life as grace

My desk calendar's entry for today is a Frederick Buechner quotation about listening to our lives, because at the "holy and hidden heart" of it all, we will discover that "all moments are key moments and life itself is grace." But sometimes it's a whole lot harder to listen to the meaning of our lives, and sometimes it seems a whole lot more complicated to try to find that grace. Thank you, Mom, for helping us to listen so much more attentively. Thank you for communicating your love for us through your beautiful smiles, gentle touch, and deep thoughtful eyes.

Mom and Dad, thank you for the grace of your life together, for the way that you have always inspired us, and continue to inspire us, with a vision of true love and faithful service.


Meghan's stained-glass creations brightening up Mom's room with light-catching symbols of God's grace and faithfulness.


There is a sign in Mom's nursing home that says something like, "You are not clients in our work place; we are guests in your home." The staff all seem to exemplify this gentle courtesy and gracious helpfulness. Just as Mom was about to take her daily nap, one of the nurses brightened up her day by bringing a little kitten in to say hello. A delightful grace-moment in our day!


Mom was so happy to be surrounded by her children as we gave thanks for God's grace and celebrated a belated Thanksgiving together.

glorious

thanks-be weekend

Sometimes gifts come unbidden into our lives, like this feather that (believe it or not) Jamie is offering back to the birdies flying overhead! We are so extremely thankful for the priceless gift so recently given to us - the privilege of having all our children and grandchildren close enough for weekend visits like this one.

A great big thanks-be from Grandma and Grandpa for a spectacular Oktoberfest weekend with our little Jamie-Roo and family!


Thanks-be for the amazing city of Kitchener/Waterloo, with its family-friendly parks and astonishingly welcoming neighbourhoods.

Thanks-be for some terrific weather (courtesy of Josh?). Here we were treated to a touch of misty morning for that old country feel.

Thanks-be for the constancy and comfort of love, family and friendship.

once upon a time

A new life - signed, sealed and delivered!



Thankyouthankyouthankyou - dearest Sharon - for the love and happiness you have brought into Caitlin's life. And thank you too for your gentle, kind, sweet, wise, beautiful, loving presence in our family!


God bless our beautiful daughters.


All of us rejoicing in the love, blessing and sunshine of this glorious day.



An auspicious beginning to their new life together - spending the morning with friends and family at Grandma and Grandpa's house, then heading off to Sharon's lifelong dream of a honeymoon at Disneyworld. Caitlin, we are so very proud of you for this great gift of your love for Sharon.