going back

i need to go back in time. there are some events that have yet to be recorded and i have a moment, right now, in the computer/pantry/storage room to take a minute and remember. lets start back in august. august long weekend actually.

what started out as a potential preschool campout at miss diane's lake turned into something else completely. and however painful some of the experiences were that others walked through around this time, i am thankful for the opportunities it gave us as friends and community to draw closer together, to support and encourage one another, to love and be loved by others. this for me was a turning point in our friendships. to see how greatly they cared for one another, to see the thanks that could find no words yet was written across faces, these were the moments that solidified my love. i don't easily say that i love someone, i find it a word that is passed so often it lacks any meaning. i am not one to go there, unless i mean it. if i tell you i love, know that it is true. know that it is a process, grown and tried, it is not just a word to me, it is not something you say to one you merely like, it has power and substance. and so, i began to love these women, their hearts, characters, joys and hurts. it is something that i hope our girls will find in friends one day, friends who stand by, pick up the slack and encourage one another to live better than they are.

all in all, the weekend was not something that needed to happen the way we thought it would. it couldn't. in the meantime, those lovely neighbors of ours, the kellers, invited us to return to the cabin at shuswap with them. and so we did. there was every family member there, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, other friends...and we just slid in as if we were supposed to be there. we were even close to winning the beanbag competition...well sort of. the captain took the girls on tube rides, we slept in the tent, we swam in the lake, ate like kings and queens, played cribbage (i did fairly well if i do say so myself...matt rode my coat tails), and laughed pretty hard alongside some really wonderful people. it was a blessing to be apart of their family (again) for the weekend.

chelly, penelope and i behind the boat scott, sophie and matt our dear friends, crazy but dear before the weekend was over, we headed back to langley, packed up the van for one last camp out and made our way to miss diane's lake with the daveys. we had a fire, sat together telling stories until too late and then woke to beautiful sunshine. we spent the day at the lake, swimming, running, having slurpees (a first for the girls) and just enjoying each other. we read in the shade of the trees on a blanket, it couldn't get much more perfect. the boys headed back to work on a deck and we joined them shortly after to have dinner together. this people mean the world to me, their kindness is one to strive after.

back home, we tucked the girls into bed and gave much thanks for the blessings we have received in life. really, we couldn't ask for much more.

two wheels

kind of a big day for us yesterday, sophie learned to ride a two wheeled bike.

she has been cruising for about a year now on a push bike, with her little radio in her basket she takes off down the the paths around the university. this summer, her friends came over and her buddy charlee was on a two wheeler...with peddles. it had not even really entered my mind to change it up to a peddle bike. the girls and i were on the island, and scott bought a new bike. after dinner last night we went to the laundry room which was hiding her bike. at first she was so excited, then seeing the peddles, she hesitated a little, "mom, i don't know if i can do peddles" we encouraged her to try. outside she was a little anxious, eyes on the ground and a little wobbly. i had scott run to the end of the path, i told her to keep her eyes on her daddy, she looked up, put her feet on the peddles and has not stopped riding since. she cruised around the "loop" where four students were playing sand volleyball, knowing us, they stopped their game and cheered on sophie as she rode past...are you kidding, what kid gets the encouragement of so many others. we came inside and she ran to look for chelly and emily who came outside to watch. then matt came home and took her out for a five minute bike date, just the two of them, they cruised the pathways of trinity western. it was a sweet night, reminded me of just how much i have to be thankful for, especially living here.

this morning, we rode again...she rang her bell and asked students to get out of her way...fearless really, not sure i would ask a whole gang of dudes, to move for me. penny rode with the radio this morning, first time, and sang her little heart out. the girls were taken to the cafeteria for popsicles by their buddy julia. and we start another year, so blessed.

dreams and reality

we have just come home from ten days on the island...ten intensive and full of adventure days. you think that maybe, just maybe the girls would want to sit, take a deep breath, play quietly with toys...well maybe you dream. instead i was just called into their room like this, "mom, mom, you have to come here" followed by an exuberant out burst of laughter. i pretty much ran...i know these girls a little too well. "look mom, pennys gummy got stuck up there." i look up, and attached to her doll house on top of her dresser is a gummy, stuck and wet looking. "how did it get up there girls?" i asked. "we threw it mom, first it got stuck on the ceiling, then we got it up there." said with much excitement, "see mom, look how we do it," the wet gummy is licked and then hurled from her hand to attach itself to some unsuspecting object in her room, insert massive outburst of laughter. "girls, you shouldn't throw your gummies, that's not okay" this is my reaction as i try not to giggle. "okay mom, we won't." i walk out, they quickly close the door behind me and all i hear is screams of joy and laughter...i have just returned from pulling a gummy off the ceiling...what the...?

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.