Capturing Christmas

Okay, so much for the Christmas update promised a few weeks ago. Resolutions are so easy to break.

Saying goodbye for a couple of years.

Christmas is over for 2011 and we are anticipating what 2012 will bring us. Christmas this year was really wonderful. Everyone came home to the Valley, including my Dad. I haven't spent Christmas with my Dad for many years, so it was a real treat to make meals for him and share our home and family. Kathryn, Tim and Eden were able to join us via Skype which was really special. They left in November to settle in Australia for a few years with Tim's work. It has been an adjustment for us and I'm sure for them, but with the current technology, we are able to see and talk with them almost daily. They also write a great blog which, in turn, encourages me to keep on blogging.

Great start to Christmas break - enjoying the snow and being creative!

Mama and sweet Lila - so beautiful.

Ryan, Heather and our other 'daughter', Anne.

The Naugler family all ready for church on Christmas Eve. Charlotte's excitement is building, but I think Lila is a bit tired!

Making beautiful music together in their matching Christmas jammies.

Charlotte and her new Christmas doll - so much love!

Grampie and his new walking sticks. He got quite a chuckle from this gift.

Looking at a beautiful photo book of our family reunion - many wonderful memories.

So much beauty - getting ready to Skype with Kathryn and Tim.

And here they are - all the way from Australia - what an amazing way to keep in touch with family that you miss and love so much.

A great tradition (one that we will always keep) - Papa makes Christmas brunch - so yummy!

Hope you enjoyed Christmas 2011 mostly through pictures.

Next blog will likely be a couple of book reviews.

Recap of 2011

Last blog was in April - hmmm, new year's resolution - to become more consistent??

We made the decision to spend Easter weekend in Fredericton with our two eldest daughters who live there. It was a wonderful weekend and Heather came along with us - the only person missing was Ryan (Heather's husband). It was relaxing and so much fun spending time with the granddaughters. Thanks to Kathryn who organized the Easter egg hunt and treasure hunt.

Our beautiful daughter, Heather with Kathryn's little girl, Eden.

Charlotte collecting her eggs with help from Mama.

My sweet family - Easter 2011.

Our summer was fun, fast and full of great memories. It started with Sarah attending Camp Courage in Halifax. It was an incredible week of learning, 'hands on', the careers of policing, firefighting and paramedics. Sarah has a desire to one day be a police officer and this camp really made her aware that this is something she can do. It is a camp dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue these vocations which are still very much male dominated.

Sarah (far left) in her paramedic gear helping at a mock accident, the final day of Camp Courage.

Sarah with her graduating class from Camp Courage. The end of an exhausting but amazing week!

Anna started her summer with a Leadership in Training Camp at Malagash Bible Camp. This then developed into spending 3 awesome weeks as a volunteer at the camp. Malagash has been a significant part of Anna's summer experience and was able to give her time back to the camp volunteering in the kitchen as well as being a junior counsellor. She also had a week at the end of the summer as a camper which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Anna (third from right) and her 'buddies' at Malagash.

Anna and a very special camper.

Every three years the Nickerson clan has a family reunion. At the beginning of August we took over Upper Clements Park cottages and reconnected with each other. It was a fantastic weekend of playing in the park, eating together and relaxing in each other's company. The effort we make to do this every three years is well worth it and helps our children have an awareness of the extended family they are a part of.

Sarah, Anna, Tim C. and Tim N. on the flume - bonding with their 'big brothers'.

The Jamieson crew with 'Grampie' Nickerson.

We spent 2 weeks at our cottage on Harvey Lake in New Brunswick - the weather wasn't the greatest, but we sure enjoyed the time to relax and catch up on our reading lists.

September began full on, Sarah beginning her final year of high school and Anna starting grade 10. Sarah made the high school soccer team and after some cold, hard games they ended up with a bronze medal. Sarah is playing on the girl's hockey team and Anna plays basketball with the girl's senior team. Schedules are full and they keep us running, but it is so much fun to watch them play and cheer them on.

It has been a full year and I look forward to what 2012 holds for us.

Christmas 2011 update and pictures will be posted this weekend.

Spring, Friends & Day Trips

Margaretsville 32 years later.

Last Sunday gave us a beautiful spring day and we decided to do an afternoon adventure after church. We contacted our friends, the Thomsons, who willingly came along for a great afternoon. I remembered when Andrew and I were dating that we had gone to a quaint little village called Margaretsville, and have been requesting a trip back, if only for nostalgia's sake. It's funny, but I recall it being much more romantic 30+ years ago!! We took a geo-cache along to do and it proved to be more difficult than the website said - Judy was the master and discovered it.

Discovering the geo-cache.

We then made our way down to the beach and a couple of waterfalls, breathing in the wonderful salt air. What a relaxing, enjoyable way to spend the afternoon with good friends. Time slipped away quickly, but we decided to take a little detour to Morden, another beautiful spot on the shore with a clear view of Isle of Haute out in the bay. This is also home to the French Cross and after a few photo ops, we headed back to the Valley. We are so very blessed to be within such a short distance to the tranquility and beauty of Nova Scotia's beaches.

A stunning waterfall right on the beach.

Interesting angle!

Margaretsville Beach, Nova Scotia (April 2011)

Looking forward to the next 30 years together!

Tampa Adventure

After much thought and consideration, we decided as a family to join Andrew at a conference he was speaking at in Tampa, Florida. It didn't take a whole lot of convincing to leave our snowy and cold province and spend some time in a warm spot. As it turns out, it actually hasn't been all that sunny and certainly not tanning weather, but there are times when an escape from the sameness of our days, is necessary. My biggest concern was the girls missing 5 days of school at the beginning of their second semester. They have, however, brought their assignments for the week, and will be working on them today and tomorrow so they will not be too far behind on Monday. They are both excellent students and I have every confidence they will succeed in whatever they choose to do.

Lately, I've been thinking about my role as a wife, a mom, homemaker, ministry assistant, administration assistant and wondering what all this will look like in 5 years.

We are still in the process of raising 2 teenagers which can be exhausting and challenging, but we wouldn't change anything. They are beautiful and amazing girls and as their parents we hope we can fulfill our God-given responsibility to raise them with an eye for beauty, a desire for simplicity and vision to see beyond themselves. So this trip has provided an opportunity for me, as their Mom, to connect with them and to try to chip away at the masks that very often get in the way of seeing the reality of what is going on in their lives. The girls very much live their lives 'in the moment' and there is always the constant communication with friends that is an integral part of who they are. We have not had our cell phones with us and even though we did bring the laptop, there has been a somewhat limited connection with their 'budddies' at home.

Now to give you a glimpse of our trip thus far ~

Anna and her friend Leanne enroute to Tampa!!

Sarah and Anna in front of our hotel - lovin' the palm trees!!

Tuesday morning family trip to the aquarium - awesome!!

Purchased tickets to an NHL game - Tampa Bay vs. Buffalo - so much fun to see this live, cheered on the home team but they ended up losing 7-4 in the end, even experienced the fists flying a couple of times!! I would say highlight of the week.

This is downtown Tampa, at noon, on a weekday. Notice there is no one around - everyone here seems to drive a vehicle wherever they go. We really didn't see anyone walking anywhere - we were definitely the exception and felt rather out of place when we decided to walk.

Wednesday, the girls and I head off to Busch Gardens. Lots of wildlife and roller coasters. Anna, so happy to finally see an elephant for real.

Lots of roller coasters - can you spot the girls? Mama wasn't so brave!!

End of another fun day.

As we wrap up our week together here in Florida, I pause to think about the joy my children have given me over the years. The memories we have made together will always make me happy. Whether it was as simple as a picnic in the park, watching them try out different sports, cheering them on in their achievements in school, giving them the extras as we were able, but most of all loving them unconditionally. My musings go to the next generation that is coming along and hopefully I will be able to cheer them on as they experience the full and abundant life that God has intended for them.

December 31, 2010

As we wrap up another Christmas season, with all the trappings and commercialization that seem to become more invasive every year, I ponder why we really do all of this. It would be so wonderful to simplify it all and get back to the real reason why we even celebrate this holiday. Even within the church, we seem to become so harried, getting ready for Christmas Eve services and focusing on how to best get the message of new life out to as many people as we can. It was a very low key Christmas for us, with only the two youngest home and it seemed rather quiet, but pleasant at the same time. Now that it is over and we have experienced yet again the wonder of Christmas and anticipate the challenges and blessings that 2011 will bring, I ponder what I will do differently.

I have just finished reading 'The Power of a Whisper' by Bill Hybels, which raised some questions about how I have lived my life in relation to the whispers that I have ignored, the ones I have chosen to listen to and why I don't respond more readily and eagerly to the ones I receive daily. It is thought provoking to realize that God continually nudges our hearts and yet I tend to push that aside and carry on with the way I want to live. I would like to think that I aim high in all my intentions and ambitions, but lately I think I have only scratched the surface of what God would have wanted for me. How many blessings has He arranged and I've missed?

The beautiful children of Kenya.

My thoughts wander back over the past 12 months and I realize how blessed I am. We welcomed two new beautiful granddaughters into our family this summer. We spent 2 weeks at our cottage in NB, learning how to 'operate' our two new kayaks. Andrew had a unique opportunity to spend 2 weeks in Africa, visiting rural Rwanda and Kenya.

Sarah (16) and Anna (15), Christmas Eve 2010

It has been a full year and we look forward to what 2011 will hold for us. We realize the two youngest are quickly becoming young ladies and before we know it they will be pursuing their own interests and making their way in this world. We are so very proud of them both and know they will excel in whatever they choose to do.

A new year is upon us - will I continue to do day to day, week to week, month to month as usual or will I dare to step beyond and ahead.

'And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.' Ezekiel 36:26

Kayaking 101

October 1 ~ 28 degrees C ~ perfect day for an adventure.

Starting out ...

The kayaks are still being used and today was the first time I had really tried one out. Andrew and I decided to head to Nictaux Canal (actually Andrew decided, I was just along for the ride). Nictaux is a little place just south of Middleton. So, we both took the day off work, hoping the weatherman was correct in telling us that no rain was in the forecast. I must say that I was a little timid about this whole thing, but once we got in the kayaks and headed out, it was great.

Beautiful rural Nova Scotia in the fall.

Almost to our destination - the lake.

We had time to talk and enjoy the fall beauty of NS. It was fairly windy and the wind was against us as we headed out, our destination a small lake at the end of the canal. After about an hour and a half we made it to the lake, but there was a low bridge and the lake looked rather rough, so we decided to turn around and head back. Needless to say, my arms and shoulders are suffering a wee bit tonight. About halfway back, the sky opened up and it poured rain (thanking the weatherman for his accuracy in the forecast at this point).

The end of the journey - note the drowned rat look - not so attractive!!

Still crazy, after all these years ...

Life goes on. The teenagers are growing up and away, so time to develop some activities we can enjoy together. Looking forward to Thanksgiving, spending time with family and friends and always remembering that God is the giver of all good gifts.

Summer 2010

What a busy summer. Each year as I finish up my work at the end of April, I have a list of the many things I will accomplish over the next 4 months, but the months have slipped by and my list still seems rather long. At the end of June, I began another part time position with a real estate office doing admin work, which I am really enjoying. Right now, it is working out to be about 4 hours a week and I will continue to work at the church for 15 hours per week. So, it may end up being a rather busy fall.

Miss Eden Jacquelyn Cross born on July 13, 2010. So beautiful.

On July 13, we welcomed a precious new granddaughter into our lives, Eden Jacquelyn Cross and we made a trip to NB to meet her. This summer we decided to purchase not one but two kayaks. Andrew has been wanting one for a couple of years, so we went to Pictou and purchased them from Freedom Canoe and Kayak. Needless to say, Andrew has been thoroughly enjoying the sport and the girls had fun with them while we were at the lake.

Sarah trying out one of the kayaks on a very calm day - Harvey Lake, NB.

Anna in the other one - they were both pros!!

Grampie enjoying some special time with a special little girl.

Early in August we made our annual pilgrimage to our cottage on Harvey Lake and enjoyed some quiet, relaxing time as well as some hard labour. Deciding that the camp needed some TLC, we spent the good part of a week, scraping, priming and painting. We finished 3 sides, so the remaining side and the shed will get their share next spring/summer. I also decided that we needed a change of color after 40 years of it being white with green shutters. This decision didn't sit too well with some of the fam, but I think they are starting to adapt. Hey, we could always change the color next year!!!

Oh, the joy of owning a cottage. It took a lot of time and hard work to scrape, prime and paint the camp.

But the end result was quite lovely. Colors are pewter with sun-dried tomato trim. The steps and screen doors are on the to-do list for next year!!

We were hoping that our 3rd granddaughter would arrive while we were on vacation, but nope, she decided to hold off. Lila Adelaide Naugler made her appearance on August 21 and I ended up going back to NB solo to help out where I could. We are so blessed to have these two beautiful new babies in our lives.

Miss Lila Adelaide Naugler born on August 21, 2010. So perfect!!

Grammie with her sweet granddaughters, Charlotte (2), Eden (6 weeks), and Lila (4 days).

Some of our summer was also spent at the pool and on the soccer field with our wonderful teenagers who are still under our wings.

Anna at the NS Provincial Swim Competition in Bedford, NS. She loves the water and here she is competing in one of her favorite strokes, the breaststroke. She achieved all personal best times except for her short free.

Sarah (back row, 3rd from left) with her summer soccer team. They were the gold medal winners in the New Minas Invitational Tournament. A great team and a well deserved win.

Now, we are back to the reality of fall activities and anticipating what God will do in each of our lives. Lou Fellingham is one of my favorite singers and I have been listening to some of her music. This song is a glimpse of how I desire to live.