Apple for Mom

 There was a lot of joy for us this summer with Stacy and Braedan living in the suite and Jill moving to Chilliwack for several weeks where she worked for Dad. We all enjoyed a day at Hicks Lake together. It was gorgeous weather and wonderful company! 

Joop was given a neat radio/stereo thing. He didn’t need it or have room for it, so he gave it to Luke.   Luke thought it was pretty cool. 

While Elise was at camp, Luke went to basketball camp at Unity school every day. See previous posts. Dad used the at home days to work on putting pipes and drainage lines in our driveway to prep for paving. And Elise had Lacey sleepover for a night while Luke was at camp. We took the girls to a chicken lunch at Clearbrook Grain and Milling. Elise won some Canuck bling and tickets to sports games. And so the July days passed by one at a time.   

Both Luke and Elise got to attend Stepping Stones Bible Camp. Elise went first…feeling very scared about her special diet restrictions and her pills. Thankfully, she only needed vitamin B and D and she’d learned how to swallow pills just a few months earlier. God gave her a counselor who also couldn’t eat beef or dairy!!! Her name was katelyn Huttema. What a blessing! Elise is still a bit bitter about missing the teeth brushing parties to go get her pills, but the love and care she got was amazing. Luke didn’t have a great time. There were only two other boys in his camp, friends with each other. He hung out more with Caleb’s co-worker and his counselor, Cody Huttema.   

Dad and I spent some time selling Mr. Schouten’s bike (to the Penners across the street) and then helping him find a step-through bike to replace it with. Success! He and his wife even treated us to lunch at Jimmy J’s to thank us.  I signed Luke up for a basketball camp to give him some experience before the school season starts. He didn’t enjoy it, but did admit he learned some stuff.   

Oma went shopping with me for a day to try to find a dress for Micah’s wedding. I already had one from Winners, but that was too easy so I wanted to rule out the possibility of a better dress.  We had a great time together. A highlight of as the Laura sales lady suggesting I should wear plus sizes so the length would  be better for my height. I tried- and oh did we ever laugh!   

Our Hone Mission Committee hosted a bbq at the school across from our church. We brought the outhouse. And I was on duty as a member of the committee.  It was a fun time!   

Dear sweet Stacy went all out making sandwiches and fancy snacks and inviting Elise and me to a Girls’ Night Out with foot scrubs and a movie.  So I told Dad to do something fun with Luke. They chose to go for a motorcycle ride. Yeah. We were just starting the movie when I got a phone call saying they had run out of gas close to Green Point. I had to go rescue them, bringing a jerry can. At the gas station in Agassiz, I tried to fill the cab into the wrong spot. Dad is still teasing me. I also couldn’t find my wallet in my purse and was picturing begging for help from strangers. Feeling desperate, I dumped my purse out and found my wallet in the wrong pocket. Phew!  Anyhow, I brought the the fuel, and headed back to Stacy’s suite just in time to see the credits for the movie about the surfer girl with one arm scrolling on the screen. Oh well. I was very sorry to miss out and thankful Stacy wanted to host, and also glad everyone made it home safely.   

This year Dad was again on duty at the picnic. Luke went in early with him to help with setup and then he helped all morning and till cleanup was finished.  We managed to convince Emmet and Kate’s family to come so Luke and Elise had friends to hang out with.  Stacy was able to join us and helped Dad with the races, also participating when she could.  DQ dairy free dilly bars on the way home made the day even more special.   

 We spent an afternoon at Maple Bay with Wendy Winkelaar and her kids. Luke got to hang out with Hudson. Elise was quite surprised to be asked to befriend Sadie DeBoer, but the girls got along really well.  In the evening Dad brought the boat and Stacy and Braedan. This photo is of their anchor log for the boat. 

Daniel Kanis got married- and so Jared, Tonisha and Hazel came down for a quick weekend visit. Stacy and Braedan moved back for the summer on the same weekend. Fun times!    

We love Uncle John and Aunt Diane and Trevor’s visits. This time they came on their way to an Alaskan cruise. Uncle Anko and Aunt Theresa also came, but I have no photo.  Elise is Uncle John’s sweetie.  And Luke is nearly taller than Aunt Diane! Elise practiced and practiced her cartwheels for us.