Thursday, 30 April 2009
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
It Finally Happened.
Three car seats DID fit in the back seat of our 1999 Plymouth Neon. But alas, the only way all three fit was with the infant car seat in the middle. Can you imagine hauling a 20 pound car seat in and out and over the back seat? No way. That's asking for a worse back than Joel and I already have. Thus, prayers for wisdom and direction to Jesus concerning a mini van were common around our household for awhile.
Joel did the research on the internet. Found ONE Toyota mini van for sale in Duluth from a private seller within our price range. Joel sent them an email asking a few questions. They called us 15 minutes later.
Over the phone Joel guessed they were Christians. We all drove down to Duluth a few days later to check out the van for sale. The wife was pregnant with her sixth child, thus the reason for selling the van (the van only seats 7 people). The husband was looking for a "beater car" to run around town with. Well! The husband drove our Neon and we drove their van for a test ride. Thirty minutes later: we pull into the family's driveway, Joel and the husband have the SAME numbers in their head, a quick chat between the husband and wife, and lo and behold we had a car swap. But the tension is rising because I have a haircut appointment in 15 minutes. We need to GO.
Hey no problem- the DMV is right next to Younker's where I'm getting my hair done. One hour, a slow hairdresser- but a believer all the same!- and two great kids (yes, mine) later...the van was ours, the Neon was theirs. Everyone was happy. Except for our tummies because it was 1:30 and we hadn't eaten lunch yet!
It was a good day.
Let me tell you about Ellie Red Car. It's a luxury vehicle with power everything. High miles, but mostly highway miles, 2004 Toyota Sienna. It's a vehicle that makes people feel spoiled, and I'm doing my best to feel completely grateful to Jesus and not be embarrassed with such a nice vehicle. The kids love it, they can open and close the doors themselves...by pushing a button. KerChow!
Joel did the research on the internet. Found ONE Toyota mini van for sale in Duluth from a private seller within our price range. Joel sent them an email asking a few questions. They called us 15 minutes later.
Over the phone Joel guessed they were Christians. We all drove down to Duluth a few days later to check out the van for sale. The wife was pregnant with her sixth child, thus the reason for selling the van (the van only seats 7 people). The husband was looking for a "beater car" to run around town with. Well! The husband drove our Neon and we drove their van for a test ride. Thirty minutes later: we pull into the family's driveway, Joel and the husband have the SAME numbers in their head, a quick chat between the husband and wife, and lo and behold we had a car swap. But the tension is rising because I have a haircut appointment in 15 minutes. We need to GO.
Hey no problem- the DMV is right next to Younker's where I'm getting my hair done. One hour, a slow hairdresser- but a believer all the same!- and two great kids (yes, mine) later...the van was ours, the Neon was theirs. Everyone was happy. Except for our tummies because it was 1:30 and we hadn't eaten lunch yet!
It was a good day.
Let me tell you about Ellie Red Car. It's a luxury vehicle with power everything. High miles, but mostly highway miles, 2004 Toyota Sienna. It's a vehicle that makes people feel spoiled, and I'm doing my best to feel completely grateful to Jesus and not be embarrassed with such a nice vehicle. The kids love it, they can open and close the doors themselves...by pushing a button. KerChow!
Friday, 24 April 2009
Bemidji!
Welcome to Bemidji!
Joel and the guys he works with, ended up working in North Dakota this past week, so myself (Renee) and the kids stayed in Bemidji, MN with our good friends, Mark, Kelley, Oliver (3) and Karis (almost 8 mo). It worked out well for our family to travel to Bemidji on Sunday and then Joel's boss picked him up Monday mid-morning to travel the rest of the way to Cando, ND, another five hours away. While they were slaving away on the boss' mom's house (re-roofing), the kids and I had a great time...
Dressing up in Oliver's random, rad garage sale "halloween" costumes, a dinosaur and a crayon: (Oliver had a Spiderman costume, but I didn't get a picture of it)
Joshua's Dinosaur face:
Rachel in her crayon costume with baby Karis:
Besides swimming, eating, playing, talking, laughing, being outside, grocery shopping (yes even that was fun, especially when you buy choc chip cookie dough ice cream and donuts), another highlight of the week was horseback riding. One of Kelley's friends here in Bemidji (well, outside of Bemidji...) has a few horses and a pony. The kids had great fun running around, brushing the pony, and yes, riding the pony.
Joshua letting the pony munch on some grass:
Rachel holding a horse brush:
Here, Rachel is sitting on the pony just before she went for a ride (yes, those are pink cowgirl boots):
Kelley and her daughter Karis:
Here is a video of Joshua riding the pony. (it's a little long but Mommy was proud!)
When Joel got back from ND, we took the four kids on a walk to give Mark and Kelley a break. Here is where we ended up:
Paul Bunyan of course!
Paul Bunyan of course!
And his blue ox:
It was a great week. We are so grateful for friends, and how God is still providing work for Joel and the crew he works with. On the way back home on Thursday we even got to meet up with friends, Amy and Henry, whom we haven't seen in just over a year.
Northwoodsy Pictures
Helping out at Okontoe- That's Joshua and Boston up on top of the truck (to keep them away from the chainsaw, good thinking Daddies!) and our friend John (Boston's Daddy).
Friday, 17 April 2009
Exciting News About Celiac Disease
A group of scientists are working on a vaccination of sorts to end the gluten free diet for people with Celiac Disease. Check out this article here.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Thoughts from Andrew Peterson
"He came Back
After that brutal Friday, and that long quiet Saturday, he came back.
And that one intake of breath in the tomb changes everything. It changes the very reason I drew breath today and the way I move about in this world because I believe he's coming back again. The world has gone on for more than two millennia since Jesus' feet tread the earth he made. What would they have said back then if someone had told them that some two thousand years later we'd still be waiting? They would've thought back to that long Saturday and said, 'Two thousand years will seem like a breath to you when you finally lay your crown at his feet. We don't even remember what we were doing on that Saturday, but let me tell you about Sunday morning.
Now that was something.'
These many years of waiting will only be a sentence in the story. This long day will come to an end, and I believe it will end in glory, when we will shine like suns and stride the green hills with those we love and the One who loves. We will look with our new eyes and speak with our new tongues and turn to each other and say, 'Do you remember the waiting? The long years, the bitter pain, the gnawing doubt, the relentless ache?' And like Mary at the tomb, we will say, 'I remember only the light, and the voice calling my name, and the overwhelming joy that the waiting was finally over.'
The stone will be rolled away for each of us.
May we wait with faithful hearts.
-AP
After that brutal Friday, and that long quiet Saturday, he came back.
And that one intake of breath in the tomb changes everything. It changes the very reason I drew breath today and the way I move about in this world because I believe he's coming back again. The world has gone on for more than two millennia since Jesus' feet tread the earth he made. What would they have said back then if someone had told them that some two thousand years later we'd still be waiting? They would've thought back to that long Saturday and said, 'Two thousand years will seem like a breath to you when you finally lay your crown at his feet. We don't even remember what we were doing on that Saturday, but let me tell you about Sunday morning.
Now that was something.'
These many years of waiting will only be a sentence in the story. This long day will come to an end, and I believe it will end in glory, when we will shine like suns and stride the green hills with those we love and the One who loves. We will look with our new eyes and speak with our new tongues and turn to each other and say, 'Do you remember the waiting? The long years, the bitter pain, the gnawing doubt, the relentless ache?' And like Mary at the tomb, we will say, 'I remember only the light, and the voice calling my name, and the overwhelming joy that the waiting was finally over.'
The stone will be rolled away for each of us.
May we wait with faithful hearts.
-AP
Monday, 6 April 2009
Some Updates on the Kids
Joshua: He still loves Thomas the Train, Bob the Builder, Diego and Dora. He doesn't seem to mind Elmo either. Tinkertoys are a new favorite. He and Daddy build lots of different things with Rachel assisting. Being outside is also a favorite now that it's mostly above freezing temps. Puddle jumping, climbing the piles of melting snow, eating the melting snow, shoveling the melting snow just to name a few of the activities. Asking questions is a large part of his conversation. Questions about anything and almost everything, including Jesus and heaven. Joshua certainly makes us think sometimes! Right now we are going through the creation story. We read it everyday (the first three ch. of Genesis) in a children's Bible. Both the kids love it.
Rachel: She's gained three pounds in the last few months, eats a lot whenever it's mealtime, and is now a size 2T (finally!). She throws occasional tantrums everyday, but it's more because she's a stubborn two year old and less out of exhaustion. Rachel's favorite right now is Elmo (Lord, please help me), dresses, and going on "woks". Going on a "wok" simply means strolling into the laundry room, putting on her toque, and proclaiming "wok? wok? wok!" regardless of the time of day or evening. Her vocabulary is slowly expanding. I'm finally understanding most of her sounds, which is a relief. Some of her expressions are: "No way!" and "Oh boy!" Rachel also has a strong sense of independence, which Mommy loves. It must come from being the second child. She has all of her teeth except her two-year molars (4), and the top two canine (corner) teeth. Potty training is still casual, it seems to be more encouraging that way (for mom).
Grape Nut: Yes there is an update on Grape Nut. All good stuff. (whew!) Grape Nut is growing, kicking, punching, bouncing, dancing, you get the idea. The due date is still June 13th (10 weeks to go!) and I hope that we make it that far. Braxton Hicks contractions (false contractions) are a common thing now and is quite scary for me. (I have a history of pre-term labor) I am trying to take it slow, asking for help, and not lifting too much. Joel is a great help and helps me be cautious. Joel and I will not be naming this baby before the baby is born, just in case the baby is a boy! The ultrasound report wasn't 100% sure. We've decided not to induce but to let things go naturally. Please pray for a healthy, full-term baby.
Rachel: She's gained three pounds in the last few months, eats a lot whenever it's mealtime, and is now a size 2T (finally!). She throws occasional tantrums everyday, but it's more because she's a stubborn two year old and less out of exhaustion. Rachel's favorite right now is Elmo (Lord, please help me), dresses, and going on "woks". Going on a "wok" simply means strolling into the laundry room, putting on her toque, and proclaiming "wok? wok? wok!" regardless of the time of day or evening. Her vocabulary is slowly expanding. I'm finally understanding most of her sounds, which is a relief. Some of her expressions are: "No way!" and "Oh boy!" Rachel also has a strong sense of independence, which Mommy loves. It must come from being the second child. She has all of her teeth except her two-year molars (4), and the top two canine (corner) teeth. Potty training is still casual, it seems to be more encouraging that way (for mom).
Grape Nut: Yes there is an update on Grape Nut. All good stuff. (whew!) Grape Nut is growing, kicking, punching, bouncing, dancing, you get the idea. The due date is still June 13th (10 weeks to go!) and I hope that we make it that far. Braxton Hicks contractions (false contractions) are a common thing now and is quite scary for me. (I have a history of pre-term labor) I am trying to take it slow, asking for help, and not lifting too much. Joel is a great help and helps me be cautious. Joel and I will not be naming this baby before the baby is born, just in case the baby is a boy! The ultrasound report wasn't 100% sure. We've decided not to induce but to let things go naturally. Please pray for a healthy, full-term baby.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
I'm Gonna Miss Winter (don't shoot!) - Joel
I don't mean this in anyway as a response to my dear wife's longing for spring.
We got 16 inches of snow on Wed but I don't mind - spring is still coming.
I was standing on a finger of Gunflint Lake on Friday, the Narrows, looking down past the open water where the Canadian border runs through from Magnetic. The distant eastern end of the lake faded into the winter fog as I stood and enjoyed the stillness and thought, "I'm going to miss this." Gunflint lake in the winter, on an overcast day takes me back to the Rockies, specifically Lake Abraham in Alberta where I've spent a lot of time back-packing. I imagine steep mountains rising from the shores of the Gunflint, towering over the surrounding hills and it feels like home. We are working on a project at the Narrows where the road is partially a cross-country ski-trail. So we either walk across that part of the lake from another project we've just finished, or snowmobile down the lake, up a steep hill and along a narrow trail. I've spent a good deal of time in the last few weeks riding an Otter sled piled with lumber and building materials, bouncing along behind a snowmobile. (Laughing at how ridiculous it all was while hanging on for dear life!)
Friday morning as I walked up to our tracks from the previous day I saw large deer tracks and wolf tracks intermingling with our own. A couple months ago we noticed a deer kill out in the middle of Gunflint. Two wolves were walking away from the kill, in different directions. They seemed unsure of what to do next, glancing over their shoulders. Eventually, the healthier looking of the two, decides to return to the deer. He turns at about 500 feet away and charges back at a full run. His only remaining contestants for the kill, a cloud of ravens went scattering. Then the ravens and the wolf together settle down for a meal and we go to work.
I think of one of our early morning drives up the Gunflint Trail when there was heavy frost on the trees and the sky was overcast. You could have sworn the world was only black and white if it weren't for road signs and an occasional glimpse of the yellow lines. We were just coming through an area that had been burned by the Ham Lake fire of 2007 when we saw a large dark animal in the middle of the road. The moose fit right into this black and white morning in a beautiful way. She relunctantly stepped off the road into the snow and stopped to strike a pose against the open meadow and the distant hills shrouded in snow and fog.
Moving back down the Trail in my memories of winter beauty we get to the hill overlooking our town on Lake Superior. Usually the lake temperatures don't drop enough to freeze until about this time of year, April. And then it only has a skim of ice for a few days as the air temps warm up. But this year the lake was frozen for as far as the eye could see (all you can see is water - if you think you see Michigan people tell you your dreaming) for most of February and March. Only on windy days did the ice break up. But the best part of this was driving up the hill as the sun came up over the lake somewhere over in Ontario. I can't describe how neat those sunrises were.
A few weeks ago Joshua, Rachel and I went to go throw rocks in the harbor because it was warming up. Instead we ended up throwing rocks on the harbor as it was covered in a glass-like sheet of ice. It made a good rock-skipper out of anyone. The rocks I threw went spinning on seemingly forever making funny spinning noises, and jumping over irregularities in the ice. That was neat too.
These have been some of my favorite moments of this winter. I like all the beauty God has instilled in the season. And the joy of spring time and hope of resurrection that follows. Thats all.
We got 16 inches of snow on Wed but I don't mind - spring is still coming.
I was standing on a finger of Gunflint Lake on Friday, the Narrows, looking down past the open water where the Canadian border runs through from Magnetic. The distant eastern end of the lake faded into the winter fog as I stood and enjoyed the stillness and thought, "I'm going to miss this." Gunflint lake in the winter, on an overcast day takes me back to the Rockies, specifically Lake Abraham in Alberta where I've spent a lot of time back-packing. I imagine steep mountains rising from the shores of the Gunflint, towering over the surrounding hills and it feels like home. We are working on a project at the Narrows where the road is partially a cross-country ski-trail. So we either walk across that part of the lake from another project we've just finished, or snowmobile down the lake, up a steep hill and along a narrow trail. I've spent a good deal of time in the last few weeks riding an Otter sled piled with lumber and building materials, bouncing along behind a snowmobile. (Laughing at how ridiculous it all was while hanging on for dear life!)
Friday morning as I walked up to our tracks from the previous day I saw large deer tracks and wolf tracks intermingling with our own. A couple months ago we noticed a deer kill out in the middle of Gunflint. Two wolves were walking away from the kill, in different directions. They seemed unsure of what to do next, glancing over their shoulders. Eventually, the healthier looking of the two, decides to return to the deer. He turns at about 500 feet away and charges back at a full run. His only remaining contestants for the kill, a cloud of ravens went scattering. Then the ravens and the wolf together settle down for a meal and we go to work.
I think of one of our early morning drives up the Gunflint Trail when there was heavy frost on the trees and the sky was overcast. You could have sworn the world was only black and white if it weren't for road signs and an occasional glimpse of the yellow lines. We were just coming through an area that had been burned by the Ham Lake fire of 2007 when we saw a large dark animal in the middle of the road. The moose fit right into this black and white morning in a beautiful way. She relunctantly stepped off the road into the snow and stopped to strike a pose against the open meadow and the distant hills shrouded in snow and fog.
Moving back down the Trail in my memories of winter beauty we get to the hill overlooking our town on Lake Superior. Usually the lake temperatures don't drop enough to freeze until about this time of year, April. And then it only has a skim of ice for a few days as the air temps warm up. But this year the lake was frozen for as far as the eye could see (all you can see is water - if you think you see Michigan people tell you your dreaming) for most of February and March. Only on windy days did the ice break up. But the best part of this was driving up the hill as the sun came up over the lake somewhere over in Ontario. I can't describe how neat those sunrises were.
A few weeks ago Joshua, Rachel and I went to go throw rocks in the harbor because it was warming up. Instead we ended up throwing rocks on the harbor as it was covered in a glass-like sheet of ice. It made a good rock-skipper out of anyone. The rocks I threw went spinning on seemingly forever making funny spinning noises, and jumping over irregularities in the ice. That was neat too.
These have been some of my favorite moments of this winter. I like all the beauty God has instilled in the season. And the joy of spring time and hope of resurrection that follows. Thats all.
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