The sights and sounds of Vancouver, B.C. offered a truly international experience on our Canadian Sojourn this past weekend. We took to the city by foot and spent our time hiking along water fronts, through coniferous parks, and around urban plazas. Foreign language conversations echoed off of tall buildings and blended cacophonously with the sounds of car horns and seagull caws. Peruvian Chaufa, fresh Seafood and strange new vegetables nourished our bodies. We tried fiddleheads for the first time (delicious!).

On our final night in Vancouver, we stopped into a Cathedral to listen to a performance of Gregorian Chants. The Cathedral was dimly lit and a curtain of incense smoke hung densely in the air. One monophonic chorus after another rang high into the rafters of the vaulted ceiling of the ornate Cathedral; melodious reminders that life is grand.

While the women in the chorus sang, I was overwhelmed by gratitude for the beautiful family I have and the amazing adventures we find ourselves in.

On the way home from our Canadian Sojourn, my post-vacation rumination on this sentiment was interrupted by news of a natural disaster in the community in Oklahoma we called home for many years.

I was saddened to hear the news, but tonight as I watch the story progress I’m selfishly feeling grateful that my family is healthy, safe, and in tact. The time we spent in Vancouver this weekend furthered our bond with one another, and made it difficult to stomach the news of a climbing death toll in Oklahoma.

It’s hard to believe such tragedy is ongoing while we’re safe and sound in our calm, manicured suburb following a fun-filled yet restorative vacation.

The eyes of the world are on Moore, OK as things wind down around here. We hope friends and family back home are safe and that healing begins soon for the city of Moore.

And to Vancouver, B.C., we will to see you again after our Great Alaska adventure.