Everything is Amazing, Nobody is Happy

Ok before you continue to read, check out this clip on Youtube:

Everything is Amazing, Nobody is Happy


In a world full of smart phones, HD TV's & 2-car families, we so easily lose sight of the miracles around us. Just like Louis C.K. says in the clip we get frustrated when our electronics don't work as fast as promised or when our travel times are extended past what we consider reasonable. When did we stop appreciating the simple things in life like good health, a roof over our heads & food in our bellies. Why do we swear at the slow guy in front us for making us arrive five minutes later to work? Why do we get annoyed at the trainee cashier at the grocery store that makes us wait in line for two extra minutes?

When you were asked today what you were thankful for, did you say my 42" TV...my new stylish shirt...my fast internet connection? I bet you didn't, because guess what, those things aren't that important. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all those things, but if I didn't have them would my life be so miserable? No, but if I wasn't healthy, if I was left out in torrential rain or if I was so hungry that I had to dig through garbage, I may feel a whole lot less thankful.
Moving out West and being away from our families & friends for Thanksgiving has been hard & sad, but it has made us realize how much we have to be thankful for. Here are a couple things that come to mind:

1. We have families that love & support us
2. We have a little nephew that is growing into a healthy little boy
3. We have awesome friends who keep in contact with us & are planning visits to see us
   
4. Andrew has the chance to go to school & learn all he needs to start his dream career
5. I have a job that can support us both
6. We have a smart little kitty that just adores us
7. We have great landlords
8. We are both healthy
9. We have a church community that has welcomed us with open arms
10. We have a car that works wonderfully
    

Fun in the SUN!

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining."

~John F. Kennedy~

Now would be the time to repair your roof in Vancouver;
we have had sunny, cloudless skies all this week! Andrew & I have made extra effort to soak in as much Vitamin D as possible by hiking & biking & driving with the windows down...we're preparing for the despairing months of October, November & December...dreary fall/winter months filled with endless days of rain and no sun in sight. I've been continually warned since we arrived that I may start feeling depressed in the winter months and that I should look into getting Vitamin D pills. At this point, with the weather we're having now, I'm just not convinced...

I'm not particularly sure what originally struck me about that quote,
other than the word sunshine, haha. But as I sit here in my furnished new apartment, awaiting for the man of dreams to come home in our well-running car and as I look forward to church tomorrow where I will get to connect with some wonderful new friends, I think I get what Kennedy is getting at. When the settings look optimistic, take advantage of the good you can do with it. Now that Andrew & I have transitioned into our new routines & have started to settle in here, its time to really focus on the areas of our lives that need work: our relationship with God, our finances, & our health. None of these topics are easy to discuss or work on when you feel you have fallen short of your own and your partner's expectations. In fact these may be the reason that many marriages today fail. But there is no better time to address these hard topics than now, when we have the time, the patience & the willingness to grow. That sure was some sound advice Mr.JFK!

I just want to leave you with a verse that has comforted me and inspired me in both the good & the bad times:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

~Philipians 4:6

A Love Everlasting

Don't marry the person you think you can live with;
marry only the individual you think you can't live without.
~James C. Dobson~

A year ago today I traded in a life of independence, for a life of surrender & great reward. For all of those who know me, you may know me as a small feminist, one who has always struggled with certain terminology in the Bible relating to women & their roles in the home. I grew up a tomboy, living in a "man's world", playing rough sports & NEVER wearing pink. I went on to learn a profession that is male-dominated and work in field that is rough and dirty. I'm strong-willed (the nice way of saying stubborn) and independent, so when God put Andrew into my life I had to make a change. I knew in the back of my mind and in my heart that our marriage would never last if I did not fulfill the role in our relationship that God had called me to...the role of a wife.

In Ephesians 5:22 the Bible says, "Wives, submit to your husbands...husbands love your wives." This verse used to really get on my nerves...no seriously it irritated me, it got my heart pumping and got my mouth ready to debate. My desire to be in control of all situations and have the final say did not match up with this verse at all...and it did not fair well in our relationship either. During our engagement we argued a lot...more than I had ever even argued with my sister :| It felt hopeless and at the end of each struggle I did not feel that I had accomplished anything, only frustrated myself & him.

In the summer before we got married we lived a couple hours apart & during those four months I met an amazing woman of faith who truly opened my eyes. Her name was Chelsea and she too was engaged. Over dinner one night, we were discussing that verse and I voiced my frustration. She looked at me and told me this: she was blessed to have found a man that she trusted and loved enough to submit to...the chance to surrender herself to him was a gift! She made it sound beautiful. If I loved Andrew & truly trusted my life to him, why would I not want to submit & surrender. In a healthy marriage submission is a sign of respect, of reverence, of love (and it reaps some pretty awesome rewards too ;) )!

So here's to my husband...my best friend, my stronghold and my good night kiss!

Some people come into our lives,
leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never the same.

~Unknown~

Andrew & I have been blessed with a phenomenal support system of family, friends & a very welcoming church community. While we adjust to our new life in BC, we have been very thankful to our loved ones who have been there with us every step of the way, supporting us with their prayers & encouragement. In response we would like to say to you: THANK YOU! Thank you for being patient with us as we settle. Thank you for putting on a happy face, even though you may be missing us. Thank you for understanding that while we adjust, it may take us some time before we call you :| We may seem a little wrapped up in our own lives right now, but we still really want to hear how YOU are doing & what is new in your life :)

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.
~Mike Murdock~

This week has been the first "normal" week in over a month. Andrew is in school full-time, with 6 courses and more than enough homework. I started my job with Scott Construction this week & for the first time I'm commuting....eiii :| We make our lunches in the morning & we finally get to eat dinner together every night for the first time since we've been married. Gracepoint Church has been a fantastic connection point for us, meeting new friends & providing us endless ways to get involved. God has put an amazing couple into our lives that is expecting their first child in 2 months and we're very excited to start spending more time with them. And this weekend is going to be a fun experience...Andrew's school goes on a retreat with all first years and they've invited me to come as well so we're getting pretty stoked about that.

With all the change that has taken place in the last month, this taste of normalcy has really been what I've been craving. I know that routine can be a dangerous comfort that keeps us from growing, but every so often I believe it is required, to get your feet planted and prepare for the next challenge. I've never been one for change; I would be happy to find what works well for me and stick with it. But, God had much more in store for me, and He brought Andrew into my life...a man that is as interested in routine as a teenager is in his parent's personal life. Our opposite styles have both been beneficial in this move & every time I'm down, I count on Andrew's optimism to make me smile. I am one blessed woman :)

Our Branches

Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.
~Pauline R. Kezer

Continuity is the family & friends that have brought us to where we are now. It is the lessons we've learned in order to build our foundation. It is the time we've taken to pray & dream about the future that God has in store for us.

Change is the new people that have been placed in our path to teach us & inspire us. It is the experiences that open our eyes to bigger & better opportunities. It is the moments that encourage us to become more than we ever thought possible.

Everyday, Andrew & I feel blessed by the change in our lives. We have the chance to meet lots of new people, to explore new parts of BC and to really learn to rely on God. We may have moved out here on a dream, but we have been assured everyday of His plans for us. I got news Thursday that Scott Construction would like to HIRE me...amazing! I have until Wednesday to answer them, which is perfect because I had an interview with Bouygues on Friday and then another next week with Stuart Olson.

On Thursday we shopped until we literally dropped. After 7 hours of bargain shopping & $1,500.00, we have purchased almost all the furniture for our new apartment (17 pieces to be exact)...Andrew can now officially say that he shopped for an ENTIRE day, lol!

Saturday, with the help of Uncle Chris & his friend Janet, we were able to move into our new humble abode. Our furniture doesn't arrive until Tuesday so we're currently living on a single mattress & a TV table...what else could you possibly need as a newly married couple ;)

As for today, we had one pretty awesome day. This morning we decided to visit Gracepoint Community Church for the first time. About 1 month ago I had emailed all the churches in the Lanley/Surrey area who had a GEMS program, seeing if they needed a counselor. The counselor at Gracepoint was the first to contact me & I instantly felt like this was a community that would suit both Andrew & I...and I was right! As we were leaving the sanctuary this morning we were instantly greeted by an energetic woman who had noticed us when we had walked in. In the blink of an eye, we had been introduced to the senior pastor, the new young adults pastor & the children's ministry pastor...all of whom were excited to hear that Andrew & I were looking to get involved. What a blessing...what an amazing community....what an awesome family of Christ that you can feel so welcomed, so needed, so encouraged!

We ended our weekend by taking a road trip to Whistler & checking out the village...it was so awesome!

Education is...

Andrew's quote for the day: Education is not filling a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

~William Butler Yeats

Today was a new chapter in Andrew's life...back to school to follow his dreams. I dropped him off early this morning to register, meet his classmates & choose his courses. The class is made up of a diverse group of 15 students of various ages from across Canada, all fired up to become Youth Ministry workers. He will have 7 courses which include English, Youth Ministry Management, Spiritual Formation, & his elective - Guitar for Beginners. He met some pretty interesting people today, but I'll leave that up to him to tell you.


Melissa's quote for the day: Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. ~Albert Einstein

My interview with Scott Construction went very well today. They asked me typical HR questions like "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" and "How do you deal with stress and difficult people?", but they were also more specific this time & wanted to know what type of training courses I would like to do, how I would feel working in a smaller team on site & when I would be willing to start. They seemed to respond well to my answers and they said they would get back to me very soon, which is great!

Funny story though, just like my interview with Aecon, they seemed to think I was a girly girl who wouldn't want to get her boots dirty...lol...they asked how I would feel working in a small site trailer that was dirty & had dust flying around...I laughed & said "Don't let this outfit fool you, I have no problem getting dirty, just ask my husband." Yes I know, bad response...but I believe what I said to Aecon 2 years ago was "I have no problem strapping on my boots and getting dirty" and they still hired me, haha!

Andrew and I also got to pick up the keys to our new apartment today...so stoked! Its so beautiful, we will post pics soon! Love & Miss you all!

A Place to Call Our Own

8 apartments

6 hours

1/2 tank of gas
&
1 SUCCESS

Searching for an apartment in a completely new city is always a challenge. Each neighbourhood represents a different culture & finding one that suits you is very important. I believe that a wonderful home is about more than just what the place is like on the inside...it is also about the safety & comfort of its surroundings. Well after a long day of searching Andrew & I have landed an amazing apartment, a place to call our own. It is a 2 bedroom apartment in a 1.5 year old house. The unit is brand new & the rent includes the in-suite laundry, utilities, cable & internet. We have our own little patio which means we can have a BBQ & they're currently installing a hot tub...so excited! It is a basement apartment & a 10 minute drive from the school. And the best part is the neighbourhood...they all get together for BBQ's & drinks so we'll meet people quickly.

I got a very exciting phone call today as well from my Head Hunter. On Friday I will have an interview with Bouygues Batiment International. I'm very excited about this opportunity & I will have to learn a bit more about their projects & who they are...I will keep you posted.

Well its movie night here, so I'm off! Pray for Andrew & I tomorrow as he heads off to school & my interview with Scott Construction!

~Melissa

Swept Away

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.

You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

~Bilbo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings)

Our first 3 days in the diverse & fresh city of Vancouver (& area) have swept us away. We have spent almost every waking moment taking in the sights, the sounds & the wonderfully clean smell of the city. Since Thursday, we've been on the skytrain 5 times, eaten at 4 delicious restaurants, enjoyed the nightlife 2 times & walked/hiked for a total of close to 12 hours. It has been a busy couple days, but that has been such a blessing...it keeps our minds off the sadness of moving.

We arrived at Uncle Chris' place in New Westminster around 5 PM on Thursday, took much needed showers & settled into our temporary sleeping quarters (which are absolutely stunning). Chris had already prepared dinner for us & he took us out to his favourite gelato place for dessert - they had something like 25 flavours to choose from...I was in heaven...chocolate caramel...peanut butter chocolate twist...oreo & cookie dough....oh my mouth is watering now. Needless to say, I think that may be one of our new fav places for a late night snack.

Capilano Bridge

Chris had to work on Friday, which meant that Andrew & I got to go explore on our own. We took the skytrain (our first time) down to Waterfront Station, which is right by the Canada Place & Vancouver Convention Centre. Both were gorgeous buildings that were consistently shown in the footage for the Olympics because the mountains are right across the water from them. It was a gloomy day & rainy in the city so we hopped on a free shuttle to the Capillano Suspension Bridge & got a neat tour through the city in an old trolly looking bus. We were in luck, it wasn't raining when we got to the Bridge, so we got out & did the whole tourist walk over the bridge & through the forest. It started to rain so we jumped back on the shuttle & headed back to the waterfront. Again we were lucky & the city was now sunny & warm. We spent the day touring the popular streets, shopping a little, checking out the Olympic Cauldron & walking along both the English Bay & Coal Harbour...for a whapping total of 8 hours!!! Man, if we keep this up you will be able to bounce a quarter off our bums, haha!

Yaletown

Saturday we got the luxury of sitting back as Chris took us around the greater Vancouver area, showing us his favourite spots. We went to snazzy West Vancouver for lunch, trendy Yaletown for a drink, & a bunch of other neat places. My cousins showed up later that day with our Uhaul, which we quickly unloaded into the garage...lets just say 4500 km with a Uhaul was starting to get to them & they were ready to be free of it. Andrew & I ended up going downtown with the boys for a drink, which was awesome! We went to a tavern style bar that doubled as a hostel for travellers. We met young people from all over the world...France, Ireland, England, Germany...the list keeps going...the funny part is that we only chose it because it didn't have a line up....so I guess the lesson here is: its worth a try!

Granville Street @ Night

So our night was a lot of fun, but what happened next was EPIC! We were grabbing some streetmeat, trying to figure out how to get home...the skytrain was no longer running & we were a good 25 minutes from home. Well up drives a stretch limo...it slowly goes past us...it stops about 10 metres from us...we look at each other. Andrew & Darrell walk over to the driver "How much for you to take us to Coquitlam?" The driver replies "$90.00"....SOLD! We all hop in, feeling like movie stars & we start driving. My cousins start yelling out the window hilarious things like "I'm Tom Cruise, ya!" or "Lady Gaga is in here!" It made my night!

Journey of a Lifetime: Day 5

Day 5
Hours driven by Andrew: 3.5
Hours driven by Melissa: 5.0
Kilometers: 800
Pee Stops: 4

A house is made of walls & beams; a home is built with love & dreams. ~Unknown

This quote really sums up how I'm feeling right now. We arrived in Vancouver today just after 4 PM & it felt so good to have finally reached our destination. I believe with all my heart that this last week driving across Canada has truly given Andrew & I the assurance that we can make our dreams come to life, we really can. We dreamt about moving away & going on a big adventure when we were engaged & God has really guided us to where we are now. I won't say that it has been easy leaving our family, our friends, a job I loved & a community of faith that has supported us since we were born, but I saw Vancouver for the first time and my heart was at peace. This is where we are called to be...this is where Andrew will get the chance to live out his dream & develop his skills....this is where we will grow together in our marriage....this is where I will get the oppurtunity to work for a new company & make new connections. We may not have a house of our own yet, but we really do have a home built of our dreams & our love for eachother & the Lord.

I checked my emails this evening and I was pleasantly surprised to see two very important messages waiting for me:

1. From Scott Construction - they would like to meet me next Wednesday for another interview
2. From a landlord in the Surrey area - they have a 2 bedroom place just minutes from Andrew's school & they haven't even listed it yet - we're going to see it Monday

Praise GOD, seriously! One of the hardest parts of moving for me has been the uncertainty & by recieving this emails it has given me even more confidence. I'll keep you updated on the status, keep your fingers crossed for us!

Journey of a Lifetime: Day 4

Day 4
Hours driven by Andrew: 3.0
Hours driven by Melissa: 0.0
Kilometers: 310
Pee Stops: 1

Today was by far our most exciting and active day yet. We had a great night at Terri's place, got a great rest & had fun in the morning trying to convince Kitkat to leave her new found friends...by the morning she was walking around like she owned the place! We went for brunch at Brittany's & then when on a hike just outside of Cochrane...we started off at this insane pace & I swear I was halfway up the first incline & my body (ie. torn ACL) starting screaming "TURN AROUND," but I of course did not listen & we hiked another 25 minutes before we finally turned around. I came to regret this decision later that night...but you'll have to wait to read about that later.

We said our goodbye's to Britt and headed off to Radium Hot Springs to meet up with my cousins, who had made it there a night earlier. The drive was glorious...3.0 hours & barely any traffic. The boys were out canoeing when we got into town so we did the tourist thing & spent an hour or so at the hot spring pools...they were so much hotter than when we were there for our honeymoon a year ago, it was awesome! While relaxing in the shade we got to talking with this huge Maple Leafs fan that had lived in Red Deer Alberta his old life...no word of a lie, can you say Leaf Nation :) He was a father of three boys who had met his wife at Bible College 38 years ago...he was a very wise man and he told us that the secret to a happy marriage includes two things: 1. Have Christ the centre of your relationship & 2. Turn off the TV & go for a walk with each other. I don't think he could have put it more simply & so Andrew & I have decided to really take his advice to heart & live it out.

Anyhow we finally met up with my cousins just after dinner & we headed off to this remote campsite that overlooked the valley. We set up camp, made a fire & enjoyed an evening of drinks, great stories & lots of laughs. Now back up a second...by set up camp I did not mean that we set up a tent to sleep in...I mean that we pulled out all of our clothes & bags from the car in order to make more room in the CAR for sleeping...yea so not comfortable! But here's the funny part of the evening for you: Well as I mentioned earlier, the hike was very hard on my bunged up knee & lets remember that we went camping...in a remote location without toilets. Yep so here I am, I've had a lot of coffee/water/energy drinks that day & I need to go (in camping terms I need to "pop-a-squat")...so off I trek away from the boys, I crouch down and...I fall over. Yep, I fell over. My knee was so worn out from our hike that everytime I tried to crouch I would just tumble over...I will spare you any other details, but let me tell you that I will be listening to my body next time it says "turn around!"

On that note, good night!

Journey of a Lifetime: Day 3

Day 3

Hours driven by Andrew: 5.0

Hours driven by Melissa: 2.5

Kilometers: 820

Pee Stops: 3

Today we’re treating ourselves to a short drive & some tourist activities. We woke up after a fantastic night of sleep, packed up our little family (KitKat, Andrew & I) and headed off to next destination: Calgary. We were more on the ball this morning & gave Kitkat her calming medicine (ie. sedative) before we left, in hope that she would enjoy the drive a little more today….or at least be zonked out for the majority of it.

We crossed into Alberta and it had not even been 5 km when we say 3 men on horseback wearing cowboy hats…Andrew exclaimed with childlike enthusiasm “Look REAL cowboys!” I almost died of laughter. The rest of Alberta was very much the same…rolling hills, cows, pickup trucks & more REAL cowboys. We arrived in Calgary at 3 PM & went straight for the carwash. You would not believe the build up of bugs we had gotten in the last 3 days…it looked like a carpet on the front of the car…we couldn’t even see our license plate! Disgusting I tell you!

We then made our way to Cochrane, a little town NorhWest of Calgary where my friends Terri & Brittany live. We had ice cream at MacKay’s & then met T.dot at Olive R Twist for dinner….delicious! After dinner we rented “The Back-up Plan” (which was cheesy but wonderful) & went back to Terri’s new condo…gorgeous! The funny part was watching KitKat and T’s 2 cats attack/play with each other all night…I think they will be best of friends by morning.

Well its sleepy time, I’ll write again soon.

Mel

Journey of a Lifetime: Day 2

Day 2
Hours driven by Andrew: 7.5
Hours driven by Melissa: 9.0
Kilometers: 1647
Pee Stops: 4

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream.

~Author Unknown

Today was all about perseverance. We began our day around 7 AM, grabbing continental breakfast from the hotel & taking extra bagels for our lunch (hehehe, at least we got our money’s worth). Our plan was to drive 12 hours to Winnipeg, assuming everything went well at the border. After our 10.5 hour drive yesterday 12 seemed attainable, especially if Andrew let me drive for some of it, haha! Well an hour into our drive we got a message from my cousin who is driving out our Uhaul & he said that they were planning to make it to Regina that night. We thought, “Hmmm Regina is only another 5 hours…we could do that.” Well, let me tell you we were a little crazy…17 hours in a car with a stressed out shedding cat…17 hours in a car with your tired spouse…17 hours in a car through Northern Minnesota & across the Prairies…BORING.

It was a long day without a doubt, but well worth it. We arrived in Regina around 11 PM their time (1:00 AM Ontario time) & were blessed to be able to spend the night at a family friend’s place. We had called Andrew’s mom earlier that day with the thought that maybe we could crash at Jane & Stefan’s house for the night & about 3 hours later we got a call saying it was a go. AMAZING! That meant that not only had we cut off a day of driving, but now we didn’t have to pay for a hotel…plus the bed at their place was much more comfortable! Tomorrow we set off for Calgary…I’m very excited to visit with my two best friends that live out there!

Journey of a Lifetime: Day 1

Day 1
Hours driven by Andrew: 10.5
Hours driven by Melissa: 0
Kilometers: 800
Pee Stops: 2

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. ~Lao Tzu

Today marked the first day of a new chapter in our lives...and we couldn't be more excited/nervous! We finished our good byes to our family & friends and set off on the 4500 km trek across the States & Canada to our new home: VANCOUVER.

Our hope for today was to arrive in Marquette, MI around 9 PM, but as any avid border-crosser knows, you can never guess how long your wait may be at the border. We were probably about a kilometer away from the Blue Water Bridge when traffic came to a dead stop...by dead I mean people were shutting off their cars and going to the porta-potties! Once traffic began to inch forward everyone had to merge from 6 to only 3 lanes (well except for those Nexus pass holders, I shook my fist at them and their zero wait times!)

This black car kept trying to sneak in & Andrew was hellbent on keeping his spot in line, but I convinced him that one car wouldn't make a difference. Well the car ended up being driven by a traveling Christian speaker who was just returning from a conference in Toronto (Andrew's dream job). We talked for about half an hour while we waited to get on the bridge & Andrew got his information & promised to call him up one day. The gentlemen wished a blessing on us & as we were crossing the toll booth the cashier told us that the black car had paid our way...amazing! So 1.5 hours later we were successfully in the States & a whole $3.00 richer....I know it was only $3.00, but that $3.00 to me was yet another sign that this is where we are supposed to be...God has been so good to us and everyday He gives me more confidence in this decision to move.

Funny thought for the day: We passed through two towns today that gave us a chuckle:

1. Gaylord...need I say more?
   
2. Christmas... can you imagine going to visit someone there..."Yep I'm going to my parent's for Christmas in Christmas"...

A Great Step of Faith

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "...plans to give you hope & a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This verse has been my comfort in the last month as Andrew & I work to get every in order to move to Vancouver. From the job-searching to the packing & then to the tearful good-byes, it is our faith that the Lord has plans for us out West that has kept us upbeat & ready to take on the challenge.

A few weeks ago we had found two amazing apartments, both of which fell into our price range & fit what we were looking for. Unfortunately, due to the fact that they had never met us, they chose to rent their places to other couples. This devastated me as we were only 2.5 weeks away from moving & we now had no home to move to. I called my wonderful mother in tears & she very quickly reminded me of the reason we were moving out West...because we felt God calling us on an adventure. Perhaps this has become a bigger adventure than I expected, but I am most positive that is God's doing, having Andrew & I rely fully on Him, having faith that His plans are greater than we can imagine.

Andrew is so excited to start school & can't wait to choose his courses once we get out there. His first 2 years will be sent in a specialized program through the Youth Ministry Institute at Pacific Life. These first years will earn him a diploma and if he wishes, he can continue for another 2 years and receive his Bachelor's degree in Pastoral Leadership.

As for myself, I do not have a job lined up yet, but I have a couple great prospects. I have already had a phone interview with Scott Construction (a sister company to Aecon) and they told me that it looked "positive" but they wanted to meet me first. I hope to meet them the week after we arrive & see what they have to offer. If that does not work out, I have been in contact with a Head Hunter out West now & he will be my best contact for job postings. I'm a little anxious about moving without a job, but armed with 2 great reference letters & a year of specialized hospital redevelopment experience I know that I will be a great asset to a company.

Everyone continually tells us that we will never move back to Ontario, but I have a million reasons why I know we will (here are just a few):

1. Our families are here - we will miss them being that far away
2. I love the seasons here....I have a feeling the rain is going to get to me
3. Our friends are here - we can't ok their bf's or gf's if we can't bug them in person
   
4. I want to come back and see the hospital I'm working on all finished
5. I'm going to miss the smog in Toronto....who likes clean mountain air anyway?
6. If we stay past Andrew's schooling we have to apply for BC health insurance....no thank you
7. I don't want to change our license plate to a BC plate....white & blue is better
8. Andrew wants to be around for his little bro as he finishes highschool, gets his first gf, goes off to university, etc.
9. Andrew & I want to be around to teach our little nephew how to play soccer, how to make excessive amounts of noise & of course how to make fun of grandpa
10. And last but not least, we want to be around our families as we start a family of our own

Peace out for now, Melissa

June at its Finest

June is coming to a close so fast, I can barely keep up with it. We are only 8 weekends away from moving out West & every weekend we have jam-packed with family, friends & fun outings. Oh how this summer is going to fly by!

Our last couple weeks have been awesome! Last weekend we rented this sweeeeeet cottage in Bayfield & invited 12 of our good friends. The cottage was amazing....clean, huge & affordable for a large group. It was an actual log cabin with 4 bedrooms, an indoor hot tub, a sauna & a great patio/firepit. We spent the Friday night around the fire making smores & hanging out in the hot tub with some refreshing drinks.

Saturday we went to the beach & spent the afternoon in the small town of Bayfield...it was such a cute little place. We made delicious shish-kabobs for dinner & then headed back to the beach/pier for the sunset.


My manly husband (haha) caught a huge pike & took it home to eat...it was his first big catch.

As Sunday was Father's day, we spent the afternoon with the MacGregor's in Grand Bend & then headed to Guelph to see the Meems'. It has been great to see our families almost every weekend, we're really taking advantage of the time we have left this summer. It's also exciting to see our nephew Bennett so often because he is changing & growing up so fast...every time we see him, he has gotten cuter, more aware & is really starting to react when you talk to him.

Our New Car

After much searching, negotiating & frustration, we have finally purchased a new car...YAY!

Our '98 Taurus (ie. the BEAST) has been good to us....well I mean it only had problems with the starter, alternator, battery, wheel bearing, ball joints, air conditioning, heater, and did I mention the broken head gaskette!!! But hey the radio still works...I think it is fair to say that Andrew & I will be glad to see it go, even if it was free.

Aside from our frustrations with OUR Taurus, we liked it enough to buy a 2004 this week. This model is a little less grandma-looking & still offers the 3.0L V6 engine & tons of interior space. Now all we have to do is install a towing package on it and we're ready to drive 4500 km to Vancouver! Wooo hooo!