Parental Corrections....from Elliot

Yet, once again I am schooled by my children.

 This afternoon as Elliot and I were enjoying the sun, we decided to share a chocolate cookie that were baked lovingly by the staff last night.  After the cookie was finished, without even saying thank you for the cookie, he went to the jar and took another one.  I scolded him and said, 'you put that back....' and as he is walking away I say 'sheesh.....bad boy'.  I guess I was feeling bummed that he sometimes is just such a taker without any manners......

He goes to put the cookie back, comes back and stands in front of me.

"Did you call me a bad boy?"
"Yes, i did {already feeling guilty because we don't often say those words around here...not sure why it came out....but once its out, can't take it back....} "You didn't even say thank you for the first cookie and you took a 2nd one"
His eyes start to water and he starts to cry as he looks right at me and says "You hurt my feelings"

I launch off my seat to grab him and pull him in and whisper in his ear 'i'm sorry, you aren't a bad boy, you are a great boy and i love you very much.  I didn't mean to hurt your feelings....it just hurt my feelings that you didn't even say thank you for the first cookie, so i was mad, but i'm sorry!"

He really is a great boy......me and my sharp tongue.

Out Takes with Isaac!!

Our FireCracker!!!

Sunshine Coast Adventure.....

Chris had to speak at a few churches this weekend and was reluctant to go along on such a long trip alone....so, not sure how, but he wrangled me into agreeing to come too.  Why not right? 

Somehow, we found the best B&B in the area called Herondell B&B, run by a sweet German couple who have lived on 50 acres in powell river for almost 45 years!  Their property was an absolute surprise to us...at every corner there was something new to see; whether it was a huge real stuffed swan in their basement behind a glass case, or 2 old upright pianos in the study, harpsicords, a piano forte in the basement, books and trinkets at every corner....stuffies in the boys room that looked as though they had seen the 1940's!!   The outside was just, if not more, incredibly enchanting with ponds all over the place {inclusive of the man-eating frogs...not really, but they were huge}, hiking trails at each direction you would point, a challenge course hidden among the trees, a river where the boys explored....seriously...we felt as though it was a different world!!!

Speaking of different world, Isaac saw rhubarb growing in the garden and says "oooh, i LOVE rhubarb"...so Nancy (our hostess), cut the boys a stalk to share....and the pic is on chris's phone, but it was as TALL as Elliot!!!  She gave them a bag of sugar to dip the stalk in and with that snack we headed out for our own dinner.....well, that bag of sugar didn't last long...as you can see in this next picture, Elliot has sugar ALL over his face and in his hair!!!  (the boys were quite crazy at the restaurant....sigh.....thanks nancy.....)

 It was a long day and we were tired....but the boys sure weren't!!

 We LOVE Shirley Temples!!

Ok, so funny story about these boys!!  Isaac stands in front of elliot with his hands up and yells, 'hey Elliot, run towards me and i promise i will jump out of the way!!!!'

Charlie Brown, i mean, Elliot, runs towards Lucy, i mean, Isaac but for some reason stops just before he gets to him.  Isaac goes 'Aww...elliot, i would have moved out of your way'...as he steps away to reveal a huge bear dump that Elliot would have cruised through!!!  Nice eh?

The abundance of hiking trails at the B&B!

Climbing the crazy tree near the pond before bed....trying to burn off the rhubarb sugar high!!

The toad......

Reading before bed....Yup!  Boys got their own room=very happy parents.....though it didn't really matter, i still went to bed at the same time as them!

Everyone fell asleep pretty quickly.....it was a long day,

but the next day was going to prove to be way longer!!

A very very full day on the Sunshine Coast with people who love imadene.....

We started our day being very spoiled with a candle lit fresh organic breakfast.

 They were very ready to eat!!  But nobody but me touched the homemade 'rhubarb mush' {above} or the fresh mango salad!!

 The fish container there is called a 'gurgle jug' and i really want one now!!! 

It gurgles after you pour it!

 She is the only woman in Powell River who can accompany the local students as they get into their higher provincial levels.....

We headed to Kelly Creek church which turned out to be only a short 6 minute drive away from the B&B......we were able to do another hike and sat by the pond for a little longer after breakfast before we had to sadly check out.....it was quite the place!
Chris did a great job telling the people at kelly creek about the exciting new things happening at camp...the boys stayed downstairs on their own playing with all the toys....it was a nice break.  After it was over, we all headed over to the Lewis family home for a super lunch!!

 I feel like i got an inside peak into why people live in Powell River.....from an outside view it looks like a pretty basic lifestyle, not too exciting....but on further examination, these people have quite beautiful and simples lives.  Their properties are well cared for with expansive, rolling meadows, ponds, hideaways almost!!  Here, Pat is taking isaac and I on a tour of her property......so beautiful.

After a nice visit, we decided to take the kids to a beach that we had been heading about since we arrived: Willingdon Beach for ice cream and a play before the next church time.

The weather was like hawaii......it felt like a real holiday lying there on the beach for a little while.

Soon it was 5 and time to head to our last church.  There was no service that night, but their monthly potluck!  So, lots of great food to choose from; though i think all elliot had was a sausage roll and some brocoli!  Chris did great.....people love him and seem to really seem interested in what he has to say.  He shows a super video that even gets me excited for camp and i have seen this video dozens of times!  The boys played with all the kids that we barely saw them the whole time we were there!!

 One of the highlights of the night was talking with Bill and Laura Foster.....a real jesus loving couple who have known chris for since he was small and who have been involved with camp forever.  I had a nice talk with Bill....the doctors have given him 2 years to live and I was really curious to what it feels like to know that your time is so limited....so i asked him.  What he told me was so special that I don't even want to write it....but i think chris and i both left feeling better for having been there. 
We met alot of really great people who have been loving imadene for years.......

We are part of something pretty special here at Imadene and sometimes i can get tunnel vision pretty good.....but it all reality, we are part of something bigger than we are...and i am left standing here feeling pretty humble that we are allowed to be here and very blessed......

We caught the 8:45 ferry home and walked through our door a bit before 1am.....nice to be home...it was a super packed day!!  here are some shots from the ferry on the way home;

 Here i am getting mad at him ....oh yes, chris ...you know why!!

 New Hat.....

not sure if i am cool enough to get away with it yet....

we'll see. 

I find I care less and less about stuff like that.....

i like it, i wear it; including capris and uggs...right mel??

But as i get older, Psalm 139:14 continues to ring through my aging head and it soothes me.

As i see more and more wrinkles, plus a lone grey hair last week, all i hear in my mind is this:

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well

There are better things to worry about.....and this past weekend full of wild beauty and connections made with really great people...it became a little more clear.

Planning for a West Coast fun trip!!

In 5 days, my dad and I will be hanging out on the West Coast with the boys!!

 I am excited for a few things;

1-Time with my dad....no more skype dates next week---its all about real face time!! yay!!
2-Time to show the boys a very real and raw side of nature....the West Coast is always raining whenever i have gone in the past, so i don't expect anything different....
3-The secret 'blow-hole' according to locals that is awesome!
3b-The Lighthouse Loop that the boys are going to love.  It's a short loop along the coast....
4-The house has a hot tub, wood fireplace, bbq, and 3, count them 3 bedrooms!! yeehaw to not having to sleep with the boys!  That in itself is going to make a great holiday!!

The list could go on and on...but in short....CAN'T WAIT!!!  Bring on Wednesday!!!!

"Hairs" to a really fun Night!!!

Get it?  "Hair!" enstead of "here"??!!

Anyways....all puns aside....it had been awhile since we had done a Sharon/Mel night out.  The really fun part was getting ready to go out, i threw Mel a wig and some sassy red boots and she didn't even blink, just sat down and put them on!  The funnier part was that when our men saw us, THEY didn't even blink either.  Chris went a little further than Jon and asked if i was "really going out in public like that"....i said "Yes....you coming?"....he quickly turned back to the TV!

After a girlie drink at Romeo's that made us both long for Mexico, we headed out to see our good friend Jinny. 

She had trouble looking at us....not sure why. 

 Funny thing was at the restaurant, the server genuinly asked if that was our real hair....really??  

But all kidding aside, these 2 women have been a very important part of my life this past year.  We all have our own struggles and i think are pretty quick to share them with eachother....but Mel and Jinny are 2 women who will always have a real special place in my heart.  Mel, I can't wait to see all the 'places you will go' in your life....you are such a wild and wonderful spirit.  I know this has been a 'winter season' of your life but you know, i am honored to have been able to walk beside you through this season.  And Jinny.....as mel said last night, you have touched more people with your love and kindness than you will ever know.  I am thrilled that you are coming back to yourself though you have been lost for awhile.  You are quite the woman and I, also, look forward to seeing all the 'places you will go' . 

 Well Mel, it was fun.....but remember that everyone just wants to look at your booooots.

Our evening was filled:

With a long walk with a new friend;

Amber who chose to live in the flowers for awhile....

Blokus ruled the evening!! {New favorite game, thanks Mel!}

But hockey took over the evening!! {4 hours to be exact!!}

 SUCH a great reaction to that final shot...i wish my camera was more dependable!!

{or that i was a better photographer...whatever!}

 It was a pretty happy place here tonight!!!