Happy Anniversary Dad & Mom!

"Oh give thanks to the LORD for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever."  Ps 136:1

 

 

Can you believe it?

It was 48 years ago that a young Roel & Elly stood in front of the church!

How the Lord has blessed their marriage!

5 kids (plus 4 by marriage) and 21 grandkids (+1 by marriage!)    

:)

We thank the Lord for you, Dad & Mom

and pray He'll continue to work in & through you richly!

Love you!     

Congratulations Heidi & Tim, Opa & Oma!

Thanksgiving weekend on a beautiful, warm day,

an exciting & special event took place!

 - the first of the 3rd generation got married 

heralding the beginning of a new phase in our clan! 

Opa & Oma are thrilled to welcome Tim V

as the first grandchild by marriage!

 

Here's just a few glimpses of this God-honouring wedding:

(thanks R&S for the excellent 1st & last 3 photos)

 

the minister, groom, & attendants eagerly awaiting the bride

 as the beautiful music of panflute & organ filled the church

the dignified father reluctantly ;)  giving away the radiant bride

the gleeful groom    

running away with the bride! 

The proud parents of the bride, Christine & Maurice

(and still such a young, good looking pair!)

the proud grand parents

(also looking very well and young for their age!
- thanks for the very nice photo, Betty!)

the charming brother Josh with lovely cousins, Maria & Rachel

 Josh did a great job as Tim in their family's fantastic musical play (& Lizzi sang beautifully as Heidi supposedly)
 

 

 

Aunt Marguerite and thrilled cousin Esther 

(I was so thankful to be able to attend the reception at least after being so ill just the weekend before!) 

 (love your dress, Heidi - so nice to see a gown that's modest as well as elegant, feminine & flattering)

  cutting the beautiful cake made by the mother of the groom



Congratulations Heidi & Tim!

May you sing His praises forever and daily perform to your vows.... Psalm 61 

  Welcome to (another) B---- clan, Tim!
Glad you'll be living not too far away!
 

 delectable favours - crab apple jelly made by the mother of the bride from their own trees

We thank the Lord for His gifts of love and marriage!

Vacation Friends

 
Its always a treat to visit Bill & Rita W

The "little white Church" 

 

Dale, our friend from way back (Calvary), with her son Mark & Mary

Pastor Phil Smith, Tracy,  & girls

Don & Leslie Walcott - met them first at Melrose's church (Immanuel) 

 

We're thankful to have a faithful church to attend while on vacation – its so small we’re never sure if they’ll still be there the next year.  In comparison, our church is huge- with lots of potential for the future!  However, despite the lack of kids, young people or growth, they persevere thru difficulties. May the Lord use & bless this pastor and the little flock here and keep it faithful to His Word. 

 

 

Campsite Views

One morning there were 3 swans swimming here (those 3 white specks) - so beautiful!

Some candid shots at our campsite

#1

 

#2

 

#3

 

#4
catching some rays & rest 

#5

 

 

#6   

What a great spot - except that when it was windy, it WAS windy! Sometimes was hard to find a sheltered spot where the wind wouldn't blow out the stove flame!  But I love this site and the wind from the lake -when its balmy! 

Now, here's a quiz for you :)  How many of us were in each of the above photos?
...
Wrong! 
... 
Hint:  the littlest camper blends very well into her surroundings :) 

 

Now go back over the numbered photos and see if you can find Tia - and tell me where she is. You can ask for more hints if you need to. Happy Hunting! :)

Link to more pictures

If anyone is interested in seeing yet more pictures of that wonderful week at Rock Lake, just follow this link:

An Even Longer Extension to our Summer :)

Straight from the crowded, noisy, loving, fun cottage week to the lonely, quiet, spacious, wide-open, fresh-air camping weeks (granted, it was busy every extended weekend and it wasn't that lonely as we have friends here to visit & always meet more). 

- trying out their new air bed - and getting a much needed nap in the sun after the exhausting transitional day!

 

It was quite cold the first week or so but thankfully warmed up in the sun for a number of hours each day at least.
Tia took her job as a leg & foot warmer very seriously - LOL!

  - has she grown or what!?   

Our Heavenly Father was so gracious to give us progressively warmer weather the rest of our vacation so that we were soon able to eat dinner on the beach in few layers

 and even shorts!

We could even go swimming! (often just a quick dip was all could manage as the water was very cold) None the less, we got in a record number of days - so exhilarating, refreshing and invigorating!  I couldn't believe how much better I felt after it - for the rest of the day - so alive!

 Our last swim/dip on Oct 3- can you believe it!?

 Mom enjoyed having time to quietly draw...

 visit 

 

 

 

 PTL for time to contemplate His glory & grace in such a beautiful setting

 

aaww :) 

Extension of "A Sweet Extension of our Summer..." :)

How Cute!  Joanna leading Tia - that's the way it should be (not vice versa).  Tia was generally no trouble, for the most part sticking around us when loose & even coming back when called!, ... tho she never learned to appreciate the water - had to dump her in for her swim!


A relaxing Sunday afternoon - with everyone there (plus Tim) except for Lizzi & Mark who where away for school already.  What a blessing to have this family vacation time and place to create memories, strengthen ties, grow closer as family.




cute crazy kids  

 

 
 

  

 

little lunch guests 

 

Lunch with the oldest teens didn't get photographed but was quite memorable as we discussed ideas for a skit for the upcoming wedding, and memorizing...
Rachel was the oldest teen there this year!

We were blessed with warm weather for most of the week!  So glad, since swimming is definitely the most participated in activity of the week - with canoeing/boating a close 2nd.