Another reason to be thankful

It was 16 years ago this fall that Mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Praise God for these many years of her health!!! I'm so proud of the courage she's shown and her desire to help other women deal with their cancer. In 2005 she started the Comforter Ministry sending handmade, donated quilts wherever they are needed. Along with each quilt there's a journal to accompany it filled with encouraging Bible passages reminding the recipient who their real Comforter is. Last year she launched her official website found here. She's also been recently featured on A Word for Women in her first webisode. Scroll down to "Wrapped in the Love of the Comforter" to watch! Love ya, Mom XOXOXO

Grateful for Everyday Graces

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

Learning to read - a whole world opens up and one can learn anything!

The joy of teaching her to read, her eyes lighting up in excitement, hearing her laughter in the story

Pumpkin Patch picking

trips to the Farmers' Market

fresh colourful produce

a son begs for brussel sprouts

fall is in the air

cool evenings, windows open, fresh air

learning something new

ballet! and ballet shoes - the memories

hair in a bun

twirling and spinning girls

his science experiment and mine - homemade chicken noodle soup - on the same stove top

stepping outside his comfort zone

the sound of instruments attempting to play together for the first time

learning new music

being challenged

school with Zanna in the hallway on Saturday mornings

fall flavours

homemade pumpkin lattes

pumpkin waffles with Quebec maple syrup

hot apple cider

Thanksgiving!

harvest center piece

fall dishes and flea market goblets

turkey and Bisto gravy

a houseful of visitors

inspiration found in my dear 85 year old Grandma who travels alone on a plane to visit us here across a border - could I be that brave?

Dad and Mom

flowers given to her at church from Brian

crunchy leaves

nature walks with friends

cold, soup days

fireplace warmth

Sunday afternoon - me, a chick flick, glass of wine, fireplace

warm days spent outside

clear, blue sky and bright sunshine

carmel apple making

baby news - a niece on the way via brother Reid and sister-in-law Brenda! 

the smell of leaves

yellow mums

Parsnip and Ginger Soup

Date night with husband

trips to Costco and the deals, oh the deals....

bowls of mini pumpkins and apples

tea parties with Zanna and Opa

How good He is to us! 

Fall Family Fun!

Fall Pastors' Conference was the perfect excuse to get away - especially since it was Connecticut in the fall! We left a day early and spent a night at a hotel/water park tucked into Upstate New York's Adirondack mountains in Lake George. We had stayed there before as a family back in June of '07. 

We all had a great time! We had the place practically to ourselves (apparently people work and go to school in September on a Sunday night/Monday).  Zanna was pretty small the last time we were here and what she was big enough to do was pretty limited.

What a cutie! She was so little! I was pretty much stuck in the shallow wading pool with her most of the time. This time around? Not so much....

She was able to do all the slides on her own while I waited at the bottom to take pictures.

Will's got her doing his dirty work and pulling him along in the lazy river!

And here's a nice family picture of us in the lobby. Below is from last time.

From New York, we traveled onto Connecticut and enjoyed the spectacular eye candy of autumn. Wayne had meetings to attend so the kids and I checked out the area outlet mall with fellow pastor wives and friends. I also high tailed it to Target where I got the most adorable "Dorothy" costume for Zanna to wear on that holiday I dislike very much. You know, the one that has nothing to do with Martin and Katie Luther? Regardless, Zanna will look adorable as an Asian version of a movie classic. She totally pulls off the red shoes:) 
Besides the shopping, we are so blessed as to have such good friends to hang out with, eat pizza and let our kids play in the pool. We appreciate the fellow pastor's families that we've come to know and connect with. Zanna and her best buddy got to do some bonding too!

"It's hard being a PK!" "I know, I know."

And while her bosom friend Addie is so over the baby sister thing, Zanna doesn't have one of those so she was the first to push the baby in her stroller all over the outlet mall, cover her up with her own sweatshirt when it started to rain and was put off when she couldn't help change diapers! On our last morning, mom Lisa and I found ourselves with all the kids at the local library. This worked out well as it was raining outside and the kids could be let loose while we chatted. Check out what Zanna did - 

Baby's not really paying attention but Zanna continues to read "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". 
We also happened to be at the library for a special scheduled visit from a children's entertainer. He brought different musical instruments for the kids to play with while he strummed his guitar and sang ... Katie Perry's "Firework" while the kids followed him around shaking their maracas to the beat. OK. Sort of weird. No matter - the kids were being entertained so Lisa and I could just sit and relax. Score. 

Too Cool for Back to School

Dina's done it again! She's managed to capture images of my kids in a unique, artistic way! Most kids line up for their yearly back-to-school pictures with only one shot at looking good but instead cursed with an awkward moment captured of a fake, uncomfortable smile in front of a cheesy backdrop.  Can you say laser background and shoulder pads? I may or may not have my own proof of these unfortunate moments.  My kids get a photo shoot courtesy of a friend with a camera and a vision. 

 

The setting is a '66 VW bus restored on the inside but virtually untouched on the outside. Parked by the local sailing club, we had a beautiful, sunny day to mark this fleeting moment of time.

Let the good times roll!!!!

Inspiration for the Weekend

Lisa Leonard makes beautiful jewelry I can't help but love! I only own one piece but I wear it almost every day. She has an amazing life story that I find inspirational. She also has a reality show in the works that might just be an opportunity to share with others how Christ is her strength. 

And maybe you've seen this already but it was new to me! Watch with tissue. This has got to be a little bit of what heaven will be like - openly praising God with all our heart, soul and mind. Wow.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Soundbites from the Weekend

Setting: Evening. Wayne is in our bathroom doing his nightly meticulous teeth cleaning. Zanna walks in and starts chatting with him despite his mouthful of toothpaste.
Zanna - "You're brushing your teeth again with a different toothbrush? That's nuts."
(no comment) she continues. 
Zanna - "So, why do you have two toothbrushes?"
(no comment) she continues.
Zanna - "So, you and Mommy can see each other naked because you're parents?"
Wayne silently but efficiently escorts her out of the bathroom, continuing his silence. 

Setting: Afternoon. I am putting together a Christmas list of Lands End items for Wayne and me as requested by my mother.
Me - "Can I measure your inseam?" 
Wayne - "Why the heck do you need my inseam?" 
Me - "So I can tell my mom what size of pants to order."
W - "Well I've never had pants that needed an inseam measurement and they fit just fine. Where are these pants from anyway?"
Me - "Lands End."
W - "Well you're not measuring my inseam. But I'll measure yours. That sounds like it could be fun." 

Walking to Violin Lesson

How cute are they?!!!! Zanna's first violin lesson ever was this morning. We had a lovely, morning walk over there!

And on a completely different note, I got my craft on over the weekend and made one adorable burlap wreath inspired by a Pinterest pin.