Day 103: Lilacs!

My mom had some amazing lilac bushes.  I had to take a picture the last time I was out at the farm.  This bush is right below the kitchen sink.  When the window is open and you are doing dishes....mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmm!!

Day 102: 30 Years!!!!

One of my very best friends is turning 30 tomorrow.  She is off on a little get away with her family today till the end of the week.  Seeing she wasn't going to be here for me to see her for her birthday I thought I would bring her some cupcakes last night.  Which resulted in me staying there for supper and being able to spend some time with them.  Moments I find very precious and cherish.

I know she is a faithful reader of this blog....so my friend, I pray you have a great day tomorrow.  May God continue to bless you and keep you this coming year.  I hope you have a special day shared with family you don't get to see all that often.  Love ya!!

When it is someone's specials birthday in my life, I like taking my blog day to list little things I appreciate or cherish about our friendship.  So to you C...Hope this walk down memory lane makes you smile.  I was just going to do a top 5 but I don't think I could narrow it down to 5 so it will be 10...and even that is not enough!

1.  Our first trip to Tumbler Ridge.  The week I really got to know you.  It started with a phone call to arrange a ride after you finished work that Saturday.  You would think for not really knowing each other it would have been a quick phone call.  That was the start of our many, many hrs on the phone.  That night...was an hr of talking.

2.Taking two stepping classes with a bunch of friends.  Particularly, rating a few of our friends with their dance moves!  Plus all the Timmies visits that happened after that.

3.  The hours and hours of chats in the vehicle when I would drop you off.  All I can say, is I am glad that the car can't talk!!!  And let's not forget while chatting once the cop pulling up behind us because we were reported as 'suspicious'.  From there the cop getting all flustered and telling us we are pretty innocent looking (or something like that).  

4.  Our first road trip to Jasper.  Just heading out and taking pictures.  Going for a hike and a nice supper.  And changing in the vehicle at the end of the night with the train coming up mid changing.  "Train, train train!!!"

5.   Our second road trip to Jasper with an additional friend.  This time the hot springs and a nice supper.  Plus some interesting pictures at the end of the night.  The night my vehicle got named Cooper the Cougar.

6.  House boating...Oh house boating.  So many memories there.  Between a dip in some cold water late, late at night, all the water fights, the guy walking off that dock, the various hikes, the many pictures, and the dance we did that one evening.  

7.  Red Willow Falls...the many trips there but one in particular.  You know that one...it was winter.  And we left our phone numbers written in the snow.  Which resulted in some random guy calling us (Thanks to another friend setting that up).

8.  Olivia Page and Randell Blackman...enough said!  Oh the pranks!!

9.  Pictures....our many pictures.  Whether it was the time went to the park and took pictures while we tried to figure out if we were going to visit our friends or not.  Or the time we took pictures for another friend leaving.  Making him a flip book so he would always remember us (still shake my head at that one...that we actually did that!!!  Red with embarrassment).   To the trips to Edmonton and taking pictures with strangers.

10.  Our trip to Edmonton to meet this boy from NZ that your friend wanted you to get to know.  All the way there to 'get your car' but really it was to meet this boy.  And a few years later he became the love of you life and now have a pretty cute family to show for it.

Now there were moments I didn't mention.  Our many emails (even color coded ones) or activities for long road trips!!  But I can't let all our secrets out.  I look forward to many more memories and fun times shared with you and your family!  

Day 101:  Oh, flowers!!

Last weekend I asked my one friend to check on my house while I was gone.  When I came home, I came to this wonderful surprise!  A nice plant!!  With a wonderful bloom on it.  

I have some pretty amazing people in my life, and those friends are no exception.  The are the best, best friends this girl could ask for!!

Day 100: Ray of HOPE!!!

First....my 100th post!!!!!  WOW!!!!

This weekend I was able to participate in the Relay for Life.  Raising awareness of Cancer.  As a team, we raised over 2,000.00 which was great! Thanks to all of you that helped with this!

It was a long night.  Started at 7pm and went until 7am.  Many, many, many laps were done around the track.  I was able to share in this event with my sister, brother in law, and 3 good friends.  Plus we had some visitors come walk around the track with us.  Our parents, our friends and their little girl.  It was great!

And my Saturday was spent sleeping!!!  

I plan on doing this again next year...but hope we can add a few people to our team so we can break up the times we have to be there at!!!

Day 99: Mission Statement!

This was an early anniversary gift for our parents (yes, they are hitting 35 yrs!!!).  My mom, sister and I happened to be at our local bible bookstore and seen this.  My sister and I could see how much our mom loved this.  

On Tuesday, I was able to help put the pictures in it.  We decided this is our families mission statement.  It is already hanging on the wall, right in the dinning room so we will always remember.  I feel it is fitting to have it there seeing our best family time has been around the kitchen table.

In this house we do second chances...

We do Grace...

We do I'm Sorry's....

We do Real...

We do Hugs...

We do Love...

We do Mistakes....

We do Family

Day 98: New Life!

About two weeks ago I was able to go take some family photos for my friend.  Seeing she was pregnant (yes, I said was) I thought it would be a great time to do a few maternity pictures as well.  

Three days after taking these photos a healthy baby boy joined this family to make it a family of 4!!  Congrats my friends!

Day 97: Lots of Green!!!

This past week I was able to spend sometime with my family and hang out on the farm.  I was even allowed (and trusted) to drive the newest tractor!  A little JD green machine!  Loved it! Made mowing fun!  

I did learn a few things:

1.  That it goes from forward to reverse quickly and efficiently which makes getting those nasty little areas you missed a little easier.

2. Apparently I am scared of doing outside rounds and getting close to the buildings and such.  Call me a city girl and use to a push mower vs something with a little speed!

3.  Next time I have to go a little faster.  My brother informed me that I wasn't going the right speed...I was going to slow and could pick it up a bit!

4.  It felt great to help out on the farm and be apart of the day to day operations.

(Tonight is your lucky night....Seeing I have missed a bunch of post, you are getting 3 in a row!!(

Day 96: A Little Pampering!!

Last weekend my mom, my sister and I had a little spa day.  We were able to treat our mom to a pedicure for mothers day.  Nothing like a little paraffin wax, massage, and all the nail colors to choose from.  And lets not forget all the girl talk we were able to do.  

Can't wait for the next spa day!!!

Day 95: Family...

Today I was able to spend some very special family time with the people I love most.  It started off with a great breakfast...some french toast.  And from there, we were able to listen to a sermon and of course my favorite part, singing around the piano as a family.  Since it was raining, we watched a movie and just hung out.  

And after a wonderful supper, cooked by our amazing mom, we played a little president!  Which resulted in many laughs, a few arguments on the rules and many memories we will continue to hold close to our hearts!

Day 94:  Spring, New HOPE!

Spring is one of my favorite seasons.  There is so much new life to see.  Trees flowering, crops growing, lawns turning green, and cows calving.

I believe God gave us this season as a remembrance that much like the beauty and newness of spring our lives are much like that.  We all stumble.  We all fail.  We all sin.  But God's GRACE and forgiveness gives us a chance.  We have been giving this beautiful gift to start fresh...to start anew. 

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I  trust."    -Psalm 91: 1-2

Day 93: Punch Bowl Falls...

Before heading off on this day trip I knew I wanted to find a beautiful falls to hike to and take pictures of!  We were going to start with a hike and then head into Jasper for a nice, relaxing supper...with some shopping of course.

This all changed...and suddenly when the weather didn't cooperate for us.  Before leaving I googled 'falls in Jasper' and this Punch Bowl Falls came up.  The pictures looked amazing.  About a 3.5 KM around trip.  Perfect!  Sent my sister the link and she emails me back, this is in Jasper right?  I was like of course!

After our day in Jasper we started to head back home.  Stopping a few times for some pretty amazing pictures.  And then to the falls!  As we were driving I was bragging at home amazing these photos were going to be.  

We get to our destination.  Have to put my runners on...can't do this hike in flip-flops.  Socks go on.  Shoes go on.  Camera ready.  Off we go.  Now, I should mention I could really hear the falls...I said to my sister, these have to be some amazing falls if I can hear them from here!  

Well, how should I put this..about 200 yards into there were the falls.  And the picture is what they looked like.  You pretty much just stood above the falls.  All that putting on runners for that!!  Apparently the falls I was wanting to see are in the states...but there is one in Jasper with the same name!!  Hence the question my sister had for me...This is Jasper, right?? 

Oh the memories!!!!

Day 92: The Little Train the Could!!!

It was probably good it wasn't a crazy nice day when we were in Jasper otherwise I probably won't have gotten this picture.  I would have embarrassed myself climbing on up there for the picture!!!  It was meant for little ones...but I just couldn't resist!  So not only have a driven cars, trucks, tractors, ambulances...I can kinda say I drove a train...it just happened to be stationary!!

Day 91: You Make Life Bear-able!!

While on the hunt for a candy shop (which I later remember was actually in Banff not Jasper) we found this little guy.  Pretty friendly!

And why not a fun little photo with Mr. Bear.  Hopefully no one tells Randell about Mr. Bear...or I could be in big trouble!!!

Day 90:  Oh Mountains!

Nothing like finally being able to take my camera out for a little exercise... Beautiful water, rock formations, trees and clouds...a few to many grey clouds!!  And you can kind see the mountains way in the back!

And, I know that I have many of these pictures...same mountains from different times...but to me, they still all look different and even more beautiful then the last time.  

Sorry, for the laps in pictures....I will do a few tonight.  I have been busy uploading budgets with work which has kept me away from the computer.