too cute

Dan and the boy are heading to Illinois for a wedding. 

- Dan's cousin is getting married -

the boy is Dan's date and will get to meet some family he's never met before.

Yesterday, in the car, i listened to the boy telling his sister what he was going to be doing.

I couldn't hear what the girl was saying

"*I'm going on a road trip."

(* pronounced I'n)

"No, Papa's not coming"

 " Not with you.  with daddy, gamma, gampa and Cooper (the dog)" 

"I don't know...."

"I'm getting married to somebody."

I had to tell him that he wasn't the one getting married and that he was going to watch someone get married.

His face fell.

He looked so sad about that.

36 things

today is my birthday.

I turn 36.

instead of thinking how I'll be 40 in just 4 years :) 

I will spend it being thankful.

(in no particular order - just how they came to mind)

1. as a little girl I had great walks with my dad at the beach throwing stones.

2. my two beautiful children

3. cats I loved and cherished as i grew up. (especially skippy who shared my pillow haha!!)

4. opportunities to take part in dramatic productions. (many over the years)

easter performance

5. crushes who helped me see what I hoped to find in a husband... and what I hoped not to find.

6. i am a child of God.  I made a decision to accept Christ and thankfully even when I mess up He still holds onto me.

7. a husband even better than I could have ever imagined.

8. a big brother who has always made me laugh.

9. a house to call my own.

10. being there when Joe Carter hit the World Series winning home run.. and almost being thrown over the edge by my brother when he hugged me. (we were sitting on the 200 level)

11. being encouraged to pursue things I love.

12. road trips with friends/husband (arkansas, florida, wv, manitoba)

Gilbert, Arkansas: me, nog, andy, jen

13. train trips across Canada

14. worked at Camp Widjiitiwin for many years - love being a part of camp life.

15. dual citizenship

16. amazing in-laws.

17. my camp name: felix.  I love it.

18. Maple Leaf vs. Red Wings games at Maple Leaf Gardens (against the glass)

19. trip to Germany in grade 10

20. amazing trip to Northern Ireland and England (cambridge & birmingham) in grade 7.  watching my dad become like a child as he returned home.

dad, tim, mom, me

21. playing smurfs with my brother outside in our backyard.

22. a husband who can fix my car, fix everything in the house and loves to teach me how to do it all too.

23. opportunities to take care of amazing kids (dylan, luke, dallas, eden, paige, teagan to name a few)

24. being able to read.  (such a wonderful ability i never want to take for granted)

25. friends.

26. late night talks with my mom.. and I do mean late night.

27. room/housemates i've had (rusty, elisa, cheryl, jen, theresa, ak, heather 'ditto', michelle 'fugee')

Manitoba: jen, theresa, me

28. amazing nieces and nephews

29. my blanket - even though my brother lost it when he hid it on me... i still think granny stole it.

30. winter doesn't last forever.

31. a husband who encourages me through my fears.

32. trips to Mexico and Nicaragua - able to experience their world and have them share Christ's love with me as I help build there.

33. creativity

34. rain (i love it's rainy today on my birthday)

35. hot days, cool nights

36. sisters (erin, rusty, elisa, heidi.  again, to name only a few)

Bouldering

Victoria Day Weekend Dan and I headed south.

to West Virginia to be exact.

Why stay home with the cottagers and tourists...

when we had a long weekend to go elsewhere.

We shipped the kids and dog off to dan's parents

- whom I am very thankful to have near.

and off we went down the highway.

Country Road...

Take me home...

To the place I belong...

West Virginia.

WV has beautiful countryside.

WV has the New River Gorge

and it has Cooper's Rock State Forest.

It was at Coopers Rock that we arrived and set up camp.

we had beautiful weather all weekend to do what we enjoy,

and the reason we went.

Dan on the first climb of the weekend