Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Thursday 4 July 2019

Playing Catch Up

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change opportunities into blessings. ~ William Arthur Ward

Hello dear friends and Happy July 4th to all my American family and friends! 

Since I last posted, some happy occasions took place which I am happy to share with you today.

My rose bushes are full of blooms. They were late this year but I've got lots to bring in and enjoy.

My oldest grandson graduated last week. Their grad gowns are such a nice shade of red! His father wore the same gown when he graduated.

He's taller than his dad now by about three inches and his dad isn't short.


We celebrated Canada Day on July 1 with my homemade cake. 

Red and white for the colours of our flag. 
Next time, I'll bake two layers instead one. It made a lovely strawberry shortcake.


My oldest son and his family rescued a puppy over the weekend. He doesn't have a name yet but they are leaning towards Scout. He's a sweet boy that was being abused at his last home. We're not sure how old he is but he isn't very big and he has small paws. He is getting lots of love now.


My youngest son is getting ready to move into his new home. Look at the wall colour they chose for the great room. Isn't it gorgeous? It's almost a perfect match to mine!
This is the subway tile for the kitchen. The kitchen is open to the dining and great room. I just love it!

My middle son is coming home at the end of the month so I am busy getting some of his favourite foods prepared ahead of time. Last year, he brought his family with him but it will just be him this year. Every second year, he brings his family which is wonderful and I wish it could be every year but flying in Canada is expensive for a family especially from the west coast. The little ones are growing up too fast. 

I will make a big pot of spaghetti sauce and freeze it. He claims I make the best spaghetti sauce and he can't wait to have some! I'll bake a few dozen cinnamon rolls too. Funny how my kids all have their favourite goodies that I made when they were growing up.  

He also loves his mama's seafood chowder so I will have that made for him the night he flies in, as well as homemade biscuits.


Lobster is in season now so I will add lobster to the chowder as well. Lots to do for his visit! Do any of you have family coming home this summer? What do you do to prepare for them?

All of these happy occasions make me grateful for my family and all the good times we share. Having a loving family is such a blessing! Enjoy your week everyone and I'm happy to say that summer weather has finally arrived here on PEI! 



Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

15 comments :

  1. Sandi,
    Thanks so much for topping by and for your kind words, my friend!! You have had quite a few of happy occasions!! Good for you! Congrats to your grandson and I love that sweet puppy!! Next year, after I am fully recovered and more settled into retirement, we will decided if we will rescue another dog...It has been almost 10 years since we had to say good bye to our sweet Savanna which broke our hearts. Love your sons new home and so glad that the other one is coming home to visit!! Sounds like you have quite a wonderful Summer in store for you and your family!! I hope you are felling better???
    Hugs,Deb

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  2. Hello Sandi,
    I can imagine your heart is just full of joy and contentment right now. When our children do well, we are so happy. Your grandson looks like a fine young man; congratulations on his graduation. The food you'll be preparing for your son looks delicious and it's no wonder he's looking forward to eating it. It really is too bad that flying in Canada is so very expensive. Have a simply wonderful time together.

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  3. Sandi, I love that your son's family rescued a dog. You are going to spoil your visiting son, it's going to be hard for him to leave!

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  4. Your cane was just beautiful for Canada Day, dear Sandi! Congratulations to your handsome grandson! You have so much to look forward to and many favorite foods to make for your family. I’m so sorry that your son’s family can’t come because of the expense. However, what a blessing for your son to come. Enjoy your special time together, my friend. Love and hugs!

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  5. Hi Sandi. I haven't been blogging much lately. I've been busy cleaning and gardening. Congratulations to your Grandson on his graduation. Your cake looks delicious. We have one thing in common. Grandkids out West and the things I bake the most often, and their favourite, are tea biscuits and cinnamon rolls. My son is not coming home from B.C. neither. It is a very long trip with kids. They have to fly to Mtl., then a 12 hr. drive to Gaspe. My daughter from Longueuil and family are coming home in Aug. We plan on visiting N.B., St-Andrews By The Sea and Sussex. Thelma xo

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  6. Congrats to your grandson on his graduation and to your son on his new home. I'm also loving the wall colours--it reminds me of Tiffany Blue.

    Scout is so cute! I have a brother who lives in Alberta and usually comes home on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. So no summer visits this year.

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  7. Sandi such happy times. Congratulations to your grandson and such big space for your other son.

    Your roses are stunning. Happy you will have your other son for a visit.

    Enjoy your family time.

    Cindy

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  8. So many happy occasions to catch up on ... so many more to come. This was a delight to read and view.

    Scout would be a perfect name for the new pup. I'm sure he is receiving lots and lots of love with his new family.

    All of the food looks delicious and I know your son will enjoy every bite. The cake with strawberries looks particularly scrumptious!

    Our daughter and three of her children flew to New Hampshire from Nevada the end of April. The children had a number of favorite foods that they wanted to enjoy during their visit, so their Aunt Carrie and their Grammy (me) tried to accommodate!

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  9. Sounds like a wonderful summer for your family. Congratulations to your grandson upon his graduation! What a wonderful milestone. Our only grandson graduated last year. It's hard to see them grow up so fast! That puppy is so cute. I am happy for him to have a loving home now. So precious. Love the color of the walls and kitchen backsplash, etc. Looks like it will be a beautiful home for their family. Wondering how your son is doing who was having the headache/concussion issues? Praying is much better by now. Praying you are doing well too. You have a lot of special cooking to do! I know you love doing these things for your family. What a blessing. Enjoy them every minute that you can.

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  10. Thank you for your visit and thank you for inquiring about my son, Pamela! He is doing better but still has issues with headaches and especially exhaustion. He had to go back to work in April {he fell on the ice in February} which was too soon but he didn't have much choice in the matter because he has a family to feed. He's had a very rough go of it. I pray he gets relief from it all soon. Yes, I'm looking forward to having my middle boy home for a visit.

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  11. How nice to see a post from you and kind of play a bit of catch up. You are just like me-making things you know your kids love. My heart glows when the girls call me for the recipes of things I made that they love.
    I am keeping your son in my prayers and wish I could wave a magic wand and make him completely well. I know how it hurts your heart to know that you can't 'fix' things for him.
    Love to you- Happy Sunday- xo Diana

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  12. My daughter is coming home to visit soon with her toddler daughter. It's the same story, she asks me to make food she loves. She lives in Singapore with husband and daughter. I was wondering if you bake the cinnamon rolls before freezing? Great to hear they rescued their puppy. Have a great week!

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  13. Hi Angela! Thanks for visiting. Yes, I always bake the cinnamon rolls before I freeze them. Enjoy your visit with your daughter and her family. Blessings!

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  14. Hi Sandi
    A lovely post of happy families. Love the look of that chowder.I must try making that it looks delicious.
    Mmmm strawberry shortcake.
    Well done to your grandson,how they grow so fast. Happy days
    X Jeanette ann

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  15. Love seeing your post this morning and those beautiful roses made me smile. Congratulations to your grandson. Your food pictures really make me hungry especially those cinn. rolls!!! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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