Some songs just make you feel really good, don’t they? Especially now since this is the song for the Winnie the Pooh trailer. Enjoy!

Every once in a while, we all could use a holiday, and boy, did I need one. So, I took a wee one and just had some summer fun with the Youngling.

Drawing,

I Love My Family Illustration by Youngling

picnicking,

Me Love Cookies! Yum! Yum! Yum!

taking pics of the Stanley Park wildlife,

Feed Me!

and going to Kerrisdale Play Palace (my pic’s blurry, I was laughing so hard! They should have a place like this for adults!).

Adults Need A Place Like This To De-Stress_Imagine the Fun!

We watched the moon rise over English Bay

Moonrise Over English Bay_It was A Windy Night_What Can I Say?

and enjoyed the Celebration of Light (Spain won BTW. Their theme was Heaven & Hell. Simply magnificent!)

Celebration of Light Grand Finale Fireworks_photo credit Tom Wiebe on Flickr_via Miss 604 dot com!

while listening to beautiful music, (this happens to be one of my most favorite pieces of music and one of my most favorite movies, A.I. . This was part of Spain’s music for the fireworks display. Click on the music link above to hear another favorite piece of music of mine that was also part of the display! And yes, you have seen the movie that made this piece of music famous — again. Nice pick for trailer music!)

suffered through a heat wave (we’re still suffering by the way!)

Said the Youngling to Me_Hey Mom we are roasting like a couple of chickens right?

— and let me tell you, Vancouver could be renamed Hades if it wasn’t so much fun — and visited the many spray and splash parks in Vancouver.

I am going to splash you Mom!

The Granville Island Water Park was the best and we will definitely be going there again next summer.

And, of course, I watched movies,

Are you surprised really?

and re-read my favorite books. (Are you watching Pillars of the Earth on Starz?)

My old beat up copy of Pillars of the Earth_Revisiting this book 15 years later I understand a whole lifetime more than I did the 1st time around!

I love this book!

I also managed to write, just a little. I even went to a wedding! (The first one in 6 years, WOW! And it was beautiful.)

I did all those things around the house that needed doing,(I love this book, too!)

Look inside if you dare!

I dreamed about taking a cake decorating course (fondant, YUM!),

Dont U just want to eat it?

and tried to enjoy the now and quiet my busy, frazzled mind.

This is not a good look.

And now I am back.

Happiness is writing and it is who I am.

I hope you had a wonderful time while I was away, and if you haven’t manged to take a break, try and take one — even if it is a wee one — I know you deserve it!

Now here is a little Canadiana for ya! I remember this little cartoon from way back when I was just a wee Scribe. I can remember always eagerly waiting for it and enjoying it every time with the same verve. So, I thought I would share it with you. The Log Driver’s Waltz is definitely an oldie but goodie. Hope you enjoy this Canadian Vignette! Thanks Candycane for stirring the memory!

Never fear, Super Youngling is here!

Sometimes there are times when life can get too busy to stop and smell the roses. We forget to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. That is why we all need good friends to remind us to stop and have a moment to treat ourselves. Yes, sometimes we all need a good laugh!

My good friend Rosie sent the email below to brighten my day. It gave me much more than a little smile, RR! I was #ROFL! It looks like you typed this one up, too! Good on you!

Enjoy, dear Readers! This laugh’s for you!

~ The following was copied for your reading pleasure from an email I received the other day…..

~ A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, ‘When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah’.

The teacher asked, ‘What if Jonah went to hell?’

The little girl replied, ‘Then you ask him’.

~ Followed by…..

~ A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, ‘I’m drawing God.’

The teacher paused and said, ‘But no one knows what God looks like’

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, ‘They will in a minute.’

~ …..and……

~ A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

…..After explaining the commandment to ‘honor’ thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, ‘Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, ‘Thou shall not kill.’

~….and finally…..

~ One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, ‘Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?’

Her mother replied, ‘Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.’

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, ‘Mummy, how come ALL of grandma’s hairs are white?’

See What I mean!!

~ From Rosie

“ Laugh often, Dream big, Reach for the stars!” ~ Author Unknown

You are the love of my life.

You know how they say the Universe conspires to bring you the things you desire? (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho) I believe this to be true. (My Youngling is the most precious and beloved gift I have ever wished for and received.)

I believe that family may agree to disagree, love you flaws and all, and be your biggest fans and supporters. Family believes in you even when you don’t believe in yourself, and are there to pick you up off the cobblestones when you can’t walk anymore. (Did I ever tell my sisters just how fabulous they really are? What would I ever do without you? You, dear sisters, have been my rock and know my heart best.)

I also believe that true and dear friends (who I also consider my family) come into your life to help you grow and broaden your horizons. They perform unexpected acts of service that come from the heart with no desire or expectation for recompense. They may even help you to sprout wings you didn’t know you had and fly. (Thank you friends for being the extended family I always hoped for but never dared to dream I could have.) They also share great books with you. (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari)

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I also believe that there are people who touch your life only briefly but have profound meaning and messages to share. Today someone I will always remember, though I may never see them again said something to me that changed my life. (In regards to how my Youngling feels about me: “You are the love of her life.” Thank you for that, because I never thought of it that way. You are an amazing teacher.)

I believe I have been truly, truly blessed and fortunate in my life. So today I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes with you, dear reader. A quote from one of the people on the list of things I believe in. May it be as profound for you as it was for me, and make as much of a difference for you in your journey as it has made for me today.

“Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe that today was truly a wonderful day. What do you believe in?