So Sweet...

One tired little boy at the end of a long warm day, and one happy grandma...

Does it get any better than this?

Three Years Ago...

Three years ago today I had the wonderful privilege of becoming a grandma for the first time! Our beautiful granddaughter, Miss M. entered our lives.

Miss M. always has a sparkle in her eyes, she loves to talk and loves to read books. She loves to play dress-up with her Aunt Naomi. She is a strong willed, independent, "do it myself" little girl that wears her poor mommy out some days!

I can't believe that she is already 3 years old; I look forward to seeing what God has for her life! She will always have a special spot in this grandma's heart!

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!

Liberty's Birthday

April 23 is a celebrated day at our house. It is Liberty's Birthday, marked with a special dinner, dessert and even a few presents. Liberty is Naomi's very beautiful German made 18 inch doll purchased from Vision Forum several years ago. She is a well dressed doll thanks to a big sister who is a talented seamstress.(You can check out some of her custom wardrobe here http://www.angeladawndesigns.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=27)

As soon as Naomi received Liberty she chose April 23 as her birth date and we have celebrated her birthday ever since. This year Liberty received a cute jacket (a newborn size from the thrift store), a pair of mittens (snipped from a souvenir key chain brought home from Canada) and colorful hair-ties from the dollar store!

While some of the family members, like big brothers in particular, roll their eyes at this annual event, I am trying to cherish these last vestiges of childhood. Having watched two daughters grow up already, I know that the days of dolly birthday parties will soon be long gone!

So...Happy Birthday, Liberty!

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words...

I don't know that this photo represents a thousand words, but certainly many thoughts. I snapped this picture on our recent visit to the wave pool in Canada. This young pregnant mom, dressed in the full burqa of the Muslim faith, was playing with her two toddlers in the water. Watching her with her children brought many conflicting thoughts to my mind. In so many ways she was a young mom enjoying her children much like my own daughters or daughter-in-law; at the same time I felt sadness for the life of bondage that she is entrapped in; and I felt fear for the world that has embraced this religion and for the impact it will surely have on my children and grandchildren. I can only pray for her and the many more like her, that they will know the truth.

"and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32

More Canada Photos...

I didn't do too much picture taking on our recent trip to Canada. I guess we were busy visiting and doing projects, but here are a few photos:

 Feeding the ducks at the lake.

 The wave pool is one of our regular excursions when we go to visit my parents. It is an indoor pool with a "beach" and waves. It also has 2 long twisty waterslides, a lagoon and water play structure. Here Naomi has just been washed onto shore by the waves!

Enjoying the play structure.

 Dinner with my brother and his family.

My Uncle Henry, who lives in a care home due to a stroke he suffered 2 years ago.

Naomi and Grandma

The new Canadian $20 bill. It is made of a plastic material with a clear strip on the right side which is imbedded with holographic images. Eventually all their bills will be of this same material. Canada has also recently done away with the penny!

A very distinguished gentleman who happens to be my dad! =)

Airports...

On our recent trip to Canada, Lucas, Naomi and I had to hang out in the Seattle airport for quite a few hours. Here are some pictures to show how exciting it was!

I'll try to get up some photos from out time in Canada soon. (It was much more exciting!)

Naomi was literally "hanging out" here!

Seattle's overcast skies!

These are a couple of full size aircraft hanging overhead.

Birthday Dinner...

It was Angela's birthday just over a week ago and that was a good excuse to have everyone over for dinner & dessert. Here are a few photos from the evening:

We had a salad bar buffet with several kinds of homemade bread - Yumm!

This little guy was enjoying his dinner!

Jessica, Timothy & Baby B.

Cousins playing!

Looks like the party is over for this little guy!

The birthday girl enjoying cheesecake with her hubby!