Jake's Birthday

At the end of November, Jake's 11th birthday kicked off the beginning of our crazy Christmas/birthday season. We went all out with decorations, presents and cake (for us; an appropriate feline treat for Jake!) Having been a live-in nanny for over five years, Jake has become as much a part of my family as Jolie and the girls. I never had a pet growing up and I've never been much of an animal person - except for a select few who have wormed their way into my hearts... but I love my Jakey. Like Lysa, he helps keep us all sane. Truly, he's a person in a cat's body and I can't imagine our lives without him!

New Year...

I was just looking through my 2008 calendar on my desk before I recycle it... dates marked off for birthdays, Bible study, scrapbooking, church events, coffee dates, school activities... how fast a year goes. In January, my high school friend had a bone marrow transplant and in March, my friend Sandra came for a visit... a few months later, they were both gone, dead from cancer. This past year has held so many tragedies for people I love, so many trials. I tend to get weighed down by all the negative, but there have been wonderful things too... visits with my family in NB and Calgary, a girls' trip to Tigh-Na-Mara in June, all the wonderful pleasures of everyday life. I am tremendously blessed to be rich in family and friends and the ability to savour the simple joys of each day, and I am so grateful for all the good things in my life. I can't believe another year is gone... the older I get, the faster time flies by... it scares me sometimes. I don't want to miss out on life while I'm trying to catch up to it!