Fergus trip to babysit.........

I just had the best time down in Fergus babysitting our grandkids down there. This is just before Sue and Eric took off for Minneapolis on Tuesday night and as usual it is hard to get pictures of my sons-in-law cause they are always doing something crazy!!!!!!!

All ready for school.......
The twins go to a preschool and love it..... Noah and Mikenna are in Middle School now.....

Having pizza with Nanc, Wayne and Breiden......I appreciated Nancy's help so much.....I don't think I could have gotton everyone where they were supposed to go if it hadn't been for her. She worked in the morning and then came and stayed with me in the afternoon, picking up the kids, etc., etc........
Shopping at our favorite store.......good side view........
Kaia stayed home with me the first day because she wasn't feeling good......
Logan and Bella.......
Little Laci......as you can tell Kaia and Laci were into the make-up......how fun!!!
Then there is little Breiden.........

Blessings of family..........

What a blessing family is! Here I am sitting at Sue and Eric's dining-room table blogging this.......18 hrs. away from my home and though I miss my hubby, I am thoroughly enjoying my kids and grandkids. It IS COLD here in this beautiful state, a little warmer today then it has been so we haven't been able to be outside too much. I get to go to Nancy and Wayne's tonight to babysit Breiden during the morning when Nanc goes to work at the church. Then back home on Saturday. The time just flies too fast.
Sue and Eric had such a good time in Mexico and I am awed by the gorgeous, gorgeous pictures they brought back of the wedding they photographed. So many creative, beautiful shots. Susanne and I were at the studio last night for 4 hours,, she was ordering, etc. and all the work that is involved with running a studio while I sat and watched. So interesting! Besides that it was wonderful just to be able to sit and enjoy being with my daughter who I don't get to see very much and have coffee and just chat. What a gift right from the hand of God.....a close and loving relationship with my daughters!!
The time spent babysitting the 5 children went really well but I really could not have done it without Nancy's help. Kaia was sick the first two days and to try to get the kids to school and other things they are involved in would not have happened if it had not been for her. We had such a good time just being together too. I am so thankful that I was able to come and now we are looking forward to spending time the rest of the week.
Pictures will come later when I get home and upload my computer.

More Christmas pics.......

Wonderful, wacky and witty weekend!!!!!!!

There are four wonderful, wacky, witty women in our church and community (although this gal is now a Saskatchewanite) that get together every year for a wonderful, wacky, witty weekend together. It could be in Great Falls or Vancouver or Helena or Kelowna area or wherever!!!!!!! This year it is our fair city!!! So last night, Heather and I went out to the airport to meet one of these wonderful women who by the way is also a well-loved friend of ours and who stayed over with us til this morning. It happened to be her birthday last Tuesday so we are celebrating with coffee and toast by candlelight in our living-room.
This, of course is one of our weird and wonderful morning pictures taken by "yours truly"!!!!

Janet, wise and wonderful, one of the four came to pick Carol up and off they went to Diane's and Heidi's!!!! There is alot of laughter, chatting, eating, shopping.......what could be better!!!! A time of friendship.......how blessed we are that God gave us that very unique and special gift!!!

Have fun, my friends.............

Guests on Saturday night.....

Another one of our "table" pictures. We had these special guests over last Saturday night. Lots of laughing over Dennis's escapades..(truth is funnier than fiction)....honestly that guy could write a book of comedy over what all has happened to him over the years and of course Ron has some great stories too. We spent the rest of the evening playing "Mexican Train". What fun and good fellowship although Dennis looks like he could use a nap, poor guy!

Our two youngest grandchildren........

Our two cute little monkeys holding their monkeys that they got for Christmas.........

A message from us to you........

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS...........

The New Year holds a meaning far beyond the hours and days marked on the calendar........it holds a dream of peace, a faith so strong, it makes the mountains move and stir. The New Year is a promise and a prayer, a new beginning and an open door to hope and joy.......Once more we enter there to meet the challenges of what lies ahead.......

Kananaskis country and Ikea on Wed. and Thurs....

Boxing Day........We took off for the mountains. It was a gorgeous day even though it was cloudy. Heather and the kids came with us....Duane had to work...that was a bummer but Grandpa drove with Heather and the kids and I went with Wayne and Nanc. On the way home, we told Heather to go with them so they could get a chance to visit more and we took Heather and Duane's van with the four kids. They watched "The lady and the tramp" on the way home. We had such a good time walking, sledding and just being outside in the snow. We took coffee and a picnic lunch along.

Having our picnic lunch at the fireside room at the Kanananskis village. That would be such a fun place to spend a couple of days during Christmas vacation. One could rent cross-country skis, skates, snowshoes and they have a swimming pool and hot tub. Alot of people were skating.

Nate loves Wayne.........

The girls enjoying their sandwiches and veggies and rice krispie squares.........and of course - mandarin oranges.........

Yummy lunch......

Grandpa and Nate having fun.........

Jemma walking back up the hill..............

Heather and Kalle through the trees......

Siri playing in the deep snow.......

Nanc and Wayne going for a walk with Breiden.......

It was beautiful out in the Kananaskis.

Thursday morning: We met Heather and the kids, Uncle Ron and Aunty Delaine at Ikea for breakfast. Ikea is so kid-friendly............ Uncle Ron and Aunty Delaine are Nancy's godparents.

How much fun is this, having our grandchildren come to visit. Heather's kids loved being with Breiden.

"So much fun to have one of my sisters home," Heather said.

Breiden loved to walk with Grandpa.........

All set and ready to go back to Fergus. We will miss you guys so much. We loved having you home for Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas.......

Last Sunday was an absolute gorgeous day in our fair city so we decided to meet Duane and Heather and kids at Heritage Park for the 12 days of Christmas that they have every December. When we started driving into the parking lot, it was AMAZING!!!!!!! Never in all the years we have lived here and the many times we have gone to this place, had we seen it as BUSY as it was Sunday. We have passes so we didn't have to wait in the LONG line to get in and we were meeting them at the Wainwright hotel. When we got there, they were in line for the wagon (pulled by horses) ride so we took pics and sat on a bench and looked after their backpacks and watched the mass of people. Isn't it just the most interesting thing in the world to watch people. I love it. After the ride, the kids were thirsty for hot chocolate so Grandpa and I sent them all over to the maze and the pile of bales that they could play on and we waited in line for probably 45 minutes for hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies.
And here we are, having our picnic. The kids loved especially playing in the bales!!! What a good idea. When we were waiting in line, we seen so many families that had grumpy kids, hot and thirsty and hungry among all the crowds. I felt so sorry for the parents. Thank goodness for the person who had the wonderful idea of putting up a maze, a skating rink and bales......yeeeah for bales........and snow and room to play........

If that is all they did that day, they would have been entirely satisfied.

Yum, yum good......

Played and played........

Grandpa getting in on the action........

and Kalle........

A beautiful afternoon at Heritage Park. Grandpa and I did not stay too long as we had to go over to Anthony and Kim's open house.

Things that have been happenin' in our town........

Yesterday, we had our annual Christmas pageant at our church. It was so fun to see the little ones and the bigger ones put on the Christmas story. Rhonda, two weeks ago took over the organization of the program because our superintendant couldn't. They both are very good at doing this type of thing. Anyway Rhonda did such a great job and the kids did fantastic with little time they had to practise and get it together.
Pastor Anthony welcoming everyone and leading the song, "One small child".

Mark Thomson playing the offertory on the piano. He did so well.

The kids walked up in their scarfs and hats and sang with the congregation, four Christmas carols.

Our little angels singing "Away in a manger"..........

King Herod telling the wise men to go and find the child..........

Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in the stable.......Anna playing Mary......It was a wonderful program and of course everyone so enjoyed it.

A couple Saturdays ago, the "Adults" had a hayride!!!! Jim and I don't know where we fit at this point in our lives so we go to the younger Adults stuff and the seniors stuff. Aren't we blessed!!!!!????

Of course eating is high on the agenda...........

Acting goofy!!!!! Jeff, we love you!!!!!!

And then of course the "pirate Christmas present stealing your gift game" that we do every year and have a hoot playing it. Janet, you are too much but I have enjoyed the cozy throw that you gave me so much after I had whined about you stealing it. Me and my big mouth!!!!!! What a fun evening and we were NOT the only older ones there!!!!!!!!!!!

Santa, the elf and Rudolph........

One day when the kids were over, they came upstairs dressed like this.

I am so glad our Heavenly Father is in control........

In the last couple of days, I have been reminded again how very fragile our life here on this earth is.......we can be on our way somewhere and all of a sudden......an accident.....a whole family wiped out......or a disease can strike at anytime, any place and it can be the most devastating and heartbreaking trial to go through especially if it is one of our children......or someone can be going through surgery not knowing the outcome and we wonder how on earth do we make it through these times......The song that came to my mind as I sat last night at work praying for different ones going through some tough, tough times is the one we are singing at our Christmas Eve candlelight service. I have been singing it every day and it goes like this......

At His Name, the mighty oceans roar

At His Name, the wind stands still

At His Name, the eagle takes the sky

At His Name, the mighty nations cry

At His Name, a newborn baby breathes

At His Name, a flower grows

At His Name, the rushing rivers yield

At His Name, a broken heart is healed.......

At His Name, the mountains stand in awe

At His Name, the seasons change

At His Name, the sunlight floods the sky

At His Name, the stormclouds hurry by

At His Name, our guilt is washed away

At His Name, our spirit's freed

At His Name, the gates of Heaven open wide

At His Name, He welcomes us inside.....

At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow

Every tongue confess him, the King of Glory now

Every voice lift Him up!

His power and majesty proclaim

Every knee shall bow down

At His Name.

I am so thankful that the God of Heaven is also our Abba Father and loves and cares for us so deeply, He knows about us and what we are facing and in His tender way, gives us strength for the moment, for the hour, for the day.

"Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavyladen....and I will give you rest..."