Remembering

I came across these slides of an East Coast trip we made with our kids back in 1991.
Obviously we took pictures in the beautiful harbor
. . . having no idea of how that skyline would change in ten years.
Today many of us will remember exactly where we were when we heard the terrible news.

Just like tourists do today, we boarded the ferry in the New York harbor
and got off on Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty from up close.

I'm in awe of this magnificent icon of freedom -
over the years, a welcome symbol to immigrants.
We happened to take a picture from the back . . .
the detail all around is stunning.

Today I'm thankful that,
in spite of the set back and the terror inflicted on North America on that fateful day,
we can still live in a land that strives for protection, peace and freedom
within its borders . . .  and beyond.

Kindergarten

When I see these lunchboxes, I find myself going to where this story begins
to a summer when two sisters, living on different continents, called me . . .
unbeknownst to each other . . . to tell me of their pregnancy.
Both of them a surprise.

They were phone calls bearing news that deserves more
than what can be expressed over a telephone wire,
and yet, holding out precious hope.

When a mom hugs her grown daughters good-bye at the airport
this is the kind of moment . . .  one of  many silent goodbyes . . . she hides in her heart,
tempering the joy of anticipating these two babies
with the fact that they may never really know each other.

But . . . the Lord who promised His grace had a plan I did not know about
and this is why this "borrowed" time today is so very special -
the fact that these cousins have had almost two years
to play and be silly together, to be read to together,
to eat together and to attend Wee College together.
When one comes over, the question is
whether the other is coming too.

The times I don't have them together are less than the times I do,
but for their start of school dates I took them out individually.




Makenna and I spent some time at a local farm market.
She enjoyed the playground and feeding the animals
 

and the corn maze . . . although that would have been more fun to share.

She is ready for Kindergarten.
As we were driving there, she wanted to know the name of the farm.
I told her it was called Mann Farms . . . and somehow she understood
Mann Farm, so she was looking for the sign that started with an M
and ended with M
We found it and she saw it did not end with M
Her favorite activity will probably have to do with music.
She is one who can be perfectly content sitting on the swing under the tree and singing,
by memory, a song she has maybe heard twice.
 

Landon's choice date was to go to the water park at Mill Lake.
There is also a great playground there.
A nice spot for a warm summer day!
I love how he could decide for himself exactly what he would like to do with just Mimi.
 

I'm not sure how Landon's love for wheels, hockey sticks and balls
will play itself out at school yet . . . but his gentle nature will certainly
gain him a good standing with his peers.

I pray for these special  middle grands
that, as the world keeps on opening up for them,
they will continue to grow in every good way and deed.
May God fill their hearts with much joy . . .
to sing loudly . . . and to run with fervor in the way that they should go.

To our almost twin cousin grands . . . a big hug on this, your first day of Kindergarten!

MCC Sale

Have you ever been to your local MCC Sale?
In the past few years I've had the privilege to attend MCC  Relief Sales in other
communities and it is always interesting to see how similar to each other these sales are,
whether in the US or in Canada, and I'm quite sure I could add other countries.
There is a common thread of like-minded people serving for a good cause.
A lot of the food, from what I've seen, is the same -
how can that be?
Handcrafted furniture, toys, quilts, canned goods,
crafts that volunteers have worked on all year for this weekend
with no other intent but to give to those in need.
There are auctions, activities for kids and live music groups . . .

and if you do not need anything . . .
you can still enjoy some great ethnic food and
meet up with long lost friends.

I was talking with my cousin who spent a day this week in the kitchen with other volunteers
mixing Rollkuchen dough to be ready to roll and cook on the weekend.
She told me she cracked 680 eggs
and they used 160 kg or 350 lbs of flour.
That is just for the Rollkuchen.
I wonder how many cabbages were chopped for Borscht
and how many Warenike have been made?

If you can come to the Abbotsford MCC Relief Sale
tonight or tomorrow morning, come by the Souvenir Booth, close to Ten thousand Villages,
and purchase a book or two to help provide clean water for kids in Kenya.
It sure would not be fun to sit there with no one coming by.
Just sayin' . . .

 

God's Promise

 

 When we were at the lake recently we were blessed with this view of a rainbow
at the end of a perfect afternoon with friends.
I love seeing a rainbow and remembering that it speaks of
a covenant God has made with us.

When I looked at this photo the words of a song by Chris Tomlin came to me.
Great is your faithfulness, oh God, our Father,
You wrestle with the sinner's heart.
You lead us by still waters into mercy
And nothing can keep us apart.
So remember your people, remember your children
Remember your promise, oh God.

Your grace is enough, your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me.

Looking at a rainbow can make me feel ever so small and yet loved . . .
This week I've been reminded again that it is in our weakness
that His power is made perfect.
His Grace is enough.

End of Summer Vacation Dates

With the start of school at hand,
I thought I'd grab the chance to enjoy some one on one time with each student
while it was easy to schedule.
Tehya and I walked the mall looking for some back to school things.
At eleven, I'm seeing so many signs of her growing up - but ever so sweet still.
She put her arm around my waist as we walked.
It did my heart good. Our oldest.



When we got home, we got out the baking ingredients. She wanted to bake a Platz . . .
and was eager to crack the eggs.
 

to the eggs she added buttermilk and then stirred it into the crumbled mix of
dry ingredients and butter.

Tehya is ready for Grade six. She is a common sense girl and confident in what she can do,
being willing to take responsibility where you let her.
 She can already read faster than I can.
Oh . . .  the places she'll go!
 

Paeton enjoyed his double buddy cheese burger at A&W. His favorite store is the toy store
and it's hard not to let him choose something from there.
When we got home and started mixing up some chocolate cupcakes,
he asked if we could do a double recipe.
We did the recipe 1 1/2 times and worked together on the conversion.

He is starting Grade four and is looking forward to science and art.
Math comes quite easy to him as well.
Someday he will be building bridges.

Natalie was thrilled to find a cute outfit and headband.
We had hotdogs at the mall and went home to bake monster cookies.
She wanted to do donuts too . . .
but I was not prepared.
Next time.



She is a sweet little smartie herself . . . starting Grade two.
She asked if I would still be picking Tehya, Paeton and her up after school once a week
. . . like I did last year. I reminded her that  I could not fit everyone in my car
with two siblings starting Kindergarten.
She had a solution.
Maybe Papa could take my car to work and I could take his, which seats seven.

She has one concern about school  . . . and that is that she has not learned to read well.
That is the only thing, she says, she has to learn yet.
I'm smiling. I know she will.
I love her sweet honesty and determination.

It's a year with new beginnings for each of them and I ask the Lord
. . . to help them be wise  and to help them be kind . . .
and may He always watch over them.
 

Little Ones to Him Belong

photo credit beatrizphotography

 Today, in a church service in Saskatoon,
our littlest grand is being dedicated to the Lord.
I know that in their hearts, her mom and dad have done this from the start,
knowing that she is a gift from the Lord . . .
and dedicating themselves to raise her to love Him.

So . . . this service is a public declaration of their desire
as well as a time for the church to commit to helping parents
raise their children in the way they should go.

As grandparents we wish to add our blessing from where we are.
We commit to pray and encourage in whatever way we can.

I love the Bible account where Jesus tells the adults
to let the little children come to him . . .
for of such is the kingdom of God.
In another place He says that unless we become like a child
we will not enter the kingdom of God.
This is one of life's great mysteries . . .
how children so easily can trust and love Jesus.
May we all learn from their child-like faith
and remember how little we really are by
entrusting ourselves to the One Who is so much greater.