in pieces

Home is a funny concept these days.  Home is where I am.  Being content and peaceful with where I am.   It's funny because although I love to travel and see things, I am a nester.  And home to me is important. It's been a busy month, and it's flying by!  We had to say goodbye (or really, "see ya later") to all our beloved YWAM friends in Vancouver.  To my home for the last 8 years.   That felt like hell.  We have some great photos of our farewell party as well as the DTS love feast, but we haven't been able to get them online yet, more of those to come in a later post. We are currently in Saskatchewan (my first home), enjoying our nieces and nephew and family as much as we can.  We have to get filled up as much as possible, as we are leaving to Australia in only a week and a few days.     This is to be our new home. The exciting news is that we have a great new house to go to in Australia.  Here are some pictures from the website.  It will be great to make thi...

So Joanna (actually Sophia and Ella) tagged me in her blog and here are the rules: 1) You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life - 1 word for each letter of your middle name. 2) Then blog your post 3) Then tag as many people as there are letters in your middle name (eg: M-a-r-i-e has 5 letters, so then she must tag 5 people) Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog. My middle name is AMY A - alive: I like to be wholehearted and passionate. To be active and energized. To have hope. I hate apathy. I wish to bring life wherever I go. M - musical: Music is everything. I love to sing. I love to play piano and guitar - especially with friends in a band. I love to dance. I even studied music. I love the emotion that music brings, that it is a language that can speak across cultural barriers. I love that it is a diverse and authentic expression of self, or of a people group/nation, or even a moment in time. Y ...

I love the fall air, the crispness and beauty of all the colors of this season. Last week, we attended a Go Conference in the Okanagan, here's some photos that I took... FRUIT TREE TREE TRUNK FALL LEAVES HARVESTED GRAPE VINES TASTY GRAPES THE OKANAGAN VALLEY A VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW GREEN BAY CAMP A WALK ON THE DOCK

Blog delayed because of photos... We went to a Vancouver Giants hockey game this past Saturday night, and had a blast. Louise, Kurtis, Stuart, Jacqui, Leigh and I. We watched the Giants beat Everett WA 3-2, (here they score and the crowd loves it!) as well as one of the biggest fights I've ever seen in hockey. It was hard to watch. Leigh regrets not getting it on video - of course! Nor a picture!!! WE WIN!!!!

Blog delayed because of photos... Leigh had his 26th birthday this week, and we celebrated by having a video party. We had 3 games going on at one time in the room (big screen projector, and 2 TV's) It was a blast. Some games were even physically challenging! What better way to celebrate Leigh than to play video games and eat. He suggested not "wasting" any money on decorations and instead put it towards more food! Here's his choice: chocolate pudding cake. MMMMmmmmmm!!!!

So it's officially Leigh's birthday in Australia right now! And since Leigh wouldn't be in the office tomorrow we decided to celebrate at the base today. This is what the boys thought would be the best way to "honour" him on his 26th Australian Birthday... Duct Taped him to a pole!!!! "No Ange, Don't help me," he says.... Apparently, he must WIN by proving he doesn't need help. Thank goodness for previous birthday presents - he was carrying his leatherman today, and escaped... He also was apprehended before lunch, so I'm assuming the urgency of his hunger was his driving force.

Richmond Night Market - a sea of Asian food at your fingertips. Dim Sum, Fried Tofu, Hot and Sour Soup, Red Bean Waffles, Bubble Tea - It can all be found here while listening to an 8 yr old on stage singing "Hit the road Jack" with 5 keyboards being played behind him - all the while screaming at the crowd to sing along. This was the final weekend before shutting down for the year, and thank goodness we made it before it closed! But man it was cold! Not raining but cold. Look at all the happy faces! Nick and Ralph and Ryan - what is Ryan looking at? Jill, Aubrey, (Wade) and Hillary eating mmm sugar? Hillary and Leigh enjoy some squid

Leigh is such a great person to be married too! I love spending time with him. I love how he always serves me. He is a great friend, and he is so thoughtful. I love how he only likes specific things, but he really loves those things... alot - like food..., and I realize I laugh a lot around him. He also will always try to put God first no matter what - trying to do what's right so that he doesn't waste his life! I love how that challenges me to do the same too. I love how easy going he is, and how kids love to be jumping on his head, like our nieces and nephew, and our God children, even to the detriment of his back. I love how he loves mini videos, and making commercials, and playing drums so that people have to dance! I love how he tries to sing, and it's always off-key, and.... I love how he always tries to make time with me the best it can be. This anniversary was no exception! We had another great anniversary - we were given a gift certificate this summer for ...

Leigh took me to a movie on the weekend, called Across the Universe. We both loved it sooooo much. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive of going thinking that it would be too dark or emotional for me... but from the moment it started I was hooked. They did such a good job of using the "new mix" of Beatles songs and incorporating it into the story. I think Jim Sturgess does an amazing job. I may consider seeing it twice, but that seems a bit extravagant.

Hey, this is our buddy Alther from Indonesia. It was so great to have him here with us this summer. He has gone back home now, and is hoping to start Mission Adventures there next year!

Leigh and I are really enjoying this season. Summer was really full and busy with our mission adventures teams, and now we have had a chance to really rest. It's been so nice to sit back, relax, and enjoy the day. We've been able to be home from work at a regular hour - around 5pm. Our new office space is only a few blocks away so when we get home Leigh starts cooking supper while I go for a walk - it's been fabulously peaceful. The sunny weather has really helped, and we've been able to take time to read the Bible together in the morning, and talk about things, which I'm really enjoying. I really have a great friend in Leigh. I enjoy the time we spend together, and I think it's amazing how well we work together as a team too! This is a photo of us at one of our friends parties. Lately we have been able to pursue more of our passions with our available time. Leigh has been getting together with a few friends of his and developing videos - a dream and ...

Hey all Here's the promised video that Wade and Leigh and Hillary made and won 2nd place for (see previous post)

Exciting news! Leigh , Wade and our other friend Hillary , filmed a commercial for Utilikilts and entered it into a contest and won 2nd prize! Utilikilt is a company founded in Seattle, Washington, that produces Men's Ubifurcated Garments, or MUGs, for short. The original utilikilt is a cross between a traditional kilt, with stitched-down pleats, and a carpenter's tool belt. Apparently some men tired of wearing trousers in the summer heat drummed up this idea, and went for it, and it is a fast growing trend! Check out the review of their victory! P. Wade Pallister for “Rock Your Freedom”. During the debate at the bar, someone pointed out the fundamental difference between the Grand Prize winner “FIRE”, and this one: FIRE is the SuperBowl halftime commercial, and Rock Your Freedom is the regular TV ad. Wade did an excellent job focusing on the kilt and creating a very strong “lifestyle” message. We also liked how he was not the focus of the ad: all the shots are centered o...

My God-daughter looked up at me awhile ago while skipping down the street and exclaimed that when she grew up she was going to be a "butterfly" and added "flutter flutter flutter flutter". I have a huge soft spot for butterflies. I haven't bought many things recently but the couple things that I did get might display some sort of a theme. A butterfly purse (with cute change purse) A butterfly thermos A butterfly mug (the striped one is for Sarah) And my mother-in-law bought me these SUPER cute tea cups 2 Christmas' ago. That's right the common factor is coffee... You need a purse to buy a coffee. You use a thermos to keep the coffee hot You use the mugs to drink the coffee You observe people drinking from the cute teacups while you have a cup of coffee

So our first 2 programs in MA were hugely successful! However we ARE TIRED!!! It's been 10 days of busyness and then a quick trip home to visit family and attend Jason and Blanca's wedding reception (see previous post) and then it was another 10 days of working with teams. We had 4 teams here recently. One from Colorado, one from Calgary, one from Edmonton, and one from Niverville (that's in MB). We had a great time with these guys but the late nights (11:30pm) and early mornings (7:30am) were fast catching up on us, and I was worried I wouldn't make it through...you really start getting cross-eyed when you're tired, and saying weird things, and of course you have to learn to curb you edginess with staff and others - but we did, and of course GOD MOVED! and our participants lives were changed, and now we get to rest for awhile - HALLELUJAH!!! We start again Monday July 23. Our theme (as you can see from the top) is Lazarus Wake up Dead Man! from the scripture in t...

Jason and Blanca held their Canadian wedding reception this weekend in Kerrobert Leigh and I were able to attend Sarah came too! She drove out with Ariana. Leigh was asked to MC with David. It was a pretty good size guest list. The decorations were beautiful. I did a toast to Jason and then Glenna and I sang them a song together. This is Glenna in yellow... It was a great weekend of seeing friends and family again - just a bit too short! (*sigh)