In His Hands

It's the end of August . . . how time has flown!
I remember the phone call about 30 weeks ago
. . . a teary one, at that, wondering how
this would be possible, being without a job and
in the process of losing their home.

In the meantime . . . God has shown His care by
providing a new location and a new job.
This baby's timing is perfect . . .
September is almost here and I will have
another great excuse to fly to Colorado.

Kristal . . . I love how you naturally hug your
baby even now already. May God continue
to enfold you in His big hands . . . in like manner!

"He has made everything beautiful in His time."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

Before You Go Shopping

I was tempted to get out of the house and stroll through the mall to see what’s new. But on the spur of the moment I realized that it was time to go through my closet . . . and the end result made me feel much better.

So, to get started . . . find an hour or two of uninterrupted time . . . this may depend on how big your closet is. At times like this it's a blessing to have a small closet.

Be ready to try on everything, especially pants and skirts, being open to putting things together that you have not thought of before. See if you can find a few new combinations. I found a skirt that I’ve hardly worn because I didn’t know what to wear it with. I also found a top in the same category and suddenly I realized that the two went together . . .

So . . . just try on like you would in store . . . lay things out on the bed, trying new combinations, adding a belt, a sweater or tights. As you try things on, you will quickly find out which things you just will never wear because they have shrunk =) or you have not worn them for two years.

Put them in a pile . . . for goodwill.
You will also find things that can be altered . . . or they may only need a button sewn on.
Put them in another pile . . . for mending.
You may find something that needs dry cleaning.
Put it aside for cleaning

Then, when you have a new perspective on what you already have, make a mental or real list of items that can be added . . . clothing or accessories that will add to what you have . . . you will think of them as you try things on . . . such as a cardigan or little sweater with buttons that matches several outfits and dresses up a pair of jeans, a specific color of tights, a scarf or a pair of colored flats that bring out a dominant - or subtle color in your wardrobe. I have found that colored shoes (other than black or brown) can bring some fun into your wardrobe and match more than I first would have thought.

You may want to have a list in your purse, so that when you see something as you run past a store, you know immediately if you were looking for it.

Through the Eyes of a Two-Year-Old

I am enjoying the process of language development these days. When Makenna asks, "Papa is?" . . . I can tell by her tonal inflection that she is asking where Papa is.

One of of her favorite books right now is a book called, The Bus Stop.

It introduces you to several children who are preparing to catch the School Bus and shows them walking to the Bus Stop with a parent.

It always makes me smile when I turn the page and with a perturbed voice she asks, "Head is?"

Leaving part of the picture to the imagination is causing this little girl quite some concern.

She does not realize yet that sometimes we really do feel like we are walking around with our heads cut off.

A Summit Experience

On Paet's real Birthday we went in search of the snow. After a picnic lunch at Alta Lake, we headed to Whistler Village and purchased the tickets that would take us on a 20 minute gondola ride, followed by an open chair lift to Whistler's peak and then the breathtaking ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. It was a splurge, but well worth it!

(click once and then again to enlarge)

The first Gondola ride begins at Whistler Village and takes you to a beautiful Alpine meadow. The trip would have been worth it just for the view from here already!
We took a little hike to catch the open chair lift. I cannot even describe the breathtaking feeling it was to float upward . . . to around 6000 feet . . . where the air grew strangely still and quiet . . . and still be warm in a Tshirt!

From the summit we had an absolutely amazing 360 degree view and

Paet got to play in the snow . . . in sandals.

Chris and Jules . . . on top of the world!

The hoody off by now . . . Paeton looks like he's up to no good . . .

but he missed his best chance!

We came down the open lift and got on board the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. This is the longest and highest gondola in the world, spanning a distance of 4.4 km (2.7 mi), connecting Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. It is a very smooth 11 minute ride above miles of rainforest with views of the surrounding glaciers and snow-capped mountain peaks. On our return ride we had a glass window on the floor . . . as you can see on the photo.

We got back on the old model gondola that returned us to the the Village . . .

had dinner and a long ride home with some very content, but tired kids . . . and adults.

Build-a Bear Birthday

Paeton had several wishes. One was to go to Build-a-Bear and the other was to touch snow. I will write about the latter on another day.

We found a Build-a-Bear Store in Coquitlam Center. It is a concept first introduced to us when Tehya was born and her uncle Shaun sent her a bear with a special message from California. At that time we had not heard of this store in Canada.

Once inside the store, a friendly assistant showed us the line-up of potential critters to be stuffed. Actually, Paet had already done a little tour, but we went back and he carefully looked each skinny shell over. The potential stuffies really had no idea of the love that was waiting for them. I remember several dogs, a cat, a monkey and owl . . . but there were lots more.

He made his choice and we headed to the cotton machine.

This is where the bear got stuffed.

He also got a heart and a growl . . . and a name.

The hardest part was probably the dressing room. There were endless arrays of choices from everyday wear, to biking clothes, to army gear or Disney favorites . . . to sports jerseys and the gear that goes with them.

Paet's Bear ... whom he named Ben ... got dressed in a football uniform. I just realized he took his helmet off for the picture.

He was checked into the computer and received his Birth Certificate.

Papa Bear, Grammy Bear, Paeton and Ben left the workshop feeling very satisfied with the morning's events.

A Garden Tea Party

Apparently it was just how she had imagined! A real tea party . . . with flowers . . . in a garden . . . and not just any garden. On the morning of the party, she came for a cuddle in bed with me and said, “Today I get more presents!” So, that is how the day began . . . followed by toast with sugar and cinnamon and then the preparations for the day.

We dressed the patio table with an old lace tablecloth. Set it with an assortment of tea cups, decorated tea bags, brown sugar cubes, scones, cheese, jam, party sandwiches, fruit and mini cupcakes.
One by one the friends came. How special that, although she lives on the other side of the world, she has some friends to invite when she’s here. Some of them are girls she went to Grade 1 with for a few months. Others have become her friends because . . . well . . . the moms are friends. In fact, one of the moms commented about having memories of coming to this exact house for Birthday parties when she was a girl!

There were eight candles to blow out! How these years have flown by . . . just a breath . . . maybe two.

Each guest prepared her tea . . .

and was delighted to see it turn pink!

the meal was followed by face painting . . .

and, of course, every girl's favorite part . . . opening the gifts.

I just love this photo and I'm posting it because it comes with a wish . . . one that I find creeping up on me here and there . . . and kind of new to me! My wish is that I will see them smiling together . . . ten years from now when they graduate from Grade 12.

Maybe a Grammy is entitled to have a Birthday wish . . . and tell.

An Idea

Okay . . . remember the magazine? Like I thought, the best part was opening it. However, I did find something that caught my fancy. See this tiered stand? Now you can make one with what you already own.

I tried it with the mugs . . . but my mind kept going . . .

Maybe some sturdy candle stands would work . . .

with clear glass plates or just one to extend a couple of Chrystal cake stand.

Why not try them with my china?

I found a small trifle stand and thought I'd fill it with roses and use it as a separator between the plates.

Hhmmm.... maybe it needs some tarts and scones.

Another cake stand in my china cabinet caught my eye . . .

and I had to see what I could do with that.

As you can tell . . . with my serving dishes spread out on the table, I could just go on and on. Now I just have to find an excuse to use these. I don't think I'll be looking to buy a tiered stand any time soon.

The Climbing Peach Trees

We have two peach trees climbing up and around the southern side of our house. They come up real close to some of our windows, but I have yet to open a window, pull out a screen and pick one. One of these years I will just have to do it.

You could call these organic peaches. They are not consistently sweet and sometimes they have earwigs in the middle of the pit if it splits while on the tree, but I love to watch this fruit blossom and grow.

Every once in while we get one that tastes like the ultimate peach. The taste that reminds you of when you first got to love them as a kid. And then I understand why this fruit can be used to describe someone extra sweet.
If you have not already done so today, visit mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com

and try the peach cobbler. Well, you'll have to make it first, but this dessert just can't get any easier or better.

Calling Me

I feel like I've let the beautiful days of summer pass me by without sitting on my special chair. Always something to do . . . it's all been good . . . but the other day I was determined to get some time out there. One of the drawing perks was something that came in the mail.

This was motivation to get my work done . . . a sealed magazine into which I couldn't even take a sneak pre-view.

Finally the moment came . . . the moment when the possibilities of what I'll find inside are practically endless! In fact, sometimes the best part is exactly this . . . just opening it.

Blueberry Picking - Then and Now

As a child, living in Vancouver did not exclude me from the almost annual summer adventure of spending some time in the berry patch. Now that I look back it probably had more to do with keeping the three of us occupied and learning to work, because - money – we did not make much!
My parents took us to Abbotsford and simply arranged for us to stay in a cabin that the farmers provided for “campers.” I remember one or two summers my grandmother even coming along. That was before the year I was put in charge of my younger siblings . . . which happened to be the last summer I picked.

The other night we went out to get some blueberries. I’ve noticed that, over the years, berry farming has greatly improved and I don’t believe my perspective has much to do with it.

If we’d had these kind of bushes when we were kids, it would have been a completely different story! I remember bushes so tall and bushy that you could not see who was on the other side . . . and they were not nearly as laden with berries as these little ones are.

So . . . that is all I want to say . . . berry picking can be quite an enjoyable and relaxing time now . . . no strawboss . . . no dodging of flying berries . . . and no pranks such as getting locked into the outhouse. Just one hour . . . 30 lbs between the two of us . . . on a quiet summer evening.

When I got home I rinsed the berries, let them dry on trays overnight and put them in ziplock containers to freeze. This is the easiest fruit to freeze and use all winter long . . . in blueberry pies, scones, pancakes, muffins, Platz or simply added to smoothies, cereal and fruit salads. They thaw quickly by putting them in a colander and running cold water over them.