Music, friends, coffee - what more can you ask for on a Saturday night?

Last Saturday night Aaron and a friend, Mitch, played music at a coffee shop. It was a fun night and alot of our friends came out to listen to him. Our friend, Wes (who is a super technology whiz), even recorded him. So if you are interested in Aaron's "live" album, it will be in stores soon or you can click here to check it out! Enjoy the tunes.

Have I mentioned yet how we are so blessed by our friendships here in BC? Well we are...and this upcoming move is very bittersweet.

Why I love Thursdays

Because my friend, Krista comes over and we watch
Survivor and The Office.

(Here's an oldie, but goodie picture of us from our first year of grad school! Boy, we look young!)

"Honey-Do"

Aaron and I are living in two different worlds right now. I am a woman of the day and he is a man of the night. He gets home from work as I am getting up for the day and our bed is occupied about 14-15 hours a day. The smell of sleep lingers in the bedroom. In order to stay somewhat connected, we have taken to communicating through notes, or "honey-do" lists. In two of Aaron's notes to me this week, one of the items that he has asked me to accomplish was to "write me a love letter." And I am the lame partner who had to be asked TWICE to do it.

Dear Aaron,
You really are an amazing husband, and so often I take you for granted. Like the other night for example, you were washing the dishes and you started to wash my water cup, but I snapped at you and told you that I wasn't finished with it yet. Then you graciously reached in the cup to remove a floatie, in which my response was "I'd rather have a floatie in my water than your dirty mitts." The look on your face immediately snapped me out of my attitude! Thanks, I needed that.
You are a great communicator - you not only listen to me, but you share your thoughts and feelings as well. You love well. You crack me up. You are creative - your latest endeavor proves that. You celebrate the little things...like last night we went out for a really nice dinner to celebrate our tax return! (And you told me to get anything I wanted!) You are laid-back and aren't easily angered. You work hard to provide for our family. You love God - alot. I am so blessed to be married to you. I thoroughly enjoy being with you. I can't wait for the weekends, and I'm so glad that today is Friday. See you after work! I love you!

So, now I can cross "write me a love letter" off of the "honey-do list." But know that what I wrote is completely from my heart. And I would've done it even if you hadn't asked....eventually! :) PS Don't you just love this photo???

Ode to The Justy

Good-bye, dear Justy. You have served us well. At first you were hated, but now you are loved. You took us to California, accompanied us on our random road trip through the South and up to Ohio, and of course faithfully brought us to BC. Oh, Justy, if only you could speak...the stories you could tell and the sights you would describe. May your afterlife be just as full! You will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Friday's deep thoughts

Things here at work have been awfully slow lately. It's probably because finals are over and graduation is tomorrow. This week the "good-byes" have officially begun. I have had to say good-bye to students that I have worked with this year and some other students whom I have grown close to over the years. It's so cool to see how these students have changed and grown. Their thinking has shifted and they have gained more confidence. As I have observed their growth, I recognize that I too have grown, and as much as I like to think that I have played a part in influencing and shaping them, these students are really the ones who have challenged me and shaped me. My time here at Trinity Western University has changed me. My calling has been refined. I feel called to work with college students and help them find their voice and their path. My motivation is never very pure, however, because as I "help" students find voice and find their path, I in turn find my own. And besides I like to think that hanging out with students keeps me "hip" and helps me forget that I am almost 30! Some days I really do feel like I am only 23 or 24!
So this BC chapter is slowly being closed as I gradually say good-bye to people, places, and things. I'm glad that I take my changed self with me into the next phase of life. I can't imagine who I will meet and how I will continue to change!

Earth Day Challenge

I have been thinking alot about the environment lately and how much we waste in North America. In talking with a friend about my concern, she challenged me to do something about it. So this year in celebration of Earth Day (which was on Sunday, Apr 22), one thing I decided to do is to not go to coffee unless I have my mug. I know this sounds minor, but I think about the wasted coffee cups that I alone produce and you know, it really adds up. (Although it probably makes me sound more like a coffee addict than anything else!) It has been a few days since I've started and it's not that hard, it just takes a bit more effort and thought. On Sunday when I was out with a friend, I actually decided not to get coffee on our way home because I didn't have my mug...now I'm not just saving a wasted cup, but money too! Not too shabby!


Check out the Earth Day link above to discover other simple ways to do your part in reducing waste and saving energy. It's as simple as taking a shorter shower everyday, starting a compost, walking or riding your bike when possible, and avoiding products that have alot of packaging. (For example, I just bought toilet paper from Costco, which on a side note I'm beginning to believe is from the dark side, anyway, every single roll of toilet paper was individually wrapped inside of the big package which creates ALOT of unnecessary waste. No more T.P. from Costco, Kate)

I have moments where I get super overwhelmed and wonder what only one person can do to change the mess that we are in...but if we all do something little and play our part...just think of the positive impact we can make! God has created us a beautiful earth and I want to take care of it! Now come on, isn't this is exciting!?!?

The first post

So, I always thought that you had to have kids, be the "creative" type, or slightly self-consumed to have a blog and since we don't really fit under any of those categories on our good days, why are we starting a blog? No good reason, but we simply thought it might be fun! (Okay... so maybe we ARE a bit in the self-consumed category)

So thus begins our blogging life as we document our measly attempts at maintaining balance within a sea of change. Welcome to the mess!