Sharing Time

Daniel & Nicole invited the family up for a BBQ on their back patio.

Grateful that Mom and Dad were strong enough to make it out for some hamburgers with the grandkids.

Later Nicole and I played some crib while Daniel worked on something.

Patrice was the photographer for a change. 

Nicole is good at making a place look cozy and beautiful.

She's a comfortable hostess who loves to entertain and have people over.

I'm grateful for the times when she joins Daniel in honouring the family.

Also endlessly thankful for other endless beautiful moments in life.

I get to experience "the goodness of God in the land of the living" over and over and over again.

This Great Big Family

Heard some friends were passing through town so I invited them up. 

Life is short and relationships are precious so it's a blessing to have the space to offer up to people and I get enjoy the richness of community.

Two of the kids were my students a number of years ago and the rest of them are family friends from way back.

Including Rosie who feels like a daughter to me.

These two...years of friendship and laughs...

And these two fascinated by Mr. Bluebird.

Since I don't have any grandkids of my own I just enjoy the random, beautiful kids that God sends my way.

There is something so life-giving about the laughter, curiosity and energy generated by this next generation.

It's necessary and nourishing.

And lots of fun.

I'm glad family is way bigger than just the ones we happen to be related to.

"I'm so glad, I'm a part, of the family of God.."

Pretty Much Movie Stars

Having extra family members around making outings to the lake with everyone so much easier!

Vic cheerfully loads up the extra wheelchairs and we are off on an adventure.

With the wind in our hair and our sunglasses on we pretty much look like a bunch of movie stars.

If I don't say so myself. 

It appears I was the only one that didn't get the white hair memo.

Even Pupcake fit in with that fashion statement!

Such a gorgeous place.

So grateful to be able to take advantage of the lakefront and to get Mom out enjoying the fresh air and beauty.

It's a challenge physically to make these outings happen, but there is such joy in doing things together.

So we rally our forces and grab a hold of the fun that is there just waiting to happen.

Let God's rivers of living water flow through over and through us to enable us to keep on keeping on till we wake up on the other side!

Windless but Wonderful

Since Patrice has been trained to take people out sailing with the disabled association, I am so very happy to take advantage of her skills and the equipment that snatches me out of my wheelchair and drops me right into the sailboat!

WAY more fun to go out with someone you know!

The sky was pretty amazing but we didn't have much wind so we drifted around the lake and enjoyed the views.

Here is our rather useless, but beautiful sail, waiting for the slightest breeze to move us.

The clouds broke and the sun broke through!

Since we were downtown we indulged in something cool and delicious.

Summer in the valley...

We're pretty spoiled.

Backyard Birthdays

Since I was away for the ACTUAL day of Elsie's 60th, we had another backyard celebration with family that was here from out of town.

If there's a reason to party we're on!! 

We're happy with whoever can make it out and it was fun to have some of the Calgary contingency here to fill out the crowd.

Banners are hung, hats are donned, balloons are blown up and we are ready to partaaaay!! 

Us three siblings together again.

So awesome to have family that are forever friends.

Grateful for opportunities to just hang out and connect - tell stories and find common ground again.

Such a cheerful bunch of beautiful overcomers.

Cousins, aunties and uncles...

And a beautiful place to have parties.

Home to a Wedding

I arrived at the airport and Elsie was there waiting for me.  It's just the most wonderful thing to have family... so safe and so comfortable and just so much love.  We picked up a box of yummy cherries on the way home.

Tis the season, and there appears to be a bumper crop!

Lots of rain followed by lots of sunshine equals perfect cherries.

 

When I got home I was greeted with all of this wedding loveliness!

The house was buzzing with beautiful women and my sweet friend Leanne was manning the operations and enjoying her daughter's extra-special day.

Leanne is so relaxed, it was a joy to have her and her daughter making use of this space with the wedding preparations.

My bedroom was the hub of beautification rituals and the lovely were made even lovelier. 

Patrice & Joanna have been friends since before birth so it was sweet to see them all grown up and gorgeous doing the wedding thing...

This was my bird's eye view as I lay resting my back after my travels.

Below is Joanna with her older sister Stephanie who flew back from Greece where she is working as an Engineer.

Not so long ago Stephanie and Daniel were playing Maid Marion and Robin Hood in the playroom.

How the years have flown...

The location of the ceremony was absolutely gorgeous,

and the day was hot and sunny.

The golf course with the lake and valley behind was a perfect backdrop. 

Joanna & Conner were properly wed and all those months of preparation paid off with a very beautiful ceremony.

My view was limited as I was on an outer edge so I imported the following photograph from someone else.

Here's Stephanie with her sweet little guy Nico.

Of course he is named Nico because she married a Greek man!

For the wedding reception I was seated with a bunch of dear friends so I felt tucked in and happy.  

The food was one of the best meals I think I've ever been served at a wedding reception.

And this was the view from where I was sitting.

It was a perfect day for Joanna and Connor and I got back in time to take part and to admire my sweet daughter who was a beautiful bridesmaid.

The world is full of beauty and hope.

May bright tomorrow's and God's peace be their portion.