peace!

Happy Birthday, Meghan Lizabeth! Thank you for the profound peace your life has always brought into our lives, from the moment you were born.



Kazan must have sensed that peace, for the moment he met Meghan, he climbed onto the top of her neck, and just nestled in there!



Peace-making, creating wholeness - Meghan somehow finds time to donate her time, energies, and expertise in many different directions, including helping the students at Kingston Christian School to create these beautiful windows that symbolize the peace we find in Christ!





Here we all are a few years back! Together. It's been two and a half years since we've all been together as a family, the six of us, plus so many more - 15 in all now (not counting pet and grandpets)!!! Tomorrow Josh, Heather and Jamie arrive back in Canada from England. All being well, the whole family will gather again this weekend, and we will celebrate the peace-in-chaos of being together again at last!

left out

In contrast with yesterday's happy story of Toby's adoption, this is one of my searing memories from our trip to Russia, stray dogs finding warmth and companionship in the Moscow subway system. And it's not just animals who get left out - there or here. I've been feeling the sorrow of that a lot lately, and wondering what to do about it.

chosen

Was it chance? Kazan and I just happened to have a 10% savings card from Urban Paws, that Caitlin and Sharon just happened to have left over from their pug party. Kazan just happened to need a new (BIGGER) leash, so I chose to check out the selection at Urban Paws. And it just so happened that Urban Paws had two 10-month-old humane society kittens free-ranging around the store. And it just so happened that those two kittens were absolutely adorable and not at all intimidated by Kazan's eager clumsy interest in them. And it just so happened that Meghan had recently decided to surprise Aaron with a kitten for Father's Day. And so I chose to tell Meghan about these beautiful, practically-free kittens. And so the very next day we chose to stop by there with Elizabeth. And one of the cats chose us. From the moment we walked into the store, he followed Elizabeth around the store, Elizabeth squealing with delight and racing up and down the aisles with Toby following her. Toby had chosen, and Meghan had no choice. And from the little bit of time I've had to spend with him, I can say that he is absolutely wonderful, the perfect combination of beauty, playfulness and affection. Go anywhere near him and he starts to purr. I miss him already! Can't wait for Kazan and Toby to get to know each other, and hopefully choose to be good friends!

Victoria Day celebrations

tree-hugging...


... and tree-hugged!


Micah and Elizabeth help put the dock in the water (brrrr!)


a warm cuddle to end the day

tears and laughter

Michaela danced "Under the Sea" the same way she does everything else in her life - with imagination, flair, creativity, energy, individuality, and humour. For the unforgettable live-action version (including her side-splitting impromptu solo curtain-call), see Cara's YouTube video.


Michaela has expressed her wish for another ballet recital, so that Grandpa will give her flowers again. There's the "tears" part of this posting! That, and the vivid flashbacks I experienced, of another little girl's creative ballet-dancing so many years ago!

the incredible inseparables

Overheard today -

Elizabeth, walking along: "I love you, Micah!"

Micah (giving her a kiss): "That's so sweet, Elizabeth!"

Together moments to remember

beautiful little people

...got to make the morning last!

Here's one reason to get a dog. If it weren't for Kazan, today would have been just another day to get things done around the house. Instead we crossed the road to Frontenac Provincial Park, and walked a good long trail with him. Glorious. He still hasn't recovered (he flaked out on the kitchen floor a couple of hours ago, and as far as I know, he hasn't moved since)! In the words of a song that Micah and Elizabeth find HILARIOUS - "Slow down, you move too fast. You've got to make the morning last. Just kicking down the cobblestones. Looking for fun, and feeling GROOVY!"

34 years today

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.

You and me, Babe. Forever.

Thank you for everything.