it's early..well, not that early. 10 o'clock on a friday morning can hardly consitute early.. but there's something about opening a new day with complaining about it that is just so irresistable. You know what I mean. Sometimes (oftentimes), it doesn't matter how many things are going "right" in our lives, we always seem to dwell on the negative. If you have a completely fantastic day at work, but then have to walk home in the gale-force winds and rain outside, your day is effectivley ruined, and no one you talk to that evening will hear about your exceptional day, only about how soaked and cold you were by the time you got home, and how much you hate the west-coast winter weather.
I hate negativity. Yet, I'm prone to it more than almost anyone else I know. It's a constant, daily stuggle to stay positive, even in the best of times. I know, you think I'm weak and and lazy and if I had any self-control or will-power I'd be just fine..or maybe if I just stopped dwelling on the fact that I dwell on the negative..well, maybe that is true. Maybe the fact that our furnace is broken and its 13 degree's in here should mean nothing compared to the blessing that it is to live together in our lovely little home.
It's so easy to get side tracked, isn't it? Away from what's really important..Away from the comfort and security that comes with being content. That is my goal for this year. I want to be content. Here, now, without a new car or a vacation to Greece. I want to love and be loved. To live fully, to my fullest potential. To be a blessing to the people around me, and to know beyond a doubt that my Father in Heaven is proud of who I am.
The sunshine has just broken through the clouds and filled my living room with it's warm glow. There's nothing like winter sunshine. The cool crisp air contrasting with the warm sun hitting your face is one of my favorite feelings in the world...And hey, if my furnace was working, I probably wouldn't have even noticed it;)
-Kait
Friday, October 19, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Holey Shmoley..
Ok well it's obviously been entirely too long since i updated this silly thing. Maybe one reason is because there have just been so many exciting things happening that the thought of taking enough time to write them all through seems overwhealming..either that or im just too lazy and dont really care enough about filling in anyone who uses this blog to update themselves on my life instead of just phoning..
ANYWAY... Here I am, on the eve of my 21st birthday..Engaged, living at my parents house and still searching for some kind of substantial job (I havnet given in and applied at the Co-op yet, but my desperation is getting there). It's not exactly like i don't have enough to keep me busy.. If anyone has ever told you its easy to plan a wedding, either they're lying, or they were lucky enough to have a mom willing to do all of the grunt work and organization for them. But as crazy as it often feels, I am enjoying this period of my life..Sometimes i just have to sit down, breathe, and remind myself of that fact, but it's true. And at least I have the problem of having TOO MANY outrageous ideas for my wedding to fit them all together, rather than not having enough.
Steven's so incredibly helpful as well.. It's unreal really, and much more than I would expect from him or any other boy..He just blows me away again and again with the compassion and paitients he has with me and my overreacting and stressing over nothing in the planning process...I dont know how (because i know if i were him, i'd be driving me crazy!) but he seems to find it easy to just smile at me and help me sort it out rather than being frustrated with things like changing my entire colour scheme 5 times before deciding what i want, and when I need his input on the invitation wording or on the flower arrangments because sometimes it just feels like he's the only one who will really understand what I want or what im talking about..Im so thankful im not doing this alone and that he actually cares about making sure im happy and working through all the details with me..He even had an easier time at our silly Gift Registration session than i did. ha..anyway, he just reminds me every day why i want to marry him so much, and of how incredibly blessed i am!
The only major concern on my mind these days (besides finding the perfect ribbon to finish the invites with;) is this job-issue...I really, really need to start making some money..and here's my dillema..I dont want to just go out and get any corner store or co-op job that I really wont enjoy, because i know I'm going to be here for at least the next 2 years, and i really want something (aka credit union or art gallery, both of which im waiting to hear back from right now) that I can enjoy and make more than 9 bucks an hour at. You know? I know i can just get something dumb for the time-being and keep looking for something else at the same time, but for some reason that just does not seem reasonable to me.. Maybe im just selfish or spoiled, but if im going to be working full-time, i want to be enjoying it. Anyway, i'm praying about it a lot, and i know God has a plan, so for now I'm keeping busy with wedding stuff and leaving my resume everywhere i can think of, and hoping something will turn up.
Tonight we're having a yummy celebratory dinner of chef salads with prawns and steak for my birthday, and tomorrow steven has the afternoon off so Im hoping the slushy-snowy-rainy-pouringness coming out of the sky will ease up so we can go walk on the beach for awhile..
for now im off to shower and get ready for dinner.
love to you all
PS, I've linked this page to my FaceBook account..just found that feature! it's neat. lol.
ANYWAY... Here I am, on the eve of my 21st birthday..Engaged, living at my parents house and still searching for some kind of substantial job (I havnet given in and applied at the Co-op yet, but my desperation is getting there). It's not exactly like i don't have enough to keep me busy.. If anyone has ever told you its easy to plan a wedding, either they're lying, or they were lucky enough to have a mom willing to do all of the grunt work and organization for them. But as crazy as it often feels, I am enjoying this period of my life..Sometimes i just have to sit down, breathe, and remind myself of that fact, but it's true. And at least I have the problem of having TOO MANY outrageous ideas for my wedding to fit them all together, rather than not having enough.
Steven's so incredibly helpful as well.. It's unreal really, and much more than I would expect from him or any other boy..He just blows me away again and again with the compassion and paitients he has with me and my overreacting and stressing over nothing in the planning process...I dont know how (because i know if i were him, i'd be driving me crazy!) but he seems to find it easy to just smile at me and help me sort it out rather than being frustrated with things like changing my entire colour scheme 5 times before deciding what i want, and when I need his input on the invitation wording or on the flower arrangments because sometimes it just feels like he's the only one who will really understand what I want or what im talking about..Im so thankful im not doing this alone and that he actually cares about making sure im happy and working through all the details with me..He even had an easier time at our silly Gift Registration session than i did. ha..anyway, he just reminds me every day why i want to marry him so much, and of how incredibly blessed i am!
The only major concern on my mind these days (besides finding the perfect ribbon to finish the invites with;) is this job-issue...I really, really need to start making some money..and here's my dillema..I dont want to just go out and get any corner store or co-op job that I really wont enjoy, because i know I'm going to be here for at least the next 2 years, and i really want something (aka credit union or art gallery, both of which im waiting to hear back from right now) that I can enjoy and make more than 9 bucks an hour at. You know? I know i can just get something dumb for the time-being and keep looking for something else at the same time, but for some reason that just does not seem reasonable to me.. Maybe im just selfish or spoiled, but if im going to be working full-time, i want to be enjoying it. Anyway, i'm praying about it a lot, and i know God has a plan, so for now I'm keeping busy with wedding stuff and leaving my resume everywhere i can think of, and hoping something will turn up.
Tonight we're having a yummy celebratory dinner of chef salads with prawns and steak for my birthday, and tomorrow steven has the afternoon off so Im hoping the slushy-snowy-rainy-pouringness coming out of the sky will ease up so we can go walk on the beach for awhile..
for now im off to shower and get ready for dinner.
love to you all
PS, I've linked this page to my FaceBook account..just found that feature! it's neat. lol.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Kait&Jords Series of Unfortunate Events (aka, the wind storm of '06)
It's tuesday night. I arrived home to our chilly house late this afternoon, after 24 hours of complete (well maybe not quite complete, but quite a bit of) maddness.
I was in Courtenay for the weekend, staying with Ashley and visiting friends and attending wedding showers (such fun), and that sort of thing. Everything was just as lovely as could be until jordan picked me up on monday morning. The wind had picked up considerably over night, but neither of us thought anything of it until we were almost blown off the highway outside of Courtenay. Even then it didn't worry us, and we continued to French Creek where we met our dad, got some lunch, went shopping, and then around 3:30pm began to head for home. I was driving the van (which we picked up to bring home from my dad) and jordan was following me in his car. We did not get very far. By the time we had passed Coombs the wind was so strong that i almost couldn't keep the van on the road. There was also so much debris and so many branches all over the road that it made just driving quite a chore. Then it began to get dark, and the rain started to pour. We were just entering Cathedral Grove when we saw the first few trees completley fallen over, and my stomache began to sink. 2 corners into the Grove we were stopped in a massive line-up of stopped cars. By this point it was raining branches and leaves (which were constantly hitting the roof of the van and freaking me out) and we could hear trees snapping and falling in the forest. I looked up and the huge trees above us were bouncing around like rubber popsicle sticks. A huge tree next to the road began to crack and snap and we decided that it was time to turn around..theres nothing like the feeling of waiting for a tree to fall on your car. Anyway, with much difficulty we finally got both vehicles turned around and were headed back. We manuvered around at least 3 different spots where trees had fallen, completely blocking our lane of traffic. We had just passed Whiskey Creek when one such fallen tree surprised me due to the limited visability, and i had to stop suddenly, causing Jordan to run into me..The car was smashed, the van barely dented thankfully, and we spent the next 20 minutes transfering everything out of jordans car into the van..we left it on the side of the road and quickly moved on..it was quite unreal, the worst storm i've driven in i think..The road was blanketed with needles and bushes and in some spots even power and telephone lines were down all over the roads. it made me want to drive fast so nothing too large would crash down on me, but also slowly so i didnt skid out on all the rain and needles and mush all over the road. blech!
Anyway, we made it back to nanaimo where we found a cheap hotel and stayed the night. We thought our trouble was over when we stopped to check the damage on Jords car in the morning. It started fine, and besides smashed headlights and bent hood it appeared to be in working condition. We headed home, but half way back from port I noticed a horribly smell coming from the engine of the van and suddenly the temprature shot up and the check engine lights came on...great. just freaking great. so i stop, jord stops, we check the engine, the radiator is empty..of course. oh man. we put water in, and it falls right through and drips onto the ground almost as fast as we can dump it in.....reminded me of a certain night out up on a dirt road with a blue volvo. anyway..crappy sitaution, and yet again we spend 30 minutes transferring everything out the the van and back into Jords beat up car, and on we go...and then we find out that a tree had fallen onto Serge's tow truck..what? I know. insane...it was a crazy, weird 24 hours and my weekend was much longer and more frustrating then i hoped it would be. I dont know whats happening with the Van or how it's getting home.
but now we are home, there are 4 sleeps until steven gets home, and im trying to look on the bright sides of things. At least we have one semi-working vehicle, even though it has no headlights. at least a tree didn't fall on our van, even though it now has a broken radiator, or whatever it is..
hah. well merry christmas everyone, and i hope i can see you all over the Holidays. Im going to post this before the power goes out again, the winds supposed to get up to 120kph again tonight, and apparently we'll see 100mm of rain by tomorrow afternoon
lovies,
-kait.
I was in Courtenay for the weekend, staying with Ashley and visiting friends and attending wedding showers (such fun), and that sort of thing. Everything was just as lovely as could be until jordan picked me up on monday morning. The wind had picked up considerably over night, but neither of us thought anything of it until we were almost blown off the highway outside of Courtenay. Even then it didn't worry us, and we continued to French Creek where we met our dad, got some lunch, went shopping, and then around 3:30pm began to head for home. I was driving the van (which we picked up to bring home from my dad) and jordan was following me in his car. We did not get very far. By the time we had passed Coombs the wind was so strong that i almost couldn't keep the van on the road. There was also so much debris and so many branches all over the road that it made just driving quite a chore. Then it began to get dark, and the rain started to pour. We were just entering Cathedral Grove when we saw the first few trees completley fallen over, and my stomache began to sink. 2 corners into the Grove we were stopped in a massive line-up of stopped cars. By this point it was raining branches and leaves (which were constantly hitting the roof of the van and freaking me out) and we could hear trees snapping and falling in the forest. I looked up and the huge trees above us were bouncing around like rubber popsicle sticks. A huge tree next to the road began to crack and snap and we decided that it was time to turn around..theres nothing like the feeling of waiting for a tree to fall on your car. Anyway, with much difficulty we finally got both vehicles turned around and were headed back. We manuvered around at least 3 different spots where trees had fallen, completely blocking our lane of traffic. We had just passed Whiskey Creek when one such fallen tree surprised me due to the limited visability, and i had to stop suddenly, causing Jordan to run into me..The car was smashed, the van barely dented thankfully, and we spent the next 20 minutes transfering everything out of jordans car into the van..we left it on the side of the road and quickly moved on..it was quite unreal, the worst storm i've driven in i think..The road was blanketed with needles and bushes and in some spots even power and telephone lines were down all over the roads. it made me want to drive fast so nothing too large would crash down on me, but also slowly so i didnt skid out on all the rain and needles and mush all over the road. blech!
Anyway, we made it back to nanaimo where we found a cheap hotel and stayed the night. We thought our trouble was over when we stopped to check the damage on Jords car in the morning. It started fine, and besides smashed headlights and bent hood it appeared to be in working condition. We headed home, but half way back from port I noticed a horribly smell coming from the engine of the van and suddenly the temprature shot up and the check engine lights came on...great. just freaking great. so i stop, jord stops, we check the engine, the radiator is empty..of course. oh man. we put water in, and it falls right through and drips onto the ground almost as fast as we can dump it in.....reminded me of a certain night out up on a dirt road with a blue volvo. anyway..crappy sitaution, and yet again we spend 30 minutes transferring everything out the the van and back into Jords beat up car, and on we go...and then we find out that a tree had fallen onto Serge's tow truck..what? I know. insane...it was a crazy, weird 24 hours and my weekend was much longer and more frustrating then i hoped it would be. I dont know whats happening with the Van or how it's getting home.
but now we are home, there are 4 sleeps until steven gets home, and im trying to look on the bright sides of things. At least we have one semi-working vehicle, even though it has no headlights. at least a tree didn't fall on our van, even though it now has a broken radiator, or whatever it is..
hah. well merry christmas everyone, and i hope i can see you all over the Holidays. Im going to post this before the power goes out again, the winds supposed to get up to 120kph again tonight, and apparently we'll see 100mm of rain by tomorrow afternoon
lovies,
-kait.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Rain, Rain..i missed you!
I'm sitting here at my parents lovely and incredibly slow computer as the rain outside continues to pour..It's great really, and I forgot how much I missed it.
I spent the first 48 hours of being home in my pajamas, not answering my phone and hoping I could avoid whoever knew i was home for at least a few days. It was wonderful and I accomplished absolutley nothing (my bag isnt even completely unpacked yet!) but I am now well-rested and ready for the approaching christmas season, and all the visiting that goes with it. Speaking of visits, I had a wonderful one with Elysia, Kelly, and beautiful little Kayla yesterday.. I missed them so much! Im looking forward to spending lots of time with them this winter. Also, Im heading to Courtenay this friday to meet ashley for the weekend..To pick up my dress for the wedding, and attend her bridal shower..
anyway thats that for now, take care and i'll post next when I feel like braving the sluggish dial-up internet again... Love ya
Kait.
I spent the first 48 hours of being home in my pajamas, not answering my phone and hoping I could avoid whoever knew i was home for at least a few days. It was wonderful and I accomplished absolutley nothing (my bag isnt even completely unpacked yet!) but I am now well-rested and ready for the approaching christmas season, and all the visiting that goes with it. Speaking of visits, I had a wonderful one with Elysia, Kelly, and beautiful little Kayla yesterday.. I missed them so much! Im looking forward to spending lots of time with them this winter. Also, Im heading to Courtenay this friday to meet ashley for the weekend..To pick up my dress for the wedding, and attend her bridal shower..
anyway thats that for now, take care and i'll post next when I feel like braving the sluggish dial-up internet again... Love ya
Kait.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Vancouver snow light
5 sleeps until I go home, 16 sleeps until Steven comes home, and 26 until Christmas!!
This is the snowiest november I have seen in quite a long time. It was weird coming home from rainy gray scotland to the white wonderland of Vancouver.
The last few days I've spent here in Vancouver, at my lovley friend Ashley's home. They have been restful days, although I'm still not quite over my jetlag and have been waking every morning at about 5 am, and then I'm exhausted by 9pm. I'm doing a good job of trying to keep myself up late though, so hopefully it wont last long.
Todays excitment was a wonderful long shopping trip to Value Village, where we spent several hours gathering and trying on all kinds of funky and frumpy and warm and wooly winter clothing. By the time we were finished Ash's car was completely iced over and we spent several very chilly minutes attempting to clear the windows. We finally gave up and drove a few blocks before everything was finally defrosted. They say on the radio we're supposed to get another 10cm overnight, so we're hoping Langara will be closed so no one has to go to school.
Tomorrow is also my little brother Isaacs birthday. He's turning 12 I believe, and we're going to see the Human Body exhibit at Science world.
Not overly exciting, but this is my life at the moment. And I'm thankful for it. I love being home and with the people I love. Im thankful for my friends and familly, even more thankful than before i left I believe.. One of the best parts of hopping around the world is coming home.
As you can tell im getting quite sleepy. Although we rented a movie to watch tonight, we spent too many hours organizing and researching wedding options and details and now are headed to bed.
Here's an awesome quote I've been thinking about today:
"Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way?
If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to Him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us?
No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutley nothing of what makes life free, beautiful, and great. No! Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation...Yes, open wide the doors to Christ - and you will find true life."
-Benedict XVI
This is the snowiest november I have seen in quite a long time. It was weird coming home from rainy gray scotland to the white wonderland of Vancouver.
The last few days I've spent here in Vancouver, at my lovley friend Ashley's home. They have been restful days, although I'm still not quite over my jetlag and have been waking every morning at about 5 am, and then I'm exhausted by 9pm. I'm doing a good job of trying to keep myself up late though, so hopefully it wont last long.
Todays excitment was a wonderful long shopping trip to Value Village, where we spent several hours gathering and trying on all kinds of funky and frumpy and warm and wooly winter clothing. By the time we were finished Ash's car was completely iced over and we spent several very chilly minutes attempting to clear the windows. We finally gave up and drove a few blocks before everything was finally defrosted. They say on the radio we're supposed to get another 10cm overnight, so we're hoping Langara will be closed so no one has to go to school.
Tomorrow is also my little brother Isaacs birthday. He's turning 12 I believe, and we're going to see the Human Body exhibit at Science world.
Not overly exciting, but this is my life at the moment. And I'm thankful for it. I love being home and with the people I love. Im thankful for my friends and familly, even more thankful than before i left I believe.. One of the best parts of hopping around the world is coming home.
As you can tell im getting quite sleepy. Although we rented a movie to watch tonight, we spent too many hours organizing and researching wedding options and details and now are headed to bed.
Here's an awesome quote I've been thinking about today:
"Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way?
If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to Him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us?
No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutley nothing of what makes life free, beautiful, and great. No! Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation...Yes, open wide the doors to Christ - and you will find true life."
-Benedict XVI
Sunday, November 26, 2006
today I've been thinking about...
Home. An elusive word, isnt it? It could mean anything, depending on your circumstance, your childhood, your current location. To some people a home is a house. But what makes a house a home? This is something I've been pondering lately. To me, home means love. Not only cozy fireplace cuddles or hot tea and a good conversation, but the knowledge and comfort that comes with knowing it will never leave. That whenever your wandering self decides enough is enough, home will be right where you left it, in the hearts and hugs of those you love. Home is where your heart is...Such a cliche phrase, but before it was, I think someone got it right.
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