But now, on to some exciting things! My little sister came to visit! She came up at the very end of June and it was incredible. When I saw her at the airport and gave her that BIG hug it felt like a lovely taste of home. There's just something about a hug from your sister...it's just right! We quickly fell back into our friendship and were soon chatting away all the way from Seattle to home. I kept looking at her and couldn't believe that she was really here! It was SOOOO good to just see her and talk to her and not have it be timed by being on the telephone or have it be a text message or e-mail. She and I are pretty good about keeping in touch through daily e-mails-several when we are both at work-but e-mails are NOT the same as seeing one another in person, no matter what we try to tell ourselves. It had been almost a year since I had seen ANYONE from my family so her visit was a true joy for me!
She jumped right in as soon as we got home. We headed to Mom and Dad's to celebrate Dad's birthday. She was happy to be there and even got to join in the family picture! They were so pleased to see her. They love my family and pray for them often. It had been almost two years since they last saw Candace so having her at the party was a thrill.
Here we are at the ferry terminal waiting to board. I LOVE riding ferries. There is just something so fun about it. We were set to have wonderful weather and as you can see from this picture it was very sunny! Perfect!
Once we were on the ferry we decided to sit outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather. We sat around and also took turns wandering the decks together to get views of the water from all sides.
Yay! My Candy Pandy is actually here, on the ferry, with me! I am SO thrilled...can't you just see it in my smile?
My good friends Nancy and Michelle came along with us. It was so fun. Candace already knew Nancy from when she was up here for our wedding but she didn't know Michelle yet. I was very happy to have two of the important people in my life meet and get to have fun together. 
We made it to Keats and one of the first things we did was enjoy a LOVELY dinner on the deck! Michelle took care of dessert and we all got a Kindersurprise Egg! I think that is Candy's first Kindersurprise! I got the cutest little toaster in mine...I think I still have it!
After dinner we went for a nice walk down to Sandy Beach. It was fun to just talk and get some exercise. We posed for many pictures. One of my favorites is this very next one! 
That night we enjoyed watching a good chick flick-Steel Magnolias-and we had fruit dipped in chocolate! It's a girl's best friend! Well, one of them anyway. After the movie some of us had a little trouble sleeping so we went down to the dock and hung out. We talked, got a little silly, and just enjoyed gazing at the gorgeous stars.
The next morning we enjoyed another great meal on the deck. I think that eating outside in the sunshine is one of my favorite things to do. I hope that our future home has a deck that I can enjoy. We never had one growing up and I always wished for one. My parents must have too 
because when they got their new house a few years ago they got TWO decks! After our breakfast we enjoyed a walk out to Salmon Rock, one of my favorite places in the world. I could literally sit there for hours talking and watching the water crash against the rocks. It's stunning, one of the most beautiful places you will ever see. We had to leave before we were ready, I think, and pack up to head back to the real world. It's always waiting! I think that's why I love Keats so much, it is an escape from the ordinary.
Whenever I walk on the island I take a deep breath and let it out slowly and it's like I can simply feel my world begin to turn just a bit slower!
We did not leave without enjoying some sunshine down on the docks though. We all managed to get a little bit too pink but hey, I guess it was a good base tan for my trip to Europe. Every one of us fell asleep for a bit, lulled into dreamland by the sway of the docks and the splash of the water. It doesn't get much better than that!
Sadly it was then time to say goodbye. We packed up our things and waited on the dock for the ferry. Then it was onto the big boat for the sail home. The time at Keats was precious, good times with friends and family is one of my favorite activities. I finally have someone back home that now understands my love for Keats. I can't wait to share it with other family members in the future. I'm sure Candace will be back to visit it again!
That night when we got home it was July 1st. For those of you that aren't Canadian, that is Canada Day up here! That means fireworks and bbqs and celebrations. We really wanted to see some fireworks, so we convinced Kevin to take us to the park where we laid out our blanket and enjoyed the show. Although they weren't the BEST fireworks I have seen they were pretty and it was fun to be at the park with so many other people, snuggled up to Kevin with my sweet sis and one of my best friends close by.
The next day Candy and I got to do another one of my favorite things together. I love living near the water and Stanley Park is one of Vancouver's greatest attractions. There is a 10 kilometer seawall that goes all the way around Stanley Park and I love walking the seawall, usually with my friend Nancy. Candace was game for the walk so we took off on a gorgeous, sunny day and had a great talk and walk. She loved it as much as I do and it was fun to share that with her as well. One of the greatest things about her coming was that she wanted to see and do the things that I love to see and do. I feel like she knows me better now that she has seen me in my home. That was really special for me and it helped us to bond. I just love the picture of her in the tree...isn't she so cute?
On her last day here I had tons of errands to run. I was leaving the day after she was for Europe and I needed to buy stuff and get things done. I felt bad running errands with her but like the trooper she is she smiled and said she would be happy to come along. It was another great day just doing normal things and when the day ended we celebrated her visit by taking her out to the Keg for some yummy Prime Rib. I am so thankful for her visit. It was a breath of fresh air and the touch of home that I desperately needed. It was also fun to reconnect and get to know each other as these new people that we are. It's always neat the way that sisterhood progresses. I love it when the sisterhood becomes more than being just relatives, rather it turns into a deep and abiding friendship. That is what happened with Candace and I as she came to visit. I got to experience that last year with my sister, Adrienne, when I went to visit her as well. I am blessed to be close friends with both of my sisters. Thanks for coming Candace, you made my June! :)
Thanks Candy Pandy! You're the best and I love you and miss you mucho!
Awww...looks like everyone had a great time! The pic of the four of you looking out from the mountain is my favorite.
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