a solitary walk

couldn't resist the snow and sunshine today...went for a long walk on the lake...stayed in the bays just in case...can't believe how blessed we are to live here...

for Aaron

We have some great video footage (but no still photos) of Micah and Elizabeth skating across a fully-cleared rink. Since I still don't know how to post video on the blog, we will have to make do with this captivating moment of posed glee, taken before Grandpa and Daddy had finished clearing off the snow.

raison d'etre

Ron and I love to skate together on our rink in the silent beauty of the evening, in the darkness, under the stars. But this is the real raison d'etre of all Grandpa's hard work in maintaining a rink on the lake. We had an amazing time this weekend! Micah skated without holding on to anything or anyone, and he not only took his tumbles philosophically, but he was also able to get up again all by himself. And Elizabeth and Grandma had a terrific time holding hands while Elizabeth scooted along on her cheese cutters, announcing gleefully and proudly - look Grandpa, I'm skating! Look Grandpa, I'm skating! Look Grandpa, I'm skating! ...

January

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Elizabeth led us in some rousing singing, Micah and Elizabeth participated together in some hilarious candle-extinguishing team-work, and remnants of mint chocolate birthday "cake" linger next to Elizabeth's lovely Princess smile!



As you can see, two weeks have seen a return to relative normalcy for our oldest grandson. Micah is back in full form, and thus very difficult to capture in a photograph. Got to love that smile!



Ironically, it's been too cold to skate on it yet! "Inside, good! Outside, bad!" (Right, Josh?!)



Finally winter and a frozen lake. Ron took advantage of his first opportunity to prepare our traditional rink on the lake (slightly smaller than usual).



Not a good sign when a pileated woodpecker visits your yard! On the other hand, we're always delighted to see one, scrambling to find binoculars and camera to get a glimpse of this huge, dinosaur-like bird.

voices

Last night, we attended our first “church service” since returning to Canada. We spent a special evening in a living room with a handful of people, and we talked about what it means to worship God. And we worshipped God. And we all celebrated the voices that God has given us. And we were drawn into community - with God and with each other. This picture reminds me of Christian voices silenced and now rediscovered. Many years ago it was not permitted to bring Russian Bibles into the Soviet Union (I know from personal experience), but during our visit in November, we found one of these majestic tomes in each of our Moscow hotel rooms. (Any guesses about where the Bible is open to, and why?) I’ve been thinking about voices lost and rediscovered since a strange dream I had a couple of years ago. Last week I came across an article (“Free Speech in Pauline Political Theology” by David Fredrickson) that brings it together for me. Here are a few words from its conclusion: “One of the pressing political needs of the church today is to imagine new ways for unity in the midst of cultural diversity, moral reasoning, and differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, and social class. ... Paul’s political theology of free speech goes to the heart of the matter. All have a voice; no one may be silenced; no one may speak for someone else; and all speech must build up the community. As risky as it may sound, because of the hope in the Spirit’s justifying and transforming presence, everyone in the church is entitled to speak with complete freedom....” The question is, do we dare to hope that big? And, is the risk worth it? Perhaps our answer depends on which side of inclusion/exclusion we find ourselves.

classic moments

A wonderful visit with the kids and grandkids in Montreal, culminated in a thrilling trip to the PET STORE! Michaela is in her element there, flitting from turtles to fish to scorpions to kittens to puppies to birds to rabbits, to name just a few of the highlights she thrilled over. Here are two special - and classic - moments. In her gentle yet persistently independent way, she succeeded in coaxing the staff into letting her hold a baby rabbit. And her lengthy two-way conversation with this delightfully responsive parrot centered mostly in her asking where his (her?) babies were. Meanwhile her beautiful little baby brother was wide-eyed (as always!), taking it all in and seeming to enjoy very much the sights and sounds and wonder of it all.

little things

The snow is back at last... and the birds, now that we have our bird feeders stocked again. Three doves sat on this branch much of the day yesterday. Strange how much I'm enjoying being back in Canada, appreciating the little things, realizing that maybe they're not so little after all.

a new year

Another morning as we sat at the breakfast table, we watched this setting of a blue moon.





Ron and I are often struck by the seemingly unlimited moods of our lake. Early one morning as I walked into the living room, I found myself looking out "on golden pond."





Elizabeth succumbs to exhaustion, giving Grandma and Grandpa time to reflect on the emotional events of the day.





Our fearless leader, moments before the expedition came to an abrupt end with a trip to the hospital emergency room. Stitches in the tongue! He's fine now. We are so thankful to God.





A glorious walk through the woods, following Micah off the beaten trail as he resolutely and courageously led us tripping and tumbling over countless fallen branches, scaling one "mountain" peak after another. Here's a particularly delightful moment of Micah and Elizabeth's triumph.