An Instrument of Peace

Last Sunday, at St. Mary's Anglican Church, during a simple congregational prayer response written by St. Francis of Assisi, I was overwhelmed by simple words:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Those who know me, know I love words. Each year, I choose a word as a theme to focus on. In the past, the words have been simple ones such as joy, hope, beloved. Leading up to each new year, I start meditating on words and themes. During this past month, I have been thinking about what life would look like if I really put others before myself. It is amazing how life works itself out as during that Sunday morning service last week, I knew that my theme for 2008 will not be a single word but a prayer. The prayer is simple but the reality of living it is not. What I have learned from the past is the chosen words/themes reveal truth and learning I could not comprehend at the beginning. I do not know if seeking to live this prayer is possible but I know that it is an area I need to explore. What would my life look like if I became an instrument of peace?

Holiday brunch

Yesterday, I hosted my annual holiday brunch. I am kicking myself because I didn't take pictures. I could have taken pictures of the mess I had to clean up afterwards but it was not pretty.

I love cooking for people but seem to never get around to it so my Christmas get-together makes up for a year of slacking. There were about 15 people (& children - oh how the demographics change as we age). It was a good mix of people and they were all life-friends of mine....except for my boss who I have just met this year. [It is interesting to have your manager in your personal life but I invited her because we are kindreds. I am blessed to have her as someone I can learn from. There is not a day that goes by without her teaching me something about philanthropy or discussing deep life issues. ]

Despite having great people around me at the brunch, I felt some disappointment with other friends of mine. There is a trend towards no-shows or not responding at all to an invitation or even cancelling at the very last minute. It is disappointing because as a host you choose your guests because you want to share time and food with them. I am odds with myself on what to do with such friends. One-on-one, I have good times with them but should I still invite them to group things if I know I will again be disappointed with their non-chalance? I did learn from my last couple of brunches. Previous years I hosted the brunch on two different Saturdays leading up to Christmas with plans for between 10-15 guests at each brunch. But due to no-show rates and cancellation, there were a couple of brunches of only 5 or 6 people and lots of left-overs. This year, my intelligence kicked it up a notch and I invited everyone on the same day and it worked out great.

I truly appreciate my life-friends. They are very dear to my heart and life. I would do anything to help them out in need. When we spend together, we always wonder why we don't see each other more often. One of my New Year's suggestions for 2008 is to have intentional time together with my life-friends and their families.

Oh, I almost forgot about the most important part of the brunch...no, not the Baileys for the coffee and the rum for the eggnog. The food: We had eggs benedict with wilted spinach/portabello mushrooms or smoked salmon with home-made hollandaise sauce, Land of Nod cinnamon buns, Schwartzies potatoes, mezza platter (olives, goat cheese, fig sauce, crackers, red peppers, carrots, grape tomatoes, gouda, etc) and shortbread cookies and fudge to top it off. All crowd favourites - although I had to explain the art of the eggs bennie to a couple of people! Seriously, eggs bennie is the food of the gods!

it's the most wonderful time

OK, so I will admit it, there is definitely a feeling of excitement about Christmas stirring within me. In 2 weeks, I will be at mom and dad's for the holiday. Since Christmas is probably my favorite holiday (Easter is a close second), here is a list of the ten things I love about Christmas (in no particular order):

1) The mandarin orange in the toe of my stocking
2) The fact everyone must be up before anyone can open their stocking
3) Singing carols, reading from Luke or Matthew, sometimes sharing and meditating on Christmas before opening presents (the calm before the storm)
4) Turkey and stuffing
5) Boney M - "Feliz Navidad"
6) Christmas Eve services and the food afterwards
7) Trimming the tree
8) O Holy Night - only the best Christmas Carol ever
9) After Eight chocolates
10) Everyone helping with breakfast clean-up

That is my list for today! Merry Christmas to all. Peace to you this holiday season. To my family, I will see you all very soon. I can barely wait. Only 14 more sleeps until I see you and only 19 until Christmas day.

Mother Pray

Tonight, sitting at my computer listening to the CD "There will be a Light" by Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama (v. good, by the way), I was overwhelmed by the simplicity of song #9 called Mother Pray - a traditional spiritual song:

If I could only hear my mother pray again
If I could hear her tender voice as then
How happy I would be
It would mean so much to me
If I could hear my mother pray again

Listen to it. I am thankful today for a mother who prays. I come from a strong heritage of women who pray. Thank you, my dear mom.

the results of nothing

The doing nothing is not as easy as it sounds. Perhaps it has more to do with finding un-scheduled time and choosing what you want to do...if so, then I am a pro at doing nothing this week. Today, I got out of bed at 9am, read the newspaper over breakfast, talked to my sister who is bored because she actually has to do nothing due to recent surgery, went shopping at H&M, Staples, Michaels and Indigo. Stopped by at the library, borrowed some books and came home for a bite to eat. Tonight is going to be "chock-a-block" full of reading new magazines(a small addiction of mine) and perhaps delving into one of the books from the library... Time really flies when you are not on a schedule and just take life as it come.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I had 3 days out of 9 days where I was doing nothing. Today was official day one where I just went where the "wind" blew me. It was lovely not to be rushed but to meander.

On the weekend, I wasn't so much into the doing nothing but I did hermit myself away to paint my bedroom. The color was "Pineapple Sundae" and on the paint chip, it was a lovely pale yellow. On my walls however, it is a "bit" brighter. Using color is a big step for me because I prefer the neutral browns, whites, blues but here's the new look:

Now my room is fresh, bright, organized and clean. Sometimes that is all a girl needs...a sanctuary of her own.

The Beauty of Doing Nothing

The day has arrived - I am on vacation and have 9 glorious days off.

In anticipation of this time-off, I sat down 2 weeks ago and made a list of things I wanted to accomplish during these 9 days. As some of you know, I love making lists. So I scheduled my tasks...they included everything from cleaning my carpets to taking my recycling to the depot to booking a massage to lunch with friends to painting my bedroom and much more.

However, I was absolutely dismayed when I saw how fast my precious 9 days filled up with errands, to-do's and obligations. As much as I love lists, this list left me unsettled.

That same day, I started reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love". The author spends 4 months in Italy where she discovers the Italian phrase "il bel far niente" which translates to "the beauty of doing nothing." This phrase hit me like a...I want to say "a bolt of lightning or ton of bricks" but it seems rather cliche. Regardless, the idea of doing nothing shook me to my very being.

Now, I can procrastinate with the best of them and accomplish nothing but that is not the same thing as "doing nothing". If I am procrastinating or not doing anything, I can become overwhelmed with guilt. We live in a world where what you do defines you. So, if I do nothing, am I nothing? Doing nothing would be challenging for me because I like to accomplish things. I like to check things off my list. The busyness energizes me.

After contemplating this idea for awhile, I realized to truly enjoy "the beauty of doing nothing", it boils down to your intent and pleasure derived from it. In light of this revelation, I re-visited my list of things to do. I decided that I would only do things that will bring me pleasure for my time-off. I do want to return to work somewhat rested. So, I took some things off the list and re-organized some other things. I now have 3 days where I have no plans...oh, I can't wait to do nothing intentionally. Perhaps I will go to Banff and do nothing up there...or walk to a coffee shop and doing nothing there for a couple of hours...or sit and listen to the silence for a while.

I have a sneaky suspicion this may be easier said than done but perhaps this is a lesson I need to learn.

Doubled by Wonder

Many magazines in the stores feature American Thanksgiving stories, ideas and it is a good reminder to be thankful as Canadian Thanksgiving seems like a distant memory now.

Today, I read about how the Real Simple editor says five things she is thankful before she gets out of bed each morning. I thought about that...perhaps it would inspire me to want to get up each day.

I have a friend where we used to email each other regularily about 3-5 things that made us happy or thankful. We have fallen out of the habit. I should email her. Well, here is what I am thankful for today:
1) Zach Light's giggles
2) The freedom to leave work early on a Friday afternoon
3) Little boxes of Smarties available only around Halloween
4) Cooking for people
5) Going home for Christmas - my ticket has been purchased.


I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

My new crush

I was born fifty years too late.

I am in love with an older man. Actually, I have a crush on who the man was fifty years ago.

Perhaps it is unladylike to think such lustful thoughts but seriously...I watched him in the film "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" last night. Sensuality oozes from his every pore.

He has aged gracefully and beautifully, makes a great salad dressing, is a philanthropist and has stayed married to his wife for almost 50 years.

How can you not have a crush on him?

Need I say more?

random ramblings of a crazed mind

This may be a dis-jointed, rambling, ranting or non-sensical blog because my mind is fairly jumbled these days. Work is fabulous but I have never been so busy or worked so hard before in my career. The great thing is the end of this craziness is nearer than it was yesterday - it will be over November 2 and then it will die down to a normal busyness. I was going to provide a play-by-play of the insanity but once I wrote it, it was actually quite annoying and slightly boring. So instead, here are some thoughts to share with you:

• On Monday, Calgary had it's municipal election. My protest vote regarding our mayor didn't really make an impact but I voted none the less. A small rant here- I do not understand why there was only 24% voter turnout... for starters, 100 years ago, as women we were not considered people and thus could not vote - we should vote purely because we have the right to! The apathy drives me batty. Also, you have no right to complain if you don't vote.
• Also on Monday, I attended a fundraiser for women in Afghanistan. At the event, there was a photo exhibition from recent elections in Afghanistan. It showed Afghan women striving to make a difference while still facing extreme dangers. One of the photos showed a long line-up of Afghan women waiting to vote because they finally had a voice. Now, there is a country struggling to become a democracy and the women recognize they have the right, the privilege and the duty to speak up. This gives us yet another reason why we should vote in Canada.
• At the VIP reception of the above mentioned fundraiser, we had the chance to meet David Suzuki. But I passed on the opportunity because the desire to meet famous people baffles me. And really, what was I going to say to him.... "uh, I take the bus to work and recycle (sometimes)?" Well, since the crowd around him was on the larger side, there were less people at the food tables which had lots of yummy Afghan food....a much more satisfying experience for us. Funny enough, David Suzuki did flip my colleague the bird...okay, not really, he just happened to be scratching his face with his middle finger as he walked past us.
• Today, I discovered there is no better way to start a day than with a cup of Second Cup Butter Pecan flavoured coffee and a business meeting with a v. good looking man. And there is no better way to spend a lunch hour than with fast-food Japanese cuisine and conversations with intelligent women.
• I have learned a lesson in the past couple of weeks - when you have gone to bed and are in the semi-conscious state of half-sleep, don't call yourself at work or write yourself a note to remind yourself about something seemingly important. It will end up being a scrawled note like "Baby carrots online" or a crazy voicemail about writing to your step-brother in Saudi Arabia. Yes, I write this from personal experience. I did save the voicemail to remind myself not to take myself or my work too seriously. After all, it is just giving away money and not life & death.

Speaking of giving away money, tomorrow I will be driving to Edmonton to do just that - I truly love my job!

Take a walk when autumn comes to town

Autumn Song

Leaves of brown they fall to the ground

And it's here, over there leaves around

Shut the door, dim the lights and relax

What is more, your desire or the facts

Pitter patter the rain falling down

Little glamor sun coming round

Take a walk when autumn comes to town.

(Van Morrison)

Today, upon the suggestion of my sister, I took a walk down in Fish Creek Park on this lovely fall day. Around every corner, memories from my childhood and youth greeted me. I loved this park growing up...the long summer days of riding our bikes from Babo Grove to Sikome Lake...the winter picnics with friends during high school...walks as a family on Sunday afternoons. Wandering the paths makes you forget there is a city with a million citizens just over the hill. I realize I need to visit this park more often. With the mountains in my backyard and Fish Creek Park on my doorstep, there is no excuse for not enjoying it, especially in the fall. Many of the leaves are gone now but there is still so much beauty in the barreness of the trees.

Robert F. Kennedy speech ~ Mindless Menace of Violence

I watched the movie "Bobby" tonight. For the first time, the realization of RFK's greatness hit me. He was a leader with a timeless vision for the United States and the world in the late 1960's. His message still needs to be heard today to remind ourselves that we are all brothers and sisters.

In looking for some of his speeches online, I came across this Youtube video which uses his "Mindless Menace of Violence" speech against some of the images from 1968 and during the past 40 years. Although the images are focused on American events and issues, hatred and violence thrives in every country.

Secrets and more

I have three things to share and they all have to do with secrets (kinda). I think in our secrets we find how connected we actually are with one another. Sometimes it is in our secrets that we become kindreds with other souls. I love how C.S. Lewis puts it - "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one."

Now, don't worry I am not going to bare my soul here. There is a time and place for that but I am thinking that a public blog is not that time or place. But these are just a few things I find joy in and wanted to share with the one or two people that have nothing better to do than read my ramblings. (thank you for reading by the way!)

The first thing I want to share is Postsecret. Check it out http://postsecret.blogspot.com/. It started innocently as an art installation and it has taken a life of its own. Every Sunday, the site is updated with 20 new secrets. Anonymous people send in their secrets. In these secrets lie our humanity. In reading them, it amazes me how similar we all are. Not to mention, the site satisfies the spy in me. It gives a glimpse of others. Here is an example:

My second thing to share would be what I would put on a Postsecret card. I secretly love to watch the New York Sunday Times Wedding/Celebration videos. They are 4 minute (approx.) videos on how a couple meets and falls in love and gets engaged. If you ever doubt love or its existence in our world, I challenge you to watch these videos and not have a smile on your face at the end of each one. There is a new video every Sunday and even a cynic like me believes in love afterwards. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/fashion/weddings/index.html.

My third thing to share is the Blogger Play tool. My fellow bloggers may have seen this on Blogger but if you have a few minutes, click on this http://play.blogger.com/. It displays in real time the images posted on blogs around the world. Similar to Postsecret, it makes you realize that no matter where we live, what we do for a living, who our family is, we are all human and there is much that unites us. Often I find time slips quickly by as the pictures mesmerize me in the "slideshow" - it reminds me there is alot of goodness and love in the world.

Do you remember show & tell from elementary school? You would share something that was really valuable to you. Well, this is my show & tell for today.

My life is my cathedral

Last year, I heard a song called Cathedral by Karla Anderson (a great Alberta songwriter/singer) and the lyrics really resonated with me. I shared the song with my close friends and one of those friends just sent me this random email about it. Before I share what her email said, I wanted to share the lyrics with you... the song is both beautiful and haunting.

Cathedral(Karla Anderson)


Well I’m building my cathedral
And simple though it seems
The foundation’s here, the walls are up
And love supports the beams
Everyday I’m adding something new
Everyday it’s taking shape
It’s designed by a master craftsman
You know it’s built by the choices I make


My life is my cathedral
And the doors are never closed
But I’m always under construction
So wear your hardhat and watch your toes


Well maybe when you come here
We’ll find a comfy place to rest
Yes, or maybe we’ll need to renovate
After we have confessed
When you look at it you may see beauty
Or you may see the cracks and the flaws
But I just hope that you’ll stay for awhile
And you’ll visit me because


My life is my cathedral
It’s a house of dominoes
It’s just systematically falling down
When life deals out the blows
Well the altar’s washed with tears here
The windows are a little blurred
There’s a simple silly beauty
That to some might seem absurd
Some walls are painted wildly
Some rooms you will never see
Hey but if you come in peace my friend
You can take a tour with me


My life is my cathedral
And the work is never done
It’s a labor of love, it’s a masterpiece
And the fun has just begun
When you look at it you may see beauty
Or you may see the cracks and the flaws
But I just hope that you’ll stay for awhile
And visit me because


My life is my cathedral
And the doors are never ever closed
But, I’m always under construction
Always under construction
I’m just always under construction
So wear your hardhat and watch your toes

(Karla Anderson/Lefty Was Right Music) SOCAN ©2002


The song always gives me hope because it is okay if I don't get everything done today. It is okay to be changing. It is okay to be broken and sometimes a little rumpled and messy.

Back to the email my friend sent me - she pasted a story she read on a blog about cathedrals and life. Here is an edited excerpt from that blog (I have no idea whose it is but it is good stuff!)

The woman began by describing a gift someone gave her when she was feeling rather un-noticed for all the sacrificing she did....

"It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: “To ---, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”

Here are four truths about cathedrals... No one can say who built the great cathedrals– we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

Legend has it that wealthy man who came to a cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. Puzzled, he asked, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that no one will ever see.” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.”

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.”

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree."


I supposed it's just another way to see our lives as a cathedral.

A swap-a-rama - oh my!

Today was "Swap-a-rama" day!

It is the event of the year where friends get together and exchange items. Basically, you bring items which is still beautiful or worthy but you are just not using. At the swap-a-rama, you choose from other people's beautiful, worthy but un-used items. It is like shopping without the sticker shock or Visa bill. This time around, it was at my place. So I whipped up a Mediterranean mezza feast along with some good wine. Mmm good!

After the food, the swapping began! Oh, the good things to choose from. The great thing is that whatever is left at the end is given to charity so everyone benefits. We had a couple of people who didn't make it to the swap (always disappointing) but they really missed out! Here is what I picked up:

• 2 chair covers
• 1 turquoise bowl
• 2 brooches
• 1 pendant
• 1 key/mail holder
• 1 purse
• 1 metal container
• 1 rolling pin
• 1 lantern

Labouring on Labour Day

As some of you knew, I worked on Labour Day Weekend. There is some irony to that considering it is a holiday to give the worker a break. Hmmm...but I really can't complain because I was in Banff and woke up to this view from my hotel window both mornings.

In addition, I planned a great event (if I do say so myself) for about 100 people. A little exclusive dinner reception for a few of our clients which went off with barely a hitch. Here is a pre-event look.

After the event, I sat down and listened to four of the top string quartets in the world compete at The Banff Centre. Good food, good music...have I mentioned before that I love my job!

For Nicole Part deux

My sister, Nicole, made me a beautiful skirt earlier this summer and all I had to do was complete a buttonhole and make a drawstring thing-y (yes, that is the technical term). Nicole was sure it would take me a year to complete it. And honestly, I thought it may take me that long but thanks to this most productive weekend of sorting and fixing my wardrobe in preparation for fall, I completed the skirt. So, dear sister, this photo is for you. Thank you for your kindness! You inspire me in more ways than being productive. You have a generous heart!

(Please ignore the mirror that needs to be desperately cleaned - I may get to it in the next year or so.)

Productivity

(Credit: This picture is from her family's Picasa album)

This blog is dedicated to my sister Nicole who astounds me with her busy life. I am in awe of how she does it all without going insane (perhaps it is the insanity that keeps her going?)

So here is my Nicole Day...It is not even noon on Saturday morning and I feel I have accomplished so much on my to-do list. Have done laundry, made pancakes with strawberries(along with eggs and coffee for breakfast), read the newspaper, taken recycling to the depot, went to IKEA for a few necessities and returned books to the library. I know these are "v. exciting" tasks but who knows, with this high I am getting from my uber-productivity, I may even finish the drawstring on the skirt Nicole made for me instead of waiting a year to complete it.

Maybe this afternoon, I will do all my sewing projects (hemming pants, fixing buttons, etc), audit my wardrobe to make room for fall clothes, write my will, paint something, put hooks up in my bathroom, install a rod in my laundry room, plan a dinner party & Swap-a-rama for September... Oh the thrill of it all and there is still half a day to go!

Dedicated to the Peacemakers

Last night, I went to a home viewing of the documentary "I Know I'm Not Alone" - by musician Michael Franti. If you are irritated, frustrated, angry and saddened beyond comprehension at the human cost of war, this doc is for you.

In the film, Franti visits Baghdad, Israel and occupied Palestine to talk to people that are affected by war and occupation of troops. He plays his guitar and speaks with farmers, soldiers, musicians, mothers, doctors and children about their wishes, ideas and hopes for peace. Check out http://www.iknowimnotalone.com/ for more background.

If you do watch this doc, your view of war will be forever changed and your yearning for peace will overwhelm.

The pain of losing a loved one in war is the same no matter what side of the conflict you are on. One life lost is too much. Do economic, political or religious reasons for war justify the death of a child? If only everyone could see every person as their own brother, neighbour, mother, sister, father, child or friend....

The Perks of the Job

Tonight I was invited to see Josh Groban in concert at the Saddledome. I decided to go but not because I am a fan. (I only knew one of his songs which sadly or ironically I actually did not really even know as I called it "You Lift Me Up" and the song is actually "You Raise Me Up." ) But I digress.

I decided to go to the concert because I was going to be sitting in a private suite with unlimited food and drinks and a private bathroom and a straight on view of the stage. This is just one of the perks of my job - it is a tough gig but someone's got to do it. White wine and pizza, popcorn and Perrier - Good fun!

Actually, the concert was even pretty great. He had this amazing violinist - Lucia Micarelli who could rock out on the violin. I have never seen a violin played with such passion. And the other band members were quite captivating as well.

However, while all the women in the audience were oooing over Mr. Groban, his guitarist had my attention...that guy brought sexy to the Saddledome. The way he played his instrument was mesmerizing - his name is Tariqh Akoni - see http://www.tariqh.com/. Sorry, Josh...you have a great voice but your friend Tariqh knows how to move. And that, my friends, is my review of the Josh Groban AWAKE tour concert in Calgary.

God is in the details

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt God is involved in the details of our lives. The adoption of Zachary Light proves it for me. My cousin and his wife have a son and there are countless ways where God showed up at just the right place and time to orchestrate this adoption. This blog may not be the place to share all the connections and timings and although some people would say it is just coincidence, I would call it God. Little Zach will never lack love in his life. He is blessed as are we all with his arrival. To celebrate, a "Happy Adoption Day" celebration took place on August 6th in Lethbridge. Here are some pictures:

Daddy Jeremy tying balloons to the tree for the party

The man of the hour - little Zach - taking in all in stride.

Glenda, Jessica and her two girls singing "Welcome to the Family"

Zachary (in the plaid shirt) surrounded by a couple of his cousins.

Okay, so this picture has nothing to do with Zach's adoption but these dragonflies kept landing on me and I think they are beautiful...that is why I included it.

I do not claim to understand how God can be involved in the minute and the cosmos simultaneously but in the same way I do not comprehend free will and his plan for my life. However, this is why I am in awe of God on a continual basis. Not understanding allows me to worship. Seeking to understand causes me to love. What I know for sure is God is good and he does want his children to have joy!

Photos of the fun

Here are some pictures of my summer thus far:

This is a scene from my friend Punam's docu-drama she filmed in Edmonton. I was a production assistant on set. For more information about the film, check out http://www.thelessonfilm.com/

The windmill farm I came across on my way to the Great Canadian Barn Dance. There is something beautiful about these machines.

My sister Wendy. On my way to Vancouver Island, I popped by Vancouver to see her...she was not so cooperative with the pictures. Sorry Wendy! It is the only picture I have of you from my trip.

My mom and I on Qualicum Beach...it was a blustery day as you can tell from our hair - especially mine. We walked along the beach and got quite wet wading in the tidal pools.

The feet of Cordelia, Nan, Papoo and Aunty Sara taken by a 3 1/2 year old little girl named Cordelia.

Speaking of the 3 1/2 year old, she loved the game "You can't take a picture of me"...I won!


I really don't favor my niece over my nephew but I have no great pics of Judah because he is always so active...running or biking. Here is Miss Cordelia and Aunty Sara again.

A deep breath

In response to my previous post, I have been able to carve out this evening as Sara Time. The new IKEA catalogue arrived in the mail. I am going for a walk and taking my journal, the catalogue and my thoughts with me. I may end up at the Starbucks down the road...what a great and relaxing plan.
I do still have a bit of volunteer newsletter writing to do but it is almost complete and if not, I may finish it at lunch tomorrow.
Speaking of volunteering, besides thinking I may be crazy because my life is busy already, I just started volunteering for an organization called ChristmasFuture. (see www.christmasfuture.org). Their mandate is to eradicate poverty worldwide by persuading North Americans to just give 5% of what they normally spend at Christmas to relief and poverty projects around the world. The organization is developing this cutting edge technology which will keep donors connected to the progress and impact of their chosen project. I am helping out in a small way with their marketing & communications.
Well, should go start my Sara time.

Sara Time

My life tends to be a cycle of the social butterfly & the solitary one. My soul starts yearning for quiet when life has been too busy and vice versa - when I have been alone too long, I crave the company of others.

However, right now, I thirst for solitude but, I can't escape the busyness of my social calendar and work priorites. I feel myself almost screaming for quiet. Two or three days by myself is all I need but evenings and days are filled with appointments, meetings, get-togethers until August 12. And I don't want to break any of my committments because if I give my word and make plans with people, it is important to keep it.

The problem is I never know when my soul needs its solitary time or as I affectionally call it "Sara Time". It creeps up on me and then I begin to feel resentment towards those around me which is so not fair to them.

If only I could figure myself out - despite 32 years of practise! I know I am a balance between introvert and extrovert. I enjoy being by myself and thrive being with other people too. But I never know which one I need until it is sometimes too late. However, this too shall pass, as someone famous once said...

Visiting the Family & Meeting the Parents

I have just returned from a short (too short) trip to Vancouver Island to see a few people that are near and dear to me. I am a wee bit tired but will quickly jot a few things about the trip before bed. Nicole, dear older sister that she is, mentioned I was neglecting my blog updates...oh my!

So, here is the story of my trip....

On Thursday, I flew to Vancouver and spent a most splendid evening with my sister, Wendy. She is one of the people that inspire me in life. Her gentle spirit, wise words and good conversation make me want to live closer to her.
On Friday, I ferried across to the Island to stay at mom & dad's. Nicole and her kids are spending the next few weeks there so I thought I would hit 2 birds with 1 stone and visit as much of the family as possible in just one visit. It was a lovely time and I spent a majority of it playing with my nephew and niece who are 5 and 3 respectively. So fun...the play involved swinging, running, spinning, cars, Go Fish, Memory and OuterSpace. Seriously, I want to be 3 again some days. There will be pictures to follow because they are quite adorable (okay, so I may be biased but just wait for the pictures and you will see that I am right!)
On Saturday, my family met Tim. He was on the island for cycling officiating. My family was very well behaved and the introductions went smoothly. The feedback from both sides is a thumbs up. I will be meeting Tim's family shortly so we will see how that goes. Hopefully, there is similar feedback.
On Sunday, I was able to visit my friend, the ocean...it was good to dip my feet in her waves in greeting.
After that busy weekend of meeting, greeting, hugging, relaxing and napping, I am back at my little home....must go to bed because my reality of work and normal life will come v. early in the morning.

Stampede

Stampede is in full swing in Calgary...basically, it is a big costume party where everyone wears the same costume...they are cowboys/girls. The 2 week event is so cheesy that you have to just laugh, sing, dance and drink along with everyone else. If you take Stampede too seriously, you will never enjoy the fun of it all. And the people watching - to die for...what a hoot!

Last week, the girls and I went to a corporate Stampede party...each year, we sweet-talk our way onto the invite list of this particular party....free drinks, food, music and beautiful people - always a fun time! Having friends you can "play" with even in your 30's is so important.

So, here is a big YAHOO or YEEHAW from Calgary to everyone who craves those yummy little donuts but can't have them because you are not here for Stampede! Maybe next year!

Life is just good!

My life is good...in fact, my life is truly great!

- My job - I love it and was given a raise last week, completely out of the blue.
- Good friends - I spend the weekend celebrating life at a Stampede party, BBQ and a Sunday morning brunch.
- A great friend - I talked with Amy who is living in Istanbul - I love the fact that we can still talk about the big things in life even when we are 9158 kms apart.
- I have met someone who makes me laugh and smile even when he is not near me!
- My Family - In 11 days, I get to hug, squeeze, see and laugh with those I love most dearly.
- I have my health.
- My little home - it feels like a hug at the end of the day when I walk in.
- Cousins & what-not - In 5 days, I will celebrate my cousin's 30th b-day with a hoe-down, shindig - good fun! And hopefully within the week, my other cousin and wife will have a baby in their home which will bring even greater celebration.

This blog is not meant to be a brag essay but a sharing of a realization that God as my Father wants me to be joyful. I can feel happy and blessed because his gifts to me. Sometimes there is a perception that God is just sitting in heaven plotting on how he can wreak havoc in our lives but that is a wrong view of God. He is not waiting to ruin our lives so we can be miserable. Yes, life is not always easy... I know there will be times ahead that life will not seem as carefree as it is right now but why worry about that time? Wouldn't worrying steal the joy from today and really add nothing to tomorrow? I think Jesus actually said something along those lines once! I only hope that when life is tough and it is harder to see the blessings that I will choose joy amidst the trials.

The Audacity of Hope

Earlier this year, I saw Barack Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope". Although I haven't read the book yet, the title struck me as incredibly powerful and bold.

In life, we always have a choice when we are faced with situations. I often find my choices lean toward fear, doubt and worry due my loss of control and lack of trust in God.
In 1 Corinthians 13, there are three other choices to life: faith, hope and love. When you compared both the negative and positive choices, they are actually opposites:
- faith / doubt
- hope / worry
- love / fear

When I think about it, doubt, worry and fear do not draw you to God but actually prevent you from fully living the blessings of life. That is why I liked the word "audacity" because it flies in the face of negativity. The definition of audacity is "boldness or daring, esp. with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions."

I want the audacity to hope in the face of life's uncertainties and challenges. Hope is what makes us human. I would rather live with disappointment than to never choose hope.

Being asked for ID

During my life, I have always looked younger than my actual age. In my twenties, it bothered me because I wanted to be taken seriously in my career. However, in my thirties as I begin to notice more wrinkles and gray hairs, I actually want to look younger than my age. Despite the Garnier Nutrisse #30 to color my hair or Clinique cream to smooth the wrinkles, I was wondering if my youthful looks were beginning to fade. In fact, just the other day, I was "bemoaning" to a friend that I hadn't been asked for ID since I was 29. But today, when I bought a bottle of wine for a dinner party and I was asked for ID. This request filled me with great joy!

However, the situation begs the question - why, for our first 30 years of life, do we want to look older than we are and after 30, we want to hang on to our youthful looks? It seems society is a great hurry to grow up but not in a hurry to grow old. When I look at teens now, they seem so much older than when I was their age. Even 9 or 10 year old girls are dressing more grown-up than ever before. Yet, some women in their 30's and 40's are dressing like teen-agers and showing a desperation of staying young. Since our society celebrates youth and marginalizes the elderly, I understand why people want to stay young. There is age-ism on both ends of the spectrum...either we are too young or too old.

The ironic thing is that I love being in my 30's. I am confident about who I am despite other people's opinions. I am entering the best years of my life (so far) and I wouldn't go back in time even if you paid me. I need to worry less about looking older and just concentrate on living a full life with joy.



The whole Dove campaign for real beauty actually inspires me (http://www.dove.ca/beauty/). If you haven't taken a look at the conversation they started about female beauty and age, you should take a look at their website.



To end the blog off, here are some quotes on aging:


I'm not interested in age. People who tell me their age are silly. You're as old as you feel. - Elizabeth Arden


None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. - Henry David Thoreau


Live your life and forget your age. - Norman Vincent Peale


Wrinkles merely indicate where the smiles have been. - unknown


It is not the years in your life, but the life in your years that counts. - Adlai Stevenson

The Pink Mountains

I wish the world would know that God is in the details.
I wish I had a camera with me last night.
I wish I was a great photographer like my sister Nicole.
I wish I could capture the beauty of the pink mountains.

For the last 4 days, I have been up in Banff at a conference for work and I was reminded again about the amazing backyard I have. The Rocky Mountains continue to take my breath away at every turn. And to make the enjoyment even greater, I was with colleagues from Montreal, Bahamas and other locales who had never seen the Rockies or Banff. Their excitement magnified my own.
But last night was the most breathtaking...after wandering into town for dinner, we took the scenic path back up to the conference centre just before dusk. As the sun set behind the mountain range, the snow on the surrounding peaks caught it and transformed the view. At first, the snow was a warm yellow and then a fiery orange and then finally a glorious and glowing pink! My breath was gone and my eyes transfixed until the sunlight completely disappeared behind the mountain range. "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good."

the adventure continues

Originally, this blog was only going to be about my Hong Kong trip. But after careful consideration and due to the fact my philosophy is that life is an adventure, I am going to continue this journal. Whether or not I have anyone who cares is not the point but this will simply be a means to share my observations along the journey.

Speaking of journeys, there are always changes to it and last week, I quit my job. My colleagues planned a "secret" and wonderful send-off party. The ladies in the attached picture made me feel at home at the office and I will miss them. It is interesting when you consider the people who come into your life especially from the workplace. You spend an incredible amount of time with them....sometimes even more time than your own family. But when you leave a company, there is always the question of whether or not you will continue to be as close or even stay in touch because the convenience of the relationship is gone. I hope I do stay in contact because these are great women who supported me in my career. They encouraged me and celebrated my successes with me during my time there. I miss them already.

Home Sweet Home

I am home and it is good! I will miss Hong Kong and the different pace of life but there is a relief at the end of a journey to be at home. I am attempting to stay up until 8pm in order to get my body/internal clock back to normal ASAP. I am falling asleep at the computer so please forgive me if there are any typos.
To see some pictures of the trip, check out http://picasaweb.google.com/bateman.sj for some highlights.

Xie Xie Hong Kong

Xie Xie means Thank you in Chinese.
As my trip wraps up, I am truly thankful for the experience I had here. The city and culture were kind to me through great food, memorable outings, fantastic shopping and good times with friends old and new - the only exception to the city's kindness is the facial rash I developed yesterday! Besides that, this trip was worth every penny of it. I am glad that I made the choice to experience Hong Kong and Beijing. I hope to come back to Asia soon - perhaps the rash is the travel bug that I have caught again. The list of places I want to travel is growing daily as I ask myself why I haven't travelled to the ends of the world in recent years.
Now, I have to figure out how to get to the airport with my 2 suitcases - it will be a bit of gong show.
PS - Some people have requested pictures from my trip. When I get back, I will post some here on the blog as well as provide a link to my picasa photo album

China - a country of contradictions

Arrived back to Hong Kong from Beijing last night and am still trying to process my feelings about China and Beijing. What I found is that China is a country of contradictions and it is difficult to define it. It is clean and dirty, rich and poor, communist and capitalism, polite and rude, old and modern - perhaps Beijing defies any type of definition.

Having said that, our side trip to Beijing was incredible and overwhelming. There is very little English spoken so that has its challenges but we found a few "friends" along the way which helped with our trip. One being the cute concierge at our hotel - Mark. He booked our Great Wall trip and suggested places to visit during our time there. I had a small crush on him.

Speaking of the Great Wall, I am a "heroine" because I climbed it - apparently Chairman Mao called anyone who climbed the wall a hero or heroine. In my expectations, I imagined the Great Wall to be like this first picture - not a lot of people such as the picture here. But let me say, the wall is complete insanity due to the crush of tourists just like the second picture (I didn't take either of these pictures - thank you Google Images) . Despite the majesty and immensity of the wall, the crowds took away from the pleasure of being there. Still, I was glad that I went because it is one of the wonders of the world and I don't think I could go to Beijing and not go...it is like going to the Eiffel Tower in Paris...you just have to go because of the iconic nature of the attraction.

The other things we did were:

- Ming Tombs - the burial sites for the Chinese emperors

- Chinese Herbal Medicine University

- Jade factory

- The Forbidden City - the living quarters for the emperor's family

- Tiannamen Square

- Wangfujing Shopping District

Beijing is full of ancient reminders of the imperial rule as well as constant propaganda of the Communist regime. Quite a fascinating city but I was glad to leave and return to the civility of Hong Kong.

Today is our last day in Hong Kong - I can't believe our trip has gone by so quickly. We have 29 hours to go before our plane leaves. We are going to explore the Central District around our friend Lynn's apartment and then out for dinner with friends for Korean BBQ- more good food.

My darling Kate

Yesterday's highlight was the trip to the Kate Spade store in Kowloon. Kate Spade is a designer extraordinaire of all things beautiful...stationary, accessories, shoes and style. I have loved her things for years and her store is one of the reasons I would go to New York City so imagine my delight when I stumbled across the store here in Hong Kong...oh the bliss! I did control myself somewhat but I was in heaven...deciding what to buy was so difficult.

Today we are off to Beijing...this will be a very different experience from Hong Kong because at least in Hong Kong many people speak English and it is fairly easy to communicate. Beijing - not so much. But regardless, it will be memorable and fabulous and I will try to keep you posted although the Internet availability or blog access from within China may be problematic as I had some issues posting from the Shenczen spa last week. Also, the flight to Beijing may prove to be an experience as Lynn thinks we are part of a Chinese tour package...who knows, we may be wearing yellow hats and following a guide carrying a flag through the airport...Good times ahead!

Will the real Hong Kong please stand up?

Today, I met the real Hong Kong - the crowds, the British life and luxury.

We have moved over to the Kowloon side of Hong Kong for the next couple of days prior to our trip to Beijing and we are currently staying at a posh apartment complex in Kowloon with a pool, workout center, Internet cafe and free lattes on demand. This truly is the life!

This afternoon (after a very leisurely morning), we headed into the Mong Kok district to browse the "Ladies Market" - the name is really a mis-nomer as it has something for everyone. Kowloon and Mong Kok have the crowded streets and millions of people that is iconic Hong Kong. Apparently, Mong Kok is the densest population in the world. Loads of people but the market seemed less overwhelming or else I am just becoming immune to the chaos.

Funny thing - at the Ladies Market amid the millions of people, Christine and I run into 3 of the handful of people we know in Hong Kong - what are the odds??

After that shopping experience, Christine and I headed to the Peninsula Hotel for High Tea...English style. I have never had this very shee-shee poo-poo experience before and it was great.

Tomorrow is gearing up for another shopping day at the haute couture stores. Must wear my new Gucci fake glasses to fit in. I can't believe we are leaving for Beijing in less than 2 days. I think I have become friends with Hong Kong and it is good!

The dragon's back

I haven't really said much about what Christine and I have done here on our adventure so I will try to summarize our activities quickly (although that may be challenging). Each day seems to be overflowing with activities and although the trip is already flying by, it has been so great. The jet lag has not been too bad so we have been able to fully participate in everything. Here is a brief summary of our itinerary thus far:
- Out Friday night to the Peak Lounge - great place for a drink and ex-pat community ...it was hard to believe we were in HKG
- Saturday am - took the train into Shenczen, China for a day at the spa and shopping. As explained earlier...the spa was an experience. We ended up spending nearly 10 hours there. After a full body massage, pedicure and facial, we hit the Shenczen shopping mall which was so chaotic and took the wind right out of me but definitely worth the experience.
- Sunday am - the best brunch of french toast, chocolate and bananas EVER! then off to church for Easter Service. Met up with friends of Lynn's for lunch at Stanley Market. Have I mentioned how good the food is in Hong Kong - have yet to experience a bad meal. Love it!
- Sunday pm - wandered around Stanley market and then to the Peak above Hong Kong in the evening where you can see the harbour and downtown all lit up. To get to the peak, you take this crazy funicular tram that goes up the mountain at a 60 degree angle but the view is breathtaking a beautiful.
-Monday - after a morning of errands (China visas, hotel reservations, etc), we took the train to the outskirts of HKG and hiked this beautiful trail - "The Dragon's back" and ended up on Sheko Beach where we spent the afternoon. A most gorgeous day with a slight breeze, bright sun and low humidity - a perfect summer day! The picture is a view from the trail down to the beach. Stunning panaromas of the Pacific Ocean and the Hong Kong coastline.
It is now Tuesday morning and has just finished raining which is great because we have outdoor plans today. We are heading over to the Kowloon side of Hong Kong and exploring that neighbourhood.
I have been waking up like clockwork at 5:45 am so have been spending the time journalling, meditating, etc. It is nice to have a couple hours to me as a nice start to the day. It is difficult to explain Hong Kong but I think I may have fallen in love with the city. There is magic here.

the indescribable

It is difficult to describe Hong Kong or to put what I am seeing into words. The city is similar to what I thought yet quite different in some respects. There are alot of people but it is not as stupid crazy busy as I imagined. However, it is holiday time here and tomorrow may be a different story.
Hong Kong is very international so there is every type of food your taste buds desire - a great city for foodies. Just tonight, I finally had an authentic Chinese meal of dumplings at this great place around the corner from Lynn's. The neighbour we are staying in is so great with lots of cool shops and restaurants.
Speaking of shops, shopping is somewhat overwhelming - there are so many choices and it is hard to make decisions. You don't know if this will be the best deal or the opportunity to buy. Also, sometimes you are expected to barter and other times the price is fixed and I have yet to determine which course of action is appropriate. So I just am trying to deal all the time. Shenczen, China's shopping was particularly overwhelming with overly aggressive clerks who pounced as soon as you showed even the slightest interest in an item.
We have barely scratched the surface of Hong Kong but I do know that it is beautiful, vibrant, diverse and overwhelming all at once - a city difficult to describe yet beckons to explore it's secrets further.

A Spa fit for a Queen

I am sitting in a strange Star Trek-esque lounge in Shenczen China at a spa called the "Queen's Spa and Dining Centre" - A truly surreal experience. Just finished a 90 minute Chinese full body aromatherapy massage...and by full body, I really mean full body. A definitely different experience than my massage therapist back in Calgary.
After 20 1/2 hours on a plane or in an airport yesterday, it was nice to finally land in Hong Kong. We got settled in and after a quick bite and drink, Christine and I were ready to hit the sack. We slept so soundly despite the noise of Hong Kong. The apartment we are staying at is right in the heart of the Hong Kong and easily accessible to lots of things and shopping.
Well, off to get a pedicure now...not sure what to expect here but after that, a afternoon of shopping awaits.

Just like Christmas 1983

It is 11:30pm and I have insomnia.

On the night before I leave on my trip, I can't sleep.

It feels like I am 8 years old and it is Christmas Eve with the excitement, "what-if's" and wonderings whirling around in my mind.

The thing is, I have no idea what to expect in the next 2 weeks and that both thrills me and terrifies me all at once. One thing I know for sure, this trip is a once in a lifetime adventure and I will take full advantage of it because it will dwell in my memory long after the 2 weeks are over. Now, I just want to get there but I first must fall asleep (somehow) and then spend 20 1/2 hours in an airport or airplane before I step foot in Hong Kong.

the preparation

With only 4 more sleeps until my trip to Hong Kong (HKG), my mind is switching back and forth from excitement to unbelief. As I start to pack my suitcase, and double check my list of what I need to bring, I pinch myself to ensure that I am not dreaming.

Strangely, as excited as I am about going to HKG, I am more thrilled about the side trip to Beijing. That city oozes with icons of China - The Great Wall, Tianeman Square, the Silk Market and the Forbidden City. I never imagined that I would go to China and I will be there in just a few days.

This surreal adventure may in fact put the travel bug back into my soul. I do have a yearning to go to Africa and Eastern Europe and South East Asia and Argentina and London and New York and so much more. Who knows, perhaps I will follow that dream one day; sell my worldly possessions and just travel until the money runs out. Anyone up for a grand adventure?