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My girl and I are back from a cross country trip to Ottawa that was full of fun, sightseeing, friendships, old and new, and living country farm life for a little while.  Collecting fresh farm eggs and chasing horses that escaped across hay fields, riding through the fields for hours and picking fresh apples off old, weathered, homestead trees. Makes me wishing to come home to a quiet few acres rather than a neighbor who decides to pressure wash at 10 pm last night.  But... I am reminded of the full blessings that fill my life to the brim and overflowing.  Not to wish away all that is so good right here and right now.  How I miss my boys, who are waiting patiently for us to come back to them. Another morning of crepes on the table, and a house full of love, a fresh flush of new red roses out back, and a fridge full of food when so many have nothing.  For health... when friends so close are crying the pains of those trials daily.

We had a rich and full time, lots of laughter, good memories and making new ones and new friends!

By the pond that Greg built:

 Across the hay fields:

 100 year old barns:

 E and Soley, the Icelandic:

 Parliament:

 At changing of the guard:

 Jack Layton's casket going into Parliament:

 Me and E:

 Erin and Kirstin:

 Me lifting a bar of gold- 28 pounds, $450,000:

 At the Royal Mint:

 Kristin and Greg's place, so lovely:

 Erin giving Dr. Kirstin (literature Ph.D) a serious run for her money at Steal a Word:

 K and Vigo:

Old homestead apple tree:

 Erin and Greg after a 3 hour ride:

 Kirstin and Soley heading out bareback:

 What's a century farmhouse without a real window seat?

If You're the Praying Kind....

...and even if you're not, He'll still listen.  One of my closest girlfriends is having a really BAD birthday today!  Her Mom is in the hospital having everything scanned and MRIed to see if what they've found in her brain yesterday is really what they think it is.  If you could take a few minutes on your knees, in the quiet of your bathroom, or while you're cooking dinner to pray for healing and peace and courage and strength.  I believe in the power of prayer!

Some Erin Awesomeness

 

I finally had a chance to sit down and look through Erin's photos from Oregon 

(there are over 700).  Here's a few highlights of things from her perspective!  I just love looking at photos of beautiful places, especially ones I've been to. She's getting really good with her Nikon D3000.

 See the whale in the one below, we waited a long time for him to do something interesting, but he didn't.

 Do you see the feet popping out, or imprinting in?

 I'm glad she has one normal parent, I have no idea what I'm doing!

 And one crazy brother! 

She loves taking pictures of water.