A Year Ago Today....

It was Halloween.

But it was a Wednesday night, (leap year this year) and we were forced to move from a flea-infested basement suite because the landlord lady was going to charge us 2 days rent if we stayed til Friday. We got home from work at 6pm, and had to move everything in our cars. We had to navigate the streets filled with ghosts, witches, dora's and backyardigans to get to the other side of town. We didn't finish til almost 3 in the morning, and had to get up around 6ish for work the next day. We were exhausted, but happy to be in a nice suite with great landlords.

We've never lived anywhere for an entire year as a married couple, so today is kind of special. We feel so blessed to have a great place to live, and even more blessed that we're NOT moving today!!!

Adventures of Hippo

Hippo went camping on the Labour Day long weekend...



Hippo goes hiking!!



Hippo sees a waterfall!!



Hippo takes a bath!



Hippo makes a friend!



Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!



Hippo climbs Mt. Wiggy.



And that was Hippo's long weekend adventure.

Random Sweet Photo

This is just one fun shot I got at Cory and Bethany's wedding this summer. It's the only one on this computer.

For Cory

Cory my fellow photographer friend wanted me to post some pictures of what I've been taking pictures of. I still am learning a lot, and I keep looking back at pictures from maybe a month ago saying "I can do so much better!!!" ... but here are a few from a month or so ago when I got up ridiculously early to take pictures of morning fog.

Just Testing ...

Just trying to figure out how to post pictures that are bigger and more beautiful than what blogger allows. This is Jason enjoying the sunset in Tofino.

Passion World Tour

On October 6, 2008 I got to experience one of the most amazing nights since I became a Christian. I got to attend the Passion World Tour. I hadn't heard of it before, until I happened to hear about it on the radio, they mentioned a conference for young adults. I was really excited about something geared for this age group, because there rarely is anything specifically for us. I was excited to hear that David Crowder was going to be there, as well as Chris Tomlin. I'd never heard of Louie Giglio before.

Jason and I took Monday off work so that we could go downtown before rush hour. We went to Science World, which was a blast! Just before 5:00 we walked over to GM Place to get in line for the doors to open at 6:00. We had to register our tickets and switch for wristbands, so we did that as fast as we could and managed to get in line near the doors. Here's a picture of the lineup: (all pictures were from the Passion blog, I only wish I could be this awesome)

We got inside and found seats in the bowl area (we could've gone to the floor but I honestly like seeing what's happening, and being short on the floor is less than fun.) When it started I had goosebumps, I'd never been to any Christian gathering like this and it was intense! Chris Tomlin came out and sang Mighty to Save, and then "God of this City" among others. He was amazing. Louie Giglio came out and welcomed everyone and we prayed for Vancouver and also for Mexico City, where they had just left a few days before. A few Mexicans made this sign that Louie brought with him to Vancouver:

Apparently this was on the blog, and each city that has people that have been to the blog made a sign for the next city. It was pretty amazing watching the slideshow they showed us about where they had been and how each city played "pass it on" with prayer and donations. Our event was free because the Mexican group paid for us. It was amazing to feel so connected to other believers in the world. Chris Tomlin sang some more, and then Louie came out to talk. It was an awesome sermon, very simple, talking about how amazing grace really is. He has such a passion for this age group and you can tell. Oh, speaking of Amazing Grace, it was really neat hearing Chris Tomlin talk about his version of Amazing Grace - some people had asked him to add to it for a movie, and he was like "What? I'm not gonna be 'that punk' who messes with a classic song!! What, do you want me to add to 1 John while I'm at it?" It was cute, and that song is so powerful, it was amazing to hear him sing it.

David Crowder came out, and I've gotta say, I didn't realize how weird looking he is. At first I was like "Who is this and when is David Crowder coming out??" .... then he sang ... haha! But he's a phenomenal artist and it was so fun to worship with him. Anyone who can play a rock song and then break into a hoedown is fine by me!! :)

We then had a chance to do a shout out for the next city, Seoul, Korea. (A HUGE cheer erupted from the crowd - we have a lot of Koreans in Vancouver!) I didn't realize but on the other side of our wristbands was "Passion Seoul" and the dates of their conference. We were encouraged to flip them over and keep them on to pray for them through the week until the dates they have their conferences (10th and 11th of October). Turns out someone saw on the blog the "pass it on" nature of this conference and made a sign for Seoul too.

The whole thing was just incredibly moving, and although I've attempted to explain, no words could do it justice. It was simply amazing and since then I've just felt so blessed to have been a part of that night. Here's a few more pictures I stole from the blog because this guy was really good. He uses a Canon too. :)

Learning!

OK so I was doing so well before school started.

I'm learning lots. Not only about Infants and Toddlers, but also about matters concerning Christianity and where I stand, what I believe, etc. I have taken to listening to podcasts, radio shows, and reading transcripts of past sermons from various preachers and I must say I have never been so thirsty for knowledge.

Maybe one day I will feel confident enough to post what it is I'm learning and what my thoughts are.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

I've always loved fall, I used to absolutely adore going to school, getting new stationery, pens, pencils... literally I was the Staples guy singing "It's the most wonderful time of the yearrrr!" ... and I was a student. Yes people, I was (am?) a nerd.

I find myself in that place again, only this time I didn't buy new pens and pencils, I bought myself a laptop! It's not the mac that I've coveted from others for quite some time, but it will do... It's a Dell, and it has a swirly pattern on the front, which I think is pretty. I also have a fancy bag to put it in, which is also pretty. What can I say, I like pretty. And it works, which I suppose is what I need.

I also find myself in a bit of a different place than I have been in the past before heading back to school. I'm not terribly excited about it all, whereas in the past I've hardly been able to wait. Maybe because I know what kind of work awaits me, papers, readings, etc... That being said, there is still a bit of excitement at being able to be called a student again. I love to learn, and this new chapter of learning will present a new challenge. I'm taking online and teleconference classes. I've never been a self-motivated learner. I've relied on the awesomeness of teachers to guide me and interest me. This time I'm on my own, (so to speak, my friend at work is taking these with me) and will need to learn some motivation skills, as well as time management skills. I think that's what makes me less excited. I know that one of my greatest skills is going to hinder my progress... that is, the skill of procrastination. I'm really good at that.

My first "class" will be on Monday night, I'll be on the phone from 7-9. I'm nervous, but the commute makes everything ok. Class on the couch in my pajamas, and then to bed. :)

Waiting.

Sooo we had an offer on a place.

Long story short, we were about $4750 short of what we needed for a down payment because we didn't qualify for 100% financing. All in all, it was confusing.

So we're renting.

In Maple Ridge.

Until we buy, maybe next year.

I'm really not that disappointed, other than not having the plasma tv that came with the place we had an offer on, and the fact that we can't get a puppy til we buy...

We considered renting in Mission or Abbotsford, but that just means an extra move in the next 6-8 months, and I hate moving. So, now I will look for a laptop to do my school assignments while I wait for Jason to pick me up from work, and pray constantly for patience while we commute. I don't love waiting, but I'm sure that we'll find something even greater when we're ready.

A Picture In Words...

Because I didn't bring my camera to the Jack Johnson concert on Thursday, I thought I would describe to you the picture I would have taken.

Looking down on Thunderbird Stadium from the bleachers, the ocean of people that grew denser towards the stage and moved to its own rhythm.

The stage lit in blues, reds, greens, and yellows, with screens displaying photographs of waves crashing, flowers in bloom, and a starscape that, as Jack says, look like the "holes to heaven"

You can't smell a picture, but if you could you could smell the puffs of smoke rising from the crowd...

The background would be a beautiful sunset, soft pinks and oranges behind silhouettes of our west coast trees. Clouds speckled the bluish grey part of the sky, a reminder that it was raining only hours before the concert began.

And of course on the stage in his red Culver City Dub Collection T-shirt (they opened for him) would be Jack Johnson, singing all my favourite songs. :)

And THAT my friends, would be my picture of the most fantastic Thursday night this month! :)