I'm Still Here!!!

Oh my, where to start? I’ve had all kinds of cool blogs bouncing around in my brain yesterday and today. But, in the end, I only have a few minutes to dash something off. Why, you say? Well, we are on our way to Stormer Lake this weekend for a Retreat and much needed vacation! We’re so excited!! Marvin and Yvonne invited us to the retreat which is a gathering of a network of people from Ontario, Manitoba and North Dakota. I’m looking forward to being refreshed and hearing what Jesus has to say to me/us. Then, we are staying on at Stormer Lake for Monday and Tuesday – just for a rest! The last few months have been full of busy-ness (how do you spell that?)and lots of pressures. So we’re going to just chill out! We have books, games and movies – oh and lots of good food and a sled. What more could a little family want??

Other items of note (to me at least!)

- We just finished a wonderful month-long visit with Matthew, Rhonda and family. We almost got to spend enough time together. Rhonda and I finished it off nicely with a late-night chat and a fun ride home in the truck in a blizzard at midnight. It was so much fun to get re-aquainted with the girls and see them getting to know their cousins. It’s hard to think of not seeing them all for another two years! Sigh! Makes me anxious for heaven…

- Josiah started pulling himself up last week and this week he’s even cruising around furniture a little bit. My baby is growing up! Oh, and I don’t think I ever mentioned that he got his first two teeth (top center) a few weeks ago. It wasn’t too traumatic. Especially not with the help of a little Advil! :-)

- Last weekend was crazy!! And fun! Wanna know how? Sheldon and Darla and kids came on Thursday night for INM board meetings. On Friday we women and kids were hanging out here so I thought I should invite the rest of the family to drop in if they wanted… So, Wendy and her kids came over. Rhonda couldn’t come, but I went and got her three oldest. That made 9 kids 8 and under when they were all here! Dad and Dru also came over for visit. And all of this while Keith was trying to prepare a sermon at his desk in the living room. :-) He did retreat to the basement after awhile. The kids really did quite well. It think it helps when there are a few older ones. And Sara (12) played with them for awhile too. It was happy chaos. That night Matthew, Rhonda and Caitlyn came over later to spend some more time with Sheldons. There was an intense game of Settlers. :-) Keith and I also spent a few hours with Don and Marilyn Showalter praying and talking through some heart stuff Thursday and Friday evening/night. Thank God for people who can help and encourage us! Sheldons left Saturday afternoon,and that evening Matthews and Mark and Kim and kids came over for supper and a games of Cities and Knights. I think we were all still friends when it was over. Oh, and I think I won. (They say the first thing to go is your memory.) As much as I like to win, you’d think I’d remember when I do! On Sunday, Chris and Lisa invited us over for lunch. Then in the evening it was Ladies night at church. Then I crashed. :-)

- The Baptist Church had a Noah’s Ark party again this year on Halloween. We had never gone before, but this seemed like a good time to start. (Because I was so well-rested and had so much extra time.) So, on Monday and Tuesday between housework, music lessons, and swimming lessons, I made costumes for the boys. They were David and Goliath and they were so cute! They had a lot of fun at the party and came home with sufficient treats. Now the hard part is rationing them. I’ll try to post a picture of them in their costumes next week.

- Yesterday Caleb asked me, “What is infinity times infinity?” and “What number comes after infinity?”. Where does he come up with this stuff???