November 15, 2010

Favourite Time of Year...


 It’s almost Christmas time friends!



This is probably my most favourite time of year – not because it means I turn a year older (scary!) and not because gifts are exchanged (although I admit that I LOVE giving gifts).

I could probably go on for awhile about all the things I love about Christmas, but I’ll just share a few:
  • I love when Gingerbread lattes arrive at Starbucks
  • I love getting to see my entire family all together under one roof (usually this entails my little nieces waking “Auntie Laura” up super early...but how can you say no to that right?!)
  • I love the smell of Christmas trees
  • I love decorating my house
  • I love walking into work (weird..I know...but the entrance and banister are always decorated so beautifully with garland and bows and lights...it’s a great way to start the day!)
  • I love the excitement and buzz in the air the closer we get to Christmas
  • I know people should be generous all year long, but I love getting to see people giving back – especially the ones you least expect! A change of heart you know! So great to see!
  • I love the lights – I could drive around for hours looking at creatively decorated houses
  • I love Christmas baking – and not necessarily to eat it...I love how it makes the entire house smell so delicious!
  • I love reading the Christmas story: we read it every year in my family. We go around the circle, taking turns reading snippets. My favourite part: I love when the shepherds hear the angel choir...gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. How awesome it would have been to be there!!!


There’s only one thing I hate about Christmas. I know. Shocking. What is there about Christmas that someone could possibly NOT love? And I realize most people would probably stick with the word “dislike” – after all hate is a very strong choice. But, if you know me, you probably already know what it is I hate about Christmas. I have for as long as I can remember (and I have pictures to prove it). And every year, without fail, everyone in my family tries to help me get over it. Not possible. I’m pretty sure I’ll hate (yes, hate) this until the day I die.

What is it you might ask?



Santa. 




He's creepy ok. Enough said.

:)

October 7, 2010

Still learning

I love how I get into these theme ruts. It’s at those times that I know God is trying to teach me something....hence the reiteration. I’m in a learning rut. Which doesn’t seem so bad considering the plethora of other ruts I could be stuck in. And so I’m learning to ask questions – even when there are no immediate, or simple, answers.

And today my challenge came from 1 Thessalonians (which is quickly becoming a favourite): “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (vs. 16-18).

Excellent verse to have on my mind as Thanksgiving approaches (so thankful we’re having pumpkin pie this year...right Sam?!!).

Enjoy your weekend everybody!
September 27, 2010

Ever wish life was a musical?

If you’re like me, and tend to be motivated and hyped by music, here’s a small warning: don’t listen to Glee music while at work. On more than one occasion today, I found myself singing along......yup......out loud. I’m pretty sure my cubicle neighbours were wondering if I had completely lost my mind. It can’t be helped though. There are certain work days where you just need that extra “oomph” to get you through the day!

Why is music so inspirational?

I love how it has the ability to take you back to a certain memory. I love how it can encourage you. I love how it can bring on bouts of laughter (especially when you’re listening to a song that suddenly spurs on a dance party with friends). I love how people use songs to express themselves.

I always wished I was a great musician. I tried. Grade nine. It was my time to shine. I decided the saxophone was going to be my instrument of choice – and I was going to make it big. I even went as far as to invest in a saxophone. Most people trying out a new instrument just borrowed from the school. Not me. My ambitions were set high. Why borrow when I could buy? Besides – I needed to be able to practice whenever, and I couldn’t have my schedule work around the availability of the school saxophones. So invest I did. Mistake number 1. Then, in all my aspirations, I decided a good way to get more practice would be to join band. I couldn’t read sheet music and had only owned a saxophone for a week, but I was determined. Mistake number 2. After putting my family through horrendous practices in my room (talk about squeaking....I somehow never mastered the whole “wet reed” thing) and trying to play with sheet music (while all the while thinking I was better at just playing by ear), I decided it wasn’t for me. A year later, I sold my saxophone. Dream over.

Since then I’ve tried taking up the guitar, but never have had the time for lessons. I have one sitting in my room. It’s actually from Colombia when my family was there as missionaries. New dream – to someday sit on the back porch of my parents house and have a little jam session with my dad.

Now to begin learning. 
August 17, 2010

Day 1

My heart was pounding as we plunged forward up the hill. The incline was so severe I was afraid we’d tip over and start rolling front to back. “Let us make it to the top Lord. Please let us make it to the top”. I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew the church was poor – and I could attest to that solely from the look of the neighbourhood as we made our way closer. I came only equipped with a love for Jesus and a desire to let these kids know their worth in Him. As we rounded the corner, all I could see were little hands waving in the air – they didn’t even know us yet, but they were waiting in anticipation. The van doors slid open and as my feet touched the dusty ground, small hands were suddenly intertwined with my hands – little legs trying desperately to keep in step with me as I made my way into the church. My heart was breaking – I wanted to pack each one of these kids into my suitcase and bring them home with me. I could only imagine the kind of situations they were experience at home that would cause them to reach out to a complete stranger for attention. The moment that first little hand touched mine, I was determined to put my all into making this a week that would have a lasting impact on them.

Minutes later there I was, legs crossed on the cement floor, balloons all around me, trying my very best to create things: “Espada” “Perro” “Sombrero”. It was hard enough trying to figure out what they were requesting let alone trying to bring it to life for them. After popping at least 6 balloons, and scaring the poor things every time, I created my first dog (“PERRO!”) and handed it to Alexia – who’s big eyes were beaming. As the minutes passed I somehow found my creative niche for balloon designs and was in full production mode – flowers, snowmen, dogs, hats – they named it and I would attempt it.  The farthest thing from my mind was the earlier instructions we had received as a team: “Try not to use all the balloons up on day one”. How could I say no to those big eyes?

Two hours later – with duck, duck goose, a puppet story and a craft under our belt – we found ourselves at the end of day one. It had gone smoother than I had anticipated and I was elated to see just how much of my Spanish had returned to me. I knew the next 4 days would be life changing, I just hadn’t anticipated it being MY life that would be so changed from it. 


My "best friend" Rebecca - she spoke English and would translate for me when I needed it. She was also a huge fan of my camera and would walk around snapping pictures! 

Alexia - sweet little angel!

This little girl named her doll after me

Naomi (girl on the right) was one of the most kind-hearted kids - she was heart broken our last day. 

Rebecca took this one. What a great photographer hey?!

My buddy Carlos

Lupita - so shy and so cuddly. Adored her!


July 22, 2010

I love...

I love the smell of cedar chips (there are two spots on my commute home...I know exactly when they're coming and I quickly roll --- and by roll I mean old fashion crank that window down --- so I can breathe it in).

I love trying a new recipe out. Better yet I love when that recipe is a dynamo success.

I love adventures. I love random jaunts in my boat (yup. I'm a "boat" owner). I love floating down one of our favourite rivers..making up songs...telling stories and just reveling in the beauty.

I love coming across wild life. Happens a lot more to me now that I've moved to the boonies. This morning, I walked out my front door and heard this "thud thud" sound. My first reaction was an increase in my pulse as I quickly scanned around thinking it was probably a bear getting into something. Then I look over to where the shed is, and around the corner comes this little deer...prancing and jumping and going in circles around the shed. He did maybe 3 more loops before he noticed me and then stopped dead in his tracks. Almost looked disappointed that I had interrupted his "play time". Cutest little guy ever!!!

I love how my beater of a car is dying, but that somehow I keep getting to work every day (that's a 40 minute commute each way people). I know it's not luck. It's God looking out for me. He knows I can't afford to fix it or buy a new one. Just living on grace!!

But most of all. Most of all I love God. He never ceases to amaze me. I've mentioned before how much of a blog addict I am. The majority of them have a focus on mindless fashion, photography and the like. But then I occasionally come across one that really challenges me. I love reading those meaningful blogs. The ones where people talk about what they are doing with their lives - how they are serving God in various parts of the world. Those ones inspire me.

On my commute home yesterday I was listening to that song by Hillsong "Lead me to the Cross" - I love the words: "Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss. Lead me to the cross where your love poured out. Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to you". That last line really hit me. I belong to God. All the things that I think are important can't even compare to God. It's hard sometimes not knowing what the next step is (you know me...I get restless and want to do something new...and ultimately I wish I was getting to be working in the field I studied)...but I have to just continue to trust that God knows best. I'm excited to see what comes of my missions trip to Mexico. Who knows where God could lead me after that?

"Our talents are the gifts that God gives us...What we do with our talents is our gift back to God" - Leo Buscaglia
May 20, 2010

Power outages



While most people in the world would be delighted to hear the news announce that a thunderstorm is on the way, I am not one of them. Booming in the sky. Light flashing through the clouds. Not my idea of a fun filled evening. I’d rather watch a scary movie. No. Axe that idea. I can’t even sit through that.

Needless to say, last night when I arrived home to a pitch black house, I was creeped. Yes. I live in the boonies. I should be prepared for power outages. Do I own a flashlight? No. Do I have candles handy and ready to go? No. Matches a plenty. Just nothing to light.

So in I walked, cell phone open attempting to light my path. I thought about leaving my car headlights on, opening the blinds to my room, and allowing that to be my source of light while I waited for Andrew to arrive with candles. Then I thought about how easily my car battery dies. And the last thing I need is a dead car AND a dark house. So i fired up my computer, and sat in the kitchen with it lit. Waiting. Thankfully it was only 15 short minutes before the box, yes, BOX, of candles arrived. We quickly went to town lighting up our kitchen – probably to the point of extreme fire hazard, but hey, one needs light, so “let there be light”!

Seeing as there wasn’t much to do, and it was already 10:30PM (way past my old lady bedtime), I decided to hunker down for the evening – leaving Andrew in charge of remembering to blow out the plethora of candles (danger danger danger!).

The power came back on about 20 minutes after I went to bed – my fan kicked in and woke me up! But I was grateful cause then I could sleep better knowing that when I woke up in the morning  I could shower and look presentable today. Nothing like trying to go to sleep thinking that you’re going to have to go to work with the worst bed head imaginable. Makes you wanna try and sleep lighter on your pillow – because somehow you think that will prevent your hair from getting smushed! But then, in that glorious attempt, you get a kink in your neck and end up looking like a weirdo the next day anyways.

Makes one grateful for electricity. 
May 7, 2010

thank you notes

dear sunshine,

you are lovely when you show up in the sky. you have no idea how much you make my heart sing. i could be having the worst hair, clothing and face day - but still you would make me smile.
feel free to show up more often!

all my love,

laura
April 12, 2010

Lame-o

Heya my peeps.
I'm coming back. I promise. After a stint of strep throat and then of course the Easter holiday, I'm rested and recovered and ready to start filling you in again. Much to share...including a delightful new dish I made.
Stay tuned...in the next few days there will be updates...and the much promised pictures!!!

Tootles!
March 31, 2010

Results...


...my source was 100% accurate (refer back to “Peanut-sized brain post”) – I had not given her a bible. She loved it!!
March 30, 2010

Saga continued...

I have met with my source (you know who you are!) and we are 90% sure there has been no bible giving as of yet. Haha!

An exciting little mystery don't ya think! I will know for certain in the next few days. Take your guesses now! :)

Peanut Sized Brain

Yes. I am little. And with that, I presume, comes a little brain too – or at least my lapse in memory would point to that! It was noticed on my trip this past summer, and since then, it’s been quite impossible to move on from – little girl’s got a short memory span!! I would like to bring to your attention, though, that most of these “forgotten” things would include movie quotes or specific dates that an event occurred – the like of which many would have a hard time recalling at light speed. The really imperative information is stored in an easily accessible section. At least I thought it was. Today, in my attempt to be an encouraging and uplifting individual, I bought a bible for a friend that needed one. It’s beautiful – green and brown with some embroidering on it. I picked a verse that made me think of her and inscribed the bible with a message. Just as I was slipping it back into its box an eerily familiar feeling rushed over me – “Have a done this already?”. Now I remember that I’ve been wanting to do this for some time, but for some reason it feels all too familiar. Of course now it’s too late to return it (seeing as it has a personal message written in it) so I must somehow solve this elusive mystery. Stay tuned. I’ll be sure to let you know how it all ends. 

“Give it a second – it’s going to outer space” ~ Brian Regan 
March 29, 2010

Where has the day gone?

Amidst thunderstorms, rays of sunshine, and far too many numbers, I find myself a measly 30 minutes from the end of my work day! Where has this Monday gone? While I had hoped to accomplish far more, at the very least I have had a chance to update the look of my blog (thoughts? Be honest now!). As with anything in my life, I need a quick freshener every few months - be it hair, furniture arrangement, pictures that are adorning my workspace - you get tired of the old and wanna bring in the new (I guess I better figure this out before I find me a man...otherwise I'll be switching 'em up like nobodies business!!! haha!).

In the world of news, I'm going to be an auntie again! My darling sister, Bex, has a lime residing in her belly. Well. Not just a lime. And it certainly won't remain the size of a lime (although that would make giving birth a delightful piece of cake!). "It" (since they are leaving the sex a surprise) has taken on the name NUBNN (naked unborn baby no name) - pronounced Nubin, and will be gracing us with "its" presence sometime in October. 

And now I leave you with a promise to start posting more pictures! There's just something about pictures that livens up a blog don't ya think!?!

Off to learn how to save lives (First Aid, class 3) - only 2 more days and I'm certified.

See...change IS always happening! and oh how I love it!
March 22, 2010

Daydreaming




It’s a day dreaming kind of day...or week...or month!

Not a whole lot of exciting happenings to report, although the imagination has begun a wild trip down “I Wish” lane – no stopping me now. I’m writing lists and the travel bug has hit me hard once again. On my lunch break today I spent almost the entire time leafing through Lonely Planet guides of Spain, France, Italy and other Western Europe countries. Of course dreams have to start somewhere right?! And expanding your knowledge is step one. You want to travel somewhere, learn about the country. You want to cook exquisite meals, then sift through the recipes.

So besides having an immense urge to once again embark on an adventure to some far off country, I’m trying to find smaller, more manageable dreams to start pursuing. Top of the list is getting in shape for summer. I’ve always been interested in getting more flexible, so I’ve bought myself a Yoga DVD (thanks for the tip Jules) and I’ve been trying to get into the habit (they say a habit takes 30 days so stay tuned on whether I am successful) of doing crunches every night. Plus, I’m up to 5 push-ups. The REAL ones...not the wimpy girl ones!

A second close is finally pursuing what I’m passionate about. I realize that one of the reasons I only stay happy in a job for like 6 months is because I haven’t yet done what I’m passionate about – what gives me a sense of purpose – what makes me feel like I’m contributing and using my giftings. So I’m taking steps towards doing what I feel God has been putting on my heart. Step one: First Aid Certification. I eventually would love to work with youth (whether that be in a school setting as a youth care worker, or at a drop-in center, or wherever else) but almost all require that you have a first aid certificate. So you will be proud to know that I’ve signed up and my class begins tonight. A long 4 hour session after working an 8 hour day, but I’m hoping the information flow will help the time pass quickly. And a definite plus is that we’re required to wear “comfy clothes”. After wearing business attire all day, sweats and a comfy sweater sounds good to me!!!

In the midst of a somewhat dry season of life, I like finding the light at the end of the tunnel. And my inspiration from the day came from a fabulous Psalms: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life”.

I might rarely know what the heck I’m doing, but thank goodness God does – and thank goodness He’s in charge!!

Back to daydreaming.... 
March 5, 2010

A Blog about Nothing in Particular

Bring on the weekend. Thanks to the fabulous organization I work for, we have hailed Monday as “Family Day” and so this marks the beginning (well almost – still 3 more hours of work) of a long weekend for me. There’s something about a long weekend that just makes me smile!

Things I plan on doing this weekend include, but are definitely not limited to:
-sleeping in – oh lordy lord I can’t wait!
-sipping coffee – delicious fare trade coffee, compliments of my daddy-o
-hitting up a flea market - I must give credit to Anne for this one - her idea!! Me = very excited!
-breakfast at IHOP – Anne’s never been. NEVER! Mind blowing right!?!
-Forever 21, Metrotown style
-worship night
-nachos
-cooking – haven’t in a while and NEED to


It is now 30 minutes until afternoon coffee meeting time with my fellow lovely ladies (aka coworkers!). It’s a tradition we have started – and yes, in case you are wondering, we do actually work! It’s great to debrief and share insights and discuss strategies. I tell you – I couldn’t ask for a better pair to work with!

And now I would like to leave you with a few inspirational collages. I did this first one at wordle.net – inspired by a blog I follow -  JeremyandKathleen– they are my inspiration for a lot of things!!!

 And this was one I did a while ago, on Facebook, to commemorate a year of status updates. So funny to look back on things and read what the happenings were! 

March 2, 2010

Addictions

Yes most addictions are unhealthy. Especially considering it’s defined as “enslaved to a habit”. Those four words are chilling. But I must confess something: I’m addicted to reading blogs. I find them so entertaining. My favourite is when you find one extremely entertaining blog that then mentions another blog that is just as stunning in its layout and narrative. It’s a snowball effect. Is it bad that I currently follow sixteen blogs? Although, of those sixteen, only about six are viewed daily. I’m telling you, I have an addiction. But isn’t the first step to recover admitting you have a problem? :)

I have bid my ado’s to a short lived fever – the Olympics! What an incredible two weeks:

-daily checking the medal count
-two weeks of casual wear at work
- seeing the torch in my city
-two epic trips downtown to experience the hub
-clutching a gold medal in my white glove clad hand
-riding the West Coast Express (posh train) for the first time
-seeing Tina Turner live
-proving my dance skills were BETTER than Tina Turners
-a roller coaster of emotions
-the “family feel” – random strangers interacting like long time friends
-free stuff – always a wonderful treat!
-Canadian pride
-a church potluck coupled with a US vs. Canada hockey game
-everyone’s facebook status’ somehow involving the Olympics (I barely remember what they all used to say BEFORE the Olympics came around)
-leaps of joy when our guys dominated the US in hockey

And then, I heard the words of Jacques Rogge as he declared “...the XXI Olympic Winter Games closed”, and as the crowd booed, I listened in anticipation as he called upon the youth of the world to assemble again in four years. Ok Jacques. If you say so. Looks like I’m taking a trip to Sochi in four years*.


*Just a quick aside: I remember four years ago when they summoned us all to Vancouver for the Olympic games – I remember thinking “oh boy. I wonder if I’ll be around for that. I wonder what I’ll be up to”. Once again, I’m left wondering – where am I going to be in four years? I love the anticipation of the unknown! And of course, the best thing about the future is "that it comes one day at a time" (Abraham Lincoln).
February 19, 2010

Red Rover

A childhood game? You know it. To be played only by children? ‘H’ no! The anticipation of someone charging at you, the chant running through your head encouraging you to hold on for dear life, the excitement that spills over when you realize you have once again succeeded at gaining another player for your team – all simple joys that should be enjoyed by people of all ages.

So why the red rover plug? I had the immense pleasure of being involved in an Olympic red rover round – O3R as I’d like to refer to it as. Monumental. Historical. Moving. Inspiring. And of course – Hilarious! Last Saturday I hung out downtown with 14 awesome people – scouring the streets to find the free stuff, exploring the pavilions, chumming it up with fellow Canadians. You have to love how the Olympics creates a family feel in the hearts of everyone – you talk to anyone downtown as if you’ve known them for years. Love the community effect!!

Allow me to set the scene for you – four of us have just crossed the street. The rest of our group was caught on the other side by the red light. While waiting for the light to change to green, Andrew has a brilliant idea – “we should challenge them to a game of red rover”. Done and done! We link hands. Hearts quickening. Excitement rising. The light turns yellow. The light turns red. Their light turns green. We scream – “Red Rover Red Rover, we call EVERYONE OVER”. Tearing from the crowd, a lady in red started charging towards us. Our grips tightened. The rest of our group looked on in horror and amazement. After successfully holding her back, and winning her to our side, we exchanged laughs, and she went on her merry way. Our group got across the street, and the questions started firing – “who was that lady?”, “you guys knew her right?”, “was she a family friend?”. Amidst our laughter, we explained that we had absolutely no idea who that stranger had been, but she had, quite obviously, made our day by joining in the fun!


“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth” ~ unknown
February 9, 2010

Odds and Ends

There is no limit to the benefits that come with being a friend of someone who is health conscious. I strive to follow the food guide – giving my body all the necessary nutrients it so craves – but when it comes to tricks of the trade, Ams is my go to person! I can’t even come close to knowing half the stuff she knows. For instance – did you know that having lemons in your water helps to clean your blood? So from now on, when I ask for it in restaurants, I almost want to say “it’s for health reasons” – cause clearly it is! Who wouldn’t want to shine up that stuff pumping through their veins?

Speaking of red (great transition right?!) – yesterday was a glorious day in history: I got to experience the passing of the Olympic torch. And ladies and gentlemen, the hype is definitely all it’s cracked up to be. I’m sorry to have to inform you all that I have caught the Olympic fever – I should probably stay home for the next few weeks until I’m fully recovered (wink!). It was quite exciting though – Steve (I think that was his name) had such enthusiasm as he ran – he was jumping and cheering and smiling...definitely a top five moment for him! The crowds of red and white just made me smile. The one time that you don’t mind looking like the person standing next to you. The one time you wear red even if it clashes with your skin tone. The one time you high five a person for wearing the same sweater! I can’t wait to head downtown and get to be a part of the buzz – bring on Saturday!


“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow” ~Unknown
February 4, 2010

The Art of Being Cultured

It is possible, no matter what age, to find joy in discovering new cultures – the foods, the traditions, and yes, even the music and dance. My newly discovered culture, or rather newly refreshed love, is India. Can we please begin with a brief reflection on the clothing – I love the colour in the material...so very vibrant and full of life! The sarees are so light and comfy – I’m not sure I would do anything but dance all the time in them! And as for the food – “mm” doesn’t even come close to expressing even a tenth of what it’s like for your taste buds to experience Butter Chicken and Naan bread. On top of all the other reasons to love India, my two kids are from there. Wait. What? I have two kids?! Sure do. Adopted (aka sponsored) little Roma (my 5 yr old boy) about 2 years ago, and about a year ago added my little girl, Ritu (about 4 yrs old). I love getting to correspond with them. Despite the fact that most of our communication is through pictures right now, I love the idea that I’ll get to see them grow up (I have a secret plan to set them up when they’re older...I just think they would be so cute together!). I figured since I was going to be a part of their lives (in some aspect) I should at least learn about their culture. I hope to someday visit them, but until then, I’ll try and experience what I can of India while here in North America.

Who better to experience this culture with than my youth girls! We decided for our group night that we wanted to have Indian food and attempt to learn some Indian dance moves – perhaps even going as far as to make a Bollywood music video. Our night began with a delectable selection of Vegetable Pakora, Butter Chicken, rice, Naan bread and Saag. We quickly found ourselves stuffed, packed up our leftovers (at the suggestion of our waiter who claimed “we deserved it”), and embarked on our second adventure – the art of Bollywood music videos. After watching numerous clips online (thank goodness for youtube), we proceeded to recreate, to the best of our ability and with our own creative additions, a video of the Slum Dog song “Jai Ho”. Three observations I made:

1) It’s a lot of work to dance like those in India
2) Little trampolines are very useful for dramatic effect
3) Four white girls attempting to make an Indian music video is beyond hilarious!!!!

I’m happy to say it was a successful evening. We learned lots. We created awesome memories. And we decided we want to further culture ourselves by trying out new ethnic food more often.

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” ~ Milton Berle
February 3, 2010

Dear...

Dear Blog,

Apparently this is how Andrew (my brother) thinks that I should be posting. So, in honour of him, I’m writing to you. In facebook world today, it seems that everyone was checking out this “urban dictionary” that tells you the meaning of your name and characteristics about people with that name – sometimes a little on the inappropriate side, but other times, quite true. I’ve decided to leave a list of my favourite definitions. You can judge which ones you think are true, which ones you think are highly unlikely, or perhaps share one you think is missing from the list. Nothing like having a blog all about yourself right, blog?! Be sure to check your name out – it’s a great self boost! :)

The name Laura, as defined by urbandictionary.com, is as follows:
-Adorable
-Possibly the rudest person you will ever meet
-Cute
-A beautiful name, in fact, one of the best names ever
-Guys want her, and girls want to be her
-Has many friends
-One of the kindest most beautiful chicks you’ll ever meet. The kind you never let go of.
-A girl who is awesome in every way, can be shy at times and crazy the next (especially when she is sugar high), but is always a fun person to be around. She likes to make lists (too true) and keep everything in order. She loves to be creative with her stories she writes, and takes too many photos on her camera. She loves to hang out with a group of friends at all times. Reading is a pastime, and she barely ever misses a TV show. You will never regret meeting a Laura. Best traits: she can keep secrets when she wants to, can always cheer people and friends up, and knows the right moment when a friend’s in need.
-Doesn’t talk to people she thinks aren’t worth her time
-Loves photography
-One of the most beautiful girls you will ever meet!
-Friendly
-Classy
-Gentle
-Elegant
-The most intelligent person ever!
-Artistic
-A great taste in music
-A beautiful sexy woman that should be treated like a princess at all times
-Amazing hair!!
-The biggest babe ever

P.S. Blog, I just happened to check out what your name meant and thought it was pretty interesting:
-A meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people are interested in their life. Consists of such riveting entries as "homework sucks" and "I slept until noon today."
-A recent and disturbing trend on the internet

Don’t feel bad, blog. I don’t think any of it is true!
February 1, 2010

The Seasons of Life

I don’t normally like analogies. 98% of the time they are too cliché! Guys use car, farming or fishing parallels. Girls use shopping and cooking comparisons. It makes me laugh, especially when the individual is so serious about them. I will confess, though, that there is one analogy that resonates with me – the seasons. I’ve heard people refer to the many different life situations we encounter as “The Seasons of Life” – spring, summer, fall, and winter. Just like with any season, we are always anticipating the next – sometimes loving where we are, but always looking forward to a new time of year.

I’m at a season in my life where I’m learning – learning and waiting. I do love learning things – sometimes challenging stuff, and sometimes little details I never realized. Regardless, new seasons bring growth and I love being able to see myself move forward. Here are a few areas of “growth” that I’ve taken note of. Enjoy!

I’m learning that I will never be ok with eating raw tomatoes.
I’m learning to leave things in God’s hands.
I’m learning that life is one big adventure.
I’m learning that bad things happen to good people – they just do. But with that, I’m learning that God can change even the worst situation into something beautiful!
I’m learning that church politics don’t make sense to me – and I wonder if they ever will!
I’m learning that I love change, but need time to adjust.
I’m learning what patience really means.
I’m learning to budget – so very difficult for me though!
I’m learning to cook!
I’m learning drinking 8 cups of water a day really is good for you.
I’m learning that there are so many different ways to decrease my debt (Norwex anybody?).
I’m learning that it really does matter if I go green.
I’m learning that it breaks my heart when I think about grumpy people – cause there is so much in life to enjoy, why waste it being a grouch?

I'm learning that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.


“You learn something every day if you pay attention” – Ray LeBlond
January 26, 2010

The Art of Life

The theme as of late seems to keep coming back to inspiration and how we all vary when it comes to what it takes to stir a passion in us. Today I’m thinking about art. Perhaps because I have a fabulous new calendar with various art pictures for each month. Yes. I did cheat and look through the entire calendar, but already I can’t remember what February’s picture is – and I’m counting down the days ‘til I get to see it again.

Side note: I love surprises. Rarely do they occur for me. Not because I figure them out (even if I suspected something, I wouldn’t allow myself to come up with theories). I assume it’s because my face screams “trustworthy secret keeper” – I’m always the one that finds out about a surprise coming because the person planning it needs to share with at least one person. So....for me...surprises, when they do happen, make my day!!!

Side note rant over. Back to art.

Another reason why it’s on my mind today is because I recently created an iGoogle page (highly recommend) and one of the aps I chose was “Art of the Day”. I keep being reminded of these artists that I learned about in university: Jean-Honore Fragonard, Joy Garnett, J.M.W. Turner. I remember I took Fine Arts with Becky (my sister) when I was at Trinity, and one of our assignments was to go to an art gallery, find a painting, and sit in front of it. I remember us laughing about how ridiculous an assignment it was. We found a gallery downtown Vancouver. It was really, really small. The walls were white. The air was cold. I remember wandering around for a bit, trying to find my painting of choice – you can’t sit in front of just ANY painting for 20 minutes. Then I rounded a corner. There it was. I couldn’t tell you who it was that painted it. But it was bright yellow and orange. You could clearly see the brush strokes. I sat down on the window ledge. I stood in front of it. I stood at an angle. I’d never looked at art like that before. Suddenly that assignment didn’t seem so mundane. I love how much art is about perspective – your own, the artists, the angle. Life is about perspective too! I’m learning this. There’s always a different viewpoint, another approach. Yet another God lesson. Many a lessons to learn when you’re walking in LG’s shoes!

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle” – Albert Einstein
January 25, 2010

Things that make you go “hmm”

You can’t help but wonder when...

...someone comes out of the bathroom whistling
...an unsavy individual compliments your outfit
...flames ensue during a routine fire safety regulation seminar
..name brand popcorn pops worse than no-name
...people drink Tim Horton’s coffee instead of Starbucks

My absolutely fabulous co-worker, Julie, makes me smile. These are a couple of thoughts that she ran by me this morning. Can I just say there is nothing like a hilarious statement to start your week off! What a breath of fresh air! So the beginning of this post is a shout out to her!


I love God moments. I love it when he surprises me by encouraging me. Sometimes it’s through other people. Sometimes it’s through things I read. Sometimes it’s just a sense of his presence. I love that.

As you might know, I was supposed to go on a missions trip this past fall to the Ukraine. A series of events occurred, and well, that door closed. And I felt sad. There’s really no other word to describe it. Just sad. I was excited to finally get a chance to serve in a country that needed to see God’s tangible love. I was excited to encourage orphaned kids. I was excited for the opportunity to be used by God. And you can’t help but feel like a failure when something like that falls apart – even if the circumstances are out of your control. So since then, I’ve been looking for opportunities where I am, or for the future. I posted recently about how I was thinking about an addictions program and trying to figure out if that would be a route to take. I have since found something more specific to my interests.

In recent years, I have developed a desire to work with young teen girls who are struggling with eating disorders. I’ve seen firsthand the impact it can have – both on the individual and on the family and friends. I loathe the way our society instills in young girls that they are worth more if they are thinner. I discovered last week that a local college offers a degree upgrade course specifically on eating disorders – treatment plans, nutrition, diagnosis. I couldn’t believe how the specifics of this course are aligned perfectly with my interests. God moment? I think so. The job I’m in right now – I love the organization, I love the people, I even love what I’m doing sometimes (haha)...but administrative stuff is not my passion...people are! And I know God has me where I am for a reason, but having this course brought to my attention was like God was reminding me that he knows about my passions, and that I can still pursue them!

And so, I am. I’ve gathered information. I’ve dusted off old text books. And I’m saving now. Maybe this summer I’ll be able to take it. It’s nice to have something to look forward to. It’s nice to know my future is in God’s hands – and it was SO nice to see a slight glimpse of it! I took a step back - and it looks like I got to see just a little bit more of my mural!

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened” – John M. Richardson, Jr.

PS I’m the kind that makes it happen! God gives you a dream – pursue it with all your heart! :)
January 22, 2010

Lunch time happenings

It has become a recent tradition for me to evacuate the dance floor – wait, no...that would be a Cascada song. Not possible to evacuate a dance floor am I right?! Definitely necessary to evacuate the work premises during lunch hour though.

There’s something about getting out in the fresh air, roaming about a grocery store, basically anything to clear the head before returning to work. It’s a healthy tradition I think. I drag my partner in crime along with me for the ride. Sometimes we do work related errands (on our lunch break – I know...that’s how dedicated we are to our jobs!!). We frequently find ourselves occupying the floors of Chaps. Magazines beckon us. Mundane reading. We stare at computer screens long enough during the day to really appreciate the feel of paper between our hands. Shiny paper. Yes. Trees died. We know. And for that, we are thankful because in their own way they brought us back some sanity – even just for a moment. To make it up to them we buy no bags for our groceries and instead carry them all by hand. Just our small way of saying we care about the environment!

And now, I find myself at the mid-afternoon marker. Friday night. Almost time to go home. Weekends excite me. You get to sleep in. You get to clean or bake. You get to hang with friends. If you’re me, you stay up way later than you would on weekdays. I’m just glad that when the whole “work week” thing was established, someone had brains enough to include a weekend. Those of you who work seven days straight are a) crazy and b) my heroes cause I know I’d never survive. One summer I worked at a bottle factory (oh what fun!), and four 12 hour shifts a week was enough to make me thankful for a 40 hour week. Actually, I think I was meant to be a permanent part-timer. Meant to live somewhere warm. Meant to work part-time. Heck, I’d even just volunteer if I didn’t have to pay bills. Someday. Sigh. Someday.

Well these random Friday afternoon thoughts were brought to you by slight boredom. Enjoy. And relish in the fact that it’s the weekend. I know I will be!


“Always strive to excel, but only on weekends” ~Richard Rorty
January 21, 2010

The Simple Joys in Life

Free music.
Daily compliments (that’s to you Julie!).
Random acts of kindness.
People – I could people watch all day.
Homemade aprons (thanks Annie!).
Mangos.
Cookbooks.
Smiling.
Stamps.
Cheap gas.
Free samples.
Flowers.
The ocean.
God moments.
Pictures.
Art.
Pink pens.
Snail mail.
Rock climbing.
Funky kitchen gadgets.
Post it notes.
Baked Cheesies.
Text messages.
Envelope openers.
Elephants.
Lip gloss.
New toothbrushes.
Surprise birthday parties.
Manicure.
Google.
Freshly washed sheets.
New pair of socks.
Girls night out.
Reading by the fireplace.
HIMYM.
Walks.
Road trips.
Starbucks.
Candles.
Scrap paper.
Doodling.
Soft Kleenex.
Splashing in puddles.
Paper airplanes.
The many uses of duct tape.
Hugs.
Freckles.
Sunshine.

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do” – Mother Teresa
January 20, 2010

Self Control

I work in an office. I think I established that already in past posts, but in case you’re reading for the first time, now you know. With an office job, especially when you’re an assistant, comes the somewhat unspoken role of candy provider. Now in recent days, I have been educated on the necessity of having an additional trait that distinguishes you from the rest of the employees you work with (thank you “How I Met Your Mother” for enlightening me on this important matter). You have your “Paper guy” and your “Creepy guy” and your “energetic/talkative girl” ---- the real issue lies in picking your own trait and making sure it’s one that makes you indispensable.

Candy dishes lay scattered around at Focus. My desk is one of at least five places in the office where you can fill your craving needs. I decided early on that I wanted to be “classy/gourmet candy girl”. Forget the cheapo Costco stuff. Forget mints your grandma gave you ions ago. Think Purdy’s chocolates. Think truffles. These are the types of sweets that grace my counter space. It brings a smile to my face seeing the expressions of passerby’s when they realize the luxury that is before them. I love how these individuals attempt to ignore the candy in front of them as they endeavour to finish – or begin – a conversation with me. They know why they are there. I know why they are there. The tension and fake conversation is almost unbearable. But it still makes me smile – on the inside of course – and I let them endure it until they are brave enough to just reach for that truffle.

I must admit though, that while my ambitions were high, I failed to connect the expenses that would accrue. This is especially true considering the vultures that appear from time to time. You know who you are. The vultures are those that come by when I’m not there, sneaking numerous chocolates – knowing if I had been there I would have given them the evil “you take only one or else” glare. There’s no way to prevent the vultures. There’s no cure for the vulture. It’s a harsh reality that us candy dish owners have to come to terms with.

And so, I press on, venturing to maintain my newly established title. I fill my dish with candies in hopes that some low blood sugar individual will stumble upon it and find their life forever changed.


“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending” – Carl Bard
January 18, 2010

I Raise My Glass to You, Marjorie!

Mondays. The “pit” of the week. The hardest day to write a blog by far! The creative juices are stilted because most of my brains energy is being used up to dwell on the weekend – and how I wish it was still Saturday. I envy those (you know who you are) with the flexibility to sleep in on Mondays. One good thing – many holidays fall on a Monday. Oh how this brings joy to my life!

In other, extremely unrelated news, I’m happy to inform you – the whole world – that I’m becoming quite the little chef. To my astonishing surprise, my Christmas stocking beheld a Chapters gift card. Lo and behold, I was able to find a Betty Crocker cookbook to spend that plastic money on. What a find! Not only does it inform me on entertaining basics, but the recipes that are held within its shiny pages are delectable, and effortless.

We are having a bake sale at work to raise money for Haiti, and I volunteered to bring some baked goods in. While I relish in the idea of helping people in Haiti, it was also a perfect excuse to try out a recipe from my new cookbook. The recipe selected? Lemon Squares. Apparently these are difficult to make. My mom informed me that even with the greatest of recipes, they usually only turn out 1 in 3 times. Well let me tell you ladies (and men, if you care) I’m in love with this recipe. I admit, I’ve made it only once - I’ll let you know if this still rings true after my third try. I was afraid that when I attempted to remove them from the pan they would fall to bits. False. They looked breathtaking. Especially considering it was my first time making squares of ANY sort.

Now to give you some history to base your new found love for Betty Crocker on. Get ready for your hearts to be dashed on the rocks – she wasn’t real. I know. Now as you’re picking up the pieces of your shattered heart, let me fill you in. Betty Crocker was an icon trademarked by General Mills. The name was established in order to give a “personal feel” to the product. Why the name Betty? Well, apparently it was viewed as the, wait for it, “ALL-AMERICAN cheery name”. And the last name stems from a director who was working for General Mills at the time. So who was creating all these gourmet recipes? Marjorie Child Husted was the face behind the name. Poor lady – apparently Marjorie wasn’t cheery enough of a name to base an entire cooking brand on.

Well, Marjorie, whoever you are, I raise my glass to you! You’ve changed my life. Thanks for the foolproof lemon square recipe!
January 15, 2010

Para Usted

In the fore-front of my mind today – Haiti.

Not a surprise, seeing as it’s all over the news. A lady from work adopted a girl from there and informed us at devos of some of the tragic happenings at the orphanage. You can’t help but have your heart broken when you think of all those children who are without a home. And the problem is that now, after the devastation, their facilities are so full, with newly orphaned kids. How do you even begin to process this? How do you even begin to help?

Reminds me of when I was a missionary kid – we would try to go and visit the slums regularly. I remember having to look through my toys and pick the ones that I “rarely used” – great lesson in sharing! And then when you get up there, and see the way those people survive day-to-day, you want to give them the toys that are your favourite...just cause you know they deserve it more than you do!

My best memory of this was one year when I had a beautiful, pink frilly dress. I was walking around (no fear – I was in close proximity to the rest of my family) trying to figure out who to give it to, and low and behold this young girl (about my age) came strolling up. Raggedy Anne. Obviously not her real name, but that’s what comes to mind. She was dressed in nothing more than dirty rags. And when I stretched my hands out to offer my pink dress to her, she stood, motionless, eyes wide, confused. I took a step closer and held it out again. “Para usted”. Now let me just clarify one aspect of this story – I loved that pink dress. It was every young girls dream princess-like dress. Not trying to pump myself up, but I think you need to realize the depth of the situation. She was unbelievably grateful. When she finally realized that I wanted her to have it, no strings attached, she went running for her mother. I know she probably wore that dress ‘til it fell apart. And she probably cherished it more than I ever did. I’m grateful my parents allowed us to experience that – because it makes you come to a place where “things” aren’t the world to you – and instead you want to shower those who are less fortunate.

“No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves” – Amelia Earhart
January 14, 2010

Absolutely Maybe

Wednesdays. Hump day. Mid week. Wishing it was already Friday. These were my yesterday thoughts. Something that help me get through the mid week slump is knowing a room full of loud, dancing teens will be awaiting my arrival at 6:45PM in our gloriously entertaining youth room. There’s nothing like creating a tunnel for people to come running through – who doesn’t love to have screaming “fans” yelling your name and cheering for you as you make your way into a room? If only all room entries were as exhilarating as that. And then, when the last teen has mozied on out the door, and the last light has been turned off, and just when I’m about to be sad that the evening has come to an end, I remember that the highly anticipated bounty hunter of the century (my words, not his), Dog, is waiting for me.

Andrew and I have created somewhat of a ritual for what we call “post-youth wind-down time”. It usually consists of some sort of pre-bedtime snack and an edge-of-your-seat episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter. Not only are we taught about how it’s ok to swear and scream in someone’s face and then two seconds later pray for them, but we get to see the ins and outs of the working criminal mind (is it really working?! Hmmm.). Most of the time we kill ourselves laughing at how ridiculous they all are. Our favourite quote of Dogs – “This is absolutely the place...maybe”. Spoken with such authority. Spoken with such certainty. Followed by a incompetent chaser. Oh Dog. How you inspire us to be nothing like you.

So while these thoughts are few, they are indeed from the inner workings of my subconscious. Hope you enjoyed the randomness!

“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day” – Alexander Woollcott
January 13, 2010

A Life Worth Living

At what point during your existence do you finally realize what it is that God wants you to do with your life? When I was eleven I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then I talked to one, realized I would have to be in school for seven years, and vetoed that idea. Of course, if I add up all the years I was in school, I might as well have become one – cause at least then I’d have a profession.

I woke up this morning feeling frustrated with myself for not having picked a major that led straight into a career. This is a bizarre thought to come traipsing into my mind, especially considering the fact that I’m a very spontaneous person. I love change. I love flying by the seat of my pants. So for me to wish that I had a more “set” future is somewhat disconcerting. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what exactly I want, or wish, I could do with my degree. I’ve considered counselling, PRC’s, youth drop in centers, high school guidance counsellor, and the list goes on. Of recent, I’ve been dwelling more on the idea of an addictions and community services counsellor. It’s funny because when I tell people where my interests lie, most respond with: “Hmm. That’s a difficult field to get into. You’re going to have a hard time”. First of all, I just have to say – thanks for the vote of confidence (most of these people are strangers, or people who have only scratched the service, so I don’t feel so bad laying it out there!). I don’t doubt that it takes a specific individual to be able to compartmentalize the different emotions and individuals that you can come into contact with in a day. It is by no means an EASY job – but oh so rewarding! Can you imagine what it would be like, twenty years after you’ve been in that position, to receive a letter from a former client – informing you just how much you changed their lives, how they are back on their feet, how they are making a difference now. It would be worth it, even just to say I helped one person.

By no means am I venturing down this road right now. I’m in the “Hey God, is this idea worth pursuing?” phase. I’m collecting ideas. I’m researching. I’m networking. I’m excited to see what God’s plan is. I was out for lunch today with some girls from work, and one of them, unbeknownst to her, encouraged me so much, just by saying “You’re so young. You have tons of time to figure things out. Enjoy where you are...and let God lead you where you’re supposed to be. Right now you have your nose up against a massive mural. But at some point God’s going to ask you to step back, and then you’ll be able to see the whole painting. And, oh how beautiful it’s going to be!” I’m excited. Did you catch that vibe? I’m excited!!

“Often the real test of courage is not to die, but to live” – Conte Vittorio Alfieri
January 12, 2010

Week two, and still going strong

Culturing attempt number one did not come into fruition. How is it that an entire weekend can pass so quickly? I am pleased to report, however, that I was able to take time to pamper myself.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the spa located below my work, gives away gift certificates to all us employees who are brave enough to park elsewhere – in order to allot more parking spaces to their faithful clients. And so, I braved the storming weather, and parked across the street...thankful that it would only be 10 days before a glorious $100 gift certificate would appear on my desk. I survived. My car, on the other hand, took a major hit. One frightful day I returned to find that someone had broken into my car and stolen all my CD’s and the change from my ash tray. I know you’re probably thinking – “How dare they steal your ash tray money”...RIGHT?! I know. I know. It was a mere $1. But still. That’s my grocery cart money. It’s not often that I find myself carrying a loonie around and so I had made a habit to leave that dollar in the car so I would always have it. I even had the self-control to resist spending it on a coffee. Of course, I was deeply saddened by the loss of my CD’s as well. This is the second time I’ve had them stolen – last time from my Festiva. And what’s worse is I can’t fully remember all the CD’s that were in those cases. Basically, I’m starting from scratch again. Sigh.

Alls that to say – the $100 gift certificate was more than earned and I was excited to treat myself to a little TLC! So Friday evening, Becks and I made our way to Spa Utopia and a glorious hour later, we left, completely relaxed, and sporting beautifully manicured hands.

In the midst of relaxing in the lounge in the back, while sipping a “Spa Signature” drink (apple juice, lemon, a mint leave, and Rooibous tea...so delish), I started to wonder what it is about pampering that causes you to view yourself in a more positive light. For women too, I think we enjoy the idea of getting to catch up with our girlfriends – there were three ladies in the lounge just as giddy as ever. And of course, me and Becks were pretty animated too – at one point Beck had to remind me that “quiet whisper voices” were expected in the lounge. There’s just something about soothing music, dimmed lights, organic dried fruit and the smell of eucalyptus that makes you forget about money problems, relationship issues, work stress – everything fades into the background, and for 60 minutes (or however long you can afford to be there) you revel in the fact that you can be care free. Sad that I can only afford to revel in that fact once a year – but revel I did! And now back to reality. Until next time!

“Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives” – William James
January 8, 2010

Culturing the Uncultured

There is something about living in a big city, or at least near such a place, that innately causes people to explore the possibilities of becoming a culturally savvy individual. And, after having fought with the idea for some time, I have come to realize that I need to embrace the downtown buzz. So, beginning this month, I embark on a journey of transforming myself into an accomplished Vancouver-ite – complete with all the knowledge of the inside “local” scoop. And so my first adventure begins.

I have chosen to drag my sista – Bex – and of course whoever else is willing, along for the ride. There is no shortage to the possibilities that are out there – from outdoor activities, to dining out, to artistic encounters, to shopping experiences – a plethora of opportunities are waiting to be tackled deep in the heart of Vancouver.

When I was in university, I signed up for an art history class. In the beginning it was merely something that fit my schedule, but as I immersed myself in the paintings of Van Gogh and various other expressionistic artists, a new love was forming. I began to see the way art has changed over the years and came to appreciate the talent that God chooses to give people – the ability to create and inspire others. It astounds me how one picture can bring about different responses in people. I love standing in front of a painting and just absorbing the colours and the way it comes to life. Not only am I wondering about the painting itself, but I imagine what was happening in the life of the artist – where was their inspiration coming from? What was their story?

South Granville Art Galleries. The first door waiting to be opened. The first influence into the new and improved, culturally savvy me!

“There is no retirement for an artist. It’s your way of living so there’s no end to it.” – Henry Moore
January 7, 2010

What the World Needs Now

There is nothing enjoyable about waking up to the sound of an alarm clock. There comes a point in everyone’s life where that alarm becomes this invariably traumatizing and dreaded morning event. I think it has something to do with getting to the age where you are expected to be somewhere at a certain time. In the care-free days of childhood, we WANTED to get up early – cartoons were on, there was sugar cereal to be eaten, and it was show-and-tell at preschool! And as the years went by, sugar cereal turned to oatmeal (it’s healthier after all), show-and-tell turned to work projects and nothing was worth getting out of a soft, cozy bed – not even cartoons! Unless, of course, you’re one of those people who has been blessed with an internal clock that brings you to life at 6am with a capacity to run a marathon! Oh how I wish I was one of those people who eagerly anticipated the morning! They say you can train yourself, and I have tried, but then the weekend rolls around, and I’m right back to PJ-ing it up until at least 10:30am. I’m a lost cause!

Since being introduced to the life of blogging, I find myself completely addicted to reading other blogs – even those of people I do not even remotely know! Is this a normal occurrence for a newcomer? It not only helps to fill a dull moment in the day, but it helps to stimulate your imagination and open up the channels of creativity that are just begging to be set free! The greatest thing is that there is a world of possibilities when it comes to blogging and the variety in what people write about is astounding. Stories of heartache, pictures, random facts and “how-to’s”, shopping tips – and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Makes you realize there is no expert in the blogging industry- we’re each our own expert when it comes to our blogs. Doesn’t that make you feel so important?

Now quit reading my blog, open up a new post, and share your thoughts with the world! Someone is out there waiting to be awed by the letters you’re going to put into thoughts! Happy writing!

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
January 6, 2010

Colour Everywhere

Someone wise once told me that the key to happiness is to relish in each moment God gives you – each breath, each conversation, each interaction, each adventure. So this morning, on my way to work, I decided to forget about the need for speed and the rush of everyday life and just enjoy the drive. Let me tell you, unless everyone else who is driving on the road is also in the mood for such reflection time, you better be geared up to get rammed off the road! I was by no means puttering along (though I usually go at least 10km over the speed limit) but apparently even going JUST the speed limit is not good enough for the working business world. Where exactly does this need to race to work come from? Are people that interested in what they are doing for a living that they have to weave in and out of traffic – at 7:30am no less – to get to their cubicles and keyboards? The skies were blue, the sun was rising, colour was reflecting everywhere – was no one else noticing this? Since the “no cell phone use” law has come into place, I find myself with much more “multi-tasking time” available (do people really keep their eyes on the roads at all time?). With no small, backlit cell phone screen to look at, I find myself taking in my surroundings…and this was just one morning where I wasn’t going to let some uptight drivers ruin it for me! While it may seem small (in comparison to, say, bungee jumping), it was still the most adventurous drive I’ve had to work yet!
January 5, 2010

A New Year, A New Blog

So I’ve been inspired to start up my blog again after seeing the movie “Julie and Julia”. There’s something about getting to share your thoughts with the world that seems exciting and at the same time challenges you to become someone of consequence. Who doesn’t want some strangers reading your day-to-day thoughts and getting a glimpse of your sometimes exhilarating, sometimes down-right boring life?

In order to be diligent with blogging though, I’m going to need to do more than just work (cause who wants to only read about the mundane happenings of an office?). So for the year of 2010, I’m challenging myself to take up some good ‘ole fashioned adventures – not just so I have gripping tales to tell, but because life needs adventures!

And so I close this, my first blog entry, with a quote:

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good." - Author Unknown
 

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