Congratulations my girl!

Dear Ginny,

You our middle child are a different child entirely.  You are compassionate, determined and joyful.  You have spunk that keeps us laughing.  I love your laugh and how you love to hang out with us.   As I anticipate you walking across that stage next weekend I am intrigued.  What intrigues me the most  about you is your strength.  I am not talking your physical strength but your ability to stand strong in your faith, your morals and your values.  Today as I was writing something down in my day-timer I noticed the scripture

SHE IS Strong PROVERBS 31:25

I looked up the verse and I immediately thought of you.

She is clothed with STRENGTH and DIGNITY SHE laughs without fear of the FUTURE 

Here we are, within 3 1/2  months you will have graduated, tried out for Edmonton Gold and we will have gone on a family trip to Alabama, a missions trip to N. Africa and we will have sent you off to college.  Somewhere in there you would have played some more rugby as well.  There are moments where we joke about me needing to breathe into a paper bag.  My heart does a squeezing thing on a regular basis lately.  What are you doing to me? :D

Putting my trust in God is something that I ultimately struggle with.  Yet I look at you and and you are are OVER THE MOON excited about all of it.  "This is the best time of my life."  Is something that you have said over and over again. It sure is baby girl. That is what I love about you.  You don't think about the "what if's".  You live in the moment, enjoying every second of life.  You aren't prideful, or in your face about any of it.  Your excitement radiates from you.  How you diligently pray for others quietly, without fear, shows me that you will make a wonderful friend, wife and mommy some day.  You are determined in all that you do yet not much can disappoint you when things don't work out the way they are planned.  You are everything a parent dreams of in their daughter.  

I know that soon I will have to let you go.  Soon is sooner than I anticipated.  God has such exciting plans for you though and I can't intervene in them only because I want you to stay little forever.  I am excited to see where this world will take you.  Always remember to stay true to yourself.  Believe that your heavenly Father is in control and he is ultimately your best friend.  You can turn to him for anything, at any moment.  Never forget that.  He may not always seem close but stay true to Him through the tough and the easy.

Wherever your journey in life may take you

I pray that you'll always be safe.

Enjoy the ride and never forget

your way back home.

I'm always here for you.

               
                                                                                                                                       love mom 

It's Rugby time again! Grade 11 JMHS

She’s flying high. She got her fav #14 jersey and she’s playing her fav position - wing! Rugby Tournament on Friday!

April 17, 2016 - Looking Back "She's Back!"

She's here! She's RED and she's all grown up. She had such a great time and hasn't stopped chattering. What a great experience. 
Malakai - "Ginny!!!! Come give me a hug. Let me see your beautiful face. I missed you and love you soooo much!!" This warms my heart. 

April 14, 2016 - Looking Back "Grade 9 Sailing Trip for Ginny

Just dropped this Gem off at the airport. 1st flight alone, and 4 days of sailing adventures ahead.

Laughter is the best medicine

Last April our world took a slight tweak when we discovered that our daughter had wheat, dairy, and egg sensitivities.  What an adjustment!! It has changed our "on the run" lifestyle quite significantly.  We don't eat out as much anymore, and when we do it is at far more costly restaurants that cater to dietary needs.  We are all learning  to check labels constantly though and her poor daddy has occasionally "poisoned" her as she would say.  She has missed chocolates, and sweets the most, along with cheese.  She was a true cheese girl.  When she was first diagnosed my husband joked about it and said "G ... I have a new nick name for you.  From now on, you will always me my Wheatard."  She laughed and joined in.  "Don't forget dad, I am also a Dart!"  That is just like us ... We often laugh our way through a lot of difficulties and sorrows.  It's not like we don't take life serious.  It's because life is TOO serious.  Laughter helps us to keep going.  In this house someone is always playing a prank, teasing, and loving through laughter.  Our meal time is often filled with humour.  The interesting part ... I take after my Dad.  I love to laugh, and I will admit, I can crack a good joke  but too much silliness tends to irritate me.  My husband is the exact opposite.  He LOVES to joke, laugh and be silly.  It balances our family well.  I admit, there are times where I give him the look, or announce "enough" when I have had just that.  At times it's like having 4 kids.  But there are also times when he teases me and says "Oh Mrs. Fun police is in the house."  That is my cue to join in and have fun.  All of this came to mind when sweet G announced that at work last night she was given 3 candy canes.  She was so excited to share with her daddy and myself.  She loves to give.  When she handed me mine I looked at her in shock and said ... "G!  You can't have candy canes.  They have wheat in them."  Her look was horror.  "No they don't" She exclaimed.  "It's pure sugar!"  I continued on with a straight face and a look of concern.  "Awe hun, how many have you had?" I asked.  The look on her face told me she had fallen for it and she was concerned.  "None!" She said.  "But I really wanted one."  Poor girl!  I couldn't take it any further.  I began to laugh as I announced that indeed she was allowed to have a simple candy cane.  She burst out into a laughter of relief and hugged me. You may think it was mean of me but it was all in fun and we had a good laugh.

Proverbs 15:15
A miserable heart means a miserable life;
A cheerful heart fills the day with song.