I heart my American friends and family

I am back from the Midwest with pictures and stories to share! Andrea and Myron's wedding was a beautiful celebration of life and love. I had the privelege of being their candid photographer which allowed me to access to some pretty special moments throughout the whole day. It is an interesting mindset that I fell into as photographer as well--seeing the day also in terms of composition and documentation. I was able to appreciate the event in a different way. What a great wedding! Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos that I took.






I also spent some time catching up with friends, professors, and relatives. Miss Am-Erika Hydeen took me home with her and cared for me when I needed a place to stay and my luggage didn't come in. Her family fed and entertained me. They are wonderful, good-humored people and I was happy to catch up with Erika before she becomes Norwegian.


I caught a ride with more friends, Brian and Kayla and Andrew and Sarah, almost all the way to their home in Minneapolis. My cousins picked me up there and I was passed between relatives until my departure early Tuesday morn.

Here are cousins Katie, Kristin, Hillary and I. Yeah, we look a little alike.

Anyone recognize this place? I spent some time wandering the campus of Dordt while reminiscing. I was overcome by all the associations and memories that I had in everything that I saw. We had a lot of good times! It was so great to reconnect with my American friends and family and get back to those Iowa roots.

(And suddenly I have the Alma Mater playing in my head.)

on the road again.

Miss Andrea Van Wyk is getting married on Saturday!
This means that this evening I will arrive in Iowa to partake in the celebration!

Oh Iowa (and South Dakota and Minnesota,) how I miss you and am excited to see you. It will be strange, though, since I have not seen you or most of your people since I graduated two years ago.

I've realized that, aside from not having much money and not knowing what I will be doing more than a few days from now, the last couple of months I have lived a charmed life. I sleep in and do what I want for much of the day. I have gone to on major trips to California, Alberta, and now Iowa all within a month and a half. Not really being employed is not bad! I am looking forward to employment, though. I officially begin working on July 3, and then the charms in my life shall change.

In the mean time, Iowa, here I come!

:) / :( / :0

I ran a 5k race this morning in support of prostate cancer. It was super fun. :)

I returned home to find out that our garage was broken into and Kenda's bike was stolen. I hope they don't steal my bike tonight. :(

I came across an old nose ring and decided to check out my nose ring hole and before I knew it I had repierced my nose. The nose ring returns! :0

Thats all for now. :S

being West Coasterly.

Alas, I have left the farm and family and returned to Vancouver once again. A couple of days ago I must have had the need to prove my West Coasterlyness after being a country girl for over two weeks: I rode my old bicycle to Commercial Drive, attended a yoga class, ate sushi for lunch, filled the basket on my bicycle with produce from a little ethnic grocery store, and biked home through the park. The only things that would have made it more classic to this area would be me: a) wearing Lulu Lemon or environmentally friendly clothing b) buying a cup of organic, fair-trade shade-grown coffee c) being heckled by the homeless for spare change d) biking through constant rain.

I returned on time for a job interview that I had on Monday. I think it went really well and it is fairly safe to say that I have this job, which is pretty darn close to my dream job! If all works out, starting in July, I will be working as an art therapist at a school that is about to open for children with autism!

The last couple of evenings I have been attending classes in order to be certified in ABA (Associate Behavioural Analyst). (It is the only method of intervention that has been scientifically proven to improve socialization skills for people with autism.) Six more sessions in three more weeks and I will be certified. I feel like I am in school again, which I like. Autism is my new obsession. So interesting, it is.

good ol' Lacombe

I'm back in Alberta for a while! I've been catching up with the family, old friends, and farmer's markets. I've been enjoying long days of sunshine and picking vegetables. Back to those farm roots!