Wordless Wednesday...Puzzles

Wild Life...trust me it is!

The past few weeks have been super busy.  It's that time of year where all the yard work needs to be done at the same time, and with all the rain we've had it is next to impossible to keep up.  I can not mow a huge part of my ditches due to the wate,r and the grass is almost to the point where I will need to swath it! lol!  (Guess I'll be mowing as soon as I finish blogging and eating my lunch) I honestly feel as though I live in Vancouver!  We've had rain almost everyday for the past 3 weeks!  Unbelievable! 

Malia's soccer tournament is next week-end and then she is done for the season...I can't wait!  We test for our green stripe in TKD in 2 weeks and then that will be done till fall, which should free up 2 evenings a week!  I've gone on a field trip with all 3 kids...which was fun.  I've been cooking at church for The Barn...which is a local production of various plays...(this session it is Anne of Green Gables).  Our church serves a fried chicken meal and all the funds raised go towards various charities.  Funds raised from our next session will be sent to God's Littlest Angels in Haiti...as you know GLA holds a special place in my heart and we had the privilege of working there this winter.  To top it off, I've been working a fair bit...it IS a wild life!...and most days it is fun, but as of late, the busyness has left me exhausted and stressed!

I think God must have felt sorry for me and decided to send me some incredible gifts!  The first was spotting a moose as I was mowing the yard.  I love mowing...especially when I can see the river, and as usual my eyes were on the river more than on where I was mowing.  I saw what appeared to be a log floating in the water, but then it moved in an unusual manner!  My stomach sank.  My first thought was that it may be a body...unfortunately we've seen that before.  I kept an eye on it...just in case...and low and behold a moose came out of the water!  It made it's way up the riverbank to our neighbors yard.  They spotted it and chased it away from their apple trees.  Later that evening we spotted it again...coming straight towards our property!  Beautiful...(even though the picture does not do it justice.)

A few days later I went out to get more firewood for our stove...yes, it's been that cold!  And spotted this beautiful bird.  It sat, stunned...I'm guessing it must have flown into a window.  As the camera flashed it began to look around.  I was able to snap a dozen pictures and admire it's beauty.

God knows that nature settles my soul and refreshes my mind...just what I needed after all the craziness!

Spring Fling

I have come to the conclusion that Morgun's teacher is THEE BEST teacher in the whole wide world...and he agrees!  Ms. B pours her heart and soul into each of her students and daily goes out of her way to make school/learning a wonderful experience. We've been fortunate to have her teach both our boys, even though she is past retirement. We all hope she never retires! 

I love this picture...it shows how "into it"  Ms. B gets.   It was taken at Spring Fling...an annual production put on by the Grade 4 students.  The students sang, performed a short play, and read moving tributes to their parents.

The play was a revised version of the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe.  This woman lived in a school bus and had so many kids it made her husband sick...aka, Morgun.

Perhaps I am biased, but he really was the most handsome fellow there!  And performed his part perfectly!

Friends and Rainy Days

Morgun's friend E came to spend a night at our house.  Even though it rained lightly throughout the day, they found things to do.  I had a blast watching them with their slingshots, trying to hit the water.  First they would find a stone...

...take a shot...

...and then listen to hear it plop in the water.

Another shot...

....and then listening...I love how their posture changes as they listen.

I think I like the sepia/bw photos best.

Can you tell the last shot didn't hit the water?  Priceless!

And of coarse, I couldn't resist taking a few shots of the incredible view!

Ich Geh

Note: This is a very poor recording and the music is somewhat unusual...and perhaps depressing...at least it is for me.


This song takes me back many, many years ago to when I was a wee little one.  Back to when I was 6 years old and shortly after my sister Helen was born with a severe disability.  For some reason Mom began singing some old German songs.  Songs that she grew up listening to and singing.  One of the songs she sang was "Ich Gegh" (no idea if that is the correct spelling), translated to "I Walk".  The song talks about walking the straight and narrow road that Jesus himself travelled.  I'm guessing it must have given Mom a lot of comfort and strength during those difficult years.  I can only imagine how exhausted she must have been. (Helen was her 11th child, besides 2 miscarriages).  I clearly remember her sitting in the brown recliner, rocking Helen, singing, with the saddest  look in her eye.  I also remember her singing "Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Saviour", (in German).  I think these 2 songs sort of sum up my mom's hearts cry...begging God to hear her desperate cries and vowing that she would follow Him no matter what.

My mom is my hero and always will be.  I can not imagine facing what she did at the age of 36 years.  She inspires me to see things for what they are...cleft lip/palate, club feet, a missing limb, or some other "disability" are not a disability at all.  Perhaps a nuisance, but nothing more. 

When people hear that we are adopting again...very intentionally welcoming a 5th child, with a "disability" into our home, they think we are crazy!  Some even have the guts to say so.  It is at times such as these that I think of my Mom and feel like telling people that "I am my mother's daughter...what do you expect??"  What I have on my plate is so much less than what she had...if she did it so can I!  Maybe we are crazy...but by golly we sure are happy!...and oh so grateful for all God has entrusted to us!

Fashion Sense

There's no doubt about it!  My sweet Raina has an interesting amazing fashion sense!  This is what she came up with the other day...too cute!

Santa's Elves

Have you ever wondered what Santa's Elves do during the summer months?  I came across two of them having a blast jammin!  Who knew?!?