Breezy Point

 Breezy Point has been a wonderful family break from the every day...

The balcony off our bedroom drew the boys on the very first morning.  We were staying at the Eagle's Nest condos in Breezy Point. 

The nice thing about travelling thru RCI is that they often have things planned that we can take part in wherever we go.  There were crafts, rootbeer floats, bingo, and a tour of the original log house with a tunnel leading under the lake a mile out to an island where the owner could boat in booze during prohibition and have it carted under the lake into his basement.  There were 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms in the old cabin - built in the 20's with the latest electricity and plumbing...

 

We picked up a GPS at Cabella's in Grand Forks and tried our hand at geo-caching.  What a fun thing to do with the family - even better than just going for a hike, since we are on a treasure hunt.  As we hunted, we came across a tree pecked full of holes by a woodpecker, and a small nest built low to the ground.

Within the massive resort there are 2 indoor pools and a couple playgrounds.  There are also fantastic golf courses - or so we're told.  We don't golf, but since the season doesn't open for a couple more days, and our condo backed onto one of the courses, the boys found playing out on the empty greens a lot of fun.  Each afternoon they became ninjas of some sort and claimed portions of land for their personal victories.



The legend of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox is alive and well here.  We found his fishing bobber atop the water tower in Pequot Lakes nearby.  There's a Paul Bunyan paved trail for bikers and the like through the lake area.  We also found his foot prints, and the old fire tower that he left behind.  Dean and the boys thought it would be fun to climb it - I couldn't even watch. 

On our last day we spent a bit more time in the pool, and drove out to Pine River to do some riding.  I was so proud of our kids - Kaden and Carson had never been on a trail ride.  Kaden rode his horse by himself for the whole hour.  He mumbled about the horse's pokey pace, and clapped his boots against the horses sides repeatedly, but old Appache just plodded along -almost took Kaden out by cutting too close to a tree. Kaden just yelled, "Hey!  What do you think you're doing?  Get over where you belong!"  I so enjoyed his confidence on the big beast.

Kaden's confidence on the horse may have been helped along by a "coincidence".  On the ranch yard there were several really large dogs.  A black rottweiler had Kaden quite afraid.  As he slowly approached Appache to mount up, the rottie ran over to see Kaden.  "Get me up there!"  Kaden yelled at me and I boosted him up onto the horse.  He felt quite safe on top.

Carson's pony had a lead attached to the front horse, and he just bounced along quite happily.  When we all broke out into a trot he told the lead lady quite firmly that that shouldn't happen again.  Of course Madison and Adrian had major giggles from behind as they watched poor Carson bop all over the back of poor Lecter.

Adrian rode Tritan, and Madison had Shy.  They felt confident to exercise some of their training.  They really did do well - until I was told I could lead them at a faster pace.  My Domingo was very obedient, but the other two and Dean's horse took off at a run.  The kids bravado took a backseat after that.

Tomorrow it's back to schedules and responsibilities.  We've eaten 14 meals in a row together this week - as well as everything else.  There's been a lot of laughter - and that's as it should be, since that's the glue that holds us together.

And if the drive home is anything like the drive down, I sure hope it isn't raining again - our Carson has a real need to pee on the side of the road every couple hours.  Since I'm on the "safe" passenger  / ditch side of the vehicle, that little duty always falls to me. 

Just the Way you Are

After all the birthday celebrations were over, my Kaden touched my heart... again...

The Saturday before Kaden's birthday the boys' woke us up at 7:30 in the morning saying we were sleeping forever so they had all grown facial hair waiting for us to make a pancake breakfast.

They had found some stick-on moustaches... (LONG story!)

The morning of Kaden's birthday should have been another pancake or bacon & egg breakfast (Dean's love for breakfast has taken on monstrous proportions in his children), but the "cupboards were bare", so Dean and Kaden got up early and went out for breakfast.  Then he opened up one of his presents - Wii games.

Mama came with a present from her and us - the coveted Lego Bounty Hunter.  She stayed for a homemade cheese pizza dinner (Kaden's favorite).

12 children, including Kaden descended on Scotia Drive for hotdogs and chips.

And gifts...

      

And cake...

 

Finally it was time for Kaden's plans of glo-bowling to come true...

We ended the evening with a blue slushie and a trip with Papa for icecream at McDonald's.  The goal was to make sure Kaden felt special.  My sensitive boy blew me away as we drove home. 

"I'm sorry I wanted so many kids.  I'm sorry that cost you a lot of money."

How can you possibly explain to an 8 year old that they are worth far more than a glo-bowling party -

That I would do whatever I had to do let him know he's special...

Where does this strange maturity come from, that let's him see into the adult world of finances?  And care enough to apologize for his birthday party expenses? 

Anyone with more than one child can attest to the amazing differences kids from the same 2 parents can exhibit.  Kaden is definitely one of a kind.

Kaden finds some things harder than other kids.  He struggles with perfectionism, and interprets all of his senses more intensely than reality would demand.  In a word, Kaden is very AWARE of his surroundings.

Things that are truly Kaden-esque:
He is bothered by the SMELL of the patio chairs at our vacation site.
He buries his face and cries when he hears about someone that has been hurt.
He tells all of his birthday guests to stop talking because it's driving him crazy.
He stood backwards with his hands over his ears for his first few Christmas concerts.
He still thinks he's small enough to fit on my lap.
He can tell from the basement if I'm cutting an onion upstairs.
He called the oven vent fan a "storm" by the time he was 3.
He finds the bright/busy/loud aspect of Disneyland very annoying.
and a million other things that are "so Kaden" and they make me smile... with a bit of an ache.

Funny how, no matter what title an expert may give my child, no matter if it should ever be called a "syndrome", a "diagnosis", or a "disability", these very quirks are the things that make him so amazingly unique and infinitely valuable.


Is that how God sees all of us?  All the things our world tells us are "wrong", "below average", or "odd" - are these the things that endear us to Father-Creator?

All I want my son to know is "I love you just the way you are."

Waiting expectantly...

Sometimes God asks us to step out in ways that make our hearts pound...  Sometimes He asks us to be obedient and trust Him blindly...

For years Dean and I have agreed back and forth that if God ever asked us to open up our home to someone, we would definitely do it.  But we both thought that if that's what God wanted, He would bring it about.  It would just happen naturally, and we would not resist the flow of the Spirit.  A little apathetic, I know - but I comforted myself with the idea that I was willing to be obedient, should God ever make an obvious request of me.

When I was on maternity leave with Carson 6 years ago, I would lay on the sofa for a rest each afternoon, and each day at 2:30 a commercial would come on t.v. asking families to take in children from Nova Scotia who needed homes.  That heavy, aching, knowing feeling would fill me - but I was very pregnant, and not in a position to do anything...

But the conviction never left...  It went underground for a while (but I think it was just buried by the busy-ness of life after a fourth child - 2 already in school, one a toddler, and me trying to go back to work...). 

A couple years ago a girlfriend and I were talking - and she's such a risk-taker compared to me.  She mentioned wanting to adopt a child some day.   I just continued to listen to her dream, and asked as many questions as I could.  She showed me several websites from the States (we are both married to Americans) and the photolistings available through the U.S. agencies were extensive.  A new ache, a new knowing, a new "wail" began to build in me.

Every day that I'd turn on my itunes or a worship cd or my youtube music list, Hillsong's "SOLUTION" seemed to be playing, and the opening lines convicted me more deeply each time:

"It is not a human right to stare not fight, while broken nations grieve.

Open up our eyes so blind that we might find, the mercy for the need."

GOD, UNLIKE US DOES NOT VIEW THE 143 MILLION ORPHANS IN THE WORLD THE SAME WAY WE DO. HE DOES NOT SEE THEM AS ORPHANS, BUT INSTEAD HE SEES THEM AS HIS KIDS, AND HE IS HOPING THAT SOME OF HIS OTHER KIDS WOULD STEP UP AND JUST SIMPLY TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY ... THEIR FAMILY.

I approached Dean with the idea - but he's always been the one of us to say he wished we'd had at least one more baby (I was a barn with my last baby, and not willing to go that route again) - so I was surprised at how long he took to mull this over before he decided. 

I should have known - that's the way Dean works.  He will look at every angle - every option - every detail, because he wants to make the best decision possible.  That's fine when he's picking out a new lawnmower - but it was rather hard for me when I'd already given my heart away to 17 different children on Rainbowkids.com!

Dean threw his hat into the ring whole-heartedly, and I've loved watching this spiritual warrior take on a new mission of protection and prayerful guarding of a new little charge.

We will be bringing home our little (under 3 years of age) daughter from China - hopefully by the end of the year (any one who's done this knows that timelines are VERY flexible!).  We are more than excited, and knowing she's already born makes us feel the reality of Father caring for her while we can't.

Have we thought of things that could go wrong?  Of course.  Have people brought up every story they can remember of adoptions gone bad?  Pretty much.  What's our solid ground - our firm foundation?  There are over 300 verses in God's Word that tell us to care for the widow, the orphans and the poor.  Waiting for God to drop a basket on our doorstep was lidocaine for my conscience - a numbing of the calling God has been forming in my heart for years. 

A Godly and amazing woman sent this poem to me when she heard about our choice.  It's not the first time her mouth has been used by God to deliver a new perspective or moment of truth to me. 

I almost let fear over take my heart and not step forward for these kids.

I almost let the voice of others become my voice of reason.

I almost let my selfish ambition and dreams destroy this life.

I almost listened when some people called us crazy (to our faces) and wanted to become sane again.

I almost let the world's ideal become my reality.

I almost cowed from the courage inside placed by a King mightier than ever.

I almost chased a life not set out for me, to be ''liked'' again.

I almost believed it when I was told I was being selfish.

I almost MISSED OUT on this. I ALMOST MISSED OUT ON THIS!

Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.
For now we are waiting expectantly...



San Diego in March

We had a fantastic time in San Diego.  Of all the times we've travelled down to Cali, this was the first time without kids in 13 years.  Instead of the typical tourist-type things to do down south, we headed to a conference, and slipped in a few fun things as well.  Two of our "newer" hot spots were a whale-watching cruise 12 miles out to sea from the San Diego harbor, as well as an afternoon in Old Town San Diego with all its Spanish/Mexican flavor.

We stopped for fresh fish at the Bay Cafe right on the water, and then climbed aboard the Lord Hornblower:

Dean was dreading the time away on the water - and I told him I was sure that when I booked it I had seen it was an hour and a half long.  As the horn blew and the boat slowly moved out to sea, the captain informed us that we had purchased tickets for the 3.5 hour tour - not the 1 hour harbor cruise.  Dean groaned, but I was kind of excited - there's certainly nothing similar to this in southern Manitoba!

 This was the first day since the tsnumani following the earth quake in Japan, that boats were able to get back out on the water.  Millions of dollars worth of damage had occurred along the western coast of the U.S. San Diego harbor is protected by a very large out cropping of land that moves out from the mainland and swings down southward.  It's called Point Loma.  Within the protective arm of Point Loma, the waters were quite calm.  The water traffic was crazy busy - all the privately owned crafts were getting back out to sea, and the military base was anxious to get their ships back out to the open waters as well.

These mine-sweepers are built w/o any metal - carbon and fiber-glass only.  There was also a small boat with rubber rims around it and a little tent-type thing in the back.  As it went by we saw a dolphin in the little tent.  The captain told us that these boats carried dolphins and their trainers out to sea - and they were taught how to detect mines. 

The bottom and middle level of our boat had bars and tables - serving pizza, hotdogs, hot pretzels and other snacks.

We also got to see a military submarine heading out to sea - lowering into the water, and then doing maneuvers off in the distance with the periscope peeking up and down. As we headed back into the other side of the harbor there was a submarine machine-shop of sorts (Point Loma in behind it).

There had been beluga whales spotted on the day before the Japan earthquake.  This was noted as very strange - never seen before along this coast.  Then, the grey whales - which are seen on a daily basis at this time of year, were no where to be found when we went out.  We were offered free tickets to come back - but Dean just put his head in his hands and groaned. 
I tried to get him excited about the hundreds of dolphins that jumped through the waters as we sailed by - he was more interested in remaining as still as possible... See, the original boat that is used for these longer tours out to sea was in for repairs (we didn't know this before we left shore), and that larger boat even has stabilizers - we had NO SUCH SUPPORTS! 

The captain was quick to point out the crazy weird currents racing through the waters - an after effect of the tsunami / earthquake fiasco.  We were tossed back and forth a fair bit!

I tried to get Dean interested in all the California sea lions with their new babies on the fresh-bait docks... to no avail!

I thought for sure the huge re-fueling ship being tugged out to sea would interest him, or the massive freight-carrier with 5000 Japanese cars bound for the San Diego dealerships... nothing could distract Dean from his whirling head and tilting stomach...

Finally I got a little frustrated and said, "I've done a lot of things for you, Dean!  I'm sorry you don't feel good, but I really wanted to see all this, and I've done things you asked me to when I didn't want to.  Just think of all those roller-coasters I've gone on and I was so freaked out - but I did it - for you!"

He groaned / growled with with his head still in his hands, "I'm not afraid!  I wish I was afraid - I'd rather be freaked out..."  And I couldn't stop giggling at him for 3 days whenever I thought about it:)
In the end he tried really hard to be a good sport, and got a couple pix of us together...

MUCH more to Dean's liking was Old Town San Diego - it was wonderful!  All the little shops and adobe buildings and tile roofs, and unique plantlife... 

Fountains in courtyards, and outdoor patios with open fires to warm all the diners in the evenings. 

Hanging lanterns and jewelry shops with semi-precious stones found in the area are interspersed with museums and historical buildings. 


The highlight of the trip (besides getting in a bit of time with Dean's family again) was dinner one night at an authentic Mexican restaurant in Old Town.  We waited almost an hour to get in, but it was worth it - and we got to watch ladies hand-making corn and flour tortillas on a large flat grill.  Boy were they delicious when it was our turn to eat!  That, the fresh salsa, and the two Spanish guys who seranaded us with "Amore" on guitars, made for a fantastic night!