Floods, Ninja's, lakes, weddings and Baptisms!

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So it's been a busy summer. We've been going to the lake lots, enjoying a crazy nice summer this year in the Cariboo, especially nice since last year (or was it the year before?) summer really didn't happen here. This year we discovered Kosta's Cove, the back side of the popular lake here in town that is a really nice spot to go and the water seems cleaner there is no seaweed and it comes with a Tarzan swing much to Kate's delight!  Another bonus is it is only an 8 minute drive from our house! Not everything has been sunshine and lollipops though...awhile back we had a flood in the basement when the hot water tank broke. Insurance will cover it thankfully but what a pain. I had set up my school room already in the basement, luckily no books were down there yet and really none of our stuff was damaged. When something bad happens though I always try to find positives from the situation....life is too short to get depressed and to let our problems overtake us and really a flood in the basement not big on my list of problems this year...more an annoyance :) So maybe I can teach someone how to give a positive spin to a negative situation, (and in doing so that would be another positive thing to come out of my flood, haha!) 1. At least I have a house to flood. 2. It could have been way worse, we could have been out when it happened. 3. Insurance! 4. New carpet and a wall had to be replaced in the kids room downstairs (some of which had never been on in the first place, just the framework of part of the wall but no wall) and when all the carpet was out before the new carpet was added I painted and it looks so much better! 5. Another opportunity for God to work on my patience! I really want to get everything set up again :) Soon Tina, Soon I tell myself! Anyways the flood is really the only thing at home that hasn't gone good this summer and that is a blessing. Speaking of blessings this is the summer of weddings, yes love is in the air. My sister got married in June (I'm so proud of her).  I don't know how to put why I am into words but I am and she knows it! My bestfriend's mom also got married in June. She's like a mom to me and is grandma to my kids. She is a widower and her husband that passed away was not only my beloved pastor but like a second father to me also. I thought her getting married again would be hard but I really like her new husband and no one can deny his adoration for her and the love they share with one another, so really all I am is completely happy for them! This summer also brought probably the highlight of not my summer but my year and one of the proudest moments I've had as a mother. Back in June Aliyah, (my 7 year old) told me she wanted to get baptized at church camp. She understood what baptism is about and was SO excited about it. She was telling everyone and counting the days till the big day. But.....the big day came and she froze...she would not do it. I was thankful that our pastor was so understanding. So some time passed and then Kaitlin tells me she wants to be baptized, then Joshua is talking about it too! Then Aliyah says she wants to try again. All talk at our house for awhile is baptism. We go out to Kosta's cove and Aliyah and Alexandra are baptizing their life jackets, haha! So we decide at the last minute to have all 3 of them baptized at Kosta's cove. Grandma baptized Kaitlin and Aliyah (with daddy's help) and Joshua was baptized by his uncle who he decided he wanted to ask all on his own and so called him up, it was really special. As a christian mother what a joy it was to see 3 of my 4 children commit their lives to Jesus in such a way and to publicly display their faith in Him. Wow, I'm still overwhelmed thinking about it! Kaitlin had a vision of heaven when she was baptized...already the Holy Spirit is at work! Robin (an AMAZING) photographer from church took some photos...er Robin, where are they??? It was just a great day! And now I will end with Ninja's. I think I should start calling my children little ninja's...they have been cracking me up the last day or so. The older two are obsessed with the show American Ninja Warrior and have since (along with the little girls) make up their own American Ninja Warrior courses in the yard using the swing set. My favourite stunt is the Warp wall. On the show the warp wall is this huge wall that competitors have to run up and there isn't alot of space in front to get a good run at it....my kids version, run up the slide...so funny! So that in a very big nutshell is a glimpse of our summer. Above is an American Ninja Warrior video and also a link to Robin's blog which is beautifully written and of course has amazing photography.