My fun list

Some of the fun things I have done lately:

1. watched Jamie and Aaron drive RC (remote control) cars at the Central Heights parking lot (yeah- Jennica and Jamie are back!!).

2. Got "rescued" down a mountain by Aaron

3. Staying up till 1 am with Jennica, jamie and Aaron playing these funny Korean games they learned from the kids in Seoul.

4. Having the BEST mexican lassagna made by mom- and having dinner with the WHOLE family after 1 year.

5. Driving in Rob's Toyota Forerunner with the back half cut off (a convertable) in Delta and seeing the clay cliff in Pt. Roberts (crossing the border on the beach on foot).

6. Organized all my cds- finally I have now found all the missing ones!!!

7. Found a great book at House of James called "Define the relationship" by Jeramy and Jerusha Clark

8. My afternnoon nap today

Allouette mtn

Alouette mtn was this weekend's destination for Aaron and I. It was beautiful- a little cold compared to what we are used to, and hardly any hikers on the trail. We left at 715 am for Sumas mtn- but we couldn't find the trail head - so we decided to do Alouette mountain. Aaron did such a good job helping me down the mountain after my knee gave out on me.

Here's as far as we hiked before we turned around. We think this peak is the top of Allouette- possibly Mt Blanchard (which has a better view from the top of Allouette mtn.

someone help this patient please!!!

Here is my bummed up knee wrapped in Aaron's shirt till we got a hold of a tensor from another hiker on the path.

Ok here is a more specific animal quiz that can really affirm what type of person you are BY ANSWERING A FEW QUESTIONS. According to the quiz I am a dog (you can read about it on the site)- which almost completely describes me. www.theanimalinyou.com Let me know what you are! Comments please people!

TESSARO, Elaine Margaret (nee Dueck) Monday, 24 Jul 2006 Abbotsford News Abbotsford, BC

Elaine Margaret (nee Dueck)
Elaine died on Monday, July 24, 2006 at Kelowna General Hospital. Elaine’s courageous battle with cancer dominated most of this year. She utilized this time to deepen her relationships with her family and her faith. Elaine left behind her loving husband Jim and their son Paul who lived with her in Abbotsford and their sons Mark and James in Vancouver. She is survived by her parents, Peter and Lena Dueck of Abbotsford, and her siblings Karen Low Ah Kee of Vancouver, Ken Dueck of Denver, Bev Durvin of Calgary, Warren Dueck of Richmond and Rob Dueck of Chilliwack. She was born October 30, 1953.
All of Elaine’s pursuits reflected her determination and drive. The mother of a young family she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Masters of Education and pursued a career at the University College of the Fraser Valley. She loved teaching and challenging critical thinking skills of her nursing students. Her nursing career began at Royal Columbian Hospital where she earned her Registered Nurse designation. She also nursed at MSA General Hospital and Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Elaine was an advocate for families with disabled family members relating her own experience as a caregiver.
Elaine’s zest for life included traveling, sailing, water skiing, cross-country and alpine skiing, hiking, rowing, quilting and so much more. She competed with the Abbotsford Figure Skating Club’s precision skating team which she helped win many medals in Canadian championships this past winter. As a teenager she was a cheerleader at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School. She would be a cheerleader for her family the rest of her life.
Elaine married her high school sweetheart Jim in 1974. They hiked throughout BC and traveled around the world before they became parents. They especially loved hiking in the Cathedral Lakes area. Later their place of solitude in every season was their vacation home at Coral Beach on Okanagan Lake, even in her last days. She coordinated the annual Bacon Jamboree and spent every summer there with her children. She was proud of all her sons’ achievements, and her future daughter-in-law Carolin Phillips.
Elaine will be deeply missed by her family, her colleagues, her team-mates and her friends. She was an inspiration to all she touched, a smile, a quick wit, a huge heart and a hug. She was a loving wife, a caring mother, a compassionate daughter, a cheerful sister and a great friend. She gave us so much.
A funeral service will be held at Northview Community Church (32040 Downes Road in Abbotsford) on Monday, July 31 at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation.



I can't believe we have lost some an amazing lady- I will miss seeing her around the hospital and at UCFV (she was one of my instructors last year). She will be missed

Poetry in motion

This is Melissa and I at a poetry slam last Monday. For those of you who don't know what this is: a bunch of poets get together- one at a time they come and share their poetry- without props or music. They have 3 minutes (?) to recite their poetry to be judged by randomly picked audience members 0 out of 10. After the first part of the night- the top ten poets based on scores are chosen to come back with a second poem after the intermission. Then a winner is chosen based on the highest score. Now, I come for the poetry and I don't get how you can give someone a number score for their art. I just love sitting there in awe of these words so intricately put together, swirling together so many images in my mind that it takes me to another world. So, after this night I went home inspired to write again- that's right folks- I used to write, in fact I was at one time working on a book. More of a journal that could possibly be published. Now, I think that now I want to write for me. I am at a great time in my life right now: good friends, in the middle of nursing school, found an amazing church, have a brother (in-law) that I have always wanted (I have always wanted a brother to look out for me and to banter with) and my sister and her hubby are coming home on Thursday after almost a year of being in south Korea!!!

What kind of animal are you? Copy and paste the following link: http://www.jokesandhumor.com/tests/animal/

Apparently I am a unicorn- the most rare one- less than 2 percent of people are this type- and it says I am good at almost everything I do.

I spent my sunday afternoon with some fun, crazy people at Suicide Creek (I think that was the name of it)- it's off some back roads in Mission. We went swimming- I attempted to jump off a 10-15 ft cliff into the water (had to be pushed off both times). Watched this guy Tim do some sweet bouldering above the water. Had some good food at Kat's house, followed by root bear floats and a movie (Without a Paddle- who hoooo!!!). So, these pics don't capture it all- but trust me it was an amazing gem of a spot.

Well I haven't really written much on my blog lately- mostly pics. I find that my pics just about describe all the fun I've been having lately. Since the heat spell I have not hiked the Fraser Valley- however I did do McIntire bluff in Oliver with my parents. I have been enjoying my job- I am so luckey to be working with amazing co-workers, and the best kids in the world- my day campers~! I spent this last week (tues to friday) with 5 teens at a camp for 3 nights. All the teens are in wheel chairs, and along with 5 staff- and we pulled pranks, ate meals together, had campfires, went swimming at Cultus Lake, walked the boardwalk in White Rock, had a birthday party for one of the teens. We even had a dance (we wheeled the chairs around the dance floor to some good new country;) We had a pajama fashion show - and we even included the cooks - two older ladies from a church in town; they really strut their stuff! I can't begin to describe how happy and yet exhausted I was on friday when I got home- I had basically worked three 16 hr days plus a 10 hr day on friday (the hottest day ever!) we got to clean the cabins, bathrooms, organize the campers stuff. I didn't include pics from this trip since it's a privacy issue- but trust me- we had a great time!

Another highlight for me was being able to show Aaron my hometown and reminise with friends there (last weekend). Then, last night we went to the neighborhood he grew up in, and he told me all the stories about the different neighbors, I got to see the house where our friend Sherry grew up in and the house his family lived in. I love listening to stories about growing up- the innocence, the fun, no worries, ect. i think a lot of that has to do with being a kid at heart.

Sonja, Amy and I clubbing at the Mirage:) It had been a while since I've been out dancing- it was fun for a while then I got tired. I have never felt comfortable at places like the Mirage- but it was good to hang out with friends.
Amy and I at a Greek restaurant in town. Yummmmmyyy!

What guys wish girls knew- read it love it live it!

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001302.cfm

So, this was the best weekend getaway both Aaron and I have had in a long time. We blew this polluted town and headed to the Okanagan to visit my parents in Penticton. On SAt we hiked McIntire bluff with my parents in the hottest part of the day- wow that was a tough one. I didn't get pics as I forgot my camera at the house. After that we ate luch and Aaron and I tubed down the Oliver river channel- so refreshing and nice. One of the highlights for us was then going up to visit my friend Sherry and her family- I knew her from grade 10 on, and Aaron knew both her and her husband growing up (in another town). We took turns reminising about high school, and Aaron had lots of stories to swap with Sherry and Chad about growing up in the same town. The kids were so cute- Josiah kept asking us if we wanted to ride on his quad (he's too young to drive- his dad does the driving:) and we spent the night up on the mountain. We got to see all tons of stars (can't remember the last time the sky was clear enough here to see that!) We went to the church that I grew up in and I saw some old friends. It's crazy to think that 12 years ago (we think) Aaron came to visit Sherry and came to my house with her and we met- and we even took his picture too (still have it). Now a couple of months ago (approx) I reconnect with Aaron at a Vineyard church home group! So, this weekend I was thinking- wow this is such a small world we live in.

Chillin at Skaha lake

We spent a fair bit of time blowing up these 3 dollar air mattresses!

One of the dirtiest trucks I've seen in a while

We washed Aaron's truck before we headed back

wasting some time on a nice rocker swing at our dinner stop in Princeton

Jamie- I miss you and our tea walk!!! There will be more to come!!

So, this is what I have realized about why I love hiking so much (at least one of the reasons why, there are so many). God sometimes shows me things as I pant and sweat up the mountain. The last hike I was hiking behind Aaron and watching the way he had his footing and how he got around some of the obstacles. Well, sometimes when I tried what worked for him, it didn't always work for me and I lost my footing and had to try another way. Other times I would not have someone directly in front of me and I would have to decide which way to go without seeing what the next guy was doing. So, as I reflected on this I came to realize that life is like that you know; sometimes we just follow what other people do and get by and it seems to work for a time. Other times it doesn't work so well and we slip and our hands get dirty; we might even injure ourselves. So, then I realized that as we walk the path of life armed with knowledge of past mistakes, sometimes we have no clue how to go about this journey We might see someone else walk the path well, and we try it; then we start to develop our own walk. To successful make the journey we have to be reliant on God as to how to get through it and to keep going even if we fall down for we know we need to keep going to the ultimate destination. In this life there will be bumps, hills and valleys along the way, but with the Holy Spirit in us guiding us through it all, and when we fall we know that we are not alone on this path, God is by our side the whole trip. I can't wait to see what God shows me on the next hike:)

tired feet
aaron getting ready to take a dip
drying out on the rock
yup- we reached the snowline which feeds Radium lake

Radium Lake Hike

on our way to higher heights
me in my swimming atire:)
this is the destination! Radium lake:)
where Jon got water and might be sick and paying for it now
isn't it beautiful?
the gorgeous trees
The ended here at Chilliwack lake- we were pretty tired here

CANADA DAY LONG WEEKEND:

Aaron, his brother Jon and I did a grueling 6 hour hike to Radium Lake. It's up by Chilliwack Lake (where the hike begins) and took 4 hours to the top, about 2 hours down (maybe less because we spent part of the 6 hours jumping in the glacial waters of Radium and drying out on a rock). So, I forgot my digital camera, but got a disposable camera so I will hope to have pics up by next week. I still have 15 pics left on it and don't know if I want to waste it, but maybe I will finish off the roll on our next hike. So far we have done Elk mtn, Slesse Memorial, the Chief, and now Radium Lake. I hope that soon we will be Garabaldi Lake and camp and then do Black Tusk- but I have got to round up some more hikers;) So, now that I have the book "103 hikes in the Fraser Valley" I feel set to do as many as possible.

My job: I have been in training the last week and half- learning about what to expect with the kids (I am working with the Bethesda summer day camp program for kids with disabilities). I have learned so much thus far, and can't wait to meet the kids tomorrow! I will be doing a fair bit of driving this summer with a few day trips planned: playland, Grouse mtn, Alouette Lake, ect. I only have to work 2 saturdays this summer- once this week and once in August. I am very happy to have an actually schedule that's full time (was getting tired of being on call/doing shift work). I am most excited about seeing Jennica and Jamie in about 24 days!! Can't wait to see them, and go visit my parents again in Penticton.

I have been reading a book written by Brother Lawrence's (a monk) and his friend Joseph de Beaufort about Brother Lawrence "the practice of the presence of God". The book has been around for around 300 years. It's been an amazing read so far- this little book has so many gems of truth in it. Here some of my favorite parts:

"Neither skill nor knowledge is needed to go to God, he added. All that is necessary is a heart dedicated entirely and solely to Him out of love for Him above all others." pg 18

"Whenever he considered doing some good deed, he always consulted God about it, saying "Lord, I will never be able to do that if You don't help me." Immediately he would be given more than enough strength.
When he sinned, he confessed it to God with these words "I can do nothing better without You. Please keep me from falling and correct the mistakes I make." After that he did not feel guilty about the sin." (conversations with Brother Lawrence, pg 11)

"But neither his awkwardness nor the errand in general caused him any distress. He simply told God it was His affair, after which he found that everything turned out nicely [speaking of his being lame in one leg and "clumsy"]. pg 12

For some years, Brother Lawrence had been quite disturbed because he wasn't certain he was saved. Even so, he maintained the attitude that he had become a christian because he loved the Lord, so he would CONTINUE to love Him, whether he was certain of his salvation of not. This way, he would at least have the earthly pleasure pf doing everything he could for the love of God. [Later this uncertainty left him].

Now here is a good quote for those of us out there who sometimes feel they are in a dry spell in our lives, maybe lasting longer than we wish for:

"We also need to be faithful, even in dry periods. It is during those dry spells that God tests our love for Him. We should take advantage of those times to practice our determination and surrender to Him. This often brings us to a maturity further on in our walk with God." pg 9