Time with Friends..........

I just love the innocence of this picture. Reminds that we need to stop and enjoy the little things that life has to offer us.

With so many of us having busy lives these days it seems harder and harder to find the time to spend with our friends. We are either running with our children, volunteering for one thing or another or just trying to catch a few minutes for ourselves.

Last night (Wednesday May 30) I seized the opportunity to spend some time with Brenda, a very dear friend of mine. My daughters were both busy with their friends and my son was at work and I had time to kill before picking up my daughter from the movie.

As strange as it may sound Brenda and I spent our time grocery shopping. It was one of the best times we have spent together just the two of us, it was quality time. We talked about all sorts of things, from reminiscing when we bought cute little outfits for our kids; our children are teenagers now to swapping secrets to how we make certain family favorites. We talked & joked about all sorts of things. We caught up on many things. We shared stories of our dogs, we are both dog lovers. We talked about their quirky little ways, likes & dislikes even about which brand of dog food we think is best for our dogs ....and we both agree Purina One.

The best part of our shopping trip was spending the time together without our kids or husbands distracting us.

Who ever thought grocery shopping could be so much fun.......try it with a friend sometime, I think you will agree.....grocery shopping can be alot of fun and interesting too....

Hope.......

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance —

Hope was personified in Greek mythology as Elpis. When "Pandora" opened "Pandora's Box", she let out all the evils except one: hope. Apparently, the Greeks considered hope to be as dangerous as all the world's evils. But without hope to accompany all their troubles, humanity was filled with despair. It was a great relief when Pandora revisited her box and let out hope as well. It may be worthy to note that in the story, hope is represented as weakly leaving the box but is in effect far more potent than any of the major evils.

"Hope" is something we all have or should have in our lives. To me without "Hope", there isn't much to look forward to every day. Just like I hope for the sun to shine and warm weather for the next while. Farmers need to get the crops in, people need to plant or finish planting their gardens and for those walking in the 12 hour Relay for Life this weekend need warm dry weather. Relay For Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s unique, Hope filled community event. For all the survivors that walk the first lap, they tell us they admire what every participant it doing for them and all those that are battling cancer, won their battle or have lost their battle with cancer. One survivor told me that we the team members help give them hope for a cure, hope that the next person won't have to go through what they have endured, hope for a better tomorrow. For some "Hope" is all that they have left to hold on to.

Hope is often the result of faith in that while hope is an emotion, faith carries a divinely inspired and informed form of positive belief.

Hope, keep it close to your heart; for without it you may never find your way!

"ROCCO"

Rocco a Shih Tzu / Bichon Cross born March 24, 2007. He is little ball of fluff that is sure to melt your heart. Rocco came to live with us May 19th when he was 8 weeks old. He is such a good little guy, loves to be cuddled. Rocco gets more than his share of cuddles from everyone in the family. He loves playing with his toys, he shakes them around, makes them squeek like crazy. His little tail sets to wagging as soon as you pick him up. He loves to hide between the couch and end table where he can be found having his "Afternoon Siesta."

Rocco came from MollyDogs down in Regina Beach, SK. Check out http://www.mollydogs.ca to find out more about the lovable Shih Tzu / Bichon cross dogs.

Stay tuned for updated photos and stories about Rocco as the days turn to weeks and then to months.

Rocco is the prefect example of "Unconditional Love".

Life is a Challenge --- If it is anything!

Today a co-worker was congratulating me on my new job that I will be going to on June 11th. I was saying how it will be new challenge and that I am up for it, he said to me, "Life is a Challenge, If it is anything."

This made me think of the challenges that I have faced in my lifetime to date. Many of these challenges are good and some I wouldn't want to live through again. I can say that I did get something out of the each and every challenge I have faced.

Today's challenge was to get home without going in the ditch.....we have had so much rain here ...think I might end up with web feet, just like a duck if it keeps raining. There is one stretch on Gardner Road that gets bad when ever it rains....it is like driving through sludge.....what do I mean it is "like" driving through sludge, IT IS driving through sludge......SLIMMY GRIMMY GOOEY SLUDGE.

With every challenge comes a lesson and it is up to us to discover what that lesson is. Today I am reminded that slow and steady, will get me & my family home safe.

I think my children challenge me more than I would like to admit....I see them facing their challenges and find it really hard to sit back and watch. They need to grow just as I was allowed to grow through the challenges I faced. Like how my grandparents and my dad where there when I needed them, I will be there for my children. If only kids came with a "Handbook" parenting would be so much easier but probably not near as much fun.....and there would be no challenges to learn from and to pass that knowledge on them.

Challenges.....life would be boring with out them.

Ever Wonder......What your names means

I have always had an interest in the meanings of things.....I think I get this from my interest in genealogy. So today I decided to learn more about the hidden meaning of my first name.

"Corinne". Maiden - "Greek"

It went on to state: "Sensitive, friendly and kind you look for peace and beauty in your environment and relationships. People like to be around you because of your charm and generosity and because you always generate a happy atmosphere. You have a fairly traditional approach to life and have a strong attachment to home, family and loved ones. With your creative imagination you have potential to be successful in the the arts."

After reading that I reflected on my inner self and so much of that statement is true of me. It gave me chills to think that my name actually reflects so much of me......the real me. I do have a strong attachment to home, family and loved ones. If I didn't have these things in my life, I think I would lost.

My dad tells me that I have my mom's creative knack....whether for sewing, quilting, scrapbooking or decorating he sees my mom in me especially in my love of the arts.

It is like they say everything has a meaning. Like when someone special walks into your life, there is a reason...I feel the same about when things happen either good or bad, sad or happy there is a reason and a lesson...that is there for us to discover and learn from.