Crashing California

Today (well, at this point, yesterday) Jay and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary. Some would wonder how we made it this long -- which really isn't long at all -- and to that, I have no answer. No special formula to say, "Hey -- you can make your marriage work, this way!" There simply is none, I think that by the grace and goodness of God, we were placed together, to do, immeasurably more together, than we could ever achieve apart. I believe we have divine purpose and that is why we are together, here (instead of 'there') I feel fortunate enough to say that I still 'love' my husband, and I'm actually still 'in love' with him, as well as feeling comfortable enough in my own skin to feel, unexplainable comfort around him. It's strange too, I think when you've hung out with someone for so long ... years...that there comes a point you realize that things that you've accomplished, the direction your life has taken, has turned so much, that...

So, it is a Wednesday; I have some chocolate chip cookies in the oven, the weather was warm and totally sunny all day. It was a pretty decent San Diego day. Jay got to spend the day at the Buffalo Bros. shop with the guy who hired him -- a 55 year old surfer dude who founded a Magazine and is now a freelance photographer and contributor, not to mention he's the general manager of the store. He has an amazing camera, (which I am jealous of ... but whatever). perhaps I'll get to meet him one day. Jay had a good day. Jay gave me my "anniversary present" today, because it came in the mail through amazon, and when I first saw the box I was getting ready to be mad, cause I though Jay had bought a game. But it was for me -- my very own little iPod shuffle. This crazy little small green thing that holds 215 of my favorite (or randomly selected) songs. Pretty cool. I'm still trying to get over how incredibly tiny it is! And I totally want to go down to our exercise room to...

It is impossible for me to describe, adequately, the beauty, the power, the absolute magnetism that the ocean holds in it's hand. To me, it is Liquid Power stretched out for the world to see. It is God's magnificence, peace and wrath all at once. To stand at the edge of a cliff and stare out into the depth of miles of miles of dancing waves and water, is like standing at the edge of everything and nothing at the same time. It is God's glory and majesty, in a form that we can see and feel and touch, and dive into. It makes me never want to leave it. And think of it until I can return and stare into it's shining acres of aqueous diamonds. Further in and Further up....

The city sky line is pretty visible when you're posed on the roof of a building. We spent Sunday evening at Andy and Laura's new place, they have a dramatic roof top deck that we all trekked up to after dinner to check out the skyline. Their new apartment is pretty cool, it's located in the East Village of downtown S.D. It's in an area of the city that is in the middle of being 'revitalized' from basically Inner city to Yuppie/Metro sexual ville. I think it's a common thing that's been going on in the states and big cities for awhile and Canada is trying to catch up. I find San Diego really familiar to Edmonton in some of those ways, San Diego, although it's located in Southern California, in alot of ways has remained sort of 'innocent' of alot of Urban-Americanization in some ways, don't get me wrong, it's a huge city, with all the craze and haze of urban America, but there is alot of peace, silence and bits of strange paradise amid ...

The Ocean at Night can be frightening ... While the rest of the continent is battling crazy spring storms and floods, the west coast (where we are) is stormy, in a different way. The winds here have been strong, as the systems push in from the Pacific, and the ocean has been a beautiful, but intimidating, boiling expanse of water. The weather has been not very warm, but we still went to the beach on Saturday with Werner for some chill out time, to look at the waves and sit on the sand. Afterwards, we went to "Lowes" (which is basically American Home Depot) and went shopping for a "Grill" (which is American for BBQ, which they don't use here). We all chilled out at Werners house and ate WAY too much yummy grilled steak, chicken and veggies, my job was the salad. This week should be a busy one, with work and committments and other things on our plates. I will sending my American paperwork in for the SECOND time, this time to Chicago, for all my stuff, so I will...

Today, I am fighting boredom. I'm a 'tad' slow on the work front, which can be refreshing and nice, but I have been sitting in that place for a week, and I'm just finding myself so twiddling my thumbs...but feeling too complacent to actually do anything about it. I should be enjoying this time, but I find myself just feeling unsettled, unsatisfied, and I can't put my finger on why. I took a kickboxing class yesterday (which was yes, really with gloves and punching and kicking things) it was good, it supercharged me, but it wasn't "me". I've found myself lately trying to figure what is really "me"... I have had a "relapse" of sorts when it comes to our "big move". I'm wondering if I will feel at home ... ever. I'm wondering if this "new normal" (as Oprah so politically correct puts it) will ever feel really truly like "me". I'm worried about being able to stay here in this place, so far f...

Hey all =) I'm trying this out, I don't know if it'll work or not, this is the song below, I think if you click the link it'll ask you to download so you can listen ?? not sure, but my friend em suggested I write the song, and I had kind of had a thought of 'melodifying' it anyways, so thanks for the encouragement, this is a really rough version -- the first. Thanks =) a. http://www.inspiredcreativity.net/SEAmediapage/He%20Rose-Eastersong.mp3

up on a hill dark silent and still He hung as steel pierced his hands He bore sin for man He hung as spear pierced his side He cried for you and I and He hung on calvary's tree beautiful sacrifice for you and me He hung And death gripped his flesh but it wasn't over yet eventhough the sacrifice was finished The second day people cried tear stained lives that didn't understand why He hung and early the third day as mourners made thier way an empty tomb was all that laid He rose A bare linen on the floor no body no stench of death there was no more He rose and he appeared almost as a dream to confirm what they had seen He rose A pure lamb of white given for all so we would have life and sight He rose He rose for you and I that we wouldn't have to face death in the eyes He rose and all heaven's glory will forever be telling the story He rose

'PTL' is 'MSN-eese' for Praise the Lord -- which is how I feel today. =) Today I found out that I was awarded the Strathcona County contract for next 15 months and with opportunities for extension for the next 3 years after. There were eight other bidding companies, but I still got the contract -- Yay! PTL Another PTL moment -- my good friend Laura told me 2 weeks ago that she's expecting her first baby! (you may know Laura from photos on our blog) That makes almost ALL my close friends that have had a babie before me .. (Em -- can we make a deal of some kind ... ) anyways, just wanted to share. I know there will be more PTL moments to come. a.

So, the weekend has been a busy one. We said goodbye to Jay's sisters on Thursday and were promptly thrown back into our lives, but the weekend has truly been a blessed one, and one I will not soon forget. (photo from left to right: Dave, Lesley, myself and Evan, Jay is behind Evan ... you can't see him) Friday we had the first three30 (three-thirty). Our worship night with our church. Picture about 30 or so people gathered in a little classroom in a neighborhood church to worship God with all our hearts. It was such a cool night. My heart was strengthened and encouraged. I have to admit, I have never experienced 'Christian Family' (for lack of a better word) than right where we are here. I don't know why that is, I couldn't say, because in Canada we have such amazing friends, but here, with the musicians that we play with now, week after week, i feel so bonded to them, they seriously feel like my brothers. Saturday Jay went Surfing for the first time!! I sat on...