Meeting baby Will

A lovely day meeting Anna and Kevin’s new baby, William James. He’s just perfect and truly adorable.

Anna, Kevin, Will, and their other children were at the Church of Ascension the traditional family centered Anglican Church in Langley.

Anna and Kevin asked Laura and I to be Will’s godparents so we attended baptism preparation with a fine young man whose daughter, Maija is to be baptized too. The mother and daughter hadn’t made it because of a nasty cold but the father was there representing his family. Kevin and Anna love the clergy who were definitely Godly and loved the Bible and The Christian communion. 

We all learned lots but it just good to hear each other share what baptism and joining  the family of Christ meant for us. 

After, our little group of half adults and half kids moved on to feast at the nearby Whitespot. Burgers and fish and chips. Discussions of God, spirituality, hunting, fishing, movies, photography and childbirth. We talked about it all, from breaking waters  to Trudeau’s latest embarrassment.

It was an honour to hold sleeping William while Kendra , Izek and Alex played,  ate and talked about the new microscope.

Laura and I came home to walk our fur baby Gilbert.

Harrison Lake with the Godkids

It was a joy to be with the Godkids and their parents Anna and Kevin. I was blessed to meet them through Elizabeth and Phil, Anna’s Godparents.  Laura and I have known Anna since she was in high school.  It’s great to see her as such a fine and loving mother.
She met Kevin because he was such a good father to his son Izek.  There’s now Alex and Kendra and Izek.  A great little posse of kids that play with my little fur baby Gilbert. We usually meet in church and often go for lunch at Whitespot after.
I’ve been going up to the Bungalo Motel Cabins in Harrison’s for 30 years. We're so disappointed to learn it was sold this year.  It was fun to share this near getaway from Vancouver with the great little family.  Walks in the wilderness and to the Harrison Lake Townsite.  Playing with Gilbert.  Laura had brought her Ukule and I brought my guitar. We had fun with the kids.  Pizza’s and music.
I loved the little munchkins curiosity and energy.  A fun time.  I admit though that I was amazed that Anna can handle three on one.  Laura Gilbert and I were no match for three on three. They literally ran circles around us, climbing, and crawling and jumping up and down. Their enthusiasm though is infectious.  Kevin and Anna were constantly on the go keeping up with them.

Laura and I were happy to lie about reading novels while they were off exploring.
Outside in the park the Canada geese were keeping track of dozens of goslings.  Spring and children, seasons of the young and old.

Bloom Festival in Abbotsford with the God Kids

Easter Weekend is always special with the activities of Holy Week, NSRU, and a long weekend away from increasingly treacherous work.  Laura and I loved the inspirational speaker at the NSRU Pan Pacific Friday night. So many of the people we know on Facebook but rarely see were there. It's an old home week shaking hands, hugging smiling, catching up. I especially loved seeing Bill and Archie from Whitecliff and Vivian and her son Steven.  So many friendly smiling faces.  The countdown is always inspiring.  

Then Saturday we didn’t make it out during the day. We’d had all manner of plans but read books instead.  I walked Gilbert. Laura made meals.  We  lounged  till early Saturday evening. The rain letting up, we then drove to the Pan Pacific with the Miata top down. Another great inspirational speaker and more friends. 

Sunday morning we got ready early for Easter mass enjoying the celebration of Risen Christ at Christ Church Cathedral.  

After we made arrangements with Kevin and Anna to drive out to the Bloom Festival in Abbotsford. They’d been staying at the Pan Pacific so had to pick up their children after their weekend ‘date’.  Gilbert and I headed back to Burnaby in the Miata leaving Laura to catch up in her little red Smart Car.  The plan was to transfer to my new white Ford F350 2017 Lariat truck.  I love my truck.  It was a great ride out to the country listening to my iPhone music played through the Ford Sync 3 system with the sun roof open.  Great views of Mount Baker. Sunshine and blue sky.  Synchronistically with divine timing we hooked up with Anna and Kevin and the kids on the highway..  

Parking at the Bloom, the late winter had delayed the tulips.  The daffodils were out but instead of fields and fields of spectacular coloured tulips there were only a few patches. But walking with dog and the kids was it’s own entertainment.  We doubt they missed the tulips since the mud was so much more interesting.  

After we enjoyed an early  dinner at the Abbotsford Cactus Club.  While the adults had peppercorn steaks the kids had little hamburgers and fries.  Service was great. Finishing before the adults the children began to explore the restaurant with their parents retrieving squirmy bodies between the discussions of Dean Peter’s sermon and the inspirational speakers.  Kendra was definitely in Christopher Columbus mode.  Somehow we didn’t lose any children.

Walking about the Bloom, Alex had decided that day that he wanted to hold my hand while Kendra informed Laura that she wanted to be carried.  They really are the best family.   Anna, the consumate mother had  delightful tete a tete's with Laura, a grandmother several times over with another grand child due any day.  

I admired Kevin’s calm.  He shared that the Buddha had left his family to seek enlightenment. I shared that Paramahansa Yoganada’s said that one could meditate on a mountain but the real trick was  to bring the mountain into one’s heart and meditate in the world.  Kevin had very much enjoyed Dean Peter’s sermon quotes from Thomas Merton and St. Francis.  

Gilbert who’d had to wait in the truck was barkingly delighted to be re united with his little hairless buddies. He didn’t mind the bits of steak I’d brought back wrapped in napkin in my jacket pocket. It took him no time to find that.  We all hugged good byes and headed back to Vancouver our separate ways.