Monday Morning Musings . . . I am a Sensible. Sober, Down to Earth Woman.

It's days like these when I know that, as many mistakes as I made over the years, I still must have done something right. I mean if your grown up kid says "Sure, no problem." when you ask him to do something rather crazy for your latest class photo assignment, you can't have been all bad as a mom right??
I'm not allowed to say what the assignment is yet but this is an out take. It was  -15C (probably -24 with the wind chill) and this guy was good natured enough to sit in a snowy field in shorts and a muscle shirt with a cold beer in his hand. (His hat, snow-pants and gloves are stuffed in the cooler.)

As I was looking over the photos I took I remembered a conversation I had with Henry a few weeks ago.

He teased me about being a 'wild woman'. Which I most definitely am not  . . .

I told him how sorry I was that he ended up with 'sensible' over 'wild'.

And then he just  . . . looked at me. And started to laugh . . .

"Well okay, I know some of my projects aren't always sensible, but in most things I'm pretty sensible!"

"In your head maybe!"  and he laughed even harder.

Then I laughed a bit, looked at him and said "but I am!" He kept laughing. "No, really!!"

The thing is, I really do think I'm pretty sensible. In fact I've always believed that I was a sober, sensible, down-to-earth kind of girl.

But, now I'm starting to wonder. As I think about it, I'm pretty sure two people who know me well are rolling on the floor in hysterics right now. (You know who you are !!!)

 I'm thinking about some of the things I do that might not seem very sensible or even down-to-earth to other people.

So, I'm curious . . . Do you see yourself the way others see you, or do they say things about you that have you questioning how well they actually know you. Or how well you know yourself??

And . . .if you know me . . . don't you think I'm sober, sensible and down-to-earth most of the time???

 Inquiring minds want to know . . .

Monday Morning Musings. Baby's First Christmas

I know it's the new year and Christmas is over but I couldn't let it pass without at least one post about our sweet little Amelia's first Christmas.

Was she spoiled? Of course she was! But this grandma bought the best kinds of presents, ones that never get old . . . books! Morgan and Kim have been warned. Milly's going to have a bazillion pictures taken of her and her room is going to fill up with books. And what's not to love about that??

We all had a great time watching her 'open' her presents and Jada, who loves opening presents, was standing by, ready to offer assistance if needed. Morgan even got to play Santa courtesy of Jesse's new Santa hat complete with flowing white beard.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Amelia's Baby Shower

It's been a few weeks since we threw a baby shower for Amelia but . . . better late than never, right??

Kim had asked months ago if we could throw a Garden Tea baby shower and . . . since that's right up my alley . . .  of course I said yes!

We hadn't counted on all the other things going on though. Or thought about the fact that summer would be rapidly approaching, so the day of the baptism found me scrambling to find a date that would work for as many people as possible.

 Which turned out to be only four days later.

Oh my. The garden hadn't been properly cared for in weeks and weeks and it had been raining much more than we were used to here on the prairies. It was desperately needed mind you, so no one was complaining,  we just aren't used to getting rain nearly every day.

The weather held though, and I spent 3 days in the garden, weeding, pruning and primping.

The shower would never have happened without my dear friend Joyce's help, because by the middle of day 2 in the garden, I was pooped beyond belief. (Joyce and I have organized countless events together over the years and it was such fun to work together again.)

Joyce and I brainstormed the menu, decorations and games and Joyce did the majority of the shopping, leaving me more time to work in the garden.

She also made some lovely, delicious cookies! (I must admit I hid most of the leftovers from Henry and Jesse so I could eat them all myself!  ;D)

 On the day of the shower Joyce got here early and we went right to work, decorating the garden and setting up an extra canopy (thank you to Linda A for lending it and bringing it to the house!) and arranged seating for 25 guests. There was a chance of showers but we figured as long as everyone was under cover we'd be alright.

We did make one big concession to possible bad weather. We had originally intended to have food and seating areas sprinkled throughout the garden but decided to decorate the covered deck that leads into the house and have all the food served there, just in case.

The weather held until the guests began to arrive.

It started showering, but that was okay, this was a baby shower after all . . .

More guests arrived.

It started raining a little harder and the skies just kept getting darker.

The wind began to blow. There was some quick rearranging of the food tables as the end closest to the edge of the deck was starting to get wet.

 There's nothing fancy about soggy food!

I held out hope that it would blow over and we would still be able to get into the garden.

The rain showers turned into a deluge. So much rain came down, that even if it did blow over, the gazebo, which is on the lowest spot in the garden, would have water coming up over the floor.

So . . . we crammed into my teeny, tiny house. All 25 of us. Just like sweaty sardines. The clever, brave ones sat out on the deck where it was cooler, and damper.

And yet. . .

We all had a wonderful time. Because in the end, it's all about the people. Pretty decorations are wonderful, but if all you have are family and friends to visit with . . .

That, really, is all you need.

*(Of course good food and some fun, funky drinks help too! ;D)

So, without further ado, I give you Amelia's baby shower:

It's wet out there!

Kim's sister Jaclyn made this beautiful baby carriage with her wonderful cupcakes.

The brave ones . . .

Crystal helps Joyce with last minute preparations

It's present time!

Close friends of the new mom.

Great Grandma checks out the loot.

Great Oma and Mrs.V check out the loot as well!

Once a secretary . . . Joyce keeps track of the gifts and gift givers.

Kim's mom and sister-in-law do some ooohing and aaahing as Great Grandma and Aunt Evelyn look on.

Kim's niece, Miss O, approves of this one . . .

Amelia hangs out with 'Aunty' Brienne

25 people will not fit in my living room. Some of us hung out in the hallways . . .

A fabulous time with family and friends

 And of course, once Grandpa got home, he had to have a little Amelia snuggle time too!

The guest of honour's ready for bed . . .

God has richly blessed us with this new, darling addition to our family.

*****

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 NIV

Facebook Fridays. (A weekly round up)

Often life is so busy that I don't get time to write full blog posts but I do post smaller blurbs on Facebook and Instagram. Since one of the reason's I started blogging in the first place was to have an online journal of family life, I've decided to have Facebook Friday's here on the blog. It will be a place to gather my weekly social media posts together and make them easier to look back on. Some weeks you my even get the 'Directors Cut/Extended Version of those posts!

 *** 

I'm going to be spending the next few days cooking and baking to get ready for Amelia's baptism on Sunday.  I hope you all have a blessed weekend.

June 11:

After a difficult battle with cancer, one fought with dignity, grace and the sure knowledge of God's steadfast promises, the Lord called home my dear father-in-law (Corky Veldkamp) in the early hours of Friday morning.

So many of you have been keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. It has been a true comfort to all of us. We are so thankful to experience the communion of saints in this way.

17. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

 June 14:

Because sometimes you just need a sweet baby pic . . .

June 15:

We laid Henry's dad to rest yesterday. We had a beautiful service with a consoling message, Olivia's lovely voice and music from a packed church that brought me to tears.
It was a time for family and friends to take comfort from God's promises and each other.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct you paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Dad is in his heavenly home now but before he left he met one last great grandchild . . .
I'm sharing about the day Amelia was born over on the blog today.

http://www.alifeofwhimsey.com/2016/06/it-was-6-am.html

***

It's been a challenging week but, with God's help, in the company of family and friends and lifted up in prayer by those far and near, we have been comforted and strengthened.

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

The Day Amelia was Born.

It was 6 am. As one does, I grabbed my phone to see what might have gone on during the night.

 A text from Morgan, and I had missed it!

 Kim's water had broken and they were on the way to the hospital. I texted him back and discovered  they were already checked in.

I threw some clothes on and asked if I could bring them anything. "Coffee and oatmeal from Tim Horton's please!"

Off I went, filled with excitement and joy. My first grandchild was on the way! I prayed all the way to the hospital.

After a quick hello to Morgan and Kim as I dropped things off, I went downstairs to sit with my father-in-law for a while before I went back home. He had been waking up less and less over the last few days. Henry's youngest brother Colin was already there, keeping his dad company. We chatted quietly while his dad slept on.

Time to head home. I needed to pick my mother-in-law up from her quarterly chemo treatment. I packed my bag with the quilt I was working on, a book, some snacks and . . . at the last minute . . . my small point and shoot camera. I didn't expect anything with the baby any time soon, things were in the very early stages. But, something said, take a camera.

 I picked up Henry's mom and brought her home. We had a lovely, peaceful lunch and sat out on the deck until we were ready to get back to the hospital to sit with dad for the afternoon. Just before leaving the house I got another text from Morgan. Things were moving fast! It looked as though the baby might be born that afternoon.

Mom and I quilted and knitted while dad slept, both of us excited at the thought that a new baby was about to join the family.

And then the text . . . .'Amelia Rose had been born at 1:30 that afternoon.'

Such joy.

I had to go home, but came back to sit with mom and dad. (And hoped I might be able to sneak a peak at my new granddaughter . . .)  Colin had come while I was out and his dad had woken a bit when he got there. While he slept again, Colin, his mom and I visited.

A nurse pulled aside the curtain hiding the hallway from view.

There was Morgan with baby Amelia!

He took her out of the bassinet and put her in his grandma's arms.

"Cor! Wake up! The baby's here! Morgan's baby is here!"

As mom leaned over his bed with the baby, dad woke up. And he was there. Truly present in that moment. With a big smile he reached out and touched that sweet, new life. His ninth great grandchild. After a few words to mom and then Morgan, making sure that both Kim and the baby were alright, he fell back asleep, still smiling.

There were tears that day. Tears of sorrow, yes, but mostly tears of joy as we witnessed this beautiful meeting. One of God's children came into the world as another was preparing to leave it.

God is good.

 John 14:1-4 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

 We are thrilled to welcome Amelia Rose Veldkamp into our family. She is a rich blessing from the Lord.

Henry and I went back later that evening for a proper visit with Morgan, Kim and Amelia. And this time I brought my big camera! 

 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place” (Psalm 139: 13, 15).