Do you still need to get your shoes on?

I was speculating with my kids the other day about when Jesus Christ will come to earth again.  Olivia said she thinks he's coming in 30 years (based on a scripture story that reminded her of the world right now that was 30 years before Christ's first coming) so she thought she would be 40 years old.  I asked if she would be ready then.  She and Ashlie both seemed to think they would be.  I asked if they would be ready if He came in just 5 years, when they were 15 and 17.  Their eyes got wide and they looked uncertain.  Just then Alex piped in, "I'm ready right now.  Well, except I need to get my shoes on!"

It reminds me of a Primary song (click on 'Primary Song' to hear it):

"I wonder, when He comes again, will herald angels sing?
Will earth be white with drifted snow, or will the world know spring?
I wonder if one star will shine, far brighter than the rest?
Will daylight stay the whole night through?  Will songbirds leave their nest?
I'm sure He'll call his little ones to gather round His knee,
because He said in days gone by, 'suffer them to come to me'.

"I wonder, when He comes again, will I be ready then?
To look upon His loving face, and join with Him in prayer?
Each day I'll try to do His will and let my light so shine,
that others seeing me may seek for greater light divine.
Then when that blessed day is here, He'll love me and He'll say,
'You've served me well, my little child, come unto my arms to stay!'."

Canadian Thanksgiving

My in-laws are from Canada (Sarnia, Ontario), so we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with them on the Sunday closest to Columbus Day in October (also the Sunday closest to my birthday).  They go to Tucson, Arizona every year for American Thanksgiving, which makes it so we don't have to alternate going to Rob's side of the family one year and mine the next.  It works out well for all of us.


My mother-in-law always makes a full turkey dinner as well as cabbage rolls, a dish passed down from generation to generation.  She also makes them on Christmas day. 

Left to right: Scott, Christine (Rob's sister), Megan (their daughter), Joanne, me, Rob, Harv.


The kids: Alex, Ashlie, Avery, Olivia & Nick (not a lot of cousins on this side of the family!)
Rob's dad built this playset (with Nick's help!) for the kids to play on when they're visiting Grandma & Grandpa Jackson.  He did a marvelous job and the kids LOVE it.  There is a sandbox and he even put handles to help Avery climb the ladder!