2016 January-June in Mosaics…

January: Dear started a consulting job from home. We celebrated January birthdays. A business trip to San Francisco with reunions with old friends from my college days.

February: Our Lenten Rose bloomed early. We had a Superbowl party with a Chinese New Year theme with souvenirs I bought at San Francisco’s Chinatown. We also enjoyed a Valentines day lunch with a view in Bellevue.

March: We had a sister’s weekend. We celebrated my Medicare birthday in Bellingham with the Mennonite Girls and our hubbies. Dear and I had an overnight in Vancouver, B.C. to continue celebrating my birthday. Katie and Andrew celebrated their 5th anniversary!

Easter landed at the end of March and deserved it’s own mosaic. Our family was all together. Kulich baking, Seerney Paska, Easter egg hunts and Raclette all happened during Easter weekend.

April: We took a quick trip to Eastern Washington to work on some projects at Dan and Jamie’s. Late in the month I went along with Dear on a business trip to San Antonio, Texas. While there I drove to Austin to meet up with my brother’s family for a few hours.

May: Mother’s day with the kids on this side of the mountains. Dear and I took a road trip to Whatcom Falls and on the way home enjoyed stopping at a restaurant on Chuckanut Drive for lunch.

May: Two trips across the line to Canada to meet our play writer and later to meet a favorite blogger who gives so much encouragement to us Mennonite Girls, Rosella.

June: I flew down to be with family and enjoy my sister’s open house in her new digs.

June: A trip to Leavenworth where our family and our new daughter in law’s family enjoyed a weekend together eating and river rafting.

June: Father’s day brunch downtown Seattle with a photo op on Queen Anne Hill overlooking downtown Seattle.

June: We finished off June with a road trip to Yellowstone National Park and Cody Wyoming with stays in Montana coming and going. June really was packed full!

Six full months of blessings with people we love and trips to places we had never seen before. I’ll share July to December later. Dear’s consulting job ended in June and we began our time of wondering if we were unemployed or if we were retired.

How are you spending the last days of 2016? We are planning a little get together on New Year’s Eve after the Peach Bowl between our Washington Huskies and Alabama. We are the underdogs and will be cheering our Dawgs on to victory. Time will tell. Win or lose we will ring in the New Year with gratefulness to God for all He has done this year in our lives and the lives of our friends and family.

Here, There and Everywhere…

Here are some fences and signs and other things that Dear and I have seen together as we travel here, there and everywhere.

On the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State.

Signs from Fort Langley, British Columbia.

A fence along the river in Fort Langley.

All is well with our electrical at this old house. Today, Wednesday, is a shopping day with our daughter. The neighborhood kids are rising early for the start of school in our district. Thursday is the first day of an Estate sale at my neighbors so cars and people will be filling our street. Friday is Dear’s birthday and we are meeting our western Washington kids for dinner. So far the weekend is free. How’s September shaping up for you?

Linking with Lesley for signs, signs.

Also linking with Tex*Wis*Girl for Good Fences #129.

Fort Langley

I’m sharing more photos from our recent trip to Fort Langley. I’ve shared a couple posts on this area already.

Fort Langley Birthplace of British Columbia.

Fort Langley Community Hall.

This sign says: My name is Wallace Walnut, I’ve lived here a long time, I fear for my life.

The historic train station.

The railway velocipide that originated in England in 1885.

I have a confession to make and that is that we did not actually visit the Fort in Fort Langley. We walked a bit along the river and enjoyed some shops and churches and had an enjoyable meal at a new place in town called Trading Post Brewing.

We enjoyed the servers and the food that we were served. I’ve noticed that I use the word enjoy a lot and I’m not going to apologize for that. I will choose to have joy in the simple everyday things and the extraordinary things in my life.

I would visit Fort Langley again to see the things we missed. It’s a pleasant drive to this historic town and there are nice shops, a great local grocer, eating options and lovely places to walk. I still have some fun signs and fences to share in memes in the future. Time will tell if I will link this post with any memes this week.

Linking up to ABC Wednesday, F is for Fort Langley. Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt and the whole Fabulous ABC team!

Meanwhile at this old house we had a good weekend ending with a lunch gathering at Josh and Laura’s (first born son and DIL) and then a winning soccer game with the Sounders. I’ve enjoyed some Olympics, baking, organizing. If you don’t see something new here in the next few days don’t worry. Lord willing, I’ll share some new things that are happening around this old house soon. The Lord be with you and with your loved ones wherever your rails take you this week and in whatever you are experiencing!

InSPIREd Sunday

St. George’s Anglican Church in Fort Langley, B.C.

History of the church can be read by clicking on this link.

Dear and I spent a few hours in Fort Langley British Columbia on July 19th. We spotted this church and walked over to get a closer look.

There was a prayer meeting going on so I didn’t take photos inside the sanctuary. I did zoom in to get a glimpse of the stained glass window. “In 1908, St. George’s was consecrated and in 1912 the Good Shepherd window above the altar was installed.”

Canada new book launch 145

My Refuge and My Fortress Psalm 91: 1-4 (ESV)

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

I’m linking up to InSPIREd Sunday with Beth and Sally.

Views from Fort Langley, B.C.

An iconic sight in Fort Langley is the Church of the Holy Redeemer situated across the Bedford Channel (Fraser River) on McMillan Island. Most visitors to Fort Langley have seen the picturesque white church sitting eloquently alone across the river on the land of the Kwantlen First Nations.

Looking upstream on the Fraser River.

Holy Redeemer Church was built between 1897 and 1902 by the Kwantlen First Nations under the supervision of the Oblate Fathers from St. Mary’s Mission in Mission, the historic church continues to provide occasional services and is the location of many small marriage ceremonies.

Since the church sits on First Nation Land which is private land we couldn’t get closer to the church. We crossed the Jacob Haldi bridge across the Fraser River and pulled into some soccer field parking to zoom in for shots of the church that weren’t blocked by trees.

Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday hosted by Sally and Beth. Next week I hope to share another church we visited while walking about Fort Langley.

We had a busy week and we are working around this old house this weekend. We cleaned and organized the attic after Dear put more plywood flooring to extend the usable space. We are happy with our progress in the attic. We harvested our pears because the crows were hanging out in the tree and pecking away at them. I’m watching some events from the Olympics in between chores. How’s your weekend going?

The Journey…

Dear and I packed up early on Wednesday morning and headed across the line to Canada.

We found our way to Central Heights Mennonite Church to attend the Celebration of Life for Kathy’s (one of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook) dear father. After the service Dear and I headed to Bakerview MB church and found the other Mennonite Girls and their spouses for the reception. One of the things we learned about Kathy’s father Helmut during the many tributes expressed about him was that he had the “gift of encouragement” along with other “gifts”. We think our Kathy has received this “gift” and learned a lot about how to share this gift because of her dad. Here’s an email from Kathy’s dad to his kids after he learned to use email in 2015.

“Let’s remember that , ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain.’ We are totally dependent on the Lord for life and breath and the service we are to render to our family members and other folk. One of my challenging verses that JESUS gave us is recorded in Mark 10:45. ‘For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give HIS life as a ransom for many.’ Let us be faithful servants, managing our time, talents and resources well. God help us to be good witnesses for HIS glory. Love you all lots and pray for you daily. Dad/Helmut”

What a treasure to have a legacy of a faithful father to pass on. We know you will miss your dear dad, Kathy, but that you also rejoice because he is home with his savior.

After the reception Dear and I found our way to Anneliese’s home where she and her dear H treated us to a nice dinner before we headed to our next big event.

We followed H and Anneliese to the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford, B.C. where our newly released book, Bread for the Journey, was to be dedicated and launched.

We were met by two bouquets of flowers lovingly and thoughtfully sent by friends of the MGCC girls. Thank you so much Richard, Dorothy, and Rosella.

Under watchful eyes Anneliese prepared for the Zwieback demonstration.

Judy and Lovella’s hubbies maned the parking lot helping our guests find a place to park.

A wonderful crowd appeared and watched carefully as Anneliese showed her method of making Zwieback. Lovella helped with the narration.

Each of the seven of us who could be at the museum had our part to play. Some of us read from our family stories and some of us read one of our devotionals.

I made my confessions and read a brief story about my family’s “Movement” from Russia, to Iran and finally to the U.S.A. I’m not going to lie, I was happy when my “spotlight” moment was done.

After we were done with our stories and devotionals we had a special treat of music. We were blessed with Father’s Daughter singing “Little is much when God is in it”. Wonderfully musically talented family.

Here’s what Lovella had to say about these moments caught in the collage above. “I wanted to read the dedication at the end before Gerry prayed but just couldn’t even get it out. My heart was so full. Gerry couldn’t read it because he didn’t have his glasses so he borrowed mine to read.” Lovella was hoping someone captured these moments and Bev’s husband Harv did so I borrowed his photos.

The dedication reads: “We dedicate this book and our royalties to orphans and widows who face each day in need. Our prayer is that they would see the love of Jesus extended through caring hands, one home and one heart at a time.

After reading the dedication with Lovella’s glasses, Gerry prayed a prayer for God’s blessings on our book.

We signed books for anyone who wanted us to while the great crowd that attended enjoyed coffee and Zwieback.

We were surprised at the number of people who showed up and also surprised that the museum store was soon sold out of our book.

At the end of the evening we took some group photos. We always wish the 10 of us could all be together for these special events but miles and life events have a way of keeping some of us away.

All of our hearts were full from the beautiful blessings we enjoyed on this day in Abbotsford.

Some of the photos in this post were taken by Bev’s husband. Thanks for sharing Bev. Some were taken by my Dear and myself.

Dear and I crossed the border into the USA at 9 pm and were home in bed before midnight. We are generally early to bed people. Today is a day of recuperating for me and I have another confession to make and that is that I am still in my robe and it is the afternoon already! Oops! I running upstairs now to get ready for the rest of the day!

Monday Mural ~ Fort Langley

Fort Langley historical mural in Gasoline Alley ~ Fort Langley, British Columbia

Artist listed as Brandon Gabriel ~ Paint on concrete block

Colorful mural displays various native heritage scenes and the arrival of settlers to the area.

Dear and I visited the historic area of Fort Langley, British Columbia on July 19th and enjoyed a walk-about the town and some shopping.

This weekend has been very full with our second born and his wife of one year here. I have not had time to be on the internet as we are enjoying face to face time with all of our kids. We also received very sad news that I will share soon. We are rejoicing and we are grieving all at the same time.

I will link up later to Monday Mural with Oakland Daily Photo.

Barns in B.C.

B.C. as in British Columbia not before Christ.

Dear and I were in Canada the 18th and 19th of July and I snapped these photos of farms along the roads we traveled.

This last photo is not taken from our car but at our first destination in Chilliwack.

Next week I’ll share more photos with this barn in the background.

I’m linking up with Tom The Backroads Traveller for The Barn Collective.

Neighbors to the North

We found this monument close to Stanley’s in Stanley Park and I’m glad we took the time to read the inscription.

The monument was erected as a memorial to President Harding’s visit to Canada in 1923.

“What an object lesson of peace is shown today by our two countries by all the world. No grim-faced fortifications mark our frontiers. No huge battleships patrol our dividing waters. No stealthy spies lurk in our tranquil border hamlets. Only a scrap of paper recording hardly more than a simple understanding safeguards lives and property on the Great Lakes, and only humble mile posts mark the inviolable boundary line for thousands of miles through farm and forest.

Our protection is in our fraternity. Our armour is our faith, the tie that binds more firmly year by year. Ever increasing acquaintances and comradeship through interchange of citizens and the contract is not of perishable parchment, but of fair and honorable dealing which God grant shall continue for all time.

Erected by Kiwanis International in memory of a great occasion in the life of two sister nations here on July 26, 1923 Warren Gamaliel Harding twenty ninth president of the United States and first president to visit Canada.” (Erected 9-16-1925)

We were very surprised to read that Harding was the very first president to visit Canada.

Linking to Mrs. Nesbitt’s ABC Wednesday for N is for Neighboring Nations. Thank you Roger and team for administrating the meme.

I’m also linking to Tuesday’s Treasures with Tom the Backroads Traveler with this National treasure.

In the last few years I’ve enjoyed many visits to our neighbor to the North and I’m always thankful that it’s an safe border to cross without fear.

Scenes from Stanley Park

All these photos were taken on Friday March 18th in Stanley Park.

And once again I find myself with the need to de-fluff and while we were in a gift shop by the Totems in Stanley Park Dear called me over to a case to show me this…

If it wasn’t so pricey I would have bought it! I’m losing the same weight I lost before our son Dan’s wedding last year. Ha! Anybody else out there find yourself gaining, losing, and gaining again? I’m not trying to be skinny just want to have a bit of room to spare in my jeans and tops and I don’t want to go up another size! I joined a gym on Friday with my Silver Sneakers and even made it through a Zumba class. Met some nice gals who let me know about other good classes at the gym. On Monday I meet with a personal trainer for an assessment. Scary but good.

We had a productive weekend again with mowing, weeding, and moving vehicles into and around Dear’s shop. Today after church we had a birthday brunch for our son-in-law, Andrew. His birthday is on Tuesday. Josh and Laura joined us for Eggs Benedict, Hash Browns, and Fruit. For the birthday cake we had cinnamon rolls, much appreciated by Andrew. We have a quiet week coming up. Hope you all have a good Sunday and start to a new week!

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: Canada