Have you met Darren?

Have you met Darren?

You will see his face pop up often in my work because he really is a big part of everything I do. He is passionate about being a heavy duty mechanic, (the best there is if you ask me), he loves loud music, espresso in his coffee, and anything to do with the outdoors. He is strong, loving, encouraging, and always optimistic. He can make me laugh at just about anything, and he loves to sneak up and scare me in the house (he gets me every time I swear). He makes great breakfast, always picks out the perfect wine, and can make a roast like nobody’s business. He really is the perfect husband, and I love the way he constantly encourages and supports me in my business. 

I don’t want his support for me to ever be overlooked. Often times when people do work similar to mine there is someone behind them supporting their journey. Everyone has that person that has encouraged them to go for it from the very beginning. This person is with them through every stepping stone, every struggle, and every victory. This person for me is Darren. These support systems are what keep many of us going. Yes, we might do a lot of the work, and we have to be able to keep ourselves focused on our goals. However, it is an added bonus to have someone cheering you on.

This message is meant to speak to those who feel discouraged in their work or career. There are ups and downs, there is always going to be people who will disagree with you, and not everything will fall into place over night. I encourage you to find your person. Find the person that can give you the boost when you need it, and can help you stay on track with your goals. This goes for anything in life, we are all meant to do wonderful things and we need to be ready to go after these desires. 

I encourage you too stay focused and be a visionary. Darren has taught me many things, one of which is to be more of a dreamer and go after the things that call my name. He helps me stay on track, and he has got me to where I am today. Don’t settle, find the path in life that brings you the most joy and go after it with everything you have. Find the time to get clear on your dreams and design your life. 

‘Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.’ -Oprah Winfrey

***

Life is wonderful, but its even more wonderful because I get to spend with you.

We have learned together, grown together, and became better versions of ourselves: together. I can say wholeheartedly that I would not be the woman I am today if it wasn’t for you, Mr. Darren Wallace. You came into my life to show me the way to a better me. I have learned so much, I have struggled, and I have been in complete overwhelm, but one thing for sure you have always shown me patience. 

You are adventurous and spontaneous, you love to take chances, and you rarely plan things out. You take life as it comes, figuring it out as you go. You are a master of living in the present moment, and often remind me to come back to reality when my mind wanders off. You have encouraged me to go after what I want, and you have kept my dreams alive when I wanted to let them rest. You know me better than I know myself at times, and you know when I need a small boost to push me forward. 

In 4 years I have let go of a lot of things, I have changed more than I would have ever imagined, and I have grown into the person I had always hoped to be. I have opened my eyes to the wonderful opportunities that await, and I have taken giant leaps to go after what I am passionate about. 

Thank you for being my biggest supporter in all my business endeavours. For coming with me to every leadership training, seminar, get together, and learning opportunity I have ever expressed interest in. Thank you for being my own personal photographer, listening to me proof read, helping me choose photos, and bringing my creativity to light. I may be at the forefront of my business, but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that wouldn’t be possible without you. 

Thank you for being you.

November 6, 2018: Our perfect wedding day

Our perfect wedding day.

In September we decided what we wanted. We wanted to honour our love in a way that felt authentic to us. We knew it needed to be in the mountains, because mountains and camping are two things that bring us joy. Darren also proposed to me on the shore of Widgeon Lake. This is located in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, so it only felt natural to have mountains surrounding us as we said ‘I do”. 

Darren chose the location, and I have to say Emerald Lake Lodge is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It is peaceful and quiet, and our time there was focused on connection. We had the opportunity to ‘check out’ of reality and fully enjoy our time there. We didn’t miss the TV, the wifi, or the noise of the city. We loved the fresh mountain air, the delicious food and wine, and the little birds that welcomed us each morning on our balcony. The experience was better than imagined. 

I wanted to be relaxed, and present throughout the entire day. I wanted to remember details of our first look, of the beautiful words we spoke during the ceremony, and the fun we had taking photos. I wanted a chance to soak it all in and cherish the memories we have made in our relationship thus far. I wanted to enjoy every bite of my dinner, sip champagne and savour the chocolate cake that was delicately made for us. We purposely planned our day around these desires, and our day turned out to be just that: perfect and memorable. We woke up relaxed, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast together, followed by a few cups of coffee. I am grateful to have shared every moment with Darren, including having my hair and makeup done. I got to share the experience of getting ready for our wedding with Darren by my side.

I remember the sound of Darrens voice when he told me how beautiful I looked. I remember the way it felt to hug Darren when he saw my dress for the first time. It was wonderful as always, but it was some how filled with more emotion, and our photographer was able to capture this special moment. I remember the laughter we shared because I was able to keep my dress a secret (I’m not good at keeping secrets, especially when I am excited about something). I remember the warmth Darren brought to my hands as we joined together during our ceremony. I remember the sparkle in Darrens eyes, and the laughter when I struggled to put his ring on. I remember the way we both looked at the commissioner right before we shared our first kiss as husband and wife. I remember the happiness, the love, and the passion. I remember the bliss of sharing our first glass of wine sitting by the fire place, talking about how perfect the day was. I remember the delicious meal we shared, and sipping champagne. I remember the whole day, the most perfect wedding day. 

Every wedding is beautiful, and every wedding is authentic to the couple, filled with the small details that represent you and your spouse. For us, those details were forgoing all tradition. We left behind the centre pieces, the candles, the flowers, and the sparkle. However, I wouldn’t change a thing. We designed the day to fit us perfectly, we even walked down the aisle together, because after all the day is meant to represent us joining together as husband and wife. I will treasure the memory of this beautiful day for the rest of my life. It was more than perfect, it was better than expected, and I wouldn’t change a single thing. Cheers to forever, my loving, handsome, hardworking husband. I love you. 

xoxo