R & R

Rosie & Raymond had a wedding to attend in Kelowna this summer so I was the happy recipient of their company for a few wonderful days.

They now reside in New Brunswick so visits are few and far between.

Rosie & I spent some time downtown having coffee and driving around her old haunts as we caught up and enjoyed our familiar sweet friendship.

Once again, I'm so grateful that I can enjoy my kid's friends who still come around even when the kids are grown up and gone! 

Such a bonus.

Another amazing bonus was that Bethany happened to be in town and that it was her BIRTHDAY!!  

So we invited some more friends and threw a little party in the backyard.

These three gals have been friends for most of their lives.

What a delight to see them laughing uproariously together and enjoying this precious, impromptu reunion.

It was another version of the Gagnenzeit crew that gathered, but thankfully there is always a good reason to get together and to maintain these ties that bind.

In the best way possible! 

I was rather pleased with the dessert I threw together for the occasion.

I was inspired with all of the fresh berries that were in my fridge.

It's so easy to make something look super impressive when you have whipping cream and berries!

YUMMY!!

Bethany is a very fun birthday girl and is always game for a good time.

We were also excited for her as she just returned home from obtaining her teacher's certificate.

She can now add this to all of her other degrees and accomplishments! 

Such an intelligent, wise, Godly, beautiful young woman. 

I know God has amazing things in store for her and for all those who will have the privilege of meeting her along the way.

Little Benjamin brought along a unicorn pinata that provided a great deal of fun and laughter.

In order to get as much time together with Rosie as possible, Bethany stayed for the night and we breakfasted on crepes.

The timing was also perfect for Rosie's sister who drove down from William's Lake to bring one of her kids to summer camp.

Since these dear sisters live on opposite ends of the country it was a sweet time to reconnect and for the kids to see their Auntie.

Meanwhile, that summer storm that left us with a stunning sunset the other night also left us with several fires burning as a result of lightning strikes.

You can see several of them burning down towards Peachland.

Here we go again...