Lacey's Lalaloopsie Party

I peeked into the dining room . . . which was flowing into the living room now
and saw she had chosen her chair . . . waiting for the party to begin.

She had helped bring up the folding table and extra chairs.
Her mom had set the tables so beautifully!
Finally the cousins came and they decided it was hot tub time first.
Mom agreed . . . it was fine to have beach hair for a mermaid party.

We set out the food in the kitchen for everyone to help themselves . . .
apricot glazed meatballs, veggies, artichoke dip with guacamole chips, ham and pineapple pizza and caesar chicken spinach pizza.
Auntie Kristal brought the cupcakes.

The straws in the cups were a big deal . . .
 

and there was good eating and stories to be told.

I just could hardly get over this long table full of family!

Some form of musical chairs always seems to happen . . .

Then it was time for gifts to be opened.

Oh, the suspense!

Cards were read with care.

And then it was time to sing the Birthday song and blow out the candles!
Some traditions never change.
Happy Birthday, Lacey!
 

Jesus Calling

A little book that was gifted to me for Christmas, has quickly become very special to me. Simply titled, Jesus Calling, Sarah Young has prayerfully recorded daily readings that invite the reader into time spent listening to God's voice.
 

The author gives credit to the integrity of Francis Schaeffer's teaching that drew her, in her search for truth, to an Alpine Village in France. It was there, in the pristine beauty of nature that she first felt the presence of God and His call on her life. Relating to her holy experience, she writes, "This was far more than the intellectual answers for which I'd been searching. This was a relationship with the Creator of the universe."
 

The readings in this little book are reflections of, what to her has been life changing, a verse found in Psalm 46:10,  "Be still and know that I am God."
We have an invitation to relax, lay down our cares and seek His guidance and ultimate peace. Daily readings are short, spoken from Jesus' point of view to the reader. Every reading is followed by scripture to look up, to support and solidify what has just been read.

Whether my life portrays an easy spontaneous giving of thanks or a measured, disciplined act of the will - trusting the hand I do not see - I'm encouraged to realize that God inhabits the praises of His people. Maybe it's just where I'm at right now . . . but I'm loving the intimacy of reading "the voice of Jesus" calling me to trust His plans . . . plans not to harm me, but to give me hope and a future."

 

Scrolling through the Highlites

I look back at the past three weeks . . . photos don't really show it . . . but it was a whirlwind of activities and get-togethers, sometimes purposely planned and sometimes just enjoyed on the spur of the moment.

This was the first time we had all three kids join us with their spouses at the

 annual  company Christmas dinner.

The venue we went with offered Christmas entertainment,

but we opted for our own . . . with a smile, of course. 

I enjoyed watching them set up, tune up and go for it.

 If only I could have imagined this kind of scene 25 years ago.

No coaching.. no prodding . . . no promises of stickers or rewards . . .

 

 So much fun to have all three girls together!

One late afternoon we drove to Vancouver  to take part in the Bright Nights
Stanley Park Christmas train ride.

We enjoyed winter walks through the park along Fishtrap Creek close by . . .

cousins interacting in various ways . . .



even cooperating with the aspiring teacher amongst them.

Some came to spend the night and stayed for pancakes made by Papa.

or excitedly returned from a date with him . . .
giving Grammy a few extra moments to work on the ever changing manuscript
 . . . due to the publisher Jan 7. 

We ended our time together with a Birthday party . . .
but I will tell you about that next week on her actual Birthday.

And our sweet Oldest

Last week I picked up Tehya one morning
 to spend some time just with her
while on Christmas break.
We settled down to watch Anne of Green Gables.
It was the first time she saw it  . . .and so special.



After our movie we mixed up some banana bread and made lunch.
 

She loves to stir

and test.

While I was having lunch with Ben and Kari,
I saw her calmly reading to her little cousins.
 

Sunrise, sunset.
Swiftly flow the years . . .

Our Gerber Baby

For those who remember, she was born Tessa Lynn
 

But for now she is affectionately known as Teddy

We are so happy she brought her big sister and mom and dad
back with her for Christmas

and able to enjoy extended family time over this weekend yet.

 

 

I just know she'd love to stay and help me take down the tree too.

Getting with the Program

He stuck the new sticker onto the garbage can and grinned.
You gotta know him to see the humor in this whole process.

 

It all began with something left on our doorstep a while back.
When I saw this mysterious pail, I was intrigued in an excited kind of way to see this gift. Some people do that, right? But I soon realized this was not a present and promptly stuck it in the garage to deal with at a later time.
 I could not imagine finding room for a pail under my sink.
 

  

The time came on the first day of the year . . . we had to take time to inform ourselves. The pail was lined with brochures, a sticker and a magnet. In essence, the plan is to go one step further than just separating recyclables and trash. The pail is for food-related scraps, coffee filters, soiled cardboard food containers, tissue . . . decomposable stuff.  You cannot line it with a plastic bag and you cannot line the large "compostable waste" trashcan outside with one either.

You can guess . . . someone will be having to wash the can every week . . . 

Or not.

Tip #5 on reducing odor is to freeze ice cream pails of food scraps until your collection day.  ~Seriously?

Now, before you think I'm showing some resistance here . . .
I cleaned out the area under my sink

and made room for the pail.

Let me confess, however, that for now
it is a strange feeling to open the cupboard door and stand there -
trying to figure out where my balled up wax paper goes . . .
or realize I just chucked egg shells into the wrong pail.

It really can't be that hard now, can it?