Summer 2008

It was two years ago on July 1 that we moved from Canada to our home here in Tennessee!! Wow that time has flown by.

On July 1 this year we were back in Canada child sitting, they are not babies any more, Jake and Heather's 4. We kept them busy, they kept us on our toes. We visited Niagara on the Lake and got a Christmas ornament with Mercy's name on it and had lunch and a play in the Park.

We visited the July 1st fire works down at The Falls, by driving back and forth along the river, no place to park. The 3 older kids and grandpa went go carting and Daisy and I played mini golf (where is that 16th hole Daisy!). We spent an amazing day at Marineland - kids went on lots of rides; we all got splashed by killer whales and 5 of us petted Belugha whales. We went to multiple soccer games and practices (where did your team go Clara?).

We visited the Butterfly conservatory. There sure were a lot more butterflies there than when we visited years ago. I was disgusted with the little boy who picked up an injured butterfly and finished him off by crushing him in his hands. His parents nor he could understand me when I asked him to stop.

While in Ontario we attended our friend Bill's retirement party. There we visited with friends and got caught up on many lives. We also visited our friend Richard in Oshawa who was recovering from surgery in the hospital.

Sadly Grandpa had to fly back home to work, but happily I went up to Orillia to visit with Rich and Christine and 2 grand kids. Here we played monopoly, swam in their pool, went for long walks along lake Couchiching (spelling ?), enjoyed orchestra on the lake and visited Stephen Leacock's home on Brewery Bay. It is a lovely old home, with many rooms with dark wood tongue in groove panelling. Most rooms are lined with books. In the basement there was a wine cellar of his family line of wine and a huge pool table we figured 12 x 6!!

We were caught in this home during a pretty descent thunder storm, sort of added to the ambiance.

We brought Cecelia out of camp for a dinner at Webber's, soccer games and her favourite Mint Chip ice cream. Then a quick drive back into the bush for 9 PM.

Grandpa sure enjoyed his time, doing jobs around Jake's house and spending time with the grand kids. He enjoyed getting to see each child's personality and spending one on one time with Wilson talking about Wilson's school and his hopes for a career. I gave the girls my "hero" talk, every situation needs a hero - we all need to step up at times, and give in for others to have their way. Who will be a hero today in your family?

I enjoyed playing monopoly with Haley at Rich's. She explained the game to me as if I hadn't ever played it - she has an amazing concept of the game for a 7 year old. She and I also worked on her learning the books of the New Testament.

I made my way home through Terminal One out of Toronto on Air Canada Jazz. I had to sit in the very back row of the plane. I thought I booked closer to the front - I would have never chosen to sit there, right beside the 'lavatory'! Oh well, it was fine. Glad to be home, even though I have a pretty bad cold - yuck.

I continue to think of Tennessee as home now and am trying to talk the kids into moving here, with no luck. It was so cute to hear Haley talk in her southern drawl to me!! So she would fit right in. I do appreciate this beautiful State. Wow, I have come a LONG ways.

Love to ya'll
babs