so far today

i enjoyed a lovely continental breakfast

had a great visit with some ladies from seattle area

walked for one and a half hours along english bay

love the sound of surf and gulls

love the sights of sailboats and rowing teams

sunshine, spring

invigorating

refreshing

relaxing

a change of pace

now i search for some good coffee or chai

ponderings

today i was reading in galations for my devotions
to be absolutely truthful i find it hard to find time for my devotions
i could use alot of excuses such as i homeschool our kids, am the resident chauffer, we have our business and i do the books
but the real crux is that i don't make it important
i find time for so many temporary things
exercise, knitting, sewing, housework, etc
but i so often, too often, can't find the moment or the time to consistently find space for God
so i thought of the balance between the eternal and the temporary
what has greater value? why does the temporary push in loud and clear?
while the eternal gets lots in the busy?
thoughts, just thoughts
------
after i read my bible, i was reading another book that challenged
"patience is giving another grace when undeserved"
that really struck me because that is what God does for me everyday!
that is why even though i tend to get lost in the temporary
God still waits and calls me back to the eternal in so many ways
i know i don't live in the eternal and that i am placed on this earth, at this time
but i believe that we carry eternity in our hearts and that it can change how we go through everyday
------
thoughts, just thoughts

the wonderful gulf islands

here is a bunch of photos from our trip to salt spring island
the weather for the week was suppose to be inclement
however, though we had rain, we always had a good portion of the day to enjoy the outdoors
for some fortunate ones, this weather in march might be normal
for us it was a great break from the winter snow

home sweet home

well after heading south for 11 days, we are home again

the break away was lovely

everyone really needed it, alot

-----

our days were pretty laid back

sleep in

breakfast served around nine

the most amazing lattes or chai around eleven

(i will never look at a starbucks the same way again)

beachcombing in the afternoon, sometimes for hours

casual suppers

long walks

and knitting once it was dark

the grass was green, the ocean was refreshing and the company was great

forgotten was winter and its cold, gray, gravel-ly blah

forgotten was the "things to do" and the rush-rush

oh the blessing of time away!

we are outta here

when we awake tomorrow we are heading to

a lovely island in the pacific ocean
no, not hawaii

no, not anywhere around mexico
just off the coast of canada
but it is south of here,

it is warmer than here
it doesn't have snow!
and it gets us out of town!
we all feel like we need a change of scenery!
so for now...goodbye

back in 10 days

carnival

we have been busy this week

preparing and practising for the figure skating carnival

the theme this year was Wizard of Oz

our oldest daughter was in two numbers

the yellow brick road

(2 pictures below)

and over the rainbow

(remaining pictures)

she had a lot of fun

and after a season of freezing our butts off

it was good to see it all come together in the end

now we can hang up our skates for the winter

and dream of spring

or if that doesn't work, we can try and find it

next week is spring break and we leave on saturday to head south

well, not really south to alot of people (we are staying in Canada)

but south to us!

4 yr old prayer

last night we had everyone tucked into bed

were about to turn off the lights

and our four-year-old begged to pray

here is her prayer

--------

"dear God

thank you for all the people that aren't crashing

and that robbers who take stuff

go to the dungeon

amen"

--------

hmmm!

i was glad we all had our eyes closed so she couldn't see me smile

i think the first part was being thankful people that weren't getting hurt

how she equates dungeons with jail though, i am not sure!

winter's end?

when?

when oh winter will you lose your fury?

i've been patient and haven't complained

but one starts to lose focus in the relentless snow

i hope for spring bulbs, fresh dirt, grass between my toes

but that seems ... so far away

14 years ago

on our wedding day, march 4, 1995

our engagement pictures, october 1994

the past tense

i just realized that i may not be so fond of the past tense
tomorrow is my 14th wedding anniversary
tonight after dinner my oldest daughter and i were doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen
when all of a sudden she says "i can see why you married dad!"
i reply "oh why is that, because he is such a nice guy?"
her reply "oh no, probably because you were pretty!"
like was, but aren't anymore?...i gave her a really hard time, we laughed pretty hard, and she assured me that wasn't what she meant
but still with the end of the thirties approaching......