Wordless Wednesday - A Man and his Dog

 

Spirit Week

Last week at my kids high school was "Spirit Week".

Each day had a different theme:

Monday - Canada Day
Tuesday - Twin Day
Wednesday - Bright and Tight Day
Thursday - Jersey Day
Friday - Pyjama Day

Of course this means much scurrying around finding "stuff" as there are three of them to get ready for this now....and Spanner!

We did pretty well on Canada Day......

Twin Day was a bust and Bright and Tight day I forgot to get photos darn it.  Allan wore a tie dye shirt and Lindsay an eclectic mix of colours but David took the top prize for his shiny orange cape and head band, stripped yellow and black vest over his very tight under armour and his orange and blue swim trunks......He was quite a sight!!  I was afraid he would get stuffed in a locker but he tells me he was a hit....very full of spirit.....OK then.  Spanner wore a reflective yellow collar for about 30 seconds.

Jersey day saw 3 Springboks leaving the house.....one very reluctantly.....Spanner actually didn't last long.

 

Lindsay wore her Wildcats rugby jersey.

And Friday the boys refused to wear their "pyjamas" ( and the world thanks them for that!) and Lindsay stayed home with me.

It's a great way to get the school community going and have everyone doing something together......I just wish they sent the Mom's some advance notice! (they probably do - "Its in the backpack" right?!)

Go Wildcats Go!!

Faithfulness

There are few things in this world that demonstrate faithfulness....... many people profess no faith in God, many marriages fail on the basis of faithlessness, companies and economies fail when faith is placed in things/products/cash that vanish.....

I struggle with faith often. 

I think we all do.

50 years ago a man of great faith, Michael Cassidy, took 50 steps in the sand of a deserted beach on the African coast and asked his God for one year of ministry in Africa for each footprint in the sand.  He turned around and saw those many footprints in the sand and he had faith.

He told this story to many gathered here this week and to thank those who have participated in those 50 years, just completed and celebrated in August 2012, in many different ways.

My parents participated by walking away from lucrative careers and joining the ministry and living in faith. Now these 34 years later they continue to do that work with deep faithfulness to their God and to this man and to the ministry.

I started participating by stuffing envelopes for mailings when I was 10.  Now 32 years later I baked dessert with my 15 year old daughter for the gathering on Saturday night.  Once a missionary kid, always a missionary kid!

So much has changed. 
So many mountain tops.
So many valleys.
So many friendships.
So many miles traveled.
So many lives changed.

So much faithfulness from a God who never lets go.

Thankful today for this visible thread of faithfulness in an uncertain and troubled world...... and to no longer be stuffing envelopes!

Thanksgiving - A few of my favourite things

 On this 2012 Canadian Thanksgiving I am grateful for so much.

In no particular order.......

My Family 

  Coffee

Steveston Village

Abundance of good, local food and a family that cooks and entertains

Our home

Spanner (he is growing on me)

The little things

Fall

Creation and the Creator

Babies to hold

Peaceful moments

And friends who are too numerous to number but fill my heart and my life with love and laughter.

And.....music, Jazzercise, pants that fit, wine, scrabble, roadtrips, my laundry room, time to write, my camera, a great job, a good joke, painted toe nails, sunshine on my back, a clean kitchen......

And SO much more

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS

Wordless Wednesday - Dr Seuss Trees (and real ones)

(Hoh Rainforest - Forks Washington)

Falling into Soup

Lindsay just said "This is probably the best Broccoli cheddar soup you ever made"

David just said "You are hitting soup home runs all the time now Mom".

(How sweet are they?)

Soup accolades......... who'd a thunk it!?

We have been making soup (for a group of people every Tuesday) for a few years now......Allan did the first few years and I paid scant attention.  I held babies and chatted and buttered bread.....

And then 18 months ago Allan took himself off to so a degree leaving me in charge of soup.

I am not going to lie - I panicked.

But over the months I got into the rhythm - got the formula down pat.......and tonight as I stir the soup pot I realise I have no more soup anxiety.  I have the basic soups pretty well sorted out - I am no "soup genius" - not even very adventurous but I can, apparently, make a decent pot 'o soup!

Indeed, I actually look forward to choosing a soup each weekend and making it.  I love making my own stock too and watching it all come together. 

And of course the greatest joy is feeding my friends a hearty and healthy meal.

I still prefer holding babies but I get to do both. 

If you haven't ever made a pot of soup from scratch may I encourage you, this Fall / Spring (depending on which hemisphere you reside in).....make a pot....it will do your soul good.

If you need help let me know!

Now my peeps are about to arrive and I have soup to dish and enjoy around the table. 

So went September 2012.......