I am so in love with this crazy, amazing life. I’m not sure how God dreamed up a world where I get to walk, unfiltered, through creation, tasting and seeing so much beauty and joy, heartbreak and sorrow and then I am invited to love through it all. Mostly, I am standing in awe at the miracle of showing up for my life, being able to experience this moment, and the next one, and the one after that.
I am a lover of words, a think-out-loud processor, and a regretful oft-interrupter (I’m sorry – God and I are working on that last one.) Still, words are frequently insufficient to capture a person, but for the sake of introduction, here are a few phrases for most essential details:
Fumbling but faithful disciple of Jesus. Grateful wife. Practicing parent. Recovering oldest child. Big thinker. Life observer. Fast talker. Eager apologizer. Gratitude practitioner. Exercise hater. Unquenchable learner. Compulsive multitasker. Board game lover. Deep feeler. Mercy receiver.
When I was leaving home and opted for an arts degree, and then a second, my practical parents frequently asked what I was going to do with my life (with loving concern for how I would feed and clothe myself). And I would respond, with a far-off hope, that someday, someone would pay me to talk. Every time I receive an invitation to speak, write or share my thoughts, I have to pinch myself that so many things I have longed to give have been welcomed and received by others. This is no small gift; I’m so grateful that you have stopped in here for a moment to allow a part of your life to collide with mine.
Though I’m stepping into this internet world, I’m holding fast to an older-school hope for my writing, where I send these words out with the hope that they find a home in your world. Most of my moments are filled and flowing over with the joy and responsibilities of sharing life and love of our community with my husband, Marc, and our four kids: Robyn, Eliot, Charlize, and Atticus.
More Traditional Bio of Leah Perrault:
Leah (McDonald) Perrault is the Executive Director of Southwest Homes in Swift Current. She left Saskatoon in the spring of 2021where she served as the Director of Mission at St. Paul’s Hospital, since of September of 2018. She served as Executive Lead of Corporate Initiatives with Emmanuel Care (the Catholic Health Ministry of Saskatchewan) from 2015 to 2018. Between 2007 and 2015, Leah served as the Director of Pastoral Services for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. When she’s not busy with her day job, she speaks, consults and writes on the side. Her words find a home at retreats, schools, conferences, book clubs, board meetings, church groups, articles, books and ~ hopefully ~ in the hearts of those who hear and read them.
Leah grew up on a farm outside of Elrose, Saskatchewan. She is the first of four children, a twin, with all the typical “leadership skills” of an oldest child. She was blessed to have supportive, loving and imperfect parents who are now teaching us how to be grandparents.
Leah has a master’s of arts in pastoral theology from the University of St. Michael’s College at the Toronto School of Theology (2009). Her bachelor’s of arts in English comes from Campion College at the University of Regina (2005), where she perfected the art of writing in the early mornings before sunrise, while her room mates were still sleeping.
Leah met her husband, Marc, during her first day on the university campus in Regina. They dated for four years and married in 2005. Since then, they have been working hard at this adventure called marriage, making each other better people in the process and hoping that their relationship is as good for the world as it is for them. Leah and Marc have been blessed with four amazing little people – Robyn, Eliot, Charlize, and Atticus. Their home is full of noise, books, toys, and big ideas.