Maggie Turns 7!

This week we celebrated (what we think) Maggie's 7th Birthday. We don't know the actual date and we're kinda guessing on the year but we've decided on somewhere the middle of January because that's when we got her.

We first posed for some photos at home, isn't that what people usually do before going out for dinner? It was a grand occasion after all.


Then we went to our favorite restaurant which happens to still have a Drive-In side to it, definitely a thing of the past.

There aren't a lot of people who use the Drive-In anymore but it's perfect for taking your dog out for dinner. What better place to bring a dog who loves french fries?


And THEN we went to Maggie's fave shop, the one where they sell all the really cool stuff for PETs cuz they're SMART like that. Maggie got a new ropie because all she really wants in life is a ball and a rope to chew on. Oh, and some snausages. Little things make a dog so happy.


At the end of the night she was exhausted. The pup's too pooped to party anymore.

Harrison Hot Springs

One of my favorite places to go is Harrison Hot Springs. It has always been a place of great memories of camping as a kid, skipping rocks in the lake, walking around the lagoon, building sand castles, eating Schnitzel, swimming in the hot pool, and just a really nice little town of poking around interesting shops and eating in quaint restaurants.

In the summer there is the World Championship Sand Castle Competition which is a delight to see no matter how big of a kid you are. People come from all over the world to take part and it's an endless source of entertainment for visitors of all ages.

The hot pools are fed from the sulphuric water running from the mountain. It's supposed to have healing properties and lots of people swim in it regularly to feel better and to bring relief to sore joints and aching muscles.

Chris hasn't grown up with the same memories of HHS as I have but we've often gone there just for a fun afternoon. We've taken my mom several times, it's one of her favorite places as well. This weekend we went just the two of us and stayed at the hotel (can you say Fancy) and enjoyed the luxury of walking in our robes to the pools.

There are several pools to choose from depending on the temperature you're wanting as well as a large indoor hot tub and cooler pool.

Saturday night we went for dinner and enjoyed a beautiful meal of Mahi Mahi, a white Hawaiian fish I really enjoy. It was funny listening on the woman's conversation at a table close by us when she ordered the "Maui Maui" fish, too funny.

Sunday we walked around the Lagoon and watched a guy walking his Whippet. Being rather fond of the crazy dogs I wanted to catch up with him and tell him some Whippet stories but we were too far behind and his crazy Whippet was keeping him occupied anyways.

It was a great weekend and the perfect start to a new week. I'm now full-time at my job which basically means I drive the same bus the same time every day. This is about the first time in 10 years I've had the same shift and can say to someone "hey, sure next Thursday? I'm off at 5;30" instead of "well, I'll try and get a shift that ends before 6"......or "I'm not sure if I'm working Thursday yet".

Just Look How Much They've Grown

This picture was taken when we first got the boys, Benson and Bailey (the one with the moustache). We bought a cat bed for them and the 2 of them only took up about half of the space.
Now just look at them! This is the first time we've seen both of them in the bed at the same time for a long time. They usually just lay one at a time in the bed and it's usually Benson who lays there. Bailey's more of a couch potato so I can pounce on you at any time kinda guy.

They're both really nice cats with gentle personalities. Who knew I could turn into such a cat lover?

On New Year's Day we went to our friends house to watch the BIG GAME between Hawaii Warriors and Georgia Something or others....I'm not a football fan at all but when it comes to Hawaii...well that's another story. You see, when I was there the last Saturday was a huge game night when Hawaii won a spot to the Sugar Bowl, being undefeated 12-0, a never before won victory in the history of UH Football.

Anyways...we made a party of it......brought leis for everyone, Mai Tais all around, Macadamia Nuts...a good time was had by all despite beaten to a pulp by the Southern boys. Boys, what a wampin' (Is that a word?)

Happy New Year - 2008!!!

My Wish for You in 2008:

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words, may 2008 be the best year of your life!!!

Thanks Val, it's a good one.

Hawaii in Photos

This past week has been full of yucky weather, it's either snowed or rained so I've decided I need to post more photos of Hawaii.

Doesn't the word Hawaii just make you think of warm tropical beaches? Beautiful flowers, the sights, the smells.................ahhhh, feels like home to me.


My friend Becky has always been special to me. Becky has lived in Hawaii since she was 15 years old. Her mom and dad are in their 80's and still live in Waikiki. Becky's dog is named Tiger, she rescued him in May so this was the first time that I got to see him.

Becky and I have been friends for 30 years but our Moms had never met so for the first time the 4 of us went out for dinner. We all had a great time.


Ok, back to flowers. I love the poinsiettas and how they grow like hedges there. The first year I lived there the house where I lived had a driveway lined with poinsettas.


An interesting thing we did this visit was go on a tour of Shangra La. It was the home of Doris Duke. She imported things from around the world to make it her very own. You can't photograph inside the home but this is what her back yard looks like.

Another special person in my life is Mrs. A. She was our College Receptionist and she took her job very seriously. Some students were scared of her. Not me, I grew up with a Dutch Mother. Now, all these years later she tells me I've been like a daughter to her.


I keep telling Chris, "You can never take enough pictures of palm trees." Especially with a new camera to try out. I took pics in the sun, and in the shade. Palm trees. I can never get enough.


So there you have it...don't you feel a little better have shared a little of Hawaii with me? Here's a Bird of Paradise just for you.

Yippee Skippee, We're Goin' on a Cruise!

After much deliberation, research and fact-finding, (not mine, Chris's) we've decided what to do for our decade turning birthdays in May. We can't actually be away for our birthdays, mainly because mine falls on Mother's Day and because I was born on Mother's Day it's a really big deal for the Mother. The Dutch Mother.

Soooooooooooooooo.....we're leaving Vancouver on April 24 and flying to San Diego. We spend a couple of days there and then leave San Diego cruising back up to Vancouver with a day in Seattle before we come home.

We're pretty excited!

Christmas 2007 has come and gone. Whew! It was an all right one. Not the best, not the worst I've ever had. But I did get Timmy's so that's always a good thing.





We drove out to Abby on Sunday and picked up my step-dad and took him out for lunch. Ahh, Swiss Chalet Festive Special. It was nice to have Paul out enjoying a meal and time together with my mom. It looks like he will be moving to Victoria in the New Year to be closer to his kids. These decisions aren't the easiest ones to make so we have to trust God that it will be the right one for Paul.

My mom came and spent a couple of days with us. We went out looking at all the Christmas lights one night. Then Chris and I went to Church for a 11 pm Candle light service which was beautiful.

We tried not to over do the presents this year knowing that we've both got big birthdays around the corner.

I did get some interesting things for Christmas, like half a door (Chris got the other half), some mosquito nets for kids in Africa, an electric saw (I am woman, hear me roar) Timmy's (Yahoo) stuff to make me smell good, and a nice sweater to keep me warm when I drive.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and much happiness, peace and joy to you in 2008.

Last night Chris and I were eating at one of our favorite restaurants and talking to the owner as she came by our table to chit chat. She's a really nice person and very easy to engage in conversation. She's recently sold the restaurant and plans on moving to a smaller community to have a better quality of life.

We were sharing that one of the best gifts we had gotten this Christmas were things our friend had chosen for us out of the World Vision Catalogue. I got mosquito nets for kids in Africa and Chris got water for a village.

We are so blessed. About 10 years ago my life was so different. I'd had a serious break down and pretty much lost everything. At that time I reached out to the Salvation Army and asked for help and they gave it to me. I had nothing to give, absolutely nothing except my piano playing on Sunday mornings.

Now I pass the Sally Ann kettles and am reminded of how much those kettles helped me in time of need. I ate many meals at the Soup kitchen and was blessed by the warmth of the people who served. I can't walk past a kettle without plunking in something. It reminds me never to judge people in need. I don't know their stories, they don't know mine.

My life is very different now and I am extremely thankful. I never want to take it for granted.

This One's For You Val

A blonde goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards.

She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"

The clerk says, "What denomination?"

The blonde says, "God help us. Has it come to this?

Give me 6 Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 22 Baptists.

You gotta love it!

I've Been Tagged

There are supposed to be 8 of each category but I can't come up with that many. Sorry.


4 passions in my life:

1. My love for God
2. My love for my family
3. My love for my partner
4. My love for beauty around me and especially in Hawaii


4 things to do before I die:

1. Write a book
2. Go sky diving
3. Live at the beach
4. Go back to Holland and stay for a year


4 things I often say:

1. Are you new?
2. Put yer big girl panties on and deal with it.
3. Yes I am a rockstar.
4. Where do you want to eat?

4 books I read recently:

1. Something about a beach house, can't remember the title.
2. Behaving Badly
3. Me and Marley
4. Tenderfoot Trail

8 songs that mean something to me:

1. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
2. Because He Lives
3. Your Faithfulness
4. How Great Thou Art

4 qualities I look for in a friend:

1. Humour
2. Sarcasm
3. Loyalty
4. Integrity

Merry Christmas 2007

2007 was a year full of blessings and challenges. I was blessed with not one but two trips to Hawaii. The first one was in January with Chris when we were able to spend 10 days in Honolulu staying at my friend Becky's place. What a great blessing that was to swim in her pool on the 37th floor and zoom around town in her sporty little car. Amazing. We had a fabulous time and enjoyed great weather and good times as Chris got to meet some of my Hawaiian friends.

We still spend a lot of time up at our cottage and this summer we put on a new roof which was an experience all by itself. What's that old song, "Through many dangers, toils and snares..." When it was all said and done we could say "We did it!" Yeah for us!


Our pets are always a great source of entertainment and joy around our house. "The Boys" celebrated their first Birthday on Canada Day! They've grown into calm, cool characters who each have their own unique personality and though they're brothers they are quite different from each other. We love them and are glad to have them around.




Maggie's still the #1 Dogger and continues to challenge us with her issues but loves us just the same when we "don't get her". She's a great dog.



I enjoyed a great trip to Oregon in August visiting friends in Springfield and then heading to the coast and spending time in Seaside, one of my very favorite places to hang out and watch the surf.

It was challenging this year to see my step-father's health really decline and go to the point of having him admitted into a care facility. It's not easy watching anybody grow old and dementia setting in. My mom has had a hard time adjusting to the changes so hopefully in the new year things will bring a more positive outlook.

My mom gave up driving this year so now I'm the owner of the "bird". I added Hawaiian seat covers to it to make it mine, you know, so it wouldn't look like the little old lady car it used to.

Speaking of Mom, we took a spontaneous trip to Hawaii in December and had a great time. We stayed at a quiet little hotel that we've stayed in before and really enjoyed ourselves. The weather was a bit iffy sometimes and we did have some rain but nothing like our previous trip. I got a little more sun this time and we really enjoyed just going for walks, people watching, meals out with dear friends and just hanging out together.



Chris and I are both very thankful for the jobs we have and feel very blessed as we go into another new year. Merry Christmas to you and all of God's richest blessings in 2008.

VW John

It's hard to believe that it is 3 years since my brother John passed away. I really miss the guy, his big hardy laugh, his caring for his little sister, his love for his kids, his admiration for his church and most of all, his devotion to the Lord. Since his death I've been able to read some of his journals and see his heart cry to the Lord. He just wanted to serve the Lord with all that he had, his heart's desire was to walk close with the Lord and in the end the Lord just called him home.



John lived his life with passion. He had faced his illness head on a long time ago and accepted the fact that he wouldn't live a long life. He knew that he wouldn't live to grow old so he made the most of every day that he had.



His life changed when his wife left him during the biggest challenge of his life, a kidney transplant. The years following were very different for John in many ways. He couldn't work at a regular job because he was ill so much.


So he made the most of the days he could work and began restoring old VW's. It grew to be lucrative for him. The most fun for John was finding an old Bug someone had abandoned and restoring it to show room condition.





Isn't that how God works with us, He takes us as we are, diamonds in the rough and works out the dents and smoothes the rough patches and shines us all up pretty again.

John's life was full of people who crossed his path. Some of them were real characters. VW fans can be an interesting bunch. At his Memorial Service there were a few groups of people: Family, Church family, Former co-workers, and VW guys. After the service they gathered together and did a "cruise-by" in John's honour. He would've been proud.

Here's to you John. You were a great brother and I miss you lots.

You Don't Have to be Blonde

These Contractors are installing the steel pillars in concrete to stop vehicles from parking on the pavement outside a Sports Bar downtown. They are now in the process of cleaning up at the end of the day and anxious to go home.

Have a great day.

Dad

Today marks 18 years since my dad passed away. When I think about all the things that have happened since that time I can hardly believe it. My dad never got to see some of the highlights of my life and that makes me feel sad.

Life goes on and sometimes the hurt of losing someone comes rushing back. Grief hits me in waves. It's been a long time now and I don't often cry anymore but every once in awhile tears well up when I'm reminded of a story, a song, something that reminds me of him.

We all need to hold the ones close to us that we love. Tell them that you love them often. My dad always told me how much he loved me. I grew up thinking that all kids had dads like mine. I know now how wrong I was but it makes me appreciate him more.

God bless all the dads in the world. I hope kids everywhere are blessed with one like mine. He was a great one.

Apparently I've Been Doing It Wrong All This Time

who knew???????????????

Never Enough Palm Trees

We had a great week in Hawaii...just got back this morning. It rained a little here and there and a couple of times it rained a whole lot but the other times were sunny and good sun tanning weather. We did a lot of walking and bus riding and eating and laughing and visiting with friends. It was a really nice time.

One of the fun things was looking at all the Christmas ornaments and decorations around town. There were lots of big Christmas trees all decorated on the streets.

I had forgotten that the poinsettas grow like hedges there and people line their driveways with rows of them at Christmas time. They also grow to be very large and often different shades of red.

We had a lot of fun people watching and just taking our time sitting and eating by the beach. I told my mom that we need to do this every year until she can't do it anymore. She still walks faster than I do...will I ever keep up with her?

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Alooooooooooooooooooohaaaa!!! Leaving for a week in Hawaii..........Please pray that the weather will be good! My mom's willing to give it another try after the disastrous weather we had last year so I'm hopin'!!!

I'll Tell You a Secret

ok, big news....i don't like vegetables very much. at all. i think it started when at the age of 6 i was forced to eat green beans. i used to count them in an effort to make it easier to eliminate them. yuck.

i still shudder at the thought of slimy green beans looking at me, taunting me. i got this email from a friend. i love her but really, veggies?
ha! anyways...here are some of the pics...they look better than they taste. no matter how you dress them up, they're still veggies.