Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Hola!! Cerveza?

Well, the article is written and sent off, as are the minutes for the committee I am on. Priorities are back on track. I better punch out a blog post about our trip to Mexico though, before I get my article back from the editor, with the words "Please re-do - not what we were looking for."

So yes, on Wednesday, January 14th, Nathan and I boarded a plane that took us to Mexico. We left in -20 weather, and 4 hours later we were trying hard not to complain of the heat from standing on the tarmac, waiting for the Mexican officials to process the nearly 5000 people in front of us. Yes, I am slightly exaggerating, but we certainly felt like cattle, being prodded along. I guess that's what happens when every plane that was headed to Mexico that day, all landed at the same time.

2 hours later, we were in our van, being transported to our destination: El Dorado Seaside Resort. Once there, that experience at the airport faded rapidly, thanks to this:

and this.....

and, well, all of what I am to show you. The grounds were beautiful, the food - fantastic, the weather exactly what we were hoping for, the room nice, cool and large, and the company wasn't too bad either ;o)

You could pay extra for a romantic dinner in one of these things. We didn't bother, as we thought having a dinner without kids was romantic enough!

We spent the first day at the pool and the rest of the days at the ocean:


Just a snapshot of the time Nathan would take his first of three naps of the day. Yes, that is 8:44 am, and he is sound asleep at the beach.




We did have one day of cloud; it looked quite threatening for awhile, but it mostly by-passed us, leaving us with just a short shower. I was completely oblivious to what was coming, as Nathan wasn't the only one that napped on the beach......


Our room was on the top floor, with a larger-than-king bed - this thing was h.u.g.e!! Sure has made our bed at home feel and look like a single!

 


The food was obviously good if we go by our waistbands by the end of the week......





And a few more from around the resort:





It was blissful and such an enjoyable holiday. We had a lot of time together, which was *the* best part. We did also meet lots of people, mostly from Alberta and Ontario. There were a few die-hard British and Swedish people as well (die-hard because it takes them over 10 hours to get there!). We say 'hello' to Adam and Becky, a couple who left too early for our liking!! But we have more reason to visit England now :o)

I hesitated at first to post pictures, as I didn't want to make you envious. But then I thought by looking at the pictures, it may feel like a mini-holiday for you! And you didn't have to ship your kids out,
....or lose an hour
....or lather yourself with sun screen 3x's a day
....or deal with fish that nibbled at your legs
....or try to figure out where you want to eat for supper
....or swallow salt water
....or be woken up from a nap by the maid that wants to clean your room
....or try to get back into the clothes you traveled down in
....or .......well, you get the point.

You can thank me in the comments. :o)

But if you want a true holiday and are looking for somewhere to go? I highly recommend this place!!

Thank you so much to the two families that welcomed our children into their homes, making it possible for us to go. According to Keziah, it may be a very long time before we are allowed to do this again. And Lincoln? Well, let's just say being home for a week and I am almost needing another holiday thanks to my dear boy. Have I mentioned that he is three? 'nough said. :o)

Seriously though, we are very thankful for God's care while we were separated, and so thankful for bringing us back together again. Real life is a good thing.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Priorities In Check? Not.

I really shouldn't be on here, however I promised to explain my previous Before and After post. Well, as some of you have guessed, we found some sun. Actually, I should re-phrase that. We found some *warm* sun. Ah, that blissful ball of fire. How gorgeous it was.

But before I get carried away, I need to set my priorities straight, which means you'll have to wait a little longer for pictures. That's what happens when there are looming deadlines, like minutes that still need to be typed up for a committee I am on.

The biggest deadline though that is hanging over my head is January 31st. I was asked about a month and a half ago to write a few articles on Adoption for a little magazine for our churches. Sure, I said!! Well, I sent in one (the shorter one of course!) before I left for our holiday, but still have the larger one to work on.

Will you please pray for me? I am struggling a bit in how to start and how to finish, which is making me avoid the whole thing so far. Please pray that I may be given what I need to not only write the article, but to write it in a way that will glorify God.

Thank you! And if I get it done earlier than later, I'll be back here to post some more from our lovely holiday.


P.S. Next week we start our Book Talk. Have you ordered yours yet? I do hope you join me in uncovering a topic that can be so misunderstood as we are often uneducated.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Before and After

This picture was taken last week Tuesday.....hence, the Before:

This picture was taken tonight......hence, the After:

Circle the differences, and see why one is Before and one is After.

Can't figure it out??

Maybe the next pictures will help you to spot what the difference is:

This picture was taken early last Wednesday morning. Before.

This picture was taken late last night. After.

Still can't tell?! I guess you'll just have to check back in a few days......... :o) And if you figured it out, you'll also have to check back in a few days to see if you are right. I would blog more about it all, but yeah, wouldn't want to get sand in my keyboard ;o)

Monday, January 12, 2015

December Delights!

Are you ready for a picture overload?! That's what happens when December is a month full of festivities and family time. Good thing too that we had a fun month 'cause I believe December was one of the greyist ones yet!

Speaking of grey - have you ordered your book yet so you are ready to read this with me starting the first week of February? I hope you do join me!

We will start this December Delight photo dump with our time with good friends, A and T. We get together with them every year to open up gifts. That is, once Santa is done banging on the door to drop the gifts off. Our kids and their kids are quite different in looks - but also in character! All their kids were out the front door to look at the gifts. My kids? Well, they'll look through the safety of the window - just in case that big man in the red suit is really there.


Yeah, neither of my kids like Santa. At all. Keziah never has and will hide from him. And Lincoln? He was quite nervous when he saw him in the mall, but with daddy by his side he did go to talk to Santa. Well, Santa talked to him. Lincoln didn't say a word.

But back to opening up gifts with A and T:




Back at home, finding delight with each other:


We also found delight in opening up our stockings and playing with what was in there. I do believe Keziah was the last 5.5 year old to know about Frozen. Up until now, she never had a clue about it........



One of the most delightful things of this month was to see this man find an activity to do that had nothing to do with the business. With the business right here on the property, it can be hard for him to "get away" from it. And with technology the way it is, while he may not be in the office, that technology follows him into the house, which all has to do with the business. So to see this guy find great relaxation in doing a puzzle gave me a delighted heart for him.

Watching my men put together a heavy-duty laundry sorter for me also gave me delight! Lincoln took his role seriously, "reading" and acting out the instructions to his dad, and then doing them:



However, I do believe this picture is the most delightful of them all, and not just for the month of December, but for all of 2014! This picture not only fills my heart with delight, it makes me struggle for breath. How is it possible that these two blessings are ours?! But they ARE!! Praising God for His goodness!!!