picture post

its been a while. Here I am in Caronport again, and I can usually manage to find a little time to post when I'm here at school. I figured I'd give a little picture post of some things lately ...

This is one of our neighbourhood friends, who has created some art.  His work is being displayed in our artspace gallery right now.  The show is called 'Falling Leaves, Flying Geese' and it ends tomorrow.

How Do You View Yourself?

This is my most recent creative piece.  This is what I do when I want to make some sense out of chaos and confusion in my mind.  I am a collector of images and words, I store all sorts of little scraps in a special place.  Then when I need to sort myself out, I put them all out in front of me and find the ones I most identify with at that moment, and consider what is drawing me in ... As this piece came together, I found myself (as is often the case lately) trying to sort out my self perception in relation to events in my life. This picture was taken before I fixed a doily onto one side of it - the doily represents the ever present expectation that I be soft, subtle, quiet, and complacent, not a boat-rocker,  - you know - feminine, nice, Christian .... . I used my purple glue stick to smush glue into the folds and cracks of the doily to get it to stick.  I did it on the top side, so it would show and mess that doily all up. I guess I wasn't feeling very girly and nice that day.

We had a worship Sunday at church. The creative work above was started right in the service.
I love when Communion is part of the church service.  I love seeing how all sorts of different people respond to the sacredness. When I hold the elements in my hand, I see afresh the miracle represented in each one. Each time I take communion is a new conversion, a chance to confess my devotion to Christ and my need for grace.  A chance to reflect on all the ways I am shaped by the God who is present, who is available for communion.

It was my son's 16th birthday recently.  We celebrated at cafe 22, one of our favourite local restaurants. My husband can't turn down an invitation to arm-wrestle our kids' friends.

I spent all day yesterday on one of these... not going to Cleveland, though.  I traversed the Canadian prairies, going into every small town on the highway. A ride that takes less than 6 hours in my car takes 12+ in this beauty.  But I got lots of reading done, and had a $14 lunch (just a sandwich, onion rings, and a coffee!) at a truck stop.

This is my attempt to redeem my photo taking
sklls by making it look like a graphic novel ... I know, I'm just silly.

... after a day on the bus, I was very excited to go for a brisk walk, even though the roads were icy and it was very dark.  Mostly because I wanted to wear my new winter hat!  Or because I had been sitting on a bus all day ....

So, these are a few musings from lately.  I'm still planning to move over to Wordpress because of the comments issue. Maybe I will work on that a bit this week.

PS: This is my little exercise plan for this week.  It takes about 6-7 minutes. I can't seem to find the energy/motivation to exercise in my normal life these days, but away from home I seem to have all kinds of energy to do this!

I'm still doing modified pushups, btw.

summer holidays

Just returned from a fabulous week away with family.  Every summer, myself and my three sisters - and our families, and our dad - rent 3 cabins for a week.  It's so much fun and we make such great memories.  The families are mixed up between the cabins, the cooking and cleaning are assigned so we all get a chance to work together.  We have lots of traditions, tasty food, and fun activities to look forward to every year.  Lisa keeps us organized with a three page spreadsheet about meals and clean up, and Syd usually helps with the shopping.
Here are some photos of our time this year - we tried a new spot this year, Keystone Resort at Westhawk Lake in the Whiteshell.  It was a hit!! (beach volleyball on site, inground pool, ice cream store across the street, and gorgeous sandy beach just a short walk away - what more could you want for a summer vacation?)

Beach Volleyball was a big hit - especially early in the week when Joey and Dustin
 were with us!  Everyone played (even me, ONCE!). 
 It was super fun to watch, too.  
We have quite an entertaining family :)

We hug lots.  We're huggers.

A few of us on an after dinner walk.

Ted and Ally demonstrating dance moves.

The resort pool was part of the daily routine.  
I personally spent two FULL days lounging there. :)

Bren and I walked to Hunt Lake on a really hot afternoon.  
I had to give myself a make-shift shower before turning back for home.

The four girls - next year, April will be in this line-up :)

We had great weather and so much fun.  We need to find a new location next year - ideas, anyone?

poster from departika at etsy.com

We've really discovered this year that there is tremendous value in taking good breaks.  How do you take breaks?  comment and let us know!
Happy Summer,
kelly

BEAUTY - 5 minute fridays

Sometimes, I have a chance on Fridays to link over at Gypsy Mama and participate in 5 minute fridays.. a chance to write for 5 minutes about a given topic.  The catch is: no editing, no re-writing... just GO!

today's topic is BEAUTY, so I just looked at my phone and found three images that said something about beauty to me... maybe they will to you, too?

This is a nine month NA chip - meaning a friend of ours has been clean for 9 months!  He showed us this right after receiving it and he was pretty excited.  Watching his self confidence grow - both over time and in that moment ...beautiful.

Angels trumpet, right in our city at a public garden in a gorgeous park.  We go there just to see these beauties! (well, and some other beautiful things, too.)
We laughed in California last year when we saw them all over the place, in front yard flower beds and on boulevards. They're particularly gorgeous framed by the sky, no? .. even in spite of my low grade camera and photo skills, beauty.

My daughter was away for a few weeks, and she just came home. 
Family reunited -- beauty.
the realization that both of our eyes fill up with tears at the same time, and for the same reasons-- beauty
 Daughters loving little children -- beauty.
chocolate brownies, made with whole wheat flour -- beauty!

link over and check out some other posts!

summer conversations and holiday pics

here are some pics and an interesting conversation from the last couple of days ... I am up very early anticipating getting Syd from the airport. (and she woke me up with texts and calls from TO at 330am!)


niece: auntie kelly, lets go swimming.
me: OK!
niece: we have to put our bathing suits on first...and our life jackets.
me: K, I'll go change, be right back.
niece: I'm changing in the living room
me: I can see that...
niece: I'm gonna come change with you
(follows me)
niece: so you don't change in front of other grown ups, right?
me: ummm... ya, thats pretty much right.
niece: well, you would change in front of your sisters.
me: ya, I would.
niece: would you change in front of my dad?
me: no.
niece: but uncle brendan - you change in front of him?
me: yes, we're married.
niece: I change in front of anyone in my family.
me: yup...
niece: do you change in front of grandpa?  He's your dad.  He's in your family.
me: ahhhh, ... ummmm, .... Let's race to the dock!


Here's a few shots of our time in Lac Du Bonnet....

Just learned to walk!

 Summer fun!

how...?

Just the other day, I was giving my sweet nephew his bath, watching him take his first steps...

..... and then, I blinked.

and he grew up!

So I squeezed him really hard and asked 'where did the time go?'

And I also asked - repeatedly: 'Do you know how proud of you I am?  Like really, really proud of who you are and all the things that make you you?'

And he says, 'umm, yeah, I think I know.'

But I sent him a text or two, just to make sure he wouldn't forget.

No matter what message I send, I always get the same reply... 'LOL'.

I don't remember which birthday this was.

I kinda thought it was only last month or something.

Here's my sister's beautiful family. 

next graduate: my boy.

Everyone keeps asking me: 

if you were such a teary mess when D. graduated, how will you cope when your OWN son graduates (in two years!).

Answer: I was never really good at loving other peoples kids differently than my own.  

Yeah, I know, I'm weird.

But there you have it - another boundary I don't love to cooperate with!  I just love 'em all the same and cry over everyone's accomplishments.

glimpses

 There hasn't been a photo post on here in a bit, and I've been using my new phone to take a few pictures.  I've spent the week in Caronport, learning about Adult Development, writing like a mad person, missing my family and Flats, visiting with an old friend... you'll see :)

Sweet Sydney.  This actually wasn't this week.  I just miss her !

The night before I left for school was the Masterworks recital.  I was a proud mama! (Yes, Ember, - I cried!)

This image turned up in my inbox this week, and I've spent quite a while looking at it.  It's called GRIEF and the artist is Matthew Whitney of Seattle.

Monday was the birthday of a school friend, so we celebrated!

Spent a lovely day in Moose Jaw with one of my favorite people in the universe.
You know those friends who are there no matter what - whose love you trust and who  just don't judge you, ever?
What would life be like without friends like this?!

An artsy shot in Downtown Moose Jaw.  I like to pretend I have a good eye for things every once in a while 

I thought I might be able to have a private conversation with some lilacs, but I was caught on film

and this is what the rest of the night holds... a very serious date with my assignments!

Here is some of what we've been up to while taking a break from blogging...

Lots of fun at Bren's parent's pool...

I saw TJ examining this garden statue.  He clearly loved it.. so I asked if he wanted a picture with it.

He just posed like that .. with very little coaching!

Sweet nephew turning THREE!

A whole day in the hospital .. waiting for another new baby!

And - April Henriette.  Born on August 30, just after midnight. 

I was very thankful for a safe and easy delivery.. and another chance to be a labor coach!

(I just put doula school on my list of things to do in this lifetime...)

May I say that my sister is an amazing mom and gives birth like its as easy as pie and natural as breathing?  Well, I just did.

Spending some time with the kids after their new sister came home..  a painting night!

This one was enhanced by Auntie Kelly a wee bit after Haily went to bed...

the kids went back to school, and so did the husband!

Our green space is GREEN!

Someone very wonderful offered us the use of a cabin for a few days.. but the kids ended up not wanting to go.  So, I went on a little retreat!  Surrounded by artmaking stuffs, books, magazines, and foods I love to eat!

My memere has been in the hospital since Aug. 25th.  The doctors called us to her bedside on two occasions, but she appears to be pulling through.  A fall caused swelling and brain injury, and she refused surgery to alleviate the pressure fearing brain damage.  The only explanation for her continued improvement is "It's a miracle - can only be explained by all the prayers and family support!"  Hmm.

I started a journal page in my daughter's journal with the title 'You come from a line of very strong women .."  Memere has again been showing incredible strength and courage.

... so that's it.  A photo post of what's been going on lately.

more SF

you never know who you'll run into in California!

that purple and yellow ride?  The Medusa - Syd and I went on it TWICE.

no words needed, ego takes up all the room.

tour guide.

beach day

fruit picked up from the farmers market at the Ferry Station at the Embarcadero

I took video of this for my nieces....

so these trains go under the ground AND over the ground?!?!

Bren:  Stand here by the REAL gypsy!