Frames of summer // random thoughts

I.  I changed a few things up here, as I'm sure you've noticed. Some more changes in design will be coming, when I have some time to work on them... I'm also contemplating a new blog title, and any ideas are greatly appreciated! (Yes, I know I just did this earlier in the year but I'm already getting tired of my current name).

II.  I am feeling so overjoyed about the canonization of Mother Teresa. She was one incredible, beautiful soul and will forever be one of my greatest role models. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

III.  Also, just a moment of recognition for Scott Hahn: I've been reading a couple of his books this summer. His words have been incredibly helpful for me and have made me want to continue learning as much as I possibly can about my faith. There is so much to be discovered, so much to be read, and I am absolutely thrilled by this. The more I learn, the more I love...

IV.  One more thing: an excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit, a favourite childhood book of mine. I recently rediscovered it, and this is just too wonderful a quote not to share:

“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.' 

'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.  

'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.' 

'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'  

'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”

Summer 2015 // video

Thanks to you all who helped make this past summer the best one I've had yet. I made so many wonderful new friends and memories, and I feel so blessed...

Stein Traverse

A little over a week ago, I got home from the 9-day grad hike. First big epic thing of my summer - check! What was it like? Well... the most physically challenging thing I have ever done. And I do not regret going at all. I don't think I'll do it again anytime soon, though. My knees are shot. On the last evening of the hike, we took a whiskey bottle, put notes written to our future selves in it, and buried it under a rock. So one day, I will have to come back - we all agreed on having a Stein Traverse Reunion 10 years from now.

Really, though, it was an amazing hike with a wonderful group of people.  All of the difficulties we faced just made it more memorable. They were also all strangely symbolic of the whole "entering into adulthood" thing, which was kind of the theme of the hike for us grads. In a recent email, our hike leader wrote: "In many ways I'm so glad the trip was so tough and sometimes so scary.  Whatever challenges and obstacles may come your way in future my dear young people you will often be able to say to yourself 'Ha! Not as tough as that day on the Stein Traverse!'"

Here are a couple photos from the trek. The views were gorgeous up there... and the wildflowers...

Summer plans

I have so many cool things planned for this summer. I will be starting July off with a nine-day backpacking trek in the Stein Valley, where I'll be hiking with 14 other teens and two chaperons. I'm quite excited about it since we have a great group of people going. The trail also has some interesting history with the Aboriginal people.

Following this hiking trip, I will be heading off to Whistler to see my cousins who are vacationing there for a week. We've planned lots of mountain biking, hiking, and swimming, so it should be a lot of fun. My cousins and I usually spend the end of July at Piers Island, where my Oma owns a cabin, but this year will unfortunately be the first year that we won't have this annual Island family reunion, because...

...I am going to Piura, Peru! Yes, that's PERU! I know, I still can't quite comprehend it... One of the things on my life bucketlist is to see South America, and when my dad found out about a FSSP mission that is going there, my opportunity arose. I will be there for ten days and doing work such as distributing food and water to the poor, working at the local parish's school, orphanage and clinic, and helping to build houses and other facilities. I can't wait to get to know the people and culture there, and from what I've heard, Peru is a really neat place.

Many people have asked me if I'm going to Machu Picchu, and unfortunately, I'm not... it's not exactly near where I'm going, and plus it wouldn't be safe for a white girl to travel in Peru alone. Maybe someday I will go back to see that fascinating place in the Peruvian mountains, but it's not for this year.

After Peru, my parents and I are heading off to the Rocky Mountains to go camping and hiking. My family has gone to the Rockies almost every summer for quite a few years now, and we just can't get enough of its glorious mountains, meadows, and lakes. They honestly seem to get more beautiful every year... I can't wait to go back again.

Finally, after all of these adventures, I will have one or two relaxing weeks at home before the school year starts up again. These weeks will probably be spent picking the produce of our yard, with all of its blackberries, apples, beans and various other fruits and vegetables, and during the really hot days we'll most likely hang out at the lake with friends.