Celebrating 15 years!

September 18th, 1993

On September 18th, Henry & I celebrated 15 years of marriage! Wow! Where has the time gone?!? I thought it would be fun to get our wedding party together again especially because Cory & Tash were around. We had a great evening of food, fellowship and a rambunctious (sp?) game of spoons! Thanks friends for making the effort to come out and celebrate with us.

The wedding party plus spouses 15 years later!





So far Henry & I have been celebrating every 5th year milestone by doing something extra special. For our 5th year we went to Hecla & Winnipeg for the weekend. For our 10th we went to Cancun and also spent a weekend in Winnipeg (mind you, we spent most of that weekend shopping for our new house), and now we needed to come up with something for our 15th. My dream was to see Nashville. I enjoy music and wanted to see Tennessee. Last year we ended up taking a spur of the moment business trip in the deep south and spent a half day in Nashville, just enough to whet the appetite! So we talked about it a number of times, but the cost of flights and timing wasn't working out in our favor. And you know how it is, time gets away and nothing happens! In the meantime we were busy with many other things, the biggest thing for me in October was preparing for a scrapbooking retreat weekend. It was a struggle to get enough people committed to attend, even though many had seemed interested when I started with it. And it seemed for everytime one thing went right, two went wrong. Then I had a day where we had 5 cancellations and I was trying to see the bright side of things. I kept praying that I would persevere through the trial and see the positive learning experience in all of it. The morning after my bad day, I did a flight search from Winnipeg to Nashville for the fun of it, saw the price, but never gave it a second thought. I went on with my day, and I stuck in a Gaither video in hopes of lifting my spirits. Then this song started playing and it was exactly how I was feeling...

"Hold me While I Cry" by Gerald Crabb


It's been one of those days/If anything could go wrong, it went wrong/I know I'm feeling sorry for me/There's a lot of self pity going on/ Tomorrow I will be okay/The dawn will bring a brand new day/ I'm sure by then I'll be fine/Lord, today I really need a friend/I know that You understand/ Would you hold me while I cry *I take a lot of Your time/When I should be strong/I should be standing by now/But it's You I'm leaning on/You've always kept me safe from harm/Like a child in Your arms/ You've cradled me through hardships faced in my life/Lord, it's one of those days/ I've been fought in every way/Would You hold me while I cry* I try to be strong but, if anyone can fall aprt, I fall apart/I run back to You again and You heal my broken heart/You have truly been a friend, reaching out to lend a hand/Lord, when You could have passed my by/ I'm asking for Your strength today, lift my spirit, Lord, I pray/Will You hold me while I cry* (repeat chorus)

Within 5 minutes of hearing this song, I had a phone call. It was in regards to the spring concert we are working on. One of our performers is coming from Nashville and we were discussing the cost of plane tickets. So I mentioned what price I had come across in the morning and made comment that it was return from Winnipeg. He's like "really? from Winnipeg? that's very reasonable", and I was like "yes, you're right!" I so believe that it was God answering my prayers, maybe not giving me the people that I needed for the retreat, but reminding me that He hadn't forgotten about me or any other dreams I had. That is what got the ball rolling for what would become our 15th anniversary getaway! How's that for a memorable story? (btw, we ended up with enough people for the retreat, last minute:) Pictures from the big trip to come...

Wordless Wednesday - Again!

Wordless Wednesday

Back to School

It's official, my kids all go to school! I love my kids dearly, but this was an exciting day for all of us, 3 kids getting on the bus at once for the first time! I have never seen a child so excited about school as Jeziah. I asked him if he wanted to me to come to school to meet him when he got off the bus, he said "NO". Then he asked me, "are you going to cry", I said "No, but would you like me to". His answer was "NO" He absolutely loves school and all that comes with it. We were talking of taking a road trip next week and asked him if he wanted to come with us, or stay behind to go to school. He was really torn, because he doesn't want to miss school, but he also didn't want to miss the opportunity to play in a swimming pool for a couple of days. In the end he chose the pool. I enjoy the quiet days at home (when I'm at home...lol...)

Another favorite shot

Come, rest & relax!
(For some reason I can only upload 5 pictures at a time, so this one didn't make it in the last post.)

Some Favorite Shots

Doesn't this just want to make you find some good watermelon to eat!?!

Farmer Girl Toes. Pedicures...what is that?

More Summer Snapshots

Summer would not be summer without bonfires.

Buffalo Point

James, Henry & Jeziah checking out the marina at Buffalo Point.

The sun setting at Lake Minnewasta campground.

As a kid I spent a lot of summers on alfalfa fields around the country side. Dad still does custom baling, funny how some things don't change! I still enjoy the smell of fresh alfalfa that's been cut and baled. We are grateful that our cows will be well fed this winter!

Miscellaneous Summer Memories

Thought I'd better finish posting some of the summer pictures before it's too much in the past.

Jeziah got a guitar for Christmas last year. For the longest time it was out of commission because a string broke. Well, it's working again, and I can't listen to it for too long in the house, so I send him outside. But I think this is the way it should be...picking tunes outside on the veranda! He makes up his own songs, or tries to copy other players, but he claims he can only play for so long because then his guitar is full of songs. Not sure yet how he deletes his songs to start over...the minds of kids!

The kids found this abandoned calf in the far corner of the pasture. Turns out the mother had twins and didn't want one. We agreed that if they nursed it back to health and fed it every day until it could eat on it's own, they could have the money for it when it came time to sell it. They were doing so well, and the calf was like a dog, it followed them everywhere. It really was kind of cute. Unfortunately, this guy lost his life to wildlife one night. One report says coyote, another wolf. Who knows, but we do know it was a sad day at our home! Actually, it was a sad week at our home, we lost 2 cows that week as well. The kids did get to keep the insurance money, but it didn't amount to as much as if they'd been able to keep it, but I think they also learned a lesson...we can't always have our way, no matter how much we plan.

Our dog Lacy had pups...AGAIN! These critters were born at the beginning of June, and we had them all gone by the beginning of August. There were 11 of them!! We will now no longer have this thrill...

Henry's sister Tina and her husband Les headed to Africa in June and came back with this cutie. His name is David and he's our newest nephew!

High Valley In Concert

These boys from La Crete, AB are appearing in concert at the MacGregor Collegiate on Tuesday,September 9th @ 7:30 p.m. Admission is "by donation" with all proceeds going to the MacGregor Multi Plex building project. You can read more about High Valley on their website www.highvalley.ca They are stopping in MacGregor on their way back from the Canadian Country Music Awards in Winnipeg. They have opened for Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Reba McIntire and do a lot with Paul Brandt. Their music is described as organic country with faith based lyrics. If you're in the area, do come check it out!

Camping - Part 2

In August we spent some time in Morden at Lake Minnewasta. We spent time with Uncle Rudy & Aunt Verna, beached at the lake one day, and spent an afternoon at the water park in Winkler.

Dexter & Raquel love the water slides. I had forgot to bring Jeziah a life jacket, he may have enjoyed it more had he had that option. In the 3 hours we were there, Dexter never took a break once!
Henry had just as much fun! Don't you just love his bright green swimming trunks!! That's what he gets for forgetting his at home! It was our joke of the trip!

Jeziah loves to play in the water too! I'm good with the camera and keeping the lawn chair or bleach blanket down!

Our last outing was to Miller's, and we spent the time with Darcy & Kim. It's funny how much the kids miss each other, and were all counting the days until they could be together. They had a blast using the pool and making new friends.

While at Miller's, I supposedly aged again. I celebrated in style with the best party goers around!

Summer Camping - Part 1

We have enjoyed another summer of making memories at the campground! We went out a total of 6 times for a total of 22 nights in the camper. Here are a few highlights from each trip.

My family camped at Stephenfield again, and we inivited Mom's family to join us again. Uncle Rudy was too sick to be with us but the rest of us plus a few extras were all there. Sunday after supper we had a down pour, we had tried to cover the food as much as possible before we made a run for it. Kim's dessert still ended up with water in it. But it didn't go to waste, Cynthia enjoyed every bite!

Henry's family camped at Buffalo Point this year. It was a miserable weekend, cool, wet & windy. The sun did come out on Sunday, but it was very windy. We found this beach which was sheltered from the wind, but the horseflies were horrible.

Kim & I spent the week at Spruce Woods again. We were joined by more people as the week went along. It was the first hot week of the summer and we enjoyed it to the fullest! We beached every day but one. Rayleen LOVED the water!

Mom & Dad, Tim & Janet, and Brad & Mel joined us for parts of the week. On the weekend there were a total of 15 kids 11 and under, and only 2 were boys!!

Take me out to the ball game...

The first week in August, the oldest two kids were at camp, and so we just had Jeziah at home. Henry & I did a date night to Brandon, and spontaneously decided to go home via Neepawa for ice cream. It's so fun to be able to be adventurous again! While we were on that excrusion, we got a phone call from Brad & Mel asking if we wanted to go to a Goldeye's game two nights later. Wow, another date night opportunity in the same week! I can't remember the last time we went out with friends and no kids! Anyhoo, we took them up on the offer, not because we are baseball fans, but because it was a great excuse to hang out with friends, and it was easy to find a sitter for just Jeziah! It was a gorgeous night to be at the ball park, the only draw back was that it went over time! We left before it was over so we could have something to eat before midnight!

If you look closely, you will see the ball just behind the batter's behind. (It's been a few weeks, I can't even remember who they were playing...lol...)

This pitcher was for the Goldeye's, he was hilarious to watch as he wound up.

A hot air balloon flew over at the beginning of the game, great entertainment for the camera enthusiast!

The setting sun gave more interesting pictures to take, yeah, I was trying to stay entertained!

You think these guys are bored?

Mennonite Heritage Museum

On our way home from the family campout at Buffalo Point, we stopped in at the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Steinbach. I had often talked of taking the kids, but it's a long drive for a walk in a museum, so now was a great time as we were passing through. Raquel really wanted to stop, and in the end, we couldn't get over how much all three kids enjoyed the museum. We all enjoyed reading about our heritage and learning more about who the Mennonites were and are. They spent some money in the general store and we had some food at the restaurant. Henry & I had the "faspa", a fresh bun, New Bothwell cheese, bowl of soup, fresh ruhbarb jam and ruhbarb platz. Yum, yum!

Happy Birthday Jeziah!

Jeziah Liam is offically 5 years old! He has waited for this day since July 2nd of last year! You have no clue how often I heard "when will it be my birthday?" "how many more sleeps until my birthday?" "when will I be 5?" Well, you get the picture. That day did finally arrive again this year on July 2nd! In the past 6 weeks, I think he has only asked me once when his next birthday will be! Now the million dollar question is, "when do I start school?" Soon my boy, soon, in fact this year it's coming way too quickly. Not because I'm sorry to see him go to school, but because I feel like the summer went by way too quick!

Old News, but new to you!

Wow! Talk about being behind! Will try my best in the days ahead to bring you up to speed. Today we're starting with the sporting events the kids participated in this past spring.

Jeziah played rec soccer for 5 weeks, well it ran for 5 weeks, but he only played 3 because of our schedule conflicts. This is cheap entertainment for kids who don't play league soccer. He absolutely loved it, even though it was hardly competitive enough for him. That is him coming for you in the muscle shirt and shorts. (The last game, the only game where I had a camera, was in the gym because of rain, so I ended up with crummy pictures)

This year league soccer came to MacGregor. We had once said, if it came to MacGregor, we would consider allowing the kids to play. Raquel wasn't interested, and Dexter didn't have to be convinced otherwise. Half their games were away, and half were at home. We ended up with quite a few cancellations because of rain, and froze through the rest. The last two games were the best! It ended up that some of his games were in Portage the same night as swimming lessons, so that part worked out really well. But it still was exhausting to be driving kids everywhere! Here Dexter has the ball. I acutally got some great continuous shots from this play, but with dial up, it just takes too long to show them all to you!

The very proud soccer player!

Jeziah took swimming lessons as his main sport this past spring. He did amazing. He went from fearing the water to absolutely loving it. He was all proud of himself when he went down the waterslide with no teacher to catch him. Here makes the jump (the boy beside him has the same swimming trunks!)

Raquel did not want to play soccer, so we allowed her to continue in swimming lessons. She loves taking swimming lessons and does well in the water.

The Latest

I had started this post weeks ago, and never finished. The post never became "the latest" as I had planned, will try to do that shortly!

Trying to catch some fish on our first camping excrusion in mid June. No luck with the fish!