Welcome to Spring - Manitoba Style

Welcome to our Manitoba spring! These pictures were taken today. The kids were invited to their friends' house to skate. They skated on the pasture that had flooded and then froze. While we were there the predicted snow storm arrived.

Can you see the cow by the hay? Caleb is in the blue toque

Andrew turning away from the wind.

The girls - Olivia is second from the end

Meanwhile, inside the house, the first flower is blooming. All of my flowers and vegetables are growing and look very healthy. I have transplanted twice and am hoping that I don't have to do it again before they get planted in the garden. I have been very pleased with how well they look.


Yesterday Gerald and I went into the city to see my doctor again. She gave me a shot of corticosteroid in my shoulder. She strongly recommends that I go to physical therapy as the next step. So now we wait for her recommendations to make their way back to my doctor here in town. The other four members of the family are pitching in around the house since I am not to be using my shoulder much. I am finding that difficult! I didn't realize how much I use my arm-until I am not suppose to be using it.

Here's hoping for some warm weather!

Sandy

Awana Grand Prix Race

Tonight was the Grand Prix race. The kids were pretty excited to get the show on the road. It was a very fun evening. They run the heats first and the four fastest cars go to the final. Olivia was the only one who made it into the final this year. She was super excited! In the end she took home the second place trophy for speed. Caleb and Andrew also won a trophy. Andrew won first in novelty division and Caleb won third in design. Each of them were glad to have brought home a trophy.

The "goofy" pose

Sandy

The Big Reveal

The kids turned in their Awana Grand Prix cars tonight. The big race is on Friday night. The kids were really pleased with how they turned out. And I am so thankful that they have a dad that enjoys helping them and patiently listens to their ideas and helps them make that a reality.

Andrew's car - The Hawk

Caleb's Car in honor of the Olympics

Olivia's Car - Winter Wonderland

There was just one small accident this year while working on the cars. It required four stitches to close the wound. As the story was told the hospital visit included an hour and a half wait and then stitched up in the hallway on a gurney. One thing we learned is that our dear Olivia will not take after Auntie Nancy and Auntie Dar and go into nursing.



Sandy

A beautiful spring day!

It was an absolutely gorgeous day! The kids and I went on a hour long walk while Gerald was busy at the leadership conference today. We had a great time walking along and commenting about how nice it was. The kids all wore hoodies and finger mitts - it was so nice outside. Once we came home they stayed outside and enjoyed the sun. I think Olivia's cheek are a little sun-kissed. Oh how nice it is to be outside and enjoyed some of the suns warmth.

Gerald came home around 3:30 - a bit earlier than we had expected him and tossed the ball around with the boys. When they came in for supper Gerald commented that the weather and being outside playing ball sure gives you spring fever. Here's to hoping the white will shortly be replaced with green grass :)

Gerald has left already - onto his next commitment for today.





Enjoy your weekend,
Sandy

It is still winter

We are still in winter here - man, that wind is cold! I sent the kids outside to play today and when I looked out the window this is what I saw! Do you think they are waiting for spring??


Meanwhile, in the house my garden plants and flowers are getting rather large. In fact there are some that I will have to move to bigger pots since it is still two months before they will be planted outside. I am pleased with how they are looking.


Hope you are keeping warm,
Sandy

Dad, Get Him!

This is a picture taken at lunch time today. Gerald is playing Prince Caspian on the DS and the kids are watching and trying to help. There were lots of, "Dad, get him!" and "Ah Dad, they got you!"


Sandy

Gerald's Home Again

We have had a good day together as a family. Gerald flew in yesterday and as usual spent the first day home reconnecting with us. The day went too fast. Tomorrow he goes back to work and everything will return to the same schedule. I love it when Gerald is home with us during the day.

What a gorgeous day - a teaser for spring. The boys shoveled all the snow off the driveway, the deck is clear and we are seeing some grass in a few areas of the yard. After the boys cleared the driveway Gerald got the bikes down (they were hanging up on hook in the garage) and the kids rode around the driveway. Watch us get a big snowstorm now that we are ready and waiting for spring. My flower and vegetable plants are getting rather tall and I am starting to wonder if I will have to transplant them once again before it is warm enough to plant them in the garden.

Two of the kids worked on their Awana Grand Prix cars with their dad today. The big event is two weeks from Friday. We will put pictures of the finished products up when they are all completed. They are looking pretty snazzy!

Time for supper cleanup and getting ready for Awana.

Sandy

Humbled

This morning is school Andrew's asked me if I could have three wishes and they could come true what would I wish for. Several things came quickly to my mind but before I answered him he tells me what his wishes would be. First, he wished that he could hear one of Jesus' sermons in person. Second, he wishes that the book he is writing about a make believe place could come true. Third, he wishes that he could sit side by side with C.S. Lewis and toss around ideas about writing books. By the time he got to his third wish I was humbled. Believe me when I tell you the wishes that were swirling around my head were totally selfish about making my life much more comfortable. He is an amazing young man and sometimes I am completely awed that at such a young age he is so sensitive to the Holy Spirit's work in his life.

May God grant me wisdom as I parent this child.

Tomorrow Gerald come home and we are so ready. We have done as well as we could with him gone but we are very excited to go to the airport tomorrow and pick him up.

Sandy