Back to School Dates

Natalie, Makenna and Lacey are heading off to Grades 12, 10 and 8 respectively.

Daughters from each of our own three children. 

There is something about being cousins that overrules the difference in age

and it is such a delight to see them have fun together!

While we were driving to the mall, 

Natalie expressed her sadness at this being her last 
  "back to school" shopping date. 

That's who she is. She loves traditions and she loves her cousins.

At one store they had fun choosing crazy outfits for each other, 

outfits they would never buy but just enjoy trying on.

It made for good laughter in the changing  rooms.

 Makenna even found an outfit for me. 

I bet you'd like to see it ... the comeback bodysuit with a skirt!

At home we made personal pizzas and watched a movie. 

On another day my H took Landon and Koen golfing.

But he didn't think to take pictures. 

Now I wish I would have reminded him. 

These two are heading off to Grade 10 and 8.

Meanwhile, I pretty well take moment by moment photos ...

too many! 

I had harvested some of my lavender, thinking that the girls might like to make sachets.

Jack figured his mom would like this, so he didn't mind joining them at all. 

These youngest four are going into Grade 6, 4, 3 and 1. 

Jade came with me to get sachets 

and we grabbed this night light craft idea as we scurried down the aisle.

I was surprised again, how Dollar Store crafts could turn out so pretty!

They all love to paint. 

This is a unique year in that it's the first year that Makenna is attending school in Canada

and that we will have nine grandchildren, grades 1 through 12 attending the same school. 

It will keep things simpler,

keeping up with what's happening at school,

attending events, and cheering them on,

which we are privileged to do. 

All I can say is, where have the years gone? 

❤❤❤

My Favorite Weekend in August

I didn't post this right away as it was almost too much to share,

 but as I look back I see it more as sentimentally precious ... 

to think that the family would plan a surprise trip to Seattle,

every one having made the effort to free their calendar for this one day and night.

Apparently it was planned for quite some time to make this possible.

It was my birthday weekend. 

He told me to pack for a night or two, but didn't tell me where we were going.

We crossed the border and stopped off at Wood's Coffee,

where, when I entered, there they were! What joy!

We filled up the place! 

We also celebrated Tehya's 21st Birthday. 

My thought was that if this is all we did, it would have been enough. 

My heart was full! 

From there we drove to Seattle and stopped off at the outdoor University Mall.

It was such a beautiful day to walk around.

The littles came with us. 

Jack must have been with Papa when I took this photo.

The ultimate destination was the baseball game ...

a fun family sporting event we've attended in the past. 

Watching, cheering, visiting, moving about, 

waiting in line for a hot dog and just enjoying the atmosphere. 

We had rooms side by side - like family camp.

An older girls' room, a boys room and several adult rooms.

These two stayed with us. 

The next morning we met for breakfast, included in our stay - 

another favorite memory of times gone by. 

It also happened to be Paeton's 19th birthday.

So many reasons to celebrate. 

I think of how our family with married kids began to grow,

a little girl and then a boy ..

and here they are all grown up now! 

Just looking at this room filled with the people I love

fills my heart with a gratefulness I can hardly express.

I think of Jacob meeting Esau after being separated for many years,

and when Esau saw Jacob coming with his clan, he asked him who these people were.

And Jacob responded with, 

"These are the children God has graciously given to me ..." 

Genesis 33:5 

🤍🤍🤍

 

Roasted Corn Salad

We are in the middle of corn season here, so I'll share a summer salad that has become one of our favorites. It will be good to have it more easily accessible and shareable. This recipe takes a little bit of time, maybe 30 - 45 minutes  prep, but  it can be made ahead and is well worth it. These fresh flavors never disappoint. 

Ingredients:

6 cobs of corn 

1 avocado, chopped

1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced

1 shallot, sliced

1 Tbsp cilantro, chopped fine

Dressing:

zest of one lime

3 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp lime juice

1/2 tsp salt

fresh ground pepper

1/2 tsp sugar

Method:

1. Remove most of the layers of corn husks and hair, then soak the cobs in water for about 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, chop up salad ingredients and mix the dressing. 

3. Place cobs on medium heat grill and cook about 15 minutes. Take off remaining husks and brush the cobs with butter. Continue roasting until parts have some char on them. The char is good and mostly disappears once the salad is mixed, so don't be concerned if it looks too charred.

4. Allow to cool, cut corn off the cobs and mix with the prepared ingredients and dressing. Refrigerate. 

If you do not have access to fresh corn, you can use frozen corn niblets, cooked in a frying pan with a little butter or oil, stirring  until you see some char. 

Birthday Sentiments

I love You, Lord

For Your mercy never fails me

All my days, I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In the darkest night

You are close like no other

I've known You as a Father

I've known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God.

Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Brian Johnson / Ed Cash / Ben Fielding / Jenn Johnson

Within the first moments of this day and interspersed through out,

this song played in the back of my mind...

a peaceful melody waving in and out of my consciousness. 

Could it be that somehow I feel that a part of my life has come full circle,

a time to reflect and a time to acknowledge, the goodness of God. 

It surely is a wonderful gift 

to know that every detail of my life has been filtered through His hand,

working all things out for my good and His glory, as I put my trust in Him. 

Psalm 84:11

♡♡♡

Baby Jack

Our sweet boy, the youngest, the baby.

The last one to start First Grade. 

The last to still have his upper baby teeth, 

although wiggly, with clear signs of making room for bigger ones.

How I love his little personality!

Whatever you give him to do, he does with all of his heart!

The newness of life and all the things that can be done,

exude sheer joy in his sparkly brown eyes.

Just like his floral painting, 

uninhibited, wild and beautiful. 

Energy to spare, balls bouncing, flying high.

An age when nothing is impossible. 

I don't want to forget what it's like to see life through the eyes of a child. 

And for some reason, especially a boy. 

❤❤❤

 

Summer Scenes

It occurred to me today that we are only half way through a summer

that feels like it began by taking over our spring and just kept going,

pressed down, shaken and spilling over.

Soon after our Indonesia family came home we celebrated my H's birthday with everyone except for Tehya and Rahul, who are working at a camp. 

Ben and Kari hosted with a pool party. 

As siblings on my side we celebrated three birthdays as well. 

One Friday night friends of ours invited us to fly with them to Victoria for dinner. 

Chris and Julene set up their home  and we enjoyed a trip to the nursery. 

It's been surreal to see them and know that we don't have to say goodbye again soon.

Shaun and Kristal also moved into a new home that they've had an eye on for some time.

It felt like a big party as well! 

Just another family that loves to pass through our front yard.

We celebrated Julene's birthday with a breakfast out in Fort Langley. 

The grands nearest to us have enjoyed the pickleball court.

Of course it's not summer without Rollkuchen and watermelon! 

And with the heat, 

it's been fun to see a feathered friend  find this place to cool off.

Today we celebrated BC day with a trip across the line,

just the two of us. 

We walked the Boulevard Park boardwalk

and had Mexican dinner in Fairhaven.

The border security agent thought it sounded a lot better than sitting in her booth.

We know that around all these highlights there is work,

the mundane, the planning that happens before anything gets done,

the spills and the tears, 

but these are the peaks that show up in my photos,

reminding me how much I have to be grateful for. 

♡♡♡