North Barriere Lake Resort

So this picture is pretty much what our weekend out at North Barrier Lake in a nutshell. Lots of kayaking and lots of rain. After getting back to Kamloops we had a couple of days to relax and move back in to our little lovely basement suite before heading out. On the Wednesday after we got back me and Jeff, and mom and dad, loaded up 4 kayaks, got a bunch of camping things together, and headed out to the lake! North Barriere Lake Resort was super quaint! We had the option to either take our tents out to the campsite, or stay in a cabin. BOY were we ever glad we chose cabin!! The cabin was adorable! (a tad musty smelling, but adorable nonetheless!) It had running water, a cute kitchen with a fridge, stove, and oven, a little bedroom for my parents and a hard futon for Jeff and myself. (all it lacked was its own bathroom!) 

It had been my first time ever in a kayak, but i really enjoyed it! Kayaking is really easy once you figure out how to steady yourself. The only thing i had to get used to was how tired my arms would be after. Also, carrying kayaks sucks. We had gone out a few times with our fishing rods, but no success there. However, when we would cross the lake and go up a stream (the one in the picture above) we could see loads of salmon! They were everywhere! Speaking of seeing something everywhere, there were also tons of eagles. Dad and Jeff went out fishing in the morning a few times, and every time they would come back saying how many eagles they had seen! Looking ahead on the weather network we had been a bit nervous about the rain, but we knew that rain was all part of the experience! What we didn't realize was how MUCH it would rain! The rain wouldn't just come down as a drizzle. It would be a torrential downpour! A few times we had headed out lazily in the kayaks while the weather looked nice and had to come bolting back because we'd be completely soaked to the bones with thunder and lightening following close behind us! During the rainy days we would hang out inside and play card games, board games, and read our books! We had gone from Wednesday to Sunday, and it was great little vacation. We also had a fantastic time making memories, spending quality time with family, having lots of campfires, and laughing- a lot! Enjoy the pictures below, and happy September!! 

Happy Paddling!

a.mart

p.s. once i get around to it i'll do a post on my current experience at university!!

Our attempt at taking a picture of all the stars! 

#summerinlacrete

So it comes to a close. Our summer in LaCrete was amazing. We had a fantastic time hanging out with Jeff's family, seeing friends, and making memories! It was a great change for us. We got us out of the city  and enjoy the prairies for a few months! It's always tough to fit everyone in during a visit up to LaCrete, so i apologize if we missed visiting some of you! It was a busy summer- But a very enjoyable one as well!
 And speaking of enjoyable, i had an absolutely awesome experience cabin leading for my very first time at Riverside Bible Camp for two weeks this summer! Sr. High and Jr. High! They were really fantastic two weeks and i felt like i learnt as much as the kids did! Plus, i met some truly incredible people at Riverside that made my summer extra special. I loved it!! 
Another great learning experience i had while out in LaCrete was that i got to work with a local photographer! It was a blast and i learnt SO much about photography, its incredible. I got to work along side Image Row Photography and second shoot at 3 weddings! Andrea was an incredible teacher, it was a dream! I had the privilege of having her be the photographer for our wedding, so it was super special for me to help her out and see her process of going about a wedding! It was a super sweet experience. Anj is such an amazing woman and i'm so glad that i got to hang out with her this summer! Such a gem. (and her kids are absolutely GORGEOUS!) Overall, it was a super time!
But now we head back to Kamloops. Tomorrow morning, bright and early we make the trek. Its gonna be a looong day. But we're excited to head back! I know my parents missed us (and we missed them too!), so it'll be so much fun to hang out with them for a while! We actually even booked a cabin by a lake so we can go camping, fishing, and kayaking with them! (So excited!!) School is also just around the corner as well! I'm a little nervous to start at university, just cause i've never been to university before! But it's going to be a great experience and i'm so glad i have Jeff there with me to help me out! 
Well, it's time to get ready for my day so i can enjoy our last day in LaCrete! 

Much Love,
a.mart

(p.s. if you want to see more pictures of our summer in LaCrete i used the hashtag #summerinlacrete on instagram!) xo

feeling blessed

to blog, or not to blog. For some reason, thats been my biggest struggle when i think about actually sitting down and writing out my thoughts. Life has been so hectic and busy, feels like i never have time. But i suppose the thing is, i never make time. 

Well, here we are. LaCrete, AB. Not sure if i've talked about it on my blog, but Jeff was in the COOP program at school. (which pretty much means he can work somewhere and get credits for university and it looks good on a resume) Jeff had applied for a job at lots of banks out in Kamloops but didn't hear anything back, so he applied out here in LaCrete! Eventually, we heard back from the manager at the bank out here and a week later- here we are! We've been out here for about a month now and its overall been a very nice visit. It's been very different than being in Kamloops, for sure, but sometimes it's nice to get out of the hum of the city and get out and lose yourself in the stillness of the country. I think one of my favourite things about being out in LaCrete is the feeling of freedom that it gives me. Maybe it's just the mountains that surround me in BC that makes me feel kind of contained, but the prairies just make me feel like i can go and be wherever i'd like. It's a fantastic feeling. (Also, the fact that i can have a campfire wherever and whenever i'd like is a giant bonus as well!!) Hanging out with Jeff's family has been really nice too. I can really tell that Jeff feels at home here, its so neat to be able to see. Speaking of his family, his sister Christina is going to have her baby in about a week or two! SO exciting!! I get to be an aunt to another precious little baby! It's gonna be so great!

So things at the bank are going very well for Jeff! He's really enjoying it and he feels like its a great stepping stone that will lead him towards what he wants to do in the future. "But what about you, Alana?" What a good question. When we first got here i had a few days of recuperating from the stress of working right up until we left for LaCrete, but now i'm working at Prairie Coast Equipment. Just part time, i go in around 1 in the afternoon till they close at 5. 
In other exciting news, on the 29th me and Jeff get to celebrate our One Year Anniversary!! I'm so excited. I can't believe it's already been one year. But at the same time it feel's like we've been married forever! We still haven't quite decided what we're going to do for our anniversary, so if you have any suggestions- please let us know!

Pretty soon i get to watch one of my very best friends walk down the isle!! Lindsey and Brent are getting married July 5th, and i'm so terribly excited! Being able to help plan and even being able to be a part in their special day is so so so lovely. She's gonna be a stunning bride, and its gonna be a gorgeous wedding!! I can't wait. xo

SO there you have it. A lot of new things have been happening, but in the process of it all my heart is so full and i am continually praising and thanking God for blessing me and Jeff with SO much.

happy tuesday,
a.mart

pictures of recently enjoyed things

this one isn't quite as recent, but come on. who doesn't enjoy this adorable baby's face! 

2014 Tim Horton's Brier!

Jeff got to take out and fix his motorbike! He's one happy guy.

NEW CAR!! (name suggestions are welcomed)

yesterday we went for a hike to Peterson's Creek and got to see a waterfall!

i love this crazy family.
(Tiff, come back so you can hike too!)

hehe i had to add this one because it's my favourite!
Jeff: "get a picture of my hair blowing in the wind!"

So there you have it. Pictures of recently enjoyed things! I'm hoping to try to post more frequently, even if they're just simple posts like this one. Hope you're having a fantastic Monday, everyone!!

cheers!
a.mart

its always like spring time with you

SPRING! I love it! You can simply feel the heightened anticipation of spring outside just blossoming, and thats gotta be one of the best feelings ever. Standing in the crisp, fresh, sweet smelling air that gets stuck in your hair, so strong that it lingers for the rest of your day. Mmmm. The sun beaming down, heating up your face. I'm just wild about it! I'm find that as spring seems to be coming closer and closer i'm feeling really thankful that we're in BC! Because having +15 already is a luxury that i haven't really been able to have anywhere else but BC. (in Canada that is) Although i love it and i'm super excited about it, spring isn't the only exciting thing thats come floating our way lately! 
On March 1st, 2014 one of my very dear friends, Lindsey Fehr, got engaged to a super lucky guy, Brent Bandy!!! I'm so stoked for them!! It's been such a sweet pleasure watching them grow as a couple and i couldn't be happier for them! And i'm so honoured that Lindsey asked me to be a bridesmaid, its such a treasure! 
Next in exciting things, me and Jeff are potentially buying a new car! Haha, not technically 'new', but new to us! Our 2004 grey Honda Civic has been a fantastic car, but sadly it doesn't have cruise control. And with the amount of highway driving that Jeff and I do back and forth between BC and Alberta, it's pretty essential. So Jeff found a 2005 red Honda Civic that has power windows, a sunroof, and is virtually the same as ours but is has... CRUISE! So we're super excited about it, and we're praying that it'll all work out perfectly! (someone already looked at our car today, so fingers crossed!) 
Thirdly in exciting new, i just applied to Thompson Rivers University for the Education Assistant and Community Support (EACS) program! So i'm not really sure all that the program is going to entail but i'm thinking that its going to be good for me! It's only and 8-month certificate program so i get to see if that area of work is the right kinda thing for me! I literally just applied, haha so when i hear back i'm sure i'll let y'all know! 
Life is good. Jeff is still really enjoying school for the most part, and his first year is quickly coming to a close! I'm so proud of him and the marks he's been getting and the paths he wants to take. I've just been working lots lately, relaxing when i have days off. We have it pretty good down here. 
Oh i suppose this could potentially count as an exciting thing, but the Brier was here in Kamloops last week. So thats pretty fun! Jeff and I went to 2 of the games (thanks to Mr Tosh) and my dad was probably at every single game. Haha of course. But it was actually super neat to see how it looks when you're in the stands! 
Well, its time for this one to enjoy the sun before i head to work! I'll leave you with a verse that totally encouraged and inspired me today. I hope it does the same to you! 
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

Be thankful. xo
a.mart

conclusion of 2013 {part 2}

alright, so to begin part 2 of this 'blog series' i'll explain mine and Jeff's little holiday… ok, so i had found out that i had 5 days off at Oshkosh, so immediately i phoned Ivy while on my supper break at work and asked if it would be ok if Jeff and I came down the next day to surprise Shannan! and BAM! just like that, plans were made! As we were travelling down i texted Lindsey and asked when her and Brent were gonna be at the Uttaro's and of course it was right when we were gonna be there too! It was so perfect how everything worked out! the roads were pretty icy and yucky, but we made it to Strathmore and even surprised Shannan! It was so wonderful to be away for a while and actually get a "Christmas Break", cause it felt like i hadn't really gotten one. our little trip consisted of lots of laughing, catching up, Lie To Me, card games, Yahtzee, and Just Dance. it was so good for us. we even managed to surprise Brent and Lindsey! they had no idea that we were gonna be there! its amazing though, how all of us 'old friends' now each live in a different province…yet we still managed to all be together for a little bit over Christmas. but sadly, all good things come to an end. New Years Eve morning Jeff and I left bright and early! we made it back to Kamloops around 2:00, just enough time to relax then get ready for a fun evening! our landlords, the Larsen's, came over to my parents and we had Chinese food and played a bunch of card games and brought in the New Year about 15 minutes early so we could all go to bed. haha a little sad, but true nonetheless! It was a great end to our little break though. 2013 was a fantastic year and even though it had a few bumps here and there i would definitely relive it if i had the chance!! however i'm so excited to see what new adventures 2014 is gonna throw our way! So, in conclusion, Happy New Years and may 2014 be the best one yet! xo

…2014, what do you have in store for me?

a.mart

conclusion of 2013 {part1}

Greetings friends! gosh, once again i don't quite know how to pick up where i've left off. i'm not a very constant blogger, but i suppose it makes me more mysterious; you never really know when i'm gonna publish next… dun dun duuh. i decided that i'm going to share my conclusion of 2013 in 2 parts. the first part being until Christmas, and the second part being from then till now. lets begin:
so around the end of November me and Jeff gave in and bought our Christmas tree! (so exciting!) it was our first time decorating a tree thats considered "ours". it was a fantastic feeling. (and just to clarify, it was in fact a real tree, none of that fake stuff.) 

next came something that comes every year. although it requires time and energy we always feel so much accomplishment once its been completed: the snow bear. 

December was really busy for me at work. being in retail, its naturally the busiest craziest time of the year! so i wasn't too surprised when i found out i had to work Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, and in the end it wasn't even that bad. but then once the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers was done me and Jeff leapt at the opportunity to take a little "holiday"! (i'll share more on that in part 2) Christmas was really great! it was so lovely to just hangout as a family on Christmas Day. Tiffany had come up a little while before Christmas so we had quite a bit of time to hang out and whatnot before she had to leave again. Christmas Eve everyone came over to our house! …ok thats a half-truth, everyone went over to our landlords house haha. It was fun, we just hung out upstairs with their family and quite a few others! ate good food, laughed a lot, then headed home for Christmas Eve shenanigans! me and Jeff spent Christmas Eve at my parents, it was so nice. our first Christmas as a married couple was so fantastic. so, although its a bit late,

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE MARTENS'!

to be continued…
a.mart