Yay!!!! The Ice Is Gone!!!

Apparently we're not the only ones who are glad to see the ice finally melt. We had about a foot of ice on the pool this winter and it didn't all melt off until about the 6th of March! That's late for here. The other morning I woke up and came out to the kitchen. My hubby was busy making coffee and all of a sudden he called out to me in the dining room; "hey look we've got ducks on the pond!" I had a "laugh out loud" moment because we have an in-ground pool and we've been watching the Beverly Hillbillies lately and they call their pool the see-ment pond. So the ducks were pretty to look at and it was a nice way to get the girls up and out of bed to look at the ducks. Courtenay grabbed the camera and quietly snuck out to snap a few pictures....so here they are, they're kinda dark but hopefully you can see how pretty they are. Enjoy.
You can probably see the leaves in the pool... now that the ice is gone we have to get out there and get it cleaned out and start working on getting it all ready for the summer season. Hope you're having a good day.
Heather

Family Fun Day On The Mountain

Yesterday was Saturday. We had a rare day at home with everyone here! It was great. We did some stuff around the house then headed out for a hike.We drove thru Wendy's on the way up to the mountain. We grabbed value meals for everyone and off we went. By the time we got there it was about 2:30. We finished our lunch and headed up the hill. As we came around the hill the wind hit us like a wall! It was sooo chilly and windy it nearly blew us off the mountain. The girls weren't expecting the cold so came out in their hoodies and were lucky that Dad had extra coats of his in the back of the van. So if they look kinda funny - that's why.
We walked until we got to the sign for our city. It's made out of concrete with coarsely crushed white rock pressed into it. It can be seen from across the lake.... It looks like the "Hollywood" sign in California. The letters are each around 30 feet tall -and steep! Everything is totally brown.This area is semi arid and has alot of cactus on the ground.We took Goldie our golden retriever/lab up there with us and she found out all about our cactus. The poor dog.... she stood in one spot with her foot up and then tried to walk but couldn't. I was amazed how still she stood for us to remove the cactus from her poor little foot. Then she took off and did it again....you'd think....ya never mind.. :) We should have taken pics of it stuck in her foot but the camera was dead by then. oh well.... not that you'd be missing much.. :o)
So....we left the mountain and went to explore the area that we had been looking down on. We went for a drive for about another 1/2 hour... down to the lake.... I wish the camera hadn't died by then, because it was a beautiful day to be at the water. The wind was whipping up white caps on the crest of those king-size waves. It was soo pretty! And soo cold. The dog had just as much fun or more than the rest of us. She ran all over- nose to the ground, sniff, sniff, sniffing her way everywhere we went.
We finished off the day by dropping the kids off at home then heading to the produce store. After finishing there, I thought hey... perfect opportunity.... Randal is with me..... he can come grocery shopping with me! Yes! Well he informed me that we needed to go home first, so I could drop him off to use the washroom....I told him that they had one at the store he could use, so that was okay.... we could just go to the store... then he said that he should go home so he could put potatoes on to go with the roast that was cooking for dinner....I finally realized that he was trying to find a reason to go home and NOT go food shopping!! Well the rest is history. It was painful for him-lol..... but he was great to have along.. so nice not to do it alone... He carried the heavy boxes for me. I find shopping so exhausting that I tend to avoid it until the fridge is bare... doesn't make meal prep very easy though! So now the fridge and freezer are stocked! Yay... It was so much easier than doing it alone.. and nice to have company. Well I should get to bed. With this time change it's really throwing me off... altho it's only the 2nd night..... I have a bad late nite habit already...now it's another hour later. Oh well... discipline.. just gotta get myself off here earlier and get to bed! Well have a great day today!
ta ta for now

"The Truth Project"

We are doing "The Truth Project" for a small group study. It is sponsored by Focus on The Family. It is absolutely AMAZING!! I believe that EVERY Christian on the planet needs to be exposed to the truths that are offered in this study. It exposes the lies that corrupt our hearts and minds daily. It is absolutely stunning that in one form or another most of us are believing these lies! It's like the old story about the frog in the hot water. The water wasn't boiling when the frog was put in the water, but it was gradually turned up until it was boiling and the frog was cooked! Our society has taken God out of the picture and when that happens, there are dire consequences. This project is all about obtaining a Biblical worldview.
The stats are mind boggling. According to the Barna Research Group, only 4% of the general population of America has a Biblical worldview. Canada will have figures much the same as theirs- don't kid yourself. When you look at "born again believers" the number goes up to a stunning 9%!! Wow--That is just staggering. So please have a look guys! Just Google "Truth Project".
ta ta for now

ps
here's a small clip from the study.

4. Why does a biblical worldview matter?

If we don't really believe the truth of God and live it, then our witness will be confusing and misleading.

If we don't really believe the truth of God and live it, then our witness will be confusing and misleading. Most of us go through life not recognizing that our personal worldviews have been deeply affected by the world. Through the media and other influences, the secularized American view of history, law, politics, science, God and man affects our thinking more than we realize. We then are taken "captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

However, by diligently learning, applying and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives — whether it's watching a movie, communicating with our spouses, raising our children or working at the office — we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture's nonbiblical ideas. If we capture and embrace more of God's worldview and trust it with unwavering faith, then we begin to make the right decisions and form the appropriate responses to questions on abortion, same- sex marriage, cloning, stem-cell research and even media choices. Because, in the end, it is our decisions and actions that reveal what we really believe.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

Amanda's class goes rock hounding....

I headed out with Amanda's class on a field trip today. Since I hadn't signed up for it, they didn't need the extra driver, but I went for the fun of it. (Originally I had been scheduled to work) So it was just Amanda and I in our vehicle. We made a detour through Tim Horton's for a coffee/french vanilla and a hot chocolate with whipped cream. Mmmm yummy! Neither of us won anything. ): Amanda was completely thrilled because she got to sit in the front seat. This is probably about the third time for her!! (I don't let them sit there until they're big enough to withstand an airbag deployment.) We kinda cringed when we headed out on the road and found everyone pulled over waiting for us! Oops! Oh well, no problem.
We got to our spot and headed out on foot. We were hiking along an old rail bed- the KVR (Kettle Valley Railroad). It was a beautiful day for a walk. The sun was shining and the wind was nearly blowing us off our feet. Mr. Gray talked about the different kinds of rock that we were seeing and the different layers and how they were formed. It was quite absorbing. There was alot of purple rock. It was embedded in the layers of rock, but for some reason I didn't ask Mr. Gray what kind it was. It was pretty though, kinda like amethyst without being translucent like the gem would be. We sat down and ate our lunch... well the adults did. The kids climbed the rocks and sat in various places eating their lunch. After we finished lunch Mr. Gray and the kids climbed up a big pile of jagged boulders. There was a cave in the middle of this pile, that they explored. They were all thrilled to find inside this cave, the makings of a home. Apparently it was a homeless person's home......The kids were crawling all over this massive pile of rocks.... almost made me think I should just stay home next time... It was a bit nerve racking! But alas all were fine and we continued on our way. The next big find was a mostly eaten deer carcass. Some of the girls were appalled that some terrible predator would do such a horrible thing!! We explained to them that this was completely normal and actually a good thing.... I'm not sure that they were convinced! Well we started to head back the other direction... and came upon a cave up on the hillside. So the kids and I climbed up to it. It was dug into the clay hillside. I'm not sure that anyone/thing was using it though... looked pretty vacant. I climbed up a bit further to where there were a bunch of small holes in the clay bank. They were made by swallows. (I think :)) Well by this time I was quite aways up this steep bank...and the only way down is ......down...lol.....FAST..... the adults all had a good laugh at my expense.... well not really my expense actually, cuz I was laughing too. It was time to head back so we adults turned around and headed back for the vehicles. The kids and teacher kept going to where we'd meet them. Well the way back was up the steep bank. Someone had set old tires into the bank for steps and I looked at them and thought... I can't stand to walk up those.. It will take way too long... so I ran up them... the other moms were trying to keep up, rather noisily...lol.... anyway... smarty pants me gets to the top and just about collapses from lack of oxygen!! My legs made it up but my lungs felt like they were suctioned closed!! We headed back to our rendezvous point and loaded up and headed home. What an awesome day in the outdoors... on the shore of a beautiful lake, the sun shining.... a brisk wind blowing.... paradise that we live in here! Life is good.
ps
pictures to come.

Do you have a Favourite Online Devotion?

Hi Everyone- can you help me out. I'm looking for an online devotion that comes to my inbox each day. Do you have one that you absolutely love? If so let me know. I'm looking for one and thought what better than to get the input of my fellow bloggers......? maybe this will entice the reader/non-comment leaver to leave a comment!! ;0) Thanks and looking forward to your replies.

Photography....

I've been playing around with Randal's work camera.... trying to take some nice pictures... I can now appreciate why someone would want a 'good' camera. And the thing about lighting.... Wow! amazing once you start playing around with it. I'll find some of the pics I've been taking and post them... there really isn't much to look at, but it could be a fun hobby to get into. I would love to get a good camera.... but they are very $$$$! I'll have to keep my eye out for a nice one.. maybe I can find a good one on sale for a really good price....well gotta run do the dishes before I have to get the girls from school. I am so ready for the weekend! Only one more day! I really enjoy Friday nights. The older girls go to youth and we usually do something fun and relaxing at home with Dad... He does alot of bus driving on the side but is usually here for Friday nights...Anyway can't procrastinate any further... must get busy!
ta ta for now.

The Cutest 'Almost One year Old' There Is!!

Here is a picture of my youngest nephew, Silas. Isn't he sweet?!!?He's having a look at the work of some beavers down by the river.....He looks really
interested in that chewed up tree!!He's going to be
a year old in about 2 weeks!! I can hardly believe it. The time flies by so fast. Especially when they live
aways from us and we don't see them often. His Mommy was just telling me that he is just over the average for a one year old, three times his birth weight. And he's so strong he can pick up the end of his playpen and give it the old 'heave ho'!! Wow! He's going to give Joe Weider a run for his money!! lol...


























The next pictures are of Silas and his
Dad (my youngest brother). (Mom must be the one taking
pictures.) (c: They're watching the action down on the river.It looks like something has certainly caught Silas' attention! I guess little boys (and big ones too!!) like boats and that kind of thing!