Lovely Linda

Honestly, it's not like I haven't been having lovely moments with equally lovely friends since I last posted... perhaps my tendency in being a tad tardy here is that I have been enjoying so much!

Whatever the reason, I'm here now!

Recently, I was able to spend such an enjoyable afternoon with the lovely Linda.  After meeting weekly over the last few years in Bible Study together, this new sister-friend of mine invited me over to her beautiful and hospitable home, where we dined alfresco and indulged in plenty of good conversation.

I enjoyed myself thoroughly...

such a treat!

Friendship... Old and New!

Some of the sweetest times of shared friendship come without plans... at least on our part.

While out doing a little shopping Edna, Lisa and I met in a check out line.

Edna suggested going to Crumbs for a coffee, but Crumbs was closed.

So, I suggested a cold drink in The Garden.

It was a lovely time of shared friendship.

Old and new!

The Gifts of Friendship...

Jane Ngui and I met for lunch yesterday.  What we had for lunch was really secondary, although I have to say that my 'main meal' of the day turned out to be a bird sized portion when it arrived and Jane's 'light salad' turned out to be gigantic! Thank goodness it wasn't the food that we had set our heart's upon, but rather it was just being able to spend time together and... chat and chat and chat.  If it hadn't been for the fact that I had a scheduled appointment in the late afternoon, I think we could have just packed up our things and taken the party to my backyard and continued on!  It was fabulous!

Later on in the day, Jane sent me a little message.  She had been looking through The Room to Grow and had seen pictures of Makenna and was prompted to share this...

Cathie...did you know that Makenna in Kikuyu, one of the dialects from Kenya (happens to be mine) means "One who is always happy or smiling..."

What a lovely gift Jane gave me today, the gift of spending time together and the gift of the Kikuyu meaning of my granddaughter's name.  Thank you Jane!

Companions Are Listening For Your Voice...

Earlier this week, I had just spent a lovely morning and afternoon with my daughter-in-law.

Upon arriving home I saw that my friend Linda had left a message reflecting her desire to get together with me for an impromptu Bible Study... to occur sometime before Friday!

The way my week was beginning to shape up, 

I knew that if this was going to happen before Friday,

Linda was going to have to get together with me within the next 20 minutes!

She was game, I quickly ate a pear,

and headed out the door, Bible tucked into my Book Bag.

Our time together was spent in Linda's Playhouse,

which is snuggled beautifully into a corner of her garden.

Once I had found my comfy spot, 

Linda took this picture with my i-Phone.

I forgot to return the sentiment.

So... here is a picture fresh off Linda's Blog,

of where Linda sat across from me,

as we spent time within the garden,

enjoying fellowship with one with another,

and with God and His Word.

O you who sit in the gardens,

My companions are listening for your voice -

Let me hear it!

                                                Song of Songs 8:13

This was the verse that Linda presented me with and I loved it!

I began to ponder out loud the implications for us as God's children.

Here is just one of my ponderings...

The very first garden, the garden of Eden, was the perfect garden -

this is where God chose to place the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.

 This was the garden in which they enjoyed the unbroken presence and fellowship of God.

After the fall of man, Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden,

and we have been trying to get back ever since.

All mankind now live in a fallen garden... far from the perfect garden of Eden.

The above verse, from the Song of Songs, is spoken by the bridegroom.

We know from His Word that our heavenly Bridegroom is Christ,

and that the church is His bride.

It is spoken to His bride, to His church,

letting her know that His companions are listening for her voice.

Individually, Linda is a companion of God, just as I am.

On this particular day she had invited me into her garden,

and was listening for my voice,

just as I was listening for hers.

But here's the thing... 

the companions of God may be listening for each other's voices,

just like Linda and I -

but our heavenly Bridegroom is also eagerly awaiting to hear our voices as well!

Not only that, but because He has placed His Holy Spirit within us,

and given us His Word,

our voices are to reflect His voice to us...

and I believe with all my heart that this was truly what transpired that day!

We leisurely took our time as we looked into God's Word,

the hands of the clock sweeping the hours by.

I left rejoicing in the knowledge that those who are truly the companions of God,

are always listening for the voices of His other companions,

and that God is telling us 'lift up your voices and' "Let Me hear it!"

There is so much to learn from this verse,

I love the next verse which rewards the request of the Bridegroom,

when the bride says, "Hurry, my beloved..."

While we live in this garden below,

longing for our heavenly garden to be revealed,

let's fill our particular corner of this garden with Life giving voices that nourish,

voices that encourage, voices that refresh the companions of God...

knowing that all the while it delights our God to hear it!

And beckons Him, our Beloved, to hurry...

Teddy Bears, Bumblebees, Princesses and Fairy Tales

While out shopping with Mommy and Gramma,

Makenna came across a large pink flower.

Inspired...

this Little Miss, within hours, 

had wonderously transformed into...

... a Bumblebee!

Gramma and Makenna had made a date for the Town Library's "Teddy Bear Evening"...

 and had invited Sophia and her Gramma Linda to join us.

So with Teddy Bears in tow, and dressed as story book characters, we settled in for a puppet show entitled "The Paper Bag Princess" and lots of singing and dancing!

At the end of the evening,

the girl's received stamps on their hands...

It was a Teddy Bear and a Fairy Tale Castle,

but honestly, the way they are showing them,

it looks like we had attended the fights!

After the stamps had dried,the girls headed over to the Learn and Read computers,to listen to 'Barney' and 'Green Eggs and Ham'

All in all,

it would seem that the evening was a hit!

Together Again!

After catching the early morning ferry at the Tsawwassen terminal and enjoying an incredibly warm and sunny cruise through the Juan de Fuca Straits, I arrived at Swartz Bay and after making my way through the arrival bay, walked right out of the terminal and into the arms of my dear friend Elizabeth.

We had such a lovely day, meandering in and out of shops and enjoying a light lunch, el fresco, before continuing on in our discoveries.  God blessed us with the most wonderful weather, just perfect, sunny and warm with a cool breeze.  It was hard to part when it was time to catch the early evening ferry back home, but we will definitely be doing this again soon!

On the cruise home, there were two pods of killer whales jumping and playing as they made their way through the blue glimmering waters... beautiful!  When I think about how blessed we are where we live, and all the magnificence of the landscape and nature and beauty around us... who needs to travel anywhere else, I am one content woman!

Being together again with Elizabeth, was just a treat... and I won't be leaving it so long until the next time!

The Little White House

Last Thursday morning I drove over to Fort Langley to meet with Margaret at The Little White House and to spend a few hours together.  I was surprised to know that Margaret had never been to the LWH and so it was with the greatest of pleasure that I introduced her to one of my favourite indulgences.

We enjoyed our time looking through the clothing and decor on the first floor of the house, then we went upstairs for further inspiration.  One of the blouses had a simple lace overlay that I was intrigued with, and proceeded to show Margaret how easy it would be to make one similar. 

I loved this dress that incorporated a substantial black and white houndstooth checked skirt with a simple bodice... I was unaware, as I took the picture, that I was inadvertently giving the dress form a 'pin head' just to make the look complete!





Aprons seem to be my weakness and these little black and white ones were so simple, yet so eye-catching... I can definitely see one in my future!

Since Margaret had just recently celebrated a birthday, 

we made our way down into the adjoining LWH Tea Room where we were able to enjoy a fresh brewed cup of coffee and sweet treat made from Lavender -

 (Margaret)

and a lovely fresh bowl of blueberries -

 (Me)

Our waitress was so cheery and accommodating, finding the time to show Margaret through the Tea Room and adjoining restaurant and outdoor Cafe area where they were just setting up for a wedding that was to take place the following day.

We were able to walk through some of the shops on Main Street after our lunch and also stopped in at the Fort Langley Library so that I could return a book and take out two more.

All in all, it was a lovely afternoon, well spent with a dear friend and sister.