champs

 i'd say it's extra sweet when your first "normal" sport's pursuit post-pandemic (aka "the year and a bit of lockdown and no organized anything, let alone your favourite sports") clinches the championship game and wins the season overall...seriously, this football season was really sweet for AJ, and he was soooo much fun to watch in his element.  his determination on the field is real and he's generally fearless as he chases down the opponents.  so great buddy, proud of the heart and soul you put into each game...

here are a few pics of the final game, and the stunning win. 

Sarnia Sturgeons 15, Vaughan Rebels 7.

some amazing professional action shots were taken during the game as well.  once we purchase those i may add them here, if i can remember, of course.

Congrats kid!!

The Shack

i recently watched The Shack a second time on Netflix.  i'd previously read the book, years ago actually, by William Paul Young.  i know to some the book and movie are controversial.  i do not wish to wade into that today.  why?  well i guess i have always known both the story and movie were a mere human depiction and interpretation of God, the trinity, and the relationship our Maker desires to have with His children.  quite simply, they are the author and producer's best attempt to describe and depict God, which obviously is limited and barely scratching the surface, at best.  for me, however, the experience of sitting quiet and still in the pages and frames before me was a transformative moment, each time actually...the way The Shack tackles tough questions about pain and loss and evil in this world.  it's bold and brave and the answers, equally captivating, are covered in love and grace and understanding of our suffering and brokenness.  so beautifully done. all in a way that honours what i believe God's Word says about these matters too.  and here's no surprise, i weep each time i read or watch.  yep, it's what i do!  there's just something about that reminder that God is with me in the mess of life, and never ever considers bailing on me...

anyway, you decide for yourself, and land wherever you think best.  i'm okay with that.  i just wanted to put it out there in case it was something that would encourage your heart too...

the Spartan

a few weeks ago this cool memory happened.  five kilometres and thirty obstacles on Blue Mountain from start to the trademark firepit finish.  Hannah and Jeff conquered their first (and likely not their last) Spartan Race in Collingwood, Ontario. i wasn't there so i'll mostly let the pictures tell the story.  both say they had a great time, and the challenges were, well...challenging!  so fun for them and i totally love that they completed it together.

below, Hannah crawling under the barbed wire, Jeff must have skipped that challenge because that dude isn't him ;)

there are days...

 days when it feels so good to be married to a skilled (not to mention handsome!) physiotherapist.  this day was one of them.  Alemayehu was at football practice and everything went smoothly.  that is until after practice when another player challenged him to a spontaneous race.  somehow in that brief foot race he hurt his knee in some fluke kind of way.  

Jeff brought him home and assessed him right there on the kitchen table.  so thankful for that, because had i been alone i probably would have made the trek to ER for further assessment.  

anyway, he spent a couple of days on crutches, but the knee seems to be healing nicely for now and the injury doesn't appear serious.  thankful.  and yes, i sanitized the table after his sweaty feet were there! :)

they clean up nicely

 all pretty and decked out for a pretty special wedding recently.  it really was so much fun and nice to have our older two girls home together, at the same time.  sadly, Adam was called far away on a job so he was missing that day.  we made the best of it.  thankful for my beautiful kids~ and so struck by how fast they are growing up.  surreal actually.

and then there's their handsome father who really is my better half...

thanksgiving

i heard a quote that i liked, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." there's solid truth for sure.

 

gratitude season.  love it!  thanks Layla for making truth visible in our home.  always so pretty! just like you!

rescue

 Lauren Daigle...again, her music speaks right into my core, my mind, my heart.  when i'm bombarded with messages of defeat or hopelessness or evil lies from the enemy of a lost culture that threaten to rattle and shake me, i hear this. 

"i will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night, it's true, i will rescue you..."

just wow...

and then this...

"i will never stop marching to reach you in the middle of the hardest fight, it's true, i will rescue you..."

and He does, every time.  and i trudge along and get back up and press on in this life that sometimes feels real heavy.  in those moments, when i'm most vulnerable with God, He meets me there.  in the gritty details and the real-life struggles.  when i try to solve tomorrow, next week or next year, He reminds me to stay present in today.  to simply leave the rest with Him.  it's a daily calculated exercise i must practice, but admittedly don't always remember (and that never goes well).  even still, He sends daily graces, deeply personal moments that cause joy and gratitude to rise up when least expected.  and i remember who holds me, who holds them, and who holds the future. 

Rescue

❤