Thankful for Fall

What a beautiful fall we have had!  It's a wet goodbye to October but we've enjoyed lots of sunshine.

Lily-Anna's farm program has finished but swimming has started for all of the kids.  I often try to make a nicer family breakfast on Saturdays (waffles, pancakes, or crepes are top of the list) but that will change for the next number of weeks as swimming starts early.  Thankfully, the pool is close so we can walk.

Two of my nieces turned 13 this month.  It was very special to be part of a time of blessing for them along with a number of other women in their lives.

We had a fun Thanksgiving weekend with my brother and his family near Ottawa.  We even enjoyed a walk through a forest and the men and boys went on a bike ride. 

I am missing being in a small group for this season but we are glad that I am going to a parenting course on Wednesday nights.  We may even have our first family meeting this next week.  That reminds me that Graham and I have decided to start having monthly dates out of the house.  We've booked our lovely babysitters for November and December. 

Fun with walkie talkies in the forest

We went to our friends' church tonight for a fun time with games, an obstacle course, and lots of goodies.  Afterward, we walked around our crescent with our neighbour and his daughter for their first Hallowe'en outing.  Friends down the street were handing out hot chocolate to parents.

I have enjoyed listening to a couple of episodes of the Read Aloud Revival Podcasts.  I was excited to hear of more books to pick up to read to the kids.  Thankfully, the library has most of them.  The challenge is finding the time.  Isaac and I are working through The Hobbit before bed.  Books are a key tool to help all three kids calm down.

Kohen on two wheels

I keep yawning so I need to head to bed.  Thanks for any prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Standing on eggs

1 Corinthians 15:20-21
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  for as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  

P.S. I was just looking back at the camera roll for the month and was reminded of my gratitude for Youtube.  I changed the air filter and the cabin filter for our van one afternoon, with Lily-Anna rooting me on.  We're talking about using the ratchet set!  I came close to calling my dad to get the cover of the air filter back on but eventually it went back to its proper place.  Good times!  I even took photos of my dirty hands to send to Graham at work.  He was duly impressed. 

Do you see what's missing?!

Sunny September

What a beautiful September this has been!  It's nice to be back into the school routine.  The boys both enjoy their classes and Lily-Anna and I enjoy our treks to the school where Lily-Anna often plays with a friend. 

Isaac graduated from Music for Young Children and passed his level one exam in June so he started with a new piano teacher this month (his cousin's teacher) and is doing well.  Kohen started Music for Young Children and is really enjoying it.  I had forgotten how much time and effort the practicing is (for the parents) in the early years but he is getting his five weekly practices checked off. 

Lily-Anna and I love participating in the farm program each week.  I was so thankful we were able to register as I did the program with both of the boys. 

We are taking a break from leading a small group this year.  We may join one in January, but for the present I am taking a parenting workshop each week and starting to implement some positive changes at home (many more are needed).  I am also attempting to do a better job at planning meals.  The kids have yet to fully embrace "Meatless Mondays" but I'm sold and Graham and I have enjoyed the meals. 

The highlight of this month was celebrating Graham's parents' 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends.  All the B.C. family flew in for the weekend so it was wonderful to be together again.  We were even able to get family photos taken. 

I watched a great Youtube video about sleep this month that I wish I had seen when I was in my teens.  Anyway, it has inspired me to try to get more sleep.  I'm also doing a better job watching what I'm eating and I'm thankful for these small successes.

First day of Grade 4 and SK

Speaking of sleep, I'd better keep moving here so I'll say goodnight.  Thanks for any prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Richard Scarry appeals to all

Proverbs 1:33
"But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."   

P.S. Our adventure on the last day of August was our 7th annual trip to Toronto Island.  Great times had by all and so lovely to be joined by our friends again.

On the log ride

On the ferry

August Adventures: Lots of firsts!

We have made some wonderful memories this past month.  We started off with a Faulkner Family Pig Roast / Reunion (Graham's dad's siblings and their kids and their kids.)  I think I heard that there were about 70 of us.  It was great to see everyone. 

A few days later, the kids flew on a plane for the first time (except for Isaac but he was too young to remember flying to Ireland).  Graham and I had the fun of flying with three children for the first time.  I'm not sure why I was worried as the kids had no trouble finding something to do on the plane!

I fought to limit "screen time" on the way out west but decided to just enjoy a book on the way home while Kohen made the most of unlimited cartoons on the screen in front of his chair and Isaac enjoyed a couple of animated features.  Lily-Anna divided her time between activities and The Berenstain Bears.

I had a lot of activities for them in their individual bags as well as numerous snacks, all of which helped the time pass quickly.   We had a great view of the Rocky Mountains going out there and Isaac appreciated that.  We had a clear view of the plane's wing on our way home.    

We had a wonderful time with Graham's two brothers and sisters-in-law as well as cousins.  We enjoyed relaxing by the pool and also going on day trips.  Graham's parents flew out on the same plane so it was great to have the whole family together.

For three nights we camped on Vancouver Island, which meant the first time on a drive-on ferry for the kids in addition to camping for the first time.  The weather was perfect and Graham said he didn't see one mosquito.

The kids found a structure made of driftwood on the beach so they were all over that (literally), trying to make it sturdier.  We saw a bald eagle and two deer while they were fixing it.  Our campsite was right beside a large wooded area where the kids could run and play.  I loved walking on the beach looking for rocks and sand dollars and also going to Cathedral Grove where the trees are huge and old.   Conveniently, they serve ice cream out west so we sampled that more than once in addition to some Korean Bingsu, Thai food, fish and chips, an amazing melon salad, and homemade pasta that Lily-Anna helped to cut by turning the crank.

One of Isaac's favourite memories from the trip is playing soccer and one of Kohen's is flying a kite the highest.  I forgot to ask Lily-Anna.

This week has been low-key.  I would have had them do another week of swimming lessons if the boys had agreed but thankfully they were against it as it has been nice to have a more relaxing pace (in other words, I'm not saying what time I changed out of my pajamas each day).

We have new neighbours who are originally from Peru and who have two children who seem to like to play with our kids (and vice versa).  Isaac is always on the lookout for someone to play soccer with him.  He is ready to head back to school.    

Our last August adventure is planned for tomorrow so I am writing this a night early.  Happy long weekend!

Thanks for any prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Fun in the Sun

It's been a good month and a nice change of pace and schedule.  We started the summer holidays making slime and rice krispy squares (separately) and today we went to the cemetery and had fun on the Orange Berg Buddy.  When either of the boys were driving the Berg, the other stood on the back for the ride.  There are great long smooth paths in the newer section of the cemetery with no other people or vehicles to avoid.

The boys enjoyed a week of VBS at our church and then the following two weeks, all three kids were able to go for swimming lessons at the same time.  There have also been trips to parks, playdates with friends, and two overnight sleeps in the Glendale at Raybeth.

For the first time, Isaac swam in the pond at Raybeth (thankfully none of the huge leeches found him) and we also saw a turtle swimming in the water while we were on a raft.  This was actually the first time that I went on the raft according to my recollection.  This was also the first time that I tried s'mores with chocolate covered cookies  - what a great idea!  We will certainly miss visiting Raybeth (the property has been sold) but we have lots of great memories of our adventures there including all of the Martin get-togethers.  The place has been a blessing to so many and will continue to be so for others.

We took flowers to Josiah's grave on the 6th along with all the grandparents.  It was a very hot day so we weren't there long.  We then went back to my parents' home where we ate pizza and watched Women's World Cup.  Seven years ago this morning, I rushed Josiah to the hospital, the beginning of our stint at SickKids and Ronald McDonald House. 

My mom is recovering from her hip replacement.  It's a slow process but she's making progress.

We are looking forward to a great August together!

Thanks for any prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ... 

Happy Canada Day (almost)!

Happy Canada Day and Happy Birthday Natasha!  For the first time, we have been able to celebrate my cousin's birthday with her (albeit two days early).  She happened to be in Canada and was kind enough to make the trek to Waterloo.  It's always nice to see her and my aunt and uncle.

Actually, my oldest nephew turns 15 today - Happy Birthday Kieran!  His age is easy to remember as he was born shortly after our wedding.  We were able to enjoy a lovely dinner out for our anniversary while the kids were looked after by one of their awesome cousins.

For Graham's birthday we went to the Keg as someone blessed us with a gift certificate (I had never been there before and Graham can't remember going).  We loved it (both of us really enjoy steak).  We were surprised when our waitress brought us a delicious dessert because of Graham's birthday.  We thoroughly enjoyed the dessert but it did make us late for the Marriage Night event at our church (and we skipped the gourmet desserts there).  We were heading to a B&B that night so we left the event before the final session (which was definitely the wisdom of God as the road to the B&B turned out to be closed and I didn't have an address but Shopper's was still open and a lovely woman drove us to the road we needed).  After we left the marriage event, Graham's name was drawn to win the big door prize of ... a gift certificate to the Keg!  Everyone at the event was so kind and wanted us to still get the prize even though we had left!  Thus, we were able to go to the Keg for our anniversary as well!  Thank You Lord!

I'm typing this on the big table by our window, listening to fireworks and seeing glimpses in the sky.  I saw some really beautiful ones on my ride home tonight.  Fireworks are a nice tradition. 

I knew Graham was taking this Tuesday off work but he surprised me and also took last Friday off, the boys first day home from school.  That evening we took the bus downtown to ride the Ion, Grand River Transit's new LRT (light rail transit).  It's free until July 2.  We all had fun.

Friday morning the kids and I went to the cemetery to plant some flowers and do some bike riding.  We need to teach Kohen to ride a regular bike and thankfully he seems ready to learn now.

We took the kids to the circus this month.  We enjoyed our outing.  It was fun to see Lily-Anna's eyes light up in wonder.  The boys really liked the BMX bikes and the motorbikes riding in a sphere.  I was a fan of the couple who changed their outfits super fast!    

Isaac graduated from his piano program, Music for Young Children and he also did his level one piano exam.  We don't have the results yet but before the exam he said, "I'm excited!"  and after the exam he said, "That was fun!" when he came out from his time with the examiner!  That reminds me, he wrote on a school paper that one of his favourite things about Grade 3 was the EQAO - that's the grade three testing!  (I think he actually really enjoyed the worksheets the teacher gave them after they were finished doing the test sections each day.)

As a musical treat for Isaac for all his hard work in piano, I took him to see the musical Annie.  It was his first time attending live theatre and he really enjoyed it.  My mom also went with us.

We enjoyed watching the Raptors make history!  Isaac stayed up until after the first quarter, at which point Graham went to our church to help and see it on the big screen.  With two minutes left in the game (well, apart from three time outs), I picked up Kohen from his bed and took him downstairs (Isaac had told me not to wake him up).  Thankfully, Kohen didn't mind being woken up and we enjoyed celebrating and seeing the trophies presented.

Kohen also had a Kindergarten celebration that Graham and I were able to attend.  It was nice to spend some time just with him.  He will head into SK in September.  

The boys are happy to be home from school and I am happy not to make lunches at night or early in the morning.  They'll have this week off, followed by a week of VBS and then two weeks with swimming lessons.  Lily-Anna passed her swimming lessons this month so she will now do all her lessons solo. 

I was telling Kohen that we would be getting a new neighbour.
Kohen: Will Angela still be our neighbour?
Me: No, she is moving.
Kohen: Well, I'll still be her neighbour.

***

There are a number of songs that Lily-Anna calls "our song," such as "Jesus Loves Me," "Our Father," and my personalized version of "Jesus Loves The Little Children."  Last week I walked to the kitchen where music was playing.  She said, "Mommy, that's our song!  Let's dance!"  The song was "Great is Thy Faithfulness."  We danced!

***

It's time to head to bed.  Thanks for any prayers, including for my mother who heads in for another hip surgery next week on her other hip.  

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Psalm 34:10
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.