Summer Countdown

Four more days until school starts!  That still gives us time to get to Toronto Island and spend a night at a trailer.  The morning routine may be a little challenging next week.  I need to prepare for tomorrow so this may be shorter than usual.

Kohen starts JK!  He has a short interview on Tuesday and then he'll start full days on Thursday.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this transition goes.  We're going to miss him at home.  I'm going to miss my Kohen cuddles. 

Graham has had this past week off.  We had a nice visit with my brother's family near Ottawa.

As of tonight, we are officially cribless.  We set up Lily-Anna's bed last week and she has slept really well.  Tonight was actually the first night that she told me that she wanted to sleep in her crib and not her bed.  I told her that a baby needed her crib.  I'm not sure she was convinced that the baby needed it more than her.  We've also said goodbye to the changing pad and our awesome whale baby bath that all of our kids enjoyed over the years.

I'm a little sad to admit that it has taken us until Isaac is seven-and-a-half years old but today Isaac signed up for a bank account.  The kind lady at the bank didn't even make us roll his many coins.

Lily-Anna may be tempted to be a little bit of a bossy-bear.  She doesn't hold back in telling her brothers (and her parents) what she wants.  On the way to Ottawa she was telling Kohen to be quiet at one point.  We heard her say, "Quiet Kohen!  Upstairs neighbours!"  We live in what's called a 'stacked condo' so we have upstairs neighbours.  We clearly often tell the kids early in the morning to be quiet and remind them about our upstairs neighbours.  I guess we need to explain to Lily-Anna what this phrase means.   

Enjoying the rain in pajamas!

Kohen and Graham were having a chat.  Kohen was asking Graham how different animals attack their prey.  Graham said that a lion might look for the slowest hippo - perhaps one with a broken leg.  Kohen asked what a shark would do to get food.  Graham responded that he would tell him after his pajamas were on.  Kohen replied, "I know what I would do if I were a shark.  I would look for the slowest person.  Well, not Grandma because she's Grandma and I love her but if it was someone else's Grandma ..."

It was so special to spend some time with my cousin and his family from Northern Ireland.  We remember visiting with them in Northern Ireland when Isaac was about ten months old.  

All of the kids have been talking more about Josiah and missing him at various times.  Seeing TIFF advertised always reminds me of being in the hospital with Josiah.  We had a picnic at the cemetery tonight and watered Josiah's grave.  

Speaking of picnics, it's time that I pack one for tomorrow.

Thank you for any prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

July

At Josiah's grave - five years since Josiah's death

Here we are at the end of July.  It's nice to have Graham off on holidays this week.  We went to a fun park in Guelph yesterday.  My favourite part of the playground was a tall "slide" just made up of two steel tubes but no place to actually sit down.  Kids put their legs around the tubes and slid down while keeping their balance.  Kohen was a little small so he just grabbed one tube with his hands and was able to move down it a little until he fell or let go - thankfully not hurting himself.  I was watching Lily-Anna on a swing at the time and Graham had left to find cash for the promised ice cream cones or I may have intervened in Kohen's adventure and ruined his fun (I probably would have told him to wait for Graham to spot him).  I did notice that he didn't repeat his daring trick.

Unfortunately Isaac felt ill all day today but he felt better before he went to sleep so I'm hoping he is back to his normal self tomorrow so that he can try out his "new" bike from Kijiji that actually fits him. 

We have had a good month filled with Vacation Bible School, swimming lessons, riding the Orange Berg, and fun with friends at various parks (and plenty of ice cream).  The "Uncles and Aunts" as we affectionately referred to them (two of my aunts and uncles visiting from Northern Ireland) left on July 2.  Actually, they learned that their flight was cancelled on the way to the airport so they left the following day.  When I told Isaac that their flight had been cancelled, he had a look of sheer delight on his face, assuming they were staying.  I let him know that they still needed to leave and he said, "Well, at least they are not in Northern Ireland yet." I was very sad to say good-bye. 

Lots of fun on the Orange Berg

I can now say that I have swam lane swims.  I have never done this before so I was a little anxious about how it worked but it turned out that between 9:00 and 10:00 at night, not many people are swimming lanes so everyone had their own lane to themselves.  Perfect.  The following night I took a free Aquafit class.  It was called a high intensity class but it wasn't difficult so I hope I was doing the moves correctly.  I do enjoy being in the pool.

The other Sunday Lily-Anna looked at my top and said, "Cute!"  Then she looked at her top and said, "Cute!"  Then she told Graham, "We cute."

**

I was in another room when I heard Lily-Anna who was sitting at the kitchen table.
Lily-Anna - Here are my hairbands Mommy.
Me - Did you find them?  [I had bought some the previous night and left them on the table.]
Lily-Anna - Yes.  They are purple and orange and yellow ...
Me - Yes, I bought them for you.  Do you like them?
Lily-Anna - Yes.  They are so precious.

I found Lily-Anna in her doll crib - which is from my childhood

**

We are sitting at the kitchen table looking at the photos on the wall.  Lily-Anna says, "I love you Josiah."

**

I returned to the kitchen table after dinner and saw an empty butter dish by Lily-Anna who was sitting on her seat.  I asked Lily-Anna if she had eaten the butter and she answered, "No."  I then came around to her side of the table and saw that she was massaging butter up and down her leg and then on her face.  Later in the evening I took a drink from my water bottle and thought it tasted buttery.  I looked closer and saw small buttery fingerprint smudges inside.

Kohen's first day of VBS

**

On our way to swimming lessons:
Me - Isaac, maybe if you really like swimming, you'll want to be a lifeguard one day.
Isaac - No.  I told Daddy I want to be a part-time writer and part-time book reviewer.
Me - Well, maybe as a job in high school.
Isaac - Oh, yes.
Me - Do you want to write fiction or non-fiction books?
Isaac - I think fiction because they can write about whatever they want.

**

Last day of VBS

Lily-Anna kept waking up during the recent thunder storm.  I went in to switch with Graham and I heard the following:
Lily-Anna - Stop it.
Graham - Stop what?
Lily-Anna - Stop the rain.
She later asked me the same thing so I let her know that only God could stop the rain and explained why we needed rain.

**

Our church is reading through the book of Ecclesiastes this summer with sermons each Sunday and a devotional throughout the week.  I am enjoying the process and the Word, comparing a life without meaning to a missional life full of purpose.  The godly woman whose funeral I attended this month lived a missional life to the glory of God - she had a full life and she did not regret the way she lived it, though she died far too young from our point of view.  

Out for a walk

On our way back from Guelph yesterday I was surprised to see "Ecclesiastes 3:14" written in large graffiti on a railway trestle.  I looked it up and was surprised at the verse chosen: "I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it.  God has done it, so that people fear before him."

The kids and I are enjoying our days.  None of us are ready for school to start yet.  Thank You Lord for summer.  I'm not ready to miss Kohen all day.  I think he'll enjoy school though.  Lily-Anna will miss him.  The kids are playing better together this summer and we also have a better grasp on our basement clutter now that we have gotten rid of a lot of the infant toys.

On this July 31st, the day of Lily-Anna's dedication to God and the day I rushed Josiah to the hospital while he struggled to breath, I choose to thank God for His many blessings and humbly ask that He help me to live in such a way that when I die it can be with no regrets.

Thanks for any prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

1 Corinthians 15:51-57
⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

P.S. Lessons learned this month:

1. Do not play soccer with your children while wearing sandals - unless your toenails are very short.

2.  Do not tell children funny stories about other children who phoned 911.  Both the story teller and the guilty party inspired by the story will remain nameless.  May God bless the dear woman on the other end of the phone who agreed to cancel the call. 

Isaac inspired by the World Cup and K'Nex

Isaac put flowers in Lily-Anna's hair

School is out!

In reference to my last post, tomorrow never came.

Thanks for the photo Uncle John!

We have had a great start to our summer!  It is so lovely to have my Uncle John and Auntie Dorothy and Uncle Richmond and Auntie Joanne from Northern Ireland visiting.  I will be sad to see them go. 

Isaac finished grade two on Thursday and then we went to the beach on Friday with all the local family (Graham took the day off).  The kids enjoyed being in the water.  Isaac's favourite part was learning to kayak with some tips from his aunt and cousins.  The boys now say they want to buy a kayak.  Actually, Kohen told Isaac he would buy Isaac one for his birthday (which is in December).

After returning home from the library

It is has been a busy couple of months full of birthday and anniversary celebrations, soccer season, a piano recital, marriage retreat, a Blue Jays game, and a new counter, sink and faucet for our kitchen.  Sadly, my swimming lessons are over for now.  Adult lessons are not offered at our local pool during the summer.  I was thrilled to be able to swim 6 lengths without stopping during our last lesson.  Now I just need to work up the nerve to go to the pool during lane swims.

I best not forget to mention the Royal Wedding.  I put my alarm on at 5:00 AM and surprised mom by showing up in her bedroom with scones (I made the night before) by 5:30.  Graham streamed the wedding at home once the kids were up so that they could appreciate their British heritage too, along with the scones. 

Watching the Royal Wedding while eating scones

It was fun to go to a Farm Program with Kohen these last two months.  It was special to have time with just him.  

This is usually the weekend when we plant flowers at Josiah's grave (because that's what everyone does at the beginning of July, right?!)  We are currently experiencing a heat warning (Graham said it felt like 45 degrees today).  It's 10:30 at night and it feels like 35 degrees.  We enjoyed the cool of our basement today.  Thankfully we have air conditioners in the kids' rooms.  I'm hoping we can plant some flowers on Monday, Canada Day - in time for the 5th anniversary of Josiah's death next Friday. 

On Mother's Day

Oh, how did I forget to mention that Lily-Anna is potty training?  I think she's doing quite well.  I'm trying to decide when to switch her into a single bed from her crib.  Tonight she told me she wanted to sleep on the floor.  I asked her if she wanted a big bed.  She sounded very interested until I told her that we would say good-bye to her crib.  Then she was ready to sleep in her crib.

Miss Fix-It

I'm guessing we turned Lily-Anna's carseat around from rear-facing to forward-facing around three months ago.  She still regularly says with excitement, "Turned around!" after we get in the van and start driving.  The boys find this annoying but I find her genuine thanksgiving endearing.

Soccer medal

When I leave Lily-Anna for the night, I often ask her who is always with her watching over her and who loves her.  She tells me, "Jesus."  I tell her that I have to go but that she can talk to Jesus and sing to Him.  A few times she has told me, "Can't see Him."

I had been playing an old cd in the van that the kids hadn't heard before.  One of the songs on the cd is about communion.   I don't think Kohen could have heard the song more than twice but then one day at our table during lunch I heard him say, "Lily-Anna, when you eat bread it's God's body.  When you drink wine it's Jesus' blood."  Let me take this time to confirm that Lily-Anna and Kohen have likely never seen wine, let alone had it with their lunch! 

I was teaching Kohen how to subtract a number during lunch.  He then told me, "If there are two 10s and you take away two 9s, there's 2."  I was surprised as I don't think he knows that 10 and 10 make 20.

Isaac's regular treat at school is a granola bar.  I wanted to give him an extra treat on his last days of school so one thing I bought was a bag of Oreo cookies.  I also gave Kohen and Lily-Anna one after lunch.  Lily-Anna took the Oreo apart and said, "That's beautiful."  I was at the kitchen counter and Kohen came up and gave me a hug from behind after eating his Oreo.  I asked, "Is that a thank-you hug?"  Kohen answered, "Yes.  Those are better than Tic Tacs.  Those are the best stuff I have ever eaten."  A minute later he came and gave me lots of kisses, saying, "You are the best Mommy."

Isaac told me that he thinks people are wired for two things - candy and stories.  I know I am!  I picked up a book at the Wallenstein store (what a great store!) called, "No Tears in Heaven" about twelve families who had children who died.  I really enjoyed reading the stories and crying through some of them.  I found their faith inspiring.  While full of grief, these parents also believed that the death of their child was God's will.  I can see where much comfort comes from proclaiming the sovereignty of God.

I've been able to cry a few times lately including when Graham and I enjoyed watching "I Can Only Imagine" and the PBS version of Little Women.

It's 11:11 - dance time - and there are fireworks outside my window (well, I can hear them).  Happy Birthday to my nephew Kieran today and Happy Birthday to my cousin Natasha tomorrow.  And, Happy Canada Day!

Our acrobat playing wii

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

P.S. Graham bought a bike so he and the boys have enjoyed some outings. 

Happy Birthday Graham!

In honour of Graham’s birthday tonight I will post-pone my post until tomorrow.  Happy birthday Graham!

Welcome spring!

I confess I am hoping for a warm May.  The winter has seemed to hold on longer than usual but we had a beautiful last day of April--it felt like minus 4 degrees when Graham left for work this morning but it was 17 degrees this afternoon and it's supposed to feel like 28 degrees tomorrow afternoon.  This is southern Ontario.  Kohen and Lily-Anna ate their lunch outside today.

We celebrated what would have been Josiah's 6th birthday on April 13th.  Graham had booked the day off work and Isaac had a PD Day.  We spent some time at the cemetery and placed flowers on Josiah's grave.  I made a cake and we sang Happy Birthday.  We also looked at some old photos and

videos.  Sweet Lily-Anna was a little upset looking at images of her parents with another baby.

One day I showed Kohen the photos of Josiah's burial.  Later he asked me, "Can we put my name on the thing Josiah's body is in?"  (The extended family and close friends used markers to cover Josiah's white casket with handprints, names, and messages right before the casket was put into the ground.)  I just this moment realized that it was a missed opportunity - we already knew a baby was on the way so we could have written a message - I think Kohen would have liked that.  I remember being quite exhausted by the time of the burial.

Conversation with Kohen (keep in mind as you read this that Kohen wants to see Josiah but he doesn't like needles):

Kohen:  I wish I were Josiah.  Wait.  Did Josiah have needles?
Mommy: Yes.  He actually had needles every day.
Kohen:  I wish I were Samson then.  [From the Bible]  He's dead so he can see Josiah.
Mommy: I'm so glad you are here and so thankful you're alive. ...
Kohen: I wish I were Isaac.
Mommy: So you could have seen Josiah?
Kohen: Yes.  Did Isaac have needles?
Mommy: Yes.
Kohen: Did you and Daddy have needles?
Mommy: Yes. ...

****

Kohen: Can you show me a picture of Josiah and Jesus?
Mommy: We don't have a picture because we can't see them.
Kohen: We could make one.

****

Kohen: I'm going to make a picture for Josiah.

****

Kohen often uses the word killing so I felt that I should start the following conversation:

Mommy: You know that no one killed Josiah, right?  Josiah just died. ...
Kohen: How does someone die without someone killing him?

****

I asked Isaac a question and he answered me.  I  then googled the question and received the same answer.  Isaac told me, "I can be your Google from now on ... if I know it."

Lily-Anna will be two years old at the end of May!  She loves to sing and be with her brothers and look at books.  She sometimes plays with her dolls, small dollhouse, or kitchen.  She is very good at repeating what we say.  We often hear her say, "No Kohen!" or "Lily-Anna try."

I am loving my swimming lessons!  There are four people in the class and our teacher is really good.  We're starting each class with two lengths of the pool (50 m in total).  I was able to make it but just barely and my form on the way back was sad to say the least.  I'm looking forward to improving.  I am now able to swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breast stroke successfully (at least with goggles and a nose plug and a swimming cap - I look ridiculous but it's lots of fun).  It would help if I had some other cardio workouts during the week to work up my stamina.

I enjoy taking Kohen and Lily-Anna to their library programmes.  Next week Kohen and I will start attending a farm programme one morning a week for a number of weeks.  I did the same one with Isaac the fall before his third birthday.  I hope Kohen loves it and I'm looking forward to spending this one-on-one time with him. 

Our small group Bible study is going well.  We have nine people for this study on worship.  Due to a conversation the previous week in our group, we sampled raw turnip, rutabaga, parsnips, and kohlrabi this past week.  I enjoyed them all and then enjoyed them even more roasted for dinner the next night.

For one study we looked at the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai.  In perusing the surrounding chapters in preparation for the study, I read this from Exodus 28:2, "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty."  That line has never struck me before but I love that God wanted these special garments created "for glory and for beauty."  All the beauty in this world is a gift.  I actually have a vase of sad tulips in front of me but they were magnificent a few days ago.  I think we are surrounded by beauty for which I should give God praise and I think I need to remember that God values beauty.

In addition to his work, Graham is busy with the church board, our condo board, and he participates in a men's Bible study bright and early on Thursday mornings.  The boys always love his stories before bed.

It was a blessing to attend a lovely wedding at the beginning of the month.  God must have helped them choose their date because a week later we had an ice storm.  Church was cancelled on the Sunday and Isaac was home from school on the Monday.  Even Graham had Monday morning off.  Actually Graham and the boys treated me to breakfast in bed that Sunday.

We now have a couple of new drawer units for our kitchen from Ikea.  We picked out a new countertop last week so now we just need to find a sink and faucet and get these all put in and we'll be finished our changes.

Thanks for any prayers!  Have a wonderful May!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Time marches on!

Last day being 3 years old!

It's raining outside so I guess March is "going out like a lamb."  We are quite happy to welcome spring.  The boys each used their money to buy baseball mitts today and Isaac is looking forward to starting soccer in May.  Kohen is too young for the place Isaac goes but he enjoys practicing soccer with Graham. 

Kohen just started a 'Get Ready for Kindergarten' program at our library.  He was very excited to tell Graham that he went to the program alone.  I think he'll enjoy kindergarten and I'm glad he'll be older than Isaac was when he started.  He had his fourth birthday this month; it was fun to celebrate with family. 

At the bus stop

Graham had a couple of days off during March Break.  One of his work days he took all three children on the bus.  Graham's parents took all three for a night and Graham and I enjoyed a dinner out.  We picked them up the next day and headed for a hotel which had all of the necessary ingredients for the kids: a pool, a t.v., and breakfast in the morning. 

Graham now has a CPAP machine.  He's still in the transition stage of getting used to it but we're hoping it helps him feel more rested (and get more oxygen at night). 

Kohen's shoes, Isaac's hat, dressed to impress!

We have a new kitchen in our home ... and it's four feet tall.  I found a kitchen I liked on Kijiji and we decided to give it to the kids now rather than wait until Lily-Anna's birthday at the end of May.  They've been having fun with it. 

Graham was giving Kohen a bath and they were having a "meeting" to make sure that Kohen knows all his body parts.  At one point Kohen was saying, "Okay, now let's talk about hands.  Hands are kind of strange ...."  After the bath Graham said, "Kohen, that was a great meeting."  Kohen responded, "Actually, it was amazing!"

Lily-Anna bit her lip today while eating her lunch.  I consoled her and kissed her lip and then she said, "God" while pointing up.  Graham let me know that this meant she wanted me to pray about it, so I did.  We make tons of mistakes with the kids and most days I feel like I'm failing at this crucial role of motherhood ... but even my 22 month old knows that we need to go to God in prayer with our needs.  So, we're doing one thing right, at least. 

We get to celebrate tomorrow - the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the conquering of death; the new life offered to all; the beautiful hope of eternity; the freedom we can enjoy; the peace, joy, and love we can know; the grace and mercy we desperately need; the perfect plan of God; the comfort and wisdom of the Holy Spirit ....  There are so many reasons to celebrate.  I wish I could fathom it more.  I wish I could feel it.  I wish I could understand what Jesus did for me and you.

Treats at Daddy's work!

I've had more emotion lately.  I was reading Heidi and a book about a man who hid and saved Jews during the war and both times I had tears.  Kohen always wants to kiss and hug me and say sweet things to me when this happens.  It would be great to have those same tears about Jesus.

I hope you and yours can also celebrate tomorrow because Christ is risen!  Indeed, He is risen!  And that changes everything.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Reading in comfort

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”^[g]

⁵⁵ “O Death, where is your sting?^[h]
O Hades, where is your victory?”^[i]

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

   

Isaac enjoying a sunrise