Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that today is the last day of 2006! But since it is, I thought I would wish all of you in Blogland a Happy New Year! I don't make resolutions because I never kept them anyway, but I do want to continue a process that started in my life this fall. Heather challenged me to simplify my life and my home, get rid of the clutter, those things that not only aren't necessary but you have to wonder why they were ever kept.

Like this bird's nest(I know you were wondering how I was going to tie these pictures in with New Year's wishes...) It was in a pile of other special things on top of our Filing Cabinet that Heather and I found while beginning the journey of getting rid of 'special things'....those things that I had kept and really didn't need. I had found this nest on our deck years' ago, and it was such an amazing engineering feat I had to keep it. Somehow the bird had made the nest using the usual twigs and the unusual, red yarn of some sort. But really, why did I still have it?


Here is the view from the top....it still had pieces of egg shell in it when I found it, and had obviously been home to a bird family.



I took these pictures to remember it by, and then threw it out....but it has become symbolic in my life in a way. I am getting rid of old things and in some case, making room for the new things that long ago replaced them(or the new things I would like to still get some day). In the same way, God wants us to let go of the 'old things' so that He can do 'new things' in our lives.

So often we want to hang onto the old things, even when they are painful, or just part of a different season of our lives. But God has a better plan for us and wants to work in our lives in new amazing ways. So join me in letting go of the old things, and embracing the new.....and may we all be amazed by God in 2007!

Something to Smile About...or is that Someone?

It's strange how our lives can be totally changed in an instant...whether by a circumstance, or a person's arrival. I have been thinking today about how much our lives have changed since becoming grandparents. Last year when we had our Family Christmas, Megan and Jamie announced that she was pregnant and expecting an addition to their family in 2006.....and this year when we had our Family Christmas, all eyes weren't necessarily on the person opening their gift, but on this little man who had us all mesmerized with his smiles.....I thought since he made us all smile, you might also need something to smile about today.....


Heather had just finished feeding him(he was hot hence the lack of pants but look at those rolls!)


Aidan loves his Uncle Matt and all the noises Matt makes. He was on a roll here as the following pictures attest to....


Looking attentively and listening for the next sound....

So much to laugh about!!

No wonder we all found him irresistable! By next Christmas he will be walking! Now that will definitely change our lives all over again!

A Willow Tree Christmas

This was our Willow Tree Christmas! All three of our girls had mentioned at different times last Christmas that they really liked the Willow Tree Nativity Set. I decided right after Christmas that I was going to be ahead of the game this year and ordered the Basic Nativity Set right after Christmas! So this year, all three received the Nativity with Joseph, Mary and the baby, the shepherd, sheep and donkey. My sister was celebrating a significant birthday(it ended in '0' which is as much as I will say) so I decided to give her one as well, something to remember for years to come!

My sweet husband made a mental note that since I was buying it for everyone else on my list, I must really like it, so on Christmas Eve I was overwhelmed! I got the entire set with all the pieces!!!!! And here it is...sitting on our buffet, as Dave said, 'a reminder for years to come what is really the most important thing about Christmas!'

Of course it was unpacked yet on Christmas Eve and set up so we have been enjoying it ever since.....some how I don't think I will be ready to pack it away right away with the other Christmas Decorations. But then again I am the same person that decided to have a 'Winter Tree' last year until the end of January....I love the white lights on our tree in the Living Room so I took off the decorations and left the tree and lights up! Weird you may say? Not really....just someone who doesn't always like doing what everyone else does....

I had prayed early in December that God would remind me often about the wonder of Christmas this year, instead of getting lost in all the activities and busy schedules! And He did just that.....even in my gift from Dave!

Merry Christmas!

Today is Christmas Eve and since my dinner is ready, and it's not quite time for church yet, I thought I would wish all of you Blog Stalkers a very Merry Christmas! From me to you! I don't know who you are, although occasionally someone confesses. Why not give me a Christmas Present and post a comment so I can see who all visits my blog! And since it is Christmas Vacation and I have lots of pictures to choose from, I may just post every day just because I can, and I have time, and it's just fun! Thanks to my sister who took this picture of me last night when I wasn't looking! And to all of you, may you be amazed by the wonder of that first Christmas and awed by the fact that God loved us so much He sent His son as a baby in a manger!

 

We Missed you Jods!

This post is for you Jods! We missed you and Darin at our Family Gathering so I decided to post a few pictures to show you what you missed....the cousins end of the table(Aidan was sleeping).....


And the 'older' adults end of the table(can't call it kids and adults any more since we are all adults....just older and younger)..


The shirt fits Jods!


Jamie took my camera for some shots from the stairs, and decided to capture these smiles....

 

Aidan Meets the Family!

I only have one sister and she also lives out here at the coast, so every Christmas my parents drive out from Calgary for Christmas and we all get together for Christmas Dinner on December 23. This year it was my turn to cook the turkey so tonight we all got together(minus Jods and Darin), ate too much food, and had a lot of laughs! It was also Aidan's Family Gathering Debut, so I thought I would give you a bit of an idea of the evening! Everyone wanted a turn holding him.....Here is his Opa, my father, or Opa the Great as Jamie and Megan are calling him. Needless to say he is very, very proud of his Great Grandson!


And then of course there is Aidan's Grandpa.....he and Dave have lots of talks together(I wonder what they are saying?)


My sister is Aidan's Great Aunt! She hadn't seen him since he was a newborn so it was fun for her to see how much he has grown......


And then of course there are the cousins......Jeremy was determined to make friends with Aidan and he even cooperated for a little while anyway!
Way to go Jeremy!

Images of Texas

A few more glimpses of my time in Texas....here are Jody, Darin and Jake in front of their very large tree. Jody was sooo excited when someone gave them a Christmas Tree and she was able to put all her ornaments from home on it.

Being able to spend a week there just before Christmas was very special, and was a much needed break for me from the hectic schedule that I have been keeping this fall.

With all the animals on the ranch, there are often babies being born. Here is a picture of one of the baby sheep...they are just too cute! While I was there one was born in their front yard, and Darin carried it into the house in his arms to get Jody to help him find it's mother. They were successful and the lamb was reunited with the rest of the flock.

Jake is very much part of the family.....and he is always aware of what's going on around him. Here he has a stick(one of his favorite passtimes) but as usual, is looking to see where Darin is!

Some Texas Pictures

Several of you have commented that I haven't posted any pictures from my Texas trip yet, so I decided that I really had to take some time to post tonight before calling it a day. This one was taken in the 'arena', an area that Darin has cleared of the existing grass to be used for training horses. As Jody said, 'there are always more rocks to pick'!


Now that the ranch has gotten into brood mares, there are colts on the ranch....Meet 'Squeaks', their 6 month old colt who actually 'squeaks' when he neighs. Hence the name!

Texas is known for Armidillos, but in all our trips there, we have rarely seen one, and almost never during the day. This young had been digging up their yard, so when it appeared one afternoon, I ran out with my camera to take a picture. Good thing I did....he met his untimely death later in the afternoon.


Darin's dog Jake loves to be close to Jody, preferably touching her. Here they are out in the yard.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.....Not!

I am enjoying my week of vacation here in Texas with Jody and Darin and I have been struck by how strange it seems to be playing Christmas Carols, wrapping Christmas gifts, and even going Christmas shopping today when it is in the 70's outside! It feels like summer and has given me a new appreciation for what it is like to celebrate Christmas down under!(here's to you Beams!)

It doesn't look like Christmas really....no snow, no chilly nights that beg for a cup of hot chocolate, no Christmas Tree farms where you can cut your own tree(the ones here boast that they are fresh from New Mexico...'feel them'...I did and they weren't fresh but already losing their needles). And no pictures for all of you because I forgot my cord for my camera!

And yes, it is almost Christmas! Here in Texas, with a huge Christmas Tree in their living room(it is even bigger than ours for those that have seen our 9 foot tree!), we had Christmas Dinner last night, complete with our family's traditional Birthday Cake for Jesus(a Black Forest Cake) and gift opening afterwards....and I was reminded again what is truly important at Christmas. The story of a baby in a manger, and time spent with those we love!

It's been so fun to have this time with them, before I head back to BC for our Christmas there and they fly to South Carolina where they will spend the holidays with Darin's family. A little bit of an early Christmas gift for me....

Celebrating two special men in my life!

Today is Dave's birthday and in honor of the occassion we celebrated it with the kids last night! When it came to taking pictures of Dave and his gifts, he asked for Aidan since 'he is the best gift of all!'. So this post is in honor of the big and the little .... two special men in my life! (that's ok Jamie, Matt and Darin, you are all special too, but this post isn't for you!)
Dave and I started dating 32 years ago this month, and I am so thankful that God gave me this amazing man who loves me, encourages me, and is my greatest fan! Thank you Honey, for always believing in me, for cheering for me, for allowing me to be all that God has called me to be!
I love you more today than I could ever have believed possible 32 years ago! And for all you youngin's out there, the best is yet to come! Believe me! :-)

And here is the other special 'little' man in my life! He is so much fun and his smiles and giggles are contagious! I just had to share these with you!

 

A New House and A New Addition!

Heather loves her new house and her new kitchen! Of all our children, she was the one that would often hop up on the kitchen counter to talk! And it hasn't changed! Except here she is doing it on her own kitchen counter! The cabinets turned out amazing!! Good choice of paint Heather!

Here Heather is holding their new addition! Well an adopted addition that is. Meet Tonka, Matt's Mom's new lab puppy who is living at their house until he is trained! He is an adorable bundle of puppy with lots of energy and no fear! Our poor dog didn't know what to do with him when he wanted to play.

I just had to include this picture of Heather's red piano room since the picture on her blog didn't do it justice! Heather is putting my old piano books to good use which is nice to see.

I love this color and am thinking of stealing it for my house! We barely had their place finished and the two of us were already planning what colors we were going to paint our laundry room, powder room, family room and kitchen. But first, we both need to give our necks and backs a rest.....but Christmas vacation is coming!


And here is Matt with a lapful of puppy! Tikka is on the right side and Tonka on the left. Tikka is a very good 'puppy-sitter' and has endless energy and patience with the newcomer.