The Effects of the Storm

Today I drove over to Lawrence and Debbie's place to get some pictures. His was the hardest place hit with hail and he got around 4 1/2 inches of rain in less than 30 minutes. How sad what I saw! This was some of the ditches along the highway as I drove to Lawrence's.
The road started washing away.

Water gushing out of the culverts!

The hail damaged Cat Tails, no longer standing.

Here is the scene at Great Grandpa Letniak's and Uncle Lawrence's place!

Debbie finally has lake-view front! :(

The "once beautiful" field straight south of Lawrence and Debbie's house - now COMPLETELY flattened!

The torn-up grass in the ditches. Hail still on the north side of their house just about 24 hrs later- and Lawrence STILL manages to keep a smile on his face!

I'm sorry Debbie!! This is/was her garden - how sad!

Great Grandpa's garden!

As I was leaving a VERY fitting rainbow (and promise) enclosed Lawrence's farm. It is amazing how God talks to us and we do have to remember His promise even when things seem to be at their worst!

The rainbow encompassing their homes!

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life." Genesis 9: 13-15

One Bad Storm!

I haven't posted for awhile since July has seemed to be one busy month but I had to post these pictures of an awful storm that hit us last night because there are some people waiting to see the effects of what it did. I will soon catch up with the month and fill you in on our activities...but back to the storm!

The clouds were swirling in every direction in the sky around us....

This on in particular was very strange and had a scarey look about it! It hung around the yard for awhile and then it decided to follow me as I went to my in-laws before the skies opened up!

I love this picture!

This picture is taken looking back towards the direction of our place.

I had to go to my in-laws and thought that I would make it back home before the storm set in. Little did I know how fierce the wind/rain/hail would be which made me turn around 3 miles from our house and try to get back to my in-laws and wait out the weather there!

The blackened sky within minutes looking back at our house direction.

This cloud followed me ALL the way to my in-laws who live 5 miles from us. I was traveling about 95 km/hr and it kept up with me!

After the rain settled a bit, this is what I arrived to as I approached our driveway! :(

Water was running EVERYWHERE!

Canada Day Celebrations

Since it was Canada Day the boys and I decided to venture to Consort to see what activities were happening there. We walked around the Show and Shine and looked at all the fancy old cars. We than went to the fair grounds where they were having a Bunnock tournament, something that I have just learned what it was. Not even going to try and explain - ONLY IN ALBERTA WOULD A GAME INVOLVE THROWING BONES!!! :)

The kids enjoyed a bean bag toss game that was set up for them to play.

A little overthrow from Landen! :)

100% Canadian!!

(It is soo hard to get them both looking and smiling at the same time!)

Happy Birthday Canada!!

Girletz/Tye Wedding

Our crazy clinic - everyone has to be together all the time, even with our tables to eat! :)

Last weekend we attended a wedding of a colleague of mine - Savanna. I have no pictures from the outdoor wedding ceremony part as it POURED down rain the entire time until just after the ceremony was finished. Poor girl, they had put soo much work into the yard for the outdoor wedding - it was still beautiful and perfect but we just didn't get to enjoy the yard as much as they would have liked.

Dan (Kelly's boyfriend), Kelly (our former receptionist) and Tracey (RDA)
Ruth (RDA), Dr. Dave (my boss!!), and Kathy (RDA)

The beautiful bride Savanna (RDH)

The bride and groom, Riley and Savanna

Reno's Cont.....

And the renovations have started on the front of the house - YEAH!!!
Stripping of the siding

The old front room window

No more window!! Jaren doesn't know what to think since there is a huge hole in the wall!

New window set in place from the outside - little bit of a nail-biter watching those guys get it there!!

Our new view through the very clear window!!

A Major Facelift

Before leaving to Terrace this is what our house looked like (minus the snowdrift!).

Upon returning back from our trip this is what our house is transforming into!

The east and north side of the house after siding and windows completed.

The guys today working on the west side of the house.

So right now it is a very busy time around here with a lot of changes. I can't wait until the project is completed!

And He's Off!

Before leaving to Terrace Jaren starting riding his 2 wheeler bike with the training wheels completely raised. When in Terrace, my uncle Walter brought over a bike and by the end of the 2 weeks Jaren had fully and confidently learned how to ride a bike. I am so proud of him. He even went trail riding and rode on the streets with Grandpa and Grandma Sparks.

Our Trip to Terrace

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The boys and I (and Tori) drove to Terrace to spend 2 weeks with my mom and dad. The kids did awesome on the 2 day trip in the car. It was great seeing Grandma Hovland and also reconnecting with a few people over the time that I was there. I always look foward to my visits and enjoying beautiful Terrace to its fullest! We look forward till when we can come back again.

On We Go...

After a very long and emotional week of having to deal with the fact that we had to put Keesha down we packed up and headed to Lacombe for Kevin's 15 year alumni reunion weekend. Once the weekend was over the boys, Tori and myself were then westbound to Terrace, BC to visit my parents for 2 weeks. It was hard to leave and go there this time cause this was the first trip to Terrace that I was taking without my beloved best friend Keesha. Although it was very difficult it was a change of scenery that was much needed for me to help start heal the hurt of losing her. Kevin's class reunion of 1996 (not all were in attendance of course) Landen and Sydney at the park
Ryan and LandenCutie pie Syd!

Forever in Our Hearts

Today was an extremely sad day in our house as we had to say goodbye to our beloved Keesha. Keesha was going to be 14 this year and has been such a part of all of our lives. She will be FOREVER loved and missed, she was the best dog anyone could have asked for. So my heart is very heavy tonight as I am writing this post. She was just getting very old and was quite uncomfortable at times physically. Her hearing was just about gone (I believe) and her sight wasn't the best which made her nervous to be anywhere but inside our house. Time was not going to heal the aging process that was occurring but I am sure hoping that time will heal my aching heart. I created a slide show of some of the pictures that I have of her, there are many so just a warning if you start to watch it :) I have more from today but just can't bring myself to download them from my camera yet to remind me of what we had only a few hours ago. Maybe in the future I will post them. Thanks to all of those who knew her and loved her too, she was quite the girl!

We will always love you and there is such an empty feeling in our house without you here tonight with us! You will be kept close to our hearts sweet and precious girl! Rest peacefully.

"Tears are words the heart can't express." ~unknown

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