The Brassard Family...

When Matt & Kyla and I planned their family photos, I think somehow an invitation was extended to all the bugs residing in Medicine Hat hahaha!  We had a great time together in the park but I don't remember a time when I have seen so many bugs!  But in the midst of swatting the flying varmints we still had a great time together capturing their family and their smiles :)  I loved watching Gia smile and giggle and Jackson's expressions as he heard the train passing by were priceless!

Thanks Matt & Kyla, Jackson & Gia for a fun afternoon!

Dads & Their Girls....

I came across the following article this afternoon and it nearly left me in a puddle...as I read it, the memories I've made over the last 30 years with my dad flooded my memory and made me smile.  My dad is an incredible man... he has set an incredible example for our family, he is a man of integrity who walks in Godly wisdom... he is one of those people that I want to be like when I "grow up"... he is one of my heros....he chose our family over his work teaching us that family is more important than what your bank account reads...together with my mom, they did an incredible job of preparing me for the "real world" and was always willing to listen when there was something about the "real world" I didn't like....he instilled in me a love for learning, reminding me often that there was nothing I couldn't do if I set my mind to it - and conspired with me when I couldn't figure out how to make something work... but more than anything, he inspired me to love Jesus and to trust Him no matter what.

A year and a half ago, he gave me away to my husband, knowing full well that our relationship from that moment on would change a bit - he has done an amazing job of letting Justin be the most important man in my life, a gift for which I will be forever grateful...  Dad, I love you so much...

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters {by Michael Mitchell}

1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.

3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.

7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”

12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.

13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.

14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.

17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.

18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.

20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.

21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.

25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.

28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.

29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.

32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.

34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.

39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.

41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.

42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.

47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.

50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.

Officially a Hockey "Mom"...

Yes it is official... I'm a hockey mom... 

Now before the rumors start, no I'm NOT pregnant lol, and even though I'm fully prepared to be a hockey mom when we have our own children, for the next 8 or 9 months I am a hockey "mom" to someone else's son :)  Two days before we left for holidays we welcomed Patrik Parkkonen, an 18 year old defenceman from Finland who is playing with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

(photo from the Tigers website)

For the past year as we have been finishing our basement, we had it in the back of our minds that if we could finish one of the bedrooms and the bathroom in time for hockey season that we would put our names in to be a billet family for a Tiger player.  Justin's family billeted for a while when he was a kid, and we have a few friends who are or have been WHL billets and all of them have had such a positive experience that we thought we'd give it a try!  Both Justin and I attended high school away from home and lived with other families for the school year so we are well acquainted with what it's like to be a young person living away from home.  We thought if we could open our home and give someone else a positive experience, why not?  We are very involved in hockey in Medicine Hat anyways so it just seemed like a natural decision for us.  

This is Patrik's second year with the Tigers so his English is pretty good.  Every now and then he kinda searches for a word but for the most part he seems quite comfortable with the language.  The other night, I was puttering in the kitchen baking and he and Justin were huddled around Justin's laptop watching hockey (surprise surprise lol!) and it's like I saw a snapshot of what our lives will look like several years from now lol!  Patrik has been a great addition to our home and we are excited to get to know him better as the year goes on.

And of course with it being the middle of September already, hockey is in full swing around our house.  Justin is the head coach of a Pee Wee AA rep team this year and they are well underway with practices already.  He is really excited about his coaching staff and the caliber of players they have to work with this season, we are expecting a great year.  So I am officially the keeper of the hockey schedules, two teams' resident fan and the cook hahaha!  We are looking forward to a great season with Justin's team as well as watching Patrik and the Tigers play!

"Isn't She Lovely...Isn't She Wonderful..."

I think I have the most amazing friends... ever...seriously....
I have been blessed with the gift of being able to share my journey with some amazing women, and Toby is definitely one of those...

Toby and I met 11 or 12 years ago at church in Moose Jaw.  I think my first memory of us ever hanging out was the evening I spent visiting with her shortly before I left for China.  She faithfully kept tabs on me while I was gone getting regular updates from my mom.  I don't really even remember when our friendship switched from just being acquaintances to something much deeper...it was one of those friendships that just naturally developed and today I can't imagine my life without her.  Together with her husband Keely and their amazing kiddos, they have been so much more than friends - they are the family I got to choose :)  I have often told them that when we have kids, I want parenting lessons from them!

When I agreed to shoot a wedding in Regina (where Toby happens to live!) earlier this summer, she excitedly offered to give me a hand.  She made my job so much easier by scouting out some awesome locations, so the day before the "I do's" we went back to each locale to be able to narrow down our list and ended up with a min photo shoot :)  Her youngest Noelle tagged along with us and kept us giggling!

Toby, thank you for all you are... words cannot express how grateful I am for your friendship... you inspire me...here's to all the adventure that lays ahead as friends :)

I couldn't resist sneaking in a shot with this little cutie too ;)

I think this was my fave shot of my dear friend :)

A Sneak Peek :: Jill & Jeradan

I was so excited to share in Jill & Jeradan's special day :)  I've known both of them for many years and was truly honored when they asked me to be their photographer!  Thanks for the gift of being able to share in your amazing, love-filled day!

Sneak Peek: The Brassard Family...

This summer I had the privilege to meet and spend some time with Matt & Kyla and their two adorable kiddies Jackson & Gia :)  We had fun in the park, battled the bugs, enjoyed a sprinkle donut...ahh summers on the prairies haha!  Enjoy the sneak peek...

A Slacker... and Another Quilt

Oi... it has been far too long since I've posted anything here... I've thought about it quite often, although unfortunately it was only in passing, and I just never got around to writing.

Well there is no time like the present :)

The time has come to catch up and get back on the blogging wagon.  We've had a pretty full summer, even though we tried to keep things pretty simple. We are home from the World Police and Fire Games and our holiday in NYC (which proved to be more adventure than we bargained for as we became acquainted with Irene lol! - I'll share that story soon!) and I am so ready to find some kind of routine!  Hockey season is in full swing in our household and that will definitely keep me well organized...

But today I'd like to share a very special quilt that I created this summer!

Back in April I decided that I wanted to make my dad a quilt for his birthday/Father's Day.  My sister and I picked out the material (as it was to be a gift from both of us) and I couldn't wait for it to arrive!  We had chosen several flannel prints that were much more "masculine" than many fabrics I've seen locally.  The one thing that really grabbed me was that many of these fabrics had a "tweed" look to them.  My dad can be a pretty snappy dresser ;) and there were a few of the brown pieces that looked just like a few of the tweed sport coats my dad has hanging in his closet!  I knew right away, this fabic was made just for him!

I did well - he got to see the fabric on Father's Day... however he had to wait till August to actually see it all put together :)  Better late than never right, lol!?

Here is the final product...we hope you enjoy your quilt Dad and that even though we don't live close enough to you to give you a hug as often as we'd like, we hope this reminds you of how much we love you...

The main part of the quilt all sewn together...

All finished and ready for the binding!

All done! :)