Blue Sky!!

The sunshine is beautiful today. I've got all the blinds and curtains wide open and the house is filled with sunshine. I LOVE it. I certainly appreciate the light and warmth more now that the 30 some odd days of rain have stopped (for today). Yesterday I drove Mikail out to the throat specialist in Chilliwack and as I was driving I couldn't help but be captivated by the surrounding mountains they were gorgeous. Incredibly white in the sunlight. We live in such a beautiful place though most of the time it is covered by clouds and rain but when it clears it is stunning. I am thankful for this place. Isn't creation beautiful?

Anyone else totally lost at the Superstore???

The past 15 years! Ack!

Alrighty then....15 years......this will have to be a summary. I can hardly believe it's been that long since highschool! I'm totally feeling old right now. This post is for Rachel, Sinead and Kori (and whoever else may be interested.) While I was blog surfing a couple weeks back I happened upon some friends from highschool. Jen, if you are reading this go check out Rachel's site, I've added her blog to my links. Ok, back to the summary.

After highschool I attended Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, I lived in the dorms for 2 1/2 years which was a very fun experience. I don't remember getting much school work done, however I did become pretty darn good at playing pool, somehow I came out a couple years later with my certificate in Early Childhood Education and a Biblical Studies diploma.

I met Gary at the end of my time at CBC. We met at Roaring 20's while I was attending Northview Community Church. We were engaged 3 months after we met and married 8 months later on August 6, 1994. We moved to Mission and I taught preschool for a couple of years.

On May 1, 1997 our first son Mikail Isaac was born. What an experience, adjusting to parenthood and all, we did survive the sleepless nights which was a total shock to our system. By the time Mikail was 1 we had moved to Chilliwack and on May 9, 1999 our second son Caleb James was born. I didn't know what I was going to do with 2 boys since I came from a family of 3 girls and my mom came from a family of 3 girls. We were kind of like generations of girls, I hadn't even really ever thought I'd have boys, only girls. None of us (my mom and sisters that is) really knew what to do with boys, we definitely were not prepared for all this energy, but Gary assures me that the craziness that is in our home is very normal. Shortly after Caleb was born we moved back to Mission. When Caleb was 2 I went back to teaching preschool and soon had an opportunity to create and run a Fine Arts Preschool program. I had a great time creating the program and teaching it for a couple of years. On October 12, 2004 our daughter Grace Abigail was born. Yes....a girl! She was born the day after Thanksgiving. It has been so cool after years of 'boy stuff' to be able to enjoy all the girly things with her. She wore nothing but pink for the first few months till I finally branched out to purple, and red and maybe a bit of yellow. She was a wonderful surprise to Gary, I and the boys. Our family is complete.

Right now the boys are in grade 3 (8 years old) & grade 1 (6 years old.) Grace is 15 months. Gary and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this past August. We attend church here in Mission at New Heights Communtiy Church. We were part of the team that planted this church 9 or 10 years ago (forgot how long it's been but I'm sure someone will remind me.)

So, there's the summary. Now you'll need to do one for me Rachel!

Gracie

She is growing so fast! 15 months old.

The song I can't stop singing today.....

The King's way

There is a road
That leads to peace
That leads to life
But few will follow
We're at the crossroad
Which way will we go

There is not today a more holy way
Than the steps that lead me to the cross
Where my will can't be the priority
And these crowns I've gained
I count as lost
When I hear the spirit say
That this is the true King's way.

~Jason Upton~

Wow, it's been awhile since I wrote!

Christmas was good, well, besides all of us having the flu! Poor Gracie was sick Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It took me over a week to recover, I'm just now starting to feel like myself again. I took down all the lights and decorations today.......it looks so bare. I've also been cleaning like crazy.

Gary and I got out on New Years (first time in 8 years). We decided to go see Narnia (very good movie) and then visit with some close friends. It was a wonderful evening.

Not much else new around here besides the boys returning to school tomorrow. I'd post some Christmas pics but I was too sick to take any and Gary forgot. I'm hoping Carolyn or Liz got some. Oh...Gracie stood on her own today :) Bring on the walking!!