Life

Sometimes life is a balancing act of mostly planning, then some doing and so quickly it’s over! Between plans for hosting a bridal shower this week, an important wedding date looming close at hand, scheduling fall activities, playing with grandchildren, learning their routines, sending off  'little somethings” to Indonesia, making sure there is food in the fridge . . . and on the table. . .  and on the blog, trying to find time for walks, time with friends or with extended family . . . it gets a little full . . . but it’s good.

After Friday night's book signing a the MCC sale . . . where little visitors who come to sit on laps are especially welcome . . . and we smile at comments from older ones, such as, "are you the ones who do the recipes?" . . .

we spent a good part of Saturday in our back yard. The kids played for a long time with no toys, totally happy…
but when Papa decided to show them what we’ve been holding out on, they were overjoyed at what he hauled out of that old shed!

Thirty year old toys that still work and bring a smile to young and old alike.

Meanwhile, Koen sat in his swing, mesmerized . . . just watching.

On Sunday we joined about four thousand others at the Rotary Stadium for our Fall kick-off where all four services came together for one service. It was casual and wonderful! (this photo, taken in the stands was sent to me)

After the service we spread out our blankets and our family gathered around the icebox for a picnic lunch . .  also very casual . . . yet significant in the kind of way that I tuck away for the treasure it is. My heart wants to hold on tight to another first, yet, at the same time, I'm learning to hang on loosely and let God set the seasons as He calls them.

September Prayer

There is something about September that has a hint of the same feeling as January. With long summer days coming to an end, most of us get back into some kind of classes or schedules that begin fresh in September.

New beginnings often cause me to reflect, this time maybe more-so as I see a change in the school cycle that’s been kind of lost to us with our oldest grandchildren being home-schooled in far off Indonesia. That was until just recently.

This week our barefoot-running grandchildren began classes in a one-room schoolhouse, taught by a teacher from North America. And then, to bring it closer, we have an excited five-year-old, who just became a Canadian citizen, starting Kindergarten right here! Who would have thought that we’d have this pleasure?

It’s not only my grandchildren who are entering a new stage in life. I also want to keep learning . . . these days being convicted about the area of prayer.

On one of my flights, this summer, I was reading a short devotional on the importance and the power of prayer. So often I wait to pray until I am desperate about something and end up taking many things for granted. I wonder, how different my life could be if I truly took God up on His promise to answer prayers. How would things be if I did not wait until prayer is all I have left?  As a grandmother now, I want to pray  about my dreams . . . and practice the one thing that will eventually outlast me.

The writer pointed out how Abraham, when he learned that Sodom would be destroyed, “remained standing before the Lord” … he did not give up asking God to save his nephew until he had that confirmation from the Lord.

Jesus prayed. He prayed early in the morning. He prayed in the garden and He climbed a mountain to pray, He taught his disciples to pray. If Jesus needed to pray, how much more do I? The significance of prayer is emphasized by the fact that He did not call the temple a house of music, fellowship or teaching … but a house of prayer. He said, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my father in heaven goes into action.” Matthew 18:19

Prayer causes us to have to humble ourselves and admit that we need God and when God sees a humble and contrite heart, He hears. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us because He made us for relationship.

There is so much more… but I’ll leave it for now and just pray . . . pray first.

Teapot Hill

A few years ago we decided to begin a tradition of doing a hike on Labor day Monday. So here we were last Monday, deciding on where to go this time. I had not forgotten the hike up Mt. Cheam . . . so the name Teapot Hill sounded like it may just be more my size.

We took the Hwy East, drove through the sleepy town of Yarrow, with its fruit stands and pottery barns on every other corner, past Cultus Lake, buzzing with summer activities, and found a parking spot.

I must confess the hardest part was the first ten minutes, just getting used to the  immediate uphill start, and then it was quite easy going.

The slope beside the path went straight down,

the path itself littered with roots and lined with trees that had all kinds of interesting root systems above ground.

Since I was small, I've loved the feel of being surrounded by tall trees, laden with moss and ferns growing everywhere. I have this vague memory that I may have climbed this hill, coming up the other side, once or twice  Before my teen years, and even as a teen, I attended a camp right below this hill and my favorite activity was hiking. Definitely more desirable than craft time or swimming.
I just know that somewhere in there I must have that valerie-valerah spirit, inherited from my dad.

Back to Monday . . . before we knew it . . . we were at the top. Yes, it was only a hill. Almost disappointing. I wonder what we can find that is inbetween a mountain and a hill.

On our way down we stopped to have some lunch

and tried to get a view of the lake through the trees.

At the bottom, we drove by the lakeside and wound through the small streets lined with summer homes.

We saw an open house sign and decided to look . . . because we could.

There were beautiful kitchens and baths

 

and views . . . but we were not shopping. 

For dinner we packed up hamburgers to BBQ and headed to our 33 year-old family lakehouse - re-done, content and thankful for so much!

Summer Savory

The other day I took Lovella up on her invitation to come by and pick some fresh beans in her garden. It was a beautiful day, leaving me feeling like one of her sunflowers adorning the patch. In no time I left with almost everything I needed to make bean soup. But, see the green stuff with the tiny purple flowers? It's called summer savory and I went to Neufeld Farms to get that.

You can't make a good pot of green bean soup without it.

 

Now is the perfect time to get it a farm or farmer's market. But don't wait too long. You can freeze it or dry it. I  have mine hanging in my pantry to dry . . . and once it's brittle, I'll put it into a container to use all year long. . . . just like other dried herbs.

Playland

On Saturday our small clan (minus our Indonesia family . . . whom we all missed) joined thousands of other
families on a final excursion before the start of school. It has become a revolving kind of tradition for us as we go with whomever happens to be here at the right time . . . this being the first time Shaun and Kristal could come with us.

Playland's regular season operates from April to the end of September every year but at the end of August, Playland and the PNE collectively host an annual fair that includes lots of additional entertainment including talent shows, animal races, demolition derbies, monster truck shows, more food venues and more rides.

Landon was so serious about keeping that bike on track, that he had no time to smile for the camera.

 

When he was given the choice of going on the monster truck with Mommy, Daddy or Papa . . . he said he wanted to go with Mimi. A melt my heart moment. Obviously I would go on the monster truck ride with him!

A highlight for the kids, at this stage, is the Big Red Barn that showcases some of BC's finest in the agriculture industry. Feeding or petting animals and observing the sounds and smells of a real barn is an adventure our grandchildren do not get to experience every day.

An event that promised to be more entertaining for the big boys was the motor-cross show . . .

and it did not disappoint. Even the little ones stared in awe and cheered . . . but if that had been my boy on that bike, I would not have been able to watch.

The warm, sunny day faded into a beautiful night sky as most of the big kids had to try out the old wooden roller coaster yet.

And I don't really know why . . . but one of my favorite moments came at the end of the day as I watched the little ones' silhouettes playing in front of the vending machine and we enjoyed coffee and elephant ears, JRFM country tunes claiming part of the air and reminding me of days gone by. . . on this perfect, warm summer evening.

A MGCC Welcome

I realize that a week has gone by, but still have not finished talking about the Manitoba trip.Those of us who were able to go, had the experience of visiting Charlotte and Betty's homes for the very first time. We were excited about this.
On our first signing day we were all busy until 6 PM. and then we were invited to Char's for supper. I wondered how she would manage this, being busy all day. No need to be concerned . . . when we barged into her home, her daughters were ready to serve up some home made iced tea and had a delicious salad bar ready for us. I thought this was a very loving gesture and spoke volumes of their love for their mom.

After dinner, coffee and cheesecake, all five of us got into Char's vehicle and we drove the hour's drive to Betty's house . . . where her daughter and granddaughter had prepared guestrooms for us. We ran around to each of our rooms . . .

inspecting the gifts on our beds and thoughtful little necessities left in the bathrooms. Who says grammies can't enjoy a little pajama party . . .  complete with foot massages.

The next morning we hung out in Betty's beautiful county kitchen while she and her husband served up the tastiest lemon ricotta pancakes ever!

After a leisurely breakfast we headed to the Mennonite Heritage Village and Museum in Betty's home town.

It was a beautiful sunny day as we walked the grounds, checking out reminders of pioneering days for those who came to this country nearly 100 years ago.

We saw one of the original first churches and schools built at the time.We entered the coolness of a sod house and then different stages of homes as they grew in size and comfort. One of the homes had the barn attached to it, giving the farmer of that day the convenience of walking through his kitchen in the morning and right into the barn. It reminded me of pictures of my grandmother's home in Russia.

When I observe the simplicity, as hard as it must have been, it is incredible to realize how life has changed in less than 100 years. As a homemaker I would definitely be challenged in trying to get a meal on the table and clothes clean and pressed . . . judging by the lack of appliances and dependence on a vegetable garden.

For lunch we stopped in at the Livery Barn restaurant for a bowl of Borsht and a slice of fresh bread. I would have loved to try the Plumi Moos standing right next to the bread, a piece of Platz, pie or maybe a muffin, but had to make a choice, sharing a piece of bread pudding with Kathy. It was a good choice.
Werner Wiens from MCC met with us to talk about Global Family opportunities and then we headed back to Betty's for a break before the next signing.
Sadly I had to leave about half-way through to catch my flight home while the rest of the girls had one more pajama night at Betty's.