Greener Than Last Year.....

I wanted to share with you this funny thing that is happening to me. Once I couldn't keep green things alive....then one year, my Pointsettia lasted until the next March (at which point I went to PEI for a week, and we won't mention the name of the person who failed to provide a basic standard of care...). It occurred to me that Pastor Koole's green thumb might just be rubbing off a bit. I received a Gerbera Daisy from someone that summer and it just kept on flowering!!! I discovered that this happens when you add water regularly.... Then I received a few dish gardens, one at an auction (along with a really cute painting...) and one after a funeral....these actually outgrew their pots. Each dish had an African violet that just bloomed over and over again! I should also tell you about the poor little primrose that found itself on my windowsill, but proved to be much to finicky, and didn't survive. Pastor Koole said he can't keep those either, so that let me off the hook completely!! This little picture is REALLY one for my brag book because these are the first little babies!! I stuck the leaves into a pot just like mom used to and water them. The point of this story is that now my window sill is full and I have yet to bring the houseplants inside that have spent the summer outdoors! Interesting what changes you go through as you grow up.

I cleaned up my stamping room a little bit in anticipation of a big project I'm going to be working on that I shall keep under wraps....what fun would it be to spill all the beans!!!

I did a load of laundry and went to the monday stamping group. It was hard to get going. I haven't done much in the way of creativity lately so I just did some generic preparations for a board book. Who knows....

My worship visuals partner and I will meet this week to contemplate some Thanksgiving visuals. Ray and I are hosting the DeBoer family Thanksgiving at our house this year and are really looking forward to that. We have asked Kevin about thanksgiving and they celebrate it in Korea too, with special food.

Kevin is doing well. I think his English is regressing a little bit, and we noticed that in Eddy as well, but we are trying hard not to compare. He likes all the food we eat, and loves Italian food especially. Today we are having Caesar salad and we'll see how that goes over. Eddy's mom sent her thanks for introducing Eddy to the wonderful world of salads, which he wouldn't eat before he came to Canada, and after Caesar Salad, he would try other salads too! And I'm trying hard not to compare... but you know how I like to toot my own horn. Kevin really likes to do whatever Joe likes to do, and that works well most of the time, but sometimes their age and grade difference is too great... there is a bigger difference in maturity levels...but Joe likes teaching him new things, like skateboarding and XBox. Today we will go to Walmart and outfit Kevin with properly fitting pads and a helmet. Blemishes are not favoured in Korea, as scars are symbols of machismo here in North America, so we decided it best to invest in safety gear. Kevin is also eager to begin cycling. We have a bike his size, but aren't sure about his skill level yet. Cycling in the park is different than cycling into town and crossing streets. He speaks of going on a 50 km tour with his dad, but having witnessed his stamina and subsequent fatigue, makes me question the authenticity of this tale, and the possibility of SOME exaggeration. We had a bit of a burp in our smooth transition so far, but incidents will happen... and I hope he gets over it soon. He is sleeping well but doesn't appear to be a morning person, he is not tired at night, only in the morning, so my suggestion of going to bed earlier was met with much protest. On Saturday he got to eat his favourite food in the world and I think that is going to be an excellent reward and behaviour motivational tool. I know!! You're not supposed to use food as a reward....but I don't think money will work, and he's past the sticker age.

Well, Ray is all packed for his final camping trip of the season. One last hoorah and then the gear will be packed away for the winter...wonder where that's all going to fit...and NOT in the newly cleaned up stamp room either!!!! He is packed already and will leave Thursday night and will return on Monday afternoon sometime.... He is very excited to have some new fishing tackle and they are going to a stocked lake...and he is counting on ending the drought this weekend. If he doesn't catch something this weekend, he might never bring a fishing rod again!!! In a way I'm kind of disappointed that we didn't get to go outpaddling somewhere together, but....there was just too much going on this summer. We have some plans for next summer already and know we are heading out East for a couple of weeks. I wonder if there have been any discussions regarding our family reunion destination??? Ray is going to start planning camping trips in January so hopefully there will be some creative brainstorming over the next few months.


This is us on a walk yesterday...there is a little conservation area just past the school and it has a little grass mowed path through it...part of it goes through the woods and then a little board walk through a boggy section leads you over a creek to this spot. The summer flowers are almost all spent, but the leaves are resisting the pull of fall. Last night was our first risk of frost warning but my impatiens survived for another day. I guess that means they should have a bit of that wet stuff later this afternoon.

Well...it has been a nice quiet afternoon, new scrap book papers put away, projects for the future...ready to roll, laundry drying outside, and a chat with a friend to clear my brain. I have tell how much that helps. And lately....I have really felt the need to play Christian music, ALL the time, I am finding how easily my mind drifts to things that are not noble or praiseworthy. When I listen to music that praises and honours God, my thoughts are easier to take captive and can be redirected to something more positive and productive. So...I continue to struggle with my humanity....humbled when people see more in me than I see in myself, and knowing that God loves me just the way I am, but loves me too much to leave me that way.

My Babies...

Finally an image of my horticultural endeavours of the summer. It is always such a treat to look out the window and see so much green. You can see Kevin in the next picture, willing that ball to go through the hoop!! Things are going well with our newest sibling...and you do have to approach it that way. The boys are both enjoying their new little brother. Kevin is becoming a bit freer as the days progress and that is as it should be. He is enjoying learning the different things that are in our home, especially the toys. As a nine year old he still loves to play and reads different things than our resident 12 year old. We also have to choose movies with less mature themes, not only because of the age difference but also because of the comprehension level. There are just some things you don't want to have to get the dictionary out for....

It's 10 pm...lunches are made...and the computer is free. I was away today...cleaning at church in the morning and manning a fundraising lunch booth at an auction from noon til four. Joe's class is going to a camp in June for a week, but it is quite pricey...so we do a lot of fundraising. We were really lucky to get such a big fundraiser so early in the year!!! Sure beats a bake sale where you send $12 worth of boter koeks and raise $10! The weather was sooo fabulous all day and I got a good sunburn to prove it....well...from the tshirt sleeve on down.... Oh well....

I look forward to a normal day tomorrow of just plain old going to the church to clean. Really...just some regular routine....we have a busy but fun weekend though and I look forward to that.

Love ya'll!

Kevin Has Arrived!

Just wanted you to know that our Korean student arrived safe and sound this evening after a slight delay. They missed their scheduled flight and arrived over two flights later this evening. We still made it home for supper and some playtime and now....bedtime.

Kevin seems very small when he stands next to Joe, a real big brother for him. We have discovered that Kevin has two siblings. A 14 year old sister and a 4 year old brother. So ...he's not an only child. He will spend the whole year with us. So far he has been very quiet, shy and polite....just like Eddy was the first day and we all remember Mr.Chatty!!! We know enough not to draw or jump to conclusions yet....

This was my second trip to the airport within 24 hours! I picked Ray up at 9:30 last night. He too arrived safe and sound and related many of his adventures on the drive home. What a good time he had!! I'm not sure when he'll get a chance to share his adventure here but...keep checking!

We are now into our second week of school, hope it went well for you! So far the boys are both really enjoying their return to the classroom. They are enjoying their teachers and being back at school with their friends. I miss having them home but know that they are enjoying their daily routine. Well...on that note...I must go and make lunches! YES, it's that exciting!

SO....How Was Your Summer???

My day is so exciting today! Right now I am doing laundry, but I just got back from Stratford and saw Romeo and Juliet. It was sooo good! What a fun day away. I felt like I was playing hookey because I could have been working...BUT....I had a ticket, so no choice!! It was fun. I rearranged my week of work so that I could go. I cleaned the church yesterday, and did my housecleaning job today instead of Thursday so it feels like I earned an afternoon off. The boys were delighted that they would be on their own for supper. Makes you wonder what all went on while I was away. They both pulled out of the driveway as I drove in.

Now that fall is here I hope to find out what other people have been up to...how the re-entry to school is etc.....

Ray is in Wabikimi right now and I can't wait to hear all about his stories when he comes home again this weekend. I have asked him to post a guest blog here to tell of YOU special people about his adventure. SO ....now you can't wait either!!!!