Road Trip

Here we go on our

Road Trip

How Did You Spend Earth Hour?

Earth Hour was a big hit at our house. The little ones were already fast asleep which allowed candles to be scattered about the carpet. E&E and I played clue by "fire" light.

They has so much fun that they asked if we could have earth hour every night.

It was quiet and slow and peaceful and...fun.

There was such a limit to what we could do and the need to share candle light kept us all close.

I am glad for the global inspiration. We will do it again soon.

Little Miss M and her Big Day

 

Here is Little Miss Margaret all ready for her first day of school.
She goes to an amazing preschool called Montessori World. If anyone is looking for a great preschool in Vancouver, I highly recommend it!

It is a very interesting thing to watch her embark on this new experience; it is the first time she is doing something without the buffer of at least on of her siblings. This school is all her own and no one else in the family is sharing her experience. She loves painting with pink paint and she told me today that there is a boy in her class named "Handsome". I am not sure whether that is his given name or how Margaret is describing him!

I now have all four children in school. It is quite a milestone in the RB household. It is also why I have time to blog today. I actually have a day off work and 2 hours without children...this has never happened before :)

Zirkus

This is where everyone should be Friday night! If there is any possible way to get to Vancouver on Friday...DO IT!
It is going to be an amazing concert.
So whose in?

Vancouver

Beach Service Collage

Thought for the Day

Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that is in him: because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement.
~St. John of Kronstadt

Doing it Right the First Time Everytime

Do you know CPR?
You are much more likely to be called on to perform CPR on a family member than a stranger. This life saving technique should be learned by everyone in you home--even the kids!
Wonderful things can happen when CPR performed. Always dial 9-1-1 as soon as someone collapses and then start CPR. If you forget what to do or don't know your friendly neighbourhood Emergency Dispatcher will guide you through it.
What story do you think this picture tells? Think about it for a moment.....
Now check it out.

I'm Back

I have been very neglectful of this blog. My life has gotten in the way.
Family and work are great--and I think they may have melded into one...
I have been reading a lot of "7 Habits", "How to get to Yes" "Fierce Conversations" type liturature at the moment--that and "Statistics for Dummies"--in an effort to make some positive changes at work. Well I think someone is getting the message.
This morning my 3 year old came up to me with a blanket framing her face and said,
"Mom, I am sure you will agree that I look like Red Riding Hood"?!?!?!
Now if only the employees would pick it up that quick!

“We don’t see things as they are;
We see things as we are.”

Anais Nin

St Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church

Please pray for St Mary's in Lynnwood, Washington. This fire has caused a substantial amount of damage to their church--much of it in the altar.
The copper on the dome caused a great deal of trouble for the firefighters and they had to pry it off before they could reach the blaze.

Transcending borders and religions and families and life experiences....

First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.

--Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

43 Things

My wonderful friend in South Carolina introduced me to this website. It really go me thinking about life, the universe and everything--which makes me wonder why this website is 43 and not 42--anyway, I find it fascinating.

Ancient Waters

Pictures

Liturgical Pictures

The Great Blessing of the Waters January 2007

Lamps at Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver, BC

Liturgy at St Nina's

Oh Gladsome Light

The Priest and the Censer

Wedding Finery

Just another Wednesday Afternoon

This is what happens when you spend 5 hours in a minivan. These two are celebrating their freedom after making the trek down from Penticton. They had a lovely time running like crazed chickens all over their grandparent's house for the last 3 days. Please note that even though the TV is on in the background, there is also a wonderful ABC poster above the fire place that Esme had the little ones colour and glue onto cardboard. I may not be teaching my kids anything, but Esme was a born educator!
I managed to survived spending 3 days with my four children at my in-law's home sans husband. I got to see him for one whole hour today before he went off to work. I will get to see him for a whole 1/2 an hour tomorrow when he comes home from work and before I go to work. That is not my favourite part of the day.
Elijah played some of the best hockey of this year at the Penticton Atom division Invitational Hockey Tournament. His team lost terribly, but Eli made some spectacular plays; I am more pleased with the fact that he played hard despite his team's performance than I would have been if they had won the tourney.
Go Venom!

Celtic Celebration

This Saturday evening Esmé's Choir, The Vancouver Children's Choir is performing at Christ Church Cathedral. They are going to be performing with Pandora's Vox

It is sure to be a magical evening of beautifully lilting Celtic songs.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door.

Come out and support this amazing choir and let the music make your heart soar.