Ring bearer report! (now with 100% more pictures!)

Gavin did an excellent job acting as ring bearer in the wedding yesterday! He was very handsome in his white suit, stood perfectly still the entire time, and didn't do anything amusing.

Ha!

No, really, he did an amazing job - I remember being in weddings and how long it is having to just stand there, and that's for an adult! We did get a few laughs out of him, though: Shortly after Greg came and sat down (he did the introduction and asking 'who gives this woman' since Pastor Tom was both the father and the pastor) Gavin whispered 'Daddy! This is a HARD job!' Greg just smiled and nodded and that was all Gavin had to say about that. Later on, when the pastor asked for the rings, Gavin walked over to the first step (the attendants were staggered up the steps) and just stood there. Pastor Tom and the best man were motioning for Gavin to come up, but he just stood his ground and apparently whispered "no! You have to come down here!" Which was true - during the rehearsal it was decided that the best man was going to come down the steps to get the rings from Gavin, so Gavin really was just going by the rules he had been told! (I wish he did that all the time!)

It was a long day for him - since he was dressed all in white, we weren't letting him sit on the ground or touch anything once he got dressed, which of course was very hard for an active little boy! When the pictures were finally finished (the kids had to stay for basically the whole time) Greg had told Gavin he could change and 'crawl around and get as dirty' as he wanted. Again showing his attentiveness to the rules, he did just that and literally crawled all the way from the bottom of the stairs to our seat at the reception. And of course told everyone that we passed: "look at me, I'm getting as dirty as I want!"

Here are a few pictures of the day (I had to include a picture of the dress because my very talented friend MADE it!):

Sometimes I wish my fence was higher

A lot higher.

Our backyard fence is short - maybe four feet tall, maybe less? It keeps the kids contained in a smaller space, but doesn't do much for privacy when you want it. And did I ever want it the other day when Gavin and I were in the back yard playing 'knight':

I'm sure I was a sight out there galloping around the backyard on my horse (which makes helpful galloping noises and music, by the way). Oh, the things we do for our children. :)

Kids say the darndest things!

Scene: Dinner last night

(Greg is putting barbeque sauce on Gavin's hamburger)

Gavin: What's that you're putting on?

Greg: It's barbeque sauce, buddy, just like you always have - it's just a different kind of bottle. Do you want to taste it? (Puts a little bit in Gavin's mouth.)

Gavin: Mmmm, good! (Long pause...suddenly he makes an awful face as though he were sucking a lemon.) Um, we don't usually put this in our mouths all by itself, do we?

We laughed so hard!! If you know Gavin, you can imagine him saying it in his tone of voice and you can picture how hysterical it sounded. :)

Summer fun

We're trying to enjoy the hot weather as much as possible - we were out at the river with friends from church last night, swimming, tubing and just staying cool. Gavin had a blast with his good friend Sam and Abby even had a pretty good time (especially considering it was getting close to her bedtime when we arrived). It is such a beautiful setting down there with a bit of a sandy beach almost, and it was such a perfect evening for it.

Number of times I kicked myself for not bringing a camera: 361.

We were invited to go out to 'Winky's Pond' are some such place today after church, but decided to hang around home and let the kids have a nice long nap after their late night last night. Here's a few pictures of the kids playing outside this afternoon, though. :)

Again with the being hotter than Cuba!

Legal disclaimer: I am in no way complaining about the current hot weather, that of course being unacceptable in an area where we get so little of it.

Current Beaverlodge temperature: 33 degrees Celcius

Current Havana, Cuba temperature: 31 degrees Celcius

From the mouths of babes

While we were all home on Monday, just hanging out, Greg suggested that he and Gavin should think of things that they love about Mommy. (So far sounds like a good game.) Greg started, and then he asked Gavin what he liked about Mommy.

Gavin's Answer #1: "I like it when she's gone."

We tried not to laugh, and Greg again attempted to demonstrate an appropriate answer, confident that Gavin would catch on and come up with a better answer this time.

Gavin's Answer #2: "I like it when she doesn't watch me climb down the ladder."

Great. So when I am around, I'm negligent.

Greg's next answer had something to do with me making yummy food. Surely our food-inhaling child would have something positive to say about that!

Gavin's Answer #3: "She doesn't feed me."

Remind me never to ask him for a reference. ;)

I'm biased, but isn't she cute?!?

Two more sleeps!

Only two more sleeps until Greg gets back from Cuba! I finally got to talk to him for a couple of minutes on Monday night as I was getting home from Edmonton, and everything is going great. Tuesday they travelled to the resort where they stayed last night and tonight, and then tomorrow they start their long journey home, arriving in Grande Prairie around 8:30am.

We had a good visit in Edmonton last week - albeit a little longer than planned due to my camera not arriving until Monday. :) But the important thing is that it's here and ready to go for the wedding on Saturday. I'm definitely getting nervous for that now with only three days to go! Highlights of our Edmonton trip included: air conditioning when the temperature was above 30 for several days(!), playing with the cousins, going to the zoo, checking out the Street Performers festival downtown, and eating a raw back bacon sandwich. Don't ask. Really.

I stopped into work yesterday and picked up my laptop and a couple of files to get started on, so I guess I'm officially back in the working world! I have to say that this whole working at home thing is not something you should do just for fun...I can tell already that home is always going to feel like being at work, and working is always going to feel like I'm neglecting home stuff. It's like the best of both worlds, except the worst of both. ;) Seriously, I am very thankful for an employer that is being so flexible with me and allowing me to stay home with my kids and still do a little bit of work.

Speaking of which, I'd better go do a little bit while the kids are sleeping...

Another quick Greg update

Just got another email from Greg and all is well. They are in Santiago de Cuba right now and did some drama and sports ministry today (their baseball team got beat pretty badly, surprise, surprise) and will be taking part in various ways in two services tomorrow.

They want us to keep praying for them as they are hot and tired and having a hard time being cheerful at times when they feel that way. All of the kids are having a great time he says and have had a great trip. Tuesday they head to the resort for their debriefing time and Thursday they start the journey home (arriving in Grande Prairie around 8 in the morning on Friday).

Quick update from Greg

Greg left a phone message for me last night and everything is going well with the Cuba group! They were in the southeastern corner of Cuba yesterday, visiting various house churches. They were staying in a nice hotel with showers last night...not sure if they've not had showers for a few days or what. :) Everyone is healthy and in good spirits.

I will continue to post if I hear more from him - he was hoping to call me on my cell phone again soon so I'm keeping it with me!

They made it to Cuba!

Greg emailed this evening (much to his anxious wife's relief!) and the team made it to Cuba safe and sound and are doing well so far. I'll post his whole email here, those of you who don't know the kids in the group will have to pardon all the names:

This is Greg in Cuba. What a wonderful God we serve. Things are going wonderfully. We are all healthy and happy. Customs was great. For all of you who prayed, thank you. We felt yor prayers carpet the way into Cuba for us. We went through the first stage of Customs, the one where we don´t have our bags yet, and Dallas and Nathan were stopped, but released quickly, praise
God. Then, we took our bags through and 19 of us were waved through without a look, only Darcy was stopped shortly with his bags searched but untouched. Our guide says that he has never seen that happen before, he is always troubled through customs. We serve a great God who listened to the prayers of his many saints, you have allowed God to work through you on our behalf.

Everything is going wonderfully with Nathan hitting it off immediatly with the young boys here, I am so proud of Nathan. All the girls are connecting with the ladies wuite well, with one lady complementing Maria during our worship service for her faithfulness. I cannot express to you how wonderful this trip is already. We started tired but God has given us strength to overcome everything thrown at us. We are being fed very well and nobody is having any adverse reactions so far. Continue to pray for health, it is working. Pray also for the heat, we are a bunch of sweaty Canadians.

Connie is really fitting well into her motherly role here and looking after us all. Andrew is connecting well with the guys, Dave is connecting well with the pastors, Jen is working well with her small group, and I am enjoying seeing such wonderful young adults working for God´s glory here.

All of your children are doing so good here, you should all be very proud. Lindsey and Hillary shared their testimonies in the service and did very well. Caleb and Jason are already hitting some great volleyballs and connecting with the sports kids. Lorelle is loving the food and is fitting in wonderfully with her dark complexion and happy attitude. Kassy´s smile has lifted the spirits
of us all. Bethany is really turning out to be a very mature and caring young lady. Tara is such a wonderful and loving girl and is showing the people here that love. Jessie is going to be helping lead Children´s ministry tomorrow morning. Dallas is connecting with everyone the way he always does and is really working on his spanish. Jessica is connecting well with the quieter girls and is doing a great job in spreading her wings.

I think that is an update on all the kids. Sorry if I have missed anyone because I am out of time. We will try to connect a little more later. It is hard for the kids to connect as I only have a few moments on a computer at a store where I buy my time to e-mail. Continue to pray for us, God is moving in great ways and we are well taken care of.

A special hug and kiss to you Farrell and to Gavin and Abby, I miss you very much.

Gregorio

It was great to hear from him and read that things are going so well. Gavin was so excited that the 'agents' (customs agents) didn't take any stuff away from Daddy, just like he prayed. :)

P.S. I will be in Edmonton this coming week but will still be checking my email and phone messages, so when I hear more from Greg I will still post here.