Boys, Family, Parenting

Be A Golf Camper

Leave a comment

I love the order of golf.   The manicured lawns (Don’t want to think about how they get that way!), the beautifully placed flowers, the nicely layed out sand traps (at least when you aren’t playing.) and the friendly atmosphere like you are part of one big “Club”.

P1010038

Our oldest got a taste of golf course life this week as he did a three day mini-camp at a local golf resort.  He loved hitting his “big dog”, riding in the cart and the ice cooler with cold water on the side.  Amazing!

In the “Easy Guide to the Etiquette and Rules of Golf” that my son got on the first day, it states that you introduce yourself on the first tee AND when you finish playing you thank them for their company and shake their hand.  Plus they don’t allow cell phone on the golf course.  Can you imagine that skills and conversations that these players are able to have without any distractions from technology?

P1010043

While JC was at camp, I have had the opportunity to walk around with CC and OC.  We have had a relaxing time.  First, it is so peaceful.  No cars within the pathways surrounding the golf course, just my feet pounding along the path.  Second, we have seen amazing wildlife: birds, butterflies, marmots, ducks and even a few turtles came to say hello.

P1010044

P1010049

We eagerly awaited JC’s return from the practice range.

P1010052

The little brothers were very excited to see him pull up in the golf cart, especially when it was the hockey cart!

P1010053

Christianity, Construction, Family, Jesus Christ

Be Loving People, Use Things

2 Comments

Image

I used to drive by this church every day.   The quotes they put on their front billboard always fascinate me.

This quote made me want to weep.

When I first saw this sign I felt incredibly sad.  I was in a place of feeling like a discarded  “thing”.  As we are moving, certain friends have fallen away.  See this blog.

Two weeks later, I saw this quote with new eyes.  It made me want to cry tears of joy.

God had placed me with an incredible group of Christian women in a boot camp/bible study ran by our good friend “Bam” of HappyFitMe.

These women gave me hope as they shared of themselves, their healing, their love of God and their struggles.  Jesus’ loved poured out of each of them every time we were together.  The words were honest.  The actions were truthful.  They gave everything they had in our workouts at the playground, on the field, in the gym and in the pool.  It was incredible.

And now as our family moves down the lake into our new house, I have hope.

Hope that God will prosper me.  Hope that God does have a plan for my life.  Hope that the friends He will surround me with will be like these boot camp women and all the women that have walked/ran with me during this very difficult transition.  Image

Christianity, Flexibility, Jesus Christ

Be Pigpen, Not Lucy

6 Comments

I used to know it all!

Image

I could stand on my box and spout off all sorts of interesting facts and you bet that I would always spell it write right.  Oh I had opinions, my friends, and they were usually right or wrong.

I used my six foot frame to play any and every sport.  I never rested, nor sat down very long.

My prayer life was as rich as putting a sliver of milk chocolate in a cup of hot water.

Almost four years ago, after the birth of our second child, my world fell apart.

I started having numbness and tingling, muscular fatigue, memory loss and other “annoying” physical ailments.   I felt despair that was like a river of mud.  I thought thoughts that were as dark as this muddy river.  I held onto my old self, but ended up having to let it go.

God was creating a new ME.

He used the people in my life to wade into the muddy water. My Tuesday night bible study leader, a faraway friend in Alberta,  a mommy friend from the beginning, a friend from University life, a teacher I taught beside and a husband who stood by me through it all!

I wouldn’t have survived the mud without the prayer of these Saints, the encouragement to keep putting one foot in front of each other and the opportunity to see miracles working through them.  God weaves everything together for His good, even my tingling, my problems and my “pain in the ass” attitude.

About three months ago, someone called me “Pigpen”.  I was tremendously hurt by this.  I stewed over this comment for days.  Then I felt extremely grateful and such depth of insight that it could have only been from God.

Thank you Jesus as I would rather live the rest of my life as Pigpen than as Lucy.

Image

PS.  Sexy Neck just told me that I would probably be more like Linus.  I like to be warm and cozy in my blankie.  HAHA!

Boys, Family, Parenting

Be Enjoying A Blue Blazer

9 Comments

I grew up in a pretty red-necked town in the north.  The term “blue blazer” was not used very often, but whenever we heard: “It’s a blue blazer folks” on the radio, it got us pretty excited.

Now that I am a “southern” Okanagan girl these blue blazers are aplenty.

What did we do on this blue blazer Canada Day?

Image

Yup, those are my big boys running through the sprinkler in their underwear!

Image

Image

 

Image

We bought an emergency t-shirt for little OC, as he pooped up the back while we were visiting the “new” house still under renovation.  This hasn’t happened to us in a loooong time.

Lastly, I gave my seven potted plants some loving care.  I can’t wait to take my pots to the new house. You can see my mom’s beautiful garden/pergola/deer repellent in the background.  It is amazing what a little bit of colour will do for a yard, for my sense of peace and sense of home.  Image

Oh ya, I also wiped a lot of snot.  Do we seem to be the only ones with a summer cold?  Snot and coughing seem to be on the agenda for us these days.

 

Boys, Family, Parenting

Be Laughing Your Head Off

2 Comments

I just had to share this one… I saw it yesterday through Life and Photos by Andy’s blog. 

Sexy Neck and I watched it this morning and we both had tears in our eyes.  

It reiterated our thoughts on having three children, our love of homebirthing (we had two of our boys at home) as well as what bedtime looks and sounds like in our house.  

May this little ditty inspire, encourage and make you laugh til you cry. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbZrY0G9PI&feature=player_embedded

Boys, Family, Parenting

Be A Brother Hugger (My 150th Post)

4 Comments

Today is the last day of Kindergarten for our first born.  What a year it has been!

Negotiating the great educational experiment of full-day every day Kindergarten. (We did half days til Christmas).  Getting to know the school culture as a parent, not just as a teacher.  Plus, having the younger brothers without their eldest brother five days per week.  Whew! 

From the very first day of school, we have been very intentional about the importance of JC saying goodbye to his younger brothers with a hug and a kiss.  I believe it helps everyone’s transition into the day.  Plus who doesn’t want to start their day off with a hug and a kiss?

Here is our last day of Kindergarten:

Image

HUG and a…. 

KISS! 

Image

 

Now off to line-up for school.

Image

Image

Today I will leave you with one more photo: the two big boys after they went to watch their best friends’ ballet performances.  We stopped for a break to look at one of the most beautiful lakes in North America.

"Be a human BEING, not a human doing!"