We are back

Cameron skiing at Panarama

Yours truly enjoying the mountain view

Us

Hi everyone. Its only been since Halloween since we blogged last. Oops!! Of course a million things have happened in the last 5 months. We are back in Red Deer, Alberta Canada right now. Got back at the end of Jan. It was a big decision for us to make and we made it and now trying to get things sorted.

Its winter, ok officially Spring but still too cold for my liking. Although we have taken advantage of the snow and done lots of skiing (Cameron much more than me) and thats fun. being with the family here and our friends again is awesome. But then we have the ache in our hearts for our friends still in Oz. If you are reading this we love and miss you...

So here is a brief update of whats news

1. Neither Cameron or I are working yet. Because we are lucky enough that we can, we are being fussy and particular about the jobs we apply for and even then I have turned down a position. Most of you may be thinking I am a lunatic, but both of us have made the choice to only have jobs we love and are WANTING to do so we love life and not dread getting up to go to work every day... no way hosey... not for us!! We have a few jobs we have our eye on right now so I'll keep you posted.
2. Our long term plans (1 to 2 years from now) is to open our own business. A restaurant.
3. We have decided to move back into our studio instead of looking to buy or rent something. We are going to make some renos and stash away the cash.... to go towards point number 2. And our plan is to be 100% debt free in 12 months which is AWESOME!!
4. Oliver is obviously back in Canada with us and has adjusted to the weather really well.
5. On our way back to Canada Cameron and I travelled through Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. LOVED it!! We are both absolutely in love with Cambodia. Amazing place and we seriously recommend everyone go if you can
6. While in Thailand Cameron and I spent time at the Elephant nature Park which is about an hour north of Chiang Mai. Again, LOVED it!! The most wonderful place with such great people. Lek (who started and owns the park) is an amazing woman and my hero. There are approx. 36 rescued elephants at the park. Along with tons of dogs, cats, cows, buffalo.. just to name a few. While we were there we fell in love with one of the dogs there names Ahingsa. We adopted him from the park and our plan is to bring him back to Canada. Although the unfortunate news is that I dont know if it is actually going to happen now which makes me very sad and so we'll move on.......

Anyway that's just a brief intro to the last 5 months. We plan to keep updating this blog for all our international friends and family out there. Its such an easy and great way for us to communicate whats been happening to everyone. Feel free to leave us comments or email.. Hope this finds everyone well... Lee

Australian Halloween

Shawn was Thomas the Tank Engine and he is violating the Father Cameron

The holy couple. Our costumes were a huge hit. I had a sign on my back that said

"The devil made me do it".

Laura and Q-ball went as Bender and Zoidberg from Futurama. Also a huge hit!!

So in Australia they do not celebrate Halloween. Some try but not with great success. Its even a challenge to find halloween candy for the kids (if there are any).

So a friend and I decided we were going to throw a giant true north american style Halloween party in Byron. Well alot of work later, it was a fabulous success. In the end there was approx. 80 people, all costumed having the best time. Soooooo much fun. I have added all the 60 other pictures onto my Facebook page if you want to see more. The party was great and I hope that we have converted many more Aussies to get behind the fun of Halloween.

More diving fun

Diving father and son team.

Best friends enjoying the diving experiences

The boys getting ready to head out to swim with the fishes...and hopefully not bull sharks!!

A new love

The house we are sitting for 3 and half weeks.
View from the balcony. The morning clouds
The deck and pool area
My cabana boy cleaning the pool walking along the ledge... scary!!

Cam and I are still house sitting in heaven and we are so damn lucky so have had this time up here. The quite surroundings, beautiful 25m lap pool, hot tub that massges soooooooogood, and my new love.... the infrared sauna. In an infrared sauna, the infrared heater produces radiant energy, which is the same as the heat from the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays.

You sit in the sauna for approx. 15min and you just sit there and nothing happens. the its like a switch goes off and you start sweating like you have never sweat before. I LOVE IT!!!

I have been getting in the infrared sauna almost everyday since we've been here (about 3 weeks) and my skin is looking amazing. It just feels good.

This is one "toy" Cam and I truly need to have in our home. If you can find one... try it, you'll love it

Willfulness and Willingness

I love the way my life works. I am not only very blessed and cared for, I have great trust that the universe will always have my back. What a great feeling. And since losing my job with Starbucks I have had plenty of time to read, workout, walk, think and of course hang out with friends. And I am intrigued at how many conversations have been about life... whats the point... what are we doing here... society and the state it is in..... whats next for me or us....
And I recently had a discussion with a wonderful and wise woman about willingness and willfulness. And I wanted to share this with everyone and get you thinking about what you do and how you can have more willingness and less willfulness. Here are some web definitions to start the process.

WILLFULNESS -

1. unruliness: the trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline

2.The quality or state of being stubbornly unyielding

WILFUL -
1. Said or done on purpose; deliberate.
2. Obstinately bent on having one's own way

WILLING -
1. Disposed or inclined; prepared: I am willing to overlook your mistakes.
2. Acting or ready to act gladly; eagerly compliant:
3. Done, given, accepted, or borne voluntarily or ungrudgingly.
4. Of or relating to exercise of the will; volitional.

WILLINGNESS - The quality or state of being willing; free choice or consent of the will; freedom from reluctance; readiness of the mind to do

We had a great conversation that has left me thinking for days now about the difference between being wilful and being willing. And I think (in my opinion and thoughts at this time) that most people and society is wilful. That need to control or "make things happen" or "my way or the highway" or "I'm right and you are wrong". Instead of trust and ease that things "will" just happen. We discussed how to be more willing would involve alot of trust which in turn would give us so much freedom. WOW freedom to just be. To trust you will be ok and be willing to accept everyone and everything. To live in the now and trust you will be taken care of. Or on the other hand to be wilful and fight everyone and everything.

Anyway this is my new thing right now. Wilful or willing. Which do you have most in your life??? Think about being more willing and what would that look like??

I have been very willing to let my life be right now. and I do really trust that everything will work out ok. Do you think I'm crazy? I'd love to know what you think...... and I'll fill you in as i keep researching and thinking about this myself

Happy Birthday

Cam and Shawn getting ready to dive Julian Rocks
Cam loves his diving...
Cam beside the Wobbegong sharks at Julian Rocks

Cam getting his tattoo from our buddy Dave at Sharky's Tattoo

Cams tattoo

Cam turned 25 on Sept 28th and it has been an amazing weekend. And one of those things is his best friend Shawny got him a tattoo. Shawn designed it and the whole tattoo had great meaning of Cam and his passion of music as well as the connection of Shawn and Cams childhood. Its very cool. It was also Shawns 25th birthady on Sept 26th so we bought Shawn a dive trip out to Julian Rocks. Great weekend.

Family fun!!

The bbq queen and king....

Cam at the arches at the beginning of the Pyramid hike....

View from top of Mount Warning..... soooooo amazing!!

Cam and I at top of the Pyramids.

Emily on our balcony of our apartment in Surfers Paradise. SWEET VIEW!!

Cam and Em at one of the wineries. Brother/sisterly love

Em, Rick and Cam at the top of Bald Rock.

At the start of Bald Rock. with the added guts hanging out....ha!! Rick looks disgusted!!

Rick, Em and Cam on the chain on the hike down from Mount Warning. Killer man!!

Well Rick and Emily have been here for 2 weeks and I must say we have had some fun and ALOT of sweating. yes sweating. If we dont climb a mountain every day...... something just doesnt feel right. In 5 days we climbed 3 mountains. Mount Warning, Pyramids and Bald Rock. Very beautiful and a great experience. We went on a 5 day road trip and traveled north up to Stanthorpe and then started back south doing a winery tour called the Granite Belt. Good thing I dont like wine cause these Wiebes LOVE their wine. And after doing 2 or 3 wineries in a row..... driving isnt a good idea. So I drove and the Wiebes (excluding me) drank. And learnt alot about the best ways to make wine so Rick can go home and put his new knowledge into practice.


Rick and Cam have done lots of diving. Although I think those guys could keep diving every day, all day and be very content.


Em and I have had some GREAT quality time. Talking, getting to know each other even better and sharing ideas and experiences.


We had a house full of people last night for a combo of Cam and Shawns 25th birthdays. That was fun and delicious. And of course ended with a competitive, trash talking game of Asshole.


Its Cam's official birthday tomorrow. He has already been super spoilt. he's a happy guy. Having his dad and sister here and of course all the goodies. He got a dive computer from his parents and a dive light from Em and Steve so he is set up for success on the dive front. Shawn designed and got him a tattoo. It is on his left calf. Very cool. and more pressies for tomorrow.


anyway thats it for now.