Sky high emotions!

written: july 18

As i sit on the runway at heathrow airport waiting to take off to south africa. i ignore the"please put your electronic devises away" announcement that faintly plays over the music on my ipod as i write on my ipad - double electronic whammy. i'm such a rebel!  (let's be honest, when was the last time you read in the news 'plane goes down due to girls ipad usage during take off.' - never.)

a snip-it from my journal explains best what's going on in my head and heart at this moment;

   'i feel like i'm in a dream world. africa; a place that stole my heart without even visiting it many years ago, and now i'm finally on my way.  after patiently waiting for years for the right opportunity, now that it's here it's a bit overwhelming. things really started to sink in when we flew in over london. the fairy tales of kings, queens, and castle suddenly became a reality right before my eyes. I almost yelled in excitement when I spotted my first castle from the plane. 

i feel like a little kid getting a birds-eye view of disney land. everything i have seen in the movies and hoped was real - old brick houses everywhere you look, small tiny cars, the layout of this old historical city, it's all real! 

london, thus far you haven't disappointed and I have only seen you from a plane. i can't wait experience you when I return for an extended stay in september!'

much love from across the pond (i have always wanted to write that),

lo. xo  

BL#23 - road race. check!

 i did it!  today i ran in my very first road race.  it was the annual mothers day race in calgary.  14 000 people participated in the cattle drive... i mean road race.  i beat my goal time by 4 minutes.  definitely a success i would say! 
bucket list item # 23: 
run in an official race.  CHECK! 

My Bucket List

before it's my turn to kick the bucket, i will conquer this list (and perhaps a few more things that will be added on at a later date)!  

1. Go Skydiving
2. Learn Spanish

3. Swing from a vine like Tarzan 

4. Go in a hot air balloon

5. Get my degree

6. Learn and become good at two-stepping

7. Meet my sponsor child

8. Shower in a real waterfall

9. Be in two places at one

10. Buy a house

11. Go to a professional baseball game

12. Go to Alaska

13. Visit 6/7 Continents (North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South America)

14. Swim with dolphins

15. Ride a donkey in Greece

16. Get my scuba-diving certification

17. Go on the longest zip-line in the world (in Costa Rica)

18. Own a standard car

19. See the Northern Lights

20. Visit the Grand Canyon

21. Ride an Elephant

22. Own a speed boat

23. Run in an official race

24. Live in the country on an acreage

25. See a Cique du Soleil show

26. Go to New York

27. Be apart of a big food fight

28. Crash a wedding

29. Ride in a cable car in San Fran while singing the Full House theme song

30. See U2 in concert

31. Participate in a flash MOB dance

32. Skinny dip at least one a year - (so far I'm right on track!) 

33. Own a pair of cowboy boots
34. Treat my parents to a tropical vacation

35. See Coldplay in concert

36. Swim in a pool of noodles

37. See a black sand beach

38. By a one way ticket

39. Read the entire bible

40. Kiss someone in the pouring rain

41. Own a horse

42. Go on a African safari

43. Donate blood

44. Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef

45. Ride the EuroRail

46. Reach my goal weight

47. Have a baby or two, or three

48. Go to a professional soccer (football) game and sing my heart out to all the chants.

49. Retire early

50. Take a picture on Abby Road

51. Sleep under the stars

52. Have a picnic in a wheat field

53. See a Killer Whale in the wild
54. Do yoga in Bali

55. Go backpacking

56. Go whitewater rafting

57. Go to Iceland

58. Go to Mardi Gras

59. Get married to the most amazing, and gorgeous man!
60. Drive across Canada

61. Adopt a child
62. Cut down my own Christmas tree
63. Own a Great Dane

64. Visit all 10 Canadian provinces (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland)

Whats on your bucket list? 

a little glimpse of heaven.

on a rare occasion i believe that God gives us little glimpses of what is to come, what to expect when heaven comes to earth.  i have only experienced this maybe once or twice in my life, the last time being at the coldplay concert last thursday.

now i know what you are thinking; it's silly and maybe somewhat sacrilegious to compare heaven to a coldplay concert. before you pass judgment, keep reading as i set the scene for you.

20 000 fans packed into a stadium, lights flashing, confetti littering every inch of air space, thousands of tiny multi-colored lights flashing to the beat of the music, lasers shooting in every direction, and of course everyone in the stadium singing along to every word.

at one point in the concert i recall feeling so overwhelmed by Gods presence that it brought tears to my eyes.  the sites and sounds of what was taking place around me was almost to much to take in.  as i heard thousands of complete strangers all singing along to the same song, which lyrically could actually be sung in church as a worship song, i remember closing my eyes and thinking; this is what heaven is going to be like.

heaven will be a place where everyone will be singing and dancing to the same song.  we will all be mesmerized by the beauty and joy that surrounds us. we will all feel a draw and connection to each other because of the common love that we have for the Lord. 

‘if you think this is breathtaking laura, just wait until I come’.   

a fickle heart

sometimes, someone else can describe how your feeling better then you can....

"how fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes.

i struggle to find

any truth in your lies.

and how my heart stumbles on things i don't know.

my weakness i feel i must finally show."

a lovely setting.

here it is, the post that every blogger writes over the december/january season, the 'look back over the past year' post. this type of post usually is full of lovey-dovey fond memories and funny stories. i can assure you that i have a whole stock-pile of them as well but if i'm being honest, those aren't really the first thoughts that pop to mind when thinking about 2011. if you are looking for a reflection that consists of puppies and roses, perhaps this isn't the post for you (but you should keep reading anyways).

2011 was a year of growing pains for myself. I had a few events that took place that shook me up pretty good. in november i was in a bad car accident that has now lead to many hours of physio. frustration and anger had started to grow from the physical pain I was feeling. relationally 2011 held a few disappointments that has left me with a billion questions for God that i am still trying to work through with the understanding that i probably wont ever have the answers i am hoping for.

however, one thing that has been very clear this year is that God has been working through my location. it may sound strange, but I do believe that God really can work miracles even through your place of residence.

this year I have been so blessed to live with two of my best friends (it’s actually three if you include my lovely squatter friend). it has allowed our friendship to grow in ways that wouldn’t have been possible without sharing 4 walls. we are no longer friends, we are a family. the unconditional love that we have for each other is typically only extended to a few people in ones life.

this family and space has allowed me a number of things. the ability to celebrate life’s exciting moments. wild dance parties where there is no need to hold back any inhibitions. surprise birthday treats. tears and pain over a broken heart. room to question God’s plan and to wonder if He really does care for us. moments of humility in sharing our deepest secrets and struggles. a place for community and festive parties. A safe place for mentorship with other amazing and Godly women.

all three of us are very aware that this is a place that we have been blessed with and that this time will not last. new phases of life will come and things will change. for now we will continue to soak up every second and hold on to this phase of life with a high level of respect.

as i write this i continue to receive clarity on the past year. i am reminded that, yes in fact God is in control. He knows our aches, pains, and celebrations before they take place. He places us in settings that will allow us to express those things with the support we need around us.

i am excited for 2012. i’m not one for making big changes in my life just because it’s a new year. for the most part if i feel a change is necessary, i make it, not waiting until i get to hang a new calendar on my wall. but something feels different going into this year. with challenge comes endurance and molding. in 2011 I started out as a ball of mucky clay waiting to be shaped and formed. i know i still have miles to go in being complete but the beautiful piece of pottery has certainly started to take form.

what a year it has been

as the new year quickly approach us we tend to reflect on what the last year of our lives has held for us.

here is a little video snapshot of some of the monumental events that took place globally in 2011....



on a more personal scale, what are some of the monumental events that took place in your life this year?