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.  

Graduations

I have done lots of talking about retirement because that is always close to our thoughts.  Ron won’t actually retire until August but he has been on holidays since May so we call it a trial retirement.

There are other things going on that need some air (blog) time.  Our two oldest granddaughters had graduations. Emma graduated from her school.  

The school only goes to Grade 6 and so next year she will be hopping on the early bus with Sarah. They do a nice celebration for the kids.  

We happened to be in Ontario the year when Emma graduated from kindergarten and it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago.

The teacher kept track of the graduates’ school involvement.  Students were given bronze, silver or gold medals according to her records.

 Emma was the only student to get a Gold Medal! Way to go Em!

On Sunday, the family celebrated Emma and Sarah’s graduations.  Friends sent flowers.  Jenn bought a cake and I think they felt very special.

Yesterday was Sarah’s day.  She was graduating from Grade 8.  We are so proud of her.  She started her Grade 8 year here with us and then went back to her family in February.  She struggled through the rest of the school year due to a severe concussion.  She looked so happy yesterday.  Jenn worked to make the day special for her.  She got her nails done like a big girl.  

Sarah sent me this picture from the hair salon. When I asked “where did my little girl?”, she responded with “all growed up.”  😂

It’s hard to believe that this is our little Princess.

I love this picture of Jenn and Sarah celebrating together.

Congratulations Sarah and Emma!  

Enjoy your summer and hopefully we will be in Ontario soon to spend some time with you! ❤️

Love you!

Birthday Week

Birthdays are happening this week.  Kylie’s birthday was on Monday and Jenn’s is tomorrow.  It’s interesting that as my daughter and daughter-in-law approach their mid thirties, it’s hard for me to not think I’m still there.  I don’t feel that old unless I’m trying to keep up with them or if I walk by a mirror.  I guess I have changed from my 30’s until now

…but then so have my kids!

Back to the birthday girls…I love these ladies.

When Jenn was born, it was one of the happiest days of my life.  We have lived provinces away for the past 14 years and when we move back to Ontario we will be able to enjoy some more time together.

Kylie has been grafted into our family tree thanks to Stephen.  I’m so happy to have her as my daughter-in-law. She is a special person and I love having her as my second daughter.

Life goes by so fast, so on behalf of their birthday week, I had a massage yesterday, a hair appointment tomorrow and booked a pedicure for next week.  I’m just trying to decide if having cake is going over the top.

Happy Birthday ladies! ❤️

Still the One

This was us 40 years ago on this date. FORTY YEARS!  How did that happen?  I remember thinking that 40 was old and now we have been married that long.  We were just kids back then and some probably thought we were crazy. We didn’t know what laid ahead but we knew that we loved each other. 

We are much older now and we are still together.  We have had lots of adventures along the way and with retirement, we plan on having lots more.

Today was also Mother’s Day.  Lots to celebrate!

After church, Stephen made lunch.  We spent a lot of the day in the backyard enjoying the sunshine.

 We went for a drive and a little walk later in the afternoon.

Stephen bought us ice caps after the drive and we once again enjoyed the back yard.

Stephen went to play pickle ball in the evening and Ron and I watched hockey with the fur babies.

It was a beautiful day, and although we didn’t do anything too exciting, it was a good one.

In the words of a 70’s song…Still the one by Orleans

We've been together since way back when
Sometimes I never want to see you again
But I want you to know, after all these years
You're still the one I want whisperin' in my ear

You're still the one -- I want to talk to in bed
Still thye one -- that turns my head
We're still having fun, and you're still the one

I looked at your face every day
But I never saw it 'til I went away
When winter came, I just wanted to go (wanted to go)
Deep in the desert, I longed for the snow

You're still the one -- that makes me laugh
Still the one -- that's my better half
We're still having fun, and yes you're still the one

You're still the one -- that makes me strong
Still the one -- I want to take along
We're still having fun, and you're still the one (yes you are)

Changing, our love is going gold
Even though we grow old, it grows new

You're still the one -- that I love to touch
Still the one -- and I can't get enough
We're still having fun, and you're still the one

You're still the one -- who can scratch my itch
Still the one -- and I wouldn't switch
We're still having fun, and you're still the one

You are still the one -- that makes me shout
Still the one -- that I dream about
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
You're still the one, yeah still the one
We're still having fun, and you're still the one

Still the one and still having fun!

Last Day!!!!

When Ron and I got married 40 years ago this Sunday, he was a breakfast manager at McDonalds.  True story! Shortly after that, he took the five or six week course to become a Real Estate Agent.  

He sold houses for a couple of years before we moved to Peterborough for him to go to college at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College.  He got his Bachelors of Theology with Honours!! I received my PHT (Put Hubby Through).  It was actually a thing…I have the certificate to prove it. I’d like to think that I did it with honours too.

For 19 years, we pastored in three churches, all in Ontario.  We thought we would be doing that forever but God led us in a different direction and that is when the RCMP life started. Through the past 14 years, he has worked in 5 different posts (more if you count the times he went to other towns to do relief work).

• 1983 - Breakfast Manager
• 1983-1985 - Real Estate Agent
• 1985-1989 - Student at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now called Masters) He worked at DuPont during the summers.
• 1989 - 1991 - Assistant Pastor in Gananoque, Ontario
• 1991-1999 - Senior Pastor in Sharbot Lake, Ontario 
  
  
  
• 1999 - 2008 - Senior Pastor in Frankford, Ontario
  
  
  
• November 2008 - April 2009 - Cadet at the RCMP Training Depot
  
  
  
• 2009 - 2013 - Constable in Swift Current, Saskatchewan (Rural)
  
  
  
• 2013 - 2015 - Constable in Deschambault Lake, Saskatchewan 
  
  
  
• 2015 - 2018 - Constable in Three Hills, Alberta
  
  
  
• 2018 - 2023 - Corporal in Brocket, Alberta 
  
  
  

During the past 40 years, Ron has worked at a different places doing different jobs.  He has seen people who have made decisions that have changed their lives for the better and the worst.  We have lived in areas where there are rivers, islands, lakes and creeks.  We have gone from trees to a tree on the prairies.  We have lived where there were three hills and moved to a place where we are surrounded by mountain ranges.  We have tried to enjoy each place.  We have canoed, cross country skied, biked (pedal and motorcycle), hiked and have met so many great friends along the way.

Today, Ron backed out of the driveway to go to work for his last time.  Tomorrow starts a new chapter…retirement!  I know that we will enjoy many new experiences.  We will move to a new place, meet new people and reacquaint with old friends.  We can enjoy each sunny day and do nothing on the stormy ones. Our schedule will be now what we want to do and not wait for the days off because now, everyday will be a day off.

Happy Retirement to Ron!