thanksgiving

the season of thanksgiving....one of my favourite times of the year.  plus, i love fall~ maybe the most of all. not exactly sure what i love the most, the decision is hard.  i'm sure it's a combination of lots of things that make my little homey domesticated nature very happy~ a return to routine, pumpkin spiced lattes, firing up the oven more as the air turns crisp, freshly baked pumpkin anything :), apples from the farmer's market turned into lots of yummy treats, mum pots in full bloom, leaves in pretty shades of orange and red, scented candles lit, cozy evenings, perfect temperatures for sleeping....i don't know~ i just love it.  

then Thanksgiving lands right in there~ as fall replaces summer.  perhaps I'm feeling the gratitude in extra measure lately, in part due to the amazing perspective I'm receiving from the incredibly gifted AnnVoskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts.  this book was super popular a few years ago, and I've been meaning to read it since first hearing about it.  so happy my dear mom decided to gift me with it.  better late than never, i guess.  plus, the timing seems perfect anyway.  it is wrecking me more than any book has in quite some time.  and by wrecking~ I mean that in the best way possible.  the challenge of the book is "a dare to live fully right where you are".  wowww....something about it~ the way Ann writes, the honesty, the shared experiences, the relatable qualities of her stories, the perspective and truth contained in each page~ it's like rain on a dry scorching hot day, and there are days that my spirit feels dry and in need of a good saturating rainfall.  you know?  so beautiful....

all that to say, sometimes a good book or a timely visit or a prayer answered or a powerful verse~ well, all can go a long way in adjusting perspective every now and then when such a shift is most needed.  so good...

so, in such a spirit of joy and gratitude, here are two videos that make me smile each and every time i view them~ and that has been often. :)

the sweetness of this baby girl in the first video as she interacts with her dad melts my heart every time.  and how bright is she trying to prank her father?! not hard to understand why it went viral...

then there's my Hudson...oh, this boy....he can be purely delightful.  i love these moments....he has a way of turning after dinner chores into entertainment.  his older sister cued up some of her favourite music and Hudson couldn't contain "the groove", shall we say.   i call this one "sweeping~ Huddy-style".  enjoy!

   

late edition...frogs

how did i miss this post back in August?  perhaps the long marathon of birthdays distracted me...i cannot head too deep into fall without first capturing, on this here blog of mine, the cute display of frogs and my three frog-lovin' kids.  and i have to say~ while i was wasn't a fan of actually holding them, they sure are amazing and beautiful to see up close.

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yep, on this afternoon it was basically a frog field trip...the chosen lucky ones were taken from the comfort of their world (our little pond) and then experienced what must have been a hair-raising excursion to the "big pool".  some swam a length to the other side (wasn't optional), where they were met by Layla who essentially gave them a spa treatment in the Frisbee~ which included a cool water bath (pool chemicals??) and then time spent bonding with AJ and Adam who were in charge of frog socialization, working them up to eventually sitting calmly on AJ's forehead.  quite the day, i'd say!

oh how i love my son's eyebrows...so cute, and so brave.

watching them on this warm summer day was bliss.  the little moments sometimes are the best, and i never want to forget this particular afternoon...so thankful for days like that!

the gift of a legacy

a cottage escape happened this past weekend.  wow, was it ever wonderful...a celebration of the making of a legacy.  fifty years marriage (and counting) for my sweet parents.  what a model they have been of faithful and true love.  this rooted me from day one and on through my childhood and early adult years.  mom and dad gave me (yes, it was intentionally given to me~ to us, as kids) stability in our home I didn't even realize I needed.  it just was a part of what I knew, what I observed, what I loved!  it was always that way as long as I can remember.  I knew they were fiercely committed to each other and the vows they made before God.  I don't recall ever doubting that they were in it for keeps.

 so, in celebration of this giant anniversary we enjoyed some fabulous R&R that included gorgeous sunsets, summer-like beach walks late in September, delicious food, laughter, games and new memories....

plus, chillin' on a deck with a view...

dinner conversations,

cousin bonding,

and an amazingly beautiful painted sky.  photo credits of the sunset go to Joelle~ her shot was the best....

and even a morning of kite flying.

thanks Mom and Dad for loving each other so well.  your example shaped the way I love my dear Jeffrey.  and I think he'd say I do okay...
for the record, Jeff's parents are not far from the same amazing milestone and he echoes my words about his childhood and his parents.  how fortunate are we as their kids?!?  in a world of disposable everything, my children have seen their grandparents display loyal commitment with conviction~ and not with drudgery or boredom but instead with fun and friendship and joy.  awesome....
so blessed.  my word.

eight

so, back to the number theme....one last birthday in this run of special "gifts" to celebrate.  tomorrow my youngest, my baby, turns eight.  sniff, sniff.  he legally doesn't require a car seat anymore.  he's reading chapter books with help, he's biking the "Jumps" at our local park, he's running 5 km easily in the Terry Fox run last Sunday, and he's skipping rocks far better and further than his mama.  he's finding his way, his sass voice, and has no problem speaking his mind in this large family where he holds the title of "youngest".  it's necessary for survival, i know it...  

he's a far cry from this toddler seen on my computer screen below.  this was our first picture ever of our precious son, at just over three years old...his expression says so much.  

we'd travel twice to the plains of Africa, into a small remote Ethiopian village to find this boy who was chosen just for our unique family.  we'd step in as his second family, his forever family, and never be the same because of it.  the tears spill when i consider that God orchestrated such an event~ down to the very last details...how His heart bends for the orphan.

  AJ~ you are so loved and we consider the blessing all ours to have found our way to you. 

have the happiest of birthdays, little man.  wishing you joy and strength and purpose as you continue to grow!  have a blast being eight!

model material??

this ham of a kid was shopping with me on the last weekend before school.  we were out of town for a baseball tournament and killing time between games.  so, we found a Winners!  

 this is his best runway pose.  i love the whites of his eyes :)  now that the picture is public, i expect the "Paris people" will be calling any day....better start his portfolio! 

just like that....

just like that....all six officially embark on a new school year filled with promise, adventures, new beginnings, challenges, lessons learned, growing, maturing, discovering more about themselves and the wide world in which we live.  

Joelle grade 12x, Hannah grade 11, Adam grade 9, Layla grade 7, Hudson grade 5, AJ grade 3

have an amazing year guys!  go get 'em!

eighteen

i've fallen victim to some sort of freakish time-travel incident. i've heard about this sort of thing before...only now it's happened to me.  an abnormal and inexplicable phenomenon where i blinked and my firstborn went from infant car seat to driver's seat,

 from nursery school to contemplating post-secondary, from adorable to beautiful, and taller than her mama...

she doesn't love the mushy side of me (although maybe really deep down it resonates with her a bit), but i can't help but remember this day eighteen years ago when i realized i'd finally be welcoming my first child.  a full twelve days late (rascal)~ she was making her grand entrance on her terms only~ i sat there in my hospital room cradling a precious bundle that i already loved sooooo fiercely...and so my transition to parenthood began.  it's been a wild ride....yet i can honestly say i'm so thankful for all the highs and lows, because i know without a doubt that i'm being shaped and stretched and changed simply because of this role i have as mom to this bunch.  

love you Joelle~ to the moon and back.  i hope and pray this is your best year ever!