Reflections of...

Reflection from flickr

I love living in this city. The Canucks are playing in game 7, first round of the playoffs and they just scored in the 3rd period to go up 2-1 - you could hear people all around us shouting with joy! It's brilliant! Of course, if they were playing badly, everyone would be dissing them together too.

I was going to write about how crazy life has been lately, especially at work, and how I'm working hard to remember what's really important and not dwelling in the chaos too much, how I'm feeling overwhelmed and pulled in too many directions all at once, but I don't really feel like doing that now. I'm so grateful for my life, no matter how insane I might feel these days. I have a great job in a wonderful organization, surrounded by some brilliant and fun people. I'm learning a lot and there's even a possible promotion on the table -I haven't felt like I was in such a "right" place for a long time. It feels good.

The best news of late is my R getting his residency!!!!!!!! How excited are we?!! It only took 6 months for this part, but it all started over a year and a half ago. I can finally breath now. It's hard to believe how much of my thinking space that whole process and everything connected to it took up! He can stay in Canada forever now, so we are finally able to start planning and even executing future plans - what a concept!

We bought bikes too, so we're loving having wheels and riding around the city. It's so nice to come home after work on a nice sunny day and go for a ride along the seawall. And if riding to work on that doesn't get me in shape, I don't know what will!!

It's good for me to remember that work isn't the be all and end all, even if I like being there. That I am allowed to make mistakes and feel overwhelmed. And that life is happening all the time, and I don't want to miss a thing.

Grateful Friday!!

from Flickr

I so need a grateful list this week, whew. I just got home from a trip up north for work and we got completely stranded because of a spring snow storm!! We ended up having to take a bus home, as it was the only thing moving...I am now back home, 21 hours later!!! What a trip! It was insane and we totally didn't expect something like that to happen. We knew we were in trouble yesterday when we were telling locals that we were meant to be flying out and they just laughed at us. I'm just so happy to be home, out of my winter gear and going out for a walk in the beautiful spring sunshine of Vancouver!! Yes, sunshine! I too am in awe.


We were up there preparing for our program trip on May, trying to sort out some last minute details. I am going to be coordinating one of the communities, so it was really important for me to go and meet people and get a sense of what it's going to be like. Unfortunately, because of the unco-orperative weather, most of the stuff we needed to sort out in my community didn't get done. Oh well, it will all come together, have no fear! I'm going to be well burnt out though by the end of it. But it was so amazing to see how excited everyone was about us coming up there and how helpful they all are. It's going to be brilliant!
On another positive note, we got some great news this week - Rich got his permanent residency for Canada!!!!!!!!!!! Can we say excited?! I'm sure you all heard our collective sigh of relief, at last. This is fantastic and we're going to celebrate with a Canadian themed party sometime soon, so we'll post some pics then!


This week I am grateful for:

• my home
• the sunshine
• where we live
• the beach
• the people I work with and what we get to do
• this book and her website
• my body being able to cope with a long ride in a bus
• having a sense of humour
• my iPod - saved me!!
• the sunrise I saw between the mountains somewhere on our way back down to Van
• getting to see my R soon!!
• his residency coming through!
• talking to old friends
• babies
• fresh fruit and vegetables
• home cooked food - no more take away, please...
• my brother and his family
• my boss' husband giving us a ride home
• not having to go into work today - had one day in the office this week!
• getting to experience different places
• being part of an arts program
• our landlords cooking us dinner tonight
• going to a benefit show in a really cool bar tomorrow night with new friends
• my bed....I cannot wait to get into it

Have a great weekend everyone and take time to be grateful for all the wonderful things in your lives too!

Grateful Friday!

untitled by rosemary from flickr

Another week done and dusted, thank goodness! I've been feeling tired and aching for some sunshine and spring-like weather. Luckily, here, it isn't subzero temperatures and the cherry blossoms are out, the buds on the trees are pushing through, and you can almost smell it coming in the air...somewhere under all the rain.
This week I'm grateful for:

• R surprising me at work today with flowers and taking me out for a drink
• sleeping in tomorrow
• cherry blossoms
• my yellow rain boots - I call them my little rays of sunshine
• my sister - it's her birthday today
• another session done at work
• being busy
• voices on the other end of the phone
• my little transition group of 4 year olds - how cute are they?!
  the people I'm surrounded by everyday
• getting excited about my work trip up north
• Julia Cameron's new book
• knitting!! (we're doing it together!)
• getting to go to the movies this weekend - seeing this I think
• fresh fruit and cottage cheese
• going snowshoeing last week and getting to the top!
• having my sister visit
• planning a weekend away for Easter
• learning to look at the world differently
• my gym pass
• my new shoes!! how fun are they!?
• getting some down time

Don't forget to change your clocks ahead this weekend!

Grateful Friday

I haven't done one of these in ages, it's time.

This week I'm grateful for:

• my R and his strength
• that he's going through all this immigration stuff for us
• my wonderful job
• being busy
• my bed - hopefully I'll have some quality time with it this weekend
• the people I work with
• my new support system
• possibilities
• our recordable DVD player
• wine, wine, wine
• learning how to have faith that all will work out
• the love of Valentine's Day - not all the crap that goes with it though!
• my parents - both have tumbled on the ice this week, sore and bruised
• our camera
• Silvina and Mariano
• cottage cheese and fruit together
• leftovers - so I don't have to make lunch every night!
• Friday Night Lights
• Grey's Anatomy - but if they kill off Meredith, I may not be able to watch it anymore!
• our webcam
• not living out east in the cold
• the sun we had as a surprise on the weekend - we played tennis!
• my health plan to cover prescriptions!
• my friend Jo for always emailing me
• steamed milk with sugar free vanilla syrup
• hugs at work today
• the Brits on tv last night
• where we live
• being loved

Have a great weekend!

Lessons I'm learning

my bike!

There are a lot of lessons swirling around me these days, once again. Probably the same ones that are always there, trying to get my attention. Learn to let go, learn to live one day at a time and not project into the future, learn to trust that I can handle whatever I need to, learn to let go of the outcome. Always coming up, just in different forms, different situations. R's residency application always gets me stressed and there is absolutely no reason to be worried. Worrying about the health of those close to me when I cannot do anything about the future. Getting sad about the state of the planet and the polar bears who are losing their ice. Worrying about making a mistake, or not having enough money, or not being able to get pregnant when we want to, or having to move away from Vancouver before we're ready - it goes on and on like a broken record sometimes. I've probably even blogged about these very same lessons and issues!

I'm learning that worrying does nothing but waste my energy. I'm learning that taking things one day at a time helps to keep them from overwhelming me. I've learned that I can tell myself I'm not going to worry, just for today, and it works. I'm learning that the outcome is not up to me, but that I can believe the Universe is friendly and hope for the best. I'm learning that I have a very powerful mind and if I can train it to think more creative and positive thoughts, that the fear and anxiety may have nowhere left to live! I'm learning to keep things from funneling down a negative spiral all the time - especially since there is no reason not to believe things will be alright. I'm learning to believe in possibility.

I am learning that learning to let go is the most important gift I can give myself. I feel like this is my chance, right now. This is my chance to let the lesson sink in, that its ok to let go, that its safe to let go, that if I can let go (of his residency, of the future, of my fears) everything will still be ok.

How do you let go? what works for you?

Winter Blues

winter on Flickr

I know it's not even February yet, but I am so ready for winter to move on. The darkness and dreary-ness and perpetual gloom can go away anytime now! It's so hard to be motivated and inspired when its like this - does anyone else find that? We've tried to stay busy by going up to the mountains and visiting with friends, but both of us are feeling the winter blues this weekend.

I've been extremely busy at work, a shock to my system after a quiet couple of weeks before the holidays. It's brilliant, I thrive on being busy, but it's been a big adjustment. I had my three month review this past week and it went very well. I am officially an employee now and get to go on the health plan! I love that I have so much variety in this job, and new challenges all the time. I've actually been asked to help run one of our major projects done through our office, so that makes me feel even better about work. Like I'm doing something right. I kept wishing I would find a job where I was busy - I guess it's arrived!!

I've lost touch with my creativity a bit lately as well, but have plans to start knitting again. My mom taught me when I was younger, but it's been years since I did any. My goal is to make baby blankets for all my friends who are pregnant - there are three now and counting!!(How exactly did I get to the age when my friends would be having babies and I'd be talking about having my own?!!) I get home from work and its dark and I'm tired and creating ends up at the bottom of my list. Everytime. I would like to change this. And soon.

The one thing I am doing to help my mood is exercising regularly. I've been at the gym 4 days a week on my lunch break. It works much better that way, putting it in the middle of my day instead of at the end. I've even started to find a few others to workout with, to help keep each other motivated. Yesterday, I made it to a salsa aerobics class, which was brilliant! I didn't even notice I was exercising! I will definitely go back to that class.

The days are getting lighter, so I have that to look forward to. It's up to me to change things, but that always feels the hardest. I'd love someone to come in and entertain me sometimes, take care of it all for me. How do you stay inspired and motivated in the winter? What helps get your creative juices flowing??

List of Loving

by komal soin from flickr

I was going to write a post about getting fit and eating better and staying motivated, but can't really be bothered to go there today - might not be a good sign! Instead, I decided to make a list of some of the things I'm loving these days, from books to music to food. A way to see the positives in my life, not focus on the things that make me negative.

I just finished The Birth House, by Ami McKay - fabulous! About midwives in a small community near where I grew up in Nova Scotia during the first World War. Just so addictive and such wonderful characters. Go read it!

Also reading Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour, combining my love of travel with my love of food - another great Christmas gift!

I'm reconnecting with my iPod with tunes from Razorlight, Kasabian, Oasis, Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Madeleine Peyroux, Gilles Peterson's Brazil and many more. (Yes, I see the English theme there, too!) Looking forward to the new Norah Jones as well.
I'm loving spending time in the kitchen, trying new things, working with different spices and tastes, seeing what I can come up with. My goal is to try a new meal at least every two weeks - from all our cookbooks and sources this should be pretty easy!

I'm really into not drinking coffee, even though I've been on decaf for years. I am loving trying different types of tea instead, finding ones that are healthy and uplifting through their flavours instead of sugar.

I'm loving spending time with R, as always. Even sitting and watching the NFL playoffs - I know, that surprises me too!
I'm loving the webcam revolution my family has started. I get to see their faces every week now, it's such a treat. And our friends from all over the world as well, it's wonderful. It helps us to feel closer in our little corner of the world.

I'm loving spending time with my friends at work. We've been talking about babies and food and plans to have game nights and group snowshoeing excursions.

I'm loving that I love my job.

I'm loving that the sun is staying up later and coming up earlier - even if we don't see it behind the clouds, I know it's happening!

And I am loving lazy Sundays when I get to finish up some loose ends around the house, take care of my snuffling R and give myself a food spa.

Life is good. (knock on wood.)

Happy New Year 2007!!

by snorkeldaddy on Flickr

Another year winding down, another about to kick off - how does time fly by so bloody fast?! This year has absolutely flown by, full of many amazing moments and moments of pondering and learning, too. Time to do some yearly reflections - thinking about what I've accomplished this year and who I've become, about who I want to become before our next new year's eve. 2007 is already fully booked with family visits and a trip to England in December - it's a bit daunting really! Maybe we'll get married or pregnant in there as well. All in the works so watch this space!
Swirly Girl suggested choosing a theme for the year . 2006 was my year of Creativity - I definitely opened my mind up to a new way of thinking and am loving that my creative side is awake again. I can't wait to see what I come up with this year. I can't decide what theme I'd like for 2007 - I'm thinking of it being My Body, being more loving and accepting of it while also taking much better care of it, getting it ready for babies - but for some reason that feels like a selfish theme. Or another way to beat myself up or get negative - but I guess that would be what I was working on, right? What's your theme for 2007 going to be?

A few of my favorite things from this past year have been:

Getting Engaged!!!

R getting his work permit

Little Miss Sunshine

Pride and Prejudice (I discovered it this year)

An Inconvenient Truth

Nacho Libre ("Nachooooooo!")

The Birth House, Ami McKay

books by Isabella Dusi

My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult

Casino Royale

Discovering Grey's Anatomy and Friday Night Lights

snowshoeing

going up to the mountains

summer in Vancouver

working on Granville Island

our time with R's parents

seeing my family's faces on the webcam (first time in a year and a half!!)

my new bike!

painting

rediscovering knitting

laughs with our Argentinian friends

I could go on and on, but dinner is calling. R is making homemade lamb korma and it smells divine. I got him a curry cookbook for Christmas, so he's trying it out. Even using a pestle and mortar! Yummy!!!

I hope 2007 brings us R's Permanent Residency, new levels in our own relationship (wedding and baby planning), more fun and experiences at my wonderful job, and lots of time with our family and friends. Happiness and health and laughter galore. And the same for all of you!!

Happy Christmas!!

Happy Holidays everyone!! We hope you are having a wonderful day with your family and friends. We're off for a walk in the sun while it's here, then back to talk on the webcam with our families all afternoon!! Chili and Lime Roast Chicken's on the menu with roast veggies and fresh pineapple for dessert. My mouth is watering already.
I'm missing my family, but being able to see them on the computer is helping a whole lot. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday where ever you are!!
We have the fireplace station on the tv, so it feels all cozy in here!! love it!

Happy Birthday...

To my Love. How lucky am I that he was born today!! I don't know where I'd be without him. My support, my shoulder, my entertainment, my sound board, my creative counterpart, my Mr. Fixit, my warm fuzzy, my travelling companion, my partner in crime, my Richard.

We're off out for dinner and to pick up some Christmas/Birthday packages at the post office!! This is/was the same day as my Grandmother's (Gan Gan we called her) birthday, so it's nice to know I will always think of her.

Many happy returns!!

Loving the box again

I am giddy over TV. This hasn't happened for years, but there are actually a couple shows on right now that I cannot wait to watch each week! Tonight, it's Friday Night Lights - I LOVE this show. I feel like a teenager again when I watch it, but it is so much better than the old BH 90210 type shows I watched then. It is a show that I think is well done, in the acting, the story lines, the way its shot - it's original and totally addictive! If you haven't seen it yet, it's on NBC and is about a small town highschool football team. The whole town is completely obsessed with football and the lives of their team. We get to see what happens with the coach and his family and with certain team members. The first episode, the star quarterback ended up paralyzed, I almost gave up there, but it has completely reeled me in. I even get excited when I remember its on while I'm sitting at work! What is going on!!?

I am also enjoying Heroes, another NBC newbie. It too was one I wouldn't have bothered with, but once I did, totally hooked. Of course there's Grey's Anatomy as well, something I got into over the summer and still am a big fan. I totally zone out when these shows are on, Rich can be talking to me and I honestly don't hear him. I'm so becoming my mother! We even got a bigger tv just so we can enjoy it more - I can even see properly now with my glasses on!

I am not a reality tv fan, never have been, so I'm very happy to see new shows popping up that are brilliant to watch. That are interesting, that help me detach from my own reality, but that also make me think.

I've heard that Ugly Betty, Men in Trees, and Sisters and Brothers are good shows as well, so I may have to check them out too. CSI is always a goodie, but we're not staying up that late these days. I think because its the winter, I love cuddling up on the couch after a busy day, being entertained, and ignoring the rain, dark, and cold that's going on outside.

What do you like to watch? Or what's your favorite distraction from winter?

Fun in the Snow!!

Winter has always been something I wish I could avoid-I don't like the cold or the ice or driving very far in wintery weather, I even lived in the southern hemisphere for a few years just to avoid it! But this year we decided we were going to embrace it. And we even decided this before we got our unusual snow storm last week!! We wanted to go up into the mountains more often, to escape the rain and bleakness down here, go cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and take advantage of the fact that we live within 30 minutes of 3 different ski fields. After talking about it for weeks, we finally made it on Saturday!! We hopped on the shuttle bus to Cypress Mountain. They have a Nordic centre and a downhill/snowboard centre. We got all kitted out in our cross country skis and headed out. We were surrounded by beautiful blue skies, bright sunshine, trees trembling under the weight of all the snow (250cms!!), and we could actually see back down to the city once the clouds finally lifted. It was magic. I had cross country skied when I was younger, but it was Rich's first go at it and he loved it! We laughed so much, he was crying at one point he was laughing so hard. It wasn't too hard, but was definitely a great workout and we cannot wait to go back up again! Snowshoeing will be the next adventure. I had no idea how much they had evolved - I had the old fashioned wooden ones in my head, but now they are quite fancy. I even have a few friends at work who already snowshoe, so this could even turn out to be a way to make more friends! Imagine that, winter in a positive light, I can't believe it!!

Let it snow!

Sitting inside, the smell of our roast dinner filling the apartment, and it's snowing outside. It's absolutely beautiful!! I'm not a big fan of winter in general, but it's great here because I know it's not going to last! We can enjoy it for how peaceful and pretty it is, and know it will be raining in no time. I love Vancouver!!

Had my Christmas party last night at the Tiki Room - it was brilliant! I work with some fantastic and very interesting people. We had to leave to go to a wedding reception for friends who had gotten married in Jamaica last week, so we were social butterflies for a change. It was great to see so many people, but so weird in those environments because you really never get a chance to talk to anyone or make plans to see one another again. So bizarre.

We got a webcam a couple weeks ago, so all our friends are getting to see us all over the world - they all want to buy one now! I love technology! It might actually make it feel like we aren't so far away sometimes. I know at this time of year, I'm wishing my family was closer or that flights were much cheaper. They should have special family rates so we can all see each other more often.

Have a good week everyone!!

Soggy days

The word of the month so far in November in Vancouver has been rain. Or maybe wet. It's been phenomenal. We've had almost 250 millimeters of rain in two weeks - that's more than we've had in the past 6 months combined!! It's been a bit of a deluge. We're used to just rain, straight down, not too heavy - just consistent. This is incredible! Puddles galore, checking out everyone's rubber boot fashions, building up strong arms from holding my umbrella up all the time, and now we're dealing with a boil water advisory. The water has turned all cloudy and brown, so they don't want anyone getting sick if there's more than just dirt in there. We can't drink it, brush our teeth with it, or wash our fruit and veggies with it. They hope to have it sorted out by the end of the weekend - but we're expecting another storm here on Sunday. They are calling for 110mm more, in one day!! The sediment in the water is coming from landslides near the resevoirs - not good for the people living on the lower part of the mountains on the north shore to hear the land is giving way. I figure if we can survive this, the rest of our Vancouver winter will be easy peasy! We're going to get into cross country skiing as well, to find a way to escape all this wetness. The ski hill's are even open already, so maybe we'll go this weekend!

Our weekend will be filled with indoor projects - making our Christmas cards, me doing some paintings, nice roast dinner on Sunday, going bowling with our friends tomorrow night, writing letters, reading, long movies (Lord of the Rings), and staying warm and fuzzy as much as possible. The sun won't be back for at least a week, so we might as well accept this for what it is and enjoy it. I'd much rather have this than -10 degrees Celsius and snow already!

"Singing in the Rain" is actually on tv tonight - how ironic is that?!!

Invisible Blogger

Yes, it's me, I am alive! For some reason, blogging has been put at the bottom of my to do list lately. Life is great and I am busier than I can remember, so this medium isn't as vital to me anymore. I am still reading everyone else's posts, but just don't have the time to do my own. Work is amazing, I'm loving everything about it!! The people are wonderful and being busy is so much better for me. It's incredible how different my whole life feels now that I'm content in my work life. Amazing difference. I feel more confident, more capable, more settled, more in touch with the world around me. But I also feel tired from using my brain, from actually working 8 hours a day. When I get home, I'd much rather cuddle or curl up on the couch or read a book or cook something comforting than sit back down at the computer. I now know why I never got many emails from my friends- working takes a lot out of you and when you are at a computer all day, you don't want to be at it all night! In my old job, I had nothing else to do all day, so blogging was my savior. And I am so grateful for finding all the wonderful women I have through this arena, but I think I need to do this differently now. Step back from it and see what I want it to be for me, what I hope to get out of it and put into it. My grateful lists and sharing photos and stories are my favorite parts, so that will continue - just more sporadically I think. I'm tired of feeling like I have to keep up - I'm going to do it my way.

Phew, don't know where that came from! I celebrated my 4th anniversary with my R this week - he surprised me with a huge bouquet of flowers at work. They are gorgeous. I am so lucky. I love him more everyday. It feels like it's gone by so fast but also like we've known each other so much longer than that. Our office was re-organized this week, all new desks and a new configuration, which has made the space much more pleasant, but was quite unsettling. Change is good though. Winter is coming and I'm ready for it this year. I want to make soups and comfort food and cuddle under the duvet. We're planning on going cross country skiing this year, a way to escape the rain and to get some more exercise into our life. The snow is a little while away, but having something to look forward to in the winter is a treat! What are you going to be doing this winter?

Weekly Wonderments

the Inukshuk

Mixing things up a bit this week. Grateful friday needed a change-new time of year, new approach. A chance to look around me at not only what I'm grateful for, but what leaves me in wonder, moments to remember.
Last friday night was a chance to catch up with our good friends, and we filled the night with lots of laughter and stories as Spanish and English mingled around yummy food and sangria. The weekend had me working Saturday night at an art auction, which meant shopping for a something to wear, and we hit the Noodle Box for the first time - so so good. A wet grey Sunday meant a lazy morning in bed, more comfort food, and cuddles on the couch.
Monday came up quickly, back to work and reality. Yoga was much needed and much enjoyed, as was coming home to dinner waiting for me. I managed to get there twice this week, which made my body quite happy. The week was full of learning and lunch with friends and co-workers, while being surrounded by such beautiful fall colours. The air has changed, its so fresh and crisp now, I love getting to bundle up again.
The week flew by and Friday night meant a stagette for a friend who's getting married next month. We had a great dinner and finished the evening with a pole dancing class, which was brilliant!! I want a pole in my house now! Lots of laughter and glasses of vino, great women bonding time.
R and I spent yesterday outside walking around enjoying the sunshine, having lunch together, soaking it up. We're off for a hike today with hopefully a hot chocolate at the end. I am going to take some photos of the beautiful trees and enjoy the fresh air.
(Wow that was hard to write, change isn't easy! It might help me pay more attention this week, though!)
What has left you in wonder this week?

Adjusting and finding balance

I'm in a transitional phase. Things are good, very good in fact, but adjustments are being made on every level of my being. I feel so comfortable at work that I forget about the enormous learning curve I'm on. Being busy is new for me - something I've never had to really deal with in my work life. I am loving it, don't get me wrong, but I have a lot to learn about balance and keeping myself separate from what I don't need to worry about. I'm still testing the waters and forget I'm only in week three - wow. My job is continually being re-defined and will probably always be that way- organic is good. I want to believe in my own abilities, to trust I can do this, to allow room for being human and making mistakes. I hope I can find a balance between my work life and taking good care of myself. Caring about my work, but not becoming consumed by it. I have always heard other people talk about work taking over their lives, about losing control, about not having enough time to do the things they enjoy, but I thought I'd never be like that. Now, having a new perspective shows me how easy that could happen to anyone. But I would like to remember to make time to create, to go to yoga class, to have a bath, to spend with my R, to make friends, on and on. Anything's possible if you find the right balance...right? All of this is new to me and I'll figure it out. Being busy is such a gift - believe me, I know that! But, I am adjusting.
How do you find balance? What keeps you in tune with your own needs?

Grateful Friday!!

from flickr

This photo was too cute, I couldn't resist!! I'm feeling a bit tired myself. I had my first big function at work last night and even though it was an early one and I was working not drinking, I was still a bit fuzzy around the edges today. It was only the preview party as well - the art auction is on Saturday night. I am carrying art on and off the stage for the actual live auction, so a bit nervous about that. Except that it means I don' t have to get a dress! I will be all in black and that I can manage quite easily. It's so nice to be around people - I'd forgotten how good that feels. How much energy I get from it.

This week I'm grateful for:

• my R - came home last night to dinner waiting for me and he was taping Grey's Anatomy (which I had completely forgotten!) how sweet is he?!!
• my job
• the amazing weather continuing
• my new jeans (first pair I've bought in over 5 years!)
• getting mail today
• my sister being ok, her husband's away in Taiwan for 2 months
• pumpkin loaf from Starbucks
• finding good organic coffee on Granville island that isn't Starbucks!
• the fall colours
• the Pumpkin regatta this weekend back at home (my parents live across the street from the Pumpkin King, Howie Dill...a story to share later!!)
• the weekend being here
• going out tonight with our friends we haven't seen in weeks
• good emails from friends
• not living in Buffalo or Southern Ontario (it snowed 60 cms!!)
• Madeleine Peyroux's new album, Half the Perfect World
• new music on my iPod
• comfortable shoes
• cold nights
• the sound of children's laughter
• R's parents getting home safely and saying how much fun they had with us
• being invited to my brother's for Christmas this year - so hope we can go!
• new art supplies
• getting to see some amazing art work at the auction
• I'm not in special events - they work so hard!!!!
  What are you grateful for?!

In Awe...

Today I'm feeling in awe of the world around me and my life - and also feeling overwhelmed by it all. I'm in awe of the beautiful weather we've been having for months. I'm in awe of the incredible colours on the trees and how vibrant they get everyday. I'm in awe of the feeling of having a job I enjoy, how different it is. I'm in awe of the life and creativity on Granville island, where I get to go to work everyday. I'm in awe of how events get put together (big fundraising art auction this weekend for our organization). I'm in awe of hormones and what its like to work with all women. I'm in awe of how much I am in love with R and how even after almost 4 years together I still get all mooshy just thinking about him. I'm in awe of how much fear I carry around in a day, in a moment, all the time. I'm in awe of how big the world really is. I'm in awe of how many different people there are in the world, how many different ideas. I'm in awe of how easy it is to fall into patterns that aren't good for us, and how hard it seems to create patterns of things that are good for us. I'm in awe of how much I miss my family. I'm in awe of the silence of a bird flying across the water. I'm in awe of the amazing amount of colours the sky creates for its sunsets - and we've had some real doozies lately. I'm in awe of how fast my mind goes straight to worse case scenario. I'm in awe of artists and their abilities to create works that make me gasp with wonder. I'm in awe of the changing seasons and how drastic, how fast it can feel sometimes. I'm in awe of my own joy. I'm in awe of change and how good it is, yet how disruptive it is even when we are enjoying it. I'm in awe of how tired I am at the end of the day, now that I am actually working. I'm in awe of how long my hair is. I'm in awe of how into my favorite tv shows I get. I'm in awe of how many choices and decisions I have everyday. I'm in awe of how lucky I am. I'm in awe of my beautiful life. I'm in awe of wonder.

I'm feeling like I've got tons of things I want to blog about now that I've had a hiatus, just hope I can find the time. I know, it surprises me too - I have a life!

Grateful Friday!

Friday already, wow! I love being busy! My new job is wonderful. I have been busy since I sat down on Monday morning - a brilliant feeling. And it doesn't look like its going to stop anytime soon either! Everyone is very nice and I love the energy in the place. Being on Granville Island is such a treat as well. I'm sure I'll have something to moan about in the future, but for now, I'm going with this feeling of joy.
I got my bed back last night, heaven!! The inlaws left yesterday and we are loving having our home back. We did have a good visit though and they were so nice taking us out for dinner a lot and buying us new clothes and even got us a George Foreman grill!! So sweet. Who knows how long it will be before we see them again. Sigh... everyone is so far away.
This week I'm grateful for:

• it being a long weekend and us having absolutely no plans!!
• my new job and everything that goes with it
• my Richard and some time alone
• his parents and our time together
• that they got home safely
• my holidays
• fall colours - so love the red
• my commute
• cool nights to cuddle
• my sister in law - its her birthday today!!
• my parents getting a new car
• Friday Night Lights (on NBC) - its got me hooked already
• Grey's Anatomy
• yogurt
• hummus full of garlic
• letters in the mail
• our camera
• my new clothes - so comfy! especially my new hoodie
• being happy
• being busy!!
• being tired from work - a new concept for me completely!!
• good wine
• Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks
• my new hair dryer
• sleeping in my bed again...did I say heaven already?

Hope everyone has a great weekend and Thanksgiving if you're Canadian!!