Happy Birthday, Teddy!

Yesterday we had our birthday date with Teddy.

As we sat at Tim Horton's (her choice)

I couldn't help but remember a similar date

when her baby sister was born.

It's hard to believe how time has changed many things,

but with it also has given us so many precious memories.

Dear Teddy,

How we love your beautiful smile,

the twinkle in your blue eyes when you tease,

the way you like to have fun 

but also work hard to finish what you begin.

You are soft spoken, tenderhearted, creative

and have so much to give.
Happy 7th Birthday and

may God bless and keep you.

Love, Papa and Mimi

♡♡♡

Happy Birthday, Jade

This past week I've been remembering the call

that came early morning on January 31, 2015

... and how we flew out to Saskatoon in the dead of winter

to meet our sweet baby granddaughter face to face ...

to hold her and behold the wonder of another miracle.

Dear Jadey,

Today you are four years old

and we just couldn't be more proud of you!

What we never want to forget about this age is

how your sparkly brown eyes twinkle with delight

and how you make us laugh.

Your animated and detailed stories

have a way of revealing your feelings -

your passion coming from a tender heart.

You think big thoughts and find words to explain them.

It is so much fun to listen to you 

and to have you near!

We love you 

and you know we pray for you.

Papa and Mimi

💚💚💚

These Two

One enjoyable thing about being a Grammy of littles

is that you can so easily provide for a highlight in their week.

And these two can hardly think of anything more fun than a play date.

As we drive, I see in the rear view mirror, 

 hand holding across the middle

(each by a window seat).

I hear giggling ...

and patient listening to each other's stories,

like two little old ladies.

I don't seem to have much of a choice about what to make for lunch ...

they call them sugar roll up pancakes,

This small recipe is memorized

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

Whisk the flour into the eggs with just part of the milk, then add the rest. 

A sprinkling of sugar and there is no begging for them to finish their lunch.

I wonder why?

Sweets for sweet girls who I hope will never stop wanting to come over.
When Papa went on a business trip this week,
they offered to come stay with me
so I would not have to sleep alone. 

♡♡♡

January Joy

 My hellebore is early, I think.

I went out to poke under its lush dark green foliage, 

and was drawn by the beauty hiding underneath ...

a profusion of beautiful buds!

The variety we have grows flowers in clusters, like grapes, 

right near the base of the plant on a very short stem.

It would not be possible to add them to a bouquet.

But what I have done is to cut them off at the base and

place them inside a large vase with a little water for the stem.

 Another treasure I found 

was hidden in the pages of a spiritual journal I found in a box I took home from my mom.

It is dated 1996 and I realized she was exactly as old as I am this year.

Looking through it I came to realize that she was following a specific plan 

to read the Bible in a year -

it's a lot of reading!

And yet - it has become a new and timely challenge for me!

What has been motivating is that I received a new Bible for Christmas-

and now, along with her daily notations -

I have come to love this quiet time,

reading and reflecting, being amazed at what she got out of her study

and how she could write it out.

Sometimes she added a prayer or a German hymn

or a song, explaining it as one they used to sing as a family.

It's her voice.

It's also God's Word that never changes

and keeps being relevant to our lives

no matter the year. 

Happy Birthday, Lacey!

There's been no time for an after Christmas lull

having entered the Friesen birthday season.

Dear Lacey, 

On this special day, nine years ago,

you joined our family

while your five older cousins lived out of country.

You can imagine my joy 

to run over to your house just to watch you sleep

or to cuddle you without thoughts of goodbyes.

You are a beautiful girl version of your dad 

with all the sweetness of your mom!

What we love about you is your awareness,

your ability to see beyond yourself

and care to ask questions.

You use your gifts with joy and 

bring delight to others. 

We see joy, kindness and gratefulness in your eyes. 

Wishing you a very happy birthday!

love,

Papa and Mimi

♡♡♡

Feliz Ano Nuevo

The new year brought about the most unexpected surprise for me.

Last Friday my H came home for lunch and casually mentioned

that he'd been thinking about going somewhere warm
and the sooner, the better.

Would I want to check about the details? 

In short, two days later we were here at this all inclusive resort in Cancun.

We got up on Monday morning, like in a dream.

After breakfast we found chairs facing this view ...

sun, breezes, a good book, good company ...



New Year's Eve Dinner tables were set up right beside the pool.

The resort reminds me of various other places we have seen,

sometimes I think of Bali and other times Hawaii

or an ocean cruise.

This has been one of my favorite views.

We walk the beach every day ...

listening to the ocean and taking in its beauty.

The Gulf of Mexico has seen a lot of seaweed wash up on its shores for a few years now ...

Something we did not know ...

It intrigues us as much as it must frustrate the people here

who have the non stop job of cleaning it up.

There are crews who come along with pitch forks and wheel barrows and

cart it off.

It could turn away some tourists, but the sand is still so nice!

Children have no problem playing or building their castles around it. 

We are enjoying great food at buffets for breakfast and lunch

and beautiful dinners at the restaurants on the premise.

Totally spoiled!

Two more buenas dias before we say adios amigos.

Short and sweet.

For one who tends to get a bit over sentimental

every time a new year rolls around,

this has been a good distraction ...

and

2019 has been welcomed!