Hubby's Away

So Lowell has been away since yesterday and arrives home tomorrow at suppertime.  Yay!  I forgot what it was like when he would travel all the time.  I have been doing a lot of driving this week and not getting a lot accomplished on the home front and I'm exhausted!  I can't imagine if the children were in a lot of outside activities. Samuel and Timothy have still been insulating our friend's basement and are almost done.  They put a full day in today and they feel rather proud of themselves for it (and so am I).

I was just talking to Lowell and he is now coming home at noon!  I think I will let him surprise the children.  Elyse wants to make a big "Welcome Home" poster for him.  We are so pathetic. We miss our daddy/husband even when he goes into town for a few hours.  Usually, Levi has to phone him a couple of times and ask him when he is getting home.  When he does eventually get home some of the children will get into the sprinting position in the entry way and tackle him as soon as he enters the door. 

 I must admit I am not always eagerly rushing to him as soon as he enters the door.  Sometimes, I have been frustrated because the day had not gone according to plan, the children weren't all  that cooperative, something else broke, and I have not been able to go for my walk/run.  My attitude has been "thank goodness your home"and then proceed to "tell on the kids".  Ladies,  how often have we had this attitude?  Our home should be a haven for our families and especially our husbands as they retreat from the pressures and demands of the work world.  We have in our capacity the ability to create a peaceful atmosphere with the resources given to us.  But  it doesn't end there. If the presence of the Holy Spirit is not welcome, it doesn't matter how beautiful and clean your home is.  When He abides with us we can experience His peace which surpasses all understanding.  God promises in His word, "Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee." (Is 26:3-4)  Our attitude affects everyone around us.  May we have joyful hearts and countenances!  When we are exhausted may our anthem be "The joy of the Lord is my strength"!  May we have His active living Word in our hearts and minds throughout the day. 

 I'll leave you all with a quote from Nancy Campbell from her book, The Power of Motherhood: "Self pity drains all your energy! The joy of the Lord fills you with strength!" I pray for myself and for you that we would declare Exodus 15:2 "He is my God , and I will prepare Him a habitation".

I'm Back

It is 10:16 pm and I just gave in to make a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. (single batches don't go very far around here - come to think of it, double batches don't go very far either...sigh!) I WAS craving something sweet and I know that they make my husband smile but I will make the excuse that Samuel and Timothy needed something nice for their lunch tomorrow.  You see, they are helping a friend finish his basement in order to get it ready to sell.  On Tuesday they learned how to insulate and put up poly.  Mr. Ward had to go back to California where he currently lives so now the boys are to go back this week and finish the job on their own - and a big job it is!  Apart from cursing the itchiness of the insulation, they are enjoying having some "skills practice" in home building.  I guess you could classify that as "Shop Class" or "Industrial Design" and they get to bless someone in the process.  It never ceases to amaze me when God brings opportunities like this for the children.  God asks us to be faithful in training our sons and daughters.  We don't always have the skill set to train them in certain areas but God shores us up in providing the opportunities to learn.  It has been our desire for the boys to acquire the skills so they may be able to maintain and perhaps even build their own home one day. Thank you Lord!  

This evening we all bundled up and went outside with our binoculars and camera to watch the lunar eclipse.  Did you all watch it?  It was pretty spectacular!  We got a few pictures but we haven't downloaded them yet. It was also a fun time chatting or should I say chattering with our neighbors.

Also,  Thank you to everyone who was praying for Solomon.  His spinal tap was clear and he was able to go home on Friday.  It turns out it was a viral thing or something.  We are all glad he is home and the boys were happy to be able to talk to him on the phone.

Solomon Update

I was not able to write yesterday as I had a migraine.  We're all good now!  

Monday afternoon Solomon had a CAT scan because the doctor was concerned about his numb foot.  However, that showed up clear!  Then in the evening he had a spinal tap to check for infection and possible meningitis.  The doctor was pleased that the spinal fluid was clear but they sent the sample to Vancouver to have it assessed.  They should know the results in a day or so.  Sol's foot is getting some feeling back now which is awesome!  He has his own room at the hospital and is feasting on popcicles and is watching hockey. (Cheering on the Flames right, Sol)?!

Things to continue to pray for is that his fever will come down and his cough will subside. (It is giving him a headache.)  Also, pray for Erol who is fighting strep throat, cough and exhaustion.  

Thanks for your prayers.

Pray for Solomon

We got a phone call this morning at around 5:45 from my sister, Kristine.  Her son, Solomon had a seizure at midnight and then again in the early morning.  The ambulance couldn't make it down their driveway so they had to drive him up the hill in the van.  He then had another seizure in the ambulance.  He has no feeling in one of his feet so the pediatrician is a bit concerned.  He is lined up to have a CAT scan sometime this morning.  We are praying for :

- wisdom for the doctors

-peace for Sol and the family

-a full recovery 

-that God would be glorified in the situation

Thank you for your prayers.

P.S.  Solomon is the boy in the green shirt in the picture below this post.

Heather

A wonderful holiday

Well, I think I have figured out how to add pictures so here are a few of our recent trip to Vernon and Langley, B.C. For some reason this blog will only let me upload five pictures at a time.  More photos will follow.  Our first stop was to Vernon and we arrived on January 26 late at night.  We stayed with mom and dad Harder and were greeted by a cozy, blazing, warm wood stove.  It is always a treat to stay with them - so many things to do and tell Gramma and Grampa about.  Sometimes they get to hear the children talk one at a time but not usually!  On Sunday we were blessed to be at Vernon Christian Fellowship and connect with dear friends and family.  It was a special treat to hear Pastor Reuben speak from Burundi where my parents are.  They always speak so highly of him and now I can see why. What a tender heart. He oversees the Nyakibega home for widows and orphans from the Gatumba massacre of 2004.   On Monday, we had a combined celebration of Joel and Jesse's birthdays.  Uncle Erol, Auntie Krissy, Anna, Sol and Emily as well as G. & G. Harder were all a part of the festivities. ( As always, we miss G. & G. Bale and Boss David.) Tuesday we were able to connect with Lowell's cousin Melanie, husband John  and their extended brood.  It is always an encouragement to hang out with them all. On Wednesday we headed down to Langley to see our good friends, the Speilmans. Lowell works with Kevin so they even got a bit of work done.  I don't know how with 12 kids running around!  We had a wonderful time of food, fellowship, skiing, beach combing, and movie making (in the style of Bourne Ultimatum!)  We look forward to visiting again in the summer. 

It was good to be back but always wish we could be closer to family.  

My First Blog!

After much contemplation and a bit of trepidation, I have finally decided to create a blog.  After all, a lot of my friends are doing it and I have things to say and journal as well.  I am still trying to figure out how to get a picture on my profile.  I already typed for an hour and was set to publish it until while I was figuring out how to publish it, I deleted it all!  I'm sure I will eventually figure it all out.  I will call my faithful friend, Shaylagh who knows a lot in the morning.  

The reason I decided to write a blog was to:

1.  Keep a Book of Remembrance (or blog of remembrance in my case).

2.  Provide a place for my children to journal or tell stories.

3.  Have a place where friends and family can check up on us.

I remember getting a journal from my mom back in October 1998 for my birthday.  In it she wrote these words, "I have an idea, Heather, there are many words stored up within you that will come tumbling out - so here's some paper."  Unfortunately,  I haven't been very faithful in writing consistently.  I have, however, had "bursts" of crazy writing when I could no longer contain my thoughts.  So as I page through the journal my mom gave me I remember the lists I wrote,  things the children said, and stuff I was wrestling through. I see the faithfulness of God in the big things and the little.  

I recently, read a book called The Gift of Family Writing, by Jill Novak.  In it she shows the reader how to "Record Your Life Stories as They Happen, Strengthen Family Relationships, and Preserve a Family Legacy" in your writing.  It has impacted me personally as well as many others.  She gives lots of examples and strategies as well.  A must have for your personal library!

As I mentioned above, one of my desires is to provide a place for my children to write about the goings on in our world.  You will most likely get to know us all a bit more in the process...

I trust you will be blessed.