A Baby Sister!

Early this morning the long expected call finally came

and photos followed promptly as her first adoring visitors arrived!

Jade Mikah was born in Saskatoon at 2:49 am

weighing in at 7 lbs, 9 oz

I could appreciate the other Nana taking care of the girls and taking them in to see 

their new sister. I feel like I've just had that honor over here recently and

so I am happy and thankful for her.

As I wait for our upcoming visit, I treasure these

glimpses . . . these smiles

and sister kisses!

Ben and Kari,

We are so happy for you!

May God bless your inheritance, may He be their Shepherd

and carry them forever. 

(Paraphrased from Psalm 28:9)

With love, 

Mom and Dad (Papa and Mimi)

In the Secret Place

Reading on in Psalm 139 about God seeing everything, I read the verses about God creating my inmost being and knitting me together in my mother's womb. My frame was not hidden from Him when I was made in the secret place and  all my days ordained for me were written in His book before any of them came to be. How amazing is that? 

I think it was these verses that led me to write down the following thoughts just prior to the birth of one of our grandchildren and I will share them here again as we wait for the call.

Life held unseen in the Creator’s hands,

Suspended, waiting in the dark of the secret place.

Sight untested, aware of a rhythmic pulse,

The murmur of voices obscure, a fleeting caress.

We do not yet know the shape of your nose,

The color of your eyes, the size of your toes,

Whether your hair lies fine or maybe it has a curl -

Not even whether you are a boy or a girl.

But, this we know, our hearts hold you dear.

When your lungs inhale sweet breaths of air

Your cry will ring music to our ear -

New life, another miracle delivered to our care.

The Light that Darkness Cannot Hide

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there Your hand will guide me, 

Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,

even the darkness will not be darkness to You:

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to You.

I remember flying over these mountains in the dark, with no sign of what was below. But as the light of the sun began to brighten the horizon, we saw the rows and rows of mountain peaks! By not seeing them we could have  assumed that they were not there, but as the sun rose, it cast a light that could not hide what was below us. 

So, even, as night cannot hide from the light, it is encouraging to know that evil cannot hide from the light God shines through His word. Many have tried to deny it, ban it  and burn it . . .  but His Word will continue to light the way for us as we seek the truth. For this I am thankful. 

Cousin Love

Landon was riding in the back seat, telling me about his day at school and the names of kids who sit beside him. A girl named Makenna was one he mentioned and I said, "Makenna, just like your cousin!" A little quietly, in a very serious voice he replied,

"Yes, but it's not HER  . . . that would be awesome if it was!"

Meanwhile, the real Makenna is making new friends in a school way across the vast Pacific Ocean. I thought I'd add this photo because it really looks like such a fun class to be in! I wonder what the boy's name is sitting beside her?
It's strange to think that when the cousins here get up to go to school, the ones over there are in the middle of their next night. And when the cousins over there come home from school, the ones here are fast asleep.
Koen . . . out of the blue, anytime, will just announce that it's night time in Indonesia right now.
Natalie . . . when I tell her that Makenna is missing her, says, "Don't even tell me about it!" . . . body language telling me, "I so understand!"

Cousin Love. So precious to hear their honesty.

Conversations in the Car

Mimi - So how was pre-school? What did you do today?

Koen - I forget everything.

Mimi - Did you play games?

Koen  - ( big sigh) Yes.

Mimi – Did you sing?

Koen – Only when the parents came.

Mimi – Who are your buddies?

Koen – Noah and Bodie and anybody. (stop for quiet thought)  There is one boy who is silly and kind of mean and he says Noah is his buddy, but he’s my buddy.

(first world problem defined by a four year old)

Mimi – I guess you’ll soon be going to Kindergarten!

Koen – If I get my shots when I’m five then I can go to Kindergarten, but I don’t want to get my shots.

Mimi – Did Everly get her shots again?

Koen – Yes.

Mimi – Did you go with her?

Koen – Yes . . . but I plugged my ears.

Mimi – Did she cry?

Koen – Yes . . . ‘cause babies cry when they get their shots . . . or are hungry or need their soother.

After dinner and other conversations at our house . . .
on the way home . . .  Kristal hears a voice in the back saying,

"I had a bad day at Papa and Mimi's today because they laughed at me."
Did we really?

Looking for the Light - Seizing the Day

I opened the card that came early in this new year via snail mail 

and I just stared at it  - my chosen verse -

artistically designed in the shape of a candle.

card illustration by Mark Bowers

It reminded me of my purpose - to look for the light on my path

and to become more aware of its meaning.

I started reading Genesis  . . . a good place to begin the year . . .

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

. . .  and it occurred to  me that the very first thing God created was LIGHT!
Just like when we walk into a dark room and first thing we do is turn on the light.

Reading on, I read that God also created special lights to serve as signs, to mark the seasons and the years. Every morning we wake up to the light of a new day. A block of time given by God. The number of these days, counted out for my life, I do not know . . . but I have today. . . this moment. This day to hug someone, to forgive a wrong, to be kind, to give a helping hand, to laugh, to call someone and to appreciate what still is.

May I unwrap the gift of each day, and all it holds, with gratitude.

She's Five!

Dear Lacey,

Do you know that on the day your mom and dad told us 

that they were getting ready for a baby  -

we were the happiest Papa and Mimi on this earth?

When you were born, your mom was so thrilled that she had a girl

and your daddy smiled when people said you look just like him!

I love how both of them have their hand of protection on you in this photo -

knowing how that little flame looks like it would be so much fun to touch!

A picture of how they care for you in every way!

At that time you lived close by and you were the only one here . . .

making for lots of time to play, head to the park to visit the ducks

or spend time on the playground

Early on you loved to read stories, tap on the xylophone, color, 

walk in the rustling leaves or feed the animals at the petting zoo.

And just like Mimi, you love pancakes and cinnamon buns -

which are also a lot of fun to mix and roll out together!

You love the outdoors and even prairie winter temperatures have not been too cold for you to go in the bicycle trailer with papa on his run.

Your life between where we live and where you live and all the places in between

are a treasure box of memories  . . .

Christmas gifts and train rides.

Disneyland,

summer time mini golfing, lake time or baseball games,

sitting with Mimi at book signings,

helping Papa build a sandbox, 

tea parties with cousins, trips to the zoo, shopping,

playhouses, 

overnight visits and early morning snuggles . . .

are what come to mind quite easily.

Today you are five years old

with so much to look forward to!

You are a beautiful girl . . .

a big sister to look up to . . .

a cousin loved and adored . . .

and a granddaughter we are very proud of and thankful for!

Happy Birthday

and hope to see you soon!

Love always,

Papa and Mimi

Like Father, Like Daughter

From when our kids were very young, we saw characteristics they had acquired  

either from his side or my side . . .

which often ended in playful teasing.

Sometimes I see a certain look in a grandchild and I see his daddy

or the way another one says something and I see the other side of the family.

Maybe it's easier to see the side we are not as familiar with.

On this night I noticed that what seemed normal to me

was taken note of by Shaun.

He saw how father and daughter can really get into a house plan.

They both feel comfortable with  numbers and measurements.

They both see the picture.

What I saw as completely normal, 

could have been seen as unusual.

The mathematical genes passed on 

along with family experiences where plans have always been around . . .

have surely made each of our kids, in some ways, like their father.

Again . . . it was just a moment in time,

but somehow special, in it's own unique way.
Maybe just for me.

House Reno Blessings

One of the things we are looking forward to, soon in the new year, 

is Shaun and Kristal's move into their own home.

Over the past few weeks, a lot of the old has been torn out,

exposing all that goes behind the drywall and paint.

While Shaun's parents were visiting from CA,

we had an impromptu blessing party.

Meeting in the partly gutted house with markers in hand,

we all found spots to write our prayers and blessings on bare studs and floors.

It was a feeling hard to describe, as kids, parents and grandparents
came together in this way.

I loved walking the halls and reading . . .

words of testimony . . .

words to remind . . .

words of wisdom . . .

words of encouragement from a child's hand . . .

words of blessing written on door frames
welcoming the peace of God to invade every part
every heart in this home.

In the midst of looking forward to a new kitchen,
shared bedrooms and new surroundings . . .
this felt like being wrapped in the arms of God's care and grace.

It was a privilege to be part of this wondrous beginning.
Shaun and Kristal . . .
May God's light shine into your home and
to those who enter.
May His peace invade and
bless your coming and going, always.

With love and joy for you, Mom and Dad

First Date of the Year

I'm giving this post an optimistic title

with anticipation of more to come

in this year that will mark a special anniversary for us.

On Saturday we spent part of the afternoon in Vancouver

and I was happy to see the shops and the city still decked out with lights

as we missed it before Christmas.

This was the scene we passed as we walked over to Rogers Arena for the evening game.

One of my favorite things about attending a hockey game is 

being there to rise for the national anthems!

My phone camera may not do the scene the justice it deserves,

but I thought I'd post pictures for those who have not seen

how beautiful the rink looks with the  appropriate lighting as

the players stand at attention in honor of their country.

I love that two countries can be represented and honored in this way.

I may be alone in this, but the only thing I miss when being at a game

is the play by play that you get on TV.

Sometimes you can almost hear a pin drop as all you hear is the slapping of the puck

and it's all good, 

but somehow my earliest memories of games visualized over radio,

still want to include that excited voice of Jim Robson.

We enjoyed our pizza and Pepsi 

and the excitement of the crowd as the game progressed.

The highlight was when the crowd erupted into a

long standing ovation for Hendrik Sedin on scoring 

 his 200th goal for the Vancouver Canucks.

Always fun to be part of a proud moment when it happens . . .

even when we really can take no credit.