A Gift for you and A Christmas Prequel

WOW!

It has been a while since I have been here

Thank you to all who left such great responses to

my last post about

Seeds of Love and Hope

I pray, that if you feel so inclined,

you will go to our web page

http://www.solahis.com/

and sponsor a child this Christmas

*

Yup
it is true
I had yet another birthday this past weekend
Dec. 1

So
taking a great idea from my soul-sister Celina
I want to offer you A Gift

 in way of a post card

of my favourite image.

Leave me a comment 
and I will connect with you
for your mailing address.
*
This birthday was special
and really it became a prequel to Christmas
(and this special birthday/prequel to Christmas is why
 I have been MMA this last week)

It is because of this lovely lady
and her family
my birthday became more than a birthday...

A day before my birthday they arrived
these beautiful happy faces
on their way home to New Zealand
coming from China where they have lived
for the last 18 months.
Gail and I are bloggy friends
meeting via the internet about 3 years ago.
And here we were having our first face to face time
for my birthday
what a gift
what a joy
what a thrill.
When I saw her enter the ferry terminal
coming back over from Vancouver Island
I felt like I was being reunited with an old friend
I hadn't seen for years
There was something beyond familiar...
it was so good
Her children beautiful 
Her husband wonderful 
and so awesome to go along with this crazy ride!

There is something so unique when you meet a bloggy friend
for the first time
(I wrote about it here
when I had my last bloggy friend hook up)
You get to pass all those small talk pleasantries
and get right into it
because you know so much about each other
already...
I love that
I felt like I knew Gail's children 
watching them grow up via her blog
I felt a closeness to them...
*
So what does one do on a birthday
with very special out of town guests???

We you ride the Polar Express of course!!!!

Though the rains came
we ventured into the mountains to Squamish 
to board The Polar Express 
for cookies and hot chocolate
and Christmas Carolling
and after
there was a visit to the Round House 
to decorate cookies
write Santa letter
and see the Big guy himself with his lovely wife

and yes
we were so gangsta! 

...especially in our new HOT pyjamas!!
(yes I am standing  on my feet...not kneeling down,
maybe that is why Gail and MJ liked us so much...I reminded
them of the hobbits back home)
*
Our days were filled with down time
and enjoying one another's company...
The outer world stopped for us all...

bush whacking
Canadian
Style...
a little much for my 
city girl
friend
lol

The time together was precious
the weather not the best
but they did not care
My favourite was times like these

when I would catch the kids
snuggled up together
doing whatever they were doing at the time
they got on so well
it was heart warming
*
Truly, much of what we experienced
I just can not put into words
It was what both families needed 
Completely Divinely planned.
A Gift
A warming up to The Christmas Season
Next time
the visit will be longer
and yes
there will be a next time.
*
We ended our visit with a night out...

fancy umbrella cocktails were in order!

a drive around to see the Christmas lights...

and ending the night with her...

yup
she was sitting right on the side of the road
in a sparse tree
that very day I said to MJ that owls were living here in abundance
but seeing one was not always so easy
and there she was
close enough we could have touched her
Our guests had never seen an owl before
and anyone who knows me knows about my connection
to them
this was such a blessing upon us all
ending out time together this way
The children especially loved it when
the owl pooped!!!
they laughed so loud they startled her 
and she flew into a tree a little ways away
oh those kids
lots of laughter shared!
(mmm or was it MJ and Steve that laughed the loudest!!!???!!!)

So good bye my gangsta friends
until we meet again
Remember the home-fire is always burning
and The Robe awaits your return!!!
(We know our secret fame is safe with you.)
*

What a birthday it has been
and a wonderful prequel to Christmas...
Don't forget to comment for a post card
I am thrilled to send one your way : )

What are you doing to prepare for the Christmas season
my lovlies?

Love and Light

(ps thanks to all my other wonderful sister-friends who made my day special
I love you dearly)