Reception!

Saturday, we attended Val and Shane's wedding reception at the Midsun community center.

Mr. and Mrs. Shane Sokolan

The bride's parents.

Andre was not able to attend as he was flying. This is Lisa and Tony's cousin's special lady.

51 years ago on July 21st, this young couple was married. Happy Anniversary Delaine and Ron!!

Rhonda and Tony and Tony's cousin in the background.

Dave and Cherie.

Two beautiful young ladies, Erin (Melissa's) and Kimberly (Patty's). Kimberly sat at the guestbook table.

Two more beautiful young ladies......Janessa (Patty's) and Lorissa (Valerie's). They also sat at the guestbook table.

Patty and Melissa with Cory in the background. Darryl and Tim weren't able to make it as Matthew and Keegan were at their soccer tournament and both the guys coach.

Steven, Jehru and little Jarvin. He is 10 months old now and walks all over the place. He is a little cutie!!!

A bunch of the gals plus Dave doing the "makarana" (spelling is wrong, I know). They had so much fun!

Here is Jessica singing "karioki" to this one song. She knew it perfectly, did actions with it and was just hilarious - such a character. Melissa and Jim laughing at her.......we were all laughing!!!! She is hoping to go to Briercrest Bible College next fall to take some courses. She is such a fun gal!!

Stampede barbeque and a visit from Heather and kids!

We had our annual Stampede Barbeque last Sunday at our church and it was good. Roy and Stan were our guys that did the barbequing and they did a fine job. I think everyone enjoyed it. We had quite afew people that came from the Condos across the street and others too that we hadn't seen before. Good time.

Ron and Sheri standing in line. Another friend from the condo across the street.

Rhonda and Myra getting their food!

Karen and Don with Evan.

How Don loves the babies! He is so good with them.

Our youngest cowboy in our church. Yes, Evan is there under the big cowboy hat!!!!!

Heather and I and the kids went to Ikea yesterday for lunch. Honestly that place is so kid-friendly. We didn't buy anything there, then we toured the new Superstore over in that area and what a big, spacious store that is. I had to get some groceries for the weekend. Then our last stop was Christian Pub and while the kids watched Hermie, we got what we had to get there. How fun was that!!!! Came home and sat in the back yard visiting and Jemma and Siri deadheaded my petunias. That was a huge help. It has been so hot and humid (strange for Calgary) the last few days so sitting in the shade is nice.

Thanks guys for coming to visit us and great-gramma. She loved it as we did.

The mom and her girls sitting on the "discussion bench" under the lilac tree.

Random shots!

It has been just beautiful here in Calgary the last few days, today we were over 30 C so it was very warm. Lots of people at our lake and guess what we had tonight to cool off???? Yup, a SCREAMER!!!!! Now some of you might not know what a screamer is.......well, it is slurpee and soft ice cream in layers. We shared a lime and orange with ice cream! Soooooo refreshing!!! Whenever our family comes in the summer, we always have to have either a "Screamer" run or a "Tim Horton's Ice Cap" run!!!!! That is just the way it is here in Canada!!!!

I love my new arbor that my hubby and I put together. It acts as a privacy screen as well as a plant holder.

On my way to work the other night. Again the sunset was unbelieveable.

I looked out my kitchen window this evening and the sky was just beautiful. And two young guys waiting for the bus probably going down to Stampede.

Isaiah 40:31

Lord,

Our days are long

and our schedules are full

You said when we are weary

we can come to You

and You will give us rest.

So we come to You now

and ask you to:

Renew our spirits

Restore our strength

Refresh our hearts.

Thank you for being the source of all we need,

to do everything

You have called us to do

Wherever we go,

and whatever we face today,

may we live in Your presence

because that is the only place

we can truly be rejuvenated.

Amen

"Those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength...."

Saskatoon Berry Farm.......

This morning, Erin and I went out to the Saskatoon Berry Farm for breakfast. We each had a breakfast burrito at their cute little restaurant and then had fun looking and looking and looking and finally buying some plants. Erin wanted to get some stuff for her backyard and I wanted an African daisy. Pretty much everything was on sale so this is the time to go. First time for Erin to see this place.

In one of the many greenhouses. Hanging baskets all over the place.

Down at the bottom of the hill beside the river are the Saskatoon bushes and across the river is Uncle Jarle's place.

Sitting on a bench overlooking the Highwood River. (It is either the Highwood or Sheep River) It was gorgeous. We could see for miles.

Standing in front of a mountain of flowers. Beautiful!

In the shade of my lilac tree.........

Golden afternoons of summer

When the sun is shining high,

And lacy little cloudlets drift

Like cotton in the sky.

Easy hours pass on tiptoe

As a soft and mellow breeze

Shows the silvery side of summer

Under leaves of lilac trees,

With coffee and book, I go to my chair

Reading as the hours go by

Listening to the chirp of sparrows

And a robin's lullaby.

Do I enjoy summer?? Yes, a thousand times YES!!

Welcome to my backyard........my peaceful place.....where I love to spend time working, watering, watching, reading, relaxing...... Will you join me?

Bikers at Archies "B" n "B"!!!

Dale and Darlene and their friends, Clarence and Brenda stayed with us overnight on their way out to the Radium, Kelowna and other points west. This is their annual bike trip that they do, camping along the way. Yesterday, being Canada Day weekend, I knew that there was no way they would get a camping spot anywhere around Calgary so we invited them to our "B" n "B". We enjoyed meeting their friends and hearing funny stories of experiences they have had over the years. Lots of laughter!! I asked them how long they have been doing this together and they said it would be 7 years this summer. Good for them!

Dale giving me a ride to the restaurant. I borrowed Darlene's jacket and helmet and wore flipflops!!!!!!!! It was so much fun. I think I could learn to like it!!!!

After having our pre-breakfast coffee at home, they treated us to bacon and eggs at Ricki's.

Darlene and Dale along with their friends........

Clarence and Brenda, all set and ready to go to Radium via Black Diamond, Longview and then to highway 40 through the gorgeous Kananaskis country, Canmore and Banff. If we could have, I think we would have followed them!!!!!!!

Happy Canada Day!!

Happy 140th birthday, Canada!!!

Showers and Sunshine!!!

Last night the Peace gals had such a fun time hosting a baby shower for Pastor Anthony's wife, Kim and baby Evan Bruce. Kim's mom Julie was able to attend as well. Kim's sister-in-law, Jenn was planning on coming but instead ended up in the hospital on Thursday having her baby - a baby boy, a little playmate for Evan. Little Evan received many wonderful gifts and what a good baby - he was smiling and trying to talk to Janet but just could not get the words out. Then it all got too much so off to dreamland he went and slept as he was passed from one gal to the next.

Just a few of the gals that came to the shower. Here is Lisa and Michelle.

Shirley, Laura and Myra, our new friend from Mexico.

Darlene, our capable MC and Ardy.

Anthony's aunt, Debbie who had a wonderful devotional, Judy and Louise.

Heather, Carol and Nicole's little boy who is turning 1 yr. old tomorrow.

Janet, Jen and I. Jen did again such an awesome job of decorating for this shower.

Delaine and Rhonda.

Just before Kim cut the cake to serve to the 45 ladies that came to the shower.

Is he reading the paper or IS HE SLEEPING????? Note the chairs.......it is Canada Day weekend, after all. We could not sit in any other chairs but these!!!! What a relaxing drive, first to Black Diamond for breakfast, then out to Cat Creek on a sunny, warm day in Alberta and of course we had to have our coffee and fruit along plus my camera!

As we were driving today, we seen the meadows that were covered with Alberta wild roses, Indian paintbrushes, these bright yellow beauties and many other mountain flowers. What a beautiful part of the world we live in and we so often take it for granted. "Help us to be thankful, Lord for our eyes ........ to see the flowers, trees, rivers and mountains!

.......for our ears......to hear the rushing of the river as it cascades down over the rocks, the birds that sing with such unique melodies, the rustling of the wind in the trees.......for the sense of touch.......feeling the wonderful warmth of the sun on our faces and the breeze that gently cools.......for our strong legs.......that lets us walk on mountain paths and helps us climb those steep hills. Help us to be thankful, Lord and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is You who created it all."

I love this view of this mountain at Cat Creek!

A beautiful day for a horseback ride in the mountains.

A little prune!

Here is Kalle being a little prune!!!!

Erin and Derek......the guy came and gave us a new modem and lo and behold, I can get into all my webpages, my address book and it is alot faster!!!! Even putting pics on here! We are still thinking about high-speed though. Thanks again guys for coming over!!!

A grandpa and his grandson!!

We are ready for the barbeque!!!!! The cap and shirt, he got from Heather and Duane and the apron and mitt he got from his mom, the huge flashlight he got from his sister and the new red convertible that I'm giving him hasn't arrived yet (Ha)!!!!!!!!!!!!