End of Summer Dates

As evening shadows bring coolness to earlier nights,

we all see the writing on the wall ...

Summer sun rays blowing farewell kisses

and reminding us that all things Fall are coming.

This week it dawned on me that this year

we will get to see the full spectrum of school grades 

from Pre-school to Grade 12! 

 Jack, of course, is still a wee baby and will always be that.

 But Jade will continue with a second year of Pre-school and

all the other things she loves to do besides. 

Evy graduated from Pre-School and will start Kindergarten.

Sigh ... she should remain small as well. 

With thoughts of the kids' schedules filling up,

we made some time to bake and/or do some shopping.

Teddy brought her own cookbook to make coconut cupcakes.

It is a lot of fun to see how much she enjoys baking.

We found some cute items for back to school.

She is going into Grade 2

Koen and I made popcorn and a caramel sauce.

It turned into delicious caramel popcorn in the oven.

Our trip to the mall also put something in his bag ...

being drawn like a magnet to jogging pants. 

He knew exactly what he wanted.

Koen is going into Grade 4

Lacey chose to make snicker doodles and we also

made ice cream sandwiches. 

It was fun to see how she chose something comfy and pretty to wear. 

She is also going into Grade 4

Landon grated zucchini and we made a lot of zucchini muffins for back to school. 

For lunch we had German pancakes - 

and he is getting good at knowing when to turn them over. 

So far he was good with me taking him shopping.

He is going into Grade 6

 Makenna and I made cinnamon buns and rice krispies.

We went to Michaels, to the Body Shop and Body Works.

My favorite memory is of how, when we were walking out of one of the stores,

she said, "I love carrying two bags!"

She has started Grade 6 in Indonesia.

Natalie learned how to cut up apples and make a lattice top pie.

We had fun shopping in the ladies section.

She is going into Grade 8

Paeton and I went out for breakfast.
He couldn't believe it when his order came on two plates!
We spent time at EB Games - a place new to me.
He has just begun Grade 10 in Indonesia.

And then there's Tehya ...

the one who made us grandparents and still tugs at my heart in 

the way that the first one does.

We were looking for jewelry and got sidetracked by a sales rack

where we found a beautiful dress - fit for a prom.

We were not buying it, but she just wanted to try it on ...

a girl who likes her Thrift Store finds, such as those boots ...

but here she twirled in a fancy gown!

I'm not even sure how to express this unique gift to me, the day before they left,

considering the thought that 

we will be missing out on her graduation come Spring,

I felt like I got my peek into that scene.

A treasure to remember
for all those times when we feel we are not part of their every day life. 

God is good.
May His goodness and mercy follow each one as they begin a new year.
We look forward to cheering them on.

💗💗💗

MGCC Camp

This past weekend we took a small road trip in our FIAT

to join these campers at Greg and Ellen's new homestead.

The fact that we were travelling different from the rest,

did not stop us, we simply got a room to sleep and shower

and then joined everyone for the fun.

There was a warm welcome for us on Friday ...

a fun photo op ... with half of us together on Ellen's yard.

Some salads came out of the campers

while other food was prepared in the kitchen.

Greg did some delicious  tri-tip roasts on the grill.

It was a feast ... ending with Lovella's freshly baked Perishky.

The next morning ... it happened to be my birthday ...

we were treated to Greg's Swedish pancakes ...

we also call them German pancakes.

There was a gorgeous baby grand sitting just off the dining room,
begging to be played, and Lovella made it happen on several occasions.
I wish I could play.
Saturday morning Addy came with her little brother and parents ...
it was fun to meet some of Ellen's family in person.

We took a drive through town to Main Street,
enjoying the farmer's market and poking through some stores.

 In the afternoon we vegged in the back yard.

Harv and Bev prepared coconut prawns as an appetizer.
For dinner Greg grilled chicken and the rest of us put some sides together.
Oh ... and Judy brought out a frozen raspberry ripple cake ...
it tasted so good, even after so much food!
We told stories, we talked about things that matter
and we also laughed until tears came.

For Sunday morning Ellen said she'd set out the yogurt and granola

and everyone could come and go as they liked ...

But, you can see, we all sat down and kept right on going.

We joined Greg and Ellen at their new church,

a friendly place, where we felt at home.

After a memorable Mexican lunch, my H and I headed back 

on our six hour drive home,

happy and thankful for the blessing of such friendships.

We owe a big thank you to our hosts -

for their gracious hospitality.

Ellen, you have such a beautiful way to show your values
and to make a home feel loved and welcome.
May God bless you!

Happy Birthday, Tehya and Paeton

 Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing olderWhen, did, they?

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when they, were, small?

Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears.

This is what I had to think of,

dear Tehya and Paeton,

the years have flown by 

and you have grown into 

beautiful young adults.

We are so proud of you!

Sending love and hugs across the big wide ocean

that has not been able to separate the making of memories.

Happy 17th and 15th Birthday to you this week.

Love, Papa and Grammy

♡♡♡

Airshow Weekend

Where we live, we don't have much choice hearing about the Abbotsford Airshow.

It takes place every year on the second weekend of August.

 Well aware of the practice going on before the actual events ...

loud, whether we like it or not ... we may as well embrace it.

Our kids' earliest memories of it are likely about watching it from our rooftop,

or (more sadly) as Ben insists, that he had to take a nap

while the girls got to go on the roof.

 This year friends invited us, along with more friends,

to watch the opening performances from the hangar where he

parks his little plane. 

This was front row seating from the lawn beside the tarmac.

I loved the snowbird parade before they took off.

 And there they go!

 At a certain angle, they showed only white ...

with Mt. Baker in the background, they fit the name.

 Dinner was brought together potluck style ...

a picnic of farmer sausage, KFC, salads, veggies, watermelon and chips.

 Lovella treated the whole gang to Rollkuchen. 

 Richard and Dorothy are the friends who run Sweet Dreams B&B in town.

They know how to do hospitality.

If the invitation was not enough, they also handed out bags of candy for the kids.

I think some of them will remember that as a highlight in their first memories of the airshow.

 There were numerous acrobatic type performances

that no one would want to be in.

This military transport plane loomed huge on the tarmac, compared to other planes.

 It flew low and slow right side up and came down again.

With darkness came a beautiful display of hornets flying in synchronized formation.

Seeing only lights, they looked like they were one ...

forming an illusion of a spaceship.

The night ended with fireworks.

Today it's drizzling.

Haven't heard or seen much from home.

Welcome August

I think August is just about my favorite month ...

mostly assured of sunshine 

and drawn out days of freedom before schedules begin once again.

Sunday afternoon found us taking the stroller with Jack, a picnic basket

and three sisters on scooters down to the park where I walk.

I had a final photo shoot to repeat before the leaves turn color.

So, if you think you have seen this scene before,

you are partly right ...

Looking back on my blog I found this in  2016

And this in 2014

I'm thinking that you may find this collage on my wall someday ...

memories of a special season.

♡♡♡

Home Sweet Home

One doesn't usually take a photo of the back of the house,

but on this particular morning, the way the sun played with the shadows,

I wanted to remember this setting that has evolved over the past three decades.

It was 32 years ago that we moved into this house ...

I was not yet 30 years old 

and this big tree was as skinny as my arm.

Once you begin to think back ...

memories tumble out ...

the best of which include friends or family.

 I never would have dreamed I'd grow this old here

but I wouldn't have chosen any other way.

♡♡♡