Pure Sweetness

Dear Tante Hilda mustered her strength and courage again to have us over for one of her extravagant meals.  Here she is in her little kitchen where she has diligently prepared meals for herself and countless others over the past 24 years.  She just loves to be able to prepare feasts and to watch her loved ones and friends enjoy them.  Unfortunately years of struggling with polymyalgia have made this much more difficult for her and then breaking her back and then her heal have added to this conundrum.

So when she sent out this most recent invite we certainly made the effort to be there to enjoy the fruits of her labour.  It was amazing, as usual, and even though she is very self deprecating we convinced her just to say "thank you" as we raved about the delicious fare.

She lives about half a block from a large grocery store and she troops valiantly back and forth with her walker and basket, making sure that there is a large supply of anything we might possibly want.  Her house is also full of joy and the presence of Jesus. Her giggles and laughter and songs fill the airwaves with heavenly sounds and I know that there are years worth of prayer and worship permeating the space she calls home.  She exercises her amazing gift of hospitality extremely well despite the fact that she has to battle through some anxiety and lack of confidence.

I'm sure she has entertained angels and hers is probably one of their favourite places to stop in. 

We certainly has a most delightful and delicious time together! 

Music Festival At Bottega

Such an amazing location for a music festival. This guy was trying to tell me something...

So many fabulous musicians...

Exceptionally good friends modelling pottery that was raising money for the needy in Romania.

Even my sweet chiropractor showed up with her Mom.  Moose was a bit of a handful though.  

There were spaces for playing games.  Although chess is so intense I don't know if it actually qualifies as a game or as work.  

And music under the stars.

Twas just lovely.

Considering

I'm having a holiday of sorts.
Spending lots of time laying on my bench here in the back yard.
I hear bells tinkling in the gentle breeze, oak leaves are peaking over the roof and a very blue sky is providing a magnificent backdrop.
Blue and Green.
Must be two of God's favourite colours.
The dogs lay nearby enjoying my company and the summer warmth.

I've had no car for a week now and it's been restful. I have had the opportunity to catch a ride to various places with each of my three kids and this has been something sweet.
For me at least.  I so value time with these precious ones and now that they are adults it is not as frequent as my mother's heart would like so I know to drink it in when it happens!

The quietness gives me pause to think and consider.
What is an "accident" anyways?
It feels unfortunate, to say the least, to inconvenience and hurt others through our own lack of attention.  Even though I had the "right of way" and no responsibility was assigned to me I struggle on and off.
My temperament is one that seeks to make things right for others and I have spoken to my insurance agent twice now about taking some of the responsibility, feeling like that would make things better somehow.  She reassures me it won't, but she will have her advisor look into the matter again.

But in God's economy it's another whole story.
His Sovereignty, our trust and obedience.
I've got to know that He holds all this in His Hands and I love that He promised us that HE WOULD work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.  That's a super big deal to me.
I feel His peace as I trust that He knew from the beginning that this would happen and there are opportunities for me in this.
Opportunities to pray and to bless, to rest and to trust.
To worship and to wait.
He is never in a hurry and I want that beautiful quality.
Timeless and trusting.
Content in the moment.

I'm going to let God be God (as if I have any choice - but it's the conscious choice to put His goodness before my eyes as I continue to rest before Him and in Him.)  I feel an incredible sense of rest and there is Shalom, when I let go of the whole "assignment of blame" thing.

So I looked up verses to bring some perspective...

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."  Job 42:2

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."  Proverbs 19:21

"The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all."  Psalm 103:19

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps"  Proverbs 16:9


So I will wait on Him. 
 To sort out the details.  To take care of those parts of my body that got just a little bit hurt in the accident.
To look after the dear girl that I bumped into.
To guide my heart, to lead me in paths of righteousness and to continue to deliver my loved ones and I from the evil one.

At the Beach

I'm so glad Becci came with the kids to give us the impetus to have a pizza picnic at the lake!  Oma and Tante Hilda thoroughly enjoyed sitting together in the shade and looking out over the beach and water. 

Oh wondrous valley with sunshine, water, wind and willows.

Opportunities to rediscover the beauty of family and reconnection.

The little bodies squirming with life and excitement, the older ones contentedly looking on.

 Uncle Daniel showing the boys a picture of the huge Sturgeon that was caught this weekend by him and his friends.

Cousins heading out to swim...

This is something beautiful.

Smoky Summer Eve

This is about the cutest little bunch of people EVER!!  Unfortunately Patrice had gone inside for awhile and missed out on the silliness so I'm kinda sad her face and arms are not represented here.

There have been so many fires in BC due to a very long, very hot spell and our valley has filled up with smoke creating a cool backdrop! 

Time passes and this lovely orchard has seen many gatherings come and go.  History is unfolding and there are wonderful memories that have been built on this particular ridge, overlooking these beautiful hills and our valley.

It was so sweet to have Becci and the kids here and this provided a wonderful reason for yet another gathering around good food and of course - watermelon!  This time the melon landed on the kitchen floor so the kids were slurping it out of the cracked shell and enjoying the red sweet taste of summer. 

The Godfather and his Godson plus gentle hearted Niko.

And cousin love...

These smiles all just melt me. 

What a beautiful, precious bunch of people I get to surround myself with.

God is kind and good.

Over and over and over again...

And this girl here is talented and graceful.  

I got to have a sleepover party with her just like in the old days when they lived here in Kelowna.

And this photo is just super cool.  

oops

So, this happened.  

I'm glad it wasn't worse, but I bumped into someone who was coming out of a parking lot as I was driving down a road.  I was on the way home from praying with a friend.  

My dear little Mazda just kind of folded in on itself so that I didn't have a horrible bump, but the girl I hit wasn't very happy.  I couldn't blame her either - she had a  beautiful white shiny car and both air bags deployed on the side I hit.  I was so relieved to see her come out of her vehicle even if she was swearing up a storm!   

I apologized profusely, over and over and was quite concerned about her - wondering if she had bumped her head and offering her water, advising that perhaps she should sit down. 

By the end of the rather unfortunate situation, she was saying that I seemed so nice and she wished we had met under different circumstances and I also had the opportunity to pray for her.

By the time I called about the insurance I found out that she had already accepted 100% responsibility so that was that. 

I am taking God up on His word that says HE WILL cause all things to work together for good for me, because I love Him and am called according to His beautiful purposes. 

And I'm praying for that sweet young girl - that God will use it for good in her life as well.

Meanwhile I have no car until they fix my little red zoomer.

Dear Beautiful Canada

Sara, Patrice and I plastered ourselves with Canada tattoos and headed downtown to join in with the city to celebrate our glorious country. 

There was a piano outside on the walkway so I felt compelled to play "Oh Canada" and soon a small crowd had gathered around and were singing along.

Our dear neighbours from across the street were part of the group and it was so special to experience the joy and camaraderie of our shared love.

My gratitude grows year by year for the privilege I have been given of living in this beautiful land.  Much is required from those who have been given much and by the simple fact that I daily enjoy the freedom and goodness of living in this huge land I know that much is required from me.

I pray that I will use this privilege well.

I was eager to celebrate this day which is set aside for frolicking and merrymaking, music and dance.

The Polish dancers were some of my favourites, but I also loved the Korean Fan dance and the Hawaiian and Tahitian dancers.  

Oh and those Old Time Fiddler's were amazing!

They serve free cake and there are all sorts of delicious smelling ethnic foods to be purchased.  

This wee aboriginal girl was having a wonderful time dancing around me and playing ball with Sara. 

Her little smile speaks of hope,

for a people who have been broken and driven into the ground but who are rising again. 

There is hope for restoration and brand new beginnings. 

And we found Tante Hilda who LOVES these festivities at Prospera Place and thankfully she is walking well enough this year to get around again.  Her heel which was broken last year at this time has mended.

Not as good as new, but good enough to bring Tante Hilda where she needs to go!

She was thrilled to get a tattoo from her "adopted grand-daughter". I myself was also covered with tattoos.  

Nine of them.  

Here is one of them...

And then we walked along the boardwalk meeting wonderful people and enjoying the joyful throng.

Such a hot day, but I kept pouring water on my head and I had my straw hat on to keep the sun out of my eyes so all was well.

Hard to believe I call this lovely city home.

In this expansive, diverse, amazing country, I got to be planted right here in paradise.