Thursday, October 31, 2013

And the last of Florida


 One of the swimming pools at the resort.
 Loved the garbage can with the pot of flowers on it.

 Enjoyed the well trimmed gardens & shrubs.

 Entrance to the resort.

 This picture was taken at in a residential area that we saw one afternoon when we were out for a drive. Love the Spanish moss draping down from the trees.

Spanish moss flourishes in Florida due to the high humidity.
And then Monday morning, it was time to leave sunny Florida & return to sunny Manitoba.

Friday, October 25, 2013

More of Florida

 Our only "theme park" that we have visited in Florida is " The Holy Land Experience." We both really enjoyed the day & the beauty of the park. The above picture is a replica of the temple plaza. 

 The Sea of Galilee. 

Pool of Bethesda.

There were a number of Nativity scenes set up ready for the Christmas season.
We watched 4 live dramas in a beautiful facility - Church of all Nations. The last drama was the passion play called - We Shall Behold Him.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Florida

 Due to a close family member who so very kindly gifted us with some of her timeshare points, we are are in Florida now at a very beautiful resort south west of Orlando.

 I've found several bright blooming hibiscus to photograph.

 I can't get enough pictures of this bright foliage.

 A variety of greens.
 And of course, many kinds & sizes of palm trees.
 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Another Step

Thanksgiving weekend took on a different form for our family this year. Saturday evening we laid to rest the ashes of our most dearly loved son & grandson. We had ordered a gravestone to honour Barry & Zach & it was ready & was put up during the week. We had a short service with our family & pastor present. Then we all  released a balloon to represent Barry & Zach's spirits floating up to Heaven.
It was very important to us that our names be on the marker too so that everyone would know that Barry & Zach belonged to our family. Barry's wife, Sigrid, is planning to scatter some of the ashes in places that Barry & Zach loved to spend time. It was another difficult event for our family &  we pray that it brought us closer together. Barry & Zach were very much missed at our family gathering. In the midst of the sadness, we found many things to be thankful for - for a life spared - Albert, for each one of our family members, for the good times spent with Barry & Zach. Thank-you to each one of you who have prayed for our family. Your prayers are felt & much appreciated.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Two Months


Two months. Today. Two months since August 8. Two months ago our second born son, Barry & second born grandson, Zach hand in hand were welcomed into Heaven, with whole & perfect bodies. They left their badly broken bodies here on earth. They were both amazing men, both children of mothers who loved them deeply.  Our hearts are so broken. We are hurting. Our whole family is sad.

 Sometimes we say that it just doesn't seem  real. We talk about them everyday. We look at pictures of Barry, as baby, as young boy growing up, a teenager, then off to university, pictures of Barry & Sigrid's wedding,   Pictures of Zach joining the family, then Abby, some pictures of us camping as a family, Christmases,  pictures of Zach growing up, family events, a fun picture of Zach wearing a gas mask. Thankful for the many pictures I took, wishing I had taken more. 
So thankful that we had Barry & Zach  in our lives for the time we did, too short for us, they were both gifts given to us for a time from our Heavenly Father, on August 8th they returned to Heaven. Our lives are so much richer for having them in our lives, they will forever be in our hearts. We will talk about them everyday. And someday, we will be reunited with them again in Heaven.
Two months. Today. 

Thursday, October 3, 2013

And Some More Colour

 Yesterday, October 2, we took at trip to Portage la Prairie, first to have morning coffee with my mom & then lunch with friends. Then we took a drive around Island Park, a place we both enjoy & often take a drive through it when we are in Portage.
 The park has many large trees & the fall leaves just shone in the bright sunshine.
 

 Found this large mushroom growing out of a tree.

 
 There were lots of geese on the lake.

 We paid a visit to my dad's grave site.
He would have been 100 in July.

We enjoyed a tour around my sister's farm & caught her flock of "quackers" on the pond.
We had a delicious supper with my sister & brother in law & arrived home late in the evening & decided with had had a wonderful & comforting day with family & friends.