in case you need this...

...cause I have had this one on repeat for the last week.

so much to post...so little time.

A quick wrap up of the last few weeks (some of this has been covered...but let's review for fun...and don't worry, I have a ton of pictures to catch up on...some day soon):

1. Witnessed Marvin and Estela get married...and wore a matching dress with Carleigh for the event (also "winged" putting together bouquets - add that to the resume?) It was a bittersweet wedding, knowing that deportation date is coming.

2. Hired a new team of commuter leaders for next year. Got a FULL team. God really blessed the work that this year's team did (a full team is a first in many moons). Got a little misty-eyed knowing there was only a few weeks left with this year's team...

3. Biked around Stanley Park with part of Wedding #2's bridal party. First time biking around Stanley Park. First time being a bridesmaid twice in one year.

4. Read some books. Wrote some papers.

5. Fun night with M and E at Castle Fun Park. Found out how good Carleigh is at shooting stuff. Made me remember she's American...and then watched Bodhi figure it out really fast. What is with boys and games?

6. Watched Canucks lose. And then lose (Lana joined us to cheer...and then joined us in our commiserating). And then lose. And then win! And then lose. I don't know if it's better to be out the first round than the last. I'm still not sure.

7. GRAD! Handed out gowns and caps...walked them in....walked them out...took back their gowns...went to the banquet...emceed with the valedictorian... embarrassed myself in front of 550 people (you know when words come out, but they're not what you meant? yeah, that happened. I inadvertently insulted the entire catering staff. Thankfully they knew the heart of what I said....or rather, meant to say.)

8. Went to see Ingrid Michaelson in concert. Wow. Okay first of all, she should be far more famous than she is because she can sing like no other. Second, I'm totally not 20 anymore. 10pm start time? Are you kidding me?

9. Bought an iphone. Oh gosh.

....

Somewhere in amidst all of that, I got to take Charlee on a date night. It was pretty great, because she actually initiated it (heart melt).

And so, I picked her up from art class, to which she dramatically announced in front of her class: I just KNEW you would come! And then we walked over to White Spot and had dinner together. We talked about school and art; we talked about Bodhi and Jane; we talked about our special friendship (and she was sure to say more than once: "Today is the first day you're picking me up from my art class, Kathleen!"). I felt pretty blessed.

And then...we also talked about this little incident, and also a little bit about our upcoming trip to Disneyland. And this is how it went. Please enjoy.

Charlee: Kathleen, I don't EVER want to get married.

Me: Really, Char, why not?

Charlee: Well, cause I don't want to have a baby. Cause I will push...and push...and it will hurt!

Me: Oh, I see.

Charlee: And, really, Charlee is NOT a mom name, Kathleen.

Me:  Really, Char? Well, what would be a mom's name?

Charlee: Um...well...Emily. Emily is a mom's name. (It should be noted that I don't believe Charlee knows any Emilys who are moms.)

Me: So, Char, what do you think about Disneyland? What are you gonna talk with the princesses about?

Charlee: Well, I'm going to say "hi" to Cinderella (cue fluttering eyelashes), and I'm going to tell her, "you are SO pretty, and I like you, and I make up songs, just like you do!"

Me: That's great Char...who else will you talk to?

Charlee: Um, let's see...well, I have a question. Is Sleeping Beauty always sleeping?

Me: (Muffling my chuckle) No, Char, she's awake. You can talk to her.

Charlee: Okay, well, you know that girl who's brown and green?

Me: (trying to imagine who the heck she's thinking of...) Um, do you mean Jasmine?

Charlee: No...the brown girl with the green...Well, anyways, I'm gonna tell her "You shouldn't kiss frogs! It's not a good idea!" (This kiddo hasn't seen the movie...)

Me: Oh, but Char, she kissed the frog and he turned into a prince! And now they're married!

Charlee: Oh, I'm not gonna do THAT! Cause then...I'll have to push and push and it's gonna hurt! And I'd have to change my name...

I do solemnly swear this story will be told at Charlee's wedding.

a shout out.

If you are single...you will appreciate this video.
You will chuckle, because it sounds familiar.

If you are married...enjoy this fun video.
And please, please, please, do your single friends a favour:

Simply remind us we are loved.

the words.

The one thing about Pinterest that I love (okay, there's more than one...) is the crazy amount of print and text images it provides me with. 

I *might* have a slight obsession with really good quotes. 

It started around the age of 13 when I read: 

"faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark" 

(Rabindranath Tagore)

This quote gave me another picture for faith that expanded upon what Scripture had been telling me already.

At the time, I think I drew a sad picture of a butterfly (because I couldn't draw a bird), and repeatedly took it out of my "treasures" box to recite along with my memory verses. (I was 13 after all).

I guess I have a thing for words. 

I may not be able to draw or paint or sculpt or even sketch...

(as friends can attest to from our Cranium game nights...)

but I love words.

I love the way a string of well-placed words can convey an image so spectacular, that in your heart it finds a home. 

A good book has the ability to draw you into its pages and make you believe you are living the story; you are not merely an observer, you are a participant.

A good quote will stick with you for 17 years (that's right...I just typed that above quote from memory, and yet I can't remember my license plate number).

I think I inherited this love of words from my Grandma Olive. 

I still have a number of her letters tucked away in a box carefully placed on my shelf.

Her "Dear Dolly" letters are what I call them. (Nicknames seem to run in the family...and no, you can't start calling me that, unless you are Myles Shaw and claimed the right to it when we were in college.).

Grandma's book of poetry has a spot on the bookshelf. 

Every once in a while, I find time to read through it.

Grandma wrote from a lens of faith; Scripture was part of the "breath" of her words. 

It was evident her Bible reading was more than duty.

Occasionally, I quote her words in my papers for school.

When I do, it reminds me of something else I love about words: 

the window they open to the past, and the potential they offer to bring about change for the future.

And so. 

Here are my latest favourites.

And yes, I might have them memorized.

But no, I did not draw a butterfly to go with them.

(image via)

Proverbs 31:25
(image via)

(image via)

"it doesn't matter if the journey is long when the destination is your heart"

(image via)

(image via)

and...

(image via)

I'm in love.

...with sunshine.

Saturday I spent with a dear friend who I will stand beside as she marries her best friend in July, along with two of her other good friends who will wear the same dress as me. And we had fun.

There is something about a day full of sunshine, cruiser bikes, Stanley Park, and amazing food, that makes a girl's heart just full.

So, here's the deal, the best girls' day in Vancouver when the sun is shining is completed by doing the following (and can be modified to be a date day...just sayin'):

Step 1:
Rent 1 speed cruisers from Spokes and try your best not to run into the girl in front of you (Sorry Steph!) I have to admit, I kept staring off at either the mountains or the ocean, and as a result kept getting too close to the person in front of me, or way too far behind.

This also made me very excited to get a bike rack and take my own bike on adventures this summer. Pictures to follow.

Step 2:
Coffee at JJ Bean. Enough said.

Step 3: 
Manicures/Pedicures at Harmonie Day Spa on Robson St. These girls were so sweet, and service was really good - they honestly have the best green tea I've ever drank in my life.

Step 4:
Dinner at East is East on W. Broadway. OH MY WORD. Okay, you know things will be good when you're handed the best chai tea in the world upon entering. Even if you live 1000 miles away, you should probably make the trip to Vancouver to eat this food. Yes, it is honestly THAT good.

Step 5: 
Return to a living room to digest, laugh and watch a movie that makes you laugh a good ol' gut laugh

And there you have it.

The best use of a sunny Saturday in Vancouver.
(Version 1.0)

on repeat

...reading a book...writing a paper...can't stop listening to this:

(warning...cheesier than I usually like, stylistically speaking, but hey...cheese is good.)