"What does it look like in heaven"....

I came across this song from it being re posted on Facebook.  I love the lyrics and it is beautifully sung by this young artist.  I hope you enjoy it too.  I have listened to it over and over and thought about a few people that I will be seeing again when I reach heaven.  I guess then I can ask them, "so, what have you been doing in heaven?"

Also posting some of my favorite black eyed susan pictures.

Have a great day everyone!

Thanks for stopping by the country.

Mosaic Monday Hockey Moments....

I finally got some still shots of Ben's Provincial medal and his hockey equipment done.  Thankfully there is still a little bit of snow in the yard and it was my backdrop for todays "photo shoot".....professionals make this picture taking stuff look so easy!  A professional, I am NOT!

Some of Ben's equipment has been kicking around the entry waiting for me to get these pictures done before the hockey bag gets packed away.  I washed most of his equipment..only to hear this comotion from the basement..."Mom, did you wash my GOLD WINNING equipment".....oops!  Too late Benny!  What is it with boys and not being able to wash their stinky equipment!

I thought these pictures looked kinda neat as black and white and this will also be my Mosaic Monday post for over at the Little Red House.

We have had a great run of hockey in our little town.  I remember when Ben was about 4 or 5 years old and we would take him to the rink for public skating.    It took us a little while to sign Ben up for hockey though.  Alot of his little friends started as Mites, but we just didn't know if we wanted to do the "hockey thing".  Finally though, one fall registration session, Darrell came home and just said "I signed Ben up for hockey!"... no discussion, nothing!!  At first I panicked, because we were busy on week ends with That Country Place when it was the gift shop, and I just didn't know if I wanted to be a "hockey mom".

I remember his first "tryout" session....oh boy!  He had some catching up to do and could hardly skate backwards.  I thought for sure he would come off the ice discouraged and want to quit,,,,but I was wrong!!  and our years of hockey in Hanna Minor hockey began!  Of course, now it is all "memories" and over the years I have kept a scrapbook of Ben's hockey.  It has been a fun album to work on as it is one theme, I used the Colts colors, a great way to incorporate all those "team" photos you get and will be a great keepsake for him.  

Learning to skate on a little "puddle" and on the dugout

Needing help from dad to tie up his skates

Some hockey camp moments with the Neidermayer brothers.  Every little boys dream to skate with some NHL stars.

Ben did experience a broken leg and it happened when playing hockey.  

I don't think there is one game that Darrell or I have not been at.

Darrell was working on this Dec 18th day and I was running late trying to get away from

having the shop open.  I was just headed out the door to the game, when the phone rang.  

It was another hockey mom telling me not to worry, but Ben had been hurt!!

A broken leg set him back and he was not able to finish the season that year.  Turned out he had a cyst in his bone, so that leg would have broke eventually.  I am just glad that I didn't see him on the ice that day.  When I arrived at the rink, he was already moved onto some tables and waiting for the ambulance.

Movin up the ranks to Pee Wee..

Coaches corner is a page I started doing.... 

Ben was fortunate to be able to play in 1 Bantam Provincials hosted in Hanna

as well as 3 Midget Provincials (2 of those hosted in Hanna), over the course of his hockey years.

Being from a small town, you play with the same kids year in and year out!

Great memories..

What would hockey be without some cheering fans!!

Midget already!! 

Wearing the hard hat!

The boys came so close to winning a medal last year too,,,,but it wasn't meant to be.

There is alot to be learned for both parents and kids in organized sports.  We have been part of a great group of parents and I will miss seeing them all at the rink as we cheered our kids on.  This year was the best though.  Hosting the Provincial B tournament in Hanna was great!!  Small town living at its best as you would  see the stands full with hometown fans cheering our boys onto a great victory!  I work at one of the banks in town, and had many clients asking how the team was doing over the year and when the boys brought home the Gold Medal I had lots of congratulations from people at work!  The last Midget team to bring home a gold medal in Provincials in Hanna was 40 years ago!!!  So our boys did the community proud too!

A proud dad and an emotional Ben :)

We love you Benny and are proud of you.  May you always play in the game of life with integrity, honesty and know that hard work always pays off.

It was bitter sweet as I watched Ben come out of the dressing room for the last time.  The hallway was filled with cheering fans and parents and when each player walked down the hallway he was greeted by applause, high fives and "great job"......  

Well, sorry about the long post today ladies!  Thought it would be a good way to show you some of my scrapbooking pages too.    Hope some of you are still reading!!   Now I must really get back to my income taxes!!  I think I have about an hours worth of work left and that can get crossed off the list! 

Also posting to MellowYellow Monday

The little country church...

It was a beautiful Sunday here in Alberta!!  Warmer temperatures and sunshine had one hoping spring is just around the corner.  After church we were on the road to a small community called Oyen for game three of Ben's second round of playoffs.   While driving around the little town, we came across this old church.  Old church buildings are right up there with some of my favorite building to try and capture in a photo.   I trudged through some rather big snow piles that were around this now closed building.  This will be my Mosaic Monday post over at the Little Red House as well as Mellow Yellow Monday

I grew up in a few small communities in Saskatchewan.  Wapella and Leader were the smallest towns.   I grew up as a PK (preacher's kid) and have wonderful memories of the small churches that my dad was a pastor at.    Today, I was also reminded that you do not need to be in a church building to say a prayer or share your thoughts with the God who created you.   Ben was having a bit of a rough first period in his game today.  It found me pacing and praying :)  and thankful that the God of this huge universe cares about a mom watching a hockey game.   

I am also posting some pictures from the internet and one picture from my trip to Europe of other country churches.  Oh!  Ben's team won their game today and are now onto the League Championship game next week end.    Go Colts!

Mellow Yellow Monday...

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers.  They look so cheery and friendly!!   Some of us are in the middle of very wintery weather, so I thought this collage may cheer us up!   I am linking this to Mellow Yellow Monday and Mosaic Monday  I am also linking to a "newbie" site at Debbie Doos

Today, I am very thankful for small answers to prayer....God answered and I am resting in Him to continue to work out the details for some of the steps my son, Ben, has to take in deciding what he wants to do after graduation this year.  Sometimes being a mom and letting your kids go is a tough one, but it is teaching me that I have to  pray more and trust God to work in my boys lives.

Thats what I am thankful for today on this wintery Sunday afternoon.  Thanks for checkin in :)