simply living life

Simplified Change....

2009-03-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking for quite awhile about how to keep life simple - how to not feed the wrong things in my life - how to start again with what I love & feel enriches me - and leave behind what I've started to see just robs me some way or another. Maybe it doesn't make sense to anyone else...but it makes perfect sense because of what i've been thinking & feeling the last while.

Planning to stay tuned in & sharing - but in a bit healthier way for me.

fresh blog www.tamila.tumblr.com
photo site www.tamila.smugmug.com
contact me darentamila@gmail.com
facebook i've cleaned house. i'm still there just far less often.
business website www.deezine.ca

me

2009-02-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

The "list of 25 random things". I was tagged. I ignored it. I kept reading other peoples lists. I got intrigued. I liked where it took my thoughts.

I have a few songs that at any given time i love to put on repeat & listen to over & over & over & over & over ....again.
I consciously battle perfectionism. I know I am one but I really try not to be.
I could eat either pizza or sushi every day.
I thought I'd met the guy I would marry the very first time I saw my husband. That was in 1999 - we got married in 2007.
I cannot get enough of the smell of moist, fresh dirt!
I love being either right smack downtown in a big city surrounded by people - or in the middle of nature w/ no one around.
Swimming & playing the piano are both things I love to do - but hardly ever do right now.
I highly prefer to wake up to a cloudy, rainy day than a blue sky, sunny day. It makes me feel calm inside & out.
I know, I know...dark chocolate is better for you - but give me a good organic milk chocolate bar.
I have successfully gone 28 days without eating "wheat" or "sugar". I plan to go many many many more days.
I would love to be part of a book club.
I regularly get in a mood & i go get a box and start going through and "decluttering" our place.
I spend an average of 20-22 hrs a day with my husband since we both work from home - usually we still can't wait to go on a date or cozy up on the couch together in the evening. Sometimes it hits me just how crazy that is & I feel lucky.
One of my favorite things to do is to go on a walk by myself with my camera.
I was President of the Communication Club at Western Washington University for 2 years.
Plagiarism. Ask me sometime. It's not just word to me.
I could pretty easily stay up till 3-4 o'clock a.m. most nights. I get a 2nd wind at night time.
All I have to do spend a few minutes looking at certain picture of a little boy in my house & I feel better. His eyes are amazing.
A lot of times I feel I'm too intuitive/perceptive for my own good.
In the winter, I like lots of covers on my bed - not for warmth....but for weight.
I'm part of a goal making group. I think it has the potential to change my life.
The idea I think about most from my University time is the Social Penetration Theory / The "Onion" Theory
If I could do anything & be successful at it - I would want to write, illustrate, create books.
I would become a vegetarian or a vegan quite quickly if I knew I could still give my body what it needs to be really healthy.
My close friends, our family, and Daren - they all mean way way way more to me than I feel like I ever express.

my sides hurt

2009-02-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

My friend Kelly had this video posted. D & I haven't laughed so hard in a very very long time!! Poor little guy! He had just had surgery at the dentist.

seeing things

2009-02-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

i ran into a new blog journal today. it was the words, the pictures, the thoughts, the unknown but evident life lived behind this blog...but more than that it was just the feeling radiating from it that moved me. it felt like a little peek into what i'm always thinking and feeling. it inspired me. it made me want to hurry and grow...no more hesitation. it made me want to take up my camera and spend a few hours tonight in the space my love and i spend our time...really seeing those simple little things i look at everyday that make me feel cozy.

a r t i s t . c a r d s

2009-01-25T23:27:00.000-08:00

I don't often write about work on here - but this is probably my favorite little project ever - so I thought I'd share it. A little creative idea was thought, shared, sprouted and bloomed.

It's art done for a friend. Art done for an incredibly singer, songwriter, artist, community leader, motivator, person AND friend that is. It's HER, writing magical, moving lyrics - ME, getting to play a little bit with some of my favorite things - and DAREN, being his amazing supportive, motivating, "make it happen" self. It's promotional jewels for her. It's fulfilling a "make greeting cards" dream for me.

They probably won't make us rich...but they have already made us smile! The dream is that they will be read, smiled at, bought, written in, stamped, mailed, recieved, read, smiled at! Mission accomplished.

Check out Carrie Catherine - !

Find Artist Cards @ Caffe Sola

Find Artist Cards SOON @ deezine.ca (we're in the middle of remodeling our website - check back soon)

Find Artist Cards this SUMMER in Waskiseiu @ EvrGreen Coffee Shop

shared

2009-01-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

a friend sent this to daren & i - knowing we'd love it. we did. awesome.

t h a n k f u l

2009-01-25T22:08:00.000-08:00

i just felt overwhelmed with thankfulness.

thankful that i am in such an incredible, healthy marriage
thankful for a glass full of amazing fresh orange juice
thankful that i have amazing friends who add sooo much to my life
thankful for cozy fires
thankful that we never have a cell phone call interruption
thankful for family who loves us completely
thankful for people choosing to live consciously
thankful for people who learn to be content
thankful for a life where i feel so lucky every single day
thankful for a common goal with my daren to not strive to be rich in anything but love
thankful for a little business that pays the bills, keeps us growing, keeps us close & let's the above be true
thankful for pictures and painting and creative projects
thankful for my coffee every morning
thankful for hope
thankful for real & transparent people
thankful for the smell of dirt
thankful for warm rain that i can't wait to feel again sometime
thankful for memories
thankful for cozy sweaters and blankets
thankful for the best bed to crawl into & pillow to lay my head onto
thankful for ways i'm starting to see myself better
thankful for candlelight
thankful for dreams
thankful for the contentment i feel right now

anniversary 2

2009-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

"perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself."

- antoine de saint-exupery -

can't believe we've been married for 2 years already. can't imagine being more in love. can't imagine how much more goodness will come in the years we get to spend together. definitely still feeling very much like "the luckiest"!

we spent a couple nights at elk ridge up north a few hours. a perfect winter haven. read, hiked, swam, ate amazing food, snuggled up by the fire, soaked up time being cozy together.

xmas, new years & D's 30th birthday

2009-01-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Loved our holidays! Shared a relaxed Christmas with Tyler, Sara, and Rob Shultz. The guys got in the mood to make homemade crepes so Jim Atch., Tyler & Sara zoomed over for a laid-back brunch. We had a scrumptious late supper of lemon, herb rubbed roasted Saskatchewan chicken, garlic herb baby potatoes, green salad, homemade spelt rolls, sparkling apple cider, and fresh creme brulee. It was a cozy, comfortable, memorable time!

Dad & Mom came for a week....Tony came for a week....overlapping their visits for a few days together up North. Got in lots of board games, sleeping in, walking in the snow, amazing meals, and relaxed time together! Seems I forgot about taking pictures I was so relaxed...hopefully Tony will have some he can share with us :)

Managed to snag one picture on D's 30th Birthday. Dad, Mom, Tony & us went out for an early dinner at Aroma to celebrate his birthday before Dad & Mom had to leave. Then on the day we had D's favorite Museo breakfast, a cozy day, and then to Sushiro for a evening of great sushi & cream-cheese stuffed dates with cinnamon & sugar for dessert. Yum.

Good times.

feeling the december cheer

2008-12-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

"remember...that some of life's most treasured moments often come unannounced." (unknown)

we are enjoying all the little moments that this time of year has to offer . . .watching snow fall while we're inside toasty warm, snugged under warm blankets on the couch reading books, sipping hot drinks, trying new recipes, decorating with red, wearing cozy red socks & slippers, soothed by the light of vanilla candles, eating pomegranates, wrapping gifts, eating & "being merry" with friends, stringing cinnamon scented pine-cones, reading holiday letters, creating new year cards for friends . . . remembering that it is the simple things in life that make us smile . . . that, truly, some of life's most treasured moments often come unannounced.

walk

2008-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

about a month ago friend and i were having a really good heart to heart. it turned to us talking about our want/need to be healthy & in shape. this friend shared with me what another friend had said to her when they were on this very subject. he said - "no, you don't REALLY want to...because IF you REALLY wanted to - you WOULD".

i've thought about this over and over again since that talk. maybe those words sounded harsh. maybe that logic isn't always true for everyone is all cases. but one thing i can't deny is those words RANG TRUE in my ears.

daren just read this book. and now i'm reading it this week. it's just a little one. there probably lots of messages in it, but what i got was...that very same little message as i got from my friends friend.

i have a list of dreams, goals, creations - things i want to either do or be. they are things that i feel would help complete who i am. i have this mental & half written list - i've had it for quite a few years now - it grows - i think about it a lot - i set "start dates" a lot - i talk to a few people about it a lot. i feel like i really want those things. OR DO I? why am i not checking them off that "list"...

today i took off on a little walk. computer in my bag so i could work when i got to where i was going. bundled up. took the route through downtown & along the river. quite a bit little less traveled now that winter is here. i felt lucky that i got to be one of 3 people right then chosing & getting to walk down that snowy lane - watching the pieces of ice float peacefully down the river - hearing that one bird singing - feeling nature resting. i loved the thoughts that kept coming into my head. and i had to wonder...what if i gave myself a walk like this every single day - by myself - quietly soaking up nature and mindful thoughts - how would if affect my life on a day to day basis. maybe i'd tune into myself and maybe, just maybe all those things i have on that continual list will start to fall into place. maybe.

my destination. door 1 opened & i was surrounded in the aroma of sweet roasted coffee. yummm. door 2 opened & it was that smell of earth that i adore. hmmmm. where was i ? :)

cozy

2008-11-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

My love had the coffee brewing - my favorite aroma to wake up to!
Big flakes of snow are tumbling down on the other side of these big windows.
I've got the candles burning, slippers on, nice sounds playing.
The feeling is p u r e C O Z Y.
It just feels right to take some extra "enjoy the moment" time.
These are pics are from a river walk this last weekend.
I haven't been so into taking pictures - besides when we are on trips.
For a long time.
Something I've thought a lot about.
I'm going to try to remedy it.
For me.
Because it's something that has always been so me.
Winter had crept up on us.
I'm going to embrace it this year!

FOR SALE

2008-11-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

Seems like time to turn a page in the book.
We're not leaving Saskatoon...but we are selling our loft.

Know anyone interested in living in the heart of downtown?
(*click pages* to enlarge)

just ourselves

2008-11-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

A little late getting pictures off my camera...oh well - better late than never.

halloween - we went as ourselves...well...kind of. The best "lazy man" costume ever! I think we've found our official costume for whenever we have to dress-up :) This was just our trial run, but they are the only 2 pictures I snagged. We cracked ourselves up :)

simply

2008-11-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

to keep things simple. to love the simple things in life. waking up on a holiday - curling up on the couch with a blanket, mugs of coffee and playing a game of battleship. not getting so caught up in everything...but remembering what we love & remember most are those cozy moments with each other & the ones we love.

voting day thoughts

2008-11-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

today is voting day. not in the country i'm living in. but the country i was born in. i have had more political conversations since living in canada for 2 years than i did my whole life living in the US. i have come to care more. i have come to feel more. i have come to fear more...

politics awe me. media awes me. people awe me.

i am thinking how interesting it is that i can feel really close to & respect a group of people so much...and they are split right in the middle by their political views. very definite political views. i was fascinated this morning by the array of emotions and views i read in facebook status'.

i wait...very anxiously...to see what the outcome is of all this political campaigning. all the media. all these people voting today for what they feel so passionately about.

happy october 31

2008-10-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

whole heart

2008-10-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

feeling full & inspired & encouraged & happily different.

"oh, the miraculous energy that flows between people who care enough...to take the risks of...responding with the whole heart."

yoga season

2008-10-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

Yoga season for us has begun again. LOVELOVELOVEING IT! If you don't see us again for a week...it's because we have such sore muscles that we haven't been able to get out of bed....

time to feel lucky

2008-10-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

This time has been good, good, good. Rejuvenating our West Coast selves was needed. Needed because its a continuous reminder of a part of me/us that i love - that i don't ever want to forget or lose. a part of me that i want to grow. i want to thrive. Had some incredibly awesome days and quality time with Ross, Betty, Lynelle, Richard Maxwell, Kelly, Katie, Grandpa, Grandma, Norm, Jen,.....Thetis Lake & Dallas Road walks, Habit & Union Pacific Coffee, StillLife & Natural clothing shopping, Molea - Lady Marmalade - PointNoPoint amazing meals, sitting in front of the fireplace, long talks and chats and heart to hearts.

I love this good life my best friend and I are living! I feel lucky.

j ji jil jill jilli jillia jillian

2008-08-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

belated for janae

2008-08-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

wish upon a star tonight

2008-08-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

today.

2008-08-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Il bel far niente...but reading

2008-08-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading this book. EAT.PRAY.LOVE. I've been hearing about it for a long time from a lot of people in passing conversations. It's a book that I actually consciously paced myself while reading it so that it wouldn't be done too quickly.

It goes to the top of my list.

Definitely wouldn't be for everyone and I guess you have to be open to it - but I loved what it made me feel. It made me want to grow. To be a better person. To love more unconditionally. To learn more about depth. To be the best me i can be. To really find & embrace the things that MOVE me.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9B9zFo4RFw

"Il bel far niente" : The beauty of doing nothing
"l'arte d'arrangiarsi" : The art of making something out of nothing

"So I've started being vigilant about watching my thoughts all day, and monitoring them. I repeat this vow 700 times a day: 'I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore.' Every time a diminishing thought arises, I repeat the vow. 'I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore.' The first time I heard myself say this, my inner ear perked up at the word 'harbor', which is a noun as well as a verb. A harbor, of course, is a place of refuge, a port of entry. I pictured the harbor of my mind - a little beat-up, perhaps, a little storm-worn, but well situated and with a nice depth. The harbor of my mind is an open bay, the only access to the island of my Self. This island has been through some wars, it is true, but it is now committed to peace, under a new leader who has instituted new policies to protect the place. And now - let the word go out across the seven seas - there are much, much stricter laws on the books about who may enter this harbor. You may not come here anymore with your hard thoughts, with your plague ships of thoughts, with your slave ships of thoughts, with your warships of thoughs - all these will be turned away....This is a peaceful harbor, the entryway to a fine and proud island that is only now beginning to cultivate tranquillity. If you can abide by those laws, my dear thoughts, then you are welcome in my mind - otherwise, I shall turn you all back toward the sea from whence you came. That is my mission, and it will never end."

Walking through the door

2008-08-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

after a day of traveling - denmark to iceland - iceland to minnesota - minnesota to saskatchewan......tyler & sara picked us up - with their big smiles meeting us - it felt good to be home! we slept - we woke. then inspired by Denmark, the best bday present I could think of was to wake up and bike with my bud out the Berry Barn for waffles and berries! round trip it was about 10 miles but well worth the sore bums we returned with :) Ran some errand looking to buy a juicer. Came home. Got a migraine. And the rest of the night was spent throwing up & sleeping. Now that's what I call a wicked birthday :)

This morning we woke up at 6:30 nearly good as new - made coffee to fill up our gorgeous Denmark souvenir - went up to the rooftop and sipped our coffee, chatted, read....road our bikes to meet T&S at the farmers market for breaky. Catching up here at home while Daren helps Tyler a bit. About to head to the Asian Market to grab a few things before going to join Sara in making a lovely Thai supper! YUM! Can't wait. Life is good. I'd leave again on another adventure in a second. But....walking through our door - into our home...it felt pretty amazing and good to feel qutie content!

Finishing up Denmark...Christiania

2008-08-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

We are back in Copenhagen. Feels good to end our time with one last day here! Copenhagen will go down as a favorite city.
Such a refeshing awesome sight to see everyone biking...and to "feel" what Denmark is known for...being the happiest place on earth!

We have one destination in mind while being in Copenhange. Christiania. We'd heard about it and seen some book so we were curious and hadn't had time to get there before we left for Czech. Very interesting! It a cool, beautiful place to wander around with a lake right in the middle. Awesome little Vegetarian Cafe's and one of the best latte's we had on our whole trip :)

Christiania is known as Freetown Christiania (Danish: Fristaden Christiania)- a partially self-governing neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares (85 acres) in the borough of Christianshavn in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Christiania has established semi-legal status as an independent community, but has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971. Its open cannabis trade was tolerated by authorities until 2004. Since then, measures for normalising the legal status of the community have led to conflicts, and negotiations are ongoing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christiania

Finishing up Czech Republic

2008-08-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

After our time in Rohonzna - Margie, Daren & I went back to our place in Prague - had time for a great late night dinner at a rooftop restaurant & one of the worst nights sleep any of us had ever had (gotta love the city) - the next day we decided to rent a car and take a day trip over the city of Karlovy Vary which is a world-famous spa town with 12 natural mineral springs (60-73 degrees C). People come there - buy "spa cups" and wander from spring fountain to spring fountain filling up there cups with this hot, (gross) healing, mineral water and sipping it on benches. Pretty interesting! On the drive home we stumbled upon this sweet little town, Marianske Lazne, so we had dinner and a walk around before heading back to Prague for the night.

Our last day in Prague - we took it in - and it was HOT so we ate several popsicles along the way! Margie and I decided the we'd go have a Thai foot massage - which was more painful than relaxing...but there was a fan pointed right on us - so it was worth it :) Daren made the rest of the days plan... We went to the train station to buy Margies ticket on to Switzerland the next day - and met Sarah & Andrea (we'd met them in Austria & knew our trips would overlap again in Prague). The 5 of us took off for viewing of the Charles Bridge one more time - checking out the John Lennon wall (very cool - i think every city, town, village should have a wall like this!) and had an amazing Thai dinner at the place right on the other side of the wall. Wandered. Searching for a coffee & dessert place for Marie & us to spend our leftover Czech Koruna's...and ended the night with the worst cheesecake and iced latte's that could probably ever be made. But hey, the company was great & that's what makes memories! :) A quick night sleep - up at 4:30 to catch the tram - to catch the metro - to say goodbye to Margie as she headed to catch the train & we headed to catch the plane for Copenhagen.

Czech Rep: that family feeling

2008-08-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

These are from our time out in a small country side town in Czech Republic - visiting friends in Rohozna - where there is a small August convention. Our weekend here is a highlight of our trip. Ziva, Wim, Jeff & Debbie, Phyllis & Mervyn, Shanae, and Margie. Amazing to go from really hardly knowing a little group of people...to feeling like they are family. Sitting around the sunken wood fire - sleeping to country silence except for the sound of the fish jumping in the little lake next door - helping with projects - going on walk to the castle nearby - eating amazing homecooked meals - sitting around the table for hours chatting....it hit the spot.

Coming to an end...

2008-07-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

So last Friday we got up really early to catch the 6:00 train from Salzburg back to Prague. It's amazing how you can immediately till when you've crossed back into Czech from the condition of the trains. Maybe we were unlucky - but they were a bit comparable to the trains Daren took in India. So we got back into Prague - had a quick lunch - then took the metro to the edge of town where we met up with Jeff & Debi again - and Margie who's traveling Europe from Australia. (Daren knows her boyfriend , Andrew in Australia so it was cool to make the connection!)The 5 of us hoped in the Michels car and made a 2 hour trip into the Czech country-side to where the convention is & Ziva's. Conv. isn't for a couple weeks - but we were invited to share the weekend. SO AMAZING! Ziva is such an amazing woman. She spent 20+ years living in Washington (went to meeting with my parents before I was born) during the war/communism - then moved back to have convention. So the 5 of us were there with she, Wim, a girl from Sask. who is staying there for 3 months, and an older couple from Australia that have a little house in the village and spend about 3 mo. a year there. We helped with some projects - had amazing home-cooked meals - long visits around the table - some country-size walks to the castle nearby - definitely the highlight of our trip! Sunday evening we drove back to Prague where Margie, Daren & I hung out for the next 3 days - took a road trip to another little town about an hour away from Prague - got Thai food massages - ate popsicles to beat the heat - met up with the 2 girls from US again the last night for dinner - then we all got up at 4:30 this morning to get to our 6:00 trains/planes(no automobiles).

We got back here to Copenhagen at about 9:30 - so had a good day to hang out! Felt cool coming back and having it be familiar here. We got to go see Christiania area today which is something we really hoped we'd have time to do. It's this area/island in Copenhagen that is quite "hippy". Has quite the story...basically it's an area that is escaping paying taxes and lives very alternatively - the government has tried to stop it but it was about 1990 the last attempt was made and that resulted in a riot. We looked a bit at the history but now that we've wondered through there we're going to have to read more about it.

We head home tomorrow afternoon. Not quite ready for the end but....my feet have pretty much had all they can take for awhile so I guess we'll have to go home for a bit to let them recover :)

austria: salzburg & vienna

2008-07-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Pictures from our 6 days in Austria. We intended to go for 2 - but loved it so stayed a bit longer before heading back to Czech. We were in Salzburg the whole time except for a quick overnight trip to Vienna to meet up with Carl Redd. and Sarah & Andrea from the US - a really special coffee & visit with Carl sitting in the heart of downtown Vienna - and then a little ride out of the city to where Wed. Meeting was & where we stayed the night. So obviously we loved Salzburg since all but one of these pictures are from there - - it just felt really good to us.

a.US.t.r.i.a

2008-07-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

So...Austria. It was kind of in our plan - but not really. We wanted to see Carl Reddekopp in Vienna if we could - and it ended up that Tuesday was the best day for him. So we decided to leave Prague Sunday evening on the train for Salzburg - spend the day there and then go to Vienna for Tuesday.

Salzburg is a city that I visited about 5 years ago with Janae & Kari - we were here for only a few hours but I LOVED it and remember standing on the bridge with this feeling...knowing I'd be back. Tto get to come back with Daren has been awesome!

We made a great find - Ante Portas - this cute little hotel/apartment with a awesome lady who runs it. While we've felt like "foreign travelers" everywhere else...we feel so at home & comfortable here in Salzburg. We are loving it! We had planned to stay just 2 night here...but....we have now gone to Vienna & had a great day & night with Carl - and returned to Salzburg and are planning to stay till Friday or Saturday. The joys of free sailing :)

Austria pictures maybe tomorrow - it's too late to add more tonight.

More of Prague

2008-07-23T16:13:00.001-07:00

These are more from our 5 days is Prague. A lot more pictures of the very picturesque parts of the city - and then since it was something we couldn't quite ignore...we tried to get a few pictures that would show a bit of the hardness that we felt all over. We only got a couple pictures so far on that level...maybe more when we return before we fly back to Copenhagen.

On Sunday we got to spend the day with some friends that have been there for 5 years (Jeff & Debi Michels). Both our parents know them - and their daughter was a college roommate of mine. They live in a great little "suburb" of Prague next to an amazing HUGE park (about 60 acres). They manage a preschool with little kids from several different countries. We loved our time with them and plan to spend this next Sunday with them.

We took off Sunday evening on the train for Salzburg, Austria...more on that later....

prague | praha

2008-07-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

how to try to describe prague...praha...?! after day 5 we've talked about it quite a bit. maybe because we're still trying to figure it out. it's this stunning city that takes our breath away - while at the same exact time makes us feel disturbed & like we're looking at an old person who is worn and tattered with having lived a really hard, hard life...

here's the place we're calling home here. and some of the stunning parts we've seen so far...

Our Denmark Road Trip

2008-07-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

We had a week before our flight to Prague. We were trying to decided whether to zip to Norway or Sweden - but in the end decided that we'd love to just rent a car and take a roadtrip and see the rest of Denmark since we'd only seen a very small part of it.

We went to this area where there are chalk cliffs at the ocean edge - gorgeous! - stayed in an old country b&b - drove across the huge bridge over to "Fyn" - then on to "Jutland" - up to Arhus for the day & night - love it there! - the next day made our way to the little Port town of Hals - where my great-grandfather is from - this was the main reason we wanted to trip around Denmark - we thought it would be really cool to visit that little town and get some pictures that we could pass on to my grandma & dad. The next 2 night we stayed with Lone's Aunt and Uncle on their farm - super experience to get to "feel" Danish life! Made a day trip to the moving Sandhills (they move about 2 m. a year) - and to Skagen where you can see the waves clashing together from the 2 different bodies of water meeting together at this point. Then all the way back to Copenhagen in one trip - it only takes about 5-6 hours to drive the whole country - spend the night downtown Copenhagen - had lunch the next day with Maria & Tomas - then off to Prague....

And this is the last Denmark post! MAN taking pictures is fun - we get a little carried away when we are both going at it and everywhere is new and so gorgeous! :) Next up : PRAGUE

Hals : Perhaps the reason I love the rainy coast so much....is because it's in my blood! Such a cool little town & as if by fate, we found our possible "dream" house ;)

Denmark | Random...

2008-07-16T02:15:00.001-07:00

The day after the wedding Michael, Tarah, Daren and I went to Roskilde - a little down where there a Viking museum, huge cathedral, and where there is an annual concert where 80,000 young people from all over Denmark & Europe come with there camping gear for a week! Luckily we were there the day they were all leaving :) Being the bad tourists that we are we only wandered around the museum area and the outside of the Cathedral - but it was a really cool little town - one of our favorites!

A group of us went on a "castle" tour guided by Lone, Bryan and Lone's family. Pretty neat to see and read some of the history. One of the castles is where the Crowed Prince and his family live year round - and where the Queen's summer home is.

CASTLE ONE

CASTLE TWO - (the one that's used)

CASTLE THREEE - (our fav - gorgeous & it had incredible gardens)

Having a awesome time at the Sommerhus with Bryan, Lone, Ryan and Amber - sitting on the beach, eating good food cozy on the deck, playing Viking, chasing the ice-cream truck down - checking out the little town nearby....

A really cool thing - in the cities - most of the restaurants have outdoor seating and instead of big heat lamps - every seat is given a cozy blanket for use during the meal. So we tried to carry that on for our outdoor dining at the cabin...

Off to Prague

2008-07-15T07:58:00.001-07:00

Hej (hi)

We were trying to get up to date with our blogs....but we took too many pictures and got to too many places in the last 2 weeks :) Not a bad thing. But we'll just have to keep making belated posts till we catch up...

We just had lunch with Maria and Tomas here in Copenhagen - they just returned this morning from convention in Norway and were very kind to have us to Tomas's place for a traditional lunch.

We are just now heading to the Copenhagen airport for our flight - VERY excited to take in Prague for a couple weeks!

Hej Hej (bye)

d&t

Bryan & Lone

2008-07-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

The Wedding.
Bryan and Lone got "official" in the morning - in her parents garden...then the ceremony was later in the afternoon. In a beautiful, old church in the small town of Tollose. Lots of singing. I love how the groom & his father sit on one side and then the bride & her father sit on the other...and then after the kiss the couple sits on one side while the 2 father' sit on the other and a final song is sang altogether at the end.

After the wedding all the guests got on a big bus and we went for a tour of a local castle while Bryan and Lone had their pictures taken...then we met them at a gorgeous little restaurant in the country where the dinner took place. Very long dinner and lots of Danish tradition. The first dance has to take place by 12:00 - every time Lone or Bryan left the room ALL the men or women had to rush over and give the remaining one a kiss on the cheek - at the end of the night all the men take the groom and take his shoes off and cut off the end of his socks - all the women are supposed to cut off a peice of the brides vail for a keepsake - and at the end of the evening....after you've already just finished a 5 course meal - you end the night with a bowl of soup and bread.

Denmark | Tollose

2008-07-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

The day before the wedding in Tollose, Denmark - about a 40 min train from Copenhagen - where the Christiansen Family lives.

We took an amazing bike ride through the country-side to this little lake - hiked around it - had popsicles at a store nearby - and then biked back for dinner.

Ena - Bryan & Lone's little niecie - is is absolutely gorgeous!

Learning to play "Viking" - a hit with everyone there!

Amazing dinner in the backyard... long into the night danish-style meal - very cozy!

Some very good days getting introduced to Danish traditions!

Our tracks so far...

2008-07-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

Copenhagen with M&T

2008-07-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

Denmark | Copenhagen

2008-07-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

More Copenhagen pictures...

Funky Prams. everywhere.

Good Kaffe. everywhere.

Dual-flush toilets. everywhere.

Favorite lunch sandwich spot found. cheap(er) and good good good.

Sommerhus blog

2008-07-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Our couple hours in Iceland's Reykjavik airport was great - Daren said it might have ranked as his favorite airport ever - so based on that it just might be a place to revisit.

We got into Copenhagen early in the morning - took the train into the Main Copenhagen station which is right downtown Copenhagen. Wandered around the main square and had supper then caught the train for about a 40 min. ride to Tollose where Bryan and Lone met us and we went back to her parents Karen & Per Christiansen's place. We were really lucky to be there a day earlier than the group arriving - totally blessed with the Danish hospitality! Amazing! Went and spent day 2 with Byan, Lone, and Bryan's brother Nathan in Copenhagen.

THINGS WE LOVE:

The BIKES - they are everywhere! Everyone in Denmark bikes - you see women dressed to the 9's in high-heels and night clothes - men in suits - tons of families out biking - baskets on bikes everywhere - it's so awesome! Most of the bikes just have this one little lock on the back wheel. There are really 0 trucks around so there's not really any danger of someone loading up your bike.

The Danish love their babies to have lots of fresh air so you see baby's in Prams or buggies all over the place - lots of kids zooming along in little front seats on their parents bikes. Love it!

The simplicity & practicality - the thinking about longevity - the mix of tradition & modern! Fashion is very comfortable, practical but with a bit of craziness added in here and there.

Most of the N. American visitors for the wedding stayed in Tollose in the school boarding house where both Lone's parents work - worked really awesome - and they were super kind to have great Danish breakfasts (fresh bread, jams, cheeses) and amazing supper's every night before the wedding. Needless to say we all felt SO thankful because come to find out Denmark is quite expensive! Well, really expensive!

The wedding was gorgeous! I'll do a separate post with those pictures later.

Right now we are getting a bit more spoiled by a few night with Bryan, Lone and Amber and Ryan who are living in D.C. but both from New Zealand. We are at Lone's parents sommerhus (summer house) - chilling - playing a Danish lawn game called Viking - walking to the beach - eating good food - getting some good night sleep :)

Tomorrow Daren & I are renting a car and taking in a bit more of Denmark. We have about a week till we need to be back in Copenhagen for our flight to Prague. Not sure how often we'll run into internet connections between now and Prague - so we'll post as many pictures as we can right now and then...more later :)

What else to say so far....ummm...coffee is excellent :) Hope everyone is awesome!

So here's a real post...

Denmark

2008-07-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

today is the big day. wedding day for bryan & lone!

we've been having an amazing time!

got here fine. had a good 14 hour snooze and then we've been going ever since. spend several days in Copenhagen already - awesome - more on that later. it's been really great to be here before the wedding and staying closer by Lone's family. all the wedding guest are staying in a boarding school where her parent both work - which is quite fun! And really really awesome because it is really expensive here in Denmark!

anyway - we'll do another post later with pictures hopefully - we do have wireless here at the school - we just haven't had much time to get on it - not a bad thing :)

away

2008-06-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

1 day...then we're off

smeaton x 4 days

home x 1/2 day

denmark & czech republic x 1 month

cannot wait for days at smeaton. refreshing...

groom-man bryan is pumped - we're pumped

gottta game-plan in denmark with bryan & lone

booked the czechinnhostel in prague

packing the bag

getting things check-marked off the lists

getting our "away" hats on

feeling amazingly lucky

2 cruiser's on a date...

2008-06-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

crusin' through the best of a saskatoon spring!

pelican's - always a good sign

2008-06-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

A friend has a sign making business here called Pelican Media. His catch phrase is..."Pelican's Always a Good Sign"...

Everytime I see their ads, I think about one of my favorite things about Saskatoon...

Under the Railroad Bridge, by the weir...there are a faithful FLOCK of Pelican's that show up year after year after year after year. Amazing. Always a good sign.

refreshed

2008-06-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

rapid clicking

2008-05-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

number ones

2008-05-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

hi to our moms

2008-05-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

feeling very very thankful for 2 amazing moms! wish we could have shared today with you! love you - d&t

just being

2008-05-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

thrusday a group of us gals went to this place called DinnerRush - really fun - prepping meals to bring home. for friday night we thought we should kick off spring with the gourmet burgers meal on the new condo bbq up on our rooftop deck - so we had tyler & sara over, had some good talks & rumikub games...a great way to spend a friday evening. appreciating them.

today i felt so thankful for my amazing husband. i thought about it often throughout the day. just that on a saturday our favority thing to do is just BE together - being buds. biked, shopped the farmers market, got some fun garage sale deals (shelf & chair), visited habitat for humanity, looked for a tree, had a soup lunch stop, wandered some shops, did some "renewing" around our place together (garage sale good cleaned & moved in & bathroom finally the way we want it), got vietnamese take-out. loving it!

chris just longboarded over for a chat tonight - love those impromptu visits - tomorrows sunday - a good day - dinner planned with some friends - tuesday we go to Phantom of the Opera with Chris & Jill - can't wait to finally see it! Then it's a long weekend....sweet deal!

1st stop: big island hawaii

2008-05-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Took off for the Big Island Hawaii for a week with Dad & Mom, Tony, Ashley's family, Pete's family...beautiful wedding - awesome time! Then to Washington for a long overdue bit of time with a few of the people we love and see far to seldom...not nearly enough time - but we loved it!

pete & ash

2008-05-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

ashely. i can remember her being this darling, little cousin of mine...then she grew into a special, close friend & roommate...then we both flee to foreigh lands for a few years...now i watch her get married to this awesome australian guy named Pete. how time cruises!

feeling lucky.

2008-05-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

daren. one year and five months ago he became my husband.
he's so easy to love and so good at loving me!
i just had this overwhelming feeling of thankfulness for him.

inspired @ hot yoga

2008-05-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

saskatoon feeling good

2008-05-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

Trip to Hawaii & home & to Seattle & Bainbridge Is. was fantastic. I've posted some pics on facebook but will get some posted on here soon....maybe tonight if i last that long.

Just had a really super last couple days.

Friday night was a night of 13 married couples...sharing. from the heart. a very very heart moving night. thank you.

Saturday was a morning to slept in a tiny big. Then get up. Daren went and got his bike that Kelly & Janae so kindly put on the Greyhound bus for us. Went down a few blocks to the bike store to have them put it together & tune it up. We drove to Museo & had a very tasty little breakfast and great visit with a very cool couple. Then went to McNally's bookstore to get some creative inspiration for a project. Drove past a few garage sales scouting for a stool find. no luck yet. On to Tyler & Sara's so they could hop in and join us for a very invigorating hot yoga session. A little take-out sushi lunch. Picked up the bikes and went for a cruise through downtown and along the river....aww - "living" in Saskatoon has arrived again! Home for a bit of work. Dressed up. T&S met us here and wandered downtown to meet up with several other couples for a bus ride out into the small town prairie land...to the Dancing Sky Theatre...great food, amazing play with all Saskatchewan actors, great friends, great laughs. Totally glad we went! Loved it!

sitting in seattle

2008-04-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

just a quick "we are still alive" post.

hawaii was awesome - being with family has been great. right now we are in Seattle & B.B. Is. area reconnecting with friends for a few days before we head back to spend a last weekend with my parents and trip on to Portland to fly home.

just walked down to a little bakery/coffee shop this morning - sipping amazingly good americano's - catching up on some computer stuff while we wait for Katie and Jamie to come eat some late breakfast and play a board game at the place across the street.

loving the green here & the warm misty air - so easy to breath in!

again....we are reminded that life is so good.

(pictures to come when i get a few more minutes to be on here :)

here comes the sun

2008-04-03T11:38:00.001-07:00

a requested update:
days are good. full. we bought a new plant. tony came to visit and it was great! got some exciting news from friends...! tyler & sara are back from there amazing trip - we missed them so are glad they are back. we watch baby-girl lola for an evening. we are reading books. daren's been sick the last couple days. i got approved to stay in canada! working on getting my sin# & health card now - then it's done done done. a morning visit to caffe sola is still very much a part of our every day. i get to play/work there a couple hours a week. we are officially planning to go to bryan & lone's wedding in denmark. wahoo! saturdays we usually sleep in then take a walk down to & along the river to Museo where we enjoy a amazing scone & coffee while reading our books. we can finally go out some days with out a coat on! i've actually worn my flip-flops a day or 2! we've found some new tunes to design to throughout the day. looking at finally replacing my dearly beloved camera that got stolen a while back. maybe we'll find a deal in the states. we are going to visit the sun...the warmth. hawaii for my cousin's wedding there & a wee vacation with family. then staying a few more days around Oregon & Washington to catch up with my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles,... long overdue! running now to meet jill for lunch. then run errands. then...finish up some work and getter done!

that's a quickie :) sure i will have more exciting posts later with some little changes in location...maybe even with pictures!!! :)

OFFICIALLY!

2008-03-22T09:50:00.001-07:00

i AM officially a permanent resident/landed immigrant of CANADA!

(*SO...Ash & Pete - not much can stop us now from seeing you & everyone else in a few weeks on the beach - to celebrate the 2-of-YOU! Happy approaching wedding day! Can't wait!!*)

about time...

2008-03-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

The long awaited letter GOT HERE!

I was approved - I have a interview on the 17th to "finalize my landing"...so unless something crazy happens...i will be "landed" very soon :) I'll keep ya posted...

Now THAT feels good!

hot yoga

2008-02-25T21:11:00.000-08:00

so, maybe it's the "3rd times a charm" thing...but as of tonight i think i have an addiction.

it started a bit ago when chantelle invited me to join her - continued with amanda this last saturday - and tonight with daren, joel & nicolette....

1.5 hours of 32 degree dripping sweat pushing yourself goodness :)

i don't know if i've ever felt quite like do on a hot yoga high...the rest of the day i "feel"...!

feeling deep

2008-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

i have these few songs. ones that i can put on repeat and listen to about 50 times straight (or more depending on which past roommate you ask) and they just get better. they encourage my mind to think deep...and then when i tune back into the music i feel like i'm in a comfort zone...with a favorite tune keeping me company.

that happened today. at the gym, 1/2 way through a little elliptical machine workout & there it came. a music video of a favorite song. he was bundled up in warm cozy clothes, walking on a misty, beach with the waves crashing...just singing away & bringing me in tune once again with the deep thoughts i've been needing lately...

not sure what's with the days - but ever since I got back from holidays on the west coast....i've been in this DEEP mood. most things i ponder about - most things D & I talk about - what we want to feel - what we want to hear in conversations - what i'm longing for - - is depth. i admit maybe i'm being a bit self-absorbed - but it's because i'm seeing that the only person i truly do NEED to change is me. i have this need to really SEE myself. what makes me tick, what makes me feel, what makes me envious, what makes me admire, what makes me need, what makes me grow, what makes me happy, what makes me do things i have to apologize for, what makes me fill with pride, what humbles me, what makes me define good & bad, what makes me cry, what makes me laugh, what makes me feel lost, what makes me feel found, make makes me make excuses, what moves me...

i want to actually reach the goal of being the best me. the me i can be truly content being. i love talking with people that are seeing the need to start on the same journey - i love seeing people that are ahead of me on the journey. i love that i have the best friend i could ever ask for by my side - who loves it when this deep side of me surfaces and who whole-heartedly supports the journey...

the jouney is started - and continuing...spurred on with some good books D and I are both reading. The Continuum Concept & The Dark Side of the Light Chasers - both recommended to us by friends & both amazing thought provoking books!

time . to ride a bike

2008-02-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

dreaming of taking a nice warm bike ride....but the time for that is not today.

"what an unreliable thing is time - when i want it to fly, the hours stick to me like glue. and what a changeable thing, too. time is the twine to tie our lives into parcels of years and months. or a rubber band stretched to suit our fancy. time can be the pretty ribbon in a little girl's hair. or the lines in your face, stealing your youthful colour and your hair..."

(a fine balance : rohinton mistry)

too cold

2008-01-28T19:43:00.001-08:00

just went 2 blocks to the Y - and about froze solid. came back and looked & the weather site says that with the wind chill it feels like -47 degrees (F)!!! It'll be -60 in the morning!

what the heck??! anyone want to come visit :) i' think i'll stay house bound till it starts thawing!

real

2008-01-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

take a few minutes - go watch this video.

inspiration.realness.love.depth.friendship.choices...wow.

"BACK IN LIFE"

tonight it hit me

2008-01-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

i knew it would happen.
that's why i put them up on the wall instead of buried in a box or the trunk.
i've felt the urge creeping up little by little by little
. . . but tonight it HIT.

a ponder slipped in . . .
and before i knew it i had taken 1 of my university books off the wall
and was curled up on the couch getting excited at what i found inside.
FINALLY! - it's not for the grade anymore -
it's something i can't wait to soak my mind in -
it's for the knowledge!

a year gone by - a year ahead

2008-01-10T13:29:00.001-08:00

our 1 year anniv.

habit - where our coffee habit grew fonder this trip

NY's with my brother & justin & family around victoria

Christmas @ Point-no-Point near Sooke

A NEW YEAR:
Daren and I were having an awesome chat with friends one morning at a coffee shop while we were away...incredible chat - the kind that i actually classify under NEED. Not just the "hi how are you" but the kind that you walk away from feeling like you've grown a little bit and like you've truly seen into another person a little bit. That was my new years resolution last year...to let myself be more vulnerably honest. I don't know how i've done so i'll continue to work on that one.

Sitting around sipping coffee that morning, the question was ask..."on a scale from 1-10 where are you on the happiness scale - and why?" As I sat there listening to what the other 3 said and thinking about my own answer I realized some things about myself...things that i've continued to think about - things that i'm going to change this year so that I can with complete honesty say "10".

I love the west coast - it's not home for now - but it's the place I go and feel like i've reconnected with a part of me. i realize how little i let my world become...and it's a time where it's opened up again. it takes only a couple walks on a nature trail hike amongst the mossy trees, and moist dark earth...and i start to see me - the things loved, the things needed, the ways i need to change & grow, and the things to accept - to let just "be". I see dreams & how i need simplicity.

And along with it, this year it felt incredible - getting to celebrate 1 year of being married to the person i just cannot get enough of - the person who is so like me and right for me that it never ceases to amaze me.

HERE'S TO A YEAR OF REMEMBERING WHAT I'M THINKING & FEELING RIGHT NOW - A YEAR OF WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL - A YEAR OF GROWING INTO A 'REAL' PERSON.

the perks

2007-12-18T16:56:00.000-08:00

bags aren't packed.
it's been a down & up busy day.
probably be pulling an all nighter getting stuff ready.

...but we're off tomorrow and we have this good feeling inside!
hanging, dinner-party and slumber-partying with k&j and, well, k&j in vancouver - maybe my brother too, maybe others if there into border hoppin' :) seeing family - relaxing, chatting and sitting around the fire - wander those victoria streets & ocean paths we love - maybe we'll finally visit the mole' & our zen coffee shops.

thank you janae - for that talk a few days ago - for being who you are - for knowing me - for the incredible friendship we've had for 27 years! your on my "thankful list" for this year.

loving this saturday

2007-12-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

Well...we're pouting because our grand holiday plans got smashed - dumb immigration stuff. A little hard to adjust from "yay - we get to go away for a month - get some sun - get some skiing - get some family time"....to "yay - we get to stay home where it's -25 degrees" :) Ah well.

We are having a sweetly relaxing weekend!

Had a really amazing outing to a JackPine Publishing Event with a friend - very creatively inspiring - and then an incredible dinner with a very awesome couple.

This morning - slept in - fixed toast and coffee - started up a 5 hour Scrabble game - had eggs for lunch - our individual bars of camino chocolate, blueberries and tea for a snack - checked hockey stats - chatted on the phone - got closer to each other.

OH and to top it off...look out the window and what should be BOUNDING down the middle of the snowy road in front of our windows....this HUGE rabbit! That was fun :)

the rabbit who made our day brighter

our lovely snowy, cold winter scene

the best chocolate ever...even daren's, mr. i don't like sweets, is addicted and has his very own bar.

eggs w/ sausage, gouda, fresh crushed pepper & Himalayan salt on rice cakes - yum

what makes up a picture perfect saturday...for me

the front of our building

the main entrance of our building...the foose ball table was a good addition :)

us on the stairs up to our floor

written down once - found again.

2007-11-29T19:04:00.000-08:00

definition for forgiveness
the sweet smell of a flower
that's left on a shoe that has
crushed it.

happiness is a journey not a destination
for a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin

- real life - but there was always some obstacle in the way
something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business
time still to be served, a debt to be paid. at last perspective has
helped me to see there is no way to happiness. happiness is the
way. so treasure every moment you have and remember that time
waits for no one.

well vs. fountain
the hardest of all is learning to be a well of affection, and not a fountain
to show people we love them not when WE feel like it, but when THEY do.

essentials
the greatest essentials to happiness are:
something to do - something to love - something to hope for

greatest strength
my greatest strength is that i know what my weaknesses are

your the strangest person
your the strangest person i've ever met she said and i said you too
and we decided that we'd know each other for a long time.

- i love it!

2007-11-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

bambino congratulations!

2007-10-08T15:24:00.001-07:00

thankful walk

2007-10-08T14:23:00.001-07:00

s.a.s.k.

2007-09-20T16:19:00.001-07:00

a few weeks ago. now it's even better with orange & yellow & red leaves.

end of the road

2007-09-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

justthe2ofus. rented an explorer - piled the mattress in the back and as many pillows and blankets as we could find - good talk,tunes, grapes & chicken strips all the way - landed in Moose Jaw and found the perfect spot to bunk out - early morning stroll in town and coffee shop breakfast - on the road again....and the road ended at our destination : the great sandhills

very very cool!

cabin + jill

2007-09-09T23:53:00.001-07:00

family

2007-09-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

Family time at Blind Bay, B.C. Naomi is the most precious little girl i've ever been around! i don't think she has a bad bone in her body :)

soak it up.

2007-08-17T17:56:00.000-07:00

wishing there were buttons like these on our wall that we could :push: and on would come a absolutely terrific fantastic beautiful thunderstorm like we are having right this minute. it's just DOWN-POURING - lightening is across the whole darkened sky and thunder is....well, thundering! we are loving it!

thanks kelly & korwin!

2007-08-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

all the better to lay our heads upon :) thanks!

another year older

2007-08-07T11:48:00.001-07:00

sweet times. thanks!
a little slow on the camera trigger finger....chris & jill, tyler & sara had already left but these are those of us left standing around outside of a late night Earls dessert/coffee party.

lyrics

2007-07-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

"...oh, what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget, but not forgive
Not loving all you see ..."

inspiring me to learn how to:

live good
give without 2nd thought
forget & forgive
love without boundary

computers getting some fresh air

2007-07-30T20:07:00.001-07:00

daren had a ecovillage board meeting this evening at our place...so i decided to have a date with my computer and bike.

i'm sitting at a picnic table
with my laptop
by the river
in a park
listening to the birds chirp,
the fountain a few feet away
& enjoying the evening as it starts to cool down into dusk....

and i'm writing emails, catching up on blogs & stretching my creative side.....all due to the new handy-dandy downtown web services.

maybe it's taking a computer nerd to a new level...but still...

it's pretty sweet

a little time away

2007-07-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

a good few days in salmon arm shared with family and friends - a very hot week! explored white lake with kelly&janae after conv in their little Pao.

drove back to victoria with mom & dad mclean. beautiful ferry ride. a whole week of west coast rainy weather - wandering around downtown victoria - shoppin the shops and checking out the fabulous coffee places!

got to go to kevan and mena's wedding - traditional india wedding. daren went with kevan and kevan's family to india for a grad trip - so it was super neat to be there for that! got to see some of kevan's family again that D met in india.

took the ferry over to vancouver - stayed with kelly & janae in their sweet little place right downtown vancouver - kelly drove from seattle to come spend Monday with Janae and I - much needed girls day just wandering and talking! Met up with Kyle and Jolene a few times for supper, ice-cream and some good chats!

and now...we're home and we're wondering how to live on the west coast while not moving from saskatoon. think it will take us a couple years to figure out. till then we're loving the sight of our place, sleeping in our bed, the sun beaming in the window, cafe sola in the morning, bike rides along the river....and anticipating future times with all those we love!

the thoughts that pop back in...

2007-07-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

i was just packing, cleaning & thinking - thinking about people and then thinking about life, about how lucky i feel and. . . POP. . . this video came to mind that i had watch awhile back. Thankful for how it automatically makes me desire to be less 'spoiled' in how i live and think - to think of others - to live simply.

take a sec & watch it...the thoughts it causes to pop into your head are good for a person!

www.quantumshift.tv

...and oh how they go by like a blink

2007-07-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

6 months (2 days ago) just forgot to make a memory post till tonight

loving this life with my bud