The Medium {Sparrow}

The Medium {Bless the Lord}

A Little Bit of Pretty {Olivia}

It was a tough weekend here... On Thursday morning Livy woke up with a high fever... We attempted to keep it down all day Thursday with Tylenol and cool baths... By Friday afternoon, her temperature had exceeded 105... I called my doctor and we were told to take her straight to the ER... We spent six hours in the ER... It was a difficult six hours... They tried to take her blood for testing FOUR times... It was torture for her and in the end, they never did find a vein... They ruled out all the obvious things so we were sent home with no answers.. All day Saturday her temperature was still around 103... So we prayed... And the Lord heard our prayers, along with those of many others... Sunday morning, the fever finally broke... She's still recovering and getting back to normal... I'm thankful that she's finally fever free after more than three days... And thankful that it was just a virus and not something more serious! I've never been through anything like that with any of our girls before... And it was a good reminder to not take anything for granted... So today I leave you with one of the sweetest bits of pretty I know, our Livy!

A Bittersweet Thank-you...

Last week I received this email from a customer who purchased my 'Ring of the Month Club' back in December... I wanted to share it with you... It's a beautiful testimony of a husband's love... And even more so, of God's grace to a grieving family... I hope it encourages you as it did me... That we must treasure each day... And that there is true hope to be found in Christ, even in the midst of grief and pain...

"Good day. I just wanted to send you a message to thank you for the rings and let you know what they have meant to us.  

My wife was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer April 2011 while pregnant with our third child.  The baby was born a couple months early but is fine.  Amy's cancer was both advanced and aggressive and we were told right away it was terminal.  The best hope they had was to give her another 2 1/2 years with chemo and surgery.  I got her the rings last Christmas as a gift of hope.  To let her know that our lives together were not over and that I hoped and planned on having her around to get all 12 even though I knew the chances of that happening were pretty slim.  She was always so excited to get the rings, it was a constant reminder of hope and they added beauty to a time of a lot of darkness.  Amy passed away June 5.  She got to wear 5 of the rings and just missed the 6th.  We have a lot of relief for her as she is now free from cancer and all that suffering it had brought to her.  Best of all she is no longer relying on hope as now all of her greatest desires are fulfilled in the presence of Christ.  

I do not want to cancel the rings.  Having them come every month will be good for us.  It will force us to face our loss if we are avoiding it and remind us of the things we loved about Amy.  The rings really were 'her'.  I will keep the 5 she got to wear for our family and the others that come I am giving to some younger girls and friends of Amy so they can wear them for her.  I talk with the kids as they come too about how they remind us of Amy.  The metal looks vintage and we talk about how it looks old and reminds us how things wear out and break down because of the curse of sin.  The flowers remind us that God brings beauty into this through His grace and that nothing can stop it.  My oldest two love the rings and love to talk about them.  Their mom was only 31 and died 'too soon' but we know that God has already brought beauty out of this and will continue to do so.

Thank you for making these rings.  We look forward to more coming."

The Medium {We Are}

The Medium {Young Oceans}

The Medium {Breaking You}

I can't get enough the new album, "Heart" by Audrey Assad... "Lift up your head, Love is on the way..."

The Medium {Abide}

The Medium {Keep Your Eyes on the Prize}

Good Friday...

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 

By his wounds you have been healed."

1 Peter 2:22-24

Medium {Drifting}

Happy Birthday Leah!

My baby turns two today... The last two years have been full of such joy... The day we welcomed Leah was truly one of the best days of my life! I am so thankful for the delighted and energetic spirit that the Lord has given her... On this, her birthday, I pray that she will grow into a beautiful woman of God and that she will always look at life with such love and affection! Happy Birthday Leah! We love you more than words could ever express!

Happy Thanksgiving!

John + Danielle... The Wedding

Back in mid-September, I shared a photobook filled with the engagement photos that I'd taken for our dear friends John and Danielle... They were finally married on September 17th, in Cambridge, Ontario! It was, as we'd anticipated, a wonderful day celebrating true Christian marriage! A stunning bride, a blissful groom, great fellowship with friends and fantastic food!

Faith...

 These are my own designs so please link back to this post if you'd like to share them! Thanks so much!

An Exciting Evening...

If you haven't yet fallen in love with Sara Goves, I encourage you to visit her site... And enjoy a little taste of the beauty you're missing my previewing "It is Well" (click below to listen)

'It is Well' by Sara Groves

My Portion Forever...

Eight Years...

Eight years ago today, on a perfect blue skied May day, Jay and I were married... Before our family and friends, we promised to love and care for one another, forever... It was the day of my dreams... With the man of my dreams... Followed by the honeymoon of my dreams... And the life following our wonderful wedding has not disappointed... I continue to be amazed, day after day, year after year... I am so thankful that the Lord brought us together... That He has strengthened and sustained our love... And that He has grown our love by sharing two (soon to be three) beautiful children with us...

"Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." Ruth 1:16-17

A photograph of my favourite wedding photo

May 17, 2003

Faint Not...

"Faint Not" by Jenny & Tyler

It Gets Better with Age...

I've been thinking a lot about growing old... Last week, I read and then re-read this story of the passing of Alli Roger's grandfather... I couldn't get this line out of my mind: "my grandmother put her hand on his face and we witnessed 61 years of marriage.... coming to an end." It's sad, but wonderful... What a blessing... 61 years... And to still be in love... While I was pondering that, I came across this lovely 55th wedding anniversary shoot on 'Style Me Pretty'... The photographs (which took my breath away) were taken by Jesse Holland Photography... What an inspiration... It gets better with age!