to keep? to cherish? to toss?

Derek and I are quickly approaching our 1 month mark until we move. It is pretty crazy and has got my head in a frenzy. As we start to think about packing and moving one must wonder what to do with all the crap. What do you keep? What do you toss? What is worth saving in a box forever? Do I keep a t-shirt from the camp I went to that one time 5 years ago? These questions pose highly more difficult and involved when moving overseas to another country. We have to significantly downsize and pretty much sell all of our worldly possessions. This is an okay thought from this side of it but worry it will be quite the reality check when we leave Vancouver with only a car full of stuff. I imagine we will drive away with mostly books and clothes. The more difficult task will arise with wondering what to take to Scotland with us. Do we make extra room in our 2 allowed suitcases for pictures and memories? Or do we just load up with clothes and the necessities? I know people do this all the time so it will work out, but the thought of it all is pretty overwhelming at the time. Let the adventure begin...

Cloud 9

Friday night Derek and I went out to Cloud 9 Restaurant, in downtown Vancouver, to celebrate my birthday! It is a revolving restaurant on the 42nd floor of the Empire Landmark hotel. It was amazing and a great way to celebrate. We had a fantastic meal, good wine and a scrumptious dessert. We watched the sun go down over the water and got to view beautiful Vancouver from above. What an awesome experience. Here are some pictures:





Besides getting lost in the elevator after the meal, it was the most perfect night out. But the festivities do not stop here. This coming Saturday I am having a big formal birthday bash with my friends! Pictures and details to follow.

SIDE NOTE: It is almost July and I am wearing a sweater. I want summer!

A 10k and a trip to Portland

Last Friday I ran my 3rd 10k. Yay! It was in the evening which I think made it more difficult than doing a morning run, but I pushed through and was able to cut almost 2 minutes off my best time. Still am no where near the pros that can run it in like 25 minutes. But that's okay. It was a gorgeous day for a run and it was through the UBC campus, a familiar place. And the best part of all is that I got a sweatshirt out of it. Not just any sweatshirt but a BROWN sweatshirt. And if you know me, you know I love brown!
Then, first thing Saturday morning, Derek and I drove down to Portland. I had been planning this trip for months and it was to go and spend 4 days with my best friend, Jess. At long last the weekend arrived. Derek dropped me off and he went on to Forrest Grove to spend the time with his Dad and Stepmom. Jess and I had 4 whole days together and it could not have been more perfect. We had the most amazing time just laughing and shopping and eating and being girls. Words cannot describe the great time we had. I did not take many pictures, but there are a few to share. Jess ended up driving back to Vancouver with us and staying one night before flying out to Malibu (Young Life Camp) to meet up with her husband who has been working out there the past couple of weeks. It was great to have her in town one night and the weather could not have been better! Anyway, enjoy the pics.

10k and Portland

It's official

The past 8 months have been quite a roller coaster. Derek decided in November that he was going to apply to some PhD programs just to see if he might get in (this was a year earlier than our original plan). Much to our delight Derek was accepted to 5 schools! All located in the UK. We were not quite sure what to to with this and we spent the next months praying, talking, thinking, listening and trusting - we knew we would figure it out in the right time. It was months of up and down emotions among our already busy day-to-day lives. After some more thought, Derek decided there was only one school that was truly his dream school. So we were able to narrow it down but were still unsure if this was right for us. Derek's dream of doing PhD studies soon became my dream as well and I had made up my mind that I was ready to pursue this dream with him. More and more time passed and I waited patiently for my husband to make the final decision. As I walked in the door one sunny Sunday afternoon, Derek was sitting on the couch with a huge grin on his face. He had the signed acceptance letter in front of him and I knew...he had made his decision. We are very happy to announce that we are moving to Edinburgh, Scotland where Derek will be a PhD Student at the University of Edinburgh's School of Divinity (read more about it on Derek's blog).

Here is Derek with his signed acceptance letter

We plan to move to Edinburgh at the beginning of September. We will be leaving Vancouver, our home of three years, at the end of July and moving to Oregon for the month of August. We will then visit our friends in Chicago in route to Scotland and begin our new adventure in Edinburgh. We expect you all to visit!

pictures, pictures everywhere!

though we still DO NOT have internet at home I have other means and decided that a picture update was necessary. So at long last I am updating you in picture form. You will find pictures from the church women's retreat, from our wonderful visit from Dave & Majell and the awesome pirate party we attended. Hope you enjoy. Beware, lots of pictures lie ahead...

Women's Retreat, Dave & Majell, Pirate Party...

no internets

We still don't have the internets at home even though it was supposed to be set up on Friday. No big deal, this is how customer service goes in Canada. We have spent countless hours on the phone with Rogers and just want our stinkin internet. Derek of course wants it for school and academic purposes but I just want to post some pictures and be able to email pictures to my friends. Also the convenience of being able to look up driving directions as we are heading out the door or movie times, etc. Officially fed up! But the good news is that it will be set up Wednesday (so they say) and we get a month of internet for free. haha! Suckers!