Date week...ahhh

I am a huge advocate of time away with your spouse. Whether it be an evening, a night away , a fun weekend getaway or a week away....it is always worth it. We try very hard to keep this rhythm in our marriage. Uninterrupted time to talk, catch up on things other than the kids, talk about dreams and goals for the future, have fun together, laugh, and just love each other. I know it sounds sappy and for some people, maybe quite silly or ridiculous to do but we have seen HUGE benefits in our family. Our relationship with God is better. Our marriage is stronger. Our parenting is better - cause we can really appreciate our kids for who God created them to be when we step out of daily routine for a little bit! Our kids get to create simply amazing memories with their grandparents, aunties and uncles & god parents - which they likely would have never done otherwise. We have an amazing family who is willing and adores our children...we have promised to return the favor when they have kids!!! Can't wait!

And it is just good to be reminded that I am my man's bride and that he is the same fun guy I dated way back in high school...
This year we were blessed with 7 nights away - it is great how I now measure my holiday by the number of full nights sleeps I get! We got to hang out on the beach, read, kayak, snorkel, jump in the waves and had a great adventure. And we learned a little more about each other.  Always good....

getting ready to snorkel...this was a much better picture than of me with the actual face mask on!

on island that we kayaked too...so fun - and I saw 2 sea turtles on the way out! Definitely a highlight!

our kayak...I didn't have the camera out when we actually were on the water!

matsumoto's shaved ice...world famous - there is nothing quite like it.

Riley body surfing...me watching on shore. Super fun!

fun in the sun

The North Shore

watching surfers on the North Shore...so good.

Sanucks...some of my favorite shoes!

And  a little treat that I love - switched to cold Starbucks for the trip - so good & probably a little spoiled!

 And many asked how this little guy did for his mom & dad's first time away...

Amazing. Wonderful. He had so much fun with Auntie & Uncle and Grandma & Grandpa! As did the older three too. One of my kids was quite upset when we got home because they felt that they would have no more fun.
So sweet.
So I guess that means that dreaming and planning can start all over again for another date week in the future....until then, I will try and infuse lots of fun times into our day to day moments as I love and live life with my family!

Thanks for reading.
Have a great frigidly cold week...if you live where i do!

blessings,
Candra

Date week!

Details to come...but there is nothing sweeter than spending time away with my husband....it is always amazing!

Good to be home...but wishing for warmth! The kids had a blast and I think auntie & uncle and grandma & grandpa did too!

Blessings,
Candra

Glimpses of beauty

As I was running tonight - yes I got on the treadmill! For only 20 minutes but not bad since I cannot breath out of my nose... it was calling me....once I was on I loved it! Anyway, as I was running I was contemplating about the beauty I have in my life, even when at first glance it may not be seen.

Last week, on the most frigid day (-45) I came home to this....

to be reminded that I am loved and also that the cold will not last forever. Beauty.

We went over to the lot last week. I packed the kids up for 20 minutes of time to see daddy while he was out building. Some people, I am sure think we are crazy...sometimes we think we are crazy.  There is a tonne that goes into building a house and if you don't manage your expectations it can quickly become overwhelming.  So even though the process is long and the end is a ways away, I wouldn't trade the beauty of this....

for anything. Making memories as a family. Helping daddy. Building our own home together. Beauty.


We had a visit planned with friends this week, but swung by the clinic before we went, only to find out our oldest had tonsillitis. We were blessed by our friends who were still OK with us coming over while our oldest laid down on their couch.  And coming over with 4 kids to begin with! Even with a sick kid, we had a great time connecting with friends, encouraging (hopefully) each other and eating amazing cookies! Thank you you guys...you know who you are.

My husband is away at Board meetings for a Bible college. Loads of laundry await me in the morning. Probably a 6:30 start with my little princess. Cleaning. grocery shopping. But it is good to be with them. It is good to be able to text my man every other minute.
It is good to be leaving this life with them; to be reminded that they are God's precious and most treasured gifts.

That is life's beauty. No matter what the circumstance...there seems to always be a glimpse.

Have a great weekend!
Candra

in other news....

Today we received news that the agency we worked with (and are still working with) for our adoption is part of a merger with another agencyy. I don't know a tonne about it, but given the details presented, it looks pretty exciting. Although, I have to admit, we are all about change. Hence the events of our lives over the last few months!
Anyways, please check out my husband's blog for some more succinct thoughts about this
( Riley's blog ). I enjoy reading his writing...so hopefully you will too.

In other news...

RUN143 is in the beginning of planning stages for summer 2011. Stay tuned for details - dates, how you can participate and who we are running for!

And...my baby girl got her very first haircut this week. It was a bit of a moment for me. She is definitely  my little princess. She did amazing and I have to say - gotta love Beaners! A haircut and a sucker!

4 out of 6 of us are fighting colds (one with fever and tonsillitis) so here is hoping and praying for a good night sleep!

And....hooray for our floor system being on! I love this man & all he does for us....

standing in our dining room of our new house!

 Have a good sleep everyone! Sweet dreams....

Blessings,

Candra

waiting...

These things I plan won't happen right away...If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habbakkuk 2:3 

This verse has been on my mind the last few days as I have been praying about adoption and for those in process. The country we adopted our fourth child from is experiencing some longer than potentially expected delays and the little ones who are waiting for families have to wait longer. 

As we are blessed to have our guy home, I know that I don't fully understand the feelings of all waiting families - but I do know what it feel like to wait on something that you are anxiously expecting. It is hard. Extremely hard. We are not wired that way. Patience is not innate - for me at least. This verse put it so well - God know our hearts. He hears our prayers. Even when it seems slow.  He hears the prayers of those across the ocean, those of the children waiting, & those of caregivers and others advocating so passionately for adoption.

It will surely take place.

For all of you who read my blog - 

If you are adopting. Please know I am praying for you. Praying that blessings & goodness would abound even in this season of seemingly despair. I am praying for all the systems to be worked out so that once again, the little ones can come home quickly. 

For those of you who would like...please pray these things too. To extend it further...pray for all orphans around the globe, the little ones in foster care in our own backyard, for the children who have no one to call their family. God hears our prayers. He works in amazing and wonderful ways. It may seem overwhelming but...

Wait patiently...it WILL surely take place.

I hope this has been somewhat encouraging. Love and prayers,

Candra

Two cuties. Healthy attachment.No words necessary.

Hope you enjoyed!!!

Blessings,
Candra

iKhaya Likababa - House of the Father

This place holds an incredibly special place on our hearts and in our lives! What they do is amazing and we are privileged and blessed to know them....
ps. our little man is in this video briefly...see if you can see him! He is super cute...




As always, you guys are in our prayers! Thank you for all that you do for those who are precious in His sight!
Blessings,
Candra