I often spend my time on this site just ranting and raving about lousy drivers and just life in general. However today I felt compelled to share my heart on a deeper level. Today I was sent an e-mail with a powerpoint presentation from a good friend. The e-mail contained instructions to turn on my speakers and get the kleenex ready. The presentation was a tribute to the recently slain RCMP officers in Canada. The presentation was effectively created and carried by a touching song. These slayings have had huge emotional impact on many families, individuals and Canadian society. This is a time filled with total grief and tears beyond our comprehension and my heart goes to the many families effected by the loss of these officers.

I know these families are comforted by those who gather around them during this grieving and adjustment period. I can only imagine there are many questions and pleas of "if only.......and why......." It is at times such as this that so many cry out to God for strength, guidance, mercy and understanding. It is often those who have never cried out or turned to God for anything. These tragic events bring many of us to our knees with our faces flat to the ground, in total surrender to God at times when there is no other direction to turn.

In such a fast paced and changing society we race through our days and years seldom giving complete reverence for the life we have been so graciously been blessed with. If we could only jump off the merry-go-round, landing on solid still ground, so we could grab balance and enable ourselves the opportunity appreciate the treasure of life and to God who gave it to us.

I can't help but search in prayer for each of us that we would just stop and re-evaluate our lives and direction in the knowing that we are not in control of our ultimate journey. None of us know where, when and how we will depart this world. I am sure if we did, we would conduct our lives much differently than we inherentently do.

If today YOU knew, where, when and how - what would your life look like in the days from today forward? Would you be on your knees in thanks and acceptance of our creator, the one we come to when we need more compassion and strength than any human can provide?

I am thankful that I can come to Him in the everyday times and that if tragedy crosses my journey, I can be assured of His complete comfort and strength.

Night............

Nothing better than a special brother........
You guessed it, we are at the cottage, all grown up. Long long away from the little kids that did anything they could do to bug one another. The sister who teased him with danny long legs and the brother that tried to chase me with snakes and pushing me off docks. My brother, the little boy who was the "baby" of our family, the kid who cried and threw himself in the dirty when I was given a quarter from an aunt when he wasn't - is now the first one to reach out and pull me from the mud (without laughing at me). He's the one that has developed patience and love for an older sister who was always a painful thorn in his side. He's the brother who anticipates our visits with welcome arms. We have shared some sad times, rough times, many fun moments and I just wanted to say that I love him very much and am thankful he's the baby brother and that are travelling the journey to better paths !

Be thankful for your siblings my friends, and take a moment to tell them just how much you really care about them. Treasure the special bonds.
ere's to you RICK!................. big hugsand kiss! LOVE YA ! !

There is nothing better than a special brother....

Today I have decided that it is time to spruce up this site -give all of you something more interesting to read and LOOK at... I have decided to add pictures to the site. I am actually quite excited about this adventure and hope it gives an interesting new turn in posting!

Let me know what you think!

SMILE AND THE WORLD SMILES BACK AT YOU............
and I mean....the WHOLE world....... ! !

Sunday calls for the worst winter storm in Canadian history. Ten feet of snow to accumulate in the Burlington/Oakville/Mississauga area. I am talking FEET not inches! Predictions of all stores being closed, schools, banks and any general transportation on public roads will be shut down for three days. The warning is for anyone in need of water and food supplies that they should immediately attend the stores at 9:00 a.m. as the storm is expected to hit around noon on Sunday. All employers are urged to close shop and send all employees home before the storm starts. Travelling will be dangerous and completely restricted. City officials are calling for emergency meetings on how to strategically organize the work flow of snow clearing. Snow plows are currently being gassed up for the worse road clearing ever recorded. Salt is being sent in by freight trains from Quebec. They have called in the RCMP, OPP and all army assistance to keep calm in the city. It is recommended to stay in doors at all times for the duration of the storm. Hydro lines may be brought down and possible interruption of telephone services. Keep shovels handy to ensure front doors to homes are not snowed in.

Well, I am kidding, couldn't help myself....I see Dani and Sheryl freaking out about now. Sheryl for having to stay home from the travel adventures that bring her family all over the map for the kid's hockey and Dani for not having enough food in the house to cook for and feed those active hungry boys....... and to James for the hard work ahead in keeping the ice rink free of the snow so the boys (and himself) can skate!

Me, I am going to dream that I am on a single's cruise in the Carribiean somewhere...sipping on Dr. Pepper and indulging myself in the smorgesborg of decadent food on ship. The sun basking down as I take rest in the three books I have started and not yet finished! Is it warming up yet gang?

Sorry for the scare my friends, just wanted to hear gasps, whines, cries and pleas for winter to end! Enough yet!!

Night.............

My friend Tim has these contests that he hosts and he gives away free books. Well, I was thinking tonight that it really bugs me that my blogger has stopped counting my posts. I was thinking I will have a contest to see if someone can count how many times I have posted on this blog from inception to March 30. The rules are that you have to break down the posts to each month I have posted. The prize is going to be a $20.00 gift certificate to the local Christian book store. So, my friends start counting. The deadline for entires is the end of March - that gives you lots of time to count. It is well worth the$20- gift certificate to not have to do the work myself.

So, the only real meaty comments I get from you guys on this site is the telephone or e-mail complaints that I am not writing! So I have manged to figure it out that the posts are pretty dry and not interesting. So, I have to get the head focused and start to write some intelligent things. No, I will not resort to stealing Tim's posts - well not yet anyway.

Life is wonderful - trying at times - but each of us need to be thankful for all it brings to us!

Night......................

Morning my friends! I say good morning as I am sure most of you will start your day with this blog. (I wish!) Anyway, Tuesday evening didn't go as I had originally planned, but we had one major accomplishment so that's all that matters. I took Joseph on his long awaited trip to the eye doctor. He has waited for the green light on contact lenses since he was about 11 years old. Today was the day. He has been fitted for contacts and is on a trial for two weeks to see if he can wear them.

It was eye opening (sorry for the pun) to watch him so exuberantly spend an hour and a half learning the ropes of contact lense wearing. He spent at least an hour of that time putting in and taking off the contacts until the doctor felt he was confortable and at ease with the process. She said that he is one of the rare kids she has seen so totally enthusiastic about getting contacts. He's pumped and he's off and running. He's thrilled.

What I wanted to share tonight is what it felt like watching him pace back and forth looking in the mirror and checking the world out around him. His face beamed with this huge smile - and his eyes danced, big, brown circles. It reminded me of the first time he put a pair of glasses on and could actually read signs (we didn't realize how bad his eyes were). I was reflecting this evening on how if we just change the surroundings of what we see through and how we see things, how simply amazing the view might be. It could be simply a change of heart, change of job or home or even new friends that could shed new light on the world around us.

Today pretend you have new glasses - with a stronger prescription and take a different look at life and the people you pass - what do you see that you might not have if you didn't put new glasses on.

Have an interesting day.....

Morning my friends! I formally called Sheryl around 7:00 a.m. on March 1st to wish my beautiful long time friend A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! However, I didn't get a chance to write about her yet. Some of you know my wonderful friend. First of all I want to tell everyone that this friend is so young I could be her mother - she met me when she applied as a co-op student for an office I worked in - she was hired and we made instant friends. She is the little buddy that travelled from job to job to work with me. Some people will do anything for a job! I hope it was NOT me that inspired her (by example) to have FIVE children, one after another! I do hope it was me that maybe made her laugh a little along the way. We did more than work together, we shared Mary Kay careers, did some dancing together, took ceramic classes, went on too may binge shopping trips to the Bulk Food Market at Square One to buy a sample of every single candy they sold. She shared an office with me, walked with me when I was pregnant, (through thick and thin), sat in gas stations laughing our heads off over flat tires and crazy people at the wee hours of the morning. She is an inspiration to me as she is a gentle, kind, smart and off the wall funny young woman who loves her husband and children and knows how to just do it right! I love YA Sheryl, thanks for being my friend and always being there! HAPPY BLOG SPOT BIRTHDAY!

What can I say - life is flying faster than the roller coaster I used to ride in Crystal Beach,Ontario. Whewwwww.... I was driving to work this morning in major traffic jam - on Dundas St. if you can imagine. It took me almost one hour to get to work - when normally it is about 15 minutes....grrrrrrrrr... Anyway as I was sitting there I was watching the vehicles infront and around me. One pet pieve I have (well one of many) is when people take the front end of their cars and just slide right up behind the back end of another vehicle. Just sitting amongst these people makes me crazy. I feel totally closterphobic (no I not checking spelling on that one - it's too late). I really feel as though I might get crushed inbetween these vehicles or a huge dump truck will slide along and topple over at my car - and trapping me in between them all. Why is it,tell me that people just HAVE to do that?!

Well... I think it's time I figured out how to add pictures into this site...so I shall have a project on my hands and once I get the digital pictures from Sandy's SIXTIETH birthday, I will exploit everyone....including Gina in HER grass skirt and me in mine. I will be gentle...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDY - MY DEAR SIXTY YEAR OLD FRIEND............... LOL... I couldn't resist ending with that! You are wonderful, precious and an absolute BLAST!!!! You know how to celebrate, love and shine above all. The gathering of these people is only a small reflection of how wonderful you are and how much you are loved. CAN WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN - THIS TIME DANI IN THE GRASS SKIRT....

LOVE YA ALL, NIGHT...............................