It’s Christmas Time again! Yay!

As per Lizzi, please list your Christmas wishes/needs here, for the benefit and convenience of your Secret Santa!

(Click on “Replies”, and fill in the required info…)

I wish you only the best in this new year! I know I keep saying it, but I’m so proud of you and what you are doing with your life. I love your ambition and your passion for acheivement! I pray that you will come within reach of all your dreams, and that you get to live every single one! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I love you! Hope you liked your prezzies!

Happy Belated Birthdays to Julianne and Celeste. You two are the best baby sisters that anyone could hope for, and I am so proud of how much you have grown in the last year. You will reach your dreams - no matter how far-fetched – I’m sure of it! I know I haven’t always been around, as I went off traveling the globe, but I’m here now, and I wanted you to know that if you ever need help, you know who to call.

I love you too much! Mwah! xxx

Despite both being Torontonians from childhood, neither of us had ever been up the infamous tower. The view from the top was amazing! – Not to mention how delicious each of the dishes was! And the wine – oh the wine!

All in all, although Jono is scared to death of heights (and got quite angry at me during the part of the evening when I tricked him into walking over the glass-bottomed floors), I reckon we had the loveliest of times.

At least it made getting older a little easier to bear…heh.

Here are some photos:

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘Thank you’, that would suffice.” ~ Meister Eckhart

I know it’s late, and I apologize profusely! These days I don’t get much time on the computer, what with all the work – and you still have not sent us your phone number so we can call you instead! (Do it now!)

Nonetheless, I hope your big day was fun, even though you didn’t get to spend it with me – your favorite friend (come to think of it now, that must have been very very tough for you…), and that you got to do whatever you wanted, wherever you wanted, for as long as you wanted! You know you deserve it.

Thank you, Tommy, for your never-ending generosity, your patience, your humour, your voice of reason, and your love. Thank you for being there for me through difficult times, and for being my knight in shining armour! Most of all, thank you for being one of my dearest friends, and someone I could always confide  in. You know I think the world of you! Mwah! xxx

Here are some of my favourite photos of you, for ol’ times sake:

Best wishes for another exciting year full of surprises! Happy 26th and climbing! Hurry and grow up already…It’s lovely up here.

Happy birthday! -and here’s to many many more! After all, we’ve made it this far, haven’t we? True, it hasn’t always been easy…but the tough stuff has made us strong, and I’m so glad we kept on fighting for the right things in life.

God knows what He’s doing, and I’m sure you can feel His hand in your future too! Life is an uphill climb, but I hear that the view from the top is worth it all!

I’m so happy for you in all that you are doing and accomplishing. Please know that I am praying for you always! – And, I love you! XXXX

I have been far too busy to even get online, much less have time to blog on here. My apologies to the one or two people who may even still read this blog! Ha! I find that, for some, blogging has become a bit of a lost art…

That said, I wanted to give a shout out  in honor of my father for lasting so many long years as head of our rowdy family. I know it wasn’t easy, Dad. Thank you for being such a wonderful, strong, patient, caring, loving daddy to us all. You’re simply the best!

Happy belated Father’s Day!

So sorry that this is late in coming! Thank you for a fun time at the picnic and thanks for playing brainy board games with us too! I love you so much! XXX

Hey pretty girl,

I’m so sorry that it’s been crazy hectic around here. – So much so that I haven’t been able to post a lovely toast to you on your birthday until now! Once we all get settled in our new places, we shall have to work something out in getting you your just dessert of a present!

Thank you so much for all of your help, support and prayers for us while we were in Africa. It was a tough time for us and we really appreciated knowing that someone was over here keeping an eye out for us. Thank you!!!

I’m so glad that I get to live right here around you again and that we can share all our hilarious, angry, sad, foolish, pathetic, interesting and moody stories with each other…heh…That always was quite fun…

I’m also over the moon that you and Gabi are together. He’s such a charming young man and he’s perfect for you! Dear dear Pokemon…

I’m proud of you for all your recent decisions, and I know that everything is going to work out for you. I’m praying for you in this new year to find what you’re looking for and that it will bring you peace and happiness! Just so you know, I’m always here for you, if you need me. I don’t know that I will be much help, but it seemed like the right thing to say…I will certainly do my best!

Happy 25th! You’re a quarter of a century. Things only get better from here! you’ve got your whole life and future ahead of you! I love you so so much! Mwah! xxx

In a nutshell:

• Jono badly injured his leg, and so I was running around doing double work.
• I was facing challenges in almost every aspect of my work life. I was overworking, not taking enough breaks, and putting up with many issues and people that I  should not have been.
• Stress-influenced sleep amounted to lower performance rate in my work.
• Poor work meant poor results, and poor results meant low finances.
• We’ve moved countries yet again.
• We’re looking for jobs and a place to call home.
• And, of course, I haven’t been blogging very much at all.

There is just WAY too much activity going on…

Unfortunately two ladies who are very important to me have been neglected in the midst of all this chaotic rush, and I’d like to take the time now to let them know how much they really mean to me!

Lily: Lovely, loyal, and little!

Happy belated birthday, Lils! I’m so sorry it has taken a godawful time to post this about you!

I’m so proud of you for all that you have gone through this past year. You’re my idea of a tough cookie who can face anything, but is also so sweet and tender inside. You give and give and give, but you don’t put up with nonsense! You’re a dedicated, committed mother who is willing to lay down her life for her kids. You’re one of the few friends I have that still includes the Lord in your life and everyday decisions. I love all those things about you, and I love you! I hope this new year brings with it only good things! You deserve it!

Remember not to sweat the small stuff. Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind!

Stephie: SMART, Strong, and Silly (oh, and Small!)

Happy belated birthday to you as well, Effie! I miss you something crazy like! I hope you’re taking good care of yourself and letting others care for you too!

Thank you for your undying support through some very tough times in my life. I’m sorry for being a sad sack most of the time and whining about all my misfortunes to you. Thank you for your listening ear and wise counsel. I’m so glad to have been able to live with you, and grow and learn with you too! I think you’re just wonderful and I know that the Lord has some amazing things in store for your future!

(PS: Thank you also for taking care of Tommy, the mopey sun-gazer that he is. I can finally rest at night knowing that he is being looked after!)

I’m lucky to have best friends like you, Lily and Stephie! I wish you all the beauty, peace, and love in the world! Mwah! xxx