Heart & Stroke Walk For Heart

On Sunday, September 24th, I am participating in the Cheerios Heart & Stroke Walk for Heart for the fifth year in a row! Our goal is to raise money in support of heart disease and stroke research and health education programs. The reason? Heart disease and stroke remains the leading cause of death in Canada. As many of you know, my family has a serious history of heart disease, in particular my dad. I have seen first hand the amazing results of research with regard to heart health, surgery and recovery.

You can help me raise funds for this important cause and help the Heart and Stroke Foundation reach their goal of $3.2 million for life-saving research. To sponsor me online, just click the link below to access my secure fundraising page. Or, you may also sponsor me by cash or cheque (payable to Heart and Stroke Foundation).

Thanks for your generous support!

https://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Secure/Page.asp?PageID=1450&RecordID=85193

copy and paste this link into your browser - or click the link over to the right ---->

Chance made us Sisters, Hearts made us Friends

My Sister

My sister is my heart.
She opens doors to rooms
I never knew were there,
Breaks through walls
I don't recall building.
She lights my darkest corners
With the sparkle in her eyes.

My sister is my soul.
She inspires my wearied spirit
To fly on wings of angels,
But while I hold her hand
My feet never leave the ground.
She stills my deepest fears
With the wisdom of her song.

My sister is my past.
She writes my history
In her eyes I recognize myself,
Memories only we can share.
She remembers, she forgives
She accepts me as I am
With tender understanding.

My sister is my future.
She lives within my dreams
She sees my undiscovered secrets,
Believes in me as I stumble
She walks in step beside me,
Her love lighting my way.

My sister is my strength
She hears the whispered prayers
That I cannot speak
She helps me find my smile,
Freely giving hers away
She catches my tears
In her gentle hands.

My sister is like no one else
She's my most treasured friend
Filling up the empty spaces
Healing broken places
She is my rock, my inspiration.
Though impossible to define,
In a word, she is...my sister.

The Lazy Days of Summer

Sun, sand, no schedule, friends and family. That's what this past week has been about at Maple Brae Lakeside Cottages, just north of Huntsville on Clear Lake, where Jason, Brayden and I rented a cottage. Bev and Luigi, and the Frasers had cottages for the week too. The weather was great - sunny, not humid, perfect for sitting on the beach with a book while Brayden swam for hours - literally. Clear Lake is great for swimming and canoeing- it's not that big, but the water is always a bit cool, it's very scenic and usually quite calm. Jason and I took a canoe ride around the entire perimeter of the lake one day - it was gorgeous. The evenings were chilly, but nice for sleeping and sitting outside while the campfire burned in the background. It truly was a relaxing week away for all of us.

Cottage #6 - 'The Lakeside' - right on the beach

View of the Lake

Luigi and Brayden in the canoe

Jason relaxing

Brayden roasting marshmallows.

On Friday Jason and I drove Brayden to his grandparents' house in Nipissing where he is now staying for 2 weeks. On the drive back through the country roads, we stopped to take some photos. Well, I preferred to take photos of Jason taking photos - haha! He's a GREAT photographer and I hope to have some of his photos on our walls soon.

What he was actually taking photos of!