A Year In The Life

Hello All,

For those of you who follow our blog, and for those of you who stop in on occasion, most know that 2007 was quite a year for us.

It began with mild thoughts of transition, and a few local changes. It progressed through feelings of panic, of provision, of peace, and then more panic. We played and had fun winter days, enjoying the beauty of God's creation; we cried as we said farewell to some great friends, then rejoiced as we saw them blessed...Ever faithful, God gave us just the right mix of both the old and the new.

We camped, we fished, we laughed, we worked, we cried, we taught, we fell, we loved, and we learned. I felt over and over that 2007 was so hard, so stressful, such a struggle and an overwhelming battle for all things good. What I learned as I looked back over the pictures, was that in each month, the memories I kept, the images I have stamped on my soul, reflect abundance. I am surrounded by wondrous and vast nature, which others long to glimpse on a fleeting holiday, I am able, I am blessed, I am loved by so many, some very near, and some very far, and although my heart aches with the freshness of change, I have not lost, it is now only a longer journey to enjoy.

It is because of these reflections that I decided to put together a slide show of "2007 With The Candlines". I was so focused on the struggles of this year that I had lost sight of the blessings, until I looked, and when I really looked, that was all I saw. Each loss can be counted for gain, and each struggle could be considered a privilege. I chose the song, "You and Me" by Lifehouse because the words really spoke to me. The song begins by talking about the rapid movement of time, how it can truly take on a life of its own. This rang very true to me when I looked back over 2007; time really was alive, and it certainly didn't stop to wait for me. So, I encourage each one of you, enjoy the moment, whatever it is, because it will not come again. And I promise, if you do this, when you look back at your own "year at a glance," whatever your struggles have been, the gifts, the blessings, the love and the glory of God will come shining through.

P.S.

I'm expecting EVERY person who views this to leave me a comment, or I may never go through this much trouble again!!!

Absenteeism

Hi all,

Just wanted to check in with you and apologize for the terrible blogger I've been lately. Our computer has been infected with a virus, so it's at the shop getting fixed and in the meantime I check emails and that stuff at the library every once in a while.

It feels wierd not to have that "connection" with everyone. I really didn't realize how much I depended on electronic communication. Hopefully our machine will be home and healthy within a day or two.

We are starting to feel more settled here. We have the upstairs pretty much under control, and it feels good to have a place for everything... The basement is unfinished, and after our massive Peach Tree reno, we are in NO HURRY to pick up hammers or paintbrushes anytime soon. We'll make do for the time being and just go one day at a time.

Well, the monkey is getting restless, so I must run. I'll write more and hopefull have some pics to post for you once our technology returns to normal.

Blessings,

Laura

Where In The World?

I can't believe it's already February 11th, and I'm just getting back to blogging now.

It has been a whirlwind!

Well, as I mentioned in previous posts, my parents happlily fell back into "our little girl lives at home" mode and my mother decided that they needed to look after me - right to my new doorstep. She convinced my dad to take Feb. 1st off of work so that they could drive me from Vernon to Didsbury. Then her plan was that they would help Barry and I unload the moving truck, make sure everything that needed installing got installed, and then fly home from Calgary the evening of Sunday, February 3rd.

I cannot begin to tell you how thankfull I am for my parents!!! The drive would have been a nightmare alone - that mountain pass was not a pretty sight. I have had a fair amount of winter driving experience, and I'm usually able to just buckle down and push through, if all I have to do is drive - that's not always possible with a 4 year old boy and a puppy in the car. So, I sat in the back and watched Shrek the Third with Matt, and let my dad buckle down and drive the snowy winter conditions. It was the easiest winter drive I've ever made!! Thanks Dad.

Once we arrived, it was fast and furious unloading! On Saturday morning our real estate agent showed up with his hockey team and the truck was empty in 20 minutes. For the rest of the day mom and I concentrated on getting the kitchen and the bedrooms livable, while Dad and Barry made sure we could do laundry, hooked up the fridge and stove, and all that sort of stuff. It was such a blessing to have Mom and Dad here. I must confess, I was pretty much a mess on the way home from the airport on Sunday night. It has suddenly hit me that I don't live near my family, and it's killing me (probably due to the wonderful holiday like experience I had for the past two months)! The good news is, my mom is pretty much retired, my dad is only a few years away from retirement, and with modern technology we can still talk and "see" each other almost every day. Matt does know them, and will have lots of childhood memories of them.

In a nutshell, the first week here in Didsbury was really hard. I was terrified of the decision that was made to leave Mackenzie (and Canfor), I was missing my family, lamenting the fact that real estate in the Okanagan (where my family lives) is riduculous, and all in all feeling quite sorry for myself. Throw into that mix three job interviews (for me) and two offers (I'm pleased to say that the job I didn't get was offered to an internal candidate, so I don't feel too defeated). I also had to check out and make decisions regarding daycare for Matt - so tons of changes beyond just the wierd feeling of waking up in a different room and wondering where on earth I am.

I have accepted a job at ATB, working in a full time CSR/portfolio position. I'm glad to kind of start out at the bottom (the CSR part) but also thankful that they have given me a portfolio, which will enable me to use my Mutual Funds license and get back into the swing of investment counsel. God is good and He knew exactly what I needed.

This week, I have decided to look forward to all the things that this new company and new opportunity will bring into our family. God has placed us here, and His will is perfect for our lives. I'm so fortunate to have parents and a sister willing to go way more than an "extra mile" to see us, and I'm confident that the future is bright. While I may not live next door to my parents, I have them as a very real and engaged part of our lives, and that is so very special and wonderful. I have a husband who is harworking, talented, and dedicated to his family, I have a son who is intelligent, kind, gentle, and seems to get more hilarious as the days go by. I have an adorable puppy who is lovable, fun, a great companion for Matt, and simply lives to be part of our family. I have God's gift of abundance, and I am thankful.

May you all be blessed,

Laura