Invermere!

Happy belated birthday from my husband. A weekend away in my most favorite places ..... the mountains.

There is still alot of snow in the mountains.

Your dad thinks I should buy a red convertible!!!! What do you think? I said, "In your dreams, buddy, in your dreams!!!!!"

Reaching Radium!

We seen lots of mountain sheep around here!

How can you tell we enjoy this place? Grinning like the cat who swallowed the canary!!!!!!!

Having lunch on the ridge at Radium. Beautiful!

"She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes......" I love this valley!!

Having coffee down by Windmere Lake on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. It is warm enough without jackets.......how wonderful to feel the sun on our faces!

Just before leaving for Cranbrook on Sunday afternoon.

Windmills at Blairmore.

Coming back to Calgary via Crowsnest Pass and now heading for Longview. This picture is so peaceful, I think with the cows out in the pasture.What a wonderful and relaxing weekend in one of my favorite places.......The Rocky Mountains!!

My Sister.........

My sister is a character.........always has been, always will be and I love her to pieces. She has made us laugh til our sides ache and I have tons of memories in my growing up years as well as my adult life being with her at different times. As a young child, I loved when she would come home from Saskatoon for a weekend....I followed her around like a little puppy. She would do my hair and I could play dress-up in her beautiful clothes that she didn't want anymore. You see pictures in magazines of little girls dressing up in high heels, big hats and long, flowing dresses......that was me in her clothes!!!! I looked up to her and wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She went down to California to work and she stayed with my sister Gwen and her husband Bob. She met this handsome, young resident doctor, (a woman from their church who worked at the hospital where Ted was doing his residency introduced them), fell in love with this guy and married him. I was about 11 or 12 at the time of their wedding and he came to Canada in this red Mustang convertible bearing thoughtful gifts for his family - to - be and instantly made a hit with all his in-laws. As for me, I was incredibly shy of this person who was stealing my sister from me but also thought that the two of them were soooooo romantic!!!! Besides that, they asked me to be in the wedding party. How unbelievable was that!!!! He tried to make friends with me but I would have none of it........I think I was too in awe of him and therefore hardly spoke a word to him the whole time of the celebrations. That changed however in later years!!!!!

That is her husband in the red shirt. Anyway, I went out to North Van. one summer when their son, Stuart was about 21/2 yrs. of age and babysat for a month. That was an incredible, fun time for me and enjoyed being with them so much. Then when she was expecting her second child, I went out and lived with them for about 7 months, (this was after I had been at Bible School for a year so I was about 18 yrs. of age) looked after their little baby daughter, Jennifer as well as Stuart. I was their nanny. I loved it and learned so many things. I guess I was blown away by the fact that they trusted me enough to love and look after their children. My sister and I bonded so much at that time and it was good because she had left home to go to the city to work when I was just little so I really hadn't spent alot of time with her in my younger years. I grew to love her even more as we spent many hours together, shopping, talking, laughing, crying...... doing all the things that sisters do. It was an amazing time!

So, early in March of this year, she sends me this card that says in her handwriting, "Dear Shari Babe, this is to inform you that I can't possibly tell you when your birthday card is going to arrive from us ......... maybe in April.......but QUITE LIKELY it will arrive in the year 2007!!!!!!!"

This is what she does with all her sisters, sends them a pre-birthday card just being a tease so we never know when we are going to get the card but we know we are going to receive one eventually!!!!

I GOT MINE TODAY!!!! YIPPEE!!! Now I don't have to worry or fret that she has forgotton!!!!! Thank you, Florencie, my sister and forever friend!!!! I love you.

Another special guest at Archies "B" n "B"!!

About 2:30 P.M. today, we drove out to Okotoks to pick up our grand-son. He came over to have his first "by himself" sleep-over at Gramma and Grandpa's house. He is three years old. Heather told him last night that he was coming here today and at 7:00 A.M., he was waiting at the door for us. I was humbled and awed when I heard how excited he was to come to our house.

" I never knew my one set of grand-parents. They died in their forties. My other grand-parents by the time I can remember them were too old to have grandkids around too much. My grandpa Ganes was sick in bed for much of the time that I knew him. I loved them both dearly and respected them so much but never played with them or heard stories from them. I heard stories.......wonderful stories about them from my mother and others but never really knew them. But I do remember going to their home and Grandma bringing out her best dishes, setting out cookies and filling up the coffee cups til they were overflowing! We had to be quiet as little mice in their house because Grandpa was resting. I do remember going into the bedroom and giving him gentle hugs. And I remember his eyes..........his eyes, filled with so much love and tenderness for his children and grandchildren. They were role-models in our lives and left us a wonderful Christian heritage and the thing that they desired more than anything was to see their children knowing that Jesus loved them and cared for them."

I'll say it again, it humbles me to think that we are role-models for our children and grandchildren and if we can somehow be a "safe place" for them at any age, a place where they feel unconditionally and totally loved and a place where our Heavenly Father becomes their Anchor and their Rock, then I will be forever grateful and eternally blessed.

Our first stop when we came back to the city was 7-11 to pick up an envelope for Great-gramma at the Post Office. Nate heard 7-11 and his ears perked up and he informed us that there was kid's bubblegum there........so guess what...he got to come in and pick out sugarless bubblegum. He also informed us that he would share with his kind sisters (his words) who shared with him some of their treats from the Birthday party they got to go to the night before. Then we carried on to the Beverly and he is such a talker that he has to talk to everyone that he sees. The old people love it. And the nurses love it! And of course Great-gramma loved having him come to visit.

Saying good-bye to great-gramma. "I wov you, great-gramma!" She

of course has treats for all the kids that come to visit and today was no exception. Nate enjoyed his little blueberry muffin.

Who is this "cool dude"? Behind those groovy sunglasses, we have Nate, the Great!!!!

Nate and his Grandpa sitting on the motorcycle. Grandpa doesn't take them for rides until they are ten or if their feet can reach the foot rests on the sides and then it is usually just around the block. They love it. Mikenna and Noah have both been for rides and Jemma is still waiting for hers. But this little guy is just happy "sitting" on the motorcycle!!!

Grandpa reading to him one of his favorite books about a fox and a piglet called "My Lucky Day" after he had had his bath and crawled into his cozy pyjamas. Grandpa is trying to put in words that are not in the book but Nate knows it right away and giggles when Grandpa does that. "No, Grandpa, that is not right!! That word is terrifac!" And every sentence that Grandpa would read from the book, Nate would recite it right after.

Now, it is Nate's turn to read and even though he is only three, he knows this storybook almost off by heart. Gramma got to read to him about David and Goliath. He wanted to sing the song about Pharoah but because I can't remember the words to that song, he settled for "How did Moses cross the Red Sea?" Then he talked non-stop until I told him that I was going to sleep and we had to be quiet like a little mouse!! So it wasn't long before......off to dreamland!!

Sweet dreams, little Nate!!

Can you believe it?

Here it is April 20th and the ground outside is white!!!!! I guess I shouldn't be too surprised cause in this city, I think we have had snow every month of the year at one time or another. But I shall be patient and wait for this:

It's spring in the mountain country,

Green life leaps from every root;

Streams sing and the pussy willows

Have silvered each slender root.

An hour or two in the springtime

Can shift a whole mountain scene;

A slope that was white when the sun rose,

By noon is a field of green.

I have seen a robin, some crows, pussy willows and my plants are showing a little bit of green out in the back yard but right now, lovely, white snow covers it all!!! And if the truth were to be told, I don't want to see any more flurries or flakes or white falling from the skies.........give me the warmth of the sun and the color GREEN!!!!!

"In everything, give thanks!" even for the snow.

Special lady.......

This special lady had a birthday last week and some of us went to celebrate her special day.
Louise remembers so many people from our church on their birthdays with special cards that she picks out......it is a ministry to her and she loves giving.

Happy Birthday, Louise from just a few of your friends!

Weekly blog!!!

Another busy week has gone by. Heather and Duane were in Fairmont for four days this last week which they enjoyed. They saw friends from Saskatoon and spent some time with them at Radium Hot Springs on Thursday. The kids got sick though after they got home so Heather took them to the clinic today and the three youngest have nasty colds. No bronchitis which she was glad about. When it happens, it goes through the whole household.

Last night, Ernie Fortin was invited to sing at the Fundraising dinner in our church in Okotoks. Well, he wanted his friends to sing with him (that is the worship teams from our church) so that is what we did. They named our group "Ernie Fortin and Friends, in faith" We had a lovely meal, there was a silent auction and then we sang. We had a blast!!! And I think the people enjoyed it. Ernie composes songs as well so the picture above is him and his son Tyler singing one of his songs.

This afternoon, Jim and I took our annual drive out to Elbow Falls in April knowing full well that it was going to be cooler out there and snow in the pines. I made a picnic lunch after church, some yummy turkey sandwiches on ciabatta buns and took some veggies and dip and coffee of course. It was sooooo wonderful to get out into the mountains and smell that crisp air and the fragrance of the pines. We were remembering the time that we went out around this time with our girls quite afew years ago and hiked back along the river a couple kms. The girls jumped into the icy water in their clothes!!!!! We had brought towels and extra clothing along and the sun was shining bright so they sat drying off on the warm rocks. We weren't quite so brave!!! But what a fun time!! Today the parking lot was almost full and the cars were lined up on the highway. Families with their kids and dogs, people on bikes and motorbikes were out enjoying the fresh air. It was a very relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Pictures, pictures and more pictures!

A gorgeous Saskatchewan sky in August.

What a beautiful family. G n G Barreth's pride and joy!

Wendy and I at her house.

A new way to serve limes plus tomato roses!!

Peek - a - boo!!!! Joyce's corn crop last summer!!!!

Walking in Fish Creek.

My three wonderful sisters-in-law that live close to us.

Random pics from the weekend and who knows what else!!

Good pic of Rob and Carol and Ron and Delaine last Sunday.

Gramma having a birthday/Easter cake for me last Saturday night plus gifts!!!

Friends!

The fairest rose in the garden of life is the fellowship of friends;

Time but glorifies its beauty with a fragrance that never ends.

No cloud can shade its loveliness,

No storm its petals part,

For the flower of friendship dwells forever

In the shrine of the human heart.

Rob and Carol.......another one of God's abundant gifts to us......the gift of your friendship and love!!! Even though we don't see you as often, we pray for you and thank our Heavenly Father that you came into our lives.

Come again soon. We love you, guys!

More celebrating and special times!

Saturday, April 7th. It all started with morning coffee and fresh fruit by candlelight in our living-room with our good friends, Rob and Carol. They had come from Saskatoon Friday afternoon to stay with us for the weekend. It was so good to see them. We had a wonderful morning just visiting.....then we got ready and drove out to the Chuckwagon Cafe in Turner Valley about noon to have a late breakfast. Miles and Arlene and Ron and Delaine joined us and what a hoot we had!!! My stomach hurt with all the laughing we did. Between Carol and Arlene and their humor, Ron telling funny stories as well as Miles and Rob then Jim and I telling about how getting older just does something to our ears and when we repeat what we heard each other say, it is totally different!!!! All we can do is break into gales of laughter although sometimes it is NOT that funny!!!!!!

Saturday night, we went up and spent some time with Gramma, also I washed and set her hair. And here she had a birthday cake for me. Ida was there too to help celebrate. Is there no end to the blessings that come our way, day after day? God is so good!

Easter Sunday............The children all lining up with their tulips to bring up to the front to put at the foot of the cross. It is so touching to see these little ones, happy and smiling, knowing that Jesus loves them (even little Isaac in his wheelchair). What a wonderful day, the very basis of our Christian faith that Jesus took our place, then rose again on the third day. No wonder we can sing with confidence and joy in our hearts, "I serve a risen Savior"!!!!

Children's message.......they are so quiet, you can hear a pin drop. They don't want to miss any of the questions, Pastor Anthony might ask them.

The cross in the background is covered with pieces of white paper that has written on it, "Jesus died for ________. Then you put your name on it and at the end of the service on Friday, we all walked up and nailed our papers to the cross signifying that it was for me personally that He died. It is always a special, special time.

Dinner at Gramma and Grandpa's house right after church - but before sitting down to eat we had the annual Easter egg hunt!!!!! Jemma had lots of fun finding eggs and of course she is tall, she could spot them in places that the other kids couldn't. And I will probably continue to find eggs for weeks to come because this gal does not remember all the places they were hidden!!!!!

Nate enjoyed the hunt. He was very happy with all the yummy eggs he found!!!!

Kalle had her own little basket and she got quite afew. She really didn't know what to do with the foil-wrapped eggs when she found them and that was quite all right with her mommy!!!!

Even the adults had to get in on the action. Carol and Heather looking for some eggs while Aunty Delaine looks on!!

It has been a wonderful and special weekend.

Special time with family!

We went out to Tony Roma's for my birthday lunch today with the kids, Heather and Duane and Jim's sister, Ida. It was special. This morning there was a special service at out church. Our grandchildren had slept overnight so we all went together up to the church. They sang to me this morning at breakfast, so cute. Sue called and we chatted for a long time, their kids sang to me then too. This afternoon Nanc called, my brother Ken called, Ted and Florence called, Joyce and Viv called so I felt very blessed.

Spring HAS NOT arrived as yet!!!!

Spring is taking it's jolly time arriving but guess what........Carol and Rob ARE arriving on Friday to spend three nights with us and we are looking so forward to visiting with them. And the weather is supposed to warm up!!!!! We cannot have them here without going out for Rob's favorite.......pancakes!!!!! And hopefully the gorgeous Rocky Mountains will be in fine form and beautiful as always as we drive towards the foothills to another fav, a cozy little cafe !!

Do you know how anxious I am for the sun to shine, the birds to sing and the green to start showing in the grass? Well I am.......but that does not make it happen!!!! We are still looking at white stuff falling out of the sky. Hopefully this weekend...........hopefully.........hopefully it will happen but I am not holding my breath!!!!!! We have had more snow in the first four days of April this year than all of April last year. O well, at least we don't get bored with our weather, we can't because things can change so fast!!!

Nate's "awoads" at "nymnastics"

On Saturday morning, we were invited to go out to Okotoks to see Nate get his certificate and medal for completing his gymnastics. He was very excited and of course we watched him on the balance bar, the trampoline, the ladder, etc. It is so cute, these three year olds. Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don't! The teacher was very good with them.

We were watching from the upstairs viewing room.

Meanwhile, Kalle plays in the playroom.

Waving to us as he listens to his instructor. Good job, Nate!