Writing practice

We're getting there, and we are pretty proud of ourselves too!

40's party

We celebrated Lori and her 40 years on Saturday, with a 40's themed surprise party.
Here's some of the pictures with the costumes, will try and get a hold of one with my hair intact!!
Enjoy.
And you can sleep assured, Tom shaved it off!

Balloons

I wanted my camera this morning. I had two excited girls running around the house with a big balloon each,
Heidi's was pink.
Hope had a purple one.
Heidi was busy doing tricks, spinning the balloon above her head, watch it go higher and higher each throw. 'Look Mummy look, it's spinning'.
She was declaring how strong Hope was to be able to walk around with a balloon.
Hopes joy was simple. A huge balloon right in front of her eyes. Her giggles were infectious, her smile wide, her eyes sparkling.

Then came the tears. The pink balloon went the way of all balloons eventually. It was in the hands of the one who did not own the pink one!

I guess it was a good indication of the fact that things are not all as they seem with my Heidi girl, she is quicker to cry, and the tears last longer. And she woke up too early, went to bed too late.

But my Heidi girl will be ok. She is loved and cared for by her heavenly Father, as well as her one on earth. She has it sorted in her mind and will tell everyone that she is going to England and will come back if God wants her too. She hugged her pink bunny yesterday morning and reassured it 'I'll see you again, if it's God's will for me to come back'.

Yes Lord, and let us live it with boldness, our days are in your hands and you have a plan for each of them.

Snow on snow
Snow on snow
Snow on snow on snow

And it just keeps coming!

Normal for Calgary

Heidi went to the zoo yesterday with some friends. When she got back she had de-layered to trousers, and a long sleeve cotton top.
Hope and I enjoyed our snack on the deck, wrapped in a blanket for snuggles but I had short sleeves and was not cold in anyway!
The snow on the front lawn is almost gone. +11 will do that to you.
Chinooks are fun (warm winds).

So I checked the weather this morning, being the good Brit that I am.

It said this:

Warnings

City of Calgary
4:31 AM MST Friday 28 January 2011
Snowfall warning for
City of Calgary issued

Heavy snow today and into Saturday.

A cold front moving through Southern Alberta this morning is bringing the return of colder temperatures and wintery conditions to the region. This Arctic air in conjunction with Pacific moisture streaming across the mountains will result in heavy snow for parts of Southern Alberta today and into Saturday. Snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres are expected by Saturday night. Light snow is likely to persist through the rest of the weekend.

Best get the snow gear ready :)

Hopie walking, and a little whiny too!

School

What to write.....
The days are so full.
Slipping by, the countdown continues,
the uncertainty continues.

We find joy in small things.
Rainbows, hair bands, friends new dogs.

And in the even smaller things.
The garbage went out on time.
The mail was checked today.
The girls had a bath..... yesterday!

I keep trying to turn my mind to the exciting things about being in the UK. Family, friends, fish and chips:) well sausage and chips. And the not so exciting things. Last night we remembered about mud! What a thing to forget. Muddy, squelchy slippy dirty mud.

I will miss this white world. The vast sky and wide prairie. The -40 with wind chill and the massive headache that heralds a Chinook before I even open the curtains. The wet soggy floor when the snow melts off the pushchair and boots and mitts and hats and coats and snow pants!

I guess it is no different to mud, both are solved by mops and cloths. Washing machines and driers.

I am pensive and worried and learning to trust. I am caught in the don't disturb or knock me or put something new on me or I may crack, well I will at least cry.


BUT,

this I do know. It is declared in the sunrise of each new day.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” Lam 3 22-24

And He will carry us through the next few weeks. And give us beautiful moments of joy and fellowship. Our world has changed, He has not and will not.

Thank you Father.

PS Please don't worry about me. Just pray for us. The Lord is enough and we are experiencing His wonderful care.

Just because....

Rainbows are something Heidi is often listing as her things to be thankful for. The girls have a night light that projects one over the ceiling at night. To sleep under a visible promise is a good reminder of all the promises God makes. So when she asked if we could have rainbow pancakes how could I resist?
And no she didn't eat all of them......

Am I as strong as Dad?

Strawberry pin cushion

Last minute birthday gift. 30 mins start to finish with Heidi helping. One very happy 8 year old. And one very happy adult.

Growing up.....

1. I missed the beginning of the week when the news was that Hope was taking a few small steps between her parent.
2. Now she is making her way across the living room and halfway through the kitchen before falling flat on her face.
3. Only one nosebleed so far this week!
4. She did the classic, try and walk with a book in hand, and fall completely onto that side on step in.
5. Heidi is now tall enough to reach the water fountain on her own. I even took the time to look at her and notice how tall she looked and how sad it was that there was yet another thing that she didn't need me for. When she turned around however she was soaked through, I felt relieved. Perhaps she does still need me!

Baby girl is here :)

We are very proud of ourselves over here!

With no pain of problems we got ourselves a new scrummy baby in the family.

Chalcedony 'Callie' Ruth Merriman was born on the 4th January.

I am so excited to get to cuddle both of the Merriman girls very soon.

The countdown begins.....

We fly 9 weeks today!