Happy Birthday Mom!

"He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40: 29-31 NASB
This pic was taken a couple of year ago when Mom and Dad visited us in the Crowsnest Pass...Crowsnest Mountain is in the background. Mom, may you know God's nearness and provision today and this year...in a real way. Love you.

Baby Isabelle gets a story.

The view from the entrance to camp...this is the driveway. The leftmost building is the barn which our garden is on the south side of. The next building in the foreground is the shed where a lot of stuff is stored. The houses are in the trees...ours on the the left and the next one over is Cyril and Mary's. The rightmost building is the camp dininghall. The yellow leaved trees along the driveway are crabapple trees...oh, and I speed (over 15 mph) on this driveway...shhh.

Thought I'd take a picture of myself because I was feeling pretty good right then...Sarah had had a nap this day and boy does that make a difference. Yeah.

Here we are at the bridge.

We're going to the bridge to throw rocks and leaves (in the cups) into the creek. This was 2 days ago. Sarah is 'hiding her smile'...then she bursts into laughter when I ask, "Are you hiding your smile?" Grandma Abrahams, this is how you'll get a smile for your pictures, use this line :)

Hi. I had a good day at the farm.

Hug by the sunflowers.

We found a few pumpkins too.

Picking apples at Bahati farms in Keremeos. We've gotten to know these people a bit, which is great...small 'o' organic place.

Waiting for Daddy in the car after the picnic.

Tea time. Sarah really enjoys drinking herbal teas with us...a favorite is rooibos with rice milk.

Another vantage point. This spot is a great getaway...it really feels like your in the middle of nowhere...you can just see the sky down the valley in the upper mid left of the picture.

We had a picnic at the garden one night. It was great fun. Andy has been preparing beds for the spring.

report from now and before

Ha ha. Hello. Church. We went to church. finally. It's been while.
Someone was carrying a pot of food in when we arrived and I noted that it was probably 'potluck Sunday' - happens once a month...we haven't attended yet. But yeah, we were planning on having a picnic so had food in our trunk. So, we stayed and that was nice. Then we drove to Keremeos for fruit and veggies...picked apples (macs for applesauce) and got carrots, squash, onions, garlic. One day this past while we had a picnic for dinner down at the new garden plot Andy is diggin up. We heated leftovers and actually drove the 30 sec. down to the barn where our new plots are. It was lovely...it's really like a little escape down there.
Oh, I've been going to the Moms and Tots group and met some people - Char and Louise and their kids. One day we hung out at Char's with the kids - 2 1.5 yr. olds and a 3.5 yr.old and Sarah. That was nice. Char and Kaia (1.5) come over here tomorrow. More adventures in sleep have been happening. Sarah's been in her 'big-girl-bed' since just before her b-day (which was wonderful by the way...Abrahams (including James) and Klassen's were over for lunch and it felt like Christmas). My folks stayed 2 nights, Abrahams just up for the day. For S's actual b-day we went to playgroup, the library, and gave her a photo album with pics of family in it.). So, we are trying to teach her to get out of bed and walk to our room when she wakes in the middle of the night and we continue the rest of the night there...in our NEW queen sized bed which we recieved 2 days ago from our pastor's family...now Andy doesn't have to evacuate to the guest room when Sarah comes cause there was not enough room in our double for us all. I've been having trouble with dripping exhaustion, but I think I'm getting used to it (ha) or trying to make life work (normal) despite it. Have trouble turning my brain off...lay in bed during naptime (if it happens - Andy sometimes takes S. around 4:30pm for an hour to work in the garden and I lay down if she didn't want a nap). I am rejoicing today cause she actually had a 2 hour nap! Didn't think it was going to happen, but I just layed down in her room while she played and she eventually came over and layed down, nursed and fell asleep. Yipee... a fellow was over to work on our chimney pipe...took out the old liner (clay).
Now I'm typing after my nap and we went outside and threw leaves and rocks in the creek...I feel pretty good. Yeah. I don't know what else to say.

Taking a break during play...look how I set up my little baby, chair on a mat and everything...the babe looks a tad uncomfortable.

I am laughing at the stroller that is running away on it's own. I'm wearing my Jasper vest from the Klassens.

There's the cake. I could only find one candle which we used last year, so we threw a tea light on as well after this pic was taken. Nutella squeezed from a baggie was used for the writing.

I loved my birthday soup...thank you very much Dad! 2 days from being 2 on the afternoon of this pic.

The birthday meal...it was so great having everyone who came at our place. It felt like Christmas!

Birthday soup...there are little place namecards we made by modge-podging leaves to papers and writing names on them...fun.

Together...go go gadjet arms.

Sarah helping mix her birthday cake. The recipe was called "Cousin Natasha's Wacky Cake" cause it had vinegar in the recipe I think...anyway. There's me rushing in the background :)

Plum time.

I found S. reading one day, laying on her back in the livingroom. She's reading 'Everyday with Jesus,' grabbed from the bookshelf.

Peach jam time.

Sarah loves to help with dishes...she's good at putting the dishes into the sink.

Smokiness on the way home from Keremeos the day S. and I went a couple of weeks ago.

Harvest time - Sarah and Andy wash tomatoes.

My friend Crystal and her son Lucas came for one weekend a while back. There was also a wedding at camp that weekend, hence the tables etc. on the beach.

Crab apples on the tree.

Picking crabapples from the trees by the camp driveway so the bears don't come and pull down the trees (has happened in the past).

Digging potatoes from the garden.

Second time fell asleep...new outfit cause of 'throw-up' but there's a snack container...getting better, some food was staying down.

Sarah got sick at the end of camp and fell asleep in her chair twice during this time.

Sand castle time. We have a movie from this time stuck on our digital camera. Yesterday we were waiting for Andy and it came in handy as some 'entertainment'.

Dad and Sarah...Mom and Dad Stopped by on their way home from Alberta, visiting Lance, Aimee, Elijah and Eva.

Camp in action...this is everyone coming down from the dining hall one evening after dinner.

Holly the DJ during a party at the 'Zone' (rock wall, b-ball, skate, V-ball area) at camp.

Ordered some food from Presto Cucina for the dinner before we drove home to camp...on the Abraham's patio. I think everyone is mid-mouthful.

The Englers had us over for a lovely dinner outside in their backyard and Josh, Sarah and Cherith enjoyed playing with the water. Cherith was a good sport as Josh doused her :)

Took Mom Abrahams out for chimichangas at the House of James for a late B-day 'thing'...here is Sarah and her in the kids play area.

Really enjoyed seeing the mountains.

Tomato juice please. She loved it.

Here we are on the plane on the way home...a direct flight from Edmonton to Vancouver! Ear trouble on the descent but otherwise good times flying...we had 2 seats and a window, good asian snack mix and tomato juice.

Just before we left...Elijah, us and Eva...you can tell them apart can't you?

We went for a walk and this is what we looked like...except for me. Elijah's in the stroller and Eva with Aim.

And then Grandma and Grandpa arrived...they drove out in the van.

Oh yah...all together outside...I love this pic. Cara, Sarah, Eva, Elijah and Aimee. This was one of my favorite times from the visit.

Drink time...doesn't it hurt on that strong spray setting? Elijah and Eva are on the blanket resting in the shade...can you see them?

Watering plants with Aimee.

Elijah man resting outside.

Carmella and her boys and either Eva or Elijah. It was really cool to connect with her again and meet her lovely boys.

Carmella and Sarah. My highschool friend Carmella lives 40 min. away from Aimee, so she came out to see us! Sarah gets a great hug.

I see the toes...these pics taken in Aimee and Lance's room on their bed...the morning sun on the wall.

Elijah and Eva sleep while Sarah asks to look at Elijah's toes...but only Eva's are available for viewing as Elijah has a sleeper on...she loved their little toes.

Elijah gets a kiss one evening.

She has a tongue, yes.

A greeting from Eva...an arm extention of love.

Flew to Edmonton to visit my sister and her husband and their kids, Eva and Elijah. They live in Camrose AB. This is a photo we took just after we arrived...Sarah warming up to where we are still...

Yeah...little Anna and me.

Anna (Steve and Carolyn's) with Grandma Kathy and Maddy (cousin Erin's 3rd boy) with his Grandma Laurie.

Wedding clapping...you can see the MCs in the background.

Russ with Nic and Austin...taking a sticker and coloring break.

I had fun visiting and playing with some cousins. Sammy, Rosy and others.

Russ. His bro, Stu is on the right.

My cousin Russ got married Aug.12. Here is his bride, Joy and her Dad coming down the aisle. The wedding was in my aunt's backyard.

Brittany and Ashley belyaing.

Coming off the wall.

skating.

Balancing at the challenge course Andy built this spring/summer.

Archery time...check out the flying hair :)

Boats and campers and Kara (Care-Bear) in middle.

Hi.

Up at the cross again...this time with Angela (Ivory).

Fun with hair...and Alf gets a kiss too.

Sarah giving Vicki (Pixie) a kiss on the nose.

"Up!" Sarah is directing Brandon (Gandalf) here who is throwing the Penguin high up into the air during the dance party. She loved it...and hey, when you looked into the sky at that flying penguin, he did look pretty cool.

Sarah and Lollipop (camp name) or Chanelle (sp?). One afternoon Chanelle came over as part of her 'workcrew' duty with Andy to help take care of Sarah. She was so good with her and treated Sarah as a real little person. S. had a blast and I was very thankful for the help. Thanks! Here we are at the sidelines during the camp dance party.

little smile.

S. and I took a rowboat out on our own one evening. She's explaining something to me as you can see :)

Snack-time with main street in the background.

A side-ways view of the cross.

Kristen and I at the cross one 'day-off' hike.

Being silly by the river...we did some fly fishing at this spot also.

Who's sweater did we forget? Sarah where's Andy's long john shirt. Looks like I'm wearing Andy's jacket...yup, the girl's forgot their warm layers.

Messy face kiss time.

Building by the river in the evening sun.

The scene of one of our day-off picnic sites.

a little bit before

Hello. Report on health - doing much better...now it is just wheeziness we are dealing with...We have smoke drifting our way pretty bad in the mornings the last 2 days then it clears up by noonish, which brings glorious blue sky with fluffy white clouds. A quote, "...any changes God works in a person will come about not as a result of coercion from the outside but by a Spirit working from within, summoning up new life, transforming from the insdie out." page 177 "Reaching for the Invisible God" Philip Yancy. You can pray for me - I desire this 'new life transformation' and feel perhaps I've been a bit out of touch with the Spirit inside me - focused somewhat on - by default (?) - 'things that don't mean much' (as a Don & Lori Chaffer song goes..."I spent too much time today on things that don’t mean much / The world around me groans under it’s tyranny of touch / Every wasted thought /And every battle left unfought / All are testimony to my need of you, "). I've really been enjoying this Yancy book and should probably buy it...I have a copy from the Central Heights Church library currently which I'll need to mail back this week :)
Sarah's slept through the night 2 nights in a row. Andy is in the guest room cause my coughing is too loud.

This is where we sat :)

The stage view of fest. My Mom helps Sarah with a banana snack.

A kiss and a snuggle.

Blues festival...My Dad was part of organizing a Gospel Blues Festival in Chilliwack and we stayed in their tent trailer one night before we came back to Tulahead. Sarah checking things out.

Here I come.

Park time one evening.

Austin, Maddy, Nic and blurry Sarah...this was the best photo of the bunch. These are the Parkes' kids (my cousin Erin and her husband Brian's kids). We met at Grma Klassen's pool one evening.

Visiting Wellunscheg grandparents after blueberries...I like this shot.

Picking blueberries at Auntie Gwens.

Little snack little dishes...Mom had found at Value Village.

S & S. (Steve - my bro - and Sarah).

Grandpa Lando and little Anna - Steve and Carolyn's daughter. Sarah met her for the first time this evening.

Had a b-day celebration for Steve while at Klassens...here is Steve and Carolyn.

From our July visit. This is when we first arrived at Grma Kathy's...first things first...sit down and color.

Happy Birthday Dad! I can't locate the photo I really wanted for this post...it was of me, Aimee and Steve with Dad in the backyard sitting around a small card table. Dad is playing guitar and Steven has a drum I think and one of us has overturned small yogourt containers and the last person some other thing to make music with. I just loved that - how, we were included and you could see that Dad was probably having fun, playing guitar, as he always does, and so were we making music with us. So, here's an old shot (not too old...it's a six string, not the twelve) of Dad playing in honor of your birthday. Love who you are Dad.

eerrr...g...ahh...zzzzzz

So, things are pretty bleak at the moment. This sickness has overtaken me and 2 days ago we got $100 worth of drugs for Sarah and I...we're wheezy, Sarah has 'unhealthy ears' as the doc. said - she was really nice, the doc. waiting for Sarah to warm up to her before looking in her ears. It was a big trip into town for all that...we also were having some pics printed to enter into the fall fair. So, drove in, checked mail - Sarah sleeping in car, drop of disk at Photo place, go to docs., then to Pharmasave, back to photo place, back to Pharmasave, then try and find the hospital to drop off the throat swab they took of me, to the movie rental place to return a movie and ask directions to hospital...then back home. Yeah. So, Sarah doesn't mind at all her strawberry antibiotics and I have matching pink pills. She does mind the puffer with the face mask we are to use every 4 hours when we are awake...for 2 weeks. I am shakey and I eat and still feel that way...this comes and goes... the shakiness. Andy is doing all the dishes and lots of canning still...latest thing is crab apple jelly. Nights are coughing and usually up once with Sarah...we finished the night since 3 am together in bed while Andy bopped down to the guest room. Smoke was bad here yest. again. We entered some stuff in the Fall Fair - Andy's end table, cutting board, blocks he made for Sarah, some trout flys, the stuffed Mary, Joseph and Jesus I made last year and some photos. Hope to go tomorrow, to the fair. It didn't seem like many people were entering stuff so we'll see how we do, I just thought it'd be neat for people to see this stuff. Picked up pizza after I dropped the stuff off yest. evening. Since S. was pulling on her ear more this morning I made a special pillow for her that we put rice in and warm up (Andy ran it downstairs to the microwave). The bag I made has a zipper on it though, so he had to warm it in a bowl, then we put it in the bag. I had thought of warming it in the oven. Made a drawstring bag out of soft terrycloth to go over the jean inner bag with the rice...and some beads with hemp cord hold it closed.
My heart tends to race too...errr..this will pass...healthy days are so lovely eh? We have a rental group in this weekend and Andy'll get Mon. Tues. off. Mon. he'll prob. go back to Keremeos for more tomatoes - we're trying to can enough for the year...also going to do more salsa, Lord willing.

don't know if I have time for this

Ok, if you haven't noticed...I'm working on posting older pics from my week in Abbotsford in July. Curtis is Andy's friend and mine (went to school with him at CBC). He and Andy have done lots of climbing etc. together (see wedding pic below). I had a good energy day yesterday...I felt so much different than I usually have! Wow. The night before Sarah slept from midnight to 8 am. Today, back to normal energy levels (feeling 'wasted')...now S. and I are sick...drove to smokey (cause of those forest fires) Keremeos today for more tomotoes and peaches. Andy's canning tomatoes like crazy. Princeton Fall fair on the weekend...planning on entering a few things.

Mom Abrahams took me and Mom Klassen out for lunch at the Clayburn General Store (historic place...Abbotsford).

Annilee Nesbitt. When in Abbotsford in July a few Moms and kids got together.

Early morning visit from Great-Grandma Abrahams...this is the best we could do with a shy Sarah and Grandma picture :)

In Grandad's cap...we found some kids and Sarah enjoyed this toy of theirs.

Who's this? Sarah pondering Lilah.

Stephanie - Andy's cousin - and Lilah (spelling?) at a family gathering in July.

Curtis and Pauline Pauls...we attended their wedding in July...it took place in Chilliwack.