Happy Monday morning!! Here I am again to talk to you, my dear friends. Hope this week holds good things for you.

I know I talk about life as being an adventure and I really feel that way. However, not every day feels like that. I know that all of us experience hard times. Life is not always kind. So, how do we value what we walk through even when it's tough.

Well, here's my thoughts: no matter what you are going through right now, know that it is just a season. This thought always helps me because if I believe that I would have to walk through this hard stuff for good, I would just lie down and give up. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And when you are in the "depths of despair" (a great line from 'Anne of Green Gables'!), there is the growth and learning. I know that no one wants to hear this when they are actually down there but it is such a powerful truth. Even if you can't see or feel anything positive at the time, there is good stuff happening on the inside.

And when you come out of your dark place (and you will!)  ask yourself: what was the learning in that? Maybe journal a little bit and ask yourself some of these questions: what did I learn? If I had to do that again, what would I do differently? What would I do the same? In what way do I feel proud of myself for how I handled this/these challenges?

And of course, your biggest comfort: God walks beside you ALWAYS!  I know that when you're in a dark place, sometimes this thought falls to the wayside and yet, it is one we should try to keep in the forefront.

So, if you are in the valley today, hang in there! You won't be there forever. You will come out of it and yes, you will smile again and life will be sweet once more.

Hello!! I'm back for a few weeks and then I am pleasure-bound again. Don't you love summers with all the different holiday plans and fun things to do? Tonight I am going to a baseball game and am looking so forward to it. Do you know what my favorite thing about going to a ball game is? Did you guess it? The food! It's one of the few places that sells those little warm, lovely mini-donuts. I get me own bag and savor every single bite. It's a once-a-year occasion and so I anticipate it greatly!

But onto other things. I hope that you have all been enjoying your summers. Can I encourage you to get out there and do so? Our winters here in Winnipeg are very long and cold and so we need to drink in every last drop of summer that we can. It's also a great exercise in living in the moment. Yesterday my husband and I each got a cold drink and went outside and sat in the yard and read and sipped - most enjoyable. Then my son-in-law came out with our little grandson and they sat on a blanket together and it felt like a little party right there in the yard. It doesn't need to be much or intricately planned - just be outside and let things happen. Sometimes when we're out there, our neighbors will stop by and we'll end up having a really nice visit with them. It's all good!

So, for now, nothing too heavy. Let's keep it light and summery. Get to the beach or to a park with some friends and just enjoy the warm weather, the sound of the birds in the trees, the river flowing lazily by , the sound of bees buzzing in the flowers - all wonderful parts of our summers.

Keep enjoying! We've got several weeks to go yet. Hurray!!

Until next week, keep those flip-flops and barbeques going!