Category — Uncategorized

The truth is, today, I feel overwhelmed. I want to write about a million things. Daily, topics make a web of my mind, but there is no time… to write about:

• How conceiving Madeleine was not an accident. She was planned, and we have used natural methods of birth control our entire marriage. It works. And more and more women are choosing this approach over the pill. Macleans has got the story.
• Volunteerism. I am having a deep urge to volunteer. At a local half-way house. Or the crisis pregnancy centre. Or at the local MP office. Or all. 
• How when I am about to burst into tears, like this afternoon, overwhelmed by the demands I set on myself, the endless practicalities of motherhood/wifely-hood/writerhood, trying to figure out how to spend my ‘free’ 45 minutes of ‘me’ time (send out interview questions for a feature? journal? pump milk? search craigslist for a new desk? blog? have a shower? eat lunch?) my darling daughter stares up at my from her perch on my chest and says with her eyes: “Mommy, it’s okay.” The world slips away.
• Poetry. How it’s been spilling out since Madeleine’s birth.
• How the book I’ve been creating — taking on the stat that 31% of Canadians are made uneasy by born-again Christians — by telling stories of daily, simple, world-changing faith in Jesus, is going to become a website. I met with my web designer last week and designs are in process. Now I am looking for an awesome name for the project. Ideas anyone?

That’s all I have to say. For now. Love to all, friends.

This had to be posted: Michael Jackson dies of a heart attack moments ago

Fall in the Crook house. Thanks for the pumpkins Jen!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought I’d take a moment and share a few of the things I’m most grateful for:

Family. This weekend marks the wedding of my youngest brother Matthew. Family has flown in from Ontario, Nevada, and the upper regions of our wintry province — all to share in Matt & Chantelle’s love. I am thankful to have the opportunity to share this weekend with my wonderful family and especially, my amazing, and oh-so-diverse, siblings.

Michael. Michael is the most unexpected gift in my life. When one stands at the altar pledging their life to the other, they have little concept of what that truly means. It was true with us. But with each new day I understand more why God chose Michael for me. He is patient, kind, devoted and loves me with a love that draws me to new life. Michael’s love is changing me.

Our Home. This morning I stumbled out of bed and pulled open the curtains to stare out at a crisp Autumn morning dawning on the North Shore mountains. The sun is spilling through our windows and the smell of freshly brewed Anniversary Blend is wafting down the hall. This is home. It hasn’t happened overnight, but this beautiful space my father built has become our refuge – and I am so grateful.

“The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” - Isaiah 51:3

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

My article, in catapult, is up.

Autumn is officially falling in Vancouver. The miserable drizzle outside my 13th floor window tells me it’s true. But although the weather isn’t giving me much to smile about, I have great anticipation for all that’s ahead this fall…

Elections, Elections, Elections

Michael (my brilliant hubby, who has returned to blogging with a vengeance — visit him here) and I are involved in the Canadian federal election in a number of ways: campaigning for our local candidate, Gerry Lenoski; organizing a “Politics 101″ event (a concept we have been creating together for the past year) at a TBA location; and generally being a resource for friends all over the country who are trying to figure out how to best serve and vote this fall. Additionally, I have accepted an offer to serve as Director of Communications for a municipal candidate, Jon Cote, this November. And to top it all off, Michael’s dad is running for city council in Mackenzie!

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In Print

I am thrilled to have a number of articles in print this autumn. First, “Abstaining in a Culture of Entitlement” — an article exploring natural family planning (originally posted on this blog) will be published in Catapult Magazine next week; Faith Today’s November/December issue includes a profile on Alberta author Dave Hammer and his extraordinary journey through life with extreme deformity, entitled “From out of the Flames”; MUSE Magazine publishes “Celebrating British Columbia’s unique cultural footprints” — a look at the success and best practices of the award-winning BC Cultural Crawl; and I am currently working on pieces for The Banner, Beyond and VanMag.

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The Word Studio

I’ve settled on a logo for my little writing company (what do you think?), and am working feverously — along with the team at No Shortcuts Design — to get my website up-and-running next month.

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Weddings, Teaching & Conferences, oh my!

My littlest brother Matthew — a strong, wise, and compassionate man who I love dearly — and his beautiful, boisterous and brilliant bride, Chantelle, will be married in a few short weeks. I am honoured to have been asked to read Scripture on their big day. Additionally, our friends Ashleah and Jen (of Champagne Wednesdays fame) will also tie the knot this fall. Tie-in my return to teaching at Langara, taking ‘The Artist’s Way and Beyond‘ course, and attending these two amazing conferences: To Change the World Emerging Leaders Summit in Ottawa and the Canadian Youth Workers Conference in Toronto, we’ve got a busy season ahead.

I’ll try to keep the blogging up… ;)

Calgary has a cool factor.

Image from Calgary’s Upper Case Gallery. Current Exhibition: Old School, running now through September 30.

I can’t deny it after last night. What with sitting beside the new COO of the Calgary Philharmonic, pontificating about Calgary’s burgeoning arts scene with some of the city’s best and brightest, and bragging on friends Paul Hardy and Connie Gibbens: resident designer darling and creative mastermind in their own right.

Calgary may just be on its way to being Canada’s cultural capital yet.

________

PS: the Club Monaco / Banana Republic combo did the trick. Thanks for all the comments! And a special thanks to Nicole for the flip-flop heads up: they were a life-saver once I hit the tarmac, especially what-with the midnight flight delay. Let’s just say today has been a bit of a slow-go. ;)

I’m prepping for a day trip to Calgary tomorrow. I say prepping and not packing because it’s a 16 hour trip — I touchdown at 09:00 and depart at 23:15. How does one dress for four consecutive meetings — in Cowtown? I’d have my outfit nailed if I had the same day in Vancouver — I’d sport casual chic (or ‘classy funk’ — my personal joie de style.)

But tomorrow I am meeting with professionals. Real ones. You know, corporate types. (To be exact: the communications department at BGEAC, the national Corpath board, and attendees at the CBMC’s 50th Anniversary celebration with Preston Manning.) In Calgary. Not slack Vancouver ‘corp-o’s.

Sadly, my canary flats and Afghani scarves will lay dormant while my Smoking Lily thai pants and violet blazer scream with jealousy (horror?) as I don a very conservative (for me) frock and slack combo tomorrow morning. I am heading to Alberta after all.

So out comes the Banana Republic and the respectable cream heels…

Has anyone else done these one day power-trips? Tips anyone? Fashion or otherwise?

Wish me luck, I’m off to the land of saddles.

I found this wonderful quote by Ray Bradbury this morning:

“Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.”

Definitely words to heed.

I am a polaroid nut.

It all began with a previously-loved p-camera, a Christmas gift from my sister Kristen a couple of years ago. Since then I have snapped in Ottawa, New York, Toronto, Berkeley and, of course, clear around the Terminal City. For those who don’t know, Polaroid discontinued their film production this spring and since then crazies like me (and her and these guys) have been scrounging for bulk stock on ebay.

Today, my e-wanderings landed me on the Save Polaroid website and this hopeful news: “Polaroid Saved?” Let it be true!

Here are a few of my favourite shots from over the years:

I highly recommend this site: Election Connection @ Apathy is Boring.