Twenty-One Years Ago...

Twenty-one years ago, our Austin took us from *couple* to

*family-of-three*.  He stole our hearts and wound his way into our lives.

We would never be the same.  And, we were never happier not to be.

Since he was called home to heaven nearly three years ago,

his birthday is the most significant of all the dates that need acknowledgment.

We cannot let the day pass without remembering his life and what it means to ours.

We make it a practice to remember him on this day as a family.

It feels like the right thing to do, so, it is what we do.

All our children are special.  None of them are forgotten.

Austin is no exception.    

We are amazed at all the Lord allowed us to experience

together as a family of six.  We look back with thankful hearts.

Austin was planning to become an architect.

We loved to watch as he put pencil to paper.
God had blessed him with talents that could not be taught.

He was a diligent student and persevered with his

studies even in the midst of the health challenges he faced.
His strength of character was never more evident than in those times.
But, he would have told you that the strength we saw came from the Lord. 

When I take photos of the three we have here

with us, I always miss Austin's presence with them.
It hurts my Mama heart that he is absent from our home.
He is never far from our thoughts.  His memory lives on in our hearts.

Family photos just do not feel complete.

He is missed by us all.  Excruciatingly so.

One day, however, we will be together once again.

What a precious hope we have because of our Lord!

By God's great grace, we continually fill our hearts and minds

with the reality of what lies ahead.  What is to come. 

This is not where the story ends.

So, we remember.  And, we are grateful.

We also look forward with anticipation and joy.

The Lord truly is good and does all things well.

We are seeking always to rest our hearts in Him.

With Love, Camille

Sixteen!

It seems to have happened overnight.

While I was looking the other way....

...Fraser went from a three-foot-nothing cutie pie....

...to a six-foot-one-inch young man!!

How quickly the time flies by!

(Don't we all say the same thing when it comes to our children?)

We are so very thankful for the years the Lord has graciously given us

with our third son.  We feel incredibly blessed!!

Fraser's all set for another camping excursion.
He looks happy about it, doesn't he?
Don't even ask what my thoughts are about it all.
However, I am not planning to run away like I did last time.  :)

Fraser, we are so thankful that the Lord gave us YOU!!

What a precious addition to our family you were and are.
It would just not be the same without you.

Our prayer is that you will always follow the Lord 
with all of your heart for all your days.

He alone is worthy of all your praise and dedication.

He is faithful and will never leave nor forsake you. 

Our greatest desire is that He will be the One you live for.  Always.

All our love to you, precious son.

Your Dad and Mum XOXO

The Quotidian (20. 7. 15)

Quotidian: daily, usual, or customary;

everyday; ordinary; commonplace. 

Abundant supply.

Flowers from a friend ~ Thank you SO much!  :)

Flowers from the same friend's little girl ~ Thank you, Miss R!

Family portrait on my birthday.

Birthday outing ~ cycling around Stanley Park.
(We just did the Stanley Park seawall this time.)

Some of my treasures.

Sometimes it pays to be a lady ~ note the location of the boys.

Cake and candles.

Growing old together.  :)

An attempt at preserving their beauty.

Unfortunately, they have wilted since this photo was taken.
I've read up on how to achieve better results next time.

Summer's bounty ~ from a tree that normally gives us three or four a season!!
Click here to see it in full bloom from just a few months ago.

Two shirts and one pair of pants took 45 minutes.  :)

Switching things up ~ again!

The old-new-again school room.

More organizing!

Happy Monday Y'all!

With Love, Camille

Eighteen!

Our Calvin is eighteen!

He has been so quickly morphing from the little boy

he once was into the young man he now is.

Time marches on.  And, we are thankful.

Thankful for the years we have been given

with our second son.  Thankful for his sweet and tender heart.

Thankful that his desire is to do what is right and follow

the Lord wherever He may lead.  Thankful that he belongs to Him.

At the end of the day, that is all that really matters.

We love you, Calvin.  With all our hearts.

You are precious and a gift from the Lord.

He blessed us beyond measure when He gave us you.

Happiest of birthdays!

All our Love,

Dad and Mum XOXO

**Photo credit  for Calvin's grown-up shot goes to Josiah ~
Thank you for sharing!  :)

What We Did

This past Wednesday was Austin's birthday.

He is not here to celebrate with us.  And, that's not something to celebrate.

However, we do like to mark the day.  Make it special in order to remember.

It feels strange to let the day pass by without some acknowledgement.
And, so we don't.  We can't.  There is comfort in the remembering.

Austin's first birthday after being called home to Heaven was last year.

We took the children to his grave and shopped for something special

for each of them in honour of his memory.
We went to Austin's favourite restaurant for dinner.

It was hard, but, it was good.

This year, (the second without our Austin physically here), 
we decided to do something a little different.
And, this is what we did to mark the day.

At first, we planned to just walk around the Stanley Park Seawall ~
one of our favourite things to do.  But, then I remembered a friend's suggestion
to bike it ~ all the way from Granville Island (see map above), around Stanley Park,
and back.  It was a great idea!  And, the perfect day to attempt it.

So, we (the boys) loaded all the bikes on the
back of the van, and we were off.

This was where Howie and I had our fancy date
just a couple of weeks ago.

Before the ride began ~ still feeling fresh and energetic and optimistic.
(Next year, I think I will do a little training before attempting to tackle it.)

See the row of blossoming trees in the background?
That was where we were headed for the start of our journey.

It was a beautiful day!  Emma took this shot ~ isn't it pretty?

It took two hours to complete the loop (with a few breaks here and there).

Howie and I lost the children (on purpose) for a few minutes ~
it was a little bit like a date.  :)

See the Granville Island Public Market sign (above left)?
The yellow building on the far right (on the other side of the water)
is Bridges Restaurant ~ the location of our recent fancy date.
It's near where our van was parked for this excursion ~ we were almost finished.

Howie and I think this may be the start of a new tradition
in honour of our Austin's birthday each year.

It was such a lovely day together and a wonderful gift from the Lord.
We are so thankful for the prayers of our precious family and friends.
Thank you to each one of you who have lifted us up before the Throne of Grace.

All the love and kindness shown to us has been such a great blessing.
We sensed the Lord's strength and grace with us throughout the day.
How good and gracious He is!  We so appreciate His loving care
manifested to us in tangible ways through the love of His people.

May He bless each of you abundantly!

With Love, Camille

**Photos in this post are a combination of mine and Emma's ~
thank you for sharing with me my little love.  xoxo

What We Do Have

Trying over here not to focus on what we don't have.

But, on what we do!  It's a constant battle, but, so worth the fight.

It is incredibly easy to spiral down into the have not abyss,

rather than to ascend on the wings of the blessings.

Today would have been Austin's 20th birthday.

We don't have our Austin here with us physically.  
But, we do have him!  What a wonderful thought.

He is not gone.  Just gone ahead.

Gone from our home.  But, not from our hearts.

He is still part of the fabric of our being.  Of our family.

That will never change.  Never.

Though our family photos will not include him.

Though our children will grow up and, Lord-willing,
have children of their own.

Though those children will not know their uncle.

He still will be their uncle.  And, if they know and love

the same Saviour, they will meet.  One day.

On the other side.

So, today I focus on what we do have.

Our sure foundation.  Our eternal hope.  Our heavenly home.

What a precious place to be!  What a wonderful place to rest.

Only by the grace of our Great God is it even possible.

But, because of Him it is sure.

Praising Him.  By His grace.  In His strength.
Eternity is forever.  Life here is temporary.
May we be found living for His glory until the day He calls us home.
May we willingly follow wherever He leads.

With Love, Camille

**Photos in this post were taken in 
April 2005 ~ Austin was ten.

Thirteen!

Our Emma is thirteen.  Thirteen!

Her actual birthday was on Sunday.

The festivities were enjoyed over the span of a few days.

She had her cake and opened gifts on Sunday evening.

Precious memories.

Never a dull moment with these three.  :)

 Emma loves to swim...so, on Monday evening we obliged her.

Actually, Howie and the boys did.  I read and took photos and exchanged
texts with my sister.  I got all the updates about the slides and diving boards
and wave pool as various members of my family passed by.
It was a good arrangement all around.

On Tuesday, we went to get Emma's ears pierced. 

This was a much-anticipated and patiently waited for occasion.  

But, when the moment finally arrived, it wasn't without some apprehension.

Thankfully, both sides were done at once.

A little relieved, I think.

We ended our outing with a little treat.  :)

Precious Emma ~ We are so thankful that the Lord chose to put

you into our family.  What a blessing you are to us all.

May you follow Him with all of your heart for all of your days.

He is faithful and will always lead you well.  He is so very, very good.

With all our Love, 

Daddy and Mummy

XOXO