A walk on the shore

We are making a concerted effort to spend time to just be...

So we spent a good chunk of a Monday morning and walked along Crescent beach

We read words written in stone

We took time to smell the flowers.....

It was refreshing...

The views were spectacular....I love where I live!

With everyone speculating on the condo market....hmmm....this one might be a good investment

God seems to show Himself more vividly in the springtime, don't you think?
The colours are amazing this year....we had a long winter.

Lord, open my eyes that I may always see your beauty around me.

Be blessed, dear ones, and look for God in the garden today.

Graduation Celebration

On Saturday we had the pleasure of attending a graduation luncheon for Laura and Jordan, our great niece and great nephew who have both graduated from university this year. It was a joy to be included in such a joyous occasion....life seems to be filled with junk and mundane things for me right now. I was thankful to lay it down for a time and just rejoice with what God is doing in the hearts of these two great kids.

Although it was a stretch for her, we were all glad that Grandma Rosie was able to attend...so we took advantage and made sure to get a four generation shot....Grandma Rosie, Vicki, Pam and Laura.

Ron and Shirley our own in-house recently returned snowbirds....don't know why we didn't get a shot of Roger and Vicki.....sorry!
We are blessed in the McClelland clan....we love one another, and always enjoy sharing in each others joy.

Lunch out

My dear friend, Ethel and I spent a lovely lunch together last week.....we always manage to laugh and cry....that seems to be a qualifier for good friends, yes?
Ethel has had two surgeries in as many weeks. Please pray for her as she continues to receive treatment, both radiation and chemotherapy. The prognosis looks very good, and we know with God all things are possible....so we are praying for a quick and full recovery.
We have shared so much over the years, the greatest being the death of their son, Curtis, more than 10 years ago now. We have been witness to God's faithfulness to both Larry and Ethel in the most trying of times, and we have seen their family grow stronger by every turn in their journey's road.
Our prayers are with you Ethel...love you tons!

Be blessed my friends, and go and have a mammogram, k?

Happy, Happy Birthday, Trevor!

27 years ago today my third child was born.....where did the time go?!

Trevor has been such a blessed addition to our family....you always laugh when Trev's in the house! He adds a quirky dimension to every occasion.....

Ya, and who else would ask for an axe for his birthday??
Love you, Trev....praying for a wonderful year ahead for you!!

Art class

Grampy had art class with the boys.....Grampy's an art teacher? I don't think so?!

Island visit

We had a great visit to the Island a while ago.....I'm just late in posting. Of course, we had a wonderful time with the Princess (sorry....I didn't get even one good pic of the parental units!)

We relaxed with the kids, dinner and a movie with lots of cuddles in between; the next day we attended church together and out to lunch before we took off for Victoria for overnight.

In Victoria, we met T&L with Jamie and hung out and relaxed together.

No words required

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Out of the past

While in Victoria, we decided to drive by our homes from when we lived there. We moved to Victoria after just a year of marriage...we owned a house in Surrey, so we rented at first until we decided whether our transfer to the Island would work out. We had Binkie, our doggie, and had a hard time finding a good placed to rent.

This was the place we found to rent in Esquimalt....it wasn't quite as run down as it is now...but still not a very good home. Okay, it was a dump....I cried the day we moved in. We actually had a 'red light' neighbour upstairs...and there was a horrific murder at the corner store across the street. Thank you, Lord for your protective hand over a young couple.

Thankfully, we moved into a nicer apartment a few months later....I didn't take a photo of it, but it was just as we had left it...plain but comfortable.

We eventually sold our Surrey home and bought this one in Sidney....it was an Engineered Home...remember, the one with the three Mediterranean arches in the front?

Fast forward to today....we were excited to see a young family is now living there, and turning the dated exterior into a gorgeous craftsman style. It is somehow comforting to see others enjoying a home you once owned.

It was fun to walk down memory lane...for a day. But living today and looking forward toward the bright future is even better.

Bob's birthday

Better late than never....this post is late....Bob's birthday was in March....oops!

We had a great day, went bowling, relaxed and had home-made cheesecake....Bob's fav dessert.

Love you tons, hon!

Easter Celebration

We had a wonderful weekend sharing with our kids and grandkids....chocolate eggs

The coolest duck-bunny....

Mmmm....yummy Paska....homemade by Shawna

We relaxed over a ham dinner....and enjoyed Dutch apple pie baked fresh by Christy.
We are blessed....and thankful.

Time together

We played together, cuddled the wee ones, talked and laughed

The kidlets enjoyed an egg hunt

Our family together

We are blessed

God is Good

All the time

Christ the Lord is risen today!

What a glorious time of year....signs of new life are bursting everywhere....a gentle reminder of the new life that Christ bought for us on the cross.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

My heart is so full of love and thankfulness for what God has done for me.
What joy life is when in Christ!!

Be blessed my friends.

A respite

I haven't been around these parts very much lately...actually I can't believe it has been so long since my last post.
I have been having to deal with stuff.... extended family stuff. I have been spending time alone; time with the Lord; time listening to praise music; time deep in thought....trying to find my own water level in a very big pool.
Ever have times like that?
It's kinda like knowing that a plane has crashed in someone else's living room, and you would like to try and help...but they are pretending the plane isn't there so you have to just stand back and watch the fire destroy...all the while the others are expecting you to pretend the plane isn't there, too.
Am I making any sense at all?

Any who....I have come through to the other side, and God is good. I am going to attempt to post several updates of life over the past few weeks. I have missed my time spent here, and hope to find more time to set a spell and write my thoughts....there is so much to be thankful for...I am often overwhelmed with God's goodness and blessings bestowed on me.

Be blessed this Easter weekend, my friends.

The Symbol of the Cross

The symbol of the cross bears such deep significance...thank you, dear Jesus for dying for me.

I am so thankful for God's plan of salvation

My heart is full this Easter,

Full of thanksgiving for a life given,

That I may live a life filled with joy,

Abundant joy,

And know my sins are forgiven me,

What a gift was given me, Praise be to God!

My heart is full.

I pray that you will find joy this Easter.