Sibling Bonding

One thing our children enjoy doing together is "Jamming". Titus' bedroom has been taken over by drums, amps, and musical equipment. At times we even let Titus sleep in there. (smile)

Moving Day

Today Caleb and Kristina are moving to a small house in town. It is a nice and sunny day which was a perfect day to move. It didn't take too long to get everything moved over there. It is nice that we have a long weekend so that they have time to unpack and find a place for everything before Caleb has to work on Tuesday. Thanks so much for all your prayers for Caleb and Kristina with their move back to Canada.

Which One Of My Children Is Adopted?

We had Ruth's friend from work and her family over for supper on Saturday night. After they left the mother asked her daughter if we had adopted one of our children. Adopting is pretty awesome. I have five adopted siblings and I can't imagine the family without them. So which one of our children is adopted? .............. None of them, I can attest to going through hard labor with each of them to bring them into this world. So although you might not see any family resemblance, our children are all our biological children.

Living In A Bilingual Country

I am sure most of you know that Canada is a bilingual country. The first time I came to Canada to visit it seemed cool to see two languages on the corn flake box. However, for all the time I have lived in Canada I have never lived in a French community so I almost forget I am in a bilingual country. I was however reminded again that we are living in a bilingual country when Caleb received his packet of information on things he needed to do to import his car to Canada. There are a few different regulations here in Canada you have to meet in order to import your vehicle. One of the changes that has to be made is to change the "WARNING" that you see when you fold down your sun visor. It is a "WARNING" for the air bag and it needs to be both in French and in English. I am pretty sure that when my children were small I never pulled a sun visor down to see any warnings. But in the evident that someone really wants to read that "WARNING" they will now be able to do it in both English and French.

Classes Begin

Yesterday was the official start to the first semester here at the Mission Training Center. We have a great bunch of students who are very excited about all that the Lord has for them here during their training. We have 17 students who have returned for their second year of training and 21 who have just started. Praise the Lord for these willing folks who desire to serve the Lord as missionaries.

Happy First Day of School 2008-2009

Today was the first day of school for Ruth and Titus. When we were in Venezuela I home schooled our children. I always wanted to make the first day of school a little special so I would always decorate our school room, make a nice breakfast, and try to make the first day as fun as possible. So the tradition of decorating for the first day of school and having a special breakfast started many years ago. I did find it a little sad as I was decorating late last night that this will be the last time we have "children" going off for their first day of school. Next year it will be "one child" going off for the first day of school. Ruth and Zachary both hope to be starting college next fall but I will not be there to send them off for another "first day of school". So it was a bitter sweet celebration this morning as Ruth started her last year of high school and Titus started 8th grade.

Gearing Up

Tomorrow is the first day of school for Ruth and Titus. It is also the beginning of our semester. Therefore we decided to go for a bit of a drive and a walk in the woods to celebrate the last day of the kids' break. Although, I think Cuddles enjoyed it the most. She loves going for a ride in the car and also exploring in the woods. The kids are now packing their back packs and getting things together for the first day of classes. Vern is also down at the classroom going over a few things for tomorrow. So we are all gearing up for tomorrow.

Soon To Be In Your Mailbox

For the next couple of days I will be busy getting our prayer letters in the mail. (This time I decided to use the envelopes that seal since my tongue really got cut up last time. I think my tongue still hurts.) We really do value all of you who faithfully pray for us and our ministry here. Thanks so much!

Unpacking

This week has been an exciting week for us here at the training center. During this week 23 new students will be moving onto the campus to start classes on Monday morning. We are enjoying having them in our home and getting to know them. It is always so neat to hear how God worked in their lives to bring them here. Please be praying for our new students as they arrive, unpack, and settle into life here.

Better Late Then Never, Part Two

While we were gone this summer we not only missed Zachary's birthday but Seth's as well. Therefore tonight was the night we set aside to celebrate Seth's 22nd birthday. We would have liked to celebrate it earlier but it took me awhile to find the special cheese he needed for the meal he picked for his birthday meal. It is now time to pack the streamers and birthday banners away until December. Although, certainly I will be able to pull out the streamers for something before December. (smile)

GOOD NEWS

We are praising the Lord for the provision of a job for Caleb. Thanks so much for your prayers!

Bringing Home the Bacon

We just want to thank all of you who have been praying for our children and their job situations. Zachary has been able to get a full time job, his first day was today. Yea!!! There were many discouraging times this summer as he pursued different things for his future and doors kept closing on him. We are thankful for this full time job and the provision it is. Zachary is planning on working for the next year and applying to several colleges for next fall. We would appreciate your continued prayers for Caleb as he is looking for a job as well.

Original Soft Eating Liquorice

I have introduced you to some of the foods that Vern and some of our children enjoy eating. Therefore I thought I would introduce you to something that is high on my list of foods I enjoy eating. It is the BEST black licorice in the world. I have a love for black licorice and a few years ago when we were in Venezuela Vern's brother Murray came to visit. I don't think he even knew I loved black licorice but he brought us a bag of Darell Lea black licorice. And thus began my love affair with Darrell Lea black licorice. It is just so amazingly soft and delicious.(It is also 98% fat free.) It is made in Australia. When Murray came to visit in June he brought me back several bags of this treat. I have been rationing myself to only eating a piece every couple of days so that this treat would last longer. So all you black licorice lovers out there, you must try some Darrell Lea black licorice and it will change your taste buds forever.

Burrito Supreme

I have been looking for awhile for a burrito size cast iron pan and a few weeks ago I found the treasure I was looking for. It is one of those things that when you are looking for it you will never find it but while I was on the hunt for something else I stumbled on to this great find. I was excited to try it out yesterday. I took awhile to find something big enough to cut out the burritos with. I pulled out almost every large size bowl and pot lid to find something that would work. The pan is a couple inches wider then my taco size pan. The larger size shells will also make better size quesadillas as well as a nice larger size crepe. So for anyone out there who has also been looking for a burrito size pan, it can be found.

Better Late Then Never

Last night at supper we had our belated birthday celebration for Zachary. It was so nice to be together as a family again. We served Zachary's favorite meal and Ruth made an very yummy cake.

Meet The Rug Doctor

Zachary was our rug doctor today as he moved from room to room steam cleaning the rugs. We only had to rent the "Rug Doctor"; Zachary works for food. Great job Zachary! (smile)

In the Blink of An Eye

We started off on the road this morning and we headed straight to the border. It was such a difference from yesterday where there were HUGE line ups. We were able to go right up to the toll booth with almost no wait. The paperwork went very smoothly. Within an hour we were finished doing everything that needed to be done and we were on our way. There is more paperwork that Caleb will have to do here but we were so grateful that all went so well. After crossing the border we only had a three hour trip home. When we were about 45 minutes from home we made a stop. I was traveling with Vern in the U-Haul and I moved into the car with Zachary as we needed to make a detour to pick something up. Only a few minutes after, as Vern was leaving town, a car going the other way crossed over the yellow lines and came right into his lane. The driver was out of control. Vern swerved to miss him but the car did knock one of the side mirrors off the U-Haul. Vern had the window open so the mirror came flying in the truck and glass shattered every where. Vern got cut by one of the pieces but the other pieces went right where I had been sitting just minutes before. In The Blink Of An Eye so much can happen. Vern was just amazed that there wasn't a lot of damage to the U-Haul and that he made it out of there with only a cut. Caleb was right behind and swerved and went onto the gravel and could have so easily been hit by this guy as well. And if I still would have been sitting in the truck, I could have been shot with all sorts of pieces of glass. In The Blink of an Eye.... Our lives were spared. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us. Your prayers carried us through!

Plan D

I figure we have already been through plan A, B, and C so now we are on plan D. As you can see our cars aren't sitting in front of our house. That's because we are in MI.still. We didn't get out of Chicago as early as we had hoped as we had to wait for a big down pour to pass before we could finish packing the last few boxes. Then as we drove through the city it started raining again so that really slowed things down again. Otherwise we made fairly good time UNTIL we got a few miles from the border. Then we were sitting bumper to bumper. We needed to get to an office at the U.S. border by 8:00 p.m. In normal conditions we would have easily made it but since we were sitting for 40 minutes and hadn't even moved one mile we missed the deadline. It is the longest line up I had ever seen on this side of the border. So we spent the night here in MI and will head out again this morning. We are hoping things have cleared up a bit and we won't have to sit for too long in line ups.