Baby Jade

For now she is still our baby -

who just learned how to walk this summer.

I can't tell you how many trips she made across the yard

to that bridge - seemingly calling her name -

up and down and around and up and down and around  -

ever growing steadier in managing the step and the curve.

Add a ball and her fascination went even further.

I'll let you get the picture.

Where'd it go?
(yes, where did summer go?)

The Tablecloth

It's soft, faded and worn,

this tablecloth rescued from the rag pile . . .

something to hang on to from mom and dad's very beginning,

60 years ago today.

As I packed a lunch to take to the park with the kids,

I tucked it into the bag going on the stroller.

Not a big deal, just a visit to see the ducks

 and share sandwiches wrapped in wax paper . . .

Yet . . . my emotions surprise me as I envision the old photo 

of the table set before them . . . they were young . . . with all of  life ahead of them.

From tea settings with special guests

to a picnic table in the park . . . a fourth generation.

If tablecloths could talk, what would they tell?

It's a special day and I miss you, Dad.

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.