Ladies' Retreat Theme: Pic #7

It's maybe a little hard to see in this photo, but a number of ladies are untangling a mess of yarn there in the center. To me, this scene is symbolic of what happens at Ladies' Retreat. Life gives us tangles sometimes, and we can get frustrated and discouraged over the knotty situations. There's nothing like being able to bring the whole confusing jumble to a circle of trusted friends and get some help with hands-on sorting out; to gather courage to go on with clarity of purpose. 

Ladies' Retreat Theme: Pic #6

The workshops offered on Saturday afternoon were a new and wonderful addition to the Retreat weekend. An artsy sister pair taught a workshop on watercolor painting, entitled "Worship With My Creativity" and a word-lover mom taught the one called "Worship With My Mind", in which she explained how to effectively study a passage of scripture. I was so grateful that these two workshops were available at different times, so those ladies - like me - who wanted to, could attend both. (The painting pictured above is not mine; I don't know whose it is, but I think it's beautiful.)

Ladies' Retreat Theme: Pic #5

Here's a pic of the youngest lady at Retreat 2018. The little munchkin was the only baby there this year which is surprising when you consider the amount of moms who attend. (There's a bunch of great dads out there, is what I think.) I just loved this child's sweet smile and waking-up expressions, not to mention that darling bedhead feature!

Ladies' Retreat Theme: Pic #4

A new feature this year at Ladies' Retreat was a Prayer Mosaic. The planning committee ladies set up a tasteful, meaningful display of different invitations to prayer at tables in a room off the beaten path. For instance, one table held a thanksgiving tree, on which we could hang little papers with things we are thankful for written on them. On another table was a rope we could tie in knots, depicting the worries we wrestle with, along with an appeal to untie the knots one by one as we surrender control of these worries to Christ. This photo shows one of my dear friends at the global needs prayer table. 

Ladies' Retreat Theme: Pic #3

Another important part of the weekend is the FOOD. Over the years we have had our meals supplied by various methods, but whether our very own caterer looked after them or groups of Grace ladies planned, cooked and served them, we've never gone away from Retreat hungry. (It also may or may not have anything to do with the bountiful snack selection...) This year the Sunday morning breakfast included a most delightful blend of fresh berries to accompany yogurt or cold cereal. 

Ladies' Retreat Theme: Pic #2

During the inspirational time on Saturday, two of the ladies did a skit called "The King's Daughters". They portrayed our daily devotional time with God as accepting an invitation to meet with the King. The two-person skit was well done, and the point well made; I have thought about its challenging message numerous times since.

Week #48 Theme: Ladies' Retreat

Last weekend I attended an annual event for my "sisters" from Grace Church: The Ladies' Retreat. I always anticipate it for weeks ahead, and always delight in it greatly the weekend of. On my blog this week, I will post some pics highlighting various aspects of the Retreat 2018. Today's photo shows a foursome concentrating on some version or other of dominoes. Playing games is a prominent part of the weekend. Some ladies enjoy games that have been around for a long time; ones that show up at Retreat year after year. Others go for word games of any kind, while some ladies head toward the strategy-type games. (the games whose equipment takes up considerable yardage on the table and whose time span easily takes up considerable numerals on the clock) And then there's the exciting group games played with a large group of excitable-under-pressure women sitting in a circle in the lounge. I have lovely memories of all of the above, at some point over the years.

Green Theme: Pic #7

What an amazing palette of greens one encounters at The Butchart Gardens! Last summer, we enjoyed a visit to this spectacular quarry-turned-garden while we were in Victoria, B.C. Now this winter, when we need a little reviving, we can recall the beauty of the place via photo tour. 

Green Theme: Pic #6

Take your pick of beans: green or jelly. We had a beany morning at my twin sis's place during our Out West holidays last summer. Our first pick was green beans and then the subsequent picks were jelly beans to add some fun to preparing the first pick for canning. 

GreenTheme: Pic #5

The dainty-curved gossamer ends of these green seed pods and the dancing circles of light around them calls me to name this a fairy photo. Sometimes the magic is right in my own flowerbed. 

Green Theme: Pic #4

The greens and blues of western mountain scenery enhanced our enjoyment of a hiking day last summer. 

Green Theme: Pic #3

Around this time last year, we were in a very green part of the world - Trinidad and Tobago. Every day, I drank in the beautiful scenery surrounding us, from the tropical foliage that grew in the wild to the lush potted plants that gardeners arranged artistically. It seemed that even a non-green thumbist could have been successful in raising plants there. Just stick a seed or seedling in some dirt, set it outside, and bloom! there's your gorgeous greenery.

Green Theme: Pic #2

Yesterday I indicated that the color of hope is green. Then, upon seeing this fruit on the grocery store shelves, I wasn't so sure. Maybe yellow is more like it. Can I hope that these bananas will actually turn from hope to hope?

Week #47 Theme: Green

This week, in the middle of cold and barren and grey, I have decided to "go green" with my blog pics. In this first photo, you can see the brilliant grassy slopes of Spring that dazzled us in Plymouth, Massachusetts while we toured that area on a trip out east a few years ago. Green must be the color of hope!

Birds Theme: Pic #7

If this was a youngster bird, its mom or pop would probably chirp, "Don't sing with your beak full." (I don't think he could if he tried.)

Birds Theme: Pic #6

The geese and the gulls had the beach to themselves, I guess, on a sunny day last Fall. Ken and I spotted these feathered flocks on the shore of Lake Erie when we paused our Vienna orchards tour and drove to Port Burwell for lunch.

Birds Theme: Pic #5

A couple of springs ago, I enjoyed watching this Mrs. Robin do her work in the nest while I did mine in the flowerbed below her. She seemed to fix her soft and motherly eye on me, which gave me a sort of companion-y feeling. 

Birds Theme: Pic #4

This golden rooster perches atop a church just outside the walls of Jerusalem. The building, called The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (cock's crow), commemorates the biblical Peter's triple denial of Jesus, his repentance, and his reconciliation with Christ after the Resurrection. This place is also believed to be the location of the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas. It was another site we visited while on our Israel Tour that helped to make the Bible stories come alive. 

Birds Theme: Pic #3

This protective mama nests in approximately the same area every spring. Last year, soon after I took this photo of her on her nest, giving me the wary eyeball, something tragic happened to the clutch of eggs. It appeared to me that some wild creature had helped itself to dinner one night. I hope to see the bird parent pair back at our pond in a few months, attempting to raise another brood. And here's to their success!

Birds Theme: Pic #2

This little sparrow sitting on an orchard post and singing in the rain last summer reminds me of a fun song I learned in school as a 5th-grader. "If I were a little bird, happy would I be...tee-mee eye tee-mee um-a-tum, tee-mee um-a-tee...I'd be a merry bird - say, wouldn't you?"

Week #46 Theme: Birds

Mourning Doves are a common sight around here this time of year. Sometimes, if they sit in one spot too long, they get a light dusting of snow - like this bird. I shiver when I think of being in his feathers. Then again, I guess it wouldn't matter, if I had myself a built-in downy parka like that to fluff up around me.

Snow Theme: Pic #7

I have heard of a hole in the heart, but I have to conclude that this a heart in the hole instead. Could one also describe this phenomenon, a natural snow formation on our deck railing in recent days, as (w)hole-hearted decoration? 

Snow Theme: Pic #6

Last year during Christmas baking season, the weather was just right for making a whole community of cheerful snowmen. They hung out in their natural habitat - the freezer - until time to join the cookie plate smorgasbord and ultimately meet their end as meringue-y goodness melting in our mouths.

Snow Theme: Pic #5

Pull up a chair and sit down a spell. (It snow joke!)

Snow Theme: Pic #4

It's so exciting when the snows of winter come and cover up the drabness and muddiness of the inbetweenness of seasons. So much more is the love and forgiveness of my Saviour on my uncleanness: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18

Snow Theme: Pic #3

Sometimes living in the land of snow means you grow up with memories of getting stuck and needing to push vehicles through the deep stuff. It's just part of the territory.

Snow Theme: Pic #2

It would be interesting to hear what first comes to your mind when you think of describing words for a snow scene like this. My first words were: hushed, serene, and intimate.

Week #45 Theme: Snow

Although this pic was taken 2 years ago, I'm using it as the first post for this week's theme because it is one of my favorite snow scenes. We stayed with my bro Eric & Julia's family for a few nights during our Christmas visit with my family that year, and one morning we woke up to a Wisconsin winter treat: fresh fluffy snowfall over everything. Among many other photos I took that morning, I captured this beauty in a corner of Eric's yard.

Christmas Theme: Pic #7

Christmas songs are an eclectic lot. Maybe a bit like couples. If so, these two - my "other mom and dad" - are a carol as homey and familiar as Joy to the World or Silent Night. Solid and chock full of memories accumulated from years of use. Truth sung so many times you could glide over the words and miss the meaning. Until you pause and really take notice, lingering over the deeper meaning of the phrases, tracing the ups and downs of the music notes, savoring the beauty (in spite of imperfect voices) that sounds from all that harmonizing. 

Christmas Theme: Pic #6

One of my favorite Christmas customs is gathering with the favorite people in my life. This year our little family gathering included Day One and Day Two with an Overnight in between. This pic was taken soon after the traditional book gift exchange on Day One and I think it shows how read-y the Kenites are. Ready, yes, (ready for fun family times, for sure) but also very read-y as in reading-oriented. 

Christmas Theme: Pic #5

At Christmas time, there are gifts. Gifts from the students to the teacher. Gifts from the teacher to the students. This year teacher Miss Kerra set out to make cakepops for the students. Some considerable time and effort (and a few unmet expectations) later, there were some dear little snowmen to present. The recipients were thrilled, never minding the imperfect details.

Speaking of gifts, we have a large and wonderful present handed to us today: 2018. Let us be amazed and give thanks. Happy New Year, everyone!