quote

I just noticed a sticker that has been stuck to the side of my shelf for who knows how long. I kind of like it...it says:

"I have learned that to be with those I like is enough"

It has begun

...that new "stage of life" where you have married friends.

That is my best friend and her husband during their first dance. Their day was perfect. I bustled, I toasted, I smiled, a danced. I was so blessed and honored to be her maid of honor on the most important day of her life.

This was the first of many weddings I'll attend, over the next year especially. While it's all very exciting and I'm immensely happy for all of them, its weird. Life moves on. We move into new places, new jobs, new relationships. All the while trying to figure out where we fit. What we're doing. Even with the ultimate purpose of serving God, we still have to figure out what the heck we're doing and how to do that best.

Like I've said before, I've only got a year left of "fake life" also known as college. And after that its on to bigger and better things. While I'm excited for it all, I can only hope that I end up in community that I love as much, surrounded by people I love the most. Until then I've got to embrace my life now and while it changes around me, or rather as I change with the rest of the world.

Victoria

I spent about 6 hours on Saturday in transit (3 buses to get to the ferry, a 1.5 hour ferry ride and then several bus rides on the island) to get to Vancouver Island, specifically Butchart Gardens and Victoria. It was a gorgeous day for travel - warm, sunny...you get the idea.

The gardens are incredible! A huge area with different types of gardens in different sections. The tickets are a bit pricey, so only go if you have awhile to spend there. and pack your own lunch because the food in the park is way overpriced. seriously...$6 for gelato. ridiculous.

Another 40 minute bus ride to Victoria was next on the agenda. I didn't know where to go at this point, so I rode the bus until it stopped at the last place and got off...I ended up in the right place. Right in front of Parliment. Victoria is very touristy and very beautiful. It has a lot of British influence which is really visible. I spent a lot of time walking in by the water and in various shops. If you get a chance to go head into Rogers Chocolates for a caramel winter apple truffle. it was a-ma-zing. I tried a little hippie coffee store and relaxed. I also splurged and ate at The Empress for dinner. All in all, I wish I could have been with a travel buddy and stayed overnight to have a chance to do a few more things. Guess I'll have to go back :)

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words I leave you with these...

my lost skill: checking the weather

Living in Arizona I realized that I lost a very important skill I once had. Checking the weather report for the day.

Who needs to check the weather when you know that 99.8% of the time it will be sunny, hardly any clouds, and hot? Bottom line: you don't check the weather.

But pretty much any other place in the world requires this skill (considering you have internet, TV, etc.) For example, today I woke up and it's a good thing I checked the forecast or I wouldn't have known to bring my umbrella. And then today when I got home today I checked the weather for this weekend to see if it would be sunny enough to run around in the park.

Thank goodness remembering how to check the weather is like riding a bike - once you learn its a skill you don't forget :)

PianOrquestra

So every year I guess Vancouver hosts a Jazz Festival for 10 days. It's at locations all over Van and many of them are free!

Today I got to see a fantastic group called PianOrquestra play at the Jazz Festival. It's a group of 5 people playing one piano. It's incredible!

home

I spent the last couple days in Seattle. Which i love.

Seriously, I've fantasized about Seattle for the last two years. I kind of expected to be disappointed after building it up in my mind so much. I was far from it. What's not to love about kayaks for rent, African Dance classes, the Space needle, community gardens, non-profit coffee shops, sun (at least while I was there) and good food? While I sat in bed Saturday night I just reflected on the day and noted how I really felt home in Seattle.

My minimal time there revealed that it is full of lovely people, breath-taking views, and exciting possibilities. I was a little, okay a lot, depressed to have to leave what I grew to love in about two days.

Going back to school for a year is going to be a little rough. I know it's where I am in life and I need to be in that part of my life, but at least I have WA to look forward to now.

picture documentation

Thought I'd add a few more pictures from my time here...check my fbook page if you want to see more...

This is from Third Beach in Stanley Park...
This is a view from the walk along the Seawall in Stanley Park


This is from walk I took on the UBC campus. It's a truly lovely campus


And here is a picture of a near perfect Saturday morning. This was taken in Calhouns...a cute cafe I found.