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.  

Rejoicing Again!

Last November,
Austin was baptized.
We rejoiced.

And now,
we are rejoicing again!


Calvin expressed his desire
to be baptized during the winter months.
A few things delayed the process,
which meant that he had to patiently wait.


This past Sunday,
Calvin followed his Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the waters of baptism.
He obeyed the LORD's command
in the Scriptures to do so.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen."

~ Matthew 28:18-20 ~





We are eternally grateful
to the LORD for His Goodness.
For His Grace and Mercy.
We praise Him from
Whom all blessings flow!

The LORD has done this.


Auntie Mary was able to join with us ~
She was already in town for the wedding.
Many of our extended family were able to come and witness
this joyous event as well. We are so thankful!

May the LORD be glorified
through the lives of each
of our children.
We pray that He would graciously
lead each one to Himself.
We depend completely and utterly upon Him.
HE alone is Worthy!

If you are praying for unsaved
loved ones, be encouraged.
As long as there is breath,
there is hope.
Continue to pray.

"Continue in prayer, and watch
in the same with thanksgiving."
~ Colossians 4:2 ~

The LORD truly does
all things well!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Burnaby Village Museum

Burnaby Village Museum
is a local family favourite.
Especially at Christmas.
Decorated and lit up for the Season,
it is magical.

A re-created early 1900's
town with authentic buildings
and volunteers in period costume ~
It's a little like
stepping back in time.

In the evenings leading
up to Christmas, there are activities
and extra special things for families to enjoy.

We found ourselves there
one evening a few days before Christmas.

Our first stop?
The Carousel. :)
Calvin was my photographer ~
he chose not to ride.

A recent addition to the museum is
a beautiful, completely restored
Interurban Tram Car ~
From the era before most owned their
own transportation.
My Dad rode on one of these
as a young boy growing up in Vancouver.
(A little slice of personal history).

Did they look as nice as this back then Dad? :)

Here's a portion of the *main street*
with Howie and Fraser facing the camera.
I'm at the far left in this shot and
Emma is running toward me...
we're a little blurred ~
See us? :)

My Sweetie and me! :)


Thank you Calvin for taking
the photos!
It's tempting to stop
bringing my camera along with
me to things like this.
But then I remember that
it's necessary.
Often the photographer
gets left out of the pictures! :(

Next time it's my turn Calvin. XO

What are some of your family favourites?
Do you have special places you like
to visit during Christmas?

Please share!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Entering In

Howie came up with a
great idea awhile back.
The idea?

To allow the children
each a twenty-minute block
of time to share with the rest of us
whatever they wanted to.

A family version of
"Show and Tell".

It went over well.
An understatement. :)

Fraser is our resident
atlas/languages/professor sort.

His pick?

Google Earth.

We visited places I had never
heard of and discovered new things.
What an adventurer!

Calvin is our budding photographer.
Some of you may have noticed
that I feature some of his work
here on this blog.
He's serious about it.

We enjoyed looking through
a photo album that he put together
last year after a family vacation.

Happy Memories!

Austin has been learning
a little about programming.
He has created little games
and question and answer sorts
of programs to tickle the funny bone.

He's even opened up a
you-tube channel as an avenue to
showcase his virtual rollercoasters.

Under that serious-looking
exterior there lurks a sense of humour.
Wonder where he got that from?

Emma has a serious love for
all things *Nancy Drew* ~
She shared an excerpt from
the book she was reading at the time.

The *original* series of novels are
being devoured at a rapid rate.
We have most of the earlier set
of books...what fun! :)

She then showed us her collection
of shells that were acquired
on our recent trip to visit with
Auntie Beverley.

God's Glorious Handiwork!

And the boys entered in.

It was an enjoyable time
spent learning just
a little bit more about
the unique individuals God
has entrusted us with.

What an honour it is to
seek to raise them for HIM
and for HIS glory!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Lightening Up

I don't *DO* art with our children
as often as I *should*.

But...they are always drawing
or sketching or creating.

A.L.W.A.Y.S.

Recently, my Mom gifted a paint/art
set to each child for his/her birthday.

J.O.Y.

It really is MUCH easier
to keep it all contained now that they are older.
Interpretation ~ I don't go crazy in the process.

Or...maybe I have learned (a little)
to lighten up?

I surely do hope so!

And now...to continue on with my list.
Which (mostly) has nothing
to do with painting ~
But everything to do with
L.I.F.E.

1336. Watching Austin patiently
teach Emma to roller blade

1337. Spring showers, turned hail, then the
sky breaking to reveal blue and sunshine...
all in one beach walk!

1338. Puffy white clouds lit by the sun
from behind ~ Glorious!

1339. Distant islands blue on the horizon

1340. Beginning the day with #'s 1337 to 1339 ~
W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.

1341. Thankful that I survived my first 30
minutes of driving with Austin at the wheel ~ LOL!

1342. Finding new suppliers for new supplies

1343. Most of my short list for groceries was on sale ~
by *chance*...again, nothing is by chance! :)

1344. Lunch out...and Supper out ~
On the same day...what a treat!
Thank you so much T & S and L & S! :)

1345. The acceptance and good attitude
that the LORD has given
to our child with Crohn's ~
God's grace!

1346. New freezer containers to use

1347. A whole batch of
chicken stock frozen for future use ~
Yippee!

1348. Rain pelting down and
none of it coming inside ~
It used to!!

1349. Wonderful sermons

1350. God's Word expounded faithfully ~
A blessing!

1351. Richness of the Doctrines of Grace

1352. The Resurrection ~ HE IS ALIVE!!

1353. A quiet morning all by myself

1354. Thankful that it's not always that way

1355. Children to welcome home

1356. French Cream ~ Oh. Dear. Me!

1357. My yogurt maker ~
Practically working for me 'round the clock!

1358. Homemade yogurt ~ YUM!

1359. Colour returning to our
sick child's cheeks ~ JOY!

1360. Painting supplies for the children

It's easy to count.
It begins with noticing the *little* things.
Noticing the moments.
Entering into them and writing them down.
It's as simple as that.

My journal sits on my counter.

I list as events unfold.
Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.

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

Skating on Plastic?

Now, this was something new for us!
The children went skating outdoors
on a balmy, sunny day...
on some sort of plastic stuff!

It made the boys' skates
V.E.R.Y. dull.

But, they did enjoy the experience.

I liked it because it was close by.
And, best of all...
it was F.R.E.E.

Is it obvious that they had a great time?

Many blessings,
Camille

Life...As it Happens

The rhythm of life as it happens ~
As it ebbs and flows.

Day in.
Day out.

We seek daily to turn
our attention to the
E.T.E.R.N.A.L.

What better way than
to fully attend to the
N.O.W.


We are called to this.
Called to live fully for HIM ~
in ALL we do!

Life in our home is never dull.
There are many things to occupy our time.
There are many people to minister to.
Never a lack of things to be done.

In the here.
In the now.

Might we all really live.
And live really well.
For HIS glory!

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
~ Colossians 3:17 ~

1241. Boy vacuum-er who smiles at me!

1242. Sugar in the cupboard

1243. Butter melting on the stove

1244. Emma creating at the table with a
"Make and Do" book

1245. Trees in the woods pointing to the Heavens ~
and us looking up in the middle of the trail

1246. Blue beyond

1247. Fresh air

1248. The children chattering and clattering on ahead

1249. Being *crowded out* by one on the walk
who comes along between us...so glad they *want* to!



1250. Boy-Man greeting me at the door

1251. Sun warming the car in winter

1252. Chocolate Mousse Royale

1253. Praline's and Cream


1254. Two hours alone in the morning...rare!

1255. Howie taking time off work to take the children
to the climbing gym

1256. Emma taking it upon herself to do dishes without being asked

1257. Finding the floor of the laundry room and sweeping it!

1258. Pushing buttons on the washing machine and it
working, working, working ~ WONDERFUL!

1259. The Doctrine of the Preservation of the saints ~
PRECIOUS Truth!

1260. Warm towels straight from the dryer

1261. People to pray for

1262. Wonderful God Who hears!

1263. Hunger pangs and the resources to satisfy them

1264. Morning quiet

1265. Steaming cup of tea

It's easy to count.
It begins with noticing the *little* things.
Noticing the moments.
Entering into them and writing them down.
It's as simple as that.

My journal sits on my counter.
I list as events unfold.
Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.

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

Sunrise at the Beach

We live near the beach.
We walk along the promenade for exercise.
What a blessing it is!
We do not know how long we will have this privilege.
Our times are in HIS hands.
I trust we do not take it for granted.

One morning in January we were there very early ~
Before the sunrise.
Calvin brought his camera along ~
He captured all these amazing shots!

A big thank you to our budding photographer
for letting me post these pictures!
Love you! xo