something old ~ something new...

We all needed a diversion from election talk and hockey...and so the royal wedding came just at the right time!  Some thirty years ago...I got up in the middle of the night to watch the wedding of Charles and Diana.  Today I will brew my cup of coffee tea...toast my English muffin...and enjoy it all from my best Royal Albert fine china while I watch the wedding that was PVR'd hours ago.  I love that technology!

As for the wedding venue...

...we checked it out a few months ago...and gave it our approval.  It is definitely something old! Westminster Abbey is a fine old cathedral...which has seen the coronation of 38 kings and queens since 1066, when William the Conqueror became the first monarch to be crowned here.  It is also the final resting place for 17 monarchs.  It remains a place of worship...with daily prayers and special services held throughout the year.  I'm sure today's wedding will be among the most special!

In keeping with the wedding theme...I'm sharing a wee bit about wedding rings over here.  Hubby's wedding ring took a lot of abuse in those early years...and was sent away to be 'reinforced' several times.  The once etched top was worn to a shiny surface...and after thirty years I decided he should have a new wedding band.  The original was nicely stored...as a memento of our vows in 1971.  Last summer on our road trip through Montana, we went mining at Gem Mountain near Philipsburg.  We had great fun...and came away with two sparkly blue sapphires.  I packed them away and recently took them to a goldsmith...to see what could be done with them.  We decided the round one would be perfect set in the center of hubby's original wedding band.  I asked the goldsmith what he would suggest I do with the other sapphire.  He looked at the plain gold band that I was wearing on my thumb...and suggested he would put it on that band.  Why not?  Then we would each have our own sapphire ring.  So for the past few weeks...

...we have been wearing our new old rings.  My new old ring was once my mother-in-law's wedding band...and I have worn it since she passed on.  So now...like Princess Kate... I wear my husband's mother's sapphire ring.  I'm sure she never found her rock in Montana though!

So that is my bit of something old...something new...something borrowed found...something blue for today.

Before you rush away...be sure to stop by MGCC where we are serving up Royal Chocolate Biscuit Cake...

...in honour of the marriage of Prince William and Kate. 

Enjoy the day...the pomp and ceremony...and the royal treatment.  Tomorrow..it's back to hockey and politics!

one decade ago...

On this day ten years ago...

we celebrated the marriage of our only daughter. 

Heidi and Tim committed their lives to each other before God...

...with friends and family as their witnesses.  

Grandpa's car was their getaway vehicle...

and they made a hasty retreat once the wedding celebrations were over.

With ten years of  wedded bliss behind them...

they are off on another retreat this weekend.

Maggie is coming for a sleepover at Grammy's.

As I was looking through their wedding pictures...

I didn't think all  that much had changed until I arrived on this family photo taken on April 28, 2010.

 

That was it...there were seven of us!

Today we are fourteen...

and counting the weeks until the next one arrives.

Tim and Heidi...

...may He who brought you together continue to bring you good things.

Things like hope, joy and love!

Being confident of this, 

that he who began a good work in you 

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Phil. 1:6 NIV

Happy Anniversary!

daffodil day...

The month of April has long been known as daffodil month...with the daffodil being the Canadian Cancer Society's symbol of hope in it's fight against cancer. In British Columbia...today is officially Daffodil Day.

Many people will be sporting daffodil pins on their lapels today...to let those who are fighting the disease know they are not alone.

Everybody has been touched by cancer in some way.  We all know of someone who has done battle with the disease.  For some of us...it is closer to home than for others.  I have lost my mom...my grandpa...two aunts...three uncles and a cousin to cancer.  Many others on both sides of the family tree have done battle with cancer...and won...for now.  I'm on board...in the fight against cancer!

But this I know...that cancer has only so much power!  I love this poem (author unknown) that my cousin gave me some years ago.  Thanks, Pat.

Cancer is so limited...


...it cannot cripple love
...it cannot shatter hope
...it cannot corrode faith
...it cannot eat away at peace
...it cannot destroy confidence
...it cannot kill friendship
...it cannot shut out memories
...it cannot reduce eternal life
...it cannot quench the spirit
...it cannot lesson the power of the resurrection!

going to school in style...

A very long time ago, I was a student at the same elementary school that my oldest two granddaughters now attend.  In those days...all students arrived by bus or by bike.  Times have changed...

...though there are still school buses, many are driven to school these days.

Some even come by limo!

There's a story here...as I am sure you guessed!

Many of you wondered how it came about that my hubby was the limo driver for our milestone birthday party last week.   It just so happens that we have a friend who owns a limo.  He went car shopping one day a few years back...with plans to buy his wife a new set of wheels.  He came home with this limo!  I don't think she was all that impressed...and he soon found her a vehicle that was a little more suitable.  The limo, however, stayed!  We have used it on several occasions over the past few years...with hubby as chauffeur.  Since we had the limo on our yard overnight following last week's birthday celebration...we thought it might be fun to deliver Emme and Spencer to school in style in the morning. They called a friend to join them...and with a little snickering and giggling...they rode to school in luxury that day.  As for the limo driver...he decided he better not wear his usual work clothes that morning!

They were all smiles!  But back at home...Ryder had been somewhat put out that his sisters got to ride in the limo and he never.  Grandpa decided he would make a run to pre-school as well before returning the limo...

...and so Ryder called a buddy to join him and off they went to pre-school in the back of the limo. 

 Ryder felt quite special...and was even willing to give autographs, I hear. 

And so ended our limo adventures!  The limo driver went home and changed into coveralls and boots. 

As for the grands...they will be riding the bus to school as usual today.  Easter break is over...and the buses are back on the road this morning.

Have a terrific Tuesday...

the bunny came and went...

Easter Sunday began sunshine...and a wonderful church service.  

Our plans were to have an afternoon Easter egg hunt with the grands...

and as it clouded over, we realized we were in a race against the rain!

The bunny decided to hide eggs at the farmyard this year...

and had no sooner hidden the last eggs...

than the drizzle began.

They never seemed to notice though.

It was the spectators that found it a little damp! 

When the last eggs had been uncovered...

we moved the party up the hill to Kris and Lisa's for Easter dinner. 

We all brought our contributions...

...and Broni brought a work of fruit-art! 

The guys hung out in the living room...

where Kris has been holed up these last few weeks.   

Things are looking up for him though...

he is spending less time in the hospital bed and more time in the recliner now. 

Oh...and he ordered up a motorized wheelchair a few days ago and has been doing a little cruising in the neighbourhood. 

Did I mention that there happened to be a Canuck's play-off hockey game on last night? 

Unfortunately, that did not end well!

Any idea what I might have gifted the girls for Easter? 

Why...a cookbook, of course!

The grandsons decided to dress up for Easter dinner...

and found some ties to match their shirts!

Micah had paska for the very first time...

and liked it just fine!

Once dinner was over...

they begged to go out to play. 

Why...the rain had all but stopped.

They amused themselves out there until the day was all but done. 

And before we all parted ways...

the Easter bunny made one last appearance. 

Until next year!

Easter Blessings...

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible

greatness of His power for us who believe in Him.

This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead

and seated Him in the place of honour at God's

right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

Whether the eggs are hung painted...

or the details are all looked after...

won't matter at all in the end.

The only thing that really matters is Jesus.

Wishing you a blessed Easter!

Great Friday....

On Good Friday we remember the greatness and wonder of God's love...

that He would die for us.

That is why it is called 'good'.

It is also a time of sorrow...

as we consider how our sin caused His death.

May you be blessed this Good Friday...

as you think on these things.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Safe in the death of Christ my guide
All living things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to his blood

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far to small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name 

 ~Isaac Watts 1707

triple the fun....

We meet together as a 'care group' several times each month.  Those meetings don't usually look anything like the one we had this week!  It just so happened that three of us were celebrating a milestone birthday this month...and so we thought we should acknowledge that!

 The plan was to meet at a lovely resort restaurant for dinner.  What the guests of honour did not know...was that they would be riding there in style!

And once they were safely delivered...the limo driver parked his rig next to the lake...and came in and joined us for the party.  (I was glad he did!)

To get fourteen of us all available on the same night is no small feat...especially during hockey season.  The Canucks had to play without us on Tuesday night...but we'll be back in the cheering section tonight!

The birthday guests-of-honour each had their own personalized menu...and there were boutineers and flowers...and balloons...and take-home favours.  Oh...and sparklers on their cake...

...and a birthday choir they won't forget anytime soon.   And a lot of laughter...and a good time all around!  Who said turning 60 is not a good thing?   

As a care group we have learned to rejoice with those who rejoice...and mourn with those who mourn.  It has been one of those years where there have been many reasons to laugh...but also times of sadness.  How wonderful to have friends with whom to share the ups and downs of life.  This was definitely an up!

Happy Birthday...Dave, Irene and Mavis.

in our hands....

It's for real.  

The cookbook is now in our hands!

We had been tracking the truck as it slowly wound it's way west and north...

and knew it would be in Canada any time.

When the truck arrived at Lovella's doorstep...

we wasted no time in heading down there.

Packing slips...

and many boxes of cookbooks...

but she had it all organized.

As for her personal copy...

...it had already found it's rightful place on her kitchen counter.

We counted out books...

...and loaded our boxes

...and returned from whence we came.

It's been a long time in the works...

and we can hardly believe it.

But that's all I'm saying...

you will just have to see for yourselves.

God has given us two hands...

one to receive and the other to give with.

~Billy Graham 

 We at MGCC all feel that we have been given much...

and wish to share of that bounty with others.

All author royalties from the cookbook will be donated to charity to feed hungry children.

We are so excited about that.

Now that we as authors have the book in our hands...

you can be sure that yours will be soon to follow!

And if you would like a chance to win a copy...
head over to MGCC where we are having a give-away!

We had a big birthday party last night...

and celebrated three milestone birthdays all at once.

Any idea what I might have brought as gifts?

Why...cookbooks, of course!

They arrived right on time.