Abby and Emma

When we first got to Ontario we had hoped to go to Sarah’s first basketball games.  We had loved watching her play when she was with us in Pincher Creek.  Unfortunately, our time with Sarah wasn’t in the gym but rather a full day at the hospital.  It made us all sad but I told her that at least we spent the day together.

On Tuesday, we drove west to visit with some old friends.  We had supper in Trenton at one of our favourite restaurants with Dave and Cheryl.  I was pretty tired and not feeling the best but it was so good to spend a little time with my bestie.  She gave me a willowtree friendship box.  

We drove to Jenn’s from there to pick up Abby.  She spent the night at the trailer and then wanted to go for a run with Grandpa in the morning.

I walked along behind thinking that she wouldn’t make it that far but she surprised us both and then stated that she is “competitive.”  When she did stop, she walked with me to get my 10,000 steps and then wanted to go to the end of the road.  

She went over 9 kms with no complaining.  We stopped along the way to take pictures of the scenery and our time with Abby.

Ron and Abby left right after an early lunch to head to Kingston for her eye appointment.  My cold had progressed to aches and pains and so I was ordered to stay behind.  I crawled into bed for the afternoon.

Ron dropped Abby with Jenn after her appointment and came back to the trailer.

This morning I was feeling a lot better and so off we went to Brockville.  Our little car sure has been racking up the kilometres.  This time we were off to see Emma.  She was doing a cross country run.

We haven’t been in that area too much so it was nice to have a look around and we enjoyed being there to watch her run.  She looked a little nervous at the start.

It was a three kilometre run with some good hills along the way.  She arrived at the finish line breathing hard.  She did it.  

We haven’t been around too much to be able to go to these events and it was really nice to stand at the sidelines.  Hopefully soon, we will be able to take in more events like this.

We drove a different way back to the lake.  The leaves are absolutely beautiful and every corner seemed to produce a new burst of colour.  

We’ve missed fall in Ontario and so we are enjoying every beautiful autumn day.  The weather has been great and the colours spectacular.

Our time in Ontario is coming to an end with just one more weekend here.  We have seen lots of friends and family, enjoyed having Jenn and the grandkids around, had a few surprises along the way and loved being at the lake.

21,900 Days

They say that there are birthday milestones.  It could be that first birthday that you don’t remember but everyone else feels that it is special.  In Ontario, your 16th birthday is looked forward to because it is driver license time.  When you turn 18, you are supposed to be an adult but you still feel like you would like someone else to still make the important decisions.  Turning 40 is considered the start to mid life years.  I looked up turning 60 and I found that 60 is the new 40.  I kind of like that, so that is what we shall go with.

Stephen said that this year my birthday has gone on for weeks beginning with the surprise celebration that Jenn hosted two Saturdays ago.  Yesterday, Jenn and her tag alongs, plus mom and dad, came to the trailer to once again celebrate with me.

We started off a little shaky with forgotten ingredients but it all worked out just perfect.

We had pizza buns in the new pizza oven.

The dessert was plentiful with special cupcakes.

The kids roped Dan and Christa into playing on the water with them.

We visited into the evening and then sat around the fire enjoying s’mores.  

When we said goodbye, we were left with Emma, Abby and Anthony.

Today was my actual birthday.  I received calls, texts and messages throughout the day wishing me a good day.  We went to the Verona church and had more greetings and a special cake.

I’m thinking that all the birthday celebrations are now over and it’s back to normal life.  I now have to learn what it is like to live like a 60 year old which I think it will be pretty similar to my life of a 59 year old.

What’s Been Happening?

Our house has been getting some more attention but still no offers.  It sure would be nice to have it sell before we go home and mess it up.  The weeks have been flying by while we hang out at the lake.  We have been all over.  On Sunday, we went to the Sharbot Lake church where we pastored for 8 years.  Abby was with us and we came back to the trailer to kayak and swim.

Monday - we got going early to drop Abby off at school and then we toured around the Thousand Island Parkway and enjoyed the weather and the views.  

We had a visit in the afternoon with old friends from the first church that we pastored.  Ralph and Diane served us coffee/tea and cheesecake and then sent us home with their own maple syrup.

Tuesday - Ron and I drove to where my dad had a hunting camp for years.  

We walked all over reminiscing and looking for trails that had grown up lots.  

After about 20,000 steps, we found our way back to the car.

Wednesday - Ron and I went in different directions.  He went to Ottawa to visit with his uncle and cousins.  I went with Jenn and had a visit with Ron’s cousin, Kathy.  She has a little shop with lots of great things.  Jenn bought a pair of shoes and I splurged and bought new sandals and blundstone boots.  

An old friend, Thelma had us over for a delicious lunch.  We share the same birthday and it was really nice to see her and Rick.

Thursday - we took Sarah to the hospital to get her wrist checked.  She had hurt it in basketball and needed a doctor’s note in order to play in the games on Friday.  After over 7 hours of waiting, X-rays, and more waiting she received a cast instead of a note.  The poor girl was devastated at having to miss the games and more.  The orthopaedic nurse gave her a choice of cutting her shirt or a hospital gown.  Sarah was horrified at the thought of a lululemon shirt being destroyed and so she was rocking the hositpal gown.

Today - we were up bright and early to drop the newly casted girl off at high school.  She’s a tough one.  We then drove down to Prince Edward Country.  It’s always a treat to cross on the ferry.  

The beaches in the provincial park are so beautiful and we enjoyed walking in the sand.

We have had such amazing weather for September.  We are hoping to stay at least one more week before making our way back to alberta where the snow could fly anytime.

Surprise!

We had tried to surprise our grandkids when we came but it turns out that the surprise was on us!  Before we left Alberta, Jenn had told us about a birthday surprise for a man that had been in our first church.  The date was September 16th. I marked it on our calendar with anticipation of seeing and visiting with old friends.  On Friday, Jenn sent me the invitation.

WHAT???

It wasn’t for Bruce.  The party was for us.  She had gotten worried that we might make other plans or show up late and thought she should spring the surprise on us a day early.  On Saturday, we drove to Gananoque looking forward to seeing our church friends there.  When we walked in the door, our eyes shot around the room.  

There were people from all three churches that we had pastored.  

There were other friends and family.  

Ron and I went in separate directions greeting people that we hadn’t seen for years.

 Jenn had done a great job getting so many people together to celebrate with us.  She had a little help from her friends!

It really felt like we had come home.

We felt so blessed to see so many friends and shocked by the number of celebration cards, gift cards and gifts.