Beach Bash

We had a little party at our family cabin this weekend to celebrate some July birthdays and have summer fun together.



"Papa? Park. Pleeeeeaaaasssseeee!"

And he was happy to walk with her down to the lake and the park.




Our son-in-laws have an ongoing relationship of jokes and fun with Bob. If they can play a prank or joke on each other, they'll go for it. Water splashing is a favourite activity - and Jonathan (I think) captured this perfectly.




Happy 4th Anniversary this week for Melinda and Tyler. (I snuck a picture while Heather was doing the official shoot - thanks, H!)




These 3 have had so much fun together the last 6 weeks! They laugh, giggle and just love being together. I think they are going to miss each other - hopefully it won't be too long until we can all be together again.




I made a chocolate vanilla coffee ice cream cake for Heather, who is 30 years old now!! She is definitely all grown up, I guess.




Tyler celebrated his birthday a few weeks early here in Alberta because they are going to Nova Scotia later this week. We've never been together for his birthday before this year. Notice all the paparazzi taking pictures in my grandparents' house, circa 1960's and 70's!




It was quite a feat to get this picture of the 4 generations! It's my favourite of the whole weekend - not quite sure when we will all be able to get together again so it's a precious one.




A friendly kind of sign!

I have a few more pictures of the games and fun to show you later.

Can you tell that I'm not looking forward to Melinda and Tyler's time with us coming to an end?!! So many big things in their future and we're just praying that God's plans for their lives will be carried out and they can wait patiently on HIm.

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for:

1. Birthday cakes - I baked 2 of them for our weekend celebrations today.

2. A clean garage - whole lot of organizing and throwing away happened in there this week.

3. Fresh flowers from the garden - Meadow and Naomi sent a beautiful bunch and my Mom gave me peonies.

4. The beauty of God's creation in the mountains. We spent last weekend near Crowsnest Pass (I'll show you some quadding pictures next week).



5. Family gatherings and the memories we have to treasure from year to year.

6. Leaf lettuce from our garden - love the colour and the taste!

7. Iced tea - my favorite beverage in the summertime.

8. A fan to move the air inside the house. It's been over 30 degrees Celsius here for several days this week. And to top it all off, I baked a roast, 2 cakes, muffins and granola today - nothing like heating up the house even more!!

Daughters

Within the past 2 weeks, these 2 special women have had birthdays.



Naomi's was in June and she had a camping weekend to celebrate. It was a great time and I hope we can do it again next year.




Heather's birthday is today and we are looking forward to celebrating with her on the weekend.

We are blessed to be parents to these young women who love the Lord and are compassionate, energetic, beautiful, great moms, creative, athletic and generous with their love. We pray they will be blessed and be a blessing in the days ahead. Love you both!!

A Strong Message

This post really touched my heart today.

I. cannot. imagine. having. to. do. what. she. suggests.

Happy Canada Day!!

We are proud to celebrate Canada today!!



To celebrate, we took Tyler (our son-in-law who hails from Nova Scotia) to an all Canadian tradition - the Ponoka Stampede! He had never been to live rodeo so it was a big day of learning for him - and enjoying for all of us!




Horses circle the infield as part of the opening ceremonies




Bronc riding




Barrel racing




Calf roping




My parents came with us to enjoy an afternoon together.




One of the bulls didn't want to leave the arena and it took all 4 cowboys to 'convince' him otherwise. The crowd loved it!




We ended the day with a ride on the ferris wheel and ice cream cones!

We are so blessed to live in a country of abundance and freedom.

Happy Birthday, Meadow!

Our sweet granddaughter, Meadow, turned 2 yesterday! It's unbelievable that she was born 2 years ago - it's hard to remember her as a little baby. We never imagined that little girls could bring so much joy and happiness into our lives and we are blessed to be grandparents - of both her and Helayna! We were away over the weekend so we missed the big party but Melinda shared a few of the pictures that she took (thanks, M!).






Last night we saw her for a few hours - to play, to giggle, to cuddle - and to open presents!!




Auntie Kelsey and Uncle Darrin gave her this cute jacket - which she and her Mommy both loved! She insisted on wearing it while she opened her other presents.






She loves her kitchen and Fisher Price food so much that we added to the pantry with some wooden food. She made a sandwich for her and Grampa Bob to share!




She is right into taking things apart and putting them together so this train was lots of fun!

We pray that you grow in wisdom, beauty, grace and joy, Meadow - we love you, Little One!!

Thanksliving

I am grateful for these things this week;

1. Safe travels - to Edmonton, to Airdrie, to Winfield, to Crowsnest - we have been on the go alot lately!

2. A chance to visit for 6 hours with my brother and sister as we drove together today

3. Summer salads

4. Cool fresh water with lemon slices to quench my thirst



5. Wild Alberta roses blooming profusely along the roads

6. The opportunity to go on new adventures with our family

7. The excitement in Darrin and Kelsey's voices as they begin to think about wedding plans

8. Having Melinda and Tyler home for several weeks this summer - we've done lots of visiting, played games and worked together

Quote of the Day

from Kobi Yamada's book "Live Good"

In every community, there is work to be done.
In every nation, there are wounds to heal.
In every heart, there is the power to do it.

Marianne Williamson

We are off to do some quadding in southern BC this weekend. Be back on Monday with pictures and stories, just in time to visit my colleagues at school as they toil through their last day before vacation. I hope you enjoy sunshine, friends and good summer eats this weekend.

Global Food Crisis

Today is the day that Compassion International is observing a day of fasting and prayer in light of the Global Food Crisis. This problem is growing daily and affects those living in poverty in a huge way. Children are especially suffering and it breaks my heart to see families trying to feed their little ones on pennies a day or worse yet, having to go without food completely.

I've been reading, watching the situation get worse and worse, and through it all wondering what I - just one little person - could do to help. I know that God desires me to develop new eyes to see and a new heart to help. And so today I will join with others to pray, asking God to show me what I can do and how I can best use the resources and energy I have. And because I can't even imagine a fridge AND cupboards with nothing in them, I will go without food for a few hours.

If you want to read more about this issue and watch some compelling videos (this one from the Washington Post made it very real for me), go to Compassion International. I pray that you will find it in your heart to help in whatever way you can - and to pray fervently that the world will be changed and all people will have food for every meal.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Going away for a weekend creates a huge pile of laundry, especially if it rains while you are camping!!

2. Spending the day playing is tiring for this Gramma.

3. Daily rain will cause weeds to grow like wildfire.

4. June in Alberta is a beautiful time - especially when the wild roses are blooming.

5. Two year olds are huge copycats and love to help with anything you do, whether it's washing windows or baking cake.



6. Spending a evening with book club friends is great therapy - the laughter, the discussion and the friendships formed truly enrich my life.

7. Housecleaning - including moving furniture, taking windows apart and washing light fixtures - makes a house sparkle but takes a lot of time and elbow grease!

8. Getting your first job as a new teacher is a reason to celebrate! Yeah, Jill - enjoy your year with those junior high kids in Viking!

9. I'm excited for all my teacher friends who are on their last week of school for another year. They have so earned their summer vacations.

10. There have been so many gorgeous sunsets already this summer and I'm glad I have a chance to capture them on film.

More Camping

Camping this weekend was a whole lot of fun with Meadow! I am so looking forward to a time when she and Helayna can both share a camping weekend with us.



Enjoying some sunshine




So many things to discover and play with out in the woods




Riding along on Mommy's back (there was a whole lot of picture taking going on this weekend!)




The water was freezing cold but this water baby still enjoyed a little swim!




Her favourite question - "Grampa Bob doing?"




Three cousins drinking juice after a long walk




Having a 'bath' at the end of a busy day




Playiang with Dad's hat




Helping Grampa get some water




Uncle Tyler made her this 'dog' by tying a piece of string she'd found earlier on to a chunk of wood. She walked the 'dog' back and forth across the site while we were busy packing up. She even picked it up and gave her 'dog' a kiss!!




Heading back to camp, all tired out and napping on Grampa's back

Camping Time

We made a little investment in a camper last week so we loaded up and went out to enjoy the outdoors this weekend. Mel and Tyler borrowed camping gear from Heather and Jonathan and tented right beside us. Naomi, Jerry and Meadow as well as Jerry's family came too so there were 16 of us altogether. We had good weather and a great time together!

Here's a little peek at our weekend - I'll show you more tomorrow but right now I need to go and take a shower :))




- did some hiking




- had a chance to spend lots of time with our daughters - and we decided this should be an annual event so hopefully our other 2 kids and their families can join us next year!




- eating outside made everything taste better.




David Thompson Country, right along the Rocky Mountains - perfect place to spend a summer weekend!

Busy Days

It's been a busy, busy week around here! We are all good, enjoying the sunshine and getting into summer mode. Today is the longest day of the year - may the sun shine down on you and fill your heart with joy!

I had a play date with Meadow and we spent lots of time outside.



All ready to go - with Daddy's water bottle along just in case we get thirsty!




I love this picture!




Then she found this stick and proceeded to ride her 'horsey' around the yard. It just amazes me to see what an imagination she has already!





And we are going camping this weekend to celebrate Naomi's birthday so someone has been practising sleeping in the tent! She is very excited about the whole adventure - and insists that she and Grampa Bob will sleep in the corners and Gramma will sleep in the middle! She loves this space between the mattress and the tent wall best. I think it's going to be a very exciting time - for all of us!!!


Then we went over to my sister's yesterday and had a weiner roast down by the creek. It's one of the best places to have a picnic and spend time together.









And that brings us to today -



Mel and I got haircuts and are quite happy with our new looks! She got about 6" taken off of hers so it's a pretty big change but it suits her perfectly!