Listening

I haven't been on my computer much this week, as I have been busy with a quilting project. One thing I love about projects is it gives me time to think and be creative. Here are my rambling thoughts as to what I've been thinking about.

It all started yesterday as I was doing the Straiton hill run. If you're from Auguston, then you know the run. The last part of the run is up a beautiful trail. As my running partner and I were booting it up the steep part of the trail, she asked if we could slow down and walk a bit as her vision was going blurry and she wasn't feeling well. No problem, it was nice to slow it down and take in the beauty of the forest and chat. We started running again, and after a few minutes she asked to slow it down again, as she really wasn't feeling well. (Just a side note, this girl is hard core crazy on sprinting up hills, so this was very out of the ordinary) I asked her what she thought her body was telling her. She didn't know. This is what got me thinking... we really, really need to listen to our bodies. Last night as I crawled into bed my body was aching. Not sick/flu aching, but an aching, exhausted feeling where I was really tired right to my bones. Does that make sense? Probably not, but that's the best way I could explain it. I needed to listen to my body and rest.

I realized last night as I was thinking about how important it is to listen to your body, that it is just as important to listen to those around you. Listening to your spouse and friends is important, but what I really struggle with is my kids. So often they will be talking to me about school or a friend or a video game (okay mostly Connor) and I will be distracted with cooking dinner, sending an e-mail, folding laundry etc. and I will give a little glance and a nod and say mmm hmm. I am not actively listening. How can I expect my kids to actively listen to me, when I am not modeling the same behaviour? I know I need to work on this.

Lastly, listening to God is my biggest struggle. So often I will offer up a quick prayer, say Amen, and walk away, not really giving it another thought. I am reading this book Eat, Pray, Love. It is definitely not written from a Christian perspective, but it does talk a lot about the importance of sitting in stillness and listening to God. Another challenge for me. It also talks about finding balance in life. I am finding it very inspiring and encouraging.

Sorry for the random writings of today, just needed to get these swirling thoughts down.

much love,

larajane

Boot camp is kicking my butt! So feeling it today. Also the finger I injured last fall playing basketball was somewhat re-injured at baseall on tues. night. Fortunatly didn't have my rings on, but my knuckle is swollen and I can't get them back on!

just my rambling for the day

lj

Your hands

I have this bad habit. I hear a song I like somewhere, I search for it on Itunes, find it, download it, and listen to it over and over and over again.

This past year, as I have mentioned in previous posts has been a really tough year. When I first heard this song, I felt like I could have written it. Or at least I wish I could have had the spiritual maturity to write it. Here are the lyrics and the link to the song.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

video

I don't think she has an official video, but at least you can hear it.

much love,

larajane

This has been an active week for me. I have run nearly 40 ks, done 2 days of bootcamp, spent numerous hours in the garden digging and shoveling soil, and have endured some pretty late nights. To say the least, I am exhausted. Fortunatly my two ball games were rained out yesterday.

Last night Joel had a big fancy Gala at the Bayshore. It was quite the event. It was black tie, so all the men wore tuxes or dark suits and the women were dressed to the nine's! (whatever that means. I always remember my Nana saying it though) Joel was up for an award, but unfortunatly didn't win, although his company won an award for some big project. The food was amazing. The salad was super yummy with red wine pears, walnuts, goat cheese, baby greens, and cucumbers. Since I have gone off dairy, I am able to tolerate salads so much better now! The main course was lamb, which I didn't partake in, but enjoyed the roasted veggies. Everything was presented so beautifully!

We stayed the night at the Bayshore, so my walk back wasn't too long and painful in heels. I am so not heels girl. Actually I am very excited about my new pair of Keen's I got yesterday, I was dreaming about their comfyness last night. This morning Joel and I ran 6.5 k around the seawall and after grabbed coffee and smoothies at Starbucks. I can't believe the weekend is over already!

This week promises to be busy again with Bootcamp and photoshoots. I have a super fun shoot set up in West Vancouver for most of the day Tuesday and another on Friday. Hopefully the weather holds.

I hope y'all found this to be a relaxing and fun weekend! Now to go and cheer on our Canucks!

much love,

larajane

Earth Day and Opportunities

Happy Earth Day! The sun has just come out from behind some thunderous dark clouds and is now shining it's light over our beautiful city. I just put some pumpkin cookies in the oven, but once they are done I will be outside playing in my garden. I hope you all get a chance to get out today, breathe deeply, and enjoy our earth.

Since we are on the topic of our planet, I wanted to talk a bit about a fabulous documentary I watched this past weekend called The Cove. Oh, how I wish this had come out 16 years ago. In high school my dream was to become a marine biologist and save dolphins as well as other sea life from being hunted and going extinct. Anyway, this film was about a team of activists, filmmakers and divers whose mission was to uncover a horrific tragedy that was happening in a cove off the coast of Japan. Thousands of dolphins were being slaughtered for food or captured to be sold to Sea Parks around the world. It was a deeply moving film that has once again made my heart hurt for these magnificent wild animals.

Okay, now onto opportunities...

Life has been crazy these past couple of weeks. Good crazy. I have had a few opportunities presented to me that has really made me rethink how I want my life to unfold. Some have been easy decisions, but there are a couple I am struggling with. Neither of these are super life changing, I don't think, but then that's what stumps me, maybe they could be! I need some time to ponder.

much love,

~larajane

Hello Sunshine!

For the past few mornings I have been getting up early and taking Hannah for a walk. I've really enjoyed the quiteness of these early mornings. Watching the sun come up over the mountains, the light fog woven throughout the tall trees, and the dew drops sparkling as the sun hits them makes me so thankful for where I live. Joel and I toss around the idea of moving every now and then. We sometimes think it might be nice to get into a newer home, or even better, design and build our own. A bigger yard would also be nice, but at the end of the day we always come back to location. We have no one in front of us and no one behind us. We live on a quiet street where the kids can go to the park as they please. But above all of this, being nestled into the mountains, surrounded by great trails, and the solitude of being away from the "city" is what makes Auguston so hard to leave.

This last week I have spent many hours in the backyard working on the garden. I went to the nursery one morning and loaded up on bedding plants, a heather, and other small plants. I also created another garden running all along the west side of the yard. On Friday I went out to Chilliwack and got a yard of topsoil and spent the afternoon distributing throughout the yard. I LOVE the smell of fresh soil and filling my gardens with it. Hopefully the sun will stay out this week and I will be able to plant my vegetables. I have strawberries from last year already blooming as well as rhubarb beginning to look pretty good.

One more random... The Canucks. Really, I think the Canucks GM needs to give me season's tickets. Every game I've ever gone to, the Canucks have ended up winning. It's true.

Connor and I before the game the other night.

Enjoy the sun and the Canucks!

much love,

~larajane

If you haven't seen 500 Days of Summer

you have to! Seriously...you have to. It is such a great movie. Kind of quirky and it is an Indie film, but so cute and real.

I love, love, love this dance sequence in the movie. Makes me smile everytime.

dance sequence

The eve of 32

I realize turning 32 is not a very monumental milestone in one's life, but I can't help but to think back over this past year and reflect. It has definitely had it's ups and downs. I have learned a lot about friendship, marriage, and God. I believe I am a stronger person in some aspects, but I also feel I am a weaker person as well. I know life has it's peaks and valleys, and I believe I have been in both places this past year, which for me is different. I have always been a very steady, rather unemotional person, who gaurds herself from hurt, but while doing this, I end up never really "feeling." This past year I have felt. I have really, really felt. I have felt complete bliss as well as an overwhelming amount of sadness. I have felt so very distant from God, and I have also felt so very close to Him. I am learning that it is through these chapters in our lives that we grow. We grow to love more, we grow to want more out of life, and there is such a desperation in that, that we can't help but have faith and just go for it.

I have learned that life is way to short to not live it to it's fullest. Life is too short to not take chances, to have faith, and to love others.

I am looking forward to being 32. I am looking forward to the many adventures that are in store for me.

I came across this quote a couple of weeks ago, and I just can't seem to get it out of my mind.

"We have the idea that God is leading us towards a particular end of a desired goal, but He is not... What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the GOAL itself. His purpose is the process."

-Oswald Chambers

~larajane

Be still...

Such an inspiring day today! I love it when God opens doors and gives me passion for new opportunities!

I am off to hot yoga. To think and to be still... and soak it all in!

much love,

~larajane

For those inquiring minds...

142 miles logged thus far!

Pondering life a lot lately.

Searching.

Seeking.

Growing.

My mind is whirring with thoughts right now. Not sure how to word all that is going on inside. Not sure how much to share. I will share though. Some. Not now. I need to think more and clear my mind.

It's good though.

much love

~lj