God's Mysterious Ways

 "Nothing can separate you from my loving Presence!  That is the basis of your security.  Whenever you start to feel anxious, remind yourself that your security rests in Me alone, and I am totally trustworthy.

 You will never be in control of your life circumstances, but you can relax and trust in My control.  Instead of striving for a predictable, safe lifestyle, seek to k now Me in greater depth and breadth.

I long to make your life a glorious adventure, but you must stop clinging to old ways.

I am always doing something new within My beloved ones.  Be on the lookout for all that I have prepared for you."
--Sarah Young
"Jesus Calling"

I read these words several days ago.  They are truths and reminders and challenges and encouragement that I am in desperate need of these day.

It may seem odd--here I am 6 days away from my son's wedding, and I am uttering pleas for grace and mercy to my God.

The reason being-- I have been sick.  The flu struck me 2 weeks ago and hung around for 11 days.  But I still don't feel well...at all.

I visited an on-call Dr. yesterday, sure that I had strep throat.  But the feeling of knives in my throat appears to be a canker. And I don't believe there are any fast cures.  The fact that I am eating only soft foods and can still hardly swallow that is....well, no fun at all.

This afternoon was a write-off as I seemed to be struggling with some of the flu symptoms I had for those 11 days.

And to top it all off--

My emotional health has plummeted and I am at times a mess and at best...coping.

And the wedding is in 6 days!!!

The rehearsal and party(which is in our home) is in 4 days.

Decorating is Day 5

And seeking to trust God and rest in His mysterious ways are so very hard.

I feel like I should remind God of the limited time frame we are in here and that perhaps He could 

Do Something!!!!!!

It turns out that is what my husband is doing and so I am endeavoring to do what does not come easy for me.

Rest.Wait.Trust

Little Girls....grow up

Little Girls

They're cute as can be

When they're two years old or three

They are something to adore,

When they are three years old or four.

Would those charms could long survive,

Which are theirs when they are five.

But they have such lovely tricks

When they've journeyed on to six.

Then their little legs grow stout

And those two front teeth come out.

Seven and eight and nine they stage

What is called the awkward age.

After that, through many a year,

All their graces reappear.

Loveliest creatures on life's stage--

Little girls--at any age.

--Edgar A. Guest

And then little girls turn 17!!!!

 

Such a lovely time celebrating Ashley's birthday....especially with our "new" family gathered around the table.  I realized when we returned home that there are no pics of my boy.  He was intent on his photography role which is quite evident by the ton of pictures I had to scroll through to find what I wanted.  (Plants on the ceiling of the restaurant was not on my request list...ha,ha)

My girl's  official birthday is Friday June 29 but Monday evening is what worked for all of us to be together.

Blessings my beautiful girl.  

How dearly I love you...Mom

Shower # 3

Three weeks to the day of the wedding we enjoyed celebrating Sonya at another shower.  This one was planned with love and organized with care by my side of the family.  My sister Tania hosted us all in their beautiful home, although I think her daughter Emmy considered herself to be the host.  She was front and centre in every way providing us all with much laughter.

Emmy...the "host" is on the right...just 3 years old

The Regal Bride-to-be

Modeling one of her gifts :)

And sister-in-law-to-be, Ashley, decides to do the same

We so missed Shirley, Sonya's Mom who was unwell yesterday

The infamous "Shower apron"

Delicious Food

The happy sister duo

My girl

Cam and Sonya had another shower that same evening and Cam is having a stag tonight at my brother's home.  I would love to have pics for that one as well, but I thought that expecting a group of guys to take pictures at a stag party was probably not going to happen.  I'll have to rely on my husband's "report"...which will go something like this:
1.  It was great
2.  Food was great
3.  Had a great time
4.  Cam had great time:)

Much still to do in the next 3 weeks, but in the meantime,  another celebration is just around the corner.  My girl turns 17 in a few days.

Be back soon!!!!

Lists and Fun and "The Countown"

I am having to pinch myself as I watch the days on the calender move ever so purposefully toward July 14.

 It really is almost here

 In a little over 4 weeks my son will be wed to his beautiful bride and Brian and I will officially be "inlaws"!!!

But in the meantime the lists continue.  It seems I only check off one list to begin another. Sometimes the details seem endless.  Matches to light candles, people to help decorate, people to help "undecorate", ushers to seat guests, food for the rehearsal party, etc., etc.

And though there is much that has been accomplished, there is still a host of things to be done.

And I am having the time of my life!!!!

Oh how I am enjoying these days of preparation.  And oh how grateful I am for the multitude of ways in which Cam and Sonya are involving me in the plans for their big day.  It is not every day that the groom's mom is right there in the middle of it all.  But they have and continue to invite me into so much of their wedding day organization and I am drinking it all in. 

They were here again on Friday afternoon for lunch and yes, "wedding talk".  Later on they were listening to music, trying to select a song that they will sing together.  I was in the kitchen not more than 12 feet away and I was overcome as I heard them humming the various parts of a piece.  When the song had finished I looked at them and said, "I am so sorry to burst into your moment, but oh....my...gosh....that was amazing."  Cam just shakes his head, "Oh, Mom."  And Sonya said that when the day arrives they plan to seat her mother and I---- and then not look at us at for the next 45 minutes.  I wonder why!!

Saturday morning I woke to my whole "new" family here in my home.  Sonya had decided to spend the night in the spare room instead of making the trek home and Cam was in the family room.  Ahhhh.  It just filled me. 

Leopard Explanation:  Since they don't hold hands (until July 14) this was the photographer's idea of a hand-holding pic:)  Love it!

  It was over a week ago that I had some alone time with Cam at his home over lunch.  It was actually my "birthday lunch"...his gift to me.  Yes, my birthday was in February, but my boy has been busy:)  

Now, you must know two things here. 

1)  My boy can cook.  He has been known to make some delicious dishes and particularly enjoys the presentation of it as well.

2)  I love peanut butter and since we don't have it in our home, I had told him over a month ago that he needn't make a gourmet meal, because I would be happy with peanut butter and time with him.

And that's what I got!!!!!!  He pulls out this 2kg jar of Kraft Peanut Butter, Jam, some high fibre bread and milk heated on the stove for my hot chocolate(which he knows I have every day for lunch)

We sat down at his kitchen table and just before we prayed he looks at me and says, "It's good to have you here Mom." 

Okay...I can go home now...my soul is filled.  

Sigh.  Those words meant the world to me.  An unsolicited, genuine gift for this Mama's heart.  I so thoroughly basked in our time together...mostly just sharing our souls and what work God is doing there.  Those are the conversations I have missed and treasure. 

Even though there is so much that is still surreal, there are moments in time where this new life...our new family unit... is starting to settle into my psyche.  And all that is within me smiles with this profound feeling of gratitude.

Life

There has been so much going on in our lives these past days and I can't say that it will all fit neatly into this particular post, but that is sometimes/often how life is. 

First off, I am very thankful to report that Brian was in the office today for almost 3 hours!!!  Yes!!  Such good news.  He was tired when he came home, but I am just grateful that he had the energy to do this much.  He is undoubtedly on the road to recovery, all be it slowly.  Tomorrow he sees the Infectious Disease Specialist and desires some clarity from test results, but that may not happen.  We will see.

Ashley has had so much excitement in her life these past seven days.  Brian and I are in awe of the truckload of courage that has come forth from this young woman. 

She was gone for five days last week with her Outdoor Ed. class.  A tent in Algonquin's wilderness was her home.  Twenty-eight km of canoeing and portaging the first day!!  Black flies and mosquitoes, a wicked thunderstorm, the infamous "thunder box", sunburns and colds nights, aching muscles and still she loved it!!!  She said that every day she had times of being in such pain she had to fight back tears or try not to vomit and still she wishes she was there!!! 

All this from--

a girl who hates bugs and lives a little lower on the pain tolerance scale. 

a girl who has a life-threatening nut and peanut allergy and whose only means of rescue should she need one, would be a helicopter. 

a girl who has never slept in a tent or carried more than a knapsack on her back and complains about walking to school

a girl who has a list of anxieties a mile long

But somewhere deep in the reserves of her being, emerged strength and determination and bravery beyond anything I ever dreamed for her.

And as much as I am proud of her, I am equally thrilled for her.  It is obvious that a new self-confidence was birthed in those five adventure-filled-challenging days. 

If that wasn't enough, today she took her G2 Road Test and passed!!!!!!!  Oh the freedom that is no longer just around the corner, but is actually right here.  She drove the van to school and then went to the mall with a friend when the school day ended. 

A new stage in her life, my life...our family. 

Sunday was the very first bridal shower for my soon-to-be-daughter-in-law.

 You are probably tired of hearing me say this, but it continues to be surreal to watch and be part of all that is unfolding.  It was so strange to arrive and be "the one" that all of her aunts are waiting to meet.  I have to pinch myself to be reminded that I am the groom's mother:)

Yes, there is that beautiful smile:)

The female component of the wedding party...Jessie(Sonya's sister), Sonya and Ashley

The Mom's...Shirley and I

This afternoon was my much awaited  flower planting event.  I am a little behind this year and feel somewhat of a time crunch since my container gardening has a dual purpose this summer.  Come July 13, most of my containers will be transported to the church for decorating for the wedding.  And since that is only six weeks away, it is high time everything is planted to allow for plants and flowers to grow lush and lovely.

I think I had a better system this year in that I filled all of my containers with dirt, watered the earth, and matched up all of my flowers and plants according to containers. Planting then, seemed to go smooth and quick.

Some of the "finished" product

I will enjoy watching the blooms grow larger and more profuse as the days come and go.

So you see, a lot of life has been lived in and around our home as well as under the canopy of trees in a forest.

It has been a time of celebrating and trust, enjoyment and blessing.