Summer Forget-me-not...House Building

When Mike tells people that he built a house this summer his friends think it's cool. When I tell people that I worked construction this summer they stare at me in disbelief. But build a house we did, whether you think that's cool or you're wondering how in the world.... ;) (I will admit that I wasn't always the most valuable worker on the site...:/)

This is actually the second summer my family has done this together. It was my first summer doing it with the rest of them. And who knew such hard work could be so much fun!?!

It was a blessing having work lined up before Mike and I even arrived back in Canada. And it was such a blessing to get to spend the summer working alongside my husband and my family.

Rednek Piknik

This is what we do for fun around here. :) A little strange? Don't judge until you try a little bit of redneck yourself!

Credit for the planning of this party goes to Mitch who {very impressively} baked us chocolate cobbler {by himself & from scratch} just so we would all agree to get into Yoda {the much abused Toyota} and drive across the field to have a picnic by our own private lake {aka. the dugout}.

Texas Ranger's Fun

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Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Ranger's Ballpark - Arlington, TX

Friday April 27, 2012

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Over 47 000 fans.

Shared with wonderful friends.

The Ranger's lost :( 

But there were fireworks to follow :)

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Texas - Spring

----- Texas in the Spring -----

Conclusion to the Summer Building Project

Ten months & a lot of fond building memories later, that family project 

(mentioned in previous posts here, here, & here) is completed...

And what sweetens it all is that it is...

Here are some finished-project pictures:

*Photo Credits go to Mandy

The Front Entry

The Front Entry Railing

The Kitchen

The Fireplace in the Main Area

The Den

One of the Bathrooms

The Main Area in the Basement

The Outside (taken back in October)

A Little Bit of Spring

Mike found this flower lying on the grass all lonesome-like and gave it to me to care for.

It now has it's very own home in one of our glasses :)

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; 

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, 

He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.... 

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, 

And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, 

So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 

------ Isaiah 61:10-11 ------

Delilah Wins

Delilah wins...but it got worse before it got better :)

I never claimed to like the beard. However, after seeing the other options I have decided that the beard was my 2nd favourite next to being clean-shaven :).

Fonduing it up!

I think there's a new tradition starting up in my family's Christmas season - it involves a lot of food, a lot of grease, a lot of batter, a lot of time, and a lot of chatting and fun. It's an event, not just a meal...because it takes nearly 2 hours of cooking to get everyone fed. Last year was the first (Mike and I missed out because we spent Christmas in Ontario with his family) so this was the second time around but already Mom and Auntie seem to have it perfected to a "T." 

An Extra Dose of Fun

My family is all about surprises....One time my dad had me organize our Oregon Coast road trip just to distract me from the surprise Disneyland vacation they already had planned (I spent a lot of time researching places to stay and see when I found out it was only a decoy...but Disneyland sure was fun!). Another time, while Mike and I were dating long distance, I was sent out by my mom to take something to the garage freezer where I discovered Mike standing at the door. The surprises certainly make life interesting and add an extra dose of fun to my already very blessed life!

A couple weekends ago I had just gone back to sleep after dropping Mike off at the airport in the early hours of the morning (so he could go be with his family for his Grandmother's funeral), when my phone rang. "How would you like some company for the weekend? Mandy and Mitch have found a flight and are flying in tonight." How would I like company? Oh my, how I would like company! That morning they had randomly checked flights to Dallas, knowing I was home alone for the weekend, and had found a last-minute seat sale.

What an extra dose of fun for me! We had a wonderful weekend together, just the three of us, hanging out, shopping, eating at some Texas favourites, and exploring the city. (By the way, did you know that Fort Worth is the #1 tourist location right now in Texas? This we heard at the tourist information center.)

Hope in a Time of Grieving

A couple of weeks ago this wonderful lady (Mike's Grandma) went to be with the Lord. I smile when I imagine her walking and running (she hasn't been able to walk for over 10 years) and praising her Saviour!

"...we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (have died), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." 

---- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ----

The above picture was taken just over a month ago when we were visiting Mike's family in Ontario - we are so thankful for those few days we were able to spend with her...not knowing that they would be our last together on this side of heaven.

Mike was blessed to be able to fly back home to be with his family during the weekend of the funeral. He said it was a very uplifting time as they celebrated her life and rested in the joy of knowing she is now with our Saviour.

(Pictures and obituary can be found here.)

Canadian Thanksgiving in Pictures

Short one wallet; short one jacket; and obviously, short a few marbles ;) we have just returned from a wonderful week home in Canada with Mike's family. The whole 10 days were wonderful but by far my favourite part was the final few - thanksgiving weekend - spent with my in-laws but also with my sister and cousin who are currently studying at Word of Life Bible Institute in Owen Sound, ON. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so I think I've included about 21000 words worth below...because they are much better at capturing our time together than my babbling. :)

Thursday, October 6 - We met up with Sarah, Sophia, and Ryan who, along with Word of Life had spent the previous week doing Open Air Evangelism in Toronto and Hamilton. It was neat to watch them patiently and consistently share the Gospel with whoever the Lord brought past them on the street; it was neat to spend the day sharing alongside them.

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Friday, October 7 - We had an occasion to dress up. Sophia's graduation happened to be scheduled during that same weekend that we were there and so we got to share in the event with her. In honour of the occasion we went out for Lebanese food. Watching Ryan eat it was a highlight of the weekend! :) Another highlight is that between the times I last saw them, Sophia (sister-in-law) and Sarah (sister) have become very close friends - it was so fun talking, laughing, and hanging out with them together!

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Saturday, October 8 - While in Kitchener we HAD to introduce Sarah and Ryan to City Cafe, one of Mike's (and I think Sophia's too) favourite coffee shops/cafes. (I will second that they have about the best plain-old cup of coffee I've ever had and probably about the best homemade bagels too.) Following our breakfast stop we spent the morning at one of my most favourite places to visit every time we're in the area, the St. Jacob's Farmers Market.

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Saturday & Sunday, October 8-9 - We spent the weekend at their cottage on Lake Huron in Kincardine. It was a weekend full of too much food, long walks on the beach, watching sunsets, sitting by camp fires, and enjoying family.

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