Sea sick or just plain homesick...

'I am told quite often that i have moved to the most beautiful part of Canada. Many friends and family have said how lucky i am to be given this great opportunity. I do agree it is beautiful here. The valley has alot to offer not only my husband and i but our son. They offer alot of interesting programs that back home were unheard of. But every now and then i catch myself missing "home". The familiar roads and neighbourhoods and of course my friends and family. My homesickness comes in waves and i never know when the next one will hit. We take drives around the valley and i discover more things to love and appreciate. My homesickness subsides. Being away from everything helps to put your life into perspective. It's a real test of strength to be far from good friends and family. I believe it takes courage and alot of faith as well. You hope it all works out and your choices were wise ones.

We have been here for almost four months living in a rental that I have not enjoyed. This coming Friday we will be moving to a better place in the country. A place that feels more like home and does remind me of back home.

Alot of hopes and dreams had been trampled so when this home came along it was an answer to our prayers. I think things will start to turn around for me and my family. Faith and hope can go along way...

So maybe it's just alittle seasickness after all!

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and

delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17

My little boy is growing up...

My husband and i have been blessed with one very special child. Our son's name is Samuel but we call him Sam or Sammy. He is ten years old and is the light of our life. Sam has been the most amazing child from day one. As a baby he was easy, happy and very lovable. At toddler stage he was curious and very independent. One of the things i instilled in Sam was to have a sense of independence. And self confidence was not far behind. A very self assured child that wherever we took him he always had an audience. His endless grown up chatter used to shock and impress adults all the time. Never shy always polite people immediately felt drawn to my son. Every year it is the same remark from every new teacher...he is such a delight...so intelligent...very polite...friendly and he brings so much sparkle to the classroom. I take pride that i have chosen to stay home and raise my son and have put all my time and energy into him. Endlessly searching for the best activities to put him in that he will enjoy and flourish in has been one of my tasks. My boy is becoming well rounded and confident. That being said sometimes all of this can come back to haunt you...when you raise your child to be independent and ready to go off on his own as the mother you ask yourself am i ready for this? Well Sam as of 5am this morning has gone on his very own class trip. The trip is three days ...two nights. Not once was he nervous, apprehensive or scared. He was ready and very excited. Sam is new to this school and this province we are now living in. I can't imagine taking all this on at his age. I would have been shaking behind my mom's apron! Sam playing his piano for Kachina.

As the tears roll down my face tonight (when my husband is not looking) and the heart pains come and go...i will be thinking about my little man who is happy, laughin, very clever and being very brave...and give myself a little pat on the back for doing such a wonderful job so far...and just maybe i could learn something from my little boy "Sam".....

Hope he comes home soon Kachina has been waiting in his room all day!

Finding Cowichan Bay

Where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also."

Luke 12:34

I'm wading in the sea and reflecting...

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Proverbs 4:18

I always like to reflect on where i've been and where i'm going in life. Somedays my life feels like a cartoon that replays the same story over and over. Pointing your life in a direction that you want to take is not always easy. There are always road blocks on the way. Sometimes i try to look at them as not road blocks but rest stations. .. to ponder and really feel if i am headed in the right direction. Looking around i always see others achieving and arriving at their chosen destination. When you look deeper into their story you will also find support, encouragement and alot of faith. What i am saying is...is it not always easier to become what you want or get what you want when everyone around you is on your side and not trying to change your plans to what theirs are?

My family and i are on this life changing journey with only each for support while my faith grows stronger everyday. We have been renting a home now for about four months. We came to this home by sheer luck especially since this area has very few if any rental homes. It has sustained us for the transition time even though it is cramped, small , old and very dated. I love old character homes and the country. The island has not many character homes being such a young place. I thought i would never experience living in an older charming home again. It is really amazing the way life can somehow find a way to bring to you what you want. Through a new friend in town i was introduced to the most enchanting home. The owners live out of town and were in need of care takers for their beautiful home. My husband and i fit the bill perfectly. It's charming, old and in the country on lots of land. With my husband undertaking a new business this is the perfect place where quiet , solitude is most needed. It things like this that make me think yes you are still on my side... yes we will make out okay

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Climbing Mountains

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to
what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson Mountains are majestic and beautiful they invite you up with their mysterious trails. The island is surrounded by mountains ...a hikers paradise. I have been a walker for years so I felt up to a great hike. Hiking a mountain is a journey in itself. Your eager for the change of scenery ...you feel ready to endure the test of your own strength. But like life you never know how hard the trail will be or where it will take you or if you'll make it to the top.

Hiking showed me I was not in the shape I thought I was even after years of daily walks. My endurance wasn't where I thought it was.

My dog Pilot took to the trails with ease and grace...totally in tune with her own instincts. Watching her I felt happy and peaceful. Pets make us feel better because they are pure positive energy. They don't hold us responsible for their own happiness. They never question why we are choosing this trail and not the one they think is best or would make them happy. They just wag their tails appreciating the love we have for them.

We put in a good hour of hiking and decided to visit Maple Bay beach. There will be so many days ahead to discover all the different trails. Just like life itself everyday is a moment of discovery.

A walk on Maple Bay beach was the perfect way to contemplate the next trail in our life to take...

Wishing all of you a blessed Easter...Thanks for visiting

Pamela xo

Settling in...

Your work is to discover your
world and then with all your
heart give yourself to it.
Budda

I had arrived! I answered the calling and stood ready.
But first I had to clean , unpack and put up the Christmas tree for Sam.
One week until Christmas and I had so much to do.
We stayed with my inlaws for the first week while I went back and forth to our rental
to clean and clean and clean even more! Tired and stressed did not even come close to how
I was feeling....not to mention the culture shock was starting to set in...
Even though I was still in the same country it was a different world to me. Where was the snow?
Everything was green and not brown.

In a weeks time I managed to get our new abode liveable...still it was a bit difficult coming from
a beautiful brand new home to a dated 1960's tiny bungalow. But I was determined to make it
charming and homey. This is a great challenge for me ! I can do it ! You know how creative I am and how I love to decorate I said as my husband rolled his eyes hating the place the even more.

After coming to terms with the ancient washer and dryer in the bedroom/office/ laundry room that I was terrified to put my clothes in I was starting to get past the cries of change. That is until we made the trip to the grocery store...
I have to say proudly that in Ontario are grocery stores rock! And I love to go grocery shopping!
When I went to the grocery store I thought I was going to have a melt down! Pastas and other staples three times the price...and where's the beef??!
And then I lost it in Asile 5....." I started screaming $6 for Peanut Butter are they insane?!!
Change is not easy and the smallest things can really set you off. After a week of shopping at various grocery stores I discovered the Walmart Superstore!! Thank you Mr. Walmart you
saved my sanity. Now things where looking brighter...

The Drive...

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin
Our journey started on the 6th day of December. A perfect time of year for road travel. Freezing cold and constant threats of snowstorms! Hey I said I wanted some adventure in my life! We loaded up the truck with all our clothes and ten year old son Sam , two cats and one German Shepherd dog. This was gonna be fun!!



It took the whole day just to get to Sault Ste. Marie about ten hours. We hit two snowstorms I thought at one time this is it...we're finished. Thank goodness for the snow plow that night we just followed right behind him. I really loved the part that if we lost control and went over the guard rail we would be right in Lake Superior. It took us a total of three days to get out of Ontario. Lake Superior is such a huge lake it took two days to go around. The prairies are flat and I felt very calm . By the time we arrived at Brandon , Manitoba the temperature had gone down to -45! I kept saying " Why do people live here?" Every night everything we owned was frozen solid. Toothpaste, shampoo even the oranges were like coconuts. When morning came our truck had died and we had to call for a tow truck to jump it! That day we bought an extension cord to plug in the truck for that night.

Ray and Samuel pose in the freezing temps for a picture!

Our first hotel stop. Kachina finally clued in that if she didn't hid behind the toliet she could sleep in comfort with Sam. By the end of the trip she was a champ just enjoying herself like a queen on all the hotel beds!

Come out Kachina!! A bit stressed out from the first ten hours of being in a crate.

Pilot was awesome the whole journey. Just an amazing , intelligent dog. I think she liked the fact she had her own bed in the back seat of the truck beside Sam. No more dog crates in the back of the pick-up for her.

Acoya had to have been the worst hotel guest. We would arrive at the hotel so tired and hungry. By the time we all went to bed he would start to HOWL! It was 3am and I thought if he doesn't stop howling I will have to kill him (just kidding). I put him in the crate in the bathroom and turned on the fan. This drowned out the howling but the next night the new hotel had no fan! The howling began and then thank goodness I remembered what my cousin does to put her parrot to sleep. Every night they put a blanket over his cage. So I put Acoya in his crate and placed a blanket over it and like magic he went to sleep! It worked every night.

Beautiful Banff and was it cold!

Totally Canadian eh? Doesn't this look like one of those cheesy pics for a Tim Horton's ad? Maybe I should write a story about this road trip and send it in. I think we hit every Tim Horton's on the trip!

Only in green British Columbia will you find these roadside garbage disposals. So cool.

Me, Pilot and Sam pose in the Interior of British Columbia.

The desert of British Columbia ...Osoyoos. A very Spanish themed town. Very lovely.

Ray egging me on as I was gripping the truck door in fear going over this steep mountain. I would say this was the worst part of the trip. I think it was great that there is no guard rails so if you slip see ya! But they did have these run offs up the side of the mountain. Yeah that was reassuring to me! Never want to do this again!

It was even a bit intense for Pilot here too!

These were the mountains we were going down!

Six days later we made it all in one piece to Duncan!! yay! It was really a beautiful, incredible drive and yes I would do it again...well I will have to think about going down that mountain again! Great memories for me and my family!

Life begins when you stop pleasing others and just please yourself...