Fourteen

Fourteen.  Our Fraser is fourteen!

It only seems to my Mama heart to be such a short time ago

that the Lord loving placed him in our home and family.

How precious it was to welcome our third son.
Fraser, on that day, became little brother to
both Austin and Calvin ~ they were thrilled.
And, so were we!  

On birthdays in recent years, we have made an effort
to go on a family outing to celebrate.
For his birthday, Fraser chose to go on a bike ride ~ similar to last year.
The year prior, we went out whale watching for the day.
Summer seems to be the time for activities such as these.

We are so thankful that we have been able to make 
these precious memories together.
They truly are gifts from the Hand of our Great God.

This year was much simpler than the last two.  
We got close enough to see the water,
but, no boat or ferry were required.
We just needed two wheels each and the trailer to get us there.
A family bike ride...joy!

Howie, however, promptly got a flat tire and opted
to wait quietly while I cycled with the children.
On the return portion of our trip, Calvin got a flat.
Lesson learned ~ don't go cycling without a repair kit along.
Oh well, we still had fun.  :)

The birthday food Fraser requested turned out to be a real treat.
For breakfast, he asked for a cup of coffee (not something he's normally allowed),
hash browned potatoes, bacon, mangoes, and Sugar Crisp cereal.

It was decided that we would order in pizza for dinner
and have a home made coconut cream pie for dessert.
We are all about traditions around here ~ food is a big part of that.

Fraser, you have always been cheerful and easy-going.

We thank the Lord for you!

How wonderful it has been to watch you learn and grow.

You are growing up right before our eyes ~

both physically and spiritually.
Your tender heart and kind ways are a 
great blessing to each one of us ~ please don't stop!  :)

It's been so encouraging to see the Lord's hand upon you.

He is your Saviour, and, that is the most important thing of all.
As you look to Him and follow Him,

we want you to know that we are lifting you up to Him in prayer.
We look forward with you to see what it is He will call you to do.

Your love of languages and cultures is a gift from Him.
We take pleasure in watching the joy it brings you to learn 
about the various places, people and languages of the world.
We all enjoy listening to you create music on the piano ~
what a wonderful thing it is to have these abilities to bless others with.

What does the Lord have in store?

Whatever it may be, use it all for His glory.
He alone is worthy.
We love you so very, very much!
You will always be our precious Freighter Mater.

All our Love,
Daddy and Mummy
XOXO

Sixteen

Sixteen.  Our Calvin is sixteen!

He wants to learn to drive.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for what that entails ~ LOL.

How can my little *Bulldozer* be ready to take the keys?

It was with great joy that we welcomed our second
little boy into our lives sixteen years ago.
Calvin was born only six days after Austin's second birthday.
It was so exciting for Austin to have a little brother to grow up with.
Right from the start, Calvin made us smile.
He was always full of life and energy, and still is!

 Calvin, I remember when you were about three
years old, just before going to bed at night, you would cheerfully say ~
"When I wake up in the morning...I can have some food!"
You always said this little phrase while doing your characteristic
hopping step and wearing a big grin on your face.
Oh, how you made us laugh!

 The LORD has graciously saved you Calvin,
and has called you His own.
He is shaping you and moulding you into
a caring and compassionate young man.
We are so pleased to see how the LORD 
is working in your heart and life.
He is evident in you ~ at the end of the day,
that is all that really matters.

 Follow and serve Him all the days of your life ~
with all that you have and all that you are.
He will never fail you.  He will always be Faithful.
He will lead you and guide you as you seek Him for wisdom.
What a blessing it is to belong to Him!

What would we do if you were not in our family?
It just would not be the same. 
We are so very thankful that the LORD 
entrusted you to our care and placed you in our home.
We are blessed to be your parents.
We are so thankful that the Lord 
chose you to be our son.

With all our Love,
Dad and Mum XOXO

FYI ~ His birthday *cake* was not a cake at all ~
He requested Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream,
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (perhaps a future post?),
Homemade Chocolate Sauce and Smarties.  

Eighteen

Today, Austin is eighteen.  Eighteen!!  

I'm not sure how that happened.

Wasn't it just yesterday that the Lord lovingly

placed him in our hearts and home?
How is it possible that we have been on this journey
of parenthood for eighteen years?
We cannot possibly be old enough...can we?  :)



 Just a year ago, we were celebrating the 
fact that Austin was able to come home from the hospital
in time for his special day.
Just days prior, we were not sure if he would 
even live to see his seventeenth birthday.
God graciously allowed him to ~ we are so thankful He did!

 Austin, the LORD has taught you much of Himself.
He has graciously saved you and called you His own.
He has taken you through some deep waters,
and you have come through them because of His grace.
We thank Him for the strength He gives.
We praise Him for His mercies.
What a wonderful blessing it is to know
that you are complete in Him.

How precious it has been to witness
your confidence in our Great God, 
while surrendering yourself to His will for you.
Even if that meant taking you Home to be with
Him while you were still in your teens.
We have been so encouraged to witness your faith in the LORD.
We are thankful that your trust is in Him. 

May the LORD grant that you would have
many more years to serve and follow Him.
May His hand continually be upon you, 
and may you know His leading in your life.
Follow Him wherever He leads.
Trust Him with all that you have.
There is nothing more noble than serving Him.
He alone is worthy.

We love you so very much,
and we count it an honour to have
been chosen to be your parents.
It is a blessing to call you our son.

All our Love,
Dad and Mum XOXO

Eleven

How did it happen?

How did my baby girl get to be this old?

Eleven ~ tell me it isn't true! 

The day began with balloons and a birthday breakfast.
It's a tradition in our home to put balloons on the 
child's bed while they are sleeping.
That way, on their birthday morning they wake up to them.
One balloon for each year old they are is placed...
up to a maximum of sixteen.  :) 

After breakfast, which consisted of bacon,
eggs, hash-browned potatoes, and Sugar Crisp ~
Monopoly was continued (it's an ongoing game that takes days to complete).

While the children were occupied,
I decorated the cake.
Emma's request ~ Angel Food Cake with frosting, 
heart sprinkles, and Princesses.

Emma still enjoys the *little girl* things.

She is not growing up too quickly.

For that, I am thankful.

We like to do something special together as a family
on each child's birthday.
Emma chose to ride bikes over to a 
nearby park and play tennis.

 We all joined in on the fun ~
Calvin and Emma in the photo above...
Daddy and Fraser in the photo below.

 Austin and Emma.

L to R ~ Fraser, Austin, Emma, and Calvin.

 The bikes of the parents ~
MANY miles have been logged on these *old* mountain bikes over the years.  :)

The Birthday Girl!
  

 Handmade cards are the best, don't you think?

Emma enjoys the arts of home.

She is learning to sew and bake and clean.

She even comforts those who feel sick.

For these things, I am thankful.

Most of all ~ she loves the LORD.

HE is her Saviour.

For this, I am overjoyed.

Sweet Emma ~

We all love you so very much.

We could not imagine life in our family without you.

God loaned you to us.  May He help us to give you back to Him.

May your heart be full of love for Him always.

And, may you follow Him all your days.

He is Faithful.  He alone is worthy.

All our Love,

Your Daddy and Mummy

XOXO

Thankful Thursday ~ Choosing to See!

On this Thursday, I give thanks.

The LORD truly does all things well.

He gives and gives and gives again.

It's such a blessing to remember that 

all things come from His hand.
And, if we belong to Him, we are in His hand!
Isn't that an incredible thought?

Today, I am choosing to see the blessings of...

~ Outings as a family

~ Growing old together...what a privilege
(No, I am not looking at an airplane...Calvin and Emma were both snapping
photos, and I didn't know which of them to look at!)

~ Impromptu games of chess played on the floor

 ~ Books from long ago making their way into the children's hands

 ~ Thoughtful boys who wanted to give their Mum a break...
thank you Calvin and Fraser  XO

 ~ Friends within the family, and games of tennis

enjoyed at the park just a bike-ride away

 ~ Two independent (and yet, dependent) young men...

how quickly they grow!

 ~ My bookends and their special time together...

Austin helped Emma choose a tennis racket at the store

 ~ Family times and birthdays to celebrate!

 ~ My precious family...

Howie's birthday celebration at home

It's good to remember all that the LORD has done.

It's refreshing to recount the many ways in which He blesses.
It's a good thing to give Him thanks.

May you know His blessings upon you this day!

With Love,
Camille

**First two images in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you my love!  XO

SO Much!

Daily mercy.
Daily grace.
Daily strength.
Daily peace.

So much
to be thankful for.
SO much!

Numbering.
Counting.
Giving thanks.

To the ONE
Who gives them all.
Praise HIS Holy Name!

"O give thanks unto the LORD;
for He is good:
because His mercy
endureth forever."
~ Psalm 118:1 ~

1628. SO thankful for the storms that
drive us to our Precious Saviour!

1629. That HE is always IN the Storm

1630. Peace, strength, mercy and grace
in the midst of it all

1631. All those who prayed for us
while Austin was in the hospital ~
Such a blessing!

1632. Being carried through
by the LORD ~ Once again!

1633. Free parking at Mr. and Mrs. N's

1634. Two vehicles for such a time as this! ~
(After about 18 years with only one)

1635. That Austin had chest pains
which God used to get us to the hospital ~
They appear to have been unrelated to his heart!

1636. That there was a bed for him
at Children's rather than at the other
hospital he was originally going to be sent to!

1637. The Echo was done ~
it may not have been requested!

1638. How the three children at home
went the *extra mile* and
kept things going around here!

1639. The church ladies, friends,
and family who provided meals for us ~
I hardly had to cook anything during
this whole ordeal...what a blessing!

1640. So thankful that each medicine
given was received by Austin's body and
that he was able to come HOME!

1641. The daily improvements we see

1642. Austin is able to join us
on the beach in the mornings ~
able to walk a little further each day.

1643. Thankful that Austin turned 17!

1644. And he has an appetite ~
First time in about two years according
to his calculations...yippee! :)

1645. God's mercy to us that HE
didn't take Austin suddenly ~
SO thankful!

1646. Each new day and the gift of it

1647. Birthdays to celebrate ~
And a brother to join in who
may not have been with us to do so!

1648. Cards from each of the children
to Calvin ~ Precious!

~ Austin's ~

~ Fraser's ~

~ Emma's ~

1649. Balloons representing
the number of years old the child is ~
What they wake up to on their birthday
(Only until the age of 16) :)

1650. Enjoyment of the *gift*
from Mummy, Daddy and siblings

1651. Fifteen candles! :)

1652. Makin' Mud Pies!

1653. And *Soup* and *Salad* ~
Want some? :)

1654. A camera to catch the moments

1655. Thankful for each one!

My journal sits on my counter.

I list as events unfold.
Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.
But, always by HIS Grace!

Would you like to begin?
Just grab a pen and a journal,
set them out on the counter,
and list out your blessings.
Find the joy in the moments ~
As they arrive.

Enjoy the journey!

Many Blessings,
Camille