Happy New Year...

Wherever the road may take you, go with peace, happiness and health!

Another year has come and almost gone. This was a good year. I got a new job, one I really really enjoy, one that has the potential to be more. My family is healthy. My friends are healthy. My children are growing into wonderful little people. They challenge me, which is what they are supposed to do, right! We live in a part of the world where we can walk out our door everyday knowing we live in a safe place.

My oldest child goes next week for his temporary drivers licence. I can remember how great it felt when I got mine - the freedom, the independence. My brother (my twin brother) got a car before me - boys tend to do that - but he would always let me borrow it whenever I wanted. It was a boat...I felt like I was floating down the road. It was built like a tank. Along with the freedom and independence also comes the thinking that we are unbreakable...I know my boy thinks that way but I hope he takes slow easy steps and that danger never comes his way.

I don't know what 2008 has in store for any of us but I hope it takes us with gentleness and well being.

Good-bye 2007!
Hello 2008!

Merry Christmas

Sunday we had our annual 'Christmas tree hunt'.
The day begins with a potluck and then off to the tree plantation to get our trees.
Sarah was wondering how many years we had been doing this.
5 years, she was 4.
And over the years some of the faces have changed.
There are 4 families that have been there from year 1 and others that
joined later and continue to be there. Some we continue to miss and wait for their return.
This year Alex (16) tried to be the tough guy and said he wasn't going. This is now a family tradition, every year we look forward to spending this day with our friends - our family.
So there was no way he was stay home, and besides,
I know he enjoys this day as much as the rest of us.
There is always someone that starts the snowball fight. Kris!?
The kids roll and play in the snow and these year we have lots of it.
It was a beautiful day, too. Not too cold. We remembered other years that were so cold we didn't venture too far into the bush and we weren't too picky with our trees, get in and get out.
The first couple of years we went to a different place. It was beautiful. Rolling hills, bush trail, wide open spaces. The first year there we walked forever, down through the bush along the trail and out into the open fields and way across to the farthest hilltop.
It was wonderful to look back to where we had come from and see the lay of the land. It wasn't so wonderful when we had to walk back but with a few complaints and lots of laughs the day became the beginning of a great Christmas tradition.

Merry Christmas!