Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, Look at the view from our balcony this morning. Isn't it pretty? Sadly, most of it was gone by lunch. Oh well, maybe next time it will stay a bit longer.

Dear Diary, I joined the group of ladies who give thanks every Thursday because I don't want to wait until Thanksgiving each year to give thanks. This weeks theme is life. In my life give thanks everyday for: 1. Colin and Isla and the joy and love they bring everyday into our family life. 2. for knowing that I am heard each time I pray and never being alone in both my earthly and spiritual life.

Dear Diary, We've had an exciting few days. OK, maybe not extraordinarily exciting but more exciting than usual. First off, a bit of bad news. On Saturday we learned that our tenants in our house in Larne are leaving in 60 days. That is a big concern because as of January we will be responsible for rent here in Colorado and our mortgage on the house. That is alot of financial responsibility and we are quite anxious to either rent it out again or preferrably sell it. Which leads me to the second bit of news. On Tuesday morning we received an email from our agent in Larne that one of the tenants wants to buy the house but the offer was VERY low. We know the housing market is less than stellar at the moment but honestly, the offer was almost insulting. We counter offered back but at this moment we have yet to hear back. I'm assuming it's not good news but I am trying to remain optimistic and patient. Please pray for me, patience does not come easily! The plan at the

Dear Diary, Happy Birthday George! We wish you God's continued blessings throughout the next year and in years to come. Love from us, Heather, Colin & Isla George is my oldest, much older, bro. I'm not such a good little sister 'cause last night all of a sudden it came to me, it's his birthday tomorrow! Sorry, no time to put a card in the mail but maybe I'll give you a call tonight and hope you're not on the road (he's away from home alot and has a very patient and loving wife, Loretta, for putting up with it!!).

Dear Diary, Just a gentle reminder that if you have submitted your email address to receive updates to our blog, you have to activate your request before receiving the notice. If I understand the process correctly, an email should've been sent to your email address with a link. Click on the link and take it from there. Chances are you don't have the email anymore in your inbox, right? Well, no problem, just enter your email address in the box to the right and start the process over again. Also, feel free to leave us comments by clicking on the "comments" section at the bottom of each post. Don't feel obligated to leave something for every post, but if you feel the notion to do so, don't be shy, we love to read them. Isn't technology exciting?

Dear Diary, In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae , MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing,fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. The Canadian War Monument, Vimy Ridge, France I had the honour to visit this piece of Canada in France in 1999 and it was a truly moving and humbling experience. We live so many years after the Great War that it tends to just become history, something that happened in the past. However, once you see the row upon row of graves, names, ages of those who died, it becomes real. Those who say free

Dear Diary, Two posts in one day, go figure but yet here I am. This morning after church we had the monthly fellowship meal followed by the second service before arriving home mid-afternoon. We fed Isla and hoped she would go back to sleep but no success until 25 minutes ago so here I am, dinner eaten, baby sleeping and I have free time to blog. First an update on our furry girls. When we drove back to Denver, we took them with us. Pearl was good but Dixie, well, let's just say she is not a travelling type of cat. At mom and dad's they were able to go outside most of the day if they wanted too but here they can't and they're both getting bored. My poor girls sit on the door mat leading outside and just look at me to let them out. As a consolation we let them on the balcony now again throughout the day and while we can trust Pearl not to jump we can't with Dixie, she is a bit more daring. Being on the third floor doesn't mean she won't try to jump and I certa

Dear Diary, After my last post wherein I was "bragging" how Isla doesn't wake up once we put her down, she's been doing exactly that for the last two nights. Thankfully, not during the night, just the evening before she gets into a deep sleep. A funny little story about this... The other night Colin went to bed at about 10 p.m. as he was tired. I stayed up until 11ish and then as usual before I went to bed I checked on Isla. She had her head wiggled right in the corner of her crib but I didn't want to move her as she wasn't in danger of suffocating herself and she would only wake up if I did move her. I started to walk away from her crib and then I hear a wail. She was inconsolable! I tried rubbing her tummy, picking her up and even singing the "Isla, Isla" song. Nothing was working. Of course all this noise woke up Colin as our room is right across the hall. He comes in her room and does nothing, not even speaking. Isla saw him, smiled a