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