Brilliant!

A woman I *know* (read: online) and respect has finally decided to compile some of her very wise words into a blog. It's about time.

Yes, I know what causes this, and we're good at it!

jumble of thoughts

Friend of mine in town here had her baby (girl) early this week. She was hoping to have her early, and did. Good news. Then, we got a call today that a member of Rob's extended family has died. Bad news. Also, the news that another extended family member is ill.

So often, it seems, that a birth and a death in people's lives tend to go hand in hand. Take Roo's birth, within a day of my grandmother's death. Richard (the family member who died) was actually our first visitor in our little home here. He leaves behind a wife and a teenaged son. A filmmaker by trade, he never got to finish his legacy project, the film about the family bishop.

Just another reminder that we can plan our lives out to the minute...but our plans are just that - plans. We don't get the final say on how things work out. We don't get to decide exactly how our lives play out. That reality doesn't take away our responsibility to make choices that set us up for good things - education, savings accounts, RRSP/RESP accounts, whatever. We can say dumb things like "I'll never live in Saskatchewan" to friends, and have them laugh at you a few years down the road while you pack moving boxes.

Do I know what life will look like in 2, 5, 10 years? Not really. I have my ideas, our dreams and thoughts...but we don't know for sure. A life-changing phone call is always a possibility. A diagnosis of something unexpected, or a strange bend in the road can sneak up on us at any time.

It's a very good reminder that we aren't in control. My slight control freak self doesn't like that thought, but it is a reality. However, knowing that God is in control, that brings peace. There is peace in knowing that when we are believers, that death here on earth isn't the end. That there is more to come. That is hopeful, encouraging and uplifting in the times that aren't quite so good.

I don't know where everyone's hearts lie, what the "state of their soul" is...but I do know that facing the harder times is easier to bear when you have hope in the one who created the world, sent his son, and brought eternal life. Amen for that!

guess whose brother was out to visit?

can you see the family resemblance?

well, check this out

My first 'harvest'! Yes, I have had a zucchini from the garden already, but this was the first time getting two at once!

Note the kleenex box to show scale.

Now I don't want to go to camp, because my garden is about to produce. :) My cherry tomatoes are turning color, my zucchinis are growing, the strawberries are about to produce a new crop. I don't want to miss out. Now I need to figure out how to deal with all my flowers while we're gone too.

on inlaws

My life as a daughter in law has never been that easy. From the moment Rob and I were dating, my mother in law (MIL) and I haven't often seen eye to eye. hmmm, maybe because I'm so much taller (giggle). I've worked with it, dealt with it, tried to be the best daughter in law I could be.

But I'm just done. Done. I'm beyond making an effort anymore. Yes, that may make me sound petty, but whatever. I need to really just step back and not try anymore, set a boundary to keep me from being hurt more.

I'm tired of feeling like our family doesn't matter to the inlaws. I'm tired of our kids blog being a replacement for relationship. I'm just tired. When you are married for 11 years, and your inlaws still can't recall when you got married, or even how to spell your name, it's probably a sign that it's not a bad time to take a break from making the effort.

blah

oh, ETA - they did call on Rob's birthday. for the first time since March.

gone with the wind

Every time we have a party here, it seems, we get some strange weather. Our first April here, it snowed on Isaac's birthday, the following year it blew a rainstorm in during his party, this year we were forced to move the party inside because the wind was gusting so badly we couldn't open our back door.

Today was no exception. After days of heat and low breezes, we had a cooler day (yay!). Perfect for Rob's birthday "fiesta" party. Everything was
ready, and people were arriving. Fun was being had by the large quantity of children (things really change party-wise post kids). I got our taco bar ready for supper...and the wind turned up a LOT. We couldn't sit outside anymore, because everything was blowing away!




So, like at Isaac's 5th party, we moved inside. We didn't have quite as many people tonight, only 15 kids and 11 adults. Still, it was pretty crazy getting the kids to picnic on the kitchen floor. Fun though. Oh, and we did the pinata with the kids inside. I was very thankful that I had bought a pinata that had a ribbon option, so no small children (Isaac was the oldest) needed to wield a broomstick in order to gain candy. Lots of fun. (yes, I am wearing a princess tiara, it's one of the girls' ones)













It was good. Very good. I was happy that Carolyn liked the drink I styled after the one she served at D's birthday this week better than the one she had. I was thrilled that so many of our newer friends came out to help celebrate Rob's day. Thrilled that we have more playdates lined up. Even more thrilled that Billie helped me clean up "because I wouldn't want you to get too tired, so you will have more of these great parties". Good food (or so I was told *wink*), good conversation, good times. We may just be finding our home here yet.

summer days

Lazy summer days are here. Isaac slept in until 9:30 this morning, when Rob went in to wake him up. We linger in the yard, kids playing while I weed the garden. (will the weeding ever end?) After lunch and some attempts at naps (ha!), the children and I head out to a birthday party. A lovely, low-key yard party for a just turned 2 year old girl. Cake is ignored for watermelon slices and juice. Moms giggle over frozen strawberry slush, which could only be better with vodka (did I just say that?). Despite layering sunscreen, the sun kisses our skin and warms our skin tones. The sun sets late, and the living room is sweaty hot in the evenings. A cold drink is a blessing on days like this.

Rob's birthday is tomorrow. We're off on a day trip for some shopping - mainly stuff for our week at camp (what? how did I become the craft director?) and VBS. A lunch out is in the plans, as is running the kids like mad at a park. I have a small birthday party in the works for Saturday evening. Scratch that, it's going to be bigger than that. Hopefully it goes well, and that people show up. I'm doing things on the "last minute fly" here. A Mexican Fiesta theme, with a pinata for the kids.

Speaking of Rob's birthday, a small package arrived for him today. the first contact aimed in our direction in 3 months...or is it 4 now? Perhaps a phone call will follow tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. In the package were two small 'assembly required' vehicles, of the paint your own variety. I'm guessing they were for the kids, or maybe just Isaac as they are indicated for a 5+...on the other hand, we have 3 children. hmm.

Happy Canada Day!

Our town does very, very little to commemorate this day. So we planned our own fun. My mom is up for the weekend, and we decided to plan a picnic. The village where Rob has his smaller church does a Canada Day parade and events, including fireworks. We thought a picnic on the beach, followed by the parade was a good call. Fireworks would start way too late for my crew, given the long summer nights.

A few bumps in the road. Rob now is dealing with the illness that sidetracked our children over the last 2 weeks. He actually had to cancel one church service (at our church without running water), and called for backup here in town. So we didn't have Rob with us, but we pressed on!

A picnic is a lovely thing on a warm, sunny day at the beach. It would have been even better if I remembered to bring swimsuits. Not that inadequate dress stopped my children. I was glad to remember extra clothes, at least. They all splashed and paddled in the shallow, warm water on the sandy beach. They even ate a bit of food.

Then they greatly enjoyed the (somewhat short) parade, especially the candy being thrown from the floats. You know you are in a small town when one of the biggest floats is commemorating the 50th wedding anniversaries of 2 couples in town. Waving little Canada flags, and cheering, they had a wonderful day in the sunshine. Two out of three fell asleep on the way home. Soon enough, they will be old enough to stay up for fireworks too.