She Never Got to Say Goodbye

A week ago she went to work.

It was an ordinary day, and she posted on her Facebook page that '8 AM is must(much?) more reasonable and tolerable! But I have to make my own coffee.'

She headed off to work, never realizing that she wouldn't be back.

Did she know that this wasn't just any day?

Over the next two days her family came from near and far to say goodbye around her hospital bed. But she never got to say goodbye.

Eileen was an amazing woman who loved her Lord, her family and her friends. Friday night just before midnight she heard her Saviour welcoming her in....well done my good and faithful servant. You have finished the race.

I didn't see her often, but we always laughed together when we met and shared grandchildren updates. And today I am reminded that I might never know when my day comes. So in case you don't get to say goodbye, hug your loved ones often and never forget to tell them that you love them!

My Beloved and I

As we walked thru the garden we came upon this arbour and of course Dave had to take a picture. A friend was walking by and insisted that since the arbour was incomplete without someone standing under it, we needed to step inside so she could take a picture of the two of us.

We chuckled as we walked away, a picture of the two of us is always worth saving. There was a swing that was waiting for us to sit awhile......

So sit we did and as we sat, we watched this swan swimming in the pond....

It was so beautiful and yet so alone....

I couldn't help but think how thankful I was that we were here, the two of us, my Beloved and I.

In the Garden

This week Dave and I spent several days at a beautiful retreat center with 75 other leaders from our ministry, praying together and dialoguing together about how we can more effectively reach our country for the Kingdom. It was an awesome, tiring, inspiring, exhausting time. One of the blessings was that we had the most amazing weather for our days there. Every day after lunch we would slip away before the next session started for a walk in the garden.

One afternoon we just had to head towards this pond with it's miniature waterfalls.

The spring flowers were incredible.

 So many different kinds of daffodils of every size and color.

Did you know that rhododendrons bloom at different times in the spring according to their colors? First comes light pink, then purple and next comes red.

The tulips are just beginning to open up. Who knew that yellow tulips would be my favorites?

Dave captured the water on this old water wheel, cool, refreshing water sort of like a walk in the garden in the midst of busy days of meetings.

 

The Joy of Discovery

The last morning in Rockport Caily enjoyed blowing bubbles on the deck(and yes she was wearing all three necklaces that Gigi gave her the day before).

Catching them was so much fun......got it!

For the first time, she could actually blow the bubbles through the wand. She was so excited about doing it herself.

But it did take a lot of concentration to do it so she sat down. How fun to be able to watch her joy of discovery.

A Taste of Summer

One of the fun things we did while down in Rockport to celebrate Dave's mother's birthday was a quick trip to the beach with Jody and the girls. The sun was setting so we had the beach to ourselves for the most part. Everyone enjoyed the change of pace.

Jody had wondered what Lexi would do in the sand....well she found out!! Lexi loved it!!! and she motored....so much to explore!

I told Jody that the girls' dresses were perfect for our beach photo shoot because they seemed to reflect the sun's setting rays....

It was only a taste of summer but I must admit that it made me want to come back and spend time at the beach with the Miles girls.

Moments

A week ago today I was in Texas enjoying our southern belles when I read the blog of my good friend Anneliese. She talked about the moments that they had shared with their Borneo kids that you just couldn't share on the phone or on Skype. I knew that I too was cherishing those same kind of moments, moments that you just can't get any other way than just being there......

.....quiet moments when no one is looking.

....seeing it in pictures just isn't the same as seeing it in person and yes, Caily does catch chickens! And they let her do it!

....a little girl that is growing up so fast.

....being there at the moment that a toddler first experiences a sandy beach.

....watching a Grandfather delightedly holding his granddaughter who was finally willing to go to him and choose to stay in his arms.

....seeing in person just how much two little girls love one another.

....moments that today make me smile even though I am here at home again and make me so thankful for every one!

Memories of Grandma's Birthday

We got home last night so tonight I am sorting through the hundreds of pictures that we took while in Texas. For those members of Dave's family that check our blog I thought I would post a few more pictures of his Mom's birthday celebrations last Thursday. We met at 'Grandma's House' as Caily called it, the place she calls home during the winter.

It's a beautiful location, right across from the marina.

First we all went out for lunch together. Grandma Gigi enjoyed watching the girls enjoy each other. What fun to see three generations together.

After lunch we headed back to her place where we surprised her with a party complete with cake! It was extra-special that her brother John and his wife Delores were there since they had driven her back down after their sister's funeral.

Caily enjoyed playing with the cat that let her pet it(Dave went outside to get the picture thru the window)

We were so glad that we had planned this little road trip while in Texas and it was fun to meet the people that both worked there and others that spend their winters there as well.

The girls both enjoyed playing with the bead necklaces that Grandma Gigi had given them.

A picture to remember four generations celebrating a birthday together! 

 From BC, to South Dakota, Minnesota and Texas, it was definitely a day to remember!

Happy Birthday Gigi!

What's in a name? 

To my sweetheart she is Mom,

and when we are together I too call her Mom,

a Mom-in-law that has always encouraged me,

never spoken ill of me,

taught me to stamp and make cards 

and been an example to me as she continued to enjoy life 

after the love of her life was gone.

To our kids she has always been Grandma,

who makes cards,

who loves playing games like chicken foot,

Mexican Train and Canadian Rummy,

who comes to visit by train because she doesn't like to fly,

but who still comes.

And to our grands, well it all depends.

To Aidan and Jaxon she is Gigi, 

because Great Grandma is just too hard to say,

especially when you are having fun playing together 

or reading a book together.

And to Caily and Lexi for now she is Mommy's Grandma,

because that is just the easiest,

and well because they are just getting to know her a bit better, 

first a few weeks ago when she came up closer to where they lived

and then this week when we came down to where she spends her winter,

to celebrate a very significant birthday!

But don't worry Mom, 

because this birthday doesn't end in '0'

and you once said they were the only ones that bothered you!

So Happy Birthday from all of us,

we are so glad we were able to come 

and Sing Happy Birthday to you in person!

The Riverwalk and More

Yesterday it finally warmed up and the sun came up to the kind of Texas day we like to have when we are visiting! It was so fun to see Caily already outside on the front porch coloring with her sidewalk chalk first thing in the morning.

For the first time since we got here we were able to have our breakfast on the porch as well, a tradition that Caily and Dave like to share.

Of course being outside also means that Caily is always on the look-out for her Daddy popping by! She got a 'horsie' ride out of it which was an extra treat. Take a look at her princess shoes that she had on for the occassion! :-)

According to Jody this was the nicest day that they have had this year and even the puppies were celebrating...here Caily gets to hold Holly.

Jingle was next up....

And then it was Lexi's turn....Caily wanted to hold her while sitting on Dave's lap....

After lunch we headed into San Antonio to enjoy the Riverwalk....Dave and I were sitting in the back seat of the van so had a great view of Lexi's beautiful big blue eyes.

It had been 8 years since we were last at the Riverwalk. Jody's first year at Bible School we came down during her spring break and met Dave's parents and his sister and daughter here.....my how things in our family have changed since then!

Now we were the grandparents, Jody was the mother and we were here with the Miles family of four!

We enjoyed the boat tour down the river....this was one of the interesting sites...a hospital that is an optical illusion. It isn't really a freestanding wall....very weird though.

We finished off our evening with dinner by the River, watching other boats go by and just enjoying the moments! We are sooooo blessed!