I wanted to find a picture of my mom in an apron for yesterday’s post

but

you know how it is,

when you want something, you just can’t put your finger on it.

But I did find some sweet pictures

My mom and Dad - probably early 1960’s. 

A picture of me, probably my third birthday, reaching up to taste one of the wonderful birthday cakes mom baked for me every year - angel food with seven minute frosting.

I love this picture of mom. It was taken in the summer of 1963 during a trip to New Brunswick. I was 6 years old and it was my very first trip off the Island. I was so excited. I can remember driving off the ferry. I was wide-eyed. I can still hear the gentle teasing in my dad’s voice as he said “Does it look any different?”

 Nannie and my two oldest boys - 1983. They loved her cookies!

Mom died  17 years ago on June 22. I still miss her. But I feel blessed to have such sweet memories.

Hope this day will be a sweet memory for each of you, my friends.

PS 

*sniff* 

I need a kleenex :) 

Does anyone else get melancholy looking through old photos?

Our baby graduated with honours.

Our fifth, and final, High School Graduation.

Each graduation  brings a lot of memories because my five children graduated from the same High School that I graduated from 32 years ago. They were raised here in Belfast, but attended High School in the little town of Montague where I grew up - a  20 minute drive away.

It was a memorable evening. The teachers and staff of Sarah’s school, as well as the whole community, know how to honour their graduating class.

The evening begins with a procession leading from the High School to a little Presbyterian church where a  service is held. Only the grads and staff can attend as the church is just large enough to seat the class of over 200 students.

 
I wish I could have been there, especially this year, as my preacher husband gave the message and my daughter sang. It was bittersweet, as the song was sung in memory of one of her dearest friends who died last Sept. The whole evening was shining with memories of Martha with her winsome smile and contagious laughter.

After the church service, the RCMP block off Main Street and the whole town lines up to take pictures and cheer the graduating class.

A piper and two RCMP officers, in dress uniform, lead the way.

The procession marches through the town to  the community rink - the only building large enough to hold the class and all the family members, friends and neighbours who turn out to celebrate.

A little wave and a grin for us! 

Best friends since Kindergarten!

So proud of you sweetie! 

Prom night

The whole gang - a perfect evening.

happy 

so many wonderful experiences ~ so many wonderful memories 

but

it’s good to be home.

Our son’s wedding blessing was of course, the highlight of our trip.

My pictures didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped. But they will give you an idea of how lovely everything was.

Our beautiful daughter by love

A little friend bringing a lilac for the happy couple 

A father’s blessing

 
A happy couple

More trip highlights to come! 

1992 ~ Cavendish Beach
These are the five  who have made me one incredibly happy mom! So many happy memories and so much more to come!

I received this beautiful poem from a good friend ~ I’m passing it on to each of you, my friends, with much love and prayers for a Happy Mother’s Day!

~ Before I was a Mom ~

I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn’t worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn’t want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn’t stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn’t know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body.

I didn’t know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby.

I didn’t know that bond

between a mother and her child.

I didn’t know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn’t know I was capable

of feeling so much,

                                                                                before I was a Mom.

 We live on Polly Hill. The hill was named after one of the three ships that brought the original Scottish settlers to this community in 1803. There is a monument and small park across the road from our home.

 

The boys wrote a song about growing up here - on Polly Hill. It’s one of my favourites. This is a video of a live performance - recorded by a fan.

You may want to turn it down a bit in the “singalong” section - it gets a trifle out of tune enthusiastic!

but don’t miss the last note sung by the boys - it’s sweet!

 More endless gifts…
7.my children
8.growing up in a small town beneath an eastern rural sky
9.harmony
10.happy childhood memories for my children  

I am joining my good friend Ann V. at Holy Experience

She writes:

I am seeing things I have never seen before, atuned and aware of this constant, endless stream of gifts from His hand. I am one waking from slumber….from the stupor of indifference and ignorance. I have sight, fresh and keen—-the world is new and full of His gifts.

Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don’t see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me…

1. eyes to see

2. mind to be aware

3. heart to be atuned

4. a life to live awake

5. a Father who is near

6. who showers endless gifts

7. who loves

A good beginning …

Consider joining. You will be blessed!

Well, yes, it’s the day before the actual b-day but we’re celebrating today. Sunday works well for everyone to get together. I have all my kiddos home except my London boy and his sweet wife. We’ll see them in May when we head across the pond.

I’m resting after leading worship this morning in church. The crew is running around making a nice supper - I’m not allowed to lift a finger although I just had to give my opinion on the angel food cake (No, you can’t try to take it out of the pan right after you take it out of the oven - it has to hang upside down on a pop bottle for an hour or so… don’t worry it will still taste great :)

We’re having a barbeque _{(despite the snow… there are rumours of 10 degrees and rain coming this week - that’s 50 degrees for those south of the border)}

Tenderloin steak, sweet potatoes, corn, carrots and peas - as well as a seafood bubbly bake (scallops, lobster and haddock in a creamy sauce)  - an early b-day present from sweet friends at church. Then angel food cake, strawberries and ice-cream for dessert.

Best of all - family. We’ll sing - because it’s MY birthday and that’s what I like most of all. Oh you should hear their harmonies … it’s so sweet it would make you cry.

Two years ago, on my birthday, I asked all my bloggy friends to share their favourite children’s books - it was such a fun post - and I had so many answers.

This year,  if you would be so kind,  (and because I KNOW you want help me celebrate the day of my birth!),

tell me the titles of books that you would read at least twice and maybe even more - in other words your “Happy Returns” - the fiction books that are your old friends - the ones that make you smile, laugh, cry or just feel contented.

It could be a children’s book or a classic or a recently published novel. 

I have so many books that I enjoy re-reading - I get more out of the second, third and fourth read. Here are a few of my recent re-reads.…

• The Annotated Anne of Green Gables - so many notes and interesting quotes about PEI, the time period and LM’s life.
  
•  Elizabeth Goudge’s The Eliots of Dameroshay  - I love this trilogy. Her characters feel real to me. I think I could recognize them walking down the street.
•  The Wind in the Willows -  Ratty, Mole and Toad make me laugh!
  
• Mrs. Mike - a sweet romance with the adventure of living in the far north.
  
• The Melendy family - a lovely childhood series set during the WW2.
  
• Betsy-Tacy  - one of the sweetest scenes in this book is when Tacy’s little baby sister dies and 6 year old Betsy climbs up the tree to sit with her and comfort her.
  
•  Here’s a gem that I’ll leave you with - I wonder if any of you have ever read it?? Larkrise to Candleford - a lovely story that I have read many times!
  

Ah…

Favourite books - yes I do talk about them a lot. Reading happens to be one of my favourite topics.

Humour me…   

It’s my birthday

*grin* 

I had a happy, but tired girl heading off to school this morning. It’s been an exciting and intense week. The semi-final series, which was  best of three games, was won in a nail-biter game ending in a 5 player shoot-out to break the tie. Then on to the championship game last night with an easier win with a score of 9-5.

Provincial Ringette Champions 2008!

That’s my girl holding the trophy. She’s in grade 12 this year so it’s especially sweet to cap her ringette career winning the Provincial Championship.

What’s ringette you say? Watch here.

We were driving home a few evenings ago and saw this awe-inspiring sunset.  I made My husband graciously pulled over so I could snap some shots out of the open car window. It was chilly on the hands but worth it. The beauty brought these verses to mind.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
<sub>Ps 19:1

Click to enlarge</sub>For as high as the heavens are above the earth,  so great is his love for those who fear him.
<sub>Ps 103:11

Click to enlarge</sub>

Our friend, Gus, is showing small improvements, although still in serious condition on a respirator. Twenty of us gathered at the hospital chapel last evening and spent a wonderful hour in prayer for him. It’s very sweet to belong to such a loving body of believers. I would be so grateful for your continued prayer for him and his wife, Karen.