Florida Trip

When you're asked if you'd consider going to Florida for a training in January you feel very privileged. CEF Ontario sent us for training on Volunteerism with an organization called Newell & Associates. Al & Wendy Newell have worked with many different organizations like Compassion, Samaritan's Purse, The Billy Graham Association, Union Gospel Mission, on and on the list goes. They try to help organizations to have a Biblical view on volunteers so that we can all work together to see God's kingdom grow.

The mission of sharing Jesus with the children of Ontario is not something that 15 staff can do. We've always struggled with seeing how huge the province is and how there's no way that we can have sustainable ministry happening in so many different places. The vision was cast for developing Area Teams in each school district, people passionate about reaching the children of their own area. With 5-6 people coordinating Prayer, Club ministry, Summer ministry, Teacher Training, Church Relations & Advocacy, a team can work together to reach the children. There is huge potential for an explosion of ministry as these key leaders get involved in the ways that they feel most passionate and gifted and spur others on to get involved.

I was privileged to be enabled to take part in the 3 day course on Volunteer Ministry Development with 5 others from CEF Ontario (31 students total). It was incredibly beneficial for David and I to be able to get on the same page regarding all of this process and the heart behind it. He took the course 2 years ago, shortly after Nathan was born so I was kind of left in the dark. The following week David took the Level 2 course for 3 days.

What an amazing blessing to be "stuck" in Florida for the 4 days in between the course too. =] God blessed us in ways beyond our imagination even!! One of the biggest ways was that someone who was connected to the course works at Disney World and so was able to bring us for free! We had not planned to go at all as it's not in price range and we figured the boys wouldn't remember it. Nathan loved it and is still talking about "riding Dumbo the elephant and spinning tea cups".

 I'll never stop being teased by my dad that I cried when I saw Mickey Mouse when I was 1.5 years old. Here's proof dad that I didn't cry this time. =] Nathan probably would have cried if I made him stand alone next to Mickey but instead he watched with awe and suspicion. 

Riding Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Riding the Spinning Tea Cups

We had decided our Christmas gifts this year would be to go to Sea World for the day. Seeing the shows I was nearly moved to tears seeing the beautiful animals that God has made!

My childhood dream of seeing the Killer Whale show came true and my kids were with me!

Nathan got to ride a train at Sea World

We got to ride the whales!

An Intern!

What a blessing it has been for David to have Tim Lemont as an intern! Tim has been a Summer Missionary for several summers and worked at March Break Camp as a counselor and Co-Director of March Break Camp last year. He attended CEF's Children's Ministry Institute from September-November and then came to work with us immediately afterwards.

From mid-November to Christmas Break, Tim lived with our family and worked here. From January-April he's living with a host family from our church and from April-August a different family. 

It has been David's dream for several years to have an intern - someone to be able to mentor and encourage and to have to help with all the ministry opportunities and to develop new things. It's super exciting to see that dream lead to the realization of another dream- a week of Summer Camp Good News is going to happen in our area this year! Tim was able to locate a facility in our area that is actually available during the summer (something we didn't think actually existed because of all the camps that run their own programming around here.) Praise God for His provision and leading!

Lots of ministry opportunities have been arising, some in our area and others much further away. David's schedule is starting to look a little crazy for the next few months with traveling...but that's good! Some of the travel the boys and I have been/are able to tag along (more on that in another post)! 

The Deck!

David was able to take some time off at the end of the summer for vacation/paternity leave so that he could build our deck! He used cedar trees he cut and milled from our property which helped a lot with the cost.

 The boys LOVED watching Daddy & Mr Vaughn (a family friend who came to help a lot) work.

 Nathan still talks about the "escator" and once in a while runs toward the end of the driveway hoping that the excavator might still be sitting there. He thought it was so neat how the "escator" made "castles"...so now every dirt pile or leaf pile is a "castle". I love the perspective of kids! 

 Our first meal on the deck was September 7, we couldn't wait until it was finished to get out there! (Nathan was strapped in his chair, don't worry.)

 Nathan has become quite the little handyman after watching and imitating Daddy.

 The "Muskoka Room" - a 10x10 ft screened in porch area. The deck was completed with 2 hours to spare before David had to go back to work! The only thing missing is a screen door for the Muskoka Room which will hopefully be on before spring.

 It's done!! We have certainly been enjoying the deck space and look forward to all the bonus benefits, like the storage/play area safe from snow!

 Happy Belated Canadian Thanksgiving and Happy Early American Thanksgiving! We're enjoying some really nice fall weather. When we pray Nathan has started praying with us and we'll say "Dear Jesus thank you for..." and let him say the things he thinks of. What a great reminder of how thankful I am for the people in my family, stories, food, Thomas (the Tank Engine), leaves, pumpkins, hockey, songs, bubbles and so many other wonderful things I get to see through new eyes.

A little bit of Summer

 When your Daddy works with Child Evangelism Fellowship Ontario your summer might look a little different than other kids that are 2 years old or 3 months. But, first of all your Daddy might look a little different than most other kid's Dads.

David demonstrated many things including Inventor Fuzzywig at Summer Ministry Training 

When your Daddy goes away to Summer Training for 2 weeks, it might mean that your Grandparents come from Minnesota to visit for a few weeks! That was sure a lot of fun!

We even got to celebrate Canada Day & 4th of July together

It also means that you might get to visit some 5 Day Clubs and see "big kids" learning about Jesus.

Watching Big Kids play games is pretty entertaining

Nathan enjoyed hearing the Summer Missionaries sharing with the kids about how God can make you into a New Creation

It certainly means that you'll get to ride in the van a lot and eat lots of snacks and food.

 If you're the baby brother life isn't a whole lot different than other babies. You spend most of your time in the shade while everyone else has fun.

You might however, get to see unusual things when your family drives Summer Missionaries on 10 hour road trips to their next ministry location and a speaking engagement for Daddy.

Luke caused to take a few extra stops, one of which resulted in the discovery of a little museum in Iron Bridge where "Paul Bunyan's ax" was tried out by Isaac & Tristan...Nathan was in shock I guess.

 You just might get to enjoy the hospitality of other believers. Ones that bless you so much by letting you stay in their house while they're away, so you're screaming baby brother won't bother other people.

Nathan's initiation into the Nydam Family "Ravioli & Green Beans while traveling meal"

 And if you're the lucky baby tagging along, you just might get to sleep on a chair while you're away.

Just think, there's still 1 1/2 more weeks of excitement left of Summer Ministry. Next week is a really neat time where all of the Summer Missionaries and Staff will be teaching at outreaches in the city of London, Ontario with a large event on Friday to connect with the kids and parents that have attended.

• Please pray for the kids that have heard about Jesus and are going to, that God will do a miraculous work in their lives.
• Please pray that the kids will get connected to churches and that their parents will come to know Christ too!

Baby Luke!!!

On April 22, Luke Joseph Guyatt was born into our family! He took his sweet time arriving but we are enjoying this Little Guy. Time is speeding by so it's about time that he gets properly introduced to you!

 Mommy Moments

Daddy Snuggles

 Nathan has been a fabulous Big Brother and is proud to make sure everyone notices "Baby". He's just started calling him "Uke" in the past few weeks instead of only "Baby".

 Luke means "Bearer of Light" which is our prayer - that he will grow up bearing the light of Jesus.

Joseph means "God will Increase" which He certainly has! We weren't sure if we could ever have 1 child and now we have 2!! Joseph is also the name of David's Grandpa who is his hero and been a great mentor to him.

We have a lot of great moments with our Little Guy, he's becoming a smiley dude who laughs, talks to his hanging cow, and loves to be talked to. However, he is also a real baby who brings lots of moments like this. 

Catching Up

It dawned on me that I haven't even posted that Luke was born...oops. So now that he's 3 months old already (yikes!) I should at least post some maternity pictures our fabulous friend Ashley took 1 1/2 weeks before Luke arrived.

 Bye Bye Family of 3

 What a Little Cutie he is!

 Thankfully he's been just as excited about the actual baby!

March: Snow Fun & Anticipating Camp

Although it's March it doesn't mean that spring has arrived. We still have plenty of snow!

This is how Canadian babies arrive...
they grow out of the snow. =]

Snow Cave

David dug to see how deep the snow still is,
and put Nathan in the hole. That's the
top of his hat!

The Guyatt Men

Pulling Nathan back out of the hole.

Even though the weather is still holding onto winter...March Break Camp starts on Monday! We are expecting 14 Jr Campers (ages 7-9) and 25 Sr Campers (ages 10-12). We look forward to what God is going to do in the lives of these precious kids that are joining us. Many are a part of regular CEF programmes but quite a few are not. Please pray for God to work in an incredible way during camp!

This is a strange year for me since I'll be 35 weeks pregnant (really hoping NOT to go into labour during camp!!) and have a toddler, aside from doing the registrations beforehand, I don't have any real responsibilities at camp...which is really strange! I'm really interested to see how Nathan handles all these "big kids". Please ask God to keep sickness & injuries away from camp and opportunities for Nathan and I to be used by God as we hang around.

Ice Skating a few weeks ago at the "Fire & Ice Trail" in Arrowhead Park.

Snow is fun to play in as long as you have a stick!