This is where I was born. (I was even married at the top of that mountain!) 🙂

The city at the base of these glorious mountains is North Vancouver, British Columbia. I lived in this part of the lower mainland for the first 12 years of my life before my family moved to White Rock, a beautiful town by the Sea about 1.5 hours south.

For the following 12 years I lived with this spectacular view at my fingertips.

It’s true what they say, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone!” For 24 years I had either mountain or ocean in my sights. There was extreme beauty right under my nose and I stopped seeing it. I had to move away in order to know what I had and appreciate it!

What causes us to stop seeing the beauty that surrounds us?

In landscape and in relationships.

I’m sure there are other things that I’ve taken for granted over the years and even in the present place I’m in. In 2011, I don’t want to realize it until it’s too late or gone!

Dear God,
You have given me so much. Help me to realize how blessed I am. I know that I take many things for granted, so I ask you to open my eyes to those things so that I can truly appreciate how much you have done for me. Thank you for the experiences that have made me who I am today. Amen.