Happy Halloween!

2nd Anniversary weekend getaway... a very belated celebration but a good one...

(* Before I get into this post, I just wanted to say thanks so much for all the encouragement on my last post. I really appreciated all your kind words and the fact that you enjoy reading this. I also want to apologize to any of you who took that post as a scolding for not commenting. I didn't write it with that intention at all... please only comment if you want to. I don't necessarily comment every single time I read others' blogs so I hope you don't feel you have to on mine. It was just something I've been contemplating and after giving it some thought, I've realized that I really do enjoy blogging and that it is indeed a great form of "journaling" for me. So thanks again to everyone that stopped by to offer words of encouragement! It meant a lot to me. But now... on with my post...)

I just got back from the most wonderful weekend getaway I've had in a long time. Jon and I never really got the chance to celebrate our anniversary in August so we decided this was the weekend to do it. As you know, we're both huge NBA fans (specifically Phoenix Suns fans) and seeing as Steve Nash is from BC, he arranged to have a special pre-season game against the Seattle SuperSonics at GM Place, rather than in Seattle. Jon found a GREAT deal at a downtown Vancouver hotel, so we decided to make a weekend of it and stayed in after the game on Friday night. We stayed at the Century-Plaza Hotel & Spa, which was only a few blocks away from GM Place, as well as hop, skip & a jump from Robson Street. Vancouver isn't really that far from home but it was so nice to get away from familiar surroundings and just enjoy a lax schedule and lots of "us" time. I feel entirely refreshed. And blessed to have such an amazing husband.

We got to Vancouver early enough on Friday to check into our hotel before the game. Much to our surprise (and delight), they had upgraded us to an Executive room at no charge! The room was very spacious and had a great view of the city...

The view...

And the hotel lobby had a very contemporary, fun feel to it... I really liked the decor...

Friday night's game was fun but a little disappointing as the Suns lost to the Sonics. We did have fantastic seats though. We were in the 23rd row from the floor and on a corner so the view was pretty good. This picture is taken without the zoom, so its accurate as to how far we were from the "action"...

3rd man in from the left is the very talented, Steve Nash...

Vancouver at night...
it was so nice to be able to walk to and from the game, without an umbrella :) We had great weather!

Saturday was so relaxing. We slept in, grabbed lunch at a quaint little Thai place on Burrard St., perused the shops on Robson, enjoyed some Starbucks as we flipped through books at Chapters, and caught a movie at the theatre in the evening. SUCH a good day! By the way, Steve Carrell was fantastic in "Dan in Real Life." If you like movies that warm the heart, this is a must see!

(Looks like Jon should have worn his glasses :) )



So now I'm back home and ready to start another week. Jon stayed in Vancouver for the evening because his best friend Tyler came down from PG and got them box seats at the Canucks game tonight! Jon was pretty excited as you can imagine... not too many people get to enjoy a Canucks game in that kind of luxury. Well, not 'our kind of people' anyway :)

I'm not so sure anymore...

I'm going to be perfectly honest... I'm starting to wonder whether this is really worthwhile anymore. When I first started blogging last year, I wasn't so sure that I'd enjoy it or even have anything to say. But then it just clicked... and I realized that I really did enjoy writing. I enjoyed the thought of knowing my friends and family far away would be able to "keep up" with what was new in our lives. I enjoyed getting comments from fellow bloggers and smiling at their encouragement and input. I enjoyed something as cheesy sounding as "blogging." :)

But now I'm torn. And as silly as that might sound to some of you, its true. I can't lie that it has been a little discouraging lately to find that almost no one stops by here anymore. And if you're sitting there right now saying, "But I do!" then I'm sorry, but I have no way of knowing that. I'm not saying that people are obligated to say hi or comment on every insignificant thing I may post about, and I'm certainly not writing this to start a pity party (I mean, really, this is blogging we're talking about... its no big deal). But I've really started to question whether anyone even reads this anymore. And if that is the case, then who am I kidding... what's the point?

I wasn't going to post this because the more I read over it, the more pathetic I felt about what I am saying. Maybe I'm just in one of those moods today where everything is getting me down. Perhaps I'm just having an off day. Maybe its not "blogging" that is the issue. I don't know...

Maybe I just need to get some food in my stomach :) And with that, I'm going to eat dinner. Sorry for the rant everyone. Perhaps I do need this blog... even if its just to get things off my chest...

Much Ado about Nothing...

I've been feeling the need to post, and yet, every time I sit down to do so, I completely blank out. I have no idea what to write about. Perhaps its due to the fact that I have been spending a lot of my time off at home. I really thought with less work hours, I'd have lots to talk about. Apparently, not the case. Oh well... I've started now so I might as well go with it...

I did have an awesome Friday night with my Dad though. Jon and I got Dad tickets to see the Canucks for his birthday and I somehow managed to get "nominated" to go to the game with Dad :) Neither of us had ever been to an NHL game so it was a pretty special thing to experience together. Unfortunately the Canucks lost (and to the Kings... talk about disappointment!) but it was still an exciting game to watch. I've been to a lot of professional sporting events but the volume and "fan loyalty" in GM Place on Friday night was definitely more intense than I thought it would be. All in all, it was a really great experience and I was thrilled to have spent it with my Dad! Love you Pops...


As for my time off, its been really nice so far. I haven't done a whole lot but its been very relaxing and I feel like I've caught up on a lot of sleep... if that's even possible. I will be going in to work tomorrow and on Wednesday, but that will be it until my boss gets back on Nov.5. There just isn't enough to do at the office. Guess I'll have even more time for "coffee dates" than I had originally anticipated :)

One thing we've been loving about our new house is the location. Erich & Naomi are just around the corner from us so we've been spending a lot of time with them lately. And seeing as Jon and I would both admit to being somewhat "addicted" to our niece and nephew, any time spent with them is a very good thing :) Here are some fun pictures & videos of our evening with the kidlets...

Ava smiling for the camera, as usual...

This is Konrad's "CHEESE!" face...

Wrestling with Uncle Jon...

Ava was too busy watching the fish to smile this time...

More smiles... as you can see, Konrad is really concentrating for this picture :)

Cuddle time...

Naomi and I put Ava's hair in a ponytail for the first time tonight... isn't she cute!?

"CHEEEEEEESE!"

Konrad discovered that Uncle Jon serves quite well as a human jungle gym...


And Ava discovered that ceiling fans can also be quite entertaining...



Well, this actually turned out to be longer than I had anticipated so I think I'll go join my hubby on the couch for a little TV time. Have a great week everyone!

If only for a moment

Today was just one of those days. One in which I would have given almost anything to go back to a place I once called "home." Even if just for a moment. Just enough time to take it all in and remember what used to be. Those were good days...

African Children's Choir... LIVE in Chilliwack :)

The African Children's Choir is coming to our church, Central Community, this Sunday, October 21. If you live in the area, come join us... we have 9:30am & 11:00am services and they'll be performing at both. See link for directions to Central. I can't wait... these kids just warm the heart!!

Hope to see some of you on Sunday!

A truth that really hit home for me today...

"Nothing is so blessed as quiet, unbroken communication
with our Lord. The sense of the Lord's nearness,
which then fills our souls,
is greater than any other peace, joy, inner satisfaction,
or security which we have known."
- O. Hallesby -

Autumn update

I wouldn't normally post while I'm at work but its turning out to be a very boring afternoon. My boss is away on holidays (yes, again) and there isn't much for me to do, so rather than just sit here and twiddle my thumbs, I thought I'd try to come up with something to write about.

Our pace of life is finally slowing to a rate that I feel I can keep up with. The last few months have been a whirlwind, so I'm looking forward to a less intense October and November. As I've said in previous posts, my job has been "go, go, go" for the last few weeks, in preparation for my boss leaving on holidays. It was busy but still fun and I'm glad that we got everything done while she was still here so that I don't have to be stressed out now. She'll be gone for about a month and to be honest, I'm actually really looking forward to some time off. Its not great in the whole "financial dept." to have a bunch of time off, but I feel like I can use some "me time" after the month we've had. I'll only be working Tuesdays & Wednesdays while she's away so if anyone wants to hangout, please let me know--- I'm sure I'll have more than enough time :)

Jon has been busy with all kinds of reno jobs and will be starting a big commercial framing job in the next few weeks. He's really enjoyed a slower pace too and its been so nice to have him around in the mornings before I leave for work, and coming home to him at the end of the day. The latest "breaking news" in his life is that he has been officially named "head coach" of the Sardis Secondary Senior Boys basketball team. He's been itching to coach for quite a while and finally decided to be proactive about it. So he got in touch with the Athletic director at the local high school and asked if he could get involved. It just so happened that they were looking for a head coach and Jon was "exactly what they were looking for." They're having their first 'open gym' next Wednesday evening so Jon can meet some of the guys that will be trying out. He's SO excited about this opportunity (as am I!!) and we can't wait to see what God has in store for him and the team. I may even get the chance to help out a bit with practices and am also looking forward to getting involved with sports again. Both of us have missed team sports a LOT since we left college. Should be a good season!!

I feel like I have a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks. Jon and I are going for a little weekend away on Oct.26-27. We're just going into Vancouver but it will still be nice to get out of the 'Wack for a few days :) There is a special NBA game in Vancouver that Friday night--- the Phoenix Suns (our favorite team) will be playing the Seattle SuperSonics so we're going to stay the night at a downtown hotel. That way we don't have to drive home late on Friday after the game and can do some shopping/relaxing on Saturday. Then the next weekend, Nov.1-3, I'm going to Seattle with Jon's mom, aunt & sisters. Aunt Lori is coming to visit from Edmonton so we thought we'd do a girls weekend while the Canadian dollar is so strong (our dollar is finally worth more than the US!!) I'm really looking forward to it... Seattle is such a great city and it will be fun to do a weekend with "just the girls." :)

Other than that, not much is new. We've really been enjoying the crisp autumn air and all that this season brings. We are having our first garage sale in our complex tomorrow so I'm hoping we can get rid of LOTS of junk and clear out our basement & garage a bit :) Its supposed to be gorgeous & sunny tomorrow... I sure hope they're right!

(pictures taken last autumn at our place in Rosedale)

Happy Birthday Naomi!

We love you and hope your day is absolutely wonderful!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We spent the afternoon "harvesting" pumpkins at Mom & Dad E.'s farm...

Jon found Ava her very own "baby pumpkin"...
... she was so proud to have her own little pumpkin...


Mmmm... nothing like a raw squash covered in dirt... :)


...And then there was Ava's story about the pumpkin patch :) Listen and enjoy!