Happy Thanksgiving

It is hard to adequately explain my thoughts right now so I will keep it simple with a list of things I am thankful for this year:

1. My husband, Don, who keeps my laughing and gives me great hugs. I am so fortunate!


2. My cat, Yoda. I love cuddling with him - takes all the stresses away. I am so fortunate!


3. My family - parents, brothers and sisters... each one has a special place in my heart for how they have influenced me. I am so fortunate to have a loving family who supports my endeavours.


4. Friends who take time for me. Isn't that what friends are for? I am so fortunate!


5. A home and a bed - a warm, safe place to lay my head. I am so fortunate!


6. Clean water. I am so fortunate!


7. Grocery stores with an abundance of food to choose from. I am so fortunate!


8. A country that allows me the opportunities to worship God in the way I want, to have an education, travel freely and to have choices and make my own decisions. I am so fortunate!


9. A rewarding job in which I can influence young lives through teaching. I am so fortunate!


10. God who has allowed all of the above to happen - my creator, my hope, my saviour. Each day I begin my day by saying words of thanks to God for the coming events of my day, whether positive or negative. Life is never perfect, but no matter what comes my way, I know that God will be there to help guide me in my understanding to shape me into a better person.

This is such a beautiful time of year and I trust that all my family and friends will embrace the spirit of thankfulness and be content with who they are, their circumstances and their future endeavours.

My Yurt Experience

I spent a few days this past week enjoying my first yurt experience in Bon Echo Provincial Park. Before I went I heard over and over again, "What is a yurt?" For those who do not now... a yurt: According to Wikapedia, a yurt is a portable, felt covered, lattice-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in central Asia.

Since it was a cold, damp week I was thrilled that the yurt came with a great heater and electricity. All cooking and eating was done outside either on the bbq (which also came with the yurt) or on the stove in the shelter, so it still felt like camping.

Bon Echo is known for its rock cliff which juts straight out of the lake. The lake is the deepest lake in Ontario after the Great Lakes. The native peoples many years ago would come to the rock to contimplate and leave paintings. Sheryl and I rented canoe so we could get up and personal with the rock and go on the rock cliff trail. The views from the top are spectacular.

The pictographs.

The view from the cliff top.

Our sitting spot from across the lake on the top of the rock.

The autumn colours became more brillant as the week went on. The rock cliff changed throughout the day - from when the sun come up and the sun set on the lake.

The best part of camping at this time of year: the park was so quiet and we did not have to wait for the use of the showers.

Wildlife seen: chipmunks, squirrels, robins (shouldn't they have flown south by now?), blue jays, raccoons, deer.

The weather: Cold, wet, damp, sunny - we had it all.

Activities: canoeing, hiking, reading, thinking, relaxing, more hiking, more canoeing, more reading, more thinking, and checking out the visitor centre.

Best meal: steak done over the fire. There's no better way to eat steak!

Most embrassing moment: tripping over a rock (or was it my own feet) and ended up with some bruises.

Enjoy different views of the "sitting rock spot" - a great place just to contemplate, meditate, think and pray.