Gals & Games

This mother and daughter team has managed a getaway for three consecutive years!

I find that rather impressive considering Joanna now lives in Fort St. John and Patrice lives in Surrey and I'm grateful for reasons to gather.

Because as I get older it's getting harder and harder to muster the energy to do a long drive and to figure out bathrooms and beds.

Our Salt Spring adventure last year was difficult for me on a few fronts so this year, to keep things simple, we (I) chose a spot that is a one hour drive from home.

Summerland for the win!

The location was simply delightful!

We were right beside a harbour...

there was a lovely pond creating a bird sanctuary directly in front of the hotel

with an accessible boardwalk running alongside it!

We loved sitting and watching the mama ducks herding their little ducklings around the pond and the  birdsongs emanating from the area were heavenly.

We could also hear them from the bed in our unit which happened to be overlooking the pond.

This is how that part looked...

The bed was cozy and kind of too soft for me to jump out of so I used my laptop as a somewhat costly transfer board.  Patrice didn't think that was the best idea.

It probably wasn't, but when you gotta go, you gotta go! 

It's not always a convenient time to arrange for extra bodies to help heave me out of bed for a potty break. 

Meanwhile, the  girls slept on a pull out couch in the living room but I didn't hear any complaints from that room. Good thing they are young and resilient!

I brought along my milk-frother and chai tea mix so we enjoyed yummy drinks in bed.

Breakfast for champions was followed by games - of course!!

Joanna and Leanne are the most avid game players I know and I LOVED being able to spend lots of time with them figuring out a new game and enjoying a familiar one.

We were looking forward to a nice supper out on Sunday so we perused a few places that looked quite busy and somehow ended up at a Burger Joint that Patrice had scoped out.

Leanne found it hard to believe that we were ending up eating our one "fancy meal out" at a picnic table overlooking a parking lot, but it made for a good photo op.

And the table was plenty big enough to play Querkle. 

One must be flexible when trying to accommodate everyone's wishes.

The chicken burger was delicious, by the way.

The walk along the lake was stunning as the late evening sun broke through the clouds.

Such a treat to be together eating, relaxing, playing and going for walks.

We took one final selfie on Monday following a delicious breakfast at the hotel before we all went our various ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed the drive home as I gazed out over the lake and mountains.

Spring is such a glorious time with everything springing to life and even the mountains were green...

Soon the hot Okanagan sunshine will leave these same hills yellow and dry.

Every season has it's own beauty.

I'm learning to enjoy the beauty in this slower season of my life.

Elsie and Tante Hilda had kindly shared the "taking care of mom" privileges so I could have some time away but it was a blessing to get home with my heart full of sweet memories.

Magnanimous May Moments

There is something about Spring breaking forth into summer that makes my heart sing a very happy song. 

The earth warming and becoming green under magnanimous skies...

The assurance of abundance and the joyful knowledge that many, many, long warm summer days are ahead makes me want it to be May forever.

Sitting in an atmosphere of expectation and promise, drinking in the sunny rays and enjoying life outdoors.

Friends and food on the patio!

Baskets of flowers and tea time with Ladybug.

Ladybug has found a true comrade in Mom.

Little snacks find their way from the table into her mouth fairly frequently so I've pretty much given up on the many years of stringent "no table snacks for the dog"! 

Because Mom can't remember anyways and it makes Ladybug extremely happy.

Inside Daniel produces delicious loaves of sourdough bread when he's home from his hospital practicum.

And I get to spend time outside weeding while Mom looks on listening to music and repeatedly telling me how she loved spending time outside in the garden as well.  She mentions how Dad would say "why are you out there working" and how he couldn't figure out how that could be fun for her.

I totally understand why she loved to get her hands dirty to create beauty in her surroundings.

She always had beautiful flowers and healthy gardens where she could.

She sometimes asks me if I need help, but I shudder to think of her stepping down those stairs and crawling onto the bark mulch to weed with me so I tell her it's all good. 

I can imagine she misses those days of gardening as her body has weakened and so many things are now dangerous or impossible for her to do.

But we make the best of things and enjoy our time outside, together.

Apple trees are in blossom and the heady aroma of lilacs swirls around me as I move around the yard. I feel like a portal of heaven has opened up and rumours of glory drift down...

One evening when Oma was out Daniel and I ordered pizza from the neighbourhood pizzeria and we had such a lovely time looking out over the valley while we visited.

It's been over the top amazing to have my gentle, helpful, hardworking son here for so many weeks.

He often stays late at work and spends many evenings with his Kelowna friends, but I'm grateful for every moment I get with him.

God's mercies and something restored.

Under the Riotous Skies

This is Chavah & Dare.

I had the privilege of hosting their wedding on the property, something that brings me an incredible amount of joy.

Chavah's parents, Ron & Glenda, have become good friends of mine in the last few years through our mutual burden for Iqaluit.  I've known them for a very long time though and have admired from a distance their commitment to the abandoned children in Ecuador where they ran a children's home for many years.  On top of their own children I think they have adopted four of the children that grew up in their home and they have gotten a few of them over to Kelowna where they are now based.

They are a beautiful couple and they love Jesus in a very hands on, practical way.

Their daughter Zoe is also an absolute delight.

I've gotten to know her mostly through our prayer nights where she has led worship at different times and where we cry out together for the lost and broken.

She is now a missionary in Iqaluit, often living with Anita when she is up there working with the kids and youth.

A sold out, on fire, lover of Jesus.

So, needless to say, when I heard that one of Ron and Glenda's daughter's was getting married I offered up the property for their use and it ended up being so much fun.

The day BEFORE the wedding was sunny and blue skied.  Always good to have a tent put up just in case, even though it is a big expense.

Not like I would know because we didn't have a tent for Daniel & Nicole's wedding, on which day it poured buckets.

Anyways...

Here is the lovely bride and her sister Naomi as they are getting ready for the wedding.

I  have the fun of seeing those special moments just before the big reveal...

I loved this picture of Chavah peeking out to see what was happening before she stepped out onto the patio! 

As you can see the weather wasn't quite as stellar as it was the day before, but it was still a lovely day and the wedding went off perfectly. There was lots of laughter when the ring bearer (Chavah's little nephew who was wearing a suit and dark glasses) came striding purposefully down the aisle carrying a black briefcase while the James Bond theme music played.

The briefcase was snapped open, the rings retrieved, and snapped shut again so that the little James Bond could make his exit.

The couple seemed to have lots of fun and the whole atmosphere was very relaxed.

Definitely one of the easiest weddings I have hosted!

Somehow I ended up being seated next to the parents of the bride right in front of the bridal table!

The hot meal was delicious and the speeches I heard were so much fun.

Unfortunately the evening got pretty cool so I went in early and listened to the music from the comfort and warmth of my cozy bedroom.

That is one of the nicest aspects of attending weddings in my own back yard.

My bathroom and bedroom are within easy range!

I snuck out to get a shot of the party going on under the crazy beautiful riotous skies.

I have a good feeling about this couple and their life together...