We love our neice!

This past weekend Luke, Care, Makenna, and Calea came up to camp for a few days. Luke brought up the senior high boys basketball team that he helps coach (the girls senior team came too!) and that meant that we got to spend lots of time with Makenna! Having her around always makes for a busy, but so fun weekend!! Watching her grow is amazing, and she sure is funny! Here are some Makenna highlights from the weekend:

Here she is putting her blanket on Jake, and trying to make him play with her. The lazy dog mostly just sits there and ignores her, and lets her do what she wants!

This is her "laying down like Jake". I thought this was super funny!! He is just chewing his bone, with her blanket on him, while she is having a great time playing "with" him!
"Show me your teeth Kenna!!" "EEEEEE"

This is us rocking out to some Taylor Swift. She got wild, I was laughing so hard at her! She was flipping her hair around like a rockstar and laughing at me singing all the words to her!

She LOVED Henrik. She followed him around all day long. It was SO cute.

Still following Henrik around, having a great time! I just LOVE this smile, it makes my heart melt! She is such a good little girl, and just absolutely adorable!!

Makenna, I hope you always know how loved you are by Auntie Mel and Uncle Jon!!!! I cant wait to keep watching you grow, and see what kind of wonderful person you become!!!

A day at home hanging out with our pets!

Today Jon and I both had the day off together! We hosted on the weekend, so we got to make up the time today and tomorrow! It was sooo nice to have a SUPER lazy day! Here are some shots of our lovely day at home:

The pets were right into the lazy day - Jake is cuddling with his new teddy bear and Henrik is loving his life by the fire!

This is how Henrik spent most of the day... curled up on the rocking chair...

...directly in front of the fire! This kitten SO belongs in my family - he loves the heat just like his owner! LOL

Today Jon also hung up the hammock that he bought for me in Mexico - he even made a wooden thing to go in it to make it into a chair! Here he is cuddling with the kitten

And it didnt take long for Jake to get jealous and come right over, wanting to be shown some love as well! This is also a better view of the hammock and the wooden thing Jon made for it! Very cool, and really comfy!

I love days like these - when we just get to hang out and be together, talking, cooking, playing games! Jon also watched a Canucks game later in the afternoon while I napped on the couch. Great day!

Meet Henrik

This weekend I seen an ad for a kitten that was being given away, and the impulsive side me shone its crazy face. Within a few short hours, we were the owners of a small, 10 week old orange fluffy kitten. We named him Henrik, after Henrik Sedin, because he has red hair - how fitting! haha. Jake seems to like him - he just does NOT like that a little furry creature is getting the attention instead of him!

Playing with his string

Sleeping away in our basket of blankets!

Henrik slowly winning Jon over...

Henrik, we hope you are happy here with us!

Just some Taylor lyrics...

So no secret that I loooooove Taylor Swift. Her songs come on, and I cant control my shoulders, they just start to move, and then the rest of the body! And all of a sudden I have lost control of my lips and they are singing her lyrics loudly, while my body is dancing all around! Weird I know. But she just released a new album, and there is a song on there called "Mine" and the first time I heard it, it almost made me cry! I just feel like it is exactly the story of Jon and me (not sure how Jon feels about our life being compared to a T-Swift song...but I'm sure he must be used to it by now...). But I thought I would share the lyrics, because this is my favorite song for today! Something different will probably catch me tomorrow and it may change...

"Mine" by Taylor Swift
You were in college workin part time waitin tables
Left a small town, never looked back
I was a flight risk with a fear of fallin
Wonderin why we bother with love if it never lasts

I say "Can you believe it?"
As we're lyin on the couch
The moment I can see it
Yes, yes I can see it now

Do you remember we were sittin there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Flash forward and we're takin on the world together
And there's a drawer of my things at your place
You learned my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded
You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes

But we've got bills to pay
We've got nothing figured out
When it was hard to take yes, yes
This is what I thought about

Do you remember were sitting there by the water....

Do you remember all the city lights on the water
You saw me start to believe for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

And I remember that fight at 2:30 am
You said everything was slippin right out of our hands
I ran out crying and you followed me into the street

Brace myself for the goodbye cause thats all I've never known
Then you take me by surprise
You said "I'll never leave you alone"

You said "I remember how we felt sittin by the water
And everytime I look at you it's like the first time
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter
She is the best thing that's ever been mine"

Do you believe it? We're gunna make it now. And I can see it

Ooooooh man i just love this song!!! Jon and I were sitting on a couch the first time he told me that he loved me - and we were also sitting on a couch the first time we ever talked about marrying each other in the future - the first time when I actually looked at him and realized that I never wanted to be with anyone else, ever. When we met, I was so jaded, and closed off, and he broke down those walls, and he made his way in. By loving me, and always staying around even when I pushed hard, he made me believe in love, believe in forever. We have NOTHING figured out, and we get overwhelmed by life and the bills that keep coming, but we are also able to look at each other and remember why we are together. He didn't make me into a rebel (probably more the other way around...) but he did help me stop being so afraid of things. He pushes me to do crazy things that I never thought I could do! He definately helped this careful girl become more carefree with the small things. We have soooo many good memories (like the night we started dating, and I fell through thin ice up to my waist because I was being such a little know-it-all!) and I would not change one thing about our life together. He convinced a girl who never believed in love that love actually exists and that she is actually capable of it, and that what we have is a forever kind of thing. And everytime he looks at me, it really is just like the first time. There is nothing more I need.

Thank you, miss Taylor Swift for all the dance parties you have provided me with - and for being so awesome and letting me have these great moments of happiness knowing that I have what you are singing about and what so many other girls are searching for. I love you Jon! You are the BEST thing that's ever been mine :)

Lomas Lake Hike - boys day of fun!

Recently, Jon and Chris decided to spend an entire day going on a crazy hike, and they invited Chris' friend Steve to come with. They wanted to do the hike and see if its something we can take the campers on this summer with the outdoor program. They hiked up to Lomas Lake - from the pictures it looked beautiful! And it was a successful day - I think Jon is going to use the hike as part of his program! Very cool :)

The three adventerous boys - Jon, Chris, and Steve

My handsome outdoorsy husband! Look at the background - beautiful!
The lake looks gorgeous! Jon was very excited about it when he got home that night.

They took Jake with them, and at first he was even out running the quad! He kept up all day, until the end, when he was so tired! He didn't want to hike anymore, he was refusing! Must be my dog... haha!

Well boys, it looks like it was a good day!

Outdoor Program APPROVED!

Something SO exciting has happened, it is crazy to even think about it! A few weeks ago, the plan was for Jon to run ONE WEEK of a wilderness camp over on the new property next summer. Then all of a sudden, almost overnight! things started rolling in a totally new direction. The reason that Jon and I moved out to the coast was because we really felt the Lord calling us to work at this camp, and that there might be opportunity for Jon to carry out his dream and vision of developing a wilderness camp here. With this new ball rolling, Jon jumped on it, and presented his big ideas at a vision casting meeting that was held with both boards, the program committee, and camp staff. From there, his program outline was discussed at the next board meeting a few days later and it was APPROVED!!!!! Typically things in camp world move very slowly (so I am told), so this was shocking to us!! So instead of just Jon running one week of a wildnerness camp, we are now both together developing an entire 7 week program to run over there!!!!!! All of next summer, we will spend our time working on the new property with about 15 campers, teaching them wildnerness and camping skills. (Well clearly Jon will do the teaching - I will just be there for the entertainment value!). We will take the campers on a differen day trip each day, ranging from canoe trips, to hiking trips, to massive rappelling, to caving - all sorts of adventures!! This is SUCH a huge thing, and it is crazy crazy exciting!! I love watching all Jon's dreams so within reach - it is incredible how God has just totally provided for us, and has put this massive opportunity in front of Jon to grab hold of! It amazes me. Like actually AMAZES me. Life is gooooooood!

Trip to Medicine Hat

Yes yes yes I know - its been quite a while since I last wrote! Jon tells me that I just get bored of my hobbies... so I'm writing tonight to prove to him that he is WRONG! I dont get bored of my hobbies, I just get busy with other things! Anyways, since the last time I posted, I went home for a week and what a great break it was! I was getting so homesick and sad missing my family (that was the longest stretch I have ever gone without seeing them!) so I got a good fill :) I got a Neil to myself for a couple of hours, driving to calgary and back which is was so nice! And then I got to spend a few days with my mom, hanging out at her school, and finally seeing her new house! I even got to hang out with both of my aunt's and all my cousins, which I always love doing! I have such a great family, it makes me so happy! I even got to see Court and her NEW HOUSE!!! I cant believe I have good friends who are BUYING HOUSES! That seems insane! But I am so proud of her, and extremly happy for her, and the wonderful life she is building for herself!!!! But I have to be honest and say that the time I got to spend with my baby brother was my highlight! It seems like he is growing up SO fast, and so am I, I guess! Going home and not having him there was a bit hard for me - hanging out with my goofy younger brother is always what I look forward to! But I got to go to Olds, where he lives now, and go out for dinner with him, and spend time catching up. He is just so handsome and such a good kid that it just warms my heart! I CANNOT wait util Christmas when me, him and Jon all get to do fun things together!!! Here is a picture of my brother and I - he is growing his hair out for the WHOLE hockey season - something his entire team is doing! Oh dear.

I know, we look so alike right? It always takes me by suprise too! Ha ha ya right!

And then after seeing Brandon in Olds, I went to Calgary and spent a few days with my beautiful Jenny!!! This girl has been my friend since I was a crazy teenager, and she took me in as her "little sister". Jen and I have such a special bond - this girl is CRRRRAAAZY and so much fun, but surprisingly, she is the one who makes me feel calm about life. She has a way of bringing my back down to earth, and showing me the best in myself, and brings out my silly side! When I left her, my cheeks were hurting from all the laughing we did! I love that we have like 9 years of friendship behind us, and I can still call her one of my very best friends. She is someone I miss greatly, and I am just SOO happy that we got to spend some time together! She was able to help me find some perspective with life! Here is a picture of my beautiful friend:

Going home is always such a good thing - it eases that ache inside, and reminds me that I love my life here, in BC with Jon. From far away, it seems like life at home is changing so rapidly, and crazily, but in reality, it just stays the same. I mean, things change of course, but it's still home, and that doesn't change. I am looking forward to Christmas when I get to spend two weeks there (with Jon this time!) and get to actually see my Grandparents (they live in Saudi Arabia - crazy I know). YAY!

Date at Gold Stream :)

Jon and I had to drive to Victoria to return the crash mats we borrowed from PCS, and on the way Jon told me he had a surprise stop for me! He pulled over a Gold Stream and we spent an hour just walking around, taking pictures, and just laughing together. He knows that I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the fall leaves, so he thought I would like this stop - what a sweetie he is! And he was very right! It was so pretty! And it was also a lot of fun!

Most giantess leaf I have ever seen - this island produces leaves unlike anything I have ever seen!

This is us these days - happy and smiley, and just loving each other deeper
I SAT inside this tree, thats how big the hole was! Crazy!

Then we found a BIGGER one! Jake and I hid in there (Jake didnt like it too much and just wanted to get out, but I made him get in with me haha)

Then Jon found one that was super weird - he went INSIDE the tree and was able to stand up. So funny!

Standing by the stream - it was too early for the salmon run. I cant wait to go back and see it then!

Pondering nature as usual. Even Jake is interested in whatever they are looking at - what cute boys they are! Jon's love for the outdoors, and his amazement for nature makes me love him so much! He gets excited about things like streams. How cute is that!

While they were studying the stream, I was sitting on the log just taking everything in.

It was a perfect afternoon that I will remember! The times we spend together, just hanging out and having fun are my favorite. This whole year I have loved being married, but it seems like lately we have reached a new level of happiness and contentness, and it makes me SO excited for our future. Once again, I am just such a lucky girl.