Hosting Season

Although hosting guests takes a bit of preparation, the end result leaves you with some wonderful benefits. As we host family or friends, we give ourselves the chance to take a break from the everyday routines and be blessed by the giving and taking that transpires in these relationships.
Last Wednesday, Lovella and her Beloved were the fist to welcome Kathy and her family to this side of the border. We joined them for some time to relax in their back yard, enjoying some iced tea and appetizers.

After that, they all came to our back yard for dinner.

 

While the boys played bocce ball, the girls got re-acquainted . . . hardly believing that we were together once more.

 

The next morning we drove into Vancouver to show off our beautiful city. We spent some time in Stanley Park. Some of us cycled the seawall and some chose to walk.

 

In this photo I would like to point out the revolving restaurant that we had dinner at a few weeks ago.

It was interesting to look at it now from the vantage point that I pointed out while up there. From the seawall we took note of Canada Place (the building with the sails) with a cruise ship waiting . . .

 

and Lions Gate Bridge, which we saw lit up at night on that earlier post.

 

I just love that the plan to enjoy a sunny day here came true!

We had fish and chips at a picnic table at Prospect Point. This is the spot that was hit hard when Stanley Park lost thousands of trees to a windstorm, six years ago.

The beautiful trees in this park - known as the largest green space within any Canadian city, have always been a huge attraction.

We stopped to check this one out a bit closer.

Did the first photo really tell you how big it was?

Someone happened to have  a tape measure in the car and it got measured.  Any guesses out here?

Late afternoon we headed to the lake to share dinner with our kids and grandkids.

Kristal and Shaun are also hosting some special guests at this time. These girls from Japan are here to study English and experience some of our culture. I say they are brave girls!

After dinner we got out the Sea-Doo for the first time in a long time and our young guests, as well as Paeton and Tehya had their first knee boarding experience. I guess this was the first of many things they will do that I have never done. I'm being left in the dust  spray now.

Isaac and then Ben got on and stayed on for quite a while . . .

Tehya followed suit . . .

with Natalie spotting. They did Grammy proud!

Paeton  got swung around in circles several times and hung on, head held high, like he'd done this many a time.

 

He came back all smiles.

Landon found his own entertainment while we kept a cautious eye on him.

Our  evening ended with s'mores . . .

while Koen found a handy place to stand.

I am thankful our guests could get just a taste of this . . . our love of being with our family.