Onions and Pineapples

I feel like my life lately has been much like an onion. Layers have been stripped away. You think that you're done and there are more layers to go. I bought an onion about 2 weeks ago. It's like the ever lasting onion. It's made it's way into sandwiches, salads, stirfrys, and quesidilla's. There is still a bit more to go. For me it's been a stripping, a revealing and an unmasking. I feel like my true and false self's are in a sparring match and very sharp pruning scissors are the weapon of choice. But it's freeing, scary, painful, exposing and wonderful all at once.

I feel like my life lately is like a pineapple. Beautiful and intriguing to look at, a little tricky and prickly to handle and impossible to really enjoy unless you cut off the top layer. It's underneath the other exterior that you get the sweetness and the true taste of the pineapple.

There is something about unmasking that makes the falsehood not so appealing anymore. We can carry around an onion and pineapple all day everyday, but it's in the peeling back the layers and the cutting off of the exterior that causes us to enjoy them for the ways they were created to be enjoyed.

Grilled for both is my favorite...

Blame it on the Rain...

I woke the other morning slightly depressed. Here it is June and it's still cold and rainy! I had been under the illusion that summer in Vancouver meant gorgeous clear blue skies, warmer weather, colorful flowers, green grass and an even better view of the mountains. Well, I was wrong, except for the colorful flowers and green grass. They are still beautiful even despite the rain.
It's just not the kinda weather that a girl who grew up in Florida is just not used to. I'm used to blue skies in the morning, a torrential thunderstorm around 3o'clock in the afternoon and a sunny, slightly muggier evening.
But alas, I pulled myself out of bed, went down stairs and as I ate breakfast I began a rather interesting scripture study on, you guessed it, rain.

Rain in scripture is used to describe the Lord's blessing and destruction. It's used to describe the way His word and Spirit are poured out upon his people. In proverbs rain is used to describe a nagging wife...I certainly never want to be like dripping rain to my husband!
When rain falls crops are produced, when rain ceases crops die. It's all about rain. Reading through each of these scriptures gave me a new perspective on the rain that was falling outside my window. It is because there is so much rain that the Pacific Northwest, especially British Columbia, is as beautiful as it is.
So, after this brief run through of the Word, I decided to get off my butt and into my rain gear. They say that you can't let the rain in Vancouver stop you from doing what you want to do. I went for a brief walk and took pictures of my favorite things...rain drops on roses they say is a favorite! My goal is to make a whole album dedicated to rain, this is just the beginning...



Of course, like I said before, rain can also bring destruction...at least it did on our back patio and into the guys house below. Craziness! Imagine waking up with a puddle in your bed from this...

At least we are getting a new back deck out of the deal. Chris, the guy downstairs, is having to sleep on the couch but soon will have a nice new room. Our Landlord, Kitty, is the best!

Life...

It's amazing how quickly time can fly by. It feels like yesterday I arrived and now to realize I've been here 7 weeks feels so surreal. I know I haven't written in a while, it's not because there aren't a million fun and excited things happening. But there is life happening. Class, reading, researching, taking the bus, buying groceries,hanging out, sleeping...all of it goes by so quickly.
I want to live each moment, savor and drink in each minute of everyday. I wish I could put things in slow motion, but I can't. But what I can do is enjoy the present as the gift that it is.
I promise to write more, but right now I need to run and pick up a few things for dinner...oh, how I LOVE date night :)

Answered Prayer

This morning as I was sitting on our back porch eating breakfast I talked to God about needing to make some new friends. I've been here for 5 weeks and I've met people and connected to some which has been great, but still it's been hard at times. I finished my prayer, my breakfast and my getting ready for the day. I took the bus to campus for chapel. As I sat down the girl next to me smiles and says "Hi I'm Julie. Are you new to Regent?" As we began to talk I shared with her that I was here from the states on sabbatical with IV and she responds, "Oh! You must be Shiloh and Becca's new roommate." "I sure am" I respond. "Oh, I've heard about you, they said that you were really sweet. Do you want to come for dinner tonight?" "I would love to!" And so I did. Julie just happens to live within walking distance to me so at 5:45 I began my walk, thanking God once again for answering my prayer. I almost cried this morning when she invited me to dinner at what a quick answer to prayer it was. Dinner was fabulous. I enjoyed good food and great conversation with Julie and her roommates Heather and Lindsay. They invited me to several other outings and promised to keep me updated with all the happenings around town.
Thank you Jesus for answered prayer!!

Canoes, Waterfalls, and Bonfires

Tim and I took an hour 1/2 bike ride out to Pit Lake on Friday. The ride was beautiful, as is most of what I've seen in Vancouver, even though it was mostly on the highway. Mountains surround us. It's breathtaking. I find my time on the back of the bike to one of prayer and worship. No one else can hear me so I sing loudly and pray fervently (yes, the prayers start out of ones for safety, but are mostly intercessory from there :))
My butt was numb and legs were stiff by the time we arrived at Subway for a quick lunch. I'll get used to it...someday.
But the ride was worth it. Once we pulled up to Pit Lake I knew that it was going to be a day to remember. Lush green grass, a crystal clear lake, tall snow capped mountain, clear blue sky with warm sun shining. We met up with Mark (one of Tim's closest friends) and his sister Mallory. Mark and his wife has bought a canoe a few weeks before and we were the second of many adventures. Talk of a waterfall about a hour down the river made my heart beat with excitement. These are the days that I live for. Beauty, adventure, friends. It's so life giving.
Mallory and I were "chauffeured" down the river. Conversation ebbed and flowed with pauses to take in the scenery around us. The water was clear and in some places shallow. There was the occasional running aground, but we quickly set off again. The guys did an amazing job.
Finally we arrived at our destination. A camp site that marked the beginning of a trail up to rapids and waterfalls. The hike wasn't bad, strenuous in places, but relatively easy. Tim did it all wearing slip on sandals (I was impressed!). We laughed a lot, sang crazy camp songs, helped each other a long the way. Tim and I went up ahead of Mark and Mallory to do a little exploring on our own and find the water fall. We didn't make it up to the very top, but what we found was worth it!

Afterward we headed over to Krista's house for a bonfire. There I got to meet Krista, Natasha and Cam, Naomi and Sean, a few others. These are some of Tim's best friends...I think they like me :)

Anyway, enjoy the pictures!!

Mariachi Memories

I waited for the bus for 45 minutes yesterday. I wanted the 44. One passed by and just didn't stop. The other lady that was waiting with me and I just stood there stunned. I don't know what happened but it took 45 min for another 44 to come. So much for being on time for my lunch date with Minh...
Finally I got down town and we ate amazing Vietnamese food at a very popular spot. Noodles, pork, cut up spring rolls all mixed up in a tangy fish sauce...my mouth waters just thinking about it. We talked about life, living in Vancouver, dating, Regent. She's an American in Canada, married a Canadian too. I was so grateful for the warm conversation. It was her lunch break so we only got an hour, which seemed to go by quickly.
As we walked back towards her work I checked my bus ticket. I had 5 minutes to make it with out having to buy another one. Good, cause I was out of cash and bus tickets. I got the bus right on time, but as we started to pull away I heard a familiar sound and something caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye that made me signal that the next stop was mine. I knew it was a risk, not having another bus ticket, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I jumped off the bus, ran into the corner store to by more bus passes and went to find what I was looking for.
Where were they? They were standing on the corner playing a minute ago? I stood and listened intently. I followed the music. I came around the corner and there they were; a full fledged Mariachi band. There was something familiar about them that drew me in. I followed them for a block, smiling, laughing and almost crying. I'm not sure what came over me. I don't even like Mariachi music that much. But there was a feeling of home connected to it that I just couldn't shake. Maybe I was feeling a twinge of home sickness, I'm not sure. After a picture and a quick video shot, I turned around, caught my bus and went home...to hang up curtains with Nitra.

Japa Dogs

Imagine an all beef hot dog smothered in spicy mayo, onions, teriyaki sauce and seaweed...sound appetizing? Surprisingly it is! And it's a huge hit here in Vancouver. Apparently a Japanese man wanted to open up a Japanese Crepe restaurant but could only get a hot dog stand license. The Japa Dog was then created and people will wait in line for 20-30 mins (during the Olympics 1 1/2 hours) to get one. My friend Robin insisted that I try one so we went downtown, waited in line for 20 min and partook in the interesting goodness.