Dad's picture sits atop our piano in the living room of our home. It is a good photograph of him, taken for the "wall of fame" for past presidents of the Tartan Curling Club, and where Dad was honoured for his 33 years of serving as manager.
I think of Dad now and then at the oddest times. Unexpected memories and funny incidents, missing him at family celebrations and while watching football or curling.
It will be one year since my Dad passed away.
We are going over to help my step-mom write up a memorial for the Leader Post newspaper. I have mixed feelings about this. I don't really want to do this task. I want to leave the memories where they are and not relive one year ago. We were just flying back from the Dominican Republic and then having car trouble as we tried to start our diesel Jetta in 40 below in Winnipeg! We made it home and within 48 hours, I was saying good-bye to my Dad.
Am I dreading my own emotions? Yes.
I am struggling to handle my step-mom's grief and my sister's mourning, as well.
"Your grace is enough..." (Chris Tomlin song)
Monday 26 January 2015
Thursday 22 January 2015
Every trip in the past four years has been blessed by God's hand of protection.
We fueled up in Swift Current and picked up some lunch, as well. A few drops of rain began to fall and we were concerned about the temperature dropping and the highway becoming icy. Before too long, the rain ceased and we had mostly dry road conditions all the way to Nipawin. Other folks we knew who were on the road that day were caught in a blizzard or freezing rain from Saskatoon to Weyburn. Thank you, Lord, for traveling mercies!
We arrived at our friends' (and fellow missionaries with HHM) to spend the next few nights. After a cup of tea and a short visit, we collapsed into the guest bed. Monday morning would find us in a classroom at Nipawin Bible College at 8:25 am and we needed our beauty sleep!
As Walter prepared for the cross-cultural ministry class, I warmed up the car and scraped the frosty windows. We drove in the dark to the campus just outside of town, and made it with at least fifteen minutes to spare. The students were all punctual and quite alert. How refreshing!
Gina Marie and a friend, Sarah, came into the class, as well. Gina Marie is in charge of different ministry teams that come to visit our location in Regina; she brought up the church van to transport the team of 5 students and 1 staff chaperone back down to the city on Wednesday. Again, we had the privilege of ministering alongside our faithful team members!
There was some lively interaction as the students engaged in discussing what culture is. They were challenged to look at their own culture and identify some distinguishing features. It is way more difficult to identify our own cultural peculiarities than to observe those of another ethnic group. Walter hoped to enlighten them of their own cultural bias in order NOT to make assumptions that the new culture they would experience was doing things WRONG! They will need to be aware of the differences and how to respond to things appropriately. Otherwise, the week of ministry in Regina and on two First Nations reserves could be disastrous!
The final session on Wednesday morning was on the spiritual preparation for a short term mission trip. Its one thing to have the cross-cultural training and know what to pack in our suitcase. It is another to have a prepared heart for spiritual ministry in sharing about Jesus Christ to a needy community. Walter shared some Scriptures on spiritual warfare and the necessity of prayer and knowing how to use the sword of the Spirit (God's Word) when in a setting like they will be in. Then they spent some time in small groups praying for each other and the people they would meet.
Walter and I left right after the last class and Gina Marie and Sarah got the team loaded in the van for the drive to Regina. The two other teams had their own travel arrangements and would be gone before noon, as well.
It was nice to have the drive home to debrief. After a stretch of travel and talk, we turned on the audio book we had started and listened to a western adventure called "Glorious".
I must admit, it was nice to be home! We love our friends and are blessed by the generous hospitality when we are on the road. Seven days without a true break can wear us old-timers out! So we ordered pizza and watched a movie with our son for the evening.
Our next journey will be in a week's time, to our niece's wedding in Alberta.
Who knows what God has in store for our upcoming road trip?
We fueled up in Swift Current and picked up some lunch, as well. A few drops of rain began to fall and we were concerned about the temperature dropping and the highway becoming icy. Before too long, the rain ceased and we had mostly dry road conditions all the way to Nipawin. Other folks we knew who were on the road that day were caught in a blizzard or freezing rain from Saskatoon to Weyburn. Thank you, Lord, for traveling mercies!
We arrived at our friends' (and fellow missionaries with HHM) to spend the next few nights. After a cup of tea and a short visit, we collapsed into the guest bed. Monday morning would find us in a classroom at Nipawin Bible College at 8:25 am and we needed our beauty sleep!
As Walter prepared for the cross-cultural ministry class, I warmed up the car and scraped the frosty windows. We drove in the dark to the campus just outside of town, and made it with at least fifteen minutes to spare. The students were all punctual and quite alert. How refreshing!
Gina Marie and a friend, Sarah, came into the class, as well. Gina Marie is in charge of different ministry teams that come to visit our location in Regina; she brought up the church van to transport the team of 5 students and 1 staff chaperone back down to the city on Wednesday. Again, we had the privilege of ministering alongside our faithful team members!
There was some lively interaction as the students engaged in discussing what culture is. They were challenged to look at their own culture and identify some distinguishing features. It is way more difficult to identify our own cultural peculiarities than to observe those of another ethnic group. Walter hoped to enlighten them of their own cultural bias in order NOT to make assumptions that the new culture they would experience was doing things WRONG! They will need to be aware of the differences and how to respond to things appropriately. Otherwise, the week of ministry in Regina and on two First Nations reserves could be disastrous!
The final session on Wednesday morning was on the spiritual preparation for a short term mission trip. Its one thing to have the cross-cultural training and know what to pack in our suitcase. It is another to have a prepared heart for spiritual ministry in sharing about Jesus Christ to a needy community. Walter shared some Scriptures on spiritual warfare and the necessity of prayer and knowing how to use the sword of the Spirit (God's Word) when in a setting like they will be in. Then they spent some time in small groups praying for each other and the people they would meet.
Walter and I left right after the last class and Gina Marie and Sarah got the team loaded in the van for the drive to Regina. The two other teams had their own travel arrangements and would be gone before noon, as well.
It was nice to have the drive home to debrief. After a stretch of travel and talk, we turned on the audio book we had started and listened to a western adventure called "Glorious".
I must admit, it was nice to be home! We love our friends and are blessed by the generous hospitality when we are on the road. Seven days without a true break can wear us old-timers out! So we ordered pizza and watched a movie with our son for the evening.
Our next journey will be in a week's time, to our niece's wedding in Alberta.
Who knows what God has in store for our upcoming road trip?
Back again from a "Bible School Blitz" over the past seven days.
First, Walter and I traveled to Pambrun, SK, to participate in a missions conference weekend at Millar College of the Bible. On the Thursday afternoon, we set up a display table in the gymnasium with the other mission representatives. We have a lovely star blanket quilt for the table and a display banner with a few pictures of our missionaries and some First Nations friends and of course, our Healing Hearts motto - "Bringing the Healing Touch of Jesus to Wounded Hearts". I set out a small tin of candies for the students and that's about all we do to promote our ministry.
Nick came with us and it was a great time for fellowship and for him to experience the college life. We all were assigned a small group of students to share with and answer their questions about our particular ministries. That was fun! I always wonder what to share and how honest to be. Do these young, impressionable people really want to know what missionary life is like? I try to be transparent about my own struggles and mistakes, but also give God the glory for His work in people and His grace through our weaknesses!
A few more Healing Hearts leadership came out to Millar for Friday lunch as we put on a "role meal" where we enacted a reverse residential school experience. The students were shown a short video clip put out by the government of Canada circa 1950's about the benefits of residential school for Native children. That was hard to take! Then Walter explained briefly what we would be doing, to ensure the students understood the words and actions were to represent what many First Nations children and teens would have gone through. Nick acted as headmaster of the school and gave orders. He then gave all commands in Cree, which Walter "translated" to separate the boys and girls and line up for their "hair cuts", which were shower caps we handed to each of them. Then they proceeded to the dining hall, in silence, and we directed them to their tables. They picked up watered down soup and a dry crust of bread and walked to their seats. Some sat. When one of our staff also acting as a Native child, stood, then some of them caught on and stood up. Absolutely no one talked. The atmosphere was very intense.
We had a few "plants" who acted up, eating or talking, and Walter or Nick would correct them quite dramatically and harshly. Wow, the effect was quite impactful! One little girl ( a mission rep's 4-year-old) began to cry, so Walter had to comfort and explain again what was happening and promise her a little gift later!)
Finally, Nick addressed the crowd: "Ladies and Gentleman..." and broke out of the roles in order to explain and expound on some of the impact that residential school had on his ancestors and ultimately on him and his wife and family. We had another First Nations' man share the impact on his parents and grandparents. He is a student at the college this year and wanted to help bridge the gap between his people and the "non-Native" folks on campus and beyond. It was an amazing and powerful time!
The students were allowed to take off the shower caps and get some real hamburger soup and bannock that the cooks graciously ladled out. The head cook said the big impact on her was to dish out the meager lunch and see the looks on the faces. She couldn't imagine how anyone could do that to little children!
The weekend at Millar was both exhausting and rewarding. By Sunday noon, Walter and I had packed up, said good-bye to Nick and Fergus & Beatrice, who also represented Healing Hearts. And away we drove up to Nipawin Bible College.
(Cont'd)
First, Walter and I traveled to Pambrun, SK, to participate in a missions conference weekend at Millar College of the Bible. On the Thursday afternoon, we set up a display table in the gymnasium with the other mission representatives. We have a lovely star blanket quilt for the table and a display banner with a few pictures of our missionaries and some First Nations friends and of course, our Healing Hearts motto - "Bringing the Healing Touch of Jesus to Wounded Hearts". I set out a small tin of candies for the students and that's about all we do to promote our ministry.
Nick came with us and it was a great time for fellowship and for him to experience the college life. We all were assigned a small group of students to share with and answer their questions about our particular ministries. That was fun! I always wonder what to share and how honest to be. Do these young, impressionable people really want to know what missionary life is like? I try to be transparent about my own struggles and mistakes, but also give God the glory for His work in people and His grace through our weaknesses!
A few more Healing Hearts leadership came out to Millar for Friday lunch as we put on a "role meal" where we enacted a reverse residential school experience. The students were shown a short video clip put out by the government of Canada circa 1950's about the benefits of residential school for Native children. That was hard to take! Then Walter explained briefly what we would be doing, to ensure the students understood the words and actions were to represent what many First Nations children and teens would have gone through. Nick acted as headmaster of the school and gave orders. He then gave all commands in Cree, which Walter "translated" to separate the boys and girls and line up for their "hair cuts", which were shower caps we handed to each of them. Then they proceeded to the dining hall, in silence, and we directed them to their tables. They picked up watered down soup and a dry crust of bread and walked to their seats. Some sat. When one of our staff also acting as a Native child, stood, then some of them caught on and stood up. Absolutely no one talked. The atmosphere was very intense.
We had a few "plants" who acted up, eating or talking, and Walter or Nick would correct them quite dramatically and harshly. Wow, the effect was quite impactful! One little girl ( a mission rep's 4-year-old) began to cry, so Walter had to comfort and explain again what was happening and promise her a little gift later!)
Finally, Nick addressed the crowd: "Ladies and Gentleman..." and broke out of the roles in order to explain and expound on some of the impact that residential school had on his ancestors and ultimately on him and his wife and family. We had another First Nations' man share the impact on his parents and grandparents. He is a student at the college this year and wanted to help bridge the gap between his people and the "non-Native" folks on campus and beyond. It was an amazing and powerful time!
The students were allowed to take off the shower caps and get some real hamburger soup and bannock that the cooks graciously ladled out. The head cook said the big impact on her was to dish out the meager lunch and see the looks on the faces. She couldn't imagine how anyone could do that to little children!
The weekend at Millar was both exhausting and rewarding. By Sunday noon, Walter and I had packed up, said good-bye to Nick and Fergus & Beatrice, who also represented Healing Hearts. And away we drove up to Nipawin Bible College.
(Cont'd)
Monday 12 January 2015
Nehemiah was employed by the King of Persia, the same king who sent Ezra to Jerusalem to teach God's laws and restore the worship of the God of Israel. What did Nehemiah do in the king's employ? He was cupbearer to the king, which means He brought the wine to the king and tasted it first to make sure it was not poisoned. Nehemiah was a trusted servant, in a risky yet very personal relationship with a powerful and influential man.
When Nehemiah inquires of some who returned from Judah, he is heartsick over the news. Just like Ezra, he hears of the state of his homeland and his people and is in deep mourning! "For some days, I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (Chapter 1 verse 4b) And what does Nehemiah ask of God? "favour in the presence of this man." (v. 11)
The book of Nehemiah records that he heard the news of Jerusalem's trouble and disgrace in the month of Kislev. And when he appears before King Artaxerxes with a sad demeanor, it is the month of Nisan. I believe that is about a four-month span.
Do we have the patience and the self-discipline to mourn and fast and pray for that long before seeking solutions for a critical problem? Four months?
But when Nehemiah's troubled spirit is noticed by the king and he is questioned, Nehemiah comes with his dilemna. Although he has prayed and prepared for such an opportunity..."I was very much afraid." (v. Chapter 2 v. 2b) If this servant was anything but cheerful and respectful to the royal one, his life could be in jeopardy. Even a frown could cost him his life if the king was so inclined to take offense. And of course, for Nehemiah to even mention his home country and any issues that may reflect on the king's reign or business in far-off Israel, this also could be a death sentence.
As we know from the book of Ezra, King Artaxerxes was all in favour of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the establishing of the worship of the God of Israel. So, Nehemiah does take the chance, voices his burden and the king's reply is: "What is it you want?"
Do we have the courage to ask what we want? Do we have the wisdom to ask for the right things?
The hero of this story does find favour in the eyes of the king. And as we read in Ezra, "...because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." (v. 8b) And soon, Nehemiah finds himself en route to Jerusalem, with letters of approval and permission to use timber from the king's forest to rebuild the gates and walls and even construct a residence for Nehemiah.
Stay tuned for the rest of Chapter 2...
When Nehemiah inquires of some who returned from Judah, he is heartsick over the news. Just like Ezra, he hears of the state of his homeland and his people and is in deep mourning! "For some days, I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (Chapter 1 verse 4b) And what does Nehemiah ask of God? "favour in the presence of this man." (v. 11)
The book of Nehemiah records that he heard the news of Jerusalem's trouble and disgrace in the month of Kislev. And when he appears before King Artaxerxes with a sad demeanor, it is the month of Nisan. I believe that is about a four-month span.
Do we have the patience and the self-discipline to mourn and fast and pray for that long before seeking solutions for a critical problem? Four months?
But when Nehemiah's troubled spirit is noticed by the king and he is questioned, Nehemiah comes with his dilemna. Although he has prayed and prepared for such an opportunity..."I was very much afraid." (v. Chapter 2 v. 2b) If this servant was anything but cheerful and respectful to the royal one, his life could be in jeopardy. Even a frown could cost him his life if the king was so inclined to take offense. And of course, for Nehemiah to even mention his home country and any issues that may reflect on the king's reign or business in far-off Israel, this also could be a death sentence.
As we know from the book of Ezra, King Artaxerxes was all in favour of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the establishing of the worship of the God of Israel. So, Nehemiah does take the chance, voices his burden and the king's reply is: "What is it you want?"
Do we have the courage to ask what we want? Do we have the wisdom to ask for the right things?
The hero of this story does find favour in the eyes of the king. And as we read in Ezra, "...because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." (v. 8b) And soon, Nehemiah finds himself en route to Jerusalem, with letters of approval and permission to use timber from the king's forest to rebuild the gates and walls and even construct a residence for Nehemiah.
Stay tuned for the rest of Chapter 2...
Friday 9 January 2015
EZRA Part 2
In chapter 8 of this account of Ezra, our heroic leader has a setback. He assembles his team and realizes there are no Levites there. Ahhhhh! But soon, a solution is worked out and several Levites as well as temple servants were located and brought to the Ahava Canal where they were assembling. In verse 21, Ezra leads this team in fasting and praying in preparation for the journey.
Over and over, Ezra says "The gracious hand of our God was on us..." and so they were able to travel in just four months from the canal to Jerusalem. They had ample provisions, the prescribed priests and servants for proper worship protocol and the safety from any bandits or enemies along the way!
This account so far sounds like many missionary biographies I have read over the years. God calls, He prepares, He supplies and He does miracles on the missionary's behalf.
I love verse 35 "Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel..." How beautiful this must have been for Ezra to lead his people in worship back in their own country! This is right and honourable to offer worship to God on their safe arrival and to begin their restoration ministry in Jerusalem.
If the story ended their, it would be a fairy tale.
But in chapters 9 and 10, we see the major challenge Ezra faced as he began his official ministry. He heard through the leaders who were in place, that many of the priests and Levites and other Israelites had intermarried with the nations of Canaan. This absolutely broke Ezra's heart. He is immediately in mourning the breach in God's laws. This is part of the original reason the Israelites were exiled: they intermarried and subsequently fell away from worship of God and adopted the pagan worship and idolatry. Ezra was sick with grief and by that evening, was in prayer for God's mercy and wisdom in how to deal with this difficult dilemna.
Very soon, one of the leaders suggests a course of action: "Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God." ( Ch. 10 v. 3) Ezra rises up and takes the lead. Within three days, the Israelites were gathered in Jerusalem and were repentant and made sacrifices for their guilt. God swept through with a revival to begin the restoration of temple worship among His people.
There was opposition. Four men are named in verse 15 who did not support this decision to send the foreign women and their children away and not to marry into the pagan nations again. Powerful testimony of repentance and obedience with no compromise.
As Ezra's account ends, I am struck by his complete obedience, faith and gifts as a leader. Not everything went perfectly but he chose to seek the Lord and use wisdom to delegate and find solutions for the challenges.
I can't wait for Nehemiah...
This has been a week of re-connection and restoration.
We have reconnected with friends we haven't seen since before Christmas, to catch up and compare notes on our lives.
We have reconnected with the weekly church meetings and gatherings to return to normal ministry routines.
We have reconnected with healthy eating and physical activity - at least attempted to in the cold and temptation to sit and eat to stay warm!
The restoration part of this week is to put away the Christmas decorations, re-organize the fridge and freezer and generally put the household back to order. Except for a few items to remind me of the season, most everything is restored to its proper place.
The other part of my new year's restoration is to spend quiet time with the Lord and get back into studying the Word. I had begun in Ezra several weeks ago and then had a Matthew/Luke interlude of the Nativity accounts. Now I am returning to Ezra and Nehemiah...
By Chapter 7 of Ezra, we finally meet the main character. He was an exiled Israelite residing in Babylon. "He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses...the hand of the Lord His God was on him." (v. 6) He appeared before King Artaxerxes of Persia and so impressed the King that he was soon sent on his way to Jerusalem with a contingent of Levites, priests, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants.
Most of this chapter is the recorded letter of the king to endorse Ezra's work in Jerusalem. "You are sent by the king..." (v. 14) God saw fit to use the Persian king to "send" Ezra to help restore the little nation of Israel. Ultimately, God calls and sends His servants for ministry; He often uses human authorities to speak and confirm such a calling. Ezra went with the blessing of two kings!
Later in this letter, Artaxerxes supplies the ministry with finances. "Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel..." (v. 15) God moved the king to be generous in underwriting this venture and also seeing that the items taken in the plunder of the temple in Jerusalem was delivered for their intended use. Ezra had no worries about the financial needs of his work; again God was using human agents to supply His kingdom's resources.
Ezra was also given authority in Jerusalem to "appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates, all who know the laws of your God." (v. 25) The king was sending this exile to ultimately bring order to the chaos of Judah and specifically Jerusalem. Reminds me of Matthew 28:18 & 19 where Jesus Christ commissions His apostles to represent Him and gives them authority.
And finally, I see in the last statements of this letter, that the king was giving Ezra permission- no, a commandment- to "teach any who do not know them" (laws of your God) in verse 25. Ezra's job description was quite clearly articulated by the King of Persia. Ezra was greatly encouraged and gave God the credit and glory for such favour. "I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me." (v. 28b) With a qualified team and all the supplies he would need, Ezra followed the Lord to Jerusalem.
Cont'd...
We have reconnected with friends we haven't seen since before Christmas, to catch up and compare notes on our lives.
We have reconnected with the weekly church meetings and gatherings to return to normal ministry routines.
We have reconnected with healthy eating and physical activity - at least attempted to in the cold and temptation to sit and eat to stay warm!
The restoration part of this week is to put away the Christmas decorations, re-organize the fridge and freezer and generally put the household back to order. Except for a few items to remind me of the season, most everything is restored to its proper place.
The other part of my new year's restoration is to spend quiet time with the Lord and get back into studying the Word. I had begun in Ezra several weeks ago and then had a Matthew/Luke interlude of the Nativity accounts. Now I am returning to Ezra and Nehemiah...
By Chapter 7 of Ezra, we finally meet the main character. He was an exiled Israelite residing in Babylon. "He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses...the hand of the Lord His God was on him." (v. 6) He appeared before King Artaxerxes of Persia and so impressed the King that he was soon sent on his way to Jerusalem with a contingent of Levites, priests, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants.
Most of this chapter is the recorded letter of the king to endorse Ezra's work in Jerusalem. "You are sent by the king..." (v. 14) God saw fit to use the Persian king to "send" Ezra to help restore the little nation of Israel. Ultimately, God calls and sends His servants for ministry; He often uses human authorities to speak and confirm such a calling. Ezra went with the blessing of two kings!
Later in this letter, Artaxerxes supplies the ministry with finances. "Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel..." (v. 15) God moved the king to be generous in underwriting this venture and also seeing that the items taken in the plunder of the temple in Jerusalem was delivered for their intended use. Ezra had no worries about the financial needs of his work; again God was using human agents to supply His kingdom's resources.
Ezra was also given authority in Jerusalem to "appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates, all who know the laws of your God." (v. 25) The king was sending this exile to ultimately bring order to the chaos of Judah and specifically Jerusalem. Reminds me of Matthew 28:18 & 19 where Jesus Christ commissions His apostles to represent Him and gives them authority.
And finally, I see in the last statements of this letter, that the king was giving Ezra permission- no, a commandment- to "teach any who do not know them" (laws of your God) in verse 25. Ezra's job description was quite clearly articulated by the King of Persia. Ezra was greatly encouraged and gave God the credit and glory for such favour. "I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me." (v. 28b) With a qualified team and all the supplies he would need, Ezra followed the Lord to Jerusalem.
Cont'd...
Friday 2 January 2015
As the car pulled away from our house, snowflakes were falling at a steady rate. Mark & Amy had packed up their luggage and Christmas gifts, plus snacks for the road trip and hauled them to the waiting car. And now they were on their way to their home in Steinbach, ready to settle back into their lives and work after they spent the holidays with both sets of in-laws.
Another car was started and Caylea was brushing the accumulated snow from the windows. She was off to the mall to get last minute items for back-to-school and for a hair appointment. I joined her for some of her shopping then went my own way to get some groceries to replenish the dwindling stock in pantry and fridge.
Yet a fourth car was moved from the drive way to enable shovels to remove the fluffy stuff. Another car will arrive this afternoon and pull into the garage so Walter can assist in putting a radiator in our friend's ailing vehicle.
Our neighbours must wonder what kind of circus we have at our house with all the wheels coming and going! By tomorrow, we should be down to our 3 main vehicles and Caylea's college Cavalier, affectionately named "Sister Lawrence", an old reliable rig that also carted her older brother to and from Nipawin.
The wind is picking up this afternoon as I gaze out the window to our back yard. Our miniature windmill is spinning frantically. The snow is now falling lightly and swirling around the fence and garage. No sign of our transient rabbit, who makes tour into our back yard to nibble plants and seek shelter under our patio furniture or bushes. I also discovered yesterday when I cleared some snow, that another furry creature was making a winter home under the back deck/ walkway. I think it is my nemesis, The Squirrel. (We spent the fall aiming and missing or not affecting this squirrel with our air rifle-tough little fellow.)
So, as our household eases into normal routine, and we finish off holiday leftovers, I am thankful for the wonderful time we had as a family. I pray for safe travels for our married kids and blessing on our soon to depart college girl. Just Daniel will be home for the next while and life will certainly be quiet.
God is so good.
Another car was started and Caylea was brushing the accumulated snow from the windows. She was off to the mall to get last minute items for back-to-school and for a hair appointment. I joined her for some of her shopping then went my own way to get some groceries to replenish the dwindling stock in pantry and fridge.
Yet a fourth car was moved from the drive way to enable shovels to remove the fluffy stuff. Another car will arrive this afternoon and pull into the garage so Walter can assist in putting a radiator in our friend's ailing vehicle.
Our neighbours must wonder what kind of circus we have at our house with all the wheels coming and going! By tomorrow, we should be down to our 3 main vehicles and Caylea's college Cavalier, affectionately named "Sister Lawrence", an old reliable rig that also carted her older brother to and from Nipawin.
The wind is picking up this afternoon as I gaze out the window to our back yard. Our miniature windmill is spinning frantically. The snow is now falling lightly and swirling around the fence and garage. No sign of our transient rabbit, who makes tour into our back yard to nibble plants and seek shelter under our patio furniture or bushes. I also discovered yesterday when I cleared some snow, that another furry creature was making a winter home under the back deck/ walkway. I think it is my nemesis, The Squirrel. (We spent the fall aiming and missing or not affecting this squirrel with our air rifle-tough little fellow.)
So, as our household eases into normal routine, and we finish off holiday leftovers, I am thankful for the wonderful time we had as a family. I pray for safe travels for our married kids and blessing on our soon to depart college girl. Just Daniel will be home for the next while and life will certainly be quiet.
God is so good.
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