Love makes the World go 'round

Meet Jamie-Lee, Kyle's girlfriend. It's hard to believe that my 'spike' is old enough to have a girlfriend. But here is the proof.

Kyle met Jamie through Krystle. Krystle and Jamie were roommates at Heritage.
Jamie came for a weekend get-a-way from the dorm life at school. Her family lives in Leamington so it was closer for her to come to our house. She came up, met our family and took a definite liking to Kyle.

They started dating shortly after that and are very much enjoying each others company.

We have had some special moments with these guys.

It's so weird to have my kids dating. To watch them begin a new life with another person, one away from Wayne & I. But that's a good thing.

Kyle spends quite a bit time on weekends down in Cambridge, as Jamie is working there for the summer. It beats having to go to Leamington. LOL

Unknown to Jamie she gave me such a wonderful compliment when she told me that Kyle opens the doors for her. She told me "I've never had anyone open the door for me, he (Kyle) makes me feel like such a princess." That made my heart swell with pride. It's nice to know that when push comes to shove your kids really do listen to you.

Blessings

Great Aunt

JESSICA & ANDY BROADHEAD

June 23, 2007

This is a picture of my niece Jessica on her wedding day.

In the front are Cody, Janee & Andrew (Andy's son) Jessica, Andy & baby Daniel.

Yes, it is hard to believe that I am a 'Great' Aunt. You always picture Great Aunts as little old ladies. [Bliss - no comment].

In fact I have 6 great nieces & nephews. Jessica had another little girl - Rachel, born the end of June.

Jason & Missy had a little boy - Alex, born the end of May they also have a 2 1/2 year old girl - Emily.

We had a wonderful time at the wedding. Janee & I became friends real fast. The Gingerich family doesn't get together very often so we don't get to see them very often, but each time we do get together, Janee and I have a alot of fun together.

It's one of those things with family, time has a way of slipping by, we seem to get caught up with our own lives that the extended family gets set aside. I know we're guilty of that anyway.

Time is such a precious commodity, once it's gone, it's gone for good and there is no way to get that time back. I look at our fast our kids have grown up, it seems like only yesterday, I was at home full-time with our three.

This summer, I've been enjoying have Krystle home from school, and we only have 4 more weeks before she is back at Heritage. Then we have to find a new balance again.

Time passes too quickly~~~

Season Seconds

This is the second wedding of the year that I was able to help Sandra with. Chris & Carrie Henhoeffer were married on July 14th at the Festival Inn in Stratford.

Carrie & Chris had planned a garden wedding, unfortunately it rained off and on ALL day. But the weather did not dampen their spirits, at all. Sandra just had to become more creative in getting the pictures.

After the ceremony, we went to the Galleria in Stratford, if you've never been there, you definitely should go and see it, there is a waterfall with a small pond, benches, and boulders, picture perfect.

We unfortunately got caught in the rain and quickly sped off to the Shakespearen Gardens, where there is a gazebo so we could run for cover each time the rain started up. Sandra was able to take some amazing photos. Check out Sandra's blog. A few of mine even made it into the slideshow. ~~ woohoo

We stayed for the dinner and the reception, what an amazing dinner. They said speeches between the dinner courses, I even found myself tearing up. The couple had loads of fun at their reception, one could really feel the love between them. Sandra was able to upload a slideshow during the dinner, so that during the reception, guests were able to get a sneak peak.

It was late till I got home, and I was beat. I cannot imagine how Sandra must have felt, after all I really do not do too much, I mostly carry the bags, do the running back & forth from the vehicle, and get a few pictures in. Sandra however, has to come up with all the creative photos you see on the slideshow, and after the evening is all over she puts everything together for the couple. She finalizes all the pictures and makes sure everything is in order, makes a CD of ALL the pictures we've taken.

Over all it's great to be part of someone else's special day. The next one I signed on for will be in September, so there won't be any wedding postings till then.

Blessings

Summer

This is a wonderful time of year. The weather outside is pretty close to perfect, with warm sunshine, gentle breezes and long days to enjoy it.

Wayne & I have been taking advantage of these days as we go for our regular walks. We've started biking as well. Not that we're the cyclists that Tim is. Monica gave Tim a bike for his 40th birthday party and he was speechless. That was a fun day as well. Check out her blog to see the caption of it.

But Wayne and I will go out to Bayfield and bike around and look at all the houses and enjoy the view of the lake. In fact on Father's Day, Wayne & I biked to Bayfield enjoyed a delicious brunch at JD's and biked home. I was so impressed with myself, I wasn't sure I would make it or not. Those Bronson line hills are pretty intense, it took us about 35-40 minutes each way. It was a fun day.

It's a great way to stay in shape too, somehow biking around doesn't really feel like exercise, that is until you get off the bike, LOL I do however enjoy walking, I started when all the kids were in school, we'd walk out the lane together, they'd get on the bus and I'd head out for a walk.

Over the years I have had different walking partners, I find it's easier to stay motivated when someone else is counting on you. I used to walk with Jane Lloyd (now Westerveld) until Jane moved into town. I finally convinced Lorraine to join me, and I am enjoying getting to know her better as we spend more time together.

And as always I walk with husband, we have such good talks while we walk, and it is alone time for us. With a house full of teens we do not have alot of alone time, where things can be discussed without listening ears. We used to be able to just wait till the kids were in bed, but now, we go to bed before they do. My how times have changed.

It's good for us to have that time, as we grow nearer to the empty nest, I want us to have a relationship that's not only focused on raising kids and so involved with the kids lives. I am sure that before we know it our kids will be out on their own and it'll just be the two of us, and if we're enjoying our time now togther, it'll only get better.

Krystle keeps joking with me that Wayne & I have turned into Meme & Papa (my parents) because like my parents we go out to dinner alot more than we used to when the kids were younger, we spend time doing things just the two of us. But that's ok, I am glad that my parents still enjoy each others' company......... Mom & Dad just celebrated their 43rd anniversary!

It's something you continually have to work at, and in this day and age where vows and marriage are dispensable it really says something when you choose to stay together!!

Blessings

Queen of the Castle

This is the book that we've been reading with the Women of W.H.A.T.

It's a very good book, each chapter is not too long, that you're bogged down each time you need to get your chapter read before class.

We (women of w.h.a.t.) have been meeting for 6 months now. We had been meeting weekly, but since the busyness of summer, we're only getting together once a month, we've been meeting in homes and sharing meals together. Which has been so nice! Thank you to those of you who have opened their homes.

In September we plan to get back to the regular meetings of once a week. I have been enjoying our time together, it's been wonderful getting to know the women in the group on a more personal level. Last night we met and shared a delicious potluck supper, everyone contributed a little and made a super supper. We laughed and shared our lives, which is such a blessing to me. I had looked forward all day to getting together, and was sorry to have the evening end. It will be nice again when we're meeting weekly again.

We have such a diverse group of women, we have a couple of grandmothers, empty nesters, almost empty nesters, young family women, and even though we are not all in the same place in our lives, we can still enjoy each others company.

I think that's why I like this book so much, it's not just about where you are in life. But as women we usually all go through the same types of things. I think it's wonderful to learn from others who have already been there, or to find out that you are not the only one going through whatever it is that you're going through.

Blessings

Busy, Busy

Busy as a bee
.... as I have been reading different friend's blogs, I've noticed a common theme among the ramblings. Everyone is so busy. Busy with jobs, kids, garden, crafts, you name and someone out there will be busy with it.

I too am feeling overly busy lately with life.
I've been reading a very good book called "Boundaries", by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. Ironically it's about setting boundaries in life so one does not feel overly busy with doing it all. But doing what you choose to do, well.

How do you decide what it is you want to do with your life? There are so many options these days.

I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each of His children, we need to seek His guidance for our lives.
Unfortunately too often we get caught up in the routine-ness of life, without searching out His will.

All my life all I ever wanted to be was a Mom. I am very blessed to have 3 children, I have enjoyed being so very much a part of their lives. I was fortunate that while they were small I was able to stay at home with them. By the time my youngest started Gr 1. I went out to the work force, not ever having to work full-time, because I wanted to be able to maintain my home the way I liked.

Even now with the job I have, (I work Mon - Fri 9am - 2:30 pm). It's perfect I work just enough that I am out, but not too much that things fall so behind at home. Even though I do not have young kids at home, I still LOVE being a mom and having time to stay at home.

This time of year is a little more hectic with trying to mow our lawn (which takes about 4 hours and that's with a riding lawn mower), look after the pool, keep the garden weeded (which is never ending), and PLUS doing all the laundry, cooking & cleaning. Can you imagine if I had flower beds, yet too? Read the blog about stones.

In the book, it says that we need to say "no" to some things so we can say "yes" to the right things. I too often think that if I don't do it, it won't get done, and you know maybe that's not a bad thing. Sometimes we have to be willing to let things go, and if there is a real need for it, someone else will step up to do it.

So as I try to bring more balance in my life, I need to first seek His will and follow His desires for my life, and to not get to caught up with this world...........after all we're only here for a short time.

Blessings

Seeing double

Formal 2007, Gerard & Krystle celebrating his graduation from SHDHS

Formal 2005, Krystle and Gerard celebrating her graduation from CHSS.