself, but he's the man and deserves the credit.

tired bones and blistered fingers

Was at the gym all day today (Central Rock Climbing Gym).
Got there this morning to help out with a party and 2 blistered pinkies, 1 chalk covered outfit, 206 tired bones, 1 starbucks latte, and 8.5 hours later I left completely exhausted and ready to go back tomorrow...
I plan on living there for the next couple days before I leave because I'm going to miss climbing a ton.

It's not even just the physical exercise either, that in itself is great and I know I am way stronger than before I started, but what I think I like most is the mental exercise of it all. It's all about finding your limits and then pushing them. And you have to completely get rid of self doubt, doubt's not gonna get you any farther up the wall.
Sure, there are somethings that at this point in my climbing are impossible for me and knowing that is important, but at the same time I'm not gonna let that keep me from trying difficult routes. If nothing was ever hard, then I wouldn't get any better.
Today was really nice cause Chris from SF came down to climb with us and he is a super crazy monkey climber, so he was giving me some good pointers on how to finish my problem ones. (Nicknamed "beasts" by the sisters. Like "Hey did you finish that one yet?"... "Nope, it's my beast right now though"...) I learned a lot, I love figuring the routes out and doing them right and you can't believe you ever did it another way or just see how ridiculously hard it would have been if you had kept trying the "wrong" way. Plus it was just amazing to do something I love with some friends before I leave, but hanging out with them is always amazing no matter what we do.

On that same note, the dinner last night went extremely well. We had a great crowd of friends show up to support me and it meant a lot that they were all there. Good food, great conversation, lots of laughs and smiles, all in all it was a success.
The food from O'Connors was amazing, and fortunately enough we have leftovers so I got to have it for dinner again tonight. More unfortunately our dessert didn't work out as well as hoped, the brownies sort of turned into rock solid dehydrated astronaut food.
My friend Erin Lynch, from HeiferProject camp, was an absolute champion and did a few samples of Irish dancing for us even though she had a sprained ankle. We also had some amazing singing by Mary Casiello and Erin, Heather, and myself did a few songs.
Apparently we are recording a cd that is going to be sold for donations toward my mission, so I'll let you know when that drops. It'll be number one for sure, rivaled only by this terrific band I know called SpaceTiger. (Look them up on facebook. They're hilariously awesome.)

As far as fundraising goes, I have a total of 2,275 raised to date. I am extremely overwhelmed by the generosity I witnessed from our closest friends last night. God is so good to have brought you all into my life, I cannot say it enough. Thank you for everything. For sharing your families, homes, and wisdom with me. I'll remember you all while I'm in Ireland and can't wait to share my adventures with you on here and in person when I come home for Christmas.

And now I think it's time for a strawberry-orange vanilla milkshake. Fruit & ice cream combined, can't really go wrong there.

Just me, Jesus, and James Dean

I finished packing up my room today. Took down all my pictures and boxed up all my things. I feel strangely out of place in the room I've spent the majority of the past 3 years in.

With nothing but a crucifix and my James Dean calendar on the sickly, teal stained, wood paneled walls I tried so hard to disguise with pictures and posters I feel like I am in some sort of monastery. Although no monastery I am aware of would have pictures of James Dean next to their Jesus.
Pretty sure Jesus would be cool with it though, I've heard he eats with sinners and saints alike.

As weird as it is to have a room with barren walls, I had to do it, once I entirely vacate my room on Friday Heather is moving in. I don't blame her, if a piece of real estate as good my room had become available to me I would have jumped on it just as fast. Available real estate is a rare commodity in the Grimes household.

Tomorrow, or today rather, is my fundraising dinner. It's shaping up to be a good time. I decided not to stress over it a long time ago. Mostly everyone who is coming are our close friends anyways, so they aren't expecting anything elaborate or showy. I'm just going to be myself and be comfortable. Not get worked up about it, what comes of it will come. I'm trusting that it'll work out.

SIDE NOTE: I'm still looking for sponsors who want to support me financially while I'm in Ireland. If you're interested, you are amazing! I love you intense amounts, please email me. If you can't donate, I understand, please please please pray that some people with generous hearts will stumble into my path.


I'm enjoying my last few days at home, defeated the huns with H last night (Chinese food style) went blueberry picking with Colleen today, and on Sunday we're going climbing with some amazing friends from soulfest.

However, I am still slightly stressed out about the fact that I only have six days left at home. It scares me a little, ok a lot, that so soon I will be thrust into something completely and totally new to me. All new people. All new places. All new responsibilities and commitments.

Half of me just wants to RUN, turn in the total opposite direction and hide.
But the other half of me knows that change is good and being outside my comfort zone means that I am learning and growing.

And besides, God wants me here to do my part in the Kingdom, so it must be good. When we were at soulfest this year I heard this amazing praise and worship song for the first time. (It's probably really popular, we just don't get very much of the P&W at the Cathedral...) I think it's called "The Stand" and the chorus says

"So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the one who gave it all. I'll stand; my soul Lord to you surrender, all I am is yours."

So instead of running, I'll stand. I'll stand and surrender my whole self to God.
I'm pretty sure it is going to be the most agonizing, but the most rewarding decision I've ever made.

Speaking of agonizing, I have to give up my facebook and my phone while I am on NET, so that is really the purpose of this blog. Yes, yes, it's going "to suck" (such eloquent vocabulary) and yes I will miss creeping on, I mean talking to, you all, but it is a small sacrifice and I'm pretty sure I won't die from it.
The optimal and most efficient way to get in touch with me is on here or by email kelsie.grimes@gmail.com. Or there's always good old fashioned letter writing. As soon as I get my address I will put it up on here for you all.

Thanks for reading and I'll do my best to keep at this. Love you all!