Home from the Royal

So. we're home from the Royal, arrived late-ish last night.
Got the boy to bed at 1030.

Today was gymnastics and our regular day out in London.

Got the lad to bed in good time to give him time to rest and hopefully catch up on some shut eye. :)

Sorted through bags that we got at the Royal, seemed like everyone was giving out reusable bags.
The lad got TONS of notepads and pens of his own, he was VERY happy about that. :)

One of the things I like about the Royal is that with the goodies you get from various booths, you can often "win back" one person's entry into the fair. We got about 10 bags, about 10 lbs of potatoes, and four or five tubs of margarine....that's one entry into the fair. :)

We saw cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, horses, and some display pigs. :)
We visited lots of booths.
The Lad had fun playing in the canola seeds, and partaking in some of the children's activities. I have to admit, they weren't as good this year so that was a bit of sadness.
We entered a fair number of draws which is always fun...hoping that one wins! :)

I picked up a few resources I can use for homeschooling, some I'll do and some I'll pass on. Always a matter of choice.

We went to the Royal on Tuesday and Saturday, Wednesday we went out for dinner and a movie with Don and Deborah. We saw Megamind, the lad was riveted. It was a good time out.

Thursday we more or less just bummed around, made dinner for Don and Deb.

Friday we went to Hamilton to visit with my sister and her youngest daughter before they headed back home out west. Should mention that we also went to the RCA, Ontario Classis, Minister's Dinner. The food was great, did wish though that we had sat at a different table....but the food was good and Art's daughter put on a rather interesting lighted ball display.

Sunday we attended morning service, had a delightful dinner with extended family. When Don lay down to rest after preaching our boy had a good time taking care of him. Keeping him all snuggled with his stuffies and playing music for him and telling stories. It was fun to watch and listen to.

HOPEFULLY Don and Deb will come up this way in April. :)

Our Vacation - November 2007

For those interested who normally don't read our family blog. Our recent week away is posted up over there, complete with pics of us having fun. (well mostly the boy child).

Here's the link.

Thoughts on Being Thankful

Rebecca is collecting posts on thankfulness this November.

Over the past few days my hubbie has been away. I am thankful that he can do that. :) No, don't get me wrong, I don't deliberately send him away (as in drive him away) but I like that am I confident enough, strong enough that he is able to go away confidently, knowing his wife can cope. So I am glad that he is able to just go and not worry about things on the home front.

I am thankful for my mom-in-law. She is a nice lady. She makes me laugh sometimes at her vagaries of being human...but then again...she laughs at mine too! :) She just adores her grandson. And she is good with him.

I am thankful for my parents. Good folks they are. Open arms, willing hearts, strong Christian witness and just good solid people. I have learned, and continue to learn much from them. They are an important and integral part of my life.

I am thankful too for my church. This past Sunday I took too long walking Sassy (our dog) in the morning, so the service I planned to go to (1000 a.m. at the CRC) I couldn't make so I went to a different church instead. I could make a 1030 service at another local church.

• Though I enjoyed singing fun worship music again, I realized that I enjoy the corporate aspect of worship that our church encourages. We have music that accompanies us singing, not a band that we can hardly hear ourselves much less our neighbour singing along with. Not a problem in my church at all. :) We have Teo....whose enthusiasm for praising God in song often picks us when we falter. I have learned to truly enjoy this communal, corporate worship.
  
• We have a minister who opens God word up for us... he reads a passage and then actually explains it...sometimes in high detail! :) he doesn't pick a passage and use it as a jumping off point for something unrelated. Even though the message I heard was good and made me think... I left feeling somewhat dissatisfied that I didn't actually hear God's word expounded.
• For the most part, people arrive on time for church. They see the value in all aspects of the worship service. They don't straggle in. They act like worship is important.
• I am thankful for people who make newcomers feel welcome. Two ladies at this church made me feel as if I truly was welcomed to come in and join their service. One of the men that I have chatted dogs with in town gave me this huge grin when he saw me. Welcoming. Really appreciate that.

So all in all, much to be thankful for. :)

Oh and one more thing..... I am thankful that for three days I get to leave this house behind and go away with my family. Royal Winter Fair... here we come! ;)