Cactus

The girls were intrigued by some cacti that uniquely grew on the beach shore at Hornby. When we got home I noticed a bright cactus at the store and I thought they would enjoy planting it and caring for it at home.

Our little pet cactus

Island Nature

Think on things that are lovely, excellent and praiseworthy.

Helliwell Provincial Park

Nature is a child’s playground.

Nature is also my playground.

We first toured this park with our friends on a windy afternoon.

I sensed the power and majesty of God displayed by the breaking waves, cliffs, wind-bent treetops, distant views of snowy mountains, vast ocean and tiny islands. I loved it so much that I returned for a run the next morning.

The scene was transformed without the wind. The sun was rising, shining on the water and the panoramic view reminded me of Peter and Aslan on a hilltop overlooking the expanse of Narnia. Mark and I returned to Helliwell next morning with our camera for a sunrise walk. Each time I find something beautiful, I want to see it again and again.

“For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountainpeaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

Psalm 95:3-5

Friendship: My Best Girlfriend

Think on things that are noble.

My trip to Hornby was more than just a family vacation, it was a time to relax and reminisce with a long time friend of mine. When I think of my friend Rebecca, affectionately known as Becky, Beck or the Beckmeister (the latter was my dad’s nickname for her), I think of history and loyalty. Becky and I have known each other since Kindergarten and became inseparable best friends in grade eight when we agreed to share a locker together (a most bonding event). The summer before grade eight was spent at Rebecca’s house down on Northcliffe Cres. on the edge of Burrard Inlet. We would disappear into the cavernous bushes behind her house, exploring rough trails and best of all, screaming as we swung on a rope swing over a huge ravine. It had been made by rope tied to an arrow shot around a high branch by her next door neighbour (and sometimes boyfriend) Ben. Other times we would wander down to the inlet to put coins on the train track and stood back as they were flattened by the train and shot, “ping!” off the track. We’d head back up to the trampoline in the backyard for flips off the balcony as we jumped overlooking boats and waves in the background.

It is a comforting feeling to have a friend who shares interests, dreams, laughter, disappointments and even times of great sadness. It is great to curl up on the couch at Hornby, with a bellini or a cup of tea talking about the past and now watching our kids play and create new adventures of their own.