jody

I sit here and look around my living room.  The kids and my husband are all in bed.  The dog is sleeping.  I'm assuming the cat is upstairs with my husband, probably snuggled in on my side of the bed.  

I sit here in quiet 

except for the dog snoring, the dryer running downstairs and the odd car driving by.  

My home is quiet and at peace.  My Christmas tree lights are on.  I love the Christmas season.  There is even a gift under the tree already.  It's for me from my girl.   She made it with her daddy.  I sit here on my rust-orange couch, surrounded by signs of the love my little family has for each other but my heart is heavy.  My eyes hurt from a cry I broke down and had at 7:30.  

My family is healthy.  

in fact, my dad was had his final cancer update appointment and has been told they don't need to see him anymore.  My dads fight with cancer was scary, yet so short in comparison to the other fight I'm thinking about tonight.

Today was the first day of the winter.  The shortest day of the year.  The darkest day of the year.  Christmas is 4 days away.  

My kids have their last day of school tomorrow.  But today... Today I went to celebrate a life.  

Cancer sucks.  It really does.  

Lung cancer in a healthy, active non-smoking young woman, young mom, sucks.

My boy asked me about cancer last night.  We chatted about it.  He told me he wishes that they would be able to make a pill that they could give someone with cancer and it would get rid of it in a month.  That made me smile.  Today I wish it had existed a couple years ago, when she was first diagnosed.

I was not a part of her inner circle of friends.  But I definitely considered her a friend.  We had great talks, good laughs, lots of fun.  We have prayed for each other, discussed depression together, chatted running, encouraged each other.

Jody had an infectious laugh, always.  

Her smile lit up any room.  

She was a determined, strong woman.  

Her humor was perfect.  

Her love for God...it ruled her life.  

Her boys were the most precious gifts and she knew it, and showed it.

I remember one long walk and talk we had.  I had just been going through some issues and we met at Tim Hortons.  Neither of us wanted to sit, so we went for a walk with our drinks.  When we had walked the rather large block we then sat outside Tim Hortons still chatting.  That was so long ago now but it gave me a glimpse into Jody as I had never had before.  We had ways gotten along but that walk, that talk... I think it cemented Jody into my heart.  

God used her that night to encourage me in exactly the way I needed, and I pray I was able to do the same for her.

We never ended up having another planned time like that or a talk so long and deep, and open, but when we got the chance, whenever we did hang out the times were always full of laughter, and joy.  She was full of it, she knew that no matter what was going on at the time, no matter how hard or tired she was, that her Lord and Savior was with her, helping her through it.  So she was able to have joy, no matter what.  And I believe that is why her laughter stayed contagious.

the last specific conversation I recall was brief.  It was in the fall.  We were in bracebridge for the XC runs our sons were running.  I was walking near the finish line and saw her.  I knew she had been having a rough time so didn't know if she'd be there.  I walked over and she approached me, slowly.  I just asked how she was doing that day.  She smiled, as always, and said "it's a hard day today."  i said "but you're here.  they are doing so well today."  She said they didn't need to know how bad it was today but they just needed to see her there.  Her boy called her and she headed over to him, so proud of him.

I remember pausing, before I headed off with my boy, and watching her hug her son.  

That is the last specific memory I have of Jody.  

I have been praying for her for so many years through so many life events.  I have seen miracles in her life.  I have questioned God, and asked why?!  I know God is in control, I do believe that Jody lived her life to the full, and she is not having a hard day today.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have Jody in my life.  

i will miss her.

but I do not need to pray for Jody anymore.

 I will continue to pray for her boys, her family and her inner circle of friends.  I will pray for those who have lost that person they call at any time day or night.  For those that are missing her as a part of their daily life.  I will pray for those who are missing their confidante, their best friend.  i will pray for those that as they celebrate Christmas this year, have a broken heart because they do not get to hug her, or laugh with her, or just hold her.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 34:18

School Days: Gr 4

age: 9

year in school: 6

grade: 4

class: 4/5 split

to see how last year started click HERE

a new school year has dawned.

the summer was a lot of fun but now it's time to be back in the routine that school brings to life.

my boy was excited to get started back into school.

to find out who his teacher would be.

to see his friends again.

even to get on the bus again.

grade 4 was going to be amazing!

we had a great first morning.

they got up well and we were ready early.

we went outside for the first day photos.

beautiful sunshiny day.  

--> fast forward now to October. 

almost 2 months into the school year as i continue this post.

My son loves school.

but...

He has had some anxiety so far this year.

math is hard.

it has had him in tears.

it has had me in tears as i cuddle him, pray with him and just cry with him.

i encourage him as his favourite part of school is now a struggle.

he isn't finding it to be 'easy math' anymore.

it is getting better.

he is doing better, slowly.

he struggles with the sentence questions.

give him numbers and he is a wizard.

write them out and it gets difficult.

other than that struggle he has been enjoying school.

he was a part of the cross country running club this fall.

two races, five weeks of wednesday 7am runs.  

his class has been to Algonquin Park and to a morning called Racing Against Drugs.

i have the honour and privilege of volunteering in my boy's class this year.

one morning a week, and any extra activities.

i have been able to take reading groups, and individuals to read.

i love being in his class, and he seems to enjoy it too.

he has a good group of kids in his class.

he has a full class of kids, so that too is different than the last few years.

his current favourite subject in school is:

gym.

not surprised.

oh my boy, i pray for you daily.

you are in fourth grade.

that is crazy!

when did you get so big?

enjoy your year, 

do your best, 

have fun,

love others,

respect your teachers.

love you buddy.

see you when you get home.

*1st day of school photos taken by me with Gertie.

photo on the rock taken by me with Chester.

41

hi all.

last year i had trained for months and ran 40km on a trail to celebrate turning 40.

(read about it here)

then came home to an amazing birthday party.

this year was a lot different.

this year i turned 41.

since my parents will not see my boy for his birthday next week they came to celebrate both our birthdays.

on the sunday (since my husband would be at work monday) we did the gift thing.

my boy and i opened our gifts.

he got Star Wars Risk and a remote control BB8

I got a pizza stone for the bbq, some books i had been wanting, a cute little dragon from my girl and tickets (to a concert in August) from my hubby.  

my boy's choice for dinner that evening - boston pizza.

on my actual birthday i slept in a little.

took my dad for a walk on our new 1km trail out back.

got a phone call from my mom-in-law.

went to lunch with my parents and kids.

then my parents headed home and the kids and i went to the boardwalk on the trail for some swimming.

HOT day!

lots of fun with them.

My 2nd jump as a 41 year old. 

then we went to the dollarstore for some candy, and i bought myself some Reese PB Cups... 

tried a couple stores to find myself a Jones Soda, but, alas... no Jones for my birthday.

after a few minutes of the kids playing at the park, while i enjoyed my pb cups, we headed home.

we headed across the tracks to let the kidlets do some scootering...

until my boy went into the ditch.

for dinner dan made french toast and i wanted to watch The Princess Bride. 

and my boy remembered to give me my new colouring book Harry Potter Magical Creatures. 

it was my birthday,

i'm now 41.

it didn't feel special...

41 feels no different than 40 did..

or 39 for that matter.

it felt like a normal summer day.

but it was wonderful.

Limberlost Challenge

this year i ran The Limberlost Challenge.

i ran the 14km.

it was fun.

i loved it.

i had to go through a big big big big big big big big big big mud pit.

i got muddy.

i finished my race.

dan ran the end with me.

i passed the finish line, i finished my race.  

i was so happy.

*as dictated by my girl*

*my turn to tell you how it was*

I had originally hoped to be in the top 10 of my age group this year.

but i did not train enough.

i went into this year with not having run more than the 10km i ran at Band on the Run one month before.

i was not prepared but i was planning to run it anyway.

i love the Limberlost Challenge.

my hubby made the decision to run the 56 one week before so we signed up.

(obviously even though i was planning to run it i was hesitant to sign up)

Dan hadn't been feeling the greatest and was planning to take it easy, and not push himself too much.

he was aiming for a 7 hour finish.

i was just wanting to cross the finish line, i didn't care how fast, although i will be honest, i wanted to break 2 hours. knowing that would be crazy hard.

the night before the race happened.

thunderstorms.

rain.

lots of both.

the morning of the race happened.

rain.

we set up for the kids to hang out 

(a friend was coming to hang with them)

and got ready for the race.

a wet morning.

but everyone was excited, and spirits were high.

the 56km race headed out.

dan hung back and didn't rush.

the 28km race headed out.

our friend showed up so i could get ready for my run.

my turn!

off we went.

last year i was determined to be at the front at the beginning so i didn't get caught behind the crowd entering the trail or crossing the first bridge.

but, i forgot that this year - mainly because i wasn't ready for the race.

i love running trails.

i spent a lot of time running with people who had never run it before.

i chatted with many of them.

we ran similar pace for a bit.

i really enjoy the many people on the trail.

so many encouraging people, and i love also encouraging those i pass or who pass me.

i am so thankful for everyone who run the aid stations.

the trail was pretty much one big trail of mud!

hills to slide on, puddles to go through.

mud, mud and more mud!

I think I wore the right shirt for the day

it was beautiful.

and exhausting.

i was running and chatting with a couple in the last 2km.

i felt done.

i hurt.

i was walking a little more often than i wanted to.

when suddenly someone jumped on me.

i now had less than a kilometre and someone jumps on me.

it was Dan!

he was finishing his second lap.

i was going slower than last year.

and he was faster than originally planning to run.

we ran together for the end.

i told him to go on, 

but he wanted to cross my finish line with me.

i was about to walk the last little hill when he took my hand and we ran out of the woods together.

i finished my race with my husband!  

it made me so happy.

I didn't make the top 10 of my age group.

but i am happy with my time, and results.

Results 14km (look up my bib #329)

and off he went to lap 3 of 4.

i will train better next year.

i think.

when dan was on his 4th and final lap we went to see him at the one mud hole.

which was even bigger now.

we saw the first place guy pass.

pretty sure it was him.

but the second place guy didn't pass us.

(we were pretty sure he hadn't already gone by)

and then Dan came.

we were pretty sure he was in second.

he was hurting but doing well.

we headed back to the finish to see him.

He came in 2nd overall.

1st in his age.

he had a great run.

Results 56km (bib #766)

so that's what taking it easy looks like.

haha.

i absolutely love that race.

i am already looking forward to it again next year.

against such things there is no law

good beautiful morning!

the sun is shining, 

summer break is here, 

my kidlets are sleeping 

and i just finished a cup of tea and my Bible time.

i am going to try to get up each morning, when my hubby leaves the house, and start my day with some time in God's Word.

that would mean getting up at my normal school year time, so this should be possible.

it's just wether i'll actually spend it on quiet time with God or whether i'll fill it with a shower or a task that can wait...

one day at a time.

This school year i made it a point to sit with the kids and eat breakfast with them.

other years i have given them breakfast and continued on making lunches or cleaning something, 

but this year i began thinking about the times i sat and had breakfast with my mom and brother before school.  

i wanted those memories for my kids.

so i ignored other things and made sure to sit with them.

sometimes we read Shel Silverstein poems.

I LOVE Shel Silverstein.

sometimes we read a book they had from the library.

sometimes we were just able to get breakfast down and get along.

and, yes, sometimes we watched Good Mythical Morning on YouTube.

i LOVE that show!

but the one thing i tried to do every school morning was to pray with them before they went to get dressed.

most mornings i was able to get some focused Bible time with them while we ate.

this year i decided to focus on a couple specific verses.

Galtaians 5:22-23

but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

We made these to remind us what the different qualities were.

in September we spent the month talking about the whole verse.

as of October i began to focus on a fruit for a month.

a fruit a month took us right to June

we discussed at the beginning of the month what the fruit was, and how could we live it that month.

sometimes we had goals.

sometimes we got rewards.

sometimes it was easy peasy.

sometimes it was crazy, pull your hair out difficult.

over the months i began to really learn about the qualities in these verses.

as i taught the kids i realized i had to also work on them.

there was a lot of prayer!

a lot!

i was praying for strength to live that fruit, and a lot of times it got easier.

sometimes...like the month of gentleness...i had some fails.

i encouraged the kids to remind me of the fruit as i would remind them in times of struggle.

i love that when we teach our kids something we usually learn something new as well.

that was me this school year.

one of the things i noticed this year about the fruits of the spirit:

they build up on each other.

without the previous fruit it's hard to have and show the next one.

especially when you get to the self-control one.

without the previous eight self-control is near impossible.

if my actions are not rooted in love than it's hard to see why i should live the next one, or two.

self-control was our last one as school let out.

it was a difficult month.

we were tired, it was hot, there were class trips, outings, lots of activity on the weekends.

we were exhausted and self-control was our focus.

it was not a perfect month.

we did not have a pinterest type of self-control learning: 

all perfect and tied with a ribbon.

pat-on-the-back for me great parenting.

look how wonderful and self-controlled my family is...

no.

it was a difficult month.

self-control in the tempers, fighting, whining.

HARD!

but the times when we were able to control things were amazing.

again, i repeat, there was a lot of prayer about it.

i had to remind the kids how much they loved each other, and how without remembering kindness or gentleness that self-control was hard.

i am so glad that i spent this year focused on the fruits of the spirit with the kids.

they did say they were sad to be done the list.

and asked what we were doing next.

i have no idea.

but i will continue to work on these fruits, praying for my kids as the summer continues.

may we live our lives in such a way.

we do it because we love God, and are thankful for His son Jesus Christ.

we seek to live these qualities with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

against such things there is no law.

slacklining, archery and trail running

Easter Sunday was a beautiful sunshiny day.

we went to church in the morning.

a friend asked if the trails at Limberlost would be good for running, or still too snow covered.

that got us thinking about possibly checking them out.

i had been fighting a fever, sore throat, headache all weekend so my wonderful husband decided that to make lunch easier (and less cleanup) he'd make it over a campfire.

he got the fire going and found a grill to put over it.

i sliced the ham, and potatoes, and opened the canned corn.  

we headed outside to enjoy the afternoon.

he had the slackline set up, 

an archery target,

our little girl bought this with her Easter money from her Papa

and the gt was also available - which my boy was taking full advantage of it in his shorts and t-shirt.

while the meal cooked we enjoyed the sunshine, campfire, and the activities listed above.

my boy bought this multi-tool with his easter money

it was a beautiful day.

even with snow in the yard it was so nice to be out there.

i had barefeet in my winter boots - - as i do most of the winter - - but that day it was specifically so i could enjoy the slackline.

we were talking about checking out the Limberlost trails, later in the afternoon.

we began to get excited about going... hopefully the kids would feel the same.

waiting for lunch to be ready

about an hour before going we told the kids that we were going to go for a hike.

the girl was excited.

the boy not so much.

until he heard where we were going.

off we went.

running shoes - not boots.

we were going, hopeful about the conditions.

we headed out on the trail, 

walking and talking.

then it became short runs here and there.

then longer runs.

the kids just wanted to run!

i wanted to run (no matter how lousy i felt)- - i know, without a doubt, my husband wanted to run.

our plan had been to do just under half the trail and then turn around..

we ran and hiked the whole trail.

and had so much fun.
*the guide estimates about 13km for the whole trail.  we're pretty sure it's actually about 7.5-8km*

the kids took turns leading the way, setting the pace.

i asked my boy if he'd missed running on trails.

he said he had.

boy: "know what i love about running trails?

us: "what?"

boy: "running on trails.  know what i don't like about running on trails?"

us: no time to respond

boy: "nothing.  i like the trees, the hills, i like it all.  what would you rather... race on a trail or road?"

all four of us were unanimous with our answer of racing on a trail.

my girl told me that she wanted to do a trail race around a lake, then she could see the water the whole time.

as we were running i began thinking about my childhood.

i was thinking about my brother and i running ahead of our parents.

running and playing, imagining.  

it also got me thinking about my trip to Arkansas one year with 3 good friends.

my one friend and i ran a trail - we were Last of the Mohicans.. we were pretending we were riding horses like Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  but we were running it to Ponca!

when we are children we ran trails.  

we would run and jump and hide and laugh and imagine.

we go for hikes often...
but i love that i have the ability to run when the kids want to run..

i loved running that trail with my kids.

we weren't going too fast to enjoy it.

we walked when we wanted, but we ran and laughed, and slipped, and got wet feet.

we ran all downhills 

(i walked a couple, i'll be honest - - i didn't want to fall)

we had a blast.

no complaining, no arguing.

we stopped to enjoy the beauty.
we stopped on a bench barely uncovered from the snow for a photo op.

we stopped for some fruit snacks.

we chewed on wintergreen.

i love hiking with the kids.

and i love trail running with the kids.

sunshine, warmth, campfire, slacklining, archery,  GTing, trail running and cereal for dinner.

it was a perfect way to end our long weekend before dan went back to work on monday.

*all photos taken by me

with Gertie.

except for the one of my barefoot on the slackline.

that was taken with Chester.

Good Friday service

this past friday my little family went to the Good Friday service at church.

our church, being one of the largest for space in the community, hosts the Community Good Friday Service.

The churches in the area get together to remember Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

*Then on the sunday we are all at our separate buildings celebrating the resurrection!*

When the kids were littler we didn't go to the service because there's no child care during it.

and, honestly, with little ones we wouldn't really be focusing on the service.

we were there this year.

i love seeing all the pastors sitting up front.

I love seeing faces from the community that i don't normally see in our church, but now connect them to a church.

i love hearing the variety of pastors as they either pray, or read the Scritpures.

i love seeing the pastors i look to as a friend - people i don't see in the pastoral role otherwise. 

but what brings tears to my eyes...

what gets me choked up...

what stirs my heart...

when the whole auditorium is standing, 

singing about the cross, and the resurrection.

singing praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

when i see the hands being raised, 

the smiles, 

some eyes closed as the singer is focused on God and blocking out all around them,

when i hear the voices blending.

no one caring if they're off key, or in perfect pitch.

the volume that comes..

the emotions that come into the singing as the words hit home...

what a teeny tiny glimpse of heaven.

that is why i love the Good Friday service.

to hear I Need You on Good Friday morning...

goosebumps.

*i don't really care for the video of this but it's all about the words of the song.*

catch our church services: 

On Demand 

or 

YouTube

Thinking about Easter.

The yard is beautiful as the sun brightly shines on the beautiful white snow covered yard.

snow?

it's spring... isn't it?

it is.  

it's the beginning of spring in Canada.

sometimes we get more snow.

This snow has me thinking about Christmas.

the season we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

without Christmas we would not have Easter.

Easter the season we remember the death and celebrate the resurrection of that same babe we remember at Christmas.

without Easter we would not have any reason to celebrate Christmas.

they are tied together and i always think about one when i think about the other.

It's Wednesday today.

Good Friday is in a couple days.

i was thinking about Christ dying on the cross for me.

and wanted to share a small portion of a book i read years ago.

The Book was Basic Christianity by John R.W. Stott

chapter 3: The Character of Christ

He was misunderstood and misrepresented, and became the victim of men's prejudices and vested interests.  He was despised and rejected by his own people, and deserted by his own friends.  He gave his back to be flogged, his face to be spat upon, his head to be crowned with thorns, his hands and feet to be nailed to a common Roman gallows.  And as the cruel spikes were driven home, he kept praying for his tormentors, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' 

imagine the loneliness he was feeling at that time.

He was dying on that cross for those people... 

for the ones who were convicting him. 

for the ones just doing their job and crucifying him.

for the ones who enjoyed their job of crucifying him.

for the ones who had followed him up until that point, then scattered.

for the ones who watched with sadness and tears, feeling their hope fading.

for the ones who jeered, who spat, who mocked.

for the ones who walked by seeing another criminal on the cross, maybe thinking he got what he deserved.

for the people in the generations to come.

he was dying on the cross for all, whether they loved him or not.

and he forgave each of them.

they didn't understand back then.

they hadn't read the ending.

they thought their hope was gone.

their king!  

their saviour!

they didn't understand he was going to actually rise again.

The Romans knew what they were doing.

They didn't make mistakes with the cross.

no one came back after.

except one.

 

 

Petzl inspired me...

My boy asked me a great question and i wrote about it HERE.

since then i have been thinking long and hard about people who have inspired me.

i have been blessed with many people who have provided me with inspiration in my life and for each of them i am extremely thankful.  

therefore, i may not write about some.  

but their inspiration lives on in my life and is passed down into my kids' lives.

today though i am going to write about a crazy lady.

Sharon.

we met back in 1997.

She had finished her year at Summit College and we worked at Camp Widjiitiwin.

We were prayer partners for the summer.

lots of laughter, chats and yes, prayer too.

Her camp name was Petzl.

she did the rock climbing.

this is us at the end of the summer.

fast forward to 9 years ago.

we hadn't kept in touch the greatest but she was now married with a little boy and twin girls.

i was married, no kidlets yet.

her babies were a year old and she needed someone to watch her kids.  

she called me up and i went one day a week to hang with the girls while their brother was at school for Junior Kindergarten.

i adored each one of the kids.  

i remember her telling me how she had taken up running after the twins.

(she looked spectacular)

but that was all in passing.

soon after was pregnant with my boy.

i stopped hanging with her kids once my little one was born.

we went to the same church and saw each other now and again.

after my kids were born, and my husband encouraged me to run, i would think back to that very brief conversation about Sharon running.  

one day she sent my husband and i a message about a race we may be interested in.

The Limberlost Challenge.

  My husband loved the idea, i thought the distances were too far.

the next year dan ran the 56km.  

what an amazing trail to run on.  

*my husband inspires me to run.*

over the last couple years as you know, i've become a runner.  

running distances i never thought i'd ever run.

i have seen her at the band on the run held here in town.

and the fun runs in the spring.

we have encouraged each other as we both were training for races and runs.

i have enjoyed our chats and her encouragement.

when i was training for my 40km she was someone who i talked with a lot.  

we were both training and our runs were challenging.

i may never have run the limber lost challenge if she had never sent that email.

i LOVE that trail and am excited to run it again this July.

thanks Petzl for the encouragement and inspiration you have been for all these years.

*first photo taken by someone at Widji.

on a film camera back in '97.

photo in the blog taken of the photo by me with Chester.

2nd photo taken by K.V at '14 band on the run.

posted on Facebook.

mommy, who inspired you to snowboard?

there was fresh snow.

we were out back at our sled hill.

my girl and hubby were down at the bottom.

i was walking up the hill, carrying my ancient snowboard.

my son was sitting at the top putting his board back on so he could take another run down the hill.

we were chatting as i got closer.

i told him how i loved watching his sister ski and him board.

i informed him that i didn't learn to snowboard until i was about 21.

and that was after only downhill skiing a couple times in my life - which i hadn't really enjoyed.

i told him i loved that he was starting out young.

he asked me if i was a good snowboarder..good like him.

i laughed and told him i could stay up - most of the time.  i was good.

then he continued and asked me a question that has stuck with me since that moment.

"mommy, who inspired you to snowboard?"

i told him i couldn't pick anyone specific, but when i first saw the sport i loved it.  

i hadn't like skiing and it looked like skateboarding on snow.  

**i had always wanted to skateboard - but i'm chicken.  

i used to watch the guys (and girls) skate and always wanted to learn but didn't want to get hurt.  

i didn't want to fail. those were some thoughts that passed through my mind but didn't make it to words**

i told him i liked that my feet were together - unlike skiing.

and then i went to college and snowboarding was an activity encouraged and instructed a little and i loved it.

i told him that since i met daddy that he has inspired me to keep trying.

i asked him who inspires him to snowboard?

he shrugged.

i asked if his daddy does.

he smiled his big smile and nodded.  

then down the hill he went.

what a great question.

not just who inspires me to snowboard but, 

who inspires me?

i have actually been thinking about that question for a few weeks and his asking of it has given me the idea.

over the next little while i am going to write a few posts about people who have inspired me in some way or another.

some may be in crazy huge ways, 

others may be some small thing that has stuck with me, 

or some may be just about enjoying this silly thing called life.

i hope as you follow me on this journey it will bring to mind those people who have been an inspiration in your life.

So, as i begin i guess you can say that this post was about the one who inspired me to pursue these future entries.

MY BOY!

thanks kid.

i probably won't share about my husband or my dad - - 

i have told you many times how i've been inspired by them, but who knows where i'll go with this mini series.

*photo taken by me, 

with Gertie.

daddy's girl

i adore my dad.

always have, always will.

i am married to a man whom i adore and we have a daughter.

She adores her daddy.

there are moments when he may question how much she truly adores him, 

but even in those moments she does.

she has always adored her daddy,  

i pray she always will. 

love these two turkeys.

*all photos taken by me

with Gertie

except the one at Limberlost, i think mom took it.