Tomorrow my little girl turns eight. Do you remember your 8th birthday? In my classes we’ve been remembering when we were 12 (the middle school years). I have a hard time remembering specific ages. I always remember 9 because it was the year Frankie was born. I guess 8 was the last year I was the baby of the family. Zoey wants us to have another baby but it’s not in the stars for us. She really wants a dog for her birthday, but we can’t deliver on that either just yet.

Over the weekend we visited Hatley Castle in Victoria. The tour only included the first floor because the upper floors are now administrative offices for the Royal Roads University. We enjoyed visiting the castle gardens with the huge Western Red Cedar trees.

Stephen and the kids took me to Goldstream Park next to the TransCanada Hwy where there is a waterfall and big rocks the kids enjoyed climbing.

Below is the birthday verse I am giving Zoey. She continues to teach me so much everyday about being fully alive.

Bright golden sun o’er all the world is warming,
Tells me now that new summer days are forming.
Be filled with Light!
My Spirit can take heed
Let thoughts take flight
From winter’s darkness freed.
With joy I see the beauty
Nature everywhere is showing
And I shine like the stars and flowers
Dancing, laughing, changing, growing