Jaime Lauren Photography | Fine Art Film Wedding Photographer | Okanagan, Sonoma, Carmel, Big Sur

One of my favourite things about coming home is getting to visit my Grandma.  She’s vibrant and lovable, a prayer-warrior and a great game strategist.  Today in fact, she put mom and I in our place while playing cards.  Mom and I thought she’d overlooked a major move she could make, so we both hinted at the opportunity.  We don’t do that often because she’s usually as vigilant as a one-eyed hawk, but this move was so blatantly obvious, it seemed cruel to let her pass it by.  When she realised that we were trying to coach her into a move, she informed us that her hesitation was perfectly legit–if she didn’t play the card we hoped she would, she’d be able to thwart mom’s next move!!!  Shame on us for doubting the sharp-as-a-tack strategies that my 93-year old grandmother can boast of.  Except that she wouldn’t, ’cause she’s so humble.

If there was one thing about my Grandma that I hope to pass on to my kids and grandkids one day, it’d be her love of classic hymns.  Up until recently she still played for the residents’ choir at the assisted care home where she lives, and not too long ago she was traveling to another care home in town, to play for their residents.  Sometimes, at the behest of others, she leaves her door open so other residents can hear her play.  She’s only ever had a few lessons and yet has played for choirs and churches, family and friends, on both piano and organ, for decades.  She can play by ear and transpose on the spot, but hates playing more than a few sharps!  Her old worn hymnals are dog-eared and yellowed; bobby pins clipped to the top of the pages mark her favourites.  She and I both share a great love for “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.  Grandma claims that she has the appetite of a teenager, but she also plays piano with as much verve and dynamism as someone a fraction of her age.  Her gnarled fingers dance along the keys emphatically pounding out chords and adding flourishes and trills wherever she sees fit.  She plays the way I cook–the result is different every time.

I LOVE this amazing woman of faith!!!  And now that I’ve written all this, I want to pay tribute to my grandparents on the other side!  I’ll have to feature them in another Friday’s Favourite.

And speaking of this new little tradition I’m in the process of forming, I seriously cannot believe how difficult I’m finding it to make Friday’s Favourite happen.  That said, there’s no way I’m bailing.  I love that it forces me to add a more personal element to my blog, as well as do something with the photos that have nothing to do with work.  Also, I’ve already heard I have a few followers for this feature!  Thanks for letting me know…it’s great encouragement to keep on trucking.  Know what else I need some encouragement with?  The goal I set two months ago to be able to do 100 full sit-ups and 100 ‘man’ pushups by July 1.  Haha…2 weeks to go and what am I at?  40 sit-ups and 20 pushups.  Oops.  Anyone care to offer me a little incentive?  Just joking…er, well half-joking!

Anyway, here’s to my Grandma F!  Ich liebe dich Grandma!

PS  I LOVE the fact that every time I see my Grandma F she’s wearing the pearls I brought back from China for her.  Sometimes she even falls asleep with them on.  Now that’s one classy Mennonite lady!

She’s the crown jewel in the Okanagan’s crown, the undisputed reigning beauty that Vernonites yearn for when away and anticipate when coming home.  Kalamalka Lake is ours; unlike Okanagan Lake which eases 135 langourous kilometers southwards from Vernon through the valley, we share the lake with with no other city.   She’s also one of four lakes I pass during the one-hour drive from the airport to my parents’ house, but the level of giddiness that rises up in me when I see the sunlight flickering off her water’s trademark teal, pales in comparison to the happiness I feel when passing the other three lakes (all beautiful in their own right, but can’t hold a candle to Kal).

This shot below was taken two days before my wedding as I was lining up the aisle in my head with the picnic table you can see in the background.  Yup, my wedding took place right here, with this view, almost exactly two years ago.  Best view of my life as I started up this aisle.  The man I love, my family and closest friends, and all surrounded by the hills and mountains I call home, reflecting off the peacock-coloured waters of my favourite lake.

Yesterday I returned to Kal Park and headed down to Juniper Bay (the name of this part of the park) with one of my best friends and bridesmaids and we had an almost identical view when we walked in.  Not a soul in site, but over a dozen marmots scurrying around the grass!  Both my friend and I mourned how much time we spend away from this lake, and dreamed about returning with our American husbands to call this our permanent home.  What, dreams are free and don’t have to be realistic right???

Well at least I’ll be back soon enough…I’ve got a wedding to shoot at one of the wineries in Kelowna at the end of July, at which time the glacial-fed cerulean waters of Kalamalka Lake will have warmed enough to jump in!

Glorious right?