Sunshine in September

I've been feeling guilty about the lack of photos on my previous blog posts so I have spent the last couple of hours adding photos.  If I add them first from now on, it should be a faster process.  That also means I have very little time left to write.  

I think the highlight of this month has definitely been the return to school.  Isaac is in his final year at this school (Grade 6), Kohen is in Grade 2 and Lily-Anna is in SK.  It is so nice to see them together with friends again.  They actually missed a week of school due to colds (Isaac didn't have one but due to Covid rules he understandably had to stay home.)    

Before heading back to school, Graham decided we would go to a hotel for a night.  We just went to St. Jacobs so we didn't have far to travel.  We were able to book a time in the pool in the evening and the following morning.  It was our first time in a hotel since pre-Covid.  We followed up the hotel with a visit to a park and the Wallenstein store for ice cream.  

We also spent one night in a tent outside Grandma and Grandpa Faulkner's home.  It was an adventure.  There was a loud and bright thunderstorm but Kohen and Lily-Anna slept right through it.  Thankfully Grandpa Ray made sure the tarp over the tent was tied down really well.  It was very nice to be able to wake up in the morning and go inside for breakfast and a hot shower.  

Learning from Grandpa in the garden

Our tent for a wet night

Annual First-Day-Of-School Letters

Graham and I went to Toronto for a doctor's appointment for me.  We were able to enjoy a delicious Thai lunch of Som Tum and Khao Soi.  We were not back in time to take Lily-Anna to her first piano lesson so big brother Isaac filled in and did a great job as he went through the Music for Young Children program with the same teacher.

Out for Thai food

Graham's favourite Thai salad

Lily-Anna's first day of Piano!

Cutting practice

I've started volunteering again in Lily-Anna's Sunday School class.  I've also signed up to join a Women's small group that starts in October.  I'm looking forward to that.

Graham has been back to work one day a week for the last couple of weeks.  He'll be there two days a week next week.  (Oops!  Graham pointed out that it sounds like he has not been working.  I meant that he has returned to his office at the university for the first time since before Covid.  He usually works from our basement.)  

One brief story:  Graham was putting Lily-Anna to bed one night.  As part of his prayer he asked God to, "Say hi to Josiah."  Lily-Anna asked, "Does God put Josiah to bed?"

One more briefer story: We were in a store with cards and Lily-Anna said she wanted to buy a card.  I asked her who the card was for and she answered, "For God."

It's time to get to bed.  My sweet husband did the kids' lunches so I don't have to get up early in the morning!!!  What a blessing!

Blessings,

Elizabeth

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.