Ode to the Power Washer

Oh Power Washer
What power you hold
to wash away the dirt
we drug in when it was cold.

Your power over me
to distract me is complete
I start in the laundry room,
but end up washing the street.

It started out so innocent you see.
The mat from the entrance way needed a cleaning
I thought that was simple
but that was just the beginning.

Next came the rugs from all over this house,
that dirt had to, just had to get out.
Then sideing was dirty, the wagon, the porch.
I mean washing is what this machine's all about.

After hours of washing, my toes are all wrinkled.
Everything's wet,
everything's crinkled.
I haven't even finished the entry way yet!!!

Oh to the inventor of the Power washer,
how like duct tape it is.
It fixes everything, addicting,
distracting and HIS!

You Asked for it - Haiti

Haiti is a beautiful place, but it is known as one of the poorest places on earth. God has blessed them with a beautiful island but the religion there is anything but Godfearing. It is sad to think of such oppulence in the midst of poverty. How hard it must be for the people to see those big ships of wealth in their bay every day.
We were at a private beach in Labadee. There was so many lovely things to do. We had beautiful weather, I think the best of our whole trip. Everyone agreed it was a wonderful day of sun and relaxation. The kids loved every minute. Josiah tanned his back because his face was looking for shells, weather on land or snorkling. We tried to do a little shopping at the place set aside for locals to sell their wares but it was just so tramatic to go in there that we ended up with almost nothing. It was just something we were not prepared for.
All in all, I'd say this was the most relaxing day of our trip.

You Asked for it - San Juan, P.R.

San Juan was a great day. The sun was shining and we only had occational sun showers. We had alot more freedom to find our own way around the places that we wanted to visit. We took alot of pictures, tasted their famous ice cream, saw places Greg had visited before and saw the forts.
There was plenty to do in the time we had there but we managed to do just enough to fill our time and make it back to the boat. We enjoyed the beautiful views, the old buildings and were amazed at the amount of detail that went into the building of the fort. It was truly a beautiful place in it's time, as it is still.

You Asked for It - St. Thomas

The warm rain comes down so fast you can't see. It feels so nice on your skin. It also cancels your tour for snorkelling. The wind makes the seas choppy for the smaller boats, so we opt for a day of shopping and try sight seeing on our own.
The gang heads off to the shops and enjoy the tourist traps. After a trip back to the ship to drop off our purchases, we decide to go back for another run around and just enjoy the time left. We take some photos and shop some more, while the men do other things. Greg takes the boys up the Gondola and off to see St. Thomas from a higher vantage point.
The weather still goes back and forth from really wet to warm sun, and alot of wind in between. We don't mind so much. It's not the hot we expected but it's also not winter and it's nice to be able to wear shorts and enjoy the tropical plants.
I always feel a little homesick for my childhood when I'm around tropical plants, flash rain showers and such.

You Asked for It - Bahamas

Well several friends have said, "you haven't shown us your holiday pictures yet". So I'm going to put in some of my photos and blog a bit here and there so we can do that. It's the "You Asked for It" portion of the blog. First day out on the Cruise we were at the Bahamas, a cooler than you'd expect for the Bahamas (windy)day. We had booked a tour with the Dolphin encounters.
It was fun! Everyone had a chance to touch, dance and interact with the dolphin. Micaiah wasn't as thrilled as we thought he'd be, since he was the one who requested to see the dolphins. We got some great video and photos with the dolphins. Greg's mom was with us that day and got alot of pictures on her camera.
Cruises do not give you a whole lot of time to spend exploring or visiting the local places, so it was pretty much dolphins, a boat ride and back to the ship for that day. Lots of fun but I know there's a whole lot more to see of that beautiful place.

She shall have Music wherever she goes.

Bethany has been working at Piano and Vocal training for several years now. Thanks to her Grandma Nickel, she has the opportunity to develop some of her God given talents in this area. Her teacher, Lindsey Nagy, has been a wonderful match for her and we're excited to see what the years ahead hold for Bethany. She has been involved in Future's Fest two years now and did well both times, recieving a silver and this year, a gold, for her efforts. She's had opportunties to sing in West Edmonton Mall, the Parlament Buildings, at various ministry venues and prestigous Nickel home.
She boldly joined a youth choir tour inspite of the fact that she knew NO ONE in the group. She tried out for a solo part and got to sing solo and duet parts in the tour. (Her first trip out of town on her own)
She's learned to play piano for herself as she sings this year. This impresses her mother, if no one else.
She's doing well for her age and is trying different styles of music. Everyone agrees that her stage presence needs some work, she needs to move more. Still it moves her mother's heart to she her follow a dream that I would have loved to follow myself. I don't know how long or how far she will go with this but it's wonderful to watch the flower unfolding. Can you hear that we're proud of her?

It's a Beautiful day in the Neighbourhood

So it doesn't feel really warm most days yet. The kids are great at pretending it is. They've been out doing all the "I'm free from winter coats" activities. Riding bikes, walks around the lake, using our recycling to build forts, street hockey, throwing balls over the fence at the neighbour kids, etc. The usual.
I've even had rainy days when I've been asked if we can use the water guns. I don't even think we've hit 20C yet. But die hard gun lovers are itching to use them.
Micaiah has decided he's going to learn to skate board even though he doesn't own one. He manages to borrow some kid or others' skate board every chance he gets and practices his moves.
Fresh air, exercise, creative thinking... anything to get them out and way from the computer for a while... makes a mom happy. (she says as she spends way too much time blogging on the computer herself in guilt).

Battle of the Bikes

In the early spring there was a war between a boy and his bike. The bike seemed to be winning. Try as he might, the boy could not manage to ride that bike without his training wheels. His father would remove them and they would try to find a way to success but the bike would win. Many battle scars proved the bike's victories. The boy become discouraged.
However, one grey spring day he finally managed to roll down the driveway and then pedaled down the road, and off to victory. He revelled in his glory when he was awarded the great prize, his sister's orange bike.
Less than one week later, the boy's brother too overcame the battle with the bike and training wheels were banned from the land of King Nickel and his subjects. This boy too, was awarded a bike, the very bike his brother had over come in the battle just the week before. What a great honor it was for him to be awarded such a strong and mighty bike.
Now the brothers travel throughout the neighbourhood showing the people of the land their great acts of valor and bravery as they concur their bikes daily.

The life and times of Fred and Edna

Fred and Edna have been coming to nest at the pond behind our house since we moved here. They faithfully come here to nest every spring. We love them but they are a little quirky. They are very territorial. They don't like visitors. No other geese may share the pond with them. They nest every year on the island in the pond.
Fred is a great guard. He makes sure no other gander comes close to the pond. He's quite the honker. He'll fight off anyone who tries.
The really sad/funny thing is that they just haven't figured out that the island floods every spring. This means they often loose their eggs because they end up under water.
Once again this spring, we had rain. Note the bench and trash can are almost under water. The pond is very full.
The bridge is flooded out, the island is underwater. The boys were heartbroken to see Edna leave her eggs yet another year because of the flood. They wanted to get a boat and go out there and save them.
The waters have receded now. Fred and Edna are feeling "spring" again. I'm not sure if there will be little Freds or Ednas this year but ... we keep hoping. We love to watch them raise the family as we go about our day.
We love to watch the various birds and wildlife that share our home. I feel so blessed. I often am in awe that I get to live here. God is so good and his creation shouts his praises every day. Still we kinda wonder about Fred and Edna.

The long and the short of 19 years married

A short/long 19 years ago, a young man dressed in white tails stood waiting for a young woman, to start their life together. It's hard somehow, to realize what life expects of you when you start out. To know that when life asks you to do the hard things, those will be the parts that make you choose who you will become as an individual and as a couple. Now, 19 years later, we have been through so many things together, shaping us into who we are, yet somehow we are just becoming who we are. I believe he'd still stand there waiting. It's easy when you think you're able to do anything. It's short on the easy days. Life is short when you look back. Life is long, when you're tired or feeling like you're not accomplishing what you should. Life is harder when we look at the negative ...so accentuate the positive. Let's take a look.
I mean, who wouldn't pick this man? He's so lovable!!! And cool! A real cool Cat! Did I mention brave?
And his off spring are so like him. So lovable and hip ... you can't help but want to be their mother. You can see the leaders of the future when you look at these faces, can't you?
But seriously, there are so many things that celebrate who we are and what we've accomplished in these short/long 19 years. (You have to be married to get the short/long part). The every day adds up to years. God bless those who lead by example and do it one day at a time. (Thank God for giving me a wonderful hubby and 3 wonderful children, the answers to my prayers.)

Welcome to a life of Gold from Pebbles

Welcome to the every day life of our family.
Life is full of so many interesting adventures yet somehow it is very easy for us to miss them if we're not consciously looking for the blessings that God weaves into our everyday lives. I'm becoming more and more aware that the ordinary things of life are not pebbles but gold. How precious they are, why do they have to be precious to us only when they are memories and the time is past? I'm trying to become more aware of enjoying them in the present too. That is part of why I'm starting to record this on my blog, so I can process the process. I hope you will be inspired to look for the gold in the pebbles of your life too.