I fulfill a childhood dream with a bosom friend

What I wanted to share tonight was my visit to Prince Edward Island this summer. It has been at the top of my list and it absolutely did not disappoint! I have been an Anne of Green Gables fan for as long as I can remember and visiting there was a dream come true! Luckily for me, I got to take my darling stepdaughter, Lady M, with me, and she was a fantastic tour guide. My first visit to PEI was her tenth. My first impression was the red soil, and the huge potato fields! I just wanted to go digging.

Our first stop was, of course, Green Gables. Which, by the way, was NOT full of Asian tourists, as I had previously been warned. The house was amazing, the grounds beautiful, and my darling girl took me on a walk down Lovers Lane, behind the house.

We saw Annes Bedroom, met the lady herself, and drank a lot of Raspberry Cordial! So yum!

We also visited Avonlea Village, did some fun shopping, had some PEI potato French fries, and spent some time on Cavendish Beach. Which I also recognized from the Anne movies, and was one of the most beautiful, clean, and strangely peaceful beaches, despite the tourists and 30+ Celsius heat. I think Lady M and I could have spent the whole time there and been completely satisfied.

The Day ended with a spontaneous drive down a red dirt road(insert Brooks and Dunn song here) and discovered a plethora of Alberta roses. It was completely symbolic sign again, that I belong in this part of the world.

As we were driving home along the two lane highways, up and down the hills, I was also reminded of England(my favorite place in the world!), if you replaced the fences with hedgerows, the land would look just like England. There is more farmland that I expected and so so many lovely old gabled houses, that were mostly well take care of. The whole island just looks friendly, clean and homey. The local town halls and churches were advertising ceilidh on random nights, that I definitely want to be brave and go to on my next visit! How fun would that be? The absolute best part, of course, was the time spent with my step daughter. Obviously I see less of her, but our relationship is as strong as it ever has been. That has been the greatest, brightest thing that has come out of the whole ordeal with her father. He handled the whole situation with her spectacularly, and that's been a huge blessing to all of us. Her mum has been completely supportive of any time that I want to spent with her. This trip was a brilliant time together, where it got to be crazy stepmother day, instead of evil stepmother day.(which has been an ongoing gag between us) We got to talk, and laugh and just be together in the car ride there and back. I have often asked why God was so clear with me about moving out here, and yet The main reason I moved here, to be married, collapsed so quickly. I have never felt that I should go back west, I know I am supposed to be here. Why? For what? Not so clear. But I have also learned in my life that the reasons for things are rarely clear in the beginning. We have to trust in the process, and have faith that we may see the bigger picture. I know that the longer time passes, the more I have been able to see how I have changed and some of the reasons for trials in my past. I would not be the woman I am today(and I'm pretty ok with who I am) without the things I have experienced, good and bad.

So watch this space for more Maritime adventures with Alberta Prairie Girl! XO Leah

I wonder as I wander...

The Alberta Prairie Girl is back!
 I haven't posted on my blog in over a year. There are a few reasons for this; 1. My husband has concerns regarding social media, and sharing ones life in a public venue. Apparently this has bitten him rather harshly in the past, and really rathered that he, and his daughter, not be a part of it. And I respected that. 2. It came to a point where I had so much to catch up on, that the task became too daunting! Now, I am at a vastly different place, not one I ever expected to encounter. However, I have started to explore the Maritimes in earnest, and I would really love to share my escapades in a more journal-like form, rather than just a few pics on Facebook, so the blog is back!

So, (in my very best Inigo voice) let me esplain, no there is too much, let me sum up. Buttercup is marry Humperdinck in little less than half and hour....wait! I am so easily sidetracked....

 Anyway, the number one reason for NOT blogging has chosen to no longer be a part of my/our life, which, ironically, kinda negated any need to worry about my second reason.
 Huh, funny how things turn out.
 I realized that this is not the classiest way to share this radical change in my life, but there it is. I have learned over the past months that choice is a great and terrible responsibility. The accountability that goes with ones choices is also a great and sometimes terrible thing. I have come to know I cannot be responsible for another persons choices, I can only chose how I will respond and how I will move forward in my own life, hopefully with dignity and integrity that makes me a better person.

 What I can say, and share, is that my wedding and receptions were lovely. It was so amazing, especially in Edmonton, to look around and see so many people, from so many different parts of my life, in one room. I will always be grateful that we had that time to reunite, to love and be loved. I can also say how blessed I am to have people in my life, new and old, that care so much about me. Those who were willing to drop everything, had I needed it, to come "rescue" me, physically or mentally or spiritually. I don't think I ever truly realized what good friends and family I have. Thank you.

New Brunswick is a neat place to live. It runs at its own speed, has some of the most stunning scenery, fairly decent snow removal and the friendliest Canadians hands down! Those are some of the reasons I also love my job so much. I had been itching to get back into the clinical side of Respiratory, and getting this job here was an answer to my prayers in so many ways last year. I work with some wonderful people, who are so friendly and kind and supportive. My past work experience and skills from Edmonton and Phoenix were welcomed and suprisingly came back to me very quickly, and I love helping people in the hospital setting so much. I am also a better therapist, co-worker and student preceptor having been on the education side for 5 years at NAIT. It was certainly a big reason why I chose to stay. Don't get me wrong, the thought of coming back to Edmonton, or Alberta, did cross my mind, but it was so brief I barely entertained the idea.
These are the reasons I feel I can share;
 1. I had no confirmation of the Spirit that I should go back. Going along with that, I had such a strong impression when I moved that this was where the Lord wanted me to be, that I could not deny that feeling. Its as strong today as it was when I packed up and left Edmonton.
2. I felt I had perhaps accomplished all that I could do in Alberta. Especially as far as my job and as my social life goes. I have amazing friends and family that I certainly miss alot, but I reconciled myself to leaving them before I left, and Skype, text, email and phone calls make the distance bearable.
3. Moving to New Brunswick still feels like I'm progressing forward in my life. Going back would be just that; slipping back into a comfortable way of life that would still be great and fun, but essentially keep me from progressing.
4. Other than the changes in the husband department(!), everything else in my life is going pretty well. Good job, amazing location, new adventures in travel, great people, family who will always be family to some extent, and lastly, but most importantly, Lady M. She is still a very important part of my life and I feel very strongly that we need to keep that bond we have and for her to KNOW that there is another person out there who loves her completely and is there for her. I also want to be a good example to her in the gospel and the church.  I will always be on her side to love her and support her in whatever way she needs me, for as long as she needs me. And she still loves her wicked evil stepmother and gets a kick out of me in the time we get to spend together! Bonus for me!

So despite the turnaround my life has taken, I am still mostly me; happy, hopeful, grateful; and ready to come though this as a better person, who the Lord wants me to be.
 XO Leah