Flashback Friday ~ Newlyweds

Flashback to 1991...

...newlyweds.

Happy Friday!

With Love, Camille

On This Day...

Life is a journey, and so is marriage.
Some things we've learned along the way have been profound.

Other things have been too obvious to qualify for that category.

But, it's all been necessary.  And, it's all been good.

On this day, twenty-five years ago,
Howie and I said our vows and pledged our love to each other.

It's too incredible to think of it.  

We cannot even be old enough, can we?
When I look at the face looking back at me in the mirror,
I know I am old enough.  It kinda snuck up on me.

Howie, next to our Saviour, you are the best gift He has blessed me with.
I am so thankful for your steadfast love and perseverance throughout
this journey He has us on.  The Lord is so very good to us, isn't He?

"Every good and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is
no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  James 1:17

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!

All my love forever,
Your Camille xoxo

Fancy Date

Way back before Christmas, a great coupon deal for a local restaurant flashed

across my screen.  I snapped one up and wrapped it in a box

and put it under the tree for Howie.  It was one of his gifts from me.

(Of course, my intention was that we would use it together.)

We redeemed that coupon last week.

It was for Bridges Restaurant located on Granville Island.

The restaurant overlooks the water and is situated between two bridges...

hence, it's name.  :)  There are windows everywhere which reflect light, but,

these images still give a glimpse of the view.  Stunningly beautiful.

We stayed until the sun went down and the lights came up.

The food was amazing.  Just look at the dessert!  (We shared it.)

If you are in the area, Bridges is a wonderful spot for a fancy date.

But, make sure you have a coupon!  It's the only way to go.
Trust my advice on this...you'll be sorry if you don't.  :)

What's your favourite restaurant to go to on a date?
Or, do you prefer to go hiking or cycling or sightseeing with your Sweetie?
Please share your ideas in the comments...I'm all ears.  :)

Happy Wednesday Y'all!
With Love, Camille

Every Quarter Century (so far)

So far I've flown to Victoria on Vancouver Island twice.
Twenty-five years ago with Helijet and this past Monday with Harbour Air.
Both times I went with Howie and we flew for free.  Yippee!  :)

A friend of ours worked for Helijet long ago, and she gave us tickets 
so we went for the day.  That's how our first flight over was free.  

This past spring our Calvin did a photo shoot for Harbour Air.
He was paid for his services with cash and two round-trip tickets.
He gave us the tickets for our anniversary ~ wasn't that sweet?

Want to see what he was able to capture of their fleet?
Click here to see one of Calvin's photos.

So, our track record includes a flight to the Island
once every quarter century.  A rare treat for sure.  
We only make it every twenty-five years if it's free ~
that's a necessary requirement.  :)

Here's the seaplane we boarded in Vancouver Harbour.



Howie sat in the front row seat directly behind the pilot.



I was allowed to sit right beside the pilot!  See the headset?  Fun times.



As we flew over the Lion's Gate Bridge, Howie snapped a photo.
We have walked under this bridge and driven on it...now we have flown over it.
See the group of trees the bridge seems to disappear into?  That's Stanley Park.
The seawall we have walked many times is visible beneath it.



Heading into Victoria Harbour.



Howie with *our* plane...



...and both of us with it.  Self-timed shots are the best.  :)



The day was glorious with hardly a cloud in the sky.
The Legislative Buildings in the background and the 
hanging baskets in the foreground were stunningly beautiful.
One thing I *love* about Victoria is the hanging baskets...they are everywhere.



Howie looking back toward the inner harbour.
The Empress is on the far left in this photo.



Couldn't resist using Emma's Macro setting for a few flower shots.
(Thank you my little love for loaning me your camera.)



We saw many Harbour Air planes taking off and landing throughout the day.



We walked and walked and walked along a never-before-discovered path.
It was lovely and has become our new favourite.  
We think it's the best kept secret of Victoria.



Our view from one of the benches along the path.
Looking to the right...



...and to the left.



Oh, look...it's us!  :)



Howie and the pilot heading into our home-bound plane.



Howie took a turn in the cockpit ~ a definite highlight.



The views on the return flight were amazing.



See those little tiny white dots?  They are yachts and sailboats.

If you look closely, you'll see the tail end of a ship directly below us.
It was one of the BC Ferries ~ I took this shot looking straight down.
The pontoon is hiding most of the ferry ~ they are HUGE.
Whenever we go to Victoria, we normally travel on the water, not above it.



Vancouver from the air.



Landed and docked (on the water) safe and sound.



The view looking back at the line-up of seaplanes docked at Vancouver.
The plane furthest away in this shot was the one we flew on.



It was a real treat to have had a day out together...just us.
Thank you, Calvin, Fraser and Emma for sending us away 
for the day and for holding the fort ~ We love you!  XO

Wonder if we'll go again.  
Hmmm....maybe in another twenty five years?

Many Blessings,
Camille

Just Like That

It was Howie's birthday yesterday.  He's another year older.
I know, that's how it works.  But, it always surprises me.
It kinda sneaks up and then, there it is ~ just like that.

My *little* brother invited us to have a date night at his home.
He always does things so nicely, and, he makes the most wonderful food.  

How could I refuse?  I couldn't.  So, I didn't.

If your little brother invited you for dinner
and offered to cook, would you go?  Well...maybe not.
However, in my case, it's always a wise move to say yes.

The table was pushed right up to the windows.
The candle was lit and the room was cosy.

The food was absolutely amazing ~ as per usual.
It's his hobby to create yumminess in the kitchen.
And, sometimes, we get to be the fortunate taste testers.

Want to know what was on the menu?  Yes?  Okay, I'll tell you.
We were served sparkling apple juice, gourmet burgers with some sort of 
hand-crafted herbed butter tucked inside ~ stacked high with avocado slices,
roasted elephant garlic, bacon and feta cheese...all on a fancy grilled bun.
And, for dessert?  Individual pecan pies (from the bakery) complete
with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top were set before us.  Dear me!

We were spoiled rotten.  And, thoroughly satisfied.

Now...don't you wish you had a little brother like mine?
Sorry, he's already taken (as a brother, that is). 
And, I only have to share with one sister.
We've learned to share nicely, by the way.  At least, we try.  :)

But, I digress.  The point of all this is that it was Howie's birthday.
It was such a treat ~ we thoroughly enjoyed our night out.

Thank you so much Nathan!  You spoiled us both. 
You are the best ~ most of the time.  ;-)

With Love,
Camille

Twenty-Two Years Ago

Twenty-two years ago, on this day,

at 10:30 in the morning ~ I married my Sweetheart.

We were young.  We were happy.  We were full of hope.

We had no idea what joys and sorrows lay ahead.

We didn't need to know.  It was a blessing that we didn't.

By God's Grace, we were building our lives together on the LORD.

And, He is Faithful.  SO Faithful.

We have nothing to fear when we are HIS.

At our reception we sang "I Cherish the Treasure of You" to each other.

One part of the song includes these words ~

"This sacred vow I make to you, does not contain an "if",

though I'm aware that trials lie ahead.

I will love you, and pray with you, and through it all I will

stay with you, our home will be a refuge of unconditional love."

It's a beautiful song and very meaningful.

And, it's all possible with the LORD.

We have had many happy times ~ many joy-filled times.

There have also been times of sorrow, 

as well as trials and troubles along the way.

But, God is Faithful.  He does all things well.

Prior to our precious Austin's passing,
we had ups and downs in our lives...as everyone does.

However, nothing compares to the depth of this sorrow.

We've never gone through anything like this.

But, God is Greater and He is Deeper.  

His ways are best and He walks this path with us.

Last night, we tended Austin's grave together.

It's what we did for our anniversary date.

Twenty-two years ago, we could not have imagined ourselves here.

But, we are here.  And, so is our Precious Saviour.
Each step of the way.

Many Blessings,
Camille

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Drip. Drip. Drip.
Yup.  That's me.  Sometimes.
Not good.  Not good at all!

My friend just blessed another friend's daughter with a wedding shower.
She gave a devotional talk to the bride-to-be.
But, we were all there to listen in.  And it *hit home*.

The verse?
"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a
contentious woman are alike."
~ Proverbs 27:15 ~


The examples she gave were real and true.  Sadly.

She said that if we treated co-workers like
we sometimes treat our husbands those co-workers would avoid us.
Yup. Indeedy.

Again, we must all sit up and take notice.
Why would God's Word address this if it were
not true?  And true often.

It is a universal vice.
We all, at one time or another, will struggle with it.
And it is sin.  And where ought we to run with our sin?
That's right ~ to the Cross.

The LORD died for this.
HE will give strength and grace to live for HIM.
He enables us to do as we ought to.  And, HE forgives.

How wonderful it is!
One day at a time.  Moment by moment.  With HIM.

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, 
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
~ Proverbs 16:24 ~

On this journey too.
Many Blessings, Camille

T.W.E.N.T.Y.

It's not REALLY possible
that we have been married for 20 years...is it??
Time marches on.
We are growing old together.

On our wedding day we sang Steve Green's song

"I Cherish the Treasure of You" to one another.

Little did we know that in

the midst of our joys and blessings,

there would be trials.  Difficult days.

Heartache and sorrow.

And through it all, we would grow to love more.

Deeper.  Stronger.  Little did we know.

 Oh how FAITHFUL our Great God is!!

HE is the ONE Who keeps us.

HE is the ONE Who sustains us.

HE is the ONE Who gives us life.

All praise and glory to HIS Great Name!

If I'd known then what I know now,

I would have married my Sweetheart MUCH sooner.

AND I wouldn't have given him as

much trouble as I did! :)

Psalm 91 is our Life-Psalm together.

It has been a great source of comfort and blessing over the years.

We are so thankful to belong to the LORD!

HE alone is worthy of all our praise.

Many blessings,

Camille

If You See it...Say it!

"If you see it...say it!"

I cannot tell you how many times my husband
has said this to us over the years.
I have no idea where it came from ~
But it is full of truth and love.
That is, as long as what we have to say is something good!
There are also those times when
we ought to say NOTHING at all.

Having cleared that up....


If you notice something nice someone has done,
tell them you appreciate it.
If you are thankful for something,
express it.

Very simple, right?

Let's put it into practice
in our marriages and see what happens!
I'm thinking only good can come of it. :)


"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
~ Colossians 4:6 ~

He Cannot be My EVERYTHING

We cannot, as a wife, expect our husband
to be what he was never called to be.

Our EVERYTHING.


Only God in Heaven can fill that void.
That need can only be met by HIM.

It isn't fair to put that kind of pressure on our husband.
He was never meant to live up to that standard.
We are not called to be his everything either.

But ~ we can be something.
Someone who walks faithfully alongside.
Someone who is there ~ for richer or for poorer,
For better or for worse,  In sickness and in health ~ until death.


How?
Only by the grace of God.

HE is the ONE Who keeps ~ the ONE Who sustains.
We both belong to HIM.  Our all is found in HIM.
HE is our EVERYTHING.

May we live in light of this and follow Him all our days.
All of this is only possible in His strength and with His enabling.
We cannot possible do any of it on our own merits.
How wonderful to be able to look to Him each step of the way.

Seeking to follow Him wherever He leads.
For His glory and by His grace.

Many Blessings, Camille

Choose Your Love and Love Your Choice

I don't know where I heard this one, but it is so simple.
Love is a choice.
We choose who we marry.
AND then we choose to love the one we have chosen ~
By God's Grace.

S.I.M.P.L.E.

How can we express that love?
Life gets busy.
Things crowd in.
But we need to make time for the important things.

The husband we have been given is ~

I.M.P.O.R.T.A.N.T.

How can we show it to him today?

I Corinthians 13:4-8 are wonderful verses to prayerfully consider.
REAL love is defined there ~ it is not evidenced by feelings;

it produces
A.C.T.I.O.N.

Our "Life-Psalm"

Prior to getting married, Howie and I faced some obstacles.
Our loving Heavenly Father was so gracious to us and kept us by HIS power!
One of the encouragements to our hearts was this Psalm.
We made it our "Life-Psalm" together as a couple.
MANY times throughout our marriage we have turned to it for comfort.
It is such a blessing!
Might it encourage you in the LORD this day!

Psalm 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD,
He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side,
and ten thousand at thy right hand;
but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold
and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,
even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee,
neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands,
lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high,
because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him,
and shew him my salvation.

Holy Bible

For Better or For Worse

When we said our vows, did we REALLY
comprehend the solemnity of the promises we made?
On our wedding day we were full of hopes and dreams.
We did not foresee calamity or troubles.
We anticipated only JOY.
And rightly so.
Every marriage ought to begin this way.
With JOY.

We cannot tell how long it will be before trials
or tragedies will enter our lives.
But they will surely come.
The only way we can keep the vows we make is
with the LORD and HIS strength.

We are not to become paralyzed with fear about the
"what if's" and the "worry".

NO.

But we do need to dig deep into the LORD and HIS WORD
to fortify ourselves against those potentially devastating
trials and troubles.

We need to GROW.

If we have a sound view of Who God really is.
AND we have a living and breathing walk with HIM.
AND He is our LORD and SAVIOUR.
HE promises that NOTHING will overtake us
and we will NOT be overcome.
HE will NEVER leave us nor forsake us.
**See Hebrews 13:5b**
It is all about HIM!

How precious to know that we will not be tested
above what we can bear!
**See I Corinthians 10:13**
What a sure foundation that is!
AND the LORD will carry us through those impossible times
as we look to HIM for the strength and grace to do so.


We, like most, have experienced some heartache and trials along the way ~
but we can testify that these things have only made us stronger...
in the LORD and as a couple.
Like the strong winds that force the roots of a tree to grow deep,
the trials of life are useful to fortify us and make us strong
IN THE LORD.

If you are facing troubles and trials right now, do not lose hope!
Our Great God is the God of HOPE!
Look to HIM and seek HIM out...
study HIS WORD and seek HIM in prayer.

The following passages of Scripture have meant so much to us,
especially during the trials we have faced ~

Psalm 91 is the "Life-Psalm" we chose together ~
it is WONDERFUL to meditate on!

Psalm 40 would be a glorious Psalm to pray through.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Isaiah 26:3-4
Isaiah 40:25-31
Isaiah 41:10

Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Romans 8:26-39

Hebrews 12:1-3

How WONDERFUL God's Word is!
May the LORD use it to encourage each of us as we
seek to walk with HIM.

Blessings,
Camille