Coming Home

Gosh was it ever good to come home after a summer packed with adventures. Even though we were just 3 reconnected there were lots of hugs and lots of tears.

All summer long our neighbour fed Martin and the kids every Thursday night. It was so amazing! This was dinner on my first Thursday night home. 

And then my middle guy came back from Cadet Camp. There were more hugs and tears.

Finally, the Creative Princess returned from Rendez-Vous in Montreal. It was such a good feeling to have all of us in the same place again!

And then our family adventures began again and I was gifted this lovely bracelet.

"She stood in the storm & when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails."

It is time to adjust my sails.

Much love,

Heather

It's a dog's life...

I now have more dog friends than I ever could have anticipated. Over my 11 weeks I lived with 5 dogs in the 7 places that I was invited to live. Those dogs...how I miss them. What a delight to be able to just play with them and spoil them.

This is Hali. She and I played a lot together...she is the sweetest thing.

 I enjoyed so much of this time, of this work but boy there were days where this sentiment felt honest...it was so much work. When we were working, boy did we work. Rest was always well deserved and drinks were infrequent but much appreciated.

Finally...as we were heading home on our last day in Nova Scotia, I found this bottle of Coke that I was simply delighted by. I was ready.

It was time to come home...

So tired.
So worn.
So empty.

Much love,
Heather

CampLife

 As I was planning our Halifax programs, our host made it clear that visiting Sherbrooke Lake Camp was top of the list in terms of necessity. Upon arriving, one of the first things you see is this bridge that leads the way into the woods to a path that, for me, is not yet taken. Perhaps the next time I find myself at Sherbrook, I will discover where it leads for now...I will just enjoy what is signifies...

A place where friendships are made and boundaries are stretched.

I got out for a paddle with my friend Mat. He is the one that made the trip out to camp happen. It was such a good space to be in.

We enjoyed a full afternoon and some time into the evening there...just taking it in...

And celebrating all of our blessings....

Mat has been to camp the last few days and has shared some of the beautiful space that it is through the Sherbrooke Lake Instagram account. Check it out sometime.

So full of beauty.

So full of life.

So full of the Holy Spirit.

Much love,

Heather

Oh Halifax...

I know...it's taking me a long time to get through this journey but I am back in the throws of my reality in Ontario...

But...but...Halifax, I sure do miss you. I miss the smell of the ocean of the breeze coming up off the harbour. I miss the people I met and the people I knew before I went. I miss the community that we created during our GO Projects...but I am happy to be home too. Of course, I am happy to be with my family...

We enjoyed a photography walk one of our program days in Halifax...it was nice to get out and just take in some of the city.

To be silly and to enjoy the people we met along this journey.

It was good. Yes, it was.

So full of memories.

So full of moments.

So full of life.

Much love,

Heather

A stop in paradise

The weekend before the Halifax GO Project started, I got in a car and drove (what a treat!) to Camp Berwick. What a place! One of the highlights was running into some friends from Beamsville within minutes of arriving at camp.

The other highlight was an afternoon out with my friend. We had lunch, went to the beach and enjoyed a cone together. She couldn't have made me happier.

 It was so great to get out of the city and see some more of Nova Scotia...so gorgeous.

But the highlight of sights and experiences was the beach. We wandered and played and got wet in the Bay of Fundy.

The Bay of Fundy is seriously one of my favourite spots. So magical with it's tides, sand and views...oh my goodness. Just the sight fills me up.

So empty.
So full.
So blessed.

Much love,
Heather

...

 And then I arrived back in Halifax. Tired, weary even. Full of hope but ready for rest. I took care of me for the weekend. Made myself feel good from the outside.

And then I jumped in a lake. Over and over again. I washed my weariness and exhaustion away...

Filled myself with the hope and energy required for a new program.

With a new light, ready to move ahead and do it all over again with new youth, a new congregation in a new city.

So full of hope.
So full of life.
So full of blessings.

Much love,
Heather

And then...

 The youth arrived. I will not share their photos here but know that they filled my heart as we went out and worked in St. John's and area.

We stained decks and painted fences. We sorted donations and helped pack care packs to hand out on the streets. We went on a street walk just so we could consider the challenges of being on them. We served lunch and spent time with athletes at Special Olympics Summer Games NL. We gardened for the community, we baked for Ronald McDonald House. We learned about the ocean and the diversity of our home. We prayed together and worshipped together. We cooked together and ate together. We were a community for 11 short days.

We were loved by the people of St. James United Church. They baked for us, drove us and washed our laundry. They walked with us and loved us.

All the while, we took in their beautiful home...

We shared our message as we went out into their community.

And we went out into their community. We loved their community. We saw so much but then...so little of their vast space. And their community, loved us. From the tour guide in the Bell Island Mine, to our bus driver on the Island. They all shared themselves with us.

We left together. Singing together. Drumming together.

Go make a joyful noise.
Go make a home.
Go make a difference.

Much love,
Heather

Goodnight St. John's...

There were a couple of places I found myself at a number of times while I was in NL. Signal Hill was one of those places. Imagine a time when this tower was an important piece of St. John's safety...so much history happened there.

I was so happy to take princess there so we could watch the sunset together. I did not get to see enough sunsets while I was there...but this one, was stunning.

I have seen 2 of these Canada 150 signs so far...I wish I could have travelled more to them in a few more provinces.

Ahhh, St. John's. I would come back in a heart beat. You are so beautiful.

And this sky, well...

This sky is so great that we might find it anywhere...if we take the time to look. And that day, we looked.

But, I would only come back if I had my team with me...there are so many things I want to share with them all. So many places, people and so many feelings.

Full of love.
Full of beauty.
Full of life.

Much love,
Heather

The Arrival of the Princess

After many discussions, the Creative Princess finally agreed to join The St. John's GO Project youth. I couldn't have been more delighted. Seriously.

She flew in incredibly late but we got up early and headed to Cape Spear. What a sight. It was a gorgeous day but a bit chilly...you just never know when you are going to need a jacket in Newfoundland.

Things got a little more brisk when we hopped onto a whale watching tour in Bay Bulls. The waves were high (according to us), we stood at the bow of the boat and whooped with each swell and drop.

We saw a few whales but they weren't the picture taking type...what we really saw were puffins. Thousands of puffins. I really had no idea the way that these guys live...so close in proximity.

It was amazing watching them fly above and below the water. Such a beautiful creature.

Thank you Gatherall's for a great day out on the sea.

I am so happy I got to share this time and place with my girl. 

So full of awe.
So full of love.
So blessed.

Much love,
Heather

Sweet Times

I have learned when an opportunity is offered, take it! It is challenging being in a strange place without transportation. So when my friend suggested Root Beer floats and a hike...how can I say no?

 We sat and enjoyed our Rootbeer Floats and then we continued our hike. It took us to a cliff over a cove. From there I caught my first glimpse of a whale. No pics but memories.

Our hike took us through Quidi Vidi. Such an amazing little place. So beautiful.

I picked out a house here for us. I don't think Mr. CB is buying it...yet.

Life is sweet.

Blessings,
Heather

In the beginning...

This was the first day of work for our GO Project Team. The goals? See God's beautiful creation. Love it. Know each other. 

Before the challenge began, we explored a little history on Signal Hill.

 The scenery in Newfoundland never stopped overwhelming me. I feel like in this moment, it was the same for these guys.

We hiked down Signal Hill that day. Right to downtown, it was so amazing. 

In the beginning
Everything
Was beautiful.

Blessings,
Heather