One more Candle

The night that we had all the kids home for the first time in about two years, 

we hung ten canning jars with candles from the huge maple tree by our patio
. . . a candle for each child.

After we cleaned up and the sun had set,
I caught some blurry pics as I watched them burn into the night.

The photo does not show all, but you get the idea of the celebration I felt. 

It was but a few weeks later, when all of our family was gathered together again, 

and these girls came, bearing a surprise . . . another canning jar for me to keep! 

Would you believe I did not get it?   

By now you do . . . because it's in context . . . 

but, honestly, I just wondered if they wanted more jam. 

A huge commotion erupted as one by one everyone came to realize what it meant.  

These days, I have the little jar on my kitchen window sill 

and we pray daily for this little light, anticipated sometime after Christmas. 

One more candle. 

A gift from the Giver of Life. 

It just makes me smile, never having pictured ourselves in this stage in life

and how full it would be.

Gone Again!

It's been twelve weeks since my "Home Again" post was happily recorded with much anticipation of the summer months to enjoy together.  Sharing time with the Uganecz side of the family on the island, our time was narrowed down to about half . . . but what we fit in, I can hardly believe!
Truly my cup is full . . . but let me tell the honest truth of this moment before I head into my thankful list . . .

Emotions swirl about with the ache that comes from this morning's goodbyes as I peel off bedding all over the house and finally kneel, speechless, by my own bed, tears speaking a language I know God will understand. Tears, not so much for myself but, for the hole that is left and felt by everyone, as scenes of hugs and words, reserved for these times play in my mind. Maybe I've come to be able to handle my own grief, but seeing the little ones embark on this road adds a new dimension. From the youngest to the oldest, a sense of urgency was expressed by pictures carefully drawn and gifted in parting, sobs stopping long enough to plan pen pal strategies or a little boy thinking, in retrospect, that he may not have given hard enough hugs,

Maybe our family is blessed to know the pain of separation?  Would we know how much we care about each other if we'd all live in the same town?  Maybe it's the knowledge that we have six or seven weeks, that makes us focus on what we really want to do . . . a bucket list so to say . . . and I have much of it here to remember and remind myself of how blessed we are.

• dinners on the patio 
• walks to Fishtrap Creek and to the playground
• bare feet and tree climbing

• German pancakes made by Oma
• extended family gatherings 
• weekend get-a-way to Squamish/ Whistler with the three 

• walk and dinner by the ocean 
• baby shower Julene was able to help plan and host
• Safeway shopping with Makenna - who still likes to ask for her free cookie

• reading magazines in the backyard with our teenager
• Canada Day weekend at the lake 
• cake decorating class with grandgirls

• Mariner's game and the zoo - Papa's birthday
• breakfast on the patio with Julene
• Papa's go-cart date with Paeton

• mother/daughters overnight in Vancouver and shopping - Julene's birthday
• Sunday Faspas
• shopping Ikea for household goods to take back

• baking pies with Tehya and giving her the biggest boxed Birthday gift ever - because we could

• overnight at the Lakehouse with grands - Paeton's birthday
• mud pies and seaweed games
• roasting marshmallows as the summer evening fades

• shopping and lunch date with Paeton
• Papa's bedtime stories 
• being awake and sleeping at the same time - as in time zones

• nail date with Makenna and Natalie
• shopping Super Store to finish off the Christmas suitcase
• watching Fixer Upper re-runs

And for our last evening - my birthday - we had a great time at Cultus Lake Adventure Park . . . a mini Disney in our back yard! It was my party and I laughed and I cried, of course.  I could post a lot of cute pics but this one is the most important! It was the best gift and the memory will continue to bring joy in all the months to come.

The Book Launch

As it's been a week since our book launch . . . and life has not stopped . . . I want to quickly highlight the wonderfull evening the Lord gave us on a Wednesday night on a summer day!

The Mennonite Heritage Museum has recently relocated into their own beautiful building. It is a nice place to visit and check out our history in a modern day exhibit hall with large maps, pictures and video clips that tell the Menonite story. You can also check out the seasonal exhibits, trace your family genealogy on computer, read inspiring biographies or check out the library and archive that is always being added to. There is also a small bookstore, which is one of the reasons we were invited to launch our Bread for the Journey. The large entrance hall and adjacent kitchen make for a perfect setting.

None of us really knew what to expect nor had we anticipated the warm greetings, including flower bouquets sent by friends, and guests who kept arriving -  keeping our husbands busy with setting up more chairs and directing traffic in the overflowing parking lot.

We began with a simple Zwieback demonstration. These tiny double decker buns have been a staple celebrative "bread" in Mennonite history and, toasted up, signify the bread of comfort and the travel bread of refugees,

After the demonstration Lovella shared an intro to the book and where the royalties are going.

We also shared some short readings from the book.
To end this little service, Father's Daughter blessed us with their beautiful sister voices, singing a fitting song called "Little is Much when God is in it," and Lovella's brother Gerry Peters prayed a dedication, focusing on the verse from Ephesians 3:20,21

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Short and sweet it was . . . (missing, were Kathy, Betty and Charlotte)
The cashier was busy as was the kitchen with the line up for Zwieback and coffee. We are blessed beyond what we had imagined already.

Thanks to Bev and Ellen for sharing their photos. None of these are my own. 

Four Generations

As I was tempted (at the time) to wait for a better time, 

I call this an intentional spur of the moment shot.

Now it's a treasure of just that!

Four eldest daughters . . . three August Birthdays . . .
being together is a gift.

Ten Years Ago Today!

                                                                                                                                                                        Paramount Photography

Dear Ben and Kari,

When ten years have gone by,

we can't help but be awed and amazed at the gift of time

and all that has filled these years, one day at a time.

From the memorable wedding day -

eyes sparkling with shared hopes and dreams -

to the beautiful family you are today!

We celebrate your love for each other,

your love for God,

and your home filled with the laughter of children

This week, especially as we care for your precious gifts,

I am reminded again of the seasons of life

and how perfectly God has planned these stages

with continual dreams to look forward to

even as we put our hope in Him.

Wishing you a very Happy Anniversary!

May love and faithfulness never leave you,

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Proverbs 3:3

Cake Class

I can hardly begin to explain the buzz of excitement in the kitchen on this cooking class!

I'm hoping the pictures do it justice.

Four girls at the sink, stirring up chocolate miracle cake.

(I think Makenna was actually in the sink.)

We poured the batter into large straight shaped muffin tins

to create the perfect little layers for mini cakes.

Tehya came a little late to the class

but was here by now . . . on the other side of the counter..

She invited herself to be my assistant ... and I'm glad she did.

It was Teddy who surprised me the most 

with her diligence to keep to the task.

Four years old, and she worked with tender care.

Hhmn....

What's not to like?

The old fashioned plastic decorating tube was passed along

 and they were excited when they caught on to how to use it. 

I was proud of them.

 

Seeing I only had two ballerinas in my stash

Tehya  was happy to take everyone outside to pick flowers

so they had a few choices on how to finish off their cakes.

Little take home cake plates came from the MCC thrift store.

On this photo you may see that we also made up some tiny purses 

with life saver handles. 

We finished off the class with a little lunch 

of tea sandwiches, tiny scones with jam

and a lot of tea, sugar and giggles.