Where had the time gone?

April 2011...already! Life has just whizzed by...Elder Macmillan is coming home from his mission June 8th - he has grown so much, and has served so well, we love and miss him, and will be so happy to have him home once more! It will be wonderful to share and be a part of his wackyness again!

Genna is now on her second year at BYU-I - we had the opportunity to spend  the last seven months or so with her, as she deferred from college for a while - it was sad to see her leave, but we know that we will be together again very soon. She was very busy while she was here though, nannying for a little man called Avery...cute as a button, and he loves his Genna.

Matthew and Kiera were baptized last October, I can't believe they will be 9 this year! They will also be starting a new school this year too...very exciting!

Kiera is enjoying her Tae-kwondo, and will be graduating to a Green Belt this week! Eeeeek! She loves learning the piano too, and is anxious to show her big brother what she can play, she also loves attending activity days with her friends.

Matthew loves Boy Scouts, and has many belt loops already, he is still working with his artwork, and has decided this year to try and earn some money by creating pictures for putting them onto transfers. He is busy as a bee...he loves to play soccer, and can't wait for his big brother to come home so that he can play with him!

Hamish is as busy as ever, with his first try at Paintball this past weekend...he has a few welts...but I think he enjoyed it more than he lets on!! He is a wonderful husband, father, friend, provider and 'funny' guy! I love him so very much, and we miss him when he's away on business...I wonder why he loved halloween so much this year?...

Sammie and Cameron will be coming to stay with us again this year for a while...and she is expecting again! We are thrilled! Cameron is completely adorable, I love and miss him, and can't wait to get to know him again. It will be great to be able to look after Sammie too, I just hope she is not as sick with this pregnancy as she was with him...

I am now looking after Avery till Genna gets back - finding a job is tough! So he takes up a lot of my day now. I am looking forward to spending time with my family during the summer...I can't wait to go on picnics, to plant my new garden area, visit lots of places with the children, and basically have a fun filled summer with every one! I have been keeping myself busy learning how to knit (this was something I did for Kiera), as well as trying to keep our food storage up to par...learning new tricks with that too!

Kingfisher and Blue Jay with Humming bird

Winter 2010

Well, what can I say...it's still freezing! BUT I have been able to take lots of lovely photo's (which is a good thing)

This was taken today, the snow has started to melt and now the snowdrift just looks like a wave...very awesome looking thing too!

This one was also taken today, I love it, it looks just like a fairy dancing!

This picture is of actual snowflakes, so beautiful and so delicate...I was very pleased this photo came out, these snowflakes are on my jacket, aren't they just incredible!

I LOVE this photo! Hamish and I went for a walk with Matthew and Kiera to 'the beautiful place', and underneath the dual carriageway there was no snow on the lake, but it was at least 2ft thick with ice. Hamish threw a huge rock onto the ice where there was a crack, and this picture was the result of the rock hitting the ice. The colours are just amazing!

The Artist in Progress

Matthew turned seven at the end of October, he drew this when he was six...He LOVES to draw! I will be posting new pictures on here as he does them....He really is quite the artist, and is now creating pictures for his siblings to go on tee-shirts, even gran will be getting one for her birthday (she requested it!)
He now has his own blog that we started up for him: www. theartistinprogress.blogspot.com ~ check it out!

Our First Grandson

Cameron Clark Platt was born today, Wednesday 11 November, 2009 at 8:22pm ~ weighing in at 8lb2oz, and 21.25inches long.  Mother and baby are doing fine.  What a relief, I thank the Lord that everything went well, and everyone is healthy and strong! I don't think I have ever seen Clark smile the way he did tonight, he truly is on cloud nine! Congratulations Clark and Samantha, I love you both so very much, thank you for a beautiful grandson xxx

Still Waiting...

It is now 4:00pm ~ in Canada that is! Samantha called about half an hour ago and is now officially in labour. She is in a lot of pain already, mostly in her back and cannot get comfortable at all...she can't tell where one contraction has ended and another begins...hopefully everything will continue to go well...but go...a little quicker I hope!

Samantha, Clark and their soon to be baby!

At 7:20 this morning, Samantha and Clark left to go to the hospital, where she will be induced...it is now a waiting game...I am very nervous for them, especially Samantha, and hope that everything will go well ~ God willing!

It feels wierd being here, in their home with just the hum of the refridgerator and the occasional snort from Daisy ~ who is not very happy that I haven't fed her yet! Still, orders are orders even if she doesn't understand.

I am waiting for the phone to ring, to let me know that all has gone well, that Samantha is fine, and finally discover the gender of their little bundle of joy ~ it is going to be tiny, as her bump really isn't big in the slightest...she is more nervous of bringing the baby home and to know what to do with it than delivering it, I hope I can be of some use to her for the short amount of time that I'm here. I have to admit, I am very jealous of Mary Ann ~ being so close to her sons and daughters-in-law and their new born babies, I just hope that I can have a meaningful relationship with our grandchild, and be an important part in its life.

Clark and Samantha are going to be wonderful parents, I am very grateful that they do have a strong support group here ~ just wish we were part of that group!

The Journey Begins!

Here I am, Sunday afternoon looking forward to tomorrow...finally the day is almost here, that I can go and see Samantha and Clark, and enjoy the wonderful blessing of a new child still waiting to be born! We were all kind of hoping that she would have had it by now, but, it hasn't arrived, so I will be there with her until it has!

The only downside to this situation is that because of the H1N1 ~ I am not even allowed to visit with her in hospital, that privilege is only reserved for the partner. It really is a shame that such a rule has to be enforced, and enforced simply because there are some people who seem unable to make the decision not to inflict their illness onto others and stay away ~ I mean, how selfish can someone be!

Anyway, I am flying to Canada tomorrow, leaving my husband and two children for ten days ~ hoping that all will be well, and that he will remember to feed them and get them off to school on time, oh, and remember that they will be coming home!

Crazy!

Okay ~ 4:02am, Saturday November 7th ~ I am at the computer because I simply cannot sleep! In fact, I have been awake since 2:42 this morning with ~ well yes you guessed it ~ Samantha on my mind! I, so badly want to call and check that she is okay, so badly want to be there with her, instead of here going out of my mind!

Being a parent is such a bizarre calling. You give up so much for you children, you worry and care about them as they grow, wanting them to have the best that you can give them; you teach them good principles; encourage them not to think only of themselves, but to reach out to think of and care for others; you discipline them so that they can appreciate all that they have, but most of all you love them and want the best for them to succeed in whatever they choose to do. All of this you do with all your heart, gladly, willingly, hoping that they will understand that the unconditional love that you have for them.

I don't think I really understood what it means to 'let them fly' until I had to watch my three oldest children leave home to begin their own journeys, and part of my eldest daughters journey has been to get married, and to start a family of her own with her eternal companion.

The worry never ends, the concern for health and safety is constant, and being so very far away, stetches the heart strings like nothing else ~ almost to breaking point.

Baby Platt ~ We're Waiting!!!

Baby Platt is is keeping his/her parents waiting, due date today, but hasn't shown him/herself as yet ~ I have been on tender hooks all day today, well, actually Hamish says I have been 'bouncing' all over the place ~ goodness only knows how Samantha and Clark are feeling!!  I am so nervous for Samantha ~ her first baby, our first grandchild ~ I am also very excited for both of them, and all the wonderful new experiences that await them, the joys and the struggles that come along with a new born baby. I can't wait to see them, and also to meet their new little bundle of love. They are going to be wonderful parents.

Where Is The Time Going?

November already!! Aaarrgghhh! I can't believe it...Thomas has been on his mission now for almost 4 months ~ he is thoroughly enjoying himself, loving sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ! Genna has been at university for 2 months, and Matthew and Kiera have been in First Grade for just as long...we are expecting our first grandbaby any day now and we are nervous and excited for everything to go well for both mother and baby! Matthew and Kiera celebrated their 7th birthday last month, and are already planning for next year!
Hamish is working as hard as ever, and I am still trying to find things to do with my time! I have been busy picking Choke Berries; Crabapples and Apples to make pies; jellies and jams ~ even managed to make some Pear Butter with a friend, with pears from her own tree, it has been a very productive couple of months ~ but if I never see another apple it will be fine with me :D
I have also been busy with Family History ~ I started off with 60-70 names and now have over 1,200 ~ it has been exciting and extremely fulfilling, discovering ancestors from as far back as the 1400's! That alone has kept me busy, and sharing the information with relatives has been simply wonderful...even discovered a distant cousin in Canada!

Life truly is wonderful...with more discoveries on the horizon! I can't wait!!!

Where Have I Been?

So much has happened since I last came onto my blog - I had almost forgotten about it! Shame on me...

My children are growing up so fast...I am going to be a grandma in November this year, and I am truly beside myself with happiness. My son is on a two year church mission; and my daughter is going to college after graduating this year. The twins will be in first grade, at school all day - what am I going to do with myself?

There have been changes in hubby's work too, after being laid off in January, he started another one in March, I feel blessed and relieved.

The book writing hasn't got any further, far too much going on, maybe I can start writing again when school resumes...we'll have to wait and see!

Heart to Heart - Lulu.com

This site is awesome!! For anyone wanting to publish their own work without it costing an absolute fortune - CHECK THIS OUT!! I have revised my poetry book, and it is now available from this website, amazon.com and other online sites, all over the world! The perfect way to create a book that your children have written for you to keep, and also to get it into print to send to grandparents or other relatives. I can't express how cool this site really is! http://www.lulu.com/ is amazing!! 10/10!

Book Reviews

I haven't been onto the Barnes and Noble website for quite a while, but did so today - imagine my surprise to see a book review for each of the children's books - 'What Would You Be?' and 'draw me a picture' - I am so thankful to whoever left them, and hope that they will encourage more people to buy these books.

My latest book 'What's Under My Bed?' is having some publisher difficulties, but I am hoping that it will be on the shelves soon, one way or another!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=lesley+macmillan&z=y&cds2Pid=9481

The Mirror

Warm and gentle,
loving and inviting.
Reaching out
to pull them
ever closer,
gladly dividing her
warmth and love,
and humor.
Sharing her self
with devotion,
to all her beautiful
children…
Needing so much
for them to
embrace the love that
she gives.
Her spirit is pure
and forgiving.
Her legacy,
rich and endearing.
Her countenance
radiant for all
to see – except

the one in the mirror.

by Lesley Macmillan

That's Life, isn't it?

My wonderful neighbour looked after the twins this afternoon whilst I took my daughter for her driving test! What a nerve wracking experience that was - my stomach was doing somersaults along side hers - and when I had to walk away from the car to let the driving test man get in next to her, I really didn't know what to do with myself. All I can say, is 'thank goodness for vending machines!!'

I needed something to do with myself, so I bought a packet of something - can't remember what - but I opened the packet and went to sit down in the waiting room. I managed that for a very LONG minute (if that), and walked over to the other side of the room and sat again. Nope, not working! So, I paced and nibbled, and paced and nibbled some more! I can honestly say, that there really is nothing that interesting to read in the driving center - either in the booklets they leave out, or on the walls to scare the living day lights out of you! If this is what it is going to be like waiting for my first grandchild, I think I can honestly say that I am going to be a nervous wreck!

I stood anxiously watching for her exiting the car - trying to see her expression - OH WHAT RELIEF!!! She passed!! Oh no, she passed! Joy and fear all at the same time, my baby is growing up, more independence! Of course that's good, but the worry that goes with it...well, that's life, isn't it?!

I Am!

I am sitting on the stairs,

looking at myself

in the mirror -

I start to sing

"I am a child of God"

and by the end of

the chorus,

choke back the tears

as the spirit testifies

that that is exactly

who I am!

I need no other witness,

I am His

daughter,

I am loved

by
Him.

by Lesley Macmillan

Maple Grove Magazine Interview

Today has been a good day! This morning I had an interview with Liz Kohman, Editor of Maple Grove Magazine. We met at Panera Bread, with my two youngest in tow, and had a lovely meeting, talking lots about the new book soon to be published, and about the other two already in the stores. The 'blurb' should be in their July/August Issue, so I'm excited to see it.
Also, I will be attending the Midnight Magic Party, held in the Mall of America on July 20th 9:30 - past midnight for the new Harry Potter Book that will be coming out at that time. I will be helping out at one of the booths there, and also doing a book signing! So I am very excited to be doing that, and to be involved with Barnes and Noble there. Looks like it's going to be a wonderful evening.

What Am I?

There is a special bond
between my friends and I,
I bet you can't guess what it is -
so I'll give you clues to try.

This comes is different sizes,
and shapes and flavours too.
This comes in different colours,
like red and pink and blue.

This comes, sometimes just on its own,
at times with things inside it,
like raisins, nuts and even mint,
however it comes, we down it!

It comes in pretty boxes,
where layers of them reside.
It comes in plastic wrappers
and in other ways besides.

The smell is so inviting,
so rich and strong and dreamy,
we just can't wait to eat it -
it's smooth - delicious and creamy.

I think by now you must have guessed
it's chocolate that's our passion -
it's chocolate, milk or plain or both -
it's chocolate - our obsession!

by Lesley Macmillan

At Last!

The twins and I have been busy the last few weeks planting seeds of all kinds, and at long last, we are seeing results - it is so fulfilling seeing plants grow from seeds, and the excitement in the little faces after being OH SO patient...looks like we're going to have a lovely garden full of various kinds of fruit and vegetables this year!

And, at long last, people are getting to read my blog, that, in and of itself is a major breakthrough for me - so thank you to everyone who has read it, and left a message for me - just as exciting as watching the little ones faces at finding yet another seed has sprouted!! :)

Christmas 2006

One of those days!

Today has been a great day! Things seem to be going really well - especially now that the sun has decided to show himself!! Finally, we are able to be outside in the warmth, playing with the children, planting fruit, vegetables, flowers and anything else that takes our fancy - absolutely fantastic. I feel blessed to be alive, blessed to have such a lovely family, blessed to have so many wonderful friends! I am grateful, and extremely blessed, and I give thanks to my maker for everything He gives me!

What about the books?

Both books have been read in storytime at Barnes and Noble, and both books seemed to have been received really well, as I was told. I am just grateful that people thought enough of them to want to read them to anyone! I love the books of course, so I am biased! I really would like someone to write a review of them so that others can get a feel for what they're like, and maybe be interested enough to go and take a look at them in the stores.

In the Stores!

Well, I eventually managed to get down to Barnes and Noble and take some pictures of me with my books in the store!

'draw me a picture' finally made the shelves yesterday, actually, when I went in to visit the store, they had just come in - still very exciting to see the first one there, and now this one.

It shouldn't be too long now before 'What's Under My Bed?' joins them - we are hoping to get an article in one of Maple Groves women's magazines, and maybe even the newspaper again.

If anyone out there has read one/both of the books, would you please write a review on it/them, I would be interested in your comments. Thanks!

UK Visit

Well, I am now back into the swing of things (I think) after returning from a 12 day break in England, visiting with family and friends - and can you believe it - WITHOUT the twins! I had a wonderful time, and only wished it could have been longer, but I was beginning to miss my kiddywinkies! :) I do miss everyone at home, although I know this is where I need to be.

I am now trying to get my head around sorting out the new book, titled: 'What's Under My Bed?' in the hopes that it will be available to buy, by the end of May beginning of June. I am very excited about this book, I love the storyline, and the wonderful illustrations.

My other two books are doing well, with both of them being in Borders, and Barnes and Noble by the middle of this week. Barnes and Noble have read 'What Would You Be?' in their storytime, and will be reading a few of the poems from 'draw me a picture' in the next few weeks as they are focusing on poetry for the children - so that's exciting!

Montessori School Visit

Michele and I had our first 'public' debut today! We went to visit a school that one of our friends works in, to go and read the books, and draw pictures for loads of children - we had a wonderful time, and had lots of fun too! It was lovely to see the reaction of the children as the book was read to them, they were totally engrossed, and so excited all at the same time. We had a truly wonderful morning with them and their teachers. Michele showed the children how to draw some animals, using a very large pad and crayons - I was fascinated myself, just watching her!

We would both like to say a 'huge' thank you to the Montessori School for letting us come in today, to share our books with them, and for Cheri for inviting us - Thank You!

What's Under My Bed?

Well, here we go! Michele and I are getting geared up for this new book to be released in May this year, we have found a new publisher, and are very excited with this new venture. This book is going to have a completely 'different' look about it, and hopefully the change will attract readers. 'What's Under My Bed?', will be a book for 4-8 year olds (my teenager says so!)

The other books are selling well, with both books on Amazon.com, Borders.com and Barnes and Noble.com, and 'draw me a picture' only on Amazon.co.uk - Thank you to everyone for their support, and well wishes for both the books, and the wonderful comments that we've had from all of you.

counter

magic tricks

| View Show | Create Your Own

The Giggles...

There's nothing quite like a child's laugh,
it brightens up the room,
it takes away the emptiness,
and all the gloom and doom.

There's nothing quite like a child's laugh,
it draws you in somehow,
it makes you want to stop and play,
and join in the fun right now!

There's nothing quite like a child's laugh,
it's melody renewing,
it wants you to join in the game,
to stop what you are doing.

There's nothing quite like a child's laugh,
to take away the pain,
it makes you want to hear it,
again, again, again!

by Lesley Macmillan

'What's Under My Bed?'

Michele and I are teaming up again this year to release another children's book called 'What's Under My Bed?' It seemed such a natural thing to write a poem about because I don't know many children who don't have a fear about something lurking underneath there!! I know I certainly did.

We are hoping that this will be out in time for Halloween, so we finalise everything by the end of June/July '07 so that it will hopefully be in the stores by the beginning of October. We are both very excited about the new title, and hope that children will enjoy this book as much as 'What Would You Be?'

So Far So Good!

Well, so far the sales on the book:- 'What Would You Be" have been wonderful. The interview we had with the Maple Grove/Osseo Press came out last wednesday. I am still trying hard to get the book 'out there' so please, if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to pass them on!

What Would You Be? - Is now available to buy at Borders in Maple Grove!

Bubblegum

Round and pink,
and strawberry flavor,
is probably her
favorite one.
Gradually chewing
till it's lovely and soft,
and then slowly she sticks
out her tongue!
The blowing begins,
and she takes her time,
to see just how big she
can make it,
when suddenly
far too much blowing was done,
and it's covered her face
like a blanket!

by Lesley Macmillan

Amazon.com

Amazon sell both of the books online, please click on the link(s) on the left hand side of this blog to access them.

Barnes and Noble.com

Barnes and Noble.com now have 'What Would You Be?' and 'draw me a picture'.

Poetry

Poetry is an exciting way to lose yourself in your imagination, and to be able to use it in books to help the younger reader 'see' the endless possibilities of where they could go; what they could do; what they could be, or even how they feel about the world around them; or even what is happening in their lives as they grow up; the things they love or are frightened of. Anything can be expressed in poetry, whether or not it rhymes - really doesn't matter - the feelings and thoughts are their very own, and are therefore very real to the individual.

I love to write, and am hoping that by expressing my own thoughts and feelings, it will encourage children to see the many wonderful journeys they can have too - just by imagining!

draw me a picture

This book follows hot on the heels of 'What Would You Be?' - it is different, in so much as this is a collection of poetry, with illustrations by various artists aged between 3 and 10 years of age, the pictures are the children's own interpretation of the poem, and they are just wonderful!

What Would You Be?

This is the title of one of my new childrens books. I love this book! This is my first attempt at a children's book, and the feedback so far has been very positive, both from people both Michele and I have spoken to, so that is very encouraging.

What Would You Be? - is basically asking the question of children, that if they were a kind of animal, what would they be? Or are they perfectly happy being themselves? Illustrated by Michele Holcomb, the wonderful vibrant watercolors truly compliment, and bring alive the poem/story.

Imagination plays such a huge part in all childrens lives, it allows them to escape to a completely different world, and allows them to be anything that they want to be, but most of all, to be children, as they are supposed to be!