There's no place like home, except maybe Tofino

LONG BEACH 2011

Things to remember:

- Nya slept really well and did much better overall than I had anticipated

- Long Beach is so much more beautiful than I remember

- our van worked well except for the 1 time we had to jump start it because we left the interior lights on and drained the battery

- Darren drove the truck with the boys and all the toys and I drove the van with the gear and the girls, so I didn't get car sick at all

- the pizza in Tofino is HUMUNGOUS 

- EVERYTHING gets dirty, that is just part of camping

- but everything also comes clean again, and hot showers feel so good

- my husband is pretty cool!

- my sisters-in-law are the very best kind of people 

- We saw a Barenaked Lady (of the musical variety, that is)

- Darren shared a wave with Sarah Mclachlan (also of the musical sort)

- I, after 13 years of Darren trying to get me out there, surfed! And I got up the very first time I tried! My thoughts about this: Why did I wait so long? And there is nothing like catching that wave. As Billabong says ,"only a surfer knows the feeling". I now understand (to a very small degree) the passion my husband has for this. I am absolutely hooked! 

It was too fun to have Mike, Julianne, Brent, Lauren, Darren and myself all out at the same time surfing in the ocean together.

- I am so very glad I went. I cannot wait for the next time!

a move, but not my own

I have not blogged about this yet for many reasons. Most of all because it is just hard and sad. But worthy to be remembered when I am old and gray, so here we go.
My parents moved. Moved from being only 8 minutes away to being another province away, and frankly it stinks. Because the truth is I am not strong. Not like I wish to be anyway. I miss them. I want them, selfishly, to always be there whenever I need them. I would want them to stay here just for me and my children forever and ever. But that is not the way it is suppose to be right now. God has a different plan for us all, and although I cannot see it, I must trust that He can and that He knows what is best, and that someday I will understand. But for now it hurts and I cry, and then I carry on and it is okay. Or at least it will be.

Dear mom and dad, 

I want to thank you for all the years you devoted to raising me. 

I am grateful for the love you gave when I was small and lovable, 

and even more so for the love you showed when I was big and rather hard to love. 

Thank you for teaching me about my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. 

This above all else will forever be the best gift I could have possibly been given. 

Thank you for your love that now extends to my children, 

and for your continued faithfulness and examples. 

I love you. I miss you. I want you back. But I wish you all the best. 

Until we meet again please know how much you matter.

Love, your girl

moving:

For those of you who are wondering - we are not moving. I never meant to so coyly hint and then leave you hanging. Now that I have said that here is the deal - I am a home body. I love being home. I am not a super social person, although I do love people. I set down roots and I dig deep. I love the idea of having my grown children come home to the house that was their own for all of their childhood. I hope that they will love it always and want to return. I love my house, my yard, my community. I love living 5 minutes from church. I love living 2 minutes from the beach. I love my life. But.....

there is a dream! There is a part of me, be it ever so small, that longs for adventure. I imagine selling it all and packing up our littles and moving far, far away while everyone is still young. I feel like I have this amazing window wherewith I could go anywhere and do anything with little protest from the kids. I feel the desire to step out of my own backyard and be immersed in a different culture. I feel something pulling me. It is pulling me away from comfort, and to the unfamiliar. I feel my heart changing. I feel myself excepting. Is there something else in store for me that I am being prepared for?
So when I say that we may or may not be moving, it will not be happening for a few years yet, if at all. Maybe it is enough that I would be willing to go. Maybe we are meant to stay here for the remainder of our lives. Maybe we will never live that dream. And if that is the case than we will most certainly live another kind of dream, the 1 we are already in.