HEART WORK!

"The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart."
-Author Unknown

"The heart has reasons that reason does not understand."
-Jacques Benigne Bossuel

"Follow your heart but be quiet first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart."
- Author Unknown

We have received many pieces of HEART WORK from Mariah this past week.
She loves to draw and print... and sure shares her HEART FELT thoughts
and wishes always!

More HEART WORK from  this past week...
A drawing from MARIAH...
and a car coloured by BEAU!

We have had many HEART FELT visits from MARIAH...
this photo was last week with her PAPA...
their LOVE for each other is mutual!

We popped by to see Beau last week... and he was
his LOVING little self... rocking out in jammies and sunglasses!!!

Last Friday we got a special delivery from Jana's friend, and store partner, Melissa.
She always puts her HEART into all she does...
we have had so many friends and family doing thoughtful things lately...
all works of the HEART!

Our new favourite pastime has been playing scrabble...
it is a piece of HEART WORK in so many ways!
Playing this gam brings many heartfelt memories of
playing it with my mom back in the day.
Now Brian and I have shared many HEART FELT moments
over this little travel sized scrabble board...
putting our HEART INTO IT!


First of all thanks for stopping by to read my little blog post of today... I do try to get a new one out each week... but this past week had a small curve in the road, so I was slower to get a new post up this time.

For me writing my blog is sort of my little therapy... it is a little piece of HEART WORK for me! I like to try to zoom in on the positives in my life and journal them here in  my blog. I do enjoy a theme always, too and seeing as I did not take a lot of photos this past week, I thought I would share some of the art work/ HEART WORK we received here from our grandkids. Our grandkids are our pride and joy, and fill our hearts up always with so much love!

I have to also say thanks to family and friends for all the love and support we have received lately. We have shared many wonderful visits, coffees, lunches etc from friends and family a like... and instead of me singling them out I will just give you all a big piece of my heart back by saying
THANKS from the bottom of my HEART!

Life really is a journey and sometimes there are curves in the road... but they do make us all stronger in the end...
sometimes it just takes a little extra
"HEART WORK"!

There are some Birthdays coming up...
Happy Birthday in advance to my
Sister-in-law, Brenda on the 28th,
My cousin, Darcy on the 29th,
and my cousin Jan, on the 31st of January.
I send you all the most heart felt wishes!

On that note...
here is another little piece of HEART WORK...
from me... my poem of the day!

Life is a work of art from the start,
So many things in it are works of the heart.
Life's also a journey, with some curves in the road,
Always made lighter when our heart's in the load!
So long as each day has some heart and some love,
And support from loved ones all around and above...
Life becomes a big piece of artwork,
Coloured with love to make it like...
HEART WORK! 

HaPpY... "Nailed It!"

"Happiness is never stopping to think if you are."
-Palmer Sondreal

"Smile when you have a chance. Not because you are successful in life or because of what you have fulfilled.Just be happy because you have something that somebody does not have."
-Author Unknown

"If you want to be happy, be."
Leo Tolstoy

Here we are mother/daughter"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" bonding...
We "NAILED IT!"... having mani's and pedi's together!
Jana went with blue fingers and toes...
while I did clear fingers and black toes!!!
I CHERISH this time we can share together each year
while celebrating our birthdays which fall one day apart,
on January 10th and 11th!

When it comes to
GREAT KIDS...and JANUARY BIRTHDAYS...
I feel like I NAILED IT!
Jana was born on January 11th, 1981...
and Colin on January 18th, 1979.
Here is a favourite all time pic of my kids
way back in the day...
(I am trying to respect Colin's wishes to not post his face
anywhere on the internet... but this one features his head of blond curls
which he had a lot of as a little boy!)

Jana gave me these lovely flowers for my birthday...
I photographed them... and think they look so pretty!
Thanks Jana... love them...and you, too!

I got so many meaningful cards and gifts for my birthday...
everyone just "NAILED IT" when picking out sentiments for me!!!
THANKS for all the great wishes and gifts... peeps!

Here are my little cards from the grandkids...
the above one from Mariah and the below one from Beau!
I cherish anything they make me!!! xoxoxo

It has become tradition for me to craft cards over the last several years
with a photo and poem to go with the occasion and the  person getting the card...
here is my card for Jana this year!
She gave me a lovely card as well with such a nice sentiment as well.

When it cam to a week filled with
Birthday Celebrations...
my friends really "NAILED IT" ...and helped put the HAPPY into my birthday!
I not only shared several lunches with various friends,
I shared coffee with my friend, Gailene and then got an invite for supper
at my friend, Ella's...and she even made me a chocolate cake!!!

Rounding off the HAPPY BIRTHDAY week...
Brian and I joined Ella and Vern at Sabaroso's for supper on my birthday,
and got on the birthday glasses one more time
while out for sunday breakfast at Fuddruckers!
When it comes to Birthday Weeks...
I truly think ...
"I NAILED IT!"... and it was a "HAPPY" one for sure...
not to mention my last one in my 50's!!!

Monday morning began with a little special email from Mariah
with this cute sentiment she dreamt up on her own...and figured out
how to email to me without her mom's help...
she sent it while her mom was in the shower even!

Mariah at her mom's shoe store on Saturday to wish her
Happy Birthday!

Beau at his mom's store Saturday to wish her
Happy Birthday!

I received this lovely photo from Thailand in a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
email from Colin which arrived right on my special day.
He sent other photos as well... but thought I'd share this one and say how
much he and his girlfriend Caro are enjoying their vacation in Thailand,
they have been there since December and are loving every experience
along the way.

I am still in charge of the bulletin boards at BSOBAD dance studio,
so went and did a little updating there this week...
some boards have snowflakes and photos and others I have jumped ahead to Valentines.
I thought this little Valentine dancer was so cute... and she is
certainly NAILING IT... while celebrating the new year ...
as we head toward
Valentine's next month!


Well another birthday has come and gone... but believe me I definitely CELEBRATED it to the fullest!
I feel so fortunate to be able to not only share my special day each year with my family , but also with many circles of friends, too. I was wished HAPPY BIRTHDAY not only in person ... but on the internet and on phone calls as well... many times over... I truly think everyone "NAILED IT!"

Speaking of NAILS... Jana and I have made it a tradition to get our NAILS done for the past few years on our birthdays.
It is kind of a fun thing to do to celebrate together...
seeing as our birthdays are just a day apart. We also went for a mother/daughter and father lunch together on Friday as well to Earl's. I do treasure the moments we can spend together whether it is birthday time or not.

I pretty much ate out every single day last week... with Breakfasts, lunches, suppers and coffee outings all week long. I did manage to make it to the gym on Saturday and yesterday, too... (which is good for the balance of the eating and exercise!!!)... need maybe a few more trips to the gym to balance things out a bit more though!!! hehehe

We also enjoyed a nice visit from Brian's sister Bev on Sunday and our friend, Maxine, on monday to deliver a little something from her daughter, Courtney. I feel blessed always to share my life with so many good people.

Yesterday I drove Mariah to her dancing...and today I will take my niece Rowen to her dance lessons, too... so I am still keeping my foot in that door... even though I do not dance as much myself anymore!!! Dance will always be a big part of who I am as a person... and I continue to TAP into the connections to it where ever I get the chance to!

Mariah popped by on route to gymnastics monday night with her mom ...and just today Brian and I went for a little lunch with Jana and her friend, Shelane. Yesterday I enjoyed a tea and visit with friend, Ella as well. Also this week I shared a starbucks coffee with my good friend 
and neighbour, Heather.

Today my childhood friend, Janice, who I ended up referring to as JAY in older years.... is celebrating her birthday.
She grew up across the back alley from me and we were best of friends growing up. We were each other's maid of honour too at our weddings. Even though we live far apart now we still stay connected...and once a good friend... always a good friend!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAY!

Tonight I look forward to the beginning of season 13 of American Idol. I have been a loyal watcher of that show since it began. I do enjoy the competition talent shows for sure...and especially love ones revolving around music and dance...as those are two things that are important to me.

This Saturday I will once again CELEBRATE the day I became a MOM... back in 1979... when I gave birth to my first child... my wonderful son, Colin.
I want to wish him a very
HAPPY 35th Birthday
this year... in THAILAND!


So on that note... here is my rhyme of the day...

When I think of my life... I'm HAPPY most days...
I think I have "NAILED IT" in so many ways!
And though there are days that have the odd cloud,
for the most part I remain HAPPY & PROUD!
My family and friends are truly the best,
I say it a lot... but my life's like a fest...
An ongoing party, which I celebrate,
My life keeps me happy, and for that I feel great!

CELEBRATE ON!

"If we celebrate the years behind us they become stepping stones of strength and joy for years ahead."
Author Unknown

"Celebrate love. It is the breath of your existence and best of all reasons for living."
-Author Unknown

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make everyday a holiday and celebrate just living."
-Amanda Bradley
(I know this quote was in my previous blog post, too, but it went well with this one, too so it's in here again!)

Whether celebrating with friends at an early birthday lunch,
or turning a cappucinno into a "HAPPY- CAPPY" at home...
I continue to "CELEBRATE ON!"

Last Friday was my friend, Joanne's Birthday, and my friend
Brenda threw a little Surprise Birthday CELEBRATION for her at Earl's.
Also last week my friend Ella dropped by on her way home from the gym
for a little coffee visit CELEBRATION! 

Any time the grandkids pop by is a reason to celebrate...
Here are Beau and Mariah when they stopped by for
a little visit last weekend!

Sunday we have made it tradition to meet friends for breakfast,
usually at Fuddrucker's... and this past Sunday we did that.
Later on Sunday we did a little special CELEBRATE supper
with Melissa and her mom, Betty along with Jana, Brian and myself
at Mano's. This treat was on SWANK SHOE LOUNGE...
Thanks to Jana and Melissa for that! 

This past Monday I had yet another CELEBRATION...
and early Birthday lunch with friends, Ella, Brenda, and Kellie at
McNalley Robinson's Prairie Ink cafe.
Brenda even had a little knitting lesson there!!! hehehe

Tuesday I turned the house from MERRY to HAPPY by taking down the tree...
It is one CELEBRATION I do find hard... as I love my Christmas decor...
but luckily for me... I got right from MERRY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATING
to HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATING!!!
The room does seem somewhat bare, though
after having the tree up nearly 2 months!!!

Yesterday I did more CELEBRATING...
in fact it was simply "SPEC"-TACULAR...
I was treated to another Birthday lunch with friends,Heather, Jacquie, and Ella
and my cousin Gwen... we shared chicken fajitas at Montana's...
I even wore the birthday head piece and had the birthday chant too!

Although these party glasses are rather unflattering...
my friends were such good sports, to not only put them on, but to get several photos
in them too!... I truly have the best friends!!!

I continued to just CELEBRATE ON... yesterday when we met up with our
good buddy Vern who just returned from his month long trip to Australia.
We first met up with him at Starbucks when he treated us all to coffee...
then we kept the party going... when Ella purchased a meal from Dinner Rush
that we shared at our house... fun day all round...

It has been on going with me trying to clean up my big stash in
the basement...where I do many things I love to CELEBRATE...
like... TAP, WRAP, SCRAP...and here is evidence
I actually tidied up my SCRAPBOOKING table somewhat!!!
My birthday isn't actually until tomorrow, but already
I have received many heartfelt gifts and cards, and have felt very
CELEBRATED all week!
Thanks to all my friends and family for all the CELEBRATIONS,
I do love to CELEBRATE...and continue to CELEBRATE ON!


I do feel very lucky in my life that I am surrounded by such loving people who enjoy CELEBRATING!
I certainly have done a lot of that especially this past week with the lead up to my birthday which is tomorrow.

I think of my parents at every birthday I have and am ever grateful for them for giving me my life in the first place...and what a wonderful life it has been.

Tomorrow when I CELEBRATE my last year in my fifties, I am also going to celebrate with my daughter, Jana, who will turn 33 on Saturday. We are doing a traditional mother/daughter birthday bond by going for manicures and pedicures followed by a birthday lunch together.
More than anything I treasure the time I can spend one on one with Jana as in her busy stage of life, it is a treasured time that doesn't happen that often in a year. Most of our time revolves around our families!... (which is also nice, but the one on one is truly special to me!)

My photos are pretty self explanatory with all my special outings and celebrations this past week.
I do enjoy Celebrating always...
whether it is birthday time or not!

Next week I need to kick it up a notch and get going back to the gym once again on a more regular basis. I always celebrate the fact that the gym I go to is simply the best...
GOODLIFE GYM is not only a great place to work out... they have so many great instructors, classes and nice people who choose to workout there as well.
I actually met my good friend, Ella, there around 3 years ago, and we now have become such good buddies.
Something else to CELEBRATE!

I know I say this often, but I feel very lucky to have such a good life...and why not celebrate it? I feel the more I celebrate the good... the less emphasis there is on
the not as good stuff... if that makes sense!
It comes back to making the most of the best
and least of the worst!

So as we continue to live in this very chilly winter we live through each year...
I will continue to CELEBRATE
the good stuff along the way...

I love a quote and a poem...and also enjoy sharing my life here weekly on my blog... so on that note...
here is my rhyme of the day!

I live my life to celebrate...
I love to make each day feel great.
No need for a birthday to do that...
No need to have a party to wear a hat!
It can happen in any day in any season,
Everyday there's something to just find a reason.
Usually for me, it isn't all that hard...
With family or friends or just crafting a card!
I have so many people in my life that I love,
And lots of sweet angels in the heavens above.
So I will continue to just CELEBRATE ON...
Right until the day that I'm gone.
Life is precious, so I don't like to wait...
I live in the now...and just CELEBRATE!

Just CELEBRATE!

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make everyday a holiday and celebrate just living."
-Amanda Bradley

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, there more there is in life to celebrate."
-Oprah Winfrey

"Remember this moment. Cherish this story. 
Celebrate this life."
-Author Unknown

HaPpY NeW YeAr...
Here we are CELEBRATING at friend's New Year's Eve party.

Our friends, JACQUIE & BOB,
 hosted their annual New Year's Eve party
...and it was a wonderful CELEBRATION!

BOB and JACQIE are such gracious hosts...
they know how to turn a party into a CELEBRATION!

More moments of Celebration at the party...
here with friends, Ella and Sylvia.

Any time the grandkids come by to say hi is a day to CELEBRATE!
Here are Mariah and Beau here yesterday...
Mariah fell asleep on the couch while Beau played happily with the
little bucket of toys!

Our next door neighbours, Floyd and Cheryl dropped by
yesterday to help us celebrate on the first day of the new year!

Today I am once again celebrating my dad's life...
he passed away 14 years ago today...
here are some special memories of him.

Two special gifts from Christmas time...
a sweet photo from Melissa, Jana's work partner... and
a sign for Hope from my friend, Brenda.
Live for today, hope for tomorrow!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

At the beginning of each year it is always a big CELEBRATION for many reasons....

First of all I am CELEBRATING 3 full years of sharing my daily life CELEBRATIONS with you here on my blog... which
 I enjoy to do. Not only is it a way for me to share with you, it is a way of me to reflect back on all the simple to special occasions in my life, too!

When I began writing my blog it was a way to keep track of positives shortly after losing my mom in October, 2010.

Today is a reflection on the day I lost my dad back in 2000. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I had received a nice photo box for Christmas in 1999, from my in laws, not realizing how it would hold the treasures of my dad's life.
Now that photo box has sat in the same spot on my living room shelf for 14 years. Not a day goes by that I don't look at the photo in it and remember all the wonderful memories of my dad. Inside the box are more memories of him... such as the sympathy cards I received after his sudden passing. I also had a sign which was posted on my studio bulletin board. My dad always put the taps on the shoes of the young dancers I taught at my studio... no one could do it like he could. There were just so many things my dad was great at... but mostly I remember him for his positive outlook on life in general... to him every day was like a celebration, and his spirit lives on in me as I carry that outlook.
My dad was the most amazing dad I could have ever hoped for, and he will remain in my heart forever, as I continue to JUST CELEBRATE day to day.

We rang in the new year at our friends, Bob and Jacquie's on Dec. 31st. They have hosted a lovely party for the past several years. We always feel special to be included in those and help them CELEBRATE as they ring in the new year to come. Jacquie cooks a lot of yummy food in prep and it is always a great evening of CELEBRATION
in their beautiful condo.

January is a month of many CELEBRATIONS for our family.
Not only is it the month I was born... it is the month i gave birth to both of my children... So it is the month we all get to CELEBRATE just being here... which is a pretty significant CELEBRATION!

Although 2013 had many bright sides to it... it also had some not quite as bright as well... so I look forward to welcoming the brand new year of 2014 with open arms in hopes of brighter things to come...and many more reasons to
JUST CELEBRATE!

I am ever grateful for the many people and things in my life... so many reasons to CELEBRATE every day... sometimes it is the simple things that are the most special, too!

So to all my blog readers near and far...
Here's To A Happy 2014... and
lots of CELEBRATION moments to come...

I love to read quotes, take photos, and write poetry... all things worth CELEBRATING... so on that note,
here is my rhyme of today!

Another year has come and gone,
But the fondest memories live on and on.
From simple to special I like to celebrate,
Whether it's little, or whether it's great.
I celebrate each passing day,
And things as they happen along the way.
Life is a celebration right from the start...
And Celebrations... like memories
live on in the heart!