Luke's birthday!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

Luke is fun, helpful, loving............

.......and I could go on, but I won't :) When I told him I was gonna do a birthday post for him, he said something like, "That's nice. Then all kinds of ladies will comment and say, "happy birthday, Lukie", b/c it's only ladies that read this blog" :) :) :)

"Be strong and of good courage, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

A timeless promise for God's people. Transends time and station in life, doesn't alter whatever the circumstance. A birthday promise full of hope and also a challenge to remain faithful to this faithful God we serve.

We love you, Luke!

Coupla funnies.....:)

Just in case you wonder if I've changed and become an entirely different person since I left, I'm putting this up to let you know it hasn't happened. Sigh. I had hoped for a fresh start.......a new me.......less "only Cher" incidents and such, but alas, things are much as they were.

Case in point:

I'm out grocery shopping with Rich. I send him one way to pick up cereal while I head over to the frozen section. There I see the Delicio pizza is one sale, so I make a quick decision. As I'm leaning into the freezer I see jean-clad legs through the door, out of the corner of my eye. It's Rich. Great. I can tell him my plan. So, using hand gestures to emphasize the rightness of my decision, I explain why it would be so much better to just buy frozen pizzas for Luke's birthday instead of making them myself. Why I launched into such a detailed explanation I'll never know, but I certainly went on and on, ending the monologue with, ".....don't you agree?" while finally emerging from the freezer and meeting his eye. Only, it wasn't Rich. It was someone else. And, wouldn't you know, it's an extremely shy "someone else" and his face is all red as I stare at him dumbly, trying to come to grips with the fact that I've just told this stranger all about how important it is to have frozen vs. homemade pizza for Luke's birthday.

My other situation came in church. To offset the fact that potty-training isn't happening due to the fact that we can't seem to stay put in any one place long enough to make the torture worthwhile, I decided it would be good to train Yvetta to sit in church. It's almost been as painful as potty-training. Almost. She likes the nursery and sometimes makes that very clear during the service. She's lasted through 1 service so far. You know how sometimes, as a mom, you let certain things slide for the sake of a greater gain? Like when you overlook that your 2 year old is catapulting food b/c at least she's staying quiet? Well, it was a situation like that - during the stand-up singing I let Yvetta lay on the floor by my feet so I could just enjoy singing without having to wrestle with her. It worked beautifully. I was singing away, praising the Lord, and only slightly wondering why the 2 guys in front of me kept looking down and lifting their feet. If that helped them sing, then more power to them! Until I noticed a small hand reaching from under the pew to touch their shoes and then a blond head popping up right between them. And, of course, when I got a firm grip on her leg and pulled her back under the pew to me she had to whack her head on the seat and come up wailing. Sigh. Back to the nursery. Much to her delight.

So, life goes on. Much as it used to. Full of all the foibles that give it spice :)

Visit with Mom and Dad A.!

For the last week we've greatly enjoyed having mom and dad A. come to visit! The one thing I always envied about my siblings who lived far away was their nice, long visits with people. Now we get to enjoy longer visits! Since we live so far away you have to make the visit worthwhile! So, if any of you get the itch to come and see us, plan on a week at least :)

Laura and Grandma. Since Laura recently celebrated her 13th birthday, Grandma took her out for breakfast to celebrate this special milestone. They went to A&W together and had a wonderful time. Grandma talked about her own girlhood and about learning to trust the Lord as He unfolds His plan for her. Can anything be more important than this sharing of faith from the older generation to the younger? We are so blessed to have family that cares about us - not just about our physical well being, or how "things are going" for us - but about our hearts and our walk with the Lord.

Playing Apples to Apples together :)

Computer time with Grandpa. Maybe playing games, maybe house hunting. Grandpa spent much time helping us look for a suitable house. He even came with us to look at one place and gave some valuable advice.

Cozy book reading time before bed with Grandma.

"What's in your purse, Grandma? Any more of those candies.........?" :)

Thanks for a very nice visit, Mom and Dad! Lots of special memories! We had a rather "blue" day yesterday after you left. It was so good to have you and hard to see you go again.

But, the church cheered us up with a welcome potluck where we were presented with a gorgeous blanket that the elderly women in the church knitted/crocheted for us! Sure to keep us warm in the upcoming chilly Winnepeg days :) Warm fellowship also helps and this church is big on that! As we're still getting to know who everyone is, an evening like last night was a great way to connect and chat. And eat. Very good food :)

Installation

Well, tonight's the big night!

This evening Rich becomes officially installed as the pastor of Providence. To us, it already feels like he's the pastor here. When we talked to the kids yesterday about what tonight means, it felt kinda funny b/c it means that in the 2 weeks we've been here, he hasn't been the "real" pastor - just the "pastor-to-be" :) But tonight it all becomes official.

Today Rich's folks come into town - hurray! - as well as up to 8 other ministers, I've been told. We look forward to this final confirmation on the Lord's leading. It's been a journey - from the first phone call from the elders here to the waiting after that, to the actual "call" coming, to the weekend visit here in June, to the days and nights of labouring over the decision, to the peace the Lord gave with accepting the call, to the pain of leaving Hope and our family, to our nearly 4 week trip, to settling in and beginning the work and our new life here in Winnipeg........

to tonight.

Joshua 1:9
" Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

A promise for us, a promise for you. A promise to bank on b/c we serve an unchanging God whose promises pass from generation to generation - to those who love Him. And we love Him. Because He first loved us. So we go forward in faith, in peace and in joy.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Whew! We've been living through a whirlwind the last few days - and loving it! We've been diving headfirst into life here in Winnipeg and finding it a great place to call home. Did you notice my use of the word "home"? I'm not afraid of it anymore. Not that my love for our former "life" is fading - instead, my love for the new life the Lord has shown us is growing. He is our Rock. And He has placed us in a good place - a place that is so good b/c He is here and His people are here.

Assiniboine Park - a beautiful oasis in the middle of Winnipeg...........I think we were in the middle of Winnipeg.............actually, I'm not really sure where we were..........I'm rarely sure where we are..........

Lots of fall leaves laying around in piles just waiting for these 2 little munchkins to jump in them.

We don't have much with us in way of sports equipment, so our 1 soccer ball is getting a good workout lately!

The sunsets here are incredible!

On Friday we went to a local park with a bunch of moms and kids. The weather was unbelievable! In fact, we've had 25 degree (and even higher) weather for over a week now! Can you believe it? Wonder how things are back in Ontario? Anyone there care to let me know? Don't bother - I already know. Rain. Hah! :)

2 of the moms. Lots of fun ladies around here - lots of laughter when they all get together :)

Lots of kids, too! ON Friday evening we visited a family for an early thanksgiving dinner. Good food, good fellowship. Such a nice family and a great opportunity to get to know some more people here.

On Sat. evening Mark and Miriam came over. We love these 2. They make us laugh. Very hard. I could go into some detail but I don't want to embarrass them since I know they read this blog :)

Then, on Sunday evening we went over to Henry and Wendy's place. We were treated to horse back rides!!! Sharon, can you believe it?! I thought of you a lot while we were there! You would just love it!

Okay, so maybe I look a little corny up there, but I've been dying to get on a horse again and I was so enjoying it! This family has a coupla horses of their own and they also board horses for other owners. They have a great property with multiple dogs, a "bad cat" (as Yvetta kept saying), lots of little colourful birds and the horses. what a great place! They also have a fun, talkative family and Henry cooks like a professional chef. We also enjoyed a wonderful time of family devotions, meant to encourage us as the new pastor and pastor's family (and encouraged we were!) and a time of singing. We left there lifted up and smiling :)

And today, after the Thanksgiving service, we headed out to Bird's Hill park. There we were meant to meet with the extended R. clan for a picnic, but we ended up eating a thanksgiving picnic by ourselves on the top of a hill. Well, not exactly :) They sent out a search party and eventually found us. And we spent the rest of the afternoon having fun together.

This blessed lady and her husband have 3 married daughters and a son in the church. And 4 adorable grandchildren. This pic brought tears to my eyes as it made me think of my own mom holding Yvetta. I know my parents miss having us and their grandchildren in their church. And we miss them.

Our kids felt right at home with this family and good times were had by all as the adults and kids interacted with each other.

Bocce :)

Serious little father-son discussion. This little guy had a very cute way with words, talking with great solemnity about important things like: pretend marshmallows and fixing chimneys. I was later told he only started talking a few months ago - he's sure making up for lost time!!

4 little cuties on a roof :) Actually, it was a jump for horses. You can ride horse on a trail in this park - we'll have to do that if you come and visit, Sharon :)

And our good ol' soccer ball made another appearance. All in all, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving, which ended off with our own turkey dinner here at "home", a talk on the phone with Aunt Cora and then another talk with Karen, then a movie with the older kids and now we're off to bed. God's goodness is seen in so many ways. He has truly blessed us here in our new place.

Life here is a little different......

I'm thinking that maybe we just weren't quite prepared for how primitive life is here in Manitoba. I mean, it's not THAT far from Toronto, just outside of Ontario. But the truth hit us when we were shown to our first house. For those of you "in the know", we're staying in 2 different temporary homes (the people are gone for a time and we move in....) before we buy our own. That'll give us a chance to look around and find something suitable. Something that involves a little less.......well......work.
Every morning Luke goes to the community wood pile, does our family's share of wood chopping, and takes home what we'll need for the day.

This is...........ahem...........our neccessary. No details needed. In fact, the less said the better.

Corin in the kitchen taking a little lick of some home baking in the works - we whip up our cakes in wicker baskets.

Rich's study - complete with bear skin rug. Wow, did you know they regularily go on bear hunts here? They had this one made up especially for Rich's study. Very kind.

Laura and I do the laundry outside in the communal wash pot. It's hard work, but we're now stronger than most of the men hereabouts.

Haha! I'm assuming you know I've been joking - if you didn't realize it then you rate right up there with the folks we met in Quebec who believed us when we told them we lived in igloos. Our greatest hardship has come in the form of the above woodsman who saws the same log all day long. But only in the wind. Which blows all day long. And he squeaks as he saws. Boy, does he squeak. Our first night it was warm enough to leave the windows open while we slept. Actually, we didn't sleep. About 2 am I said to Rich, "If that person bikes by on their squeaky bicycle one more time I'm gonna go out there and strangle them!!" But Rich thought it was someone trying to take off with our trailer so he spent the night hopping out of bed to look out the window and catch them in the act. We may have to tie him up. The woodsman, not Rich.

Mr. M (the widowed man whose house we're living in while he's out visiting his children) is an avid flower grower. He has gorgeous sunflowers and has planted a row of flaming orange and yellow marigolds along the fence in the back alley behind his house.

Here's the alley - I've always been alittle afraid of alleyways b/c in stories bad things always happen in an alley. Doesn't it look dangerous? :)

Here's the front view of "our" house. Very cute place in which Mr. M. and his wife raised 6 kids.

The council held a bbq to welcome us when we came and they presented us with a basket full of survival equipment to keep us alive here in Winterpeg. (Did I just say "Winterpeg"? Slip of the tongue.......)Things like touques for all the kids, maps to get around safely, emergency rations (chocolate bars) and a year's membership to the museum. Not sure how the museum will help us survive, but we're sure excited to make use of it!

They've welcomed us so warmly!

Don't the kids look ready for anything?

We've taken up schoolwork again with a vengeance. Well, maybe the kids wouldn't use those words, but I'm pushing them to catch up after a month of doing "just enough". Even the littles are getting in on the act - Yvetta colours and Corin is learning to read. I'm not fond of teaching to read, but I sure love the results once we've got it down pat!

All in all, we're feeling at home and have started up our normal routine. It's amazing how things can fall into place wherever you are! And it's amazing how a relationship with Christ can give you a feeling of oneness with so many folks. On Sunday I was moved as we sang, "I bless the Christ of God, I rest on love divine. And with unfaltering lip and heart I call this Savious mine!" Beautiful words made even more beautiful b/c I could sing them with brothers and sisters in Christ - people we didn't even know about half a year ago. Praise God for His leading and His sustaining hand!

Safely Here

Just a quick update here to let you know that we arrived here in Winnipeg on Thursday afternoon. We toured the town, had coffee with Mark and Miriam (a couple from the church that we've gotten to know through e-mail during the summer) and then came here, to Mr. M's house. Mr. M. is a widower from the church who is kindly letting us storm and take over his house for a month while he travels into the States to visit 3 of his 6 kids. We had a lovely visit with him before he left, and now, as Corin so aptly put it, "that man is gone" :)

Yesterday was spent getting some necessities from our storage locker (like clothing - I'm SO tired of the clothes we wore while camping!!!) and settling in. A few meltdowns were dealt with - the reality of this being our new home hit us and we felt lonely for the "back home" folks. But the church people here quickly dispelled that with phone calls, invitations for visits and a display of love to our kids as they went to Kingdom Seekers and Cadets. It felt so good to connect with the people here and begin to feel at home. God has His children everywhere! What a tremendous thing it is to experience that and to broaden our scope of Christian fellowship!

Now we await the results of the building inspection that is going on in our house in Brampton! We'll keep you posted :)