If You See Summer, Tell Her I Wasn't Finished With Her Yet......

Our beautiful bride....our daughter was married in July. The wedding was wonderful! My niece made the gorgeous dress.

I baked the cake! It turned out rather well, which was another miracle, considering how rushed I was.

And two of my favorite musicians played at the reception.

The groom fits so nicely into our family. Definitely a God ordained union. As I like to say, God is in the details. From the friend of the kids who led the service, to the speeches at the end of the reception, the whole wedding reflected Christ.

And then came August and tons of summer fun, from tubing behind the new boat, to camping at Uncle Doug's cottage.

All in all the whole thing was a whirl wind of activity and now it is almost time to get the homeschooling into swing again. But I love fall, so that is okay by me.

Of Summer ways and Lazy Days

Not a big fish, but fun just the same.

Getting air for that big splash.

Did you know that kid's lives can get complicated too? My youngest boys are very caught up in all the other drama (good and bad) that goes on in a house full of siblings. I really like these summer days when they can forget all that and just go swimming. I can also relate. I am the youngest of eight, remember, and I can clearly recall what its like to try to simply be a child in a house that is humming with activity. On the whole, I think they have it pretty good. And we just bought a fishing boat (pics later) so looks like once the wedding plans for our daughter have been carried out, we will have a whole month just to be lazy and take these guys fishing! (Hah.)

Summer!

A wedding shower for our daughter, complete with toilet paper dresses. She is the beaming one in the middle!

On one of our trailer trips I awoke to the raucous calls of seagulls...at 3:00 am no less.

When you want to buy a lure but you can't afford it, simply pull in a pike with said lure in mouth!

My boys and trees! They love them!

Spring is gone and we are into summer, but the air is cool mornings, and the river has not warmed up enough for any serious swimming. Fishing however, is great. And we are planning for our daughter's wedding. How exciting is that?

Thats MY word!

I love this word. When I found this little knick knack at Goodwill I knew exactly where it would belong. Ignore the Christmas motif, this is my word year round.

John 15:11 These things I have written to you, that My JOY may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self control, against such things there is no law.

James 1:2 Consider it all JOY my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Seems to me, God has offered me joy. I can experience it when I am walking in obedience to Gods Word, when I don't feel it, I need to check my barometer. Does it point to lack of commitment? Am I negligent in my Bible reading? Do I pray? Am I walking by the flesh? Do I trust God with the details of my life? Can I look at my trials as growth periods?

In all the ins and outs of daily living, of being a wife,of raising 7 children, of watching them take wings and fly, of being a good friend and neighbor, I see the steady thread of joy, and I love that word. It doesn't mean I'm always happy, doesn't mean I don't feel down sometimes, but it is what I strive for. I know God wants me to be joyful, and even when it is very hard, I focus on it. Whatever happens, I have a reason to be joyful. I have a Savior who loved me enough to die for me, numbers even the *gray* hairs on my head, cares for me more than the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. I have a loving heavenly Father who gives me good gifts, I have a comforting Holy Spirit who indwells me and helps me in my daily journey to become more like Christ. I am God's girl. And in the end, that is what matters most!


Anything less than joy, is doubting that He knows best for me

Music of The Heart

We are playing again. The older 5 children are grown and busy with lives of their own, but our 'little' guys are ready and willing to entertain whoever they can...and a band of 4 still sounds pretty good.

This guy has been playing since he was 16. That was a few days ago. He also runs his own music school and has an online store at www.afmusic.ca. Did I mention, I love him?

Budding musicians...budding? already very accomplished. They sure enjoyed playing for the receptive crowd at a local recreation centre.

And here I am...I enjoy playing the bass, but I enjoy more, the shiny faces of my boys as they do their stuff.

We play a lot of folk music, celtic, old time fiddle, but we always finish with Amazing Grace and the Old Rugged Cross. Those songs always bring tears in the crowd, and put a nice finish to whatever we present, because the best kind of music, afterall, is music from the heart....and that is my heart. To share the beauty of what Christ has done for us by shedding His blood on the cross for our salvation and His glorious resurrection. And Mr. Music Man as the people at the concert called my husband, always puts a few words in their as a finishing touch. (That's the pastor coming out in him.)

Spring Things

Finally we had some sunny days last week and my 'suddenly reading everything' 10 year old took advantage by spending some time on our backyard swing with his favorite book!

This little birdlet came out of the cedar hedge to explore the world, much to his mother's chagrin.

...and my apple tree burst into bloom.

But by evening there was rain again, and a bit of fog in the air. The birds, however, stayed out to play anyway. 

What an amazing God we serve. I enjoy His beauty all year round, but He does some of His best work in the springtime. I am so thankful for the nature all around us and the ability to enjoy it. Get out there and look around, even if its raining. If you don't, you will miss some spectacular sights!

Of Rain and Wedding Bells

Its all in the details they say. 

Our lives have taken a new turn in the past year. We have gained a new face in our family, just visiting for now, but soon to become a permanent son. Our daughter, Stephanie, brought home an Italian friend last fall who soon became a boyfriend, and not long after, a fiancee. Looks like July 23 will be wonderful and busy around here. Most weekends the talk of invitations, wedding dress, halls, churches, and attendants has filled our hours. Everything is falling nicely into place, God is in the details. It is amazing to watch how easily things are being worked out. Yay!

...and it is spring! My flower beds are a sea of color, Solomon's Seal, violets, Bleeding Heart, Iris, daffodils, narcissus, all beautiful....all hanging down their soaking wet heads. Seems the rain will never stop. The grass is growing at a wild pace and the garden is a mud puddle. As soon as I see some sun, I need to get those gladiola bulbs in the ground. I would do it in the rain, but it is so cold. Here is hoping we soon get some sun!