New Property

One small part of our land (what will probably end up as our driveway).

The triangle shows the shape of our 9.43 acres.

The first tree that was uprooted from the land with David's brute force.

The lumberjack that has been hiding for the last 2 years has come out! After deciding that his teeth wouldn't quite cut it, he resigned himself back to his favourite tool- his chainsaw.

Yes, this is me with a tree over my head and Yes mom and dad, I really am still your daughter.

The Countdown

After a year of looking at houses and finding nothing, it seemed that the Lord was leading us build a house instead. Build?! I protested! That's too much time, too much energy, too much trust, too many decisions for my undecisive brain...yet after months of working in my heart I'm realizing this is the very stretching that the Lord knows I need to trust Him more.

Yesterday we went and signed the papers for the land and gave them the big check...gulp! Tomorrow the deal will be finalized and it will be officially "ours"! I use quotations because I'm realizing more and more how it is only entrusted to us, but really belongs to the Lord! When we met with the lawyer yesterday, she showed us a map with the property and how in her title search and research she discovered that the city never intended for that piece to be sold seperately from the rest. However, because a road goes through, a clause was made in 1990 that accidently allowed it to be seperated and sold. We feel that even when we were 2 and 4 years old, the Lord was preparing a special place for us!

Tomorrow after we get the official word, we plan to make snow angels on the land to celebrate!

True Love

The past few weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me in a lot of different ways. However one message has been repeated from several different places and people that has opened my eyes and heart in a new way.
In summary...
"It is very easy to mistake our love for ministry with our love for God."

This is a deeply troubling thought, but a very true and necessary one. It's so easy to get caught up in "ministry" things and feel that by increasing those things, I am closer to the Lord. Yet, this is not necessarily true. The last few weeks have brought a whole new passion to know the Lord deeper when I changed my focus. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"  (1John 3:1a)


How amazing that our Father would want to lavishly display His love to us, in the greatest way in the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus, but yet it doesn't stop there! When I forget to look for those demonstrations of His love, I don't see them, yet His love remains...may you and I seek to only be satisfied in the lavish love of our great Saviour!

Canadian Transitions

Before ever coming to visit David in Ontario I heard about this "great Canadian restaurant" called Swiss Chalet. I imagined a cute Chalet looking building that served things with Swiss cheese. Eventually after arriving in Ontario my mental picture was corrected with reality. Not only did it not look like a chalet, I was informed that their specialty was chicken! The first few times we went to Swiss Chalet and I had their chicken with their "famous sauce" I did NOT like it! It was not the taste I was expecting!

So now, after a half dozen Swiss Chalet experiences and trying dipping sauce that you can buy and make at home...I realized this week that I really like Swiss Chalet sauce! I feel like I can now claim to be part Canadian.

Do the dishes or else...

Ok...so I didn't actually tie David up until he did the dishes, it just happened to be where he was practicing a rope trick that might possibly be used in the summer curriculum. He had to explain how to do it (on paper) for the students and had me take pictures of each step...but it sure does make me look like mean wife, eh? (Thankfully David is great at washing dishes, even when not threatened. =])

New House

Christmas Break gave time for David to help my Dad build an adorable doll house for my niece, Salomae. Many, many hours were spent to complete it. The joke was that this was a practice run in building a house before this spring...no joke...we are planning to begin building a house this spring! We feel so blessed that the Lord has provided this opportunity!!!

Learning to Ice Skate

Ever since summer when her mom bought her ice skates, Josie (my niece) has been begging to ice skate. What a perfect thing for her "Canadian Aunt and Uncle" to do with her while visiting. She was a determined 4 year old and did great. David helped her stand at first but then I put my skates on and we skated for real.

After an hour, Josie could stand up on her own; at least while she was leaning up the boards that is!

Rick-a-Rick got to experience an ice rink for the first time. It's fun even in boots!

Ginger Bread Houses

It was SO fun to be in Minnesota for Christmas and see family and friends. My neices and nephews are growing up! They are so fun and so cute! Here's My sister Rachel with our brother's daughter, Salomae (age 3 1/2). Rachel made the gingerbread and we got to help the kids put them together.

Josie (age 4), Rachel's daughter.

Lots of fun building and eating!

My mom (aka "Bumma" or "Grandma") with Christopher (aka Rick-a-Rick) age 2 1/2

Christmas Party Volunteers

We are praising the Lord for the 5 Christmas Parties that were held in the public schools in Orillia, plus the Christmas Party at our Good News Club. 8 children made confessions of salvation. It was so exciting because these children all clearly knew that they wanted to have their sins forgiven! Some of the volunteers are pictured here.

CYIA Retreat

It was neat to join the 19 young people that gathered from Friday to Sunday for the "CYIA" (Christian Youth in Action) Retreat. Once again I was so impressed and encouraged by the desire of these young people to love the Lord and praise Him even when it is tough.

One of the fun things that happened was a time of drama exercises. Some of them were quite hilarious. The picture shows a restaurant scene. They also acted out the Christmas story. It was really neat to see them get involved in personalizing it.