The Oysterfest Parade

We were in Rockport, Texas visiting Grandma Gigi in time for the annual Oysterfest Parade! So much excitement for such a little town!

The parade would be going by right outside Grandma's door so we lined up to wait.

It was kind of cool to start with but soooo much fun. Apparently you needed to have bead necklaces on and everyone, and I mean everyone had some already. One nice lady shared hers with the girls so they each had one to start with. They could hardly believe their good fortune!

Lexi of course wanted to climb the fence....

while Caily was more content to stay on her side of the fence.

We started up on the property, away from the road.

But then the police cars came by signaling the start of the parade.

Next came a BLUE firetruck with people throwing candy and we just had to get closer.(Caily could not get over the fact that it was blue...whoever heard of a blue firetruck anyway?!!)

Mimi is getting ready to catch the necklaces that were being thrown through the air(and yes, you can see them if you look really closely!)

We all waved as the parade passed by us.....and of course picked up candy. Can you see how full the girls' pockets are? And Lexi was already eating a lolipop! They were too good to save!

We never did go up behind the fence again...there was just so much being thrown at us!

My personal favorite...I've always wanted to drive a red convertible!

Finally there came a red firetruck! Now that was better.....but Caily wanted to know why there was a dog on it?!

The final haul was quite amazing....and Caily began to think of friends at home who might enjoy one of her necklaces! Lexi showed hers off to Grandma Gigi....so much fun! and so many memories!

Four Generations

While we were in Texas we took the time to drive the three hours south to visit with Dave's Mom in her winter home!(Minnesota in the winter is nobody's first choice especially this year with all the snow!! What a blessing it was to have four generations together in one place!!!

The girls love spending time with their Grandma Gigi.....she loves to read and play with them.

I love the looks on these two faces.....great-grandmother and little girl. Who is enjoying it more do you think?

Lexi got right into the act too!! How fun....memories of a time spent together! What a blessing! Mom turned 86 last Friday so we are glad to have had the weekend to spend with her making memories. Priceless!

Grandparents Tea at Preschool

Last Friday I was blessed to be invited by a very special young man in my life to attend the Grandparents Tea at his Preschool. Having all those grandparents and even great-grandparents watching them perform was pretty serious business.

But once we started working on our craft together everyone relaxed! At least Aidan did.....next it was time for snacks! Brownies and Rice Krispie Squares that they had made themselves. ....mmmm, mmmm good!

Finally I got to see that smile that I know and love!! Thank you Aidan for the privilege of being your Mimi! I was so excited to be there on this special day and so thrilled to share it with you. I love you very, very much!! I love you for always, I'll like you forever....

Caily Had a Little Lamb

Caily had a little lamb, and only it's face was white as snow,

and everywhere that Caily went the lamb was sure to go(even wanting to eat sidewalk chalk!)

It followed her to the chicken coop to eat the chicken's food.

 

Merry was that little lamb and she loved it so.

 Caily does love Merry the lamb and loved feeding her the bottle!

Farewell to Texas

We are sitting in the San Antonio airport and our flight to Dallas is delayed so I decided it was a great time to start posting some pictures of our time here with our Texas girlies. We have enjoyed our time so very much....the giggles and smiles, getting woken up in the mornings by a 'Mimi, it's time to wake up!', spending time outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine and warm weather, and of course just being together.

It's amazing how much both girls have grown up since we were here in the fall. Lexi especially has developed a real personality and has gone from being a toddler to a little girl.

A little girl who has definite ideas about how life should be lived! Never a doubt about how she is feeling on any given subject!

And Caily is into learning...numbers, letters, everything! So much fun!

We both spent hours reading books...and books...and more books! So fun to have two little girlies snuggled in close!

High Tea with Old Friends

A couple of weeks ago I had the amazing privilege of having High Tea lunch with some dear friends. We were in a quaint little restaurant right on the beach in White Rock - the food was delicious, the atmosphere relaxing, and the company a blessing.

After lunch the skies cleared enough so that we could go for a walk along the boardwalk. As I took a picture of the three women I had to marvel at the gift of 'old friends'.

Louise(in the middle) was the person that first got me involved in Campus Crusade for Christ almost 40 years ago when I was in my first week as a student at the University of Calgary. She mentored me, encouraged me, discipled me, laughed and cried with me. Both her and Anita(on the right) were staff women in the Campus ministry at that time and we spent many hours together studying the bible, sharing our faith, and having fun.

Three years later when I moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta to finish my degree, Louise had been transferred there as well and once again met with me the first week to challenge me to get involved in the Campus Crusade for Christ ministry on campus. Little did I realize that from there I would not only get involved, but apply for staff and meet and marry another staff member!!!

The next September found us in Winnipeg, opening up the Campus Ministry at the University of Manitoba and Marilyn(on the left) was the other staff woman and my trainer. We spent many, many hours together as she taught me the ropes. Since then she has worked many years with Dave when he was in Human Resources and has remained one of our closest friends on staff. She has faithfully prayed for and encouraged me through 36 years of fulltime ministry.

I thanked the Lord that day for the gift of friends...amazing women who have built into my life to help make me the woman I am today! Who are those women in your life? I hope you too are blessed with 'old friends'!

Coach

 

One of the most rewarding things for a parent is to see their adult child succeed  in doing something that they love. Although the basketball season has come to an end for Jamie's team, Dave and I enjoyed a couple of great playoff games last month. 

It was so neat to watch him coach a team that he had poured his time and energy into this year. They weren't much of a team back at the beginning of the season but by the end they were good enough to come in third in their league and move on to the Regional Fraser Valley Playoffs. Jamie is a great coach and his teams consistently do well. But one of the things that made me smile was hearing a parent tell me, "Mr Beck is an awesome coach. The boys respect him so much."

Respect.  In our world today there is definitely not a lot of respect anymore, for others, for property, you name it. But this parent felt it was important to tell me that her son and others on the team respected Mr. Beck. What a neat thing to hear about our son.......his team respected him! 

Way to go Coach!! We are so proud of you!

PS I took this picture in the gymn and thought it was a great one of Jamie coaching in action...