slides + water

= one of the most amazing days this summer. are you serious, four adults, five children, nine slides and two tube rides. we spent the day with the daveys at bridal falls waterslides. starting at eleven we brought picnics and blankets, and closed the place out just after six. a first for all the kids, i wish i had a camera with me to document the size of the smiles that dominated their faces. there was a little timidness at first, but experience lead to confidence and confidence lead to pure joy. the kids rode both with adults and by themselves, all of them. i am not sure how to write of my excitement, enjoyment and blessing to see our kids find success in a new and wonderful way. to watch them be willing and try then discover that they could, equaled one of the best days this summer time. a conversation between sophie and i (as i ran up to check on her in line with her dad getting ready to go down the "black hole") "hey sophie, are you sure this is something you would like to do?" "mom, it's only a slide" i nodded, smiled and turned to walk away...i glace back at scott and give him a look as if to say, are you serious...she is four...hey mom, it's only a slide. i was/am one proud mom and friend of all these kids.

truth and prayers

the truth.

according to sophie.

"jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, black and white and stylish, he loves the little children of the world."

really...stylish...so much to teach, so little time.

prayers.

by sophie.

"jesus, please help those people who have no food or water, keep them healthy and safe, be with the kids who have no food or water, get them food and water. and jesus keep the dinosaurs safe too and give them food and water in their death, keep them healthy in their death. amen."

summer time

we have been blessed, not only by the people that surround us, but also by this place that encompasses us. we have had adventures and journeys to last a lifetime, we have used each weekend to its fullest, sometimes documented but not always.

earlier this summer we were invited by matt and chelly to join them at their family cabin at shushwap lake...i was expecting rustic...it may be nicer than my home, so home we made it. chellys mom and dad joined us, as well as her grandparents...the girls took to them as they would their own. it was an amazing place, peaceful and beautiful.

we had originally planned on a longer circle trip, starting with our first stop in kelowna to visit scotts grandma, we would then stop in to meet all the members of the peters family in vernon, next would be shushwap with the kellers and then a drive to calgary to hold the newest member of the frank family. we greatly underestimated our time and ended up cutting the last leg of the journey, disappointing to say the least.

so we started off, we left on wednesday morning and drove to kelowna. along the way we envisioned ourselves in jungles and forests atop the mountains as we drove the hi way. we found patches of snow and tunnels with bears on them. the girls read and soaked in the great scenes that passed us by. we arrived in kelowna just after lunch for a visit with grandma werdal. this woman has twelve of her own children, seventy grandchildren and well over one hundred great grandchildren. my mouth is still on the floor about that one. she is a beautiful lady, lovely in every way. she hums through most of her life and sang along with the girls for a few songs, played hide and go seek with them and looked at picture albums. it was an afternoon we won't soon forget.

we left grandma and headed into vernon to find the peters. rose and ryan have been our friends since before any of us were even dating. it was so good to hear their of their latest journeys to see their family and just sit with them for the evening. the beach called us in the morning and it was at this point that i pondered the thought of moving there...don't tell scott.

we said good bye to the peters, hoped in the car as the storm clouds came rolling in over the hills and started our trip to shushwap lake.

we arrived in the rain...with smiles on our faces. there is something about travels, the new smells, watching your family experience it for the first time, that time together, new stories to tell and share...i can't explain it, it makes my heart full.

we spent the next few days on the beach, riding bikes, walking, swimming, boating, sitting on the dock, playing a little bean bag toss, all with some really great people. people you want to share life with, you want in your life.

matt and chelly keller getting ready for a boat ride with the "captain" the whole gang, mr. byer (the captain), scott, sophie, chelly, penny, mrs. byer, matt there was not one trip that this kid didn't end up with her eyes closed playing on the beach with friends kayak rides in the lake this is matt...and that is called an "air chair"...it is/was kinda crazy a few wipe outs before he got it i love his face scott gives it a try excited and willing he did get up...just got it on the video camera instead. it was a full and amazing trip, one that made memories, and built friendships.