Week 26

Peonies

     I love peonies.  They are so big and showy and fragrant, but I do wish they lasted longer. They look great for a couple of days and then they start to get droopy and then it isn't long until the edges of the petals start to wither and turn brown and then in another day or two the petals start dropping off onto the ground.  
     Our lives hopefully last longer than peonies, but the bible reminds us that in the grand scheme of things, our lives are fleeting.  We need to make the most of our lives here on earth and make sure our faith is in the God of the bible who can give us eternal life. 

     (Speaking about how fleeting the days are... this week marks the half way point of this 52-week photo challenge project.  I understand that people have been having trouble leaving comments directly on the blog.  I have changed a setting here, so hopefully that will enable comments to be left now.  I have appreciated those who have commented on the links that I put on Facebook and continuing to comment there is fine.)

                                                      Pink peony just about to open up                                June 15, 2013

"Show me Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; 

let me know how fleeting my life is."

Psalm 39:4 NIV

                                                             Pink peony at its peak                                             June 20, 2013

"He [man] springs up like a flower and withers away;
 like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure."

Job 14:2 NIV

                                                               Pink peony past its best                                     June 24, 2013

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,

 since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

II Corinthians 4:18 NIV

                                                            Fuschia peonies                                                      June 15, 2013

"I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; 

no one will snatch them out of my hand."

John 10:28 NIV

                                                                    Fuschia peony bush looking pretty sad                               June 24, 2013

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Isaiah 40:8 NIV

Week 25

Father's Day

                                                                           Three Generations                              Father's Day - June 16, 2013  

"As a father has compassion on his children, 

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."

Psalm 103:13 NIV

Week 24

Trip to Northern Ireland

Dave and I have just returned from a vacation in Northern Ireland.  We enjoyed being together with some of Dave's cousins and experiencing their wonderful hospitality.  The weather was absolutely perfect (Apparently, to to have 7 consecutive days of sunny skies  with temperatures in the low 20's is quite unusual in Northern Ireland, so we considered ourselves very fortunate.)  We did some family history research, which included tromping around some cemeteries, we did some sightseeing in the city of Belfast and enjoyed a beautiful tour of the North Antrim Coast.  I will post more photos on Facebook, but the following is a glimpse of what we saw. 

View from North Antrim coast over to Rathlin Island with Scottish Islands in the distance 

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." 

Psalm 24:1 & 2 NIV

White Park Bay -  North Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland 

 "Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them."

Psalm 69:34

Lifeboat in harbour at Portrush, North Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland

 "Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge."

Psalm 16:1

Carrickfergus Castle

 "From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; 

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. 

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.  

For you have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name."

Psalm 61: 2-5 NIV

Lane way in the village of Ballyeaston with Ballyclare in the distance

 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, 

for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." 

Psalm 25:4 & 5 NIV

Second Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church where Dave's father was baptized as a baby

"To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

for ever and ever!  Amen."

Ephesians 3:21 NIV

Week 23

Bethany & Tim's Wedding

"Be devoted to one another in love.  Honour one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:10 NIV

                                                                                 A tender moment                                                 June 1, 2013

                                                                                         Bethany & Tim                                                                    June 1, 2013

                                                                      The beautiful bride & her siblings                                      June 1, 2013

                                                  Matron of Honour and her daughter, the flowergirl                               June 1, 2013

                                                              Cute little flowergirl!                                                                    June 1, 2013

My husband and I had the privilege of attending the wedding of Bethany and Tim over the weekend.  Our children grew up along with Bethany and her siblings until her family relocated 2 hours north of our city.  We don't see each other often anymore, but when we do, it is so easy to reconnect instantly.  Old friendships are so lasting and strong.  Bethany is a beautiful young lady, inside and out, and I wish her a lifetime of happiness with her new husband. 

P.S.  I am posting early this week and will be posting late next week due to holidays!

Week 22

New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale - Quilt Auction

Saturday May 25, 2013

"If anyone has material possesions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

I John 3: 17 & 18 NIV

                                                   Baby Quilt that I donated to the quilt auction                                   May 2013

"Feature" Quilt that depicted a quilt being readied by the girls to be auctioned

The feature quilt was sold for $10,000!

I have donated a small quilt each year for the last 5 years to the Mennonite Relief Sale - Quilt Auction.  I sit for hours in an arena watching the almost 200 quilts auctioned off.  I am always worried that no one will bid on my quilt, but they sell them all!  I was a little disappointed this year that my quilt didn't fetch quite as much as I had hoped, but had to remind myself that every little bit helps the Mennonite Central Committee with relief work all around the world and maybe the $125 dollars from the sale of my quilt will help some mother or father in a developing country start a small business that will support their family.

Visiting Our Little 7 1/2 Month Old Grandson

Sunday, May 26, 2013

"Children are a gift from the Lord; babies are a reward."

Psalm 127:3 New Century Version

                                                                    Our beautful grandson                                                   May 26, 2013

                                   7 1/2 month old Hikaru with his 17 1/2 year old Uncle Tim                         May 26, 2013

                          Enjoying his rice, fish and bok choy dinner - see his two little teeth?          May 26, 2013

     

We ended our weekend with a trip to Toronto to visit to our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.  Hikaru studied us very soberly when we first arrived, but soon warmed up to us and was the best little fellow for our  whole visit, including going out to a restaurant for dinner.  He certainly is a gift from God that we are so thankful for!  

Week 21

A Long Weekend Full of Things to be Thankful For

"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night."

Psalm 92: 1 & 2

                                                   Warm, sunny days at the beach                                  May 17, 2013

                                                 Trillium (Ontario's Provincial Wildflower)                        May 17, 2013

                                    "Blankets" of trilliums in the woods at Lurgan Beach                       May 17, 2013

                                                        Sunset on Lake Huron                                               May 17, 2013

                                                                                 Pretty pink tulips                                               May 18,  2013

                          Neighbour's lilacs that I get to enjoy on my side of the fence!                       May 19, 2013

                                                  The look and the smell of lilacs                                  May 19, 2013

                                    Beautiful crab apple blossoms in our friends' backyard                       May 19, 2013

Reminiscing about our wedding and celebrating 34 years of marriage on May 19th  

                                           Welcoming home loved ones at the airport                                May 20, 2013

                                   Seeing our son being a wonderful father      May 20, 2013        

     These are a few of my favourite images and memories from the Victoria Day long weekend that we just had here in Canada. 

     I am hoping that I would still be finding things to be thankful for even if my life wasn't as smooth as it is.  I am saddened this morning to read about the death of a baby girl whose short life I have been following, through her mother's blog.  Please pray for her family as they deal with the loss of their precious daughter/sister/granddaughter/niece in the days and months ahead.  May they be able to still praise God through their grieving and be thankful for the time they had here on earth with Hope, and for the whole heart that she  now has in heaven. 

Week 20

Tulips

"Faithfulness springs forth from the earth

and righteousness looks down from heaven."

Psalm 85:11 NIV

Here is just a sampling of the many tulips that are blooming in my city right now.  Tulips are so dependable to bloom every spring and their variety of colours bring such a nice contrast to all the lush green leaves and grass in the landscape during the month of May.  

The above photos were all taken while walking around Rockway Gardens in Kitchener on May 9, 2013.  I am enjoying using my new macro lens and even more than that, being outside and enjoying the beauty God has created.