September 21-22
Paul invited Keegan and Bronwyn to go caribou hunting on the 22nd. They were more than eager to go along. Since we did not bring all the necessary paraphenalia for keeping warm, Paul outfitted them in good, warm, winter gear. Joel was overjoyed to have his first opportunity of the season to use his Ski-doo. Annah, Judah and some friends in McPherson were also part of the hunting party.
The roads were still rough, wet, and slippery, and Paul's van and trailer got stuck on the ferry landing. Deja-vu. The trailer had to be unhitched, and after over an hour of towing and maneuvering, they crossed the river and headed south. They drove to the mountains. The wind was blowing and there was at least a foot of snow, probably more. Paul hitched a sled to the snowmobile and the hunt began. They spotted three caribou and headed in their direction. As the hunting party approached, 70 caribou came out of the bush. Joel managed to get a caribou before they all ran in different directions. Because of the delay at the ferry, they didn't have as much time to hunt as they would have liked but it was a good, successful excursion. Keegan and Bronwyn were so fatigues when they got home,, they fell into bed and I had to wait until morning to hear of their adventure.
I have to say it is interesting to witness a culture that is still very tied to the land. The people in McPherson follow the migration of the Porcupine Caribou herd, and from what I can tell, most depend on the caribou for their meat supply. When the caribou are running, the hunters are out in droves. Joel, Annah, and Ruth might even have an opportunity to go on a community hunt that is going to give all the meat to elders, single mothers, and those too ill to acquire the meat for themselves.
Many people also go and live "on the land," as it's called. During the summer months, many Gwich'in people go out into the bush and sustain themselves on whatever they can catch or pick,, sometimes for a month or two at a time.
We are learning so much! Thank God for the caribou!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Home Alone
September 16-20 (Kids’ version)
The kids had a remarkably smooth weekend without parental supervision. It was hard to leave, though. Just as I was climbing into Lynn’s van, Mackenzie came out with Evangeline, who was sobbing, “Mommeeeee! Mommeeeeee!” I gave her one last kiss and said goodbye. It was comforting to know that Paul and Heather were not far away if a need arose.
Friday must have been uneventful for my gang, because none of them seem able to recall what they did. On Saturday, Kylin, from next door came over and played for 5 hours.
On Saturday evening, the kids went over to the church to clean and set up for Sunday morning. The kids played games while Bronwyn, Ruth, and Paul practiced songs for church. Mackenzie and Keegan watched Dan mud the drywall for a while. They had a good time but their highlight was eating ice cream. Diana bought ice cream with her birthday money from Grandpa to share with her friends. She had $50 to spend. Three 2L tubs and a container of gummy worms later, her money was all spent. Paul smeared ice cream on his forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, and warned the kids not to get ice cream on their faces. Then, Paul licked out his bowl and said to Evangeline, “Now, Evangeline, don’t lick your bowl like I am.” Bronwyn, Mackenzie, and Diana stayed a little longer to clean up after their ‘party’ and Keegan, bless his heart, took the little guys home and gave them baths.
My troop walked to church on Sunday morning through the snow. Ruth and Mackenzie made pancakes for the Sunday School. Evangeline walked up to Paul and said, “My mommy is gone. My daddy is gone.” It’s like a cry for help, don’t you think? Bronwyn said Ezra and Evangeline have never been so well-behaved during church. With no Mommy around, there was no lap to fight over and they cuddled with Keegan and Mackenzie. Instead of a sermon, Paul and Dan shared how God has been working in their lives. Dan explained how God orchestrated his move to McPherson with Heather and Ruth. Paul shared a story as well.
“Two years ago,” Paul said (or something to the effect), “Someone invited me to their church down south to share our plans for building a church. I didn’t know what to say, but I told them what I could. When I finished, all in attendance seemed very interested and asked what they could do to help. They were instrumental in the building of this church. If it hadn’t been for them…” While Bronwyn was listening, she was thinking, “Wow, that sounds like a great church. ” Then Paul said, “It was the Kures’ church, Kurt was the one who invited me, and Michele and Les were at the meeting.” (Were you there too, Elbert?) Bronwyn was, needless to say, very surprised. Lynn and I were talking this week, as well, and she said that if it hadn’t been for Sarah’s bout with cancer, Paul wouldn’t even have been there. God can certainly work ALL things for the good to those who love Him!
After church, Mackenzie, Josiah, Diana, Naomi, and Ezra went to the neighbours’ house for Rayden’s birthday. They had a great time with all the food, goodie bags, and games. Inge told me later that Ezra spent most of his time chatting with her at the kitchen table. That’s my boy….
When I got home after midnight, everyone was still up except for Ezra and Diana. There were hugs all around and we stayed up even later to talk and catch up. There’s no place like home….even when you’re not at ‘home.’
The kids had a remarkably smooth weekend without parental supervision. It was hard to leave, though. Just as I was climbing into Lynn’s van, Mackenzie came out with Evangeline, who was sobbing, “Mommeeeee! Mommeeeeee!” I gave her one last kiss and said goodbye. It was comforting to know that Paul and Heather were not far away if a need arose.
Friday must have been uneventful for my gang, because none of them seem able to recall what they did. On Saturday, Kylin, from next door came over and played for 5 hours.
On Saturday evening, the kids went over to the church to clean and set up for Sunday morning. The kids played games while Bronwyn, Ruth, and Paul practiced songs for church. Mackenzie and Keegan watched Dan mud the drywall for a while. They had a good time but their highlight was eating ice cream. Diana bought ice cream with her birthday money from Grandpa to share with her friends. She had $50 to spend. Three 2L tubs and a container of gummy worms later, her money was all spent. Paul smeared ice cream on his forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, and warned the kids not to get ice cream on their faces. Then, Paul licked out his bowl and said to Evangeline, “Now, Evangeline, don’t lick your bowl like I am.” Bronwyn, Mackenzie, and Diana stayed a little longer to clean up after their ‘party’ and Keegan, bless his heart, took the little guys home and gave them baths.
My troop walked to church on Sunday morning through the snow. Ruth and Mackenzie made pancakes for the Sunday School. Evangeline walked up to Paul and said, “My mommy is gone. My daddy is gone.” It’s like a cry for help, don’t you think? Bronwyn said Ezra and Evangeline have never been so well-behaved during church. With no Mommy around, there was no lap to fight over and they cuddled with Keegan and Mackenzie. Instead of a sermon, Paul and Dan shared how God has been working in their lives. Dan explained how God orchestrated his move to McPherson with Heather and Ruth. Paul shared a story as well.
“Two years ago,” Paul said (or something to the effect), “Someone invited me to their church down south to share our plans for building a church. I didn’t know what to say, but I told them what I could. When I finished, all in attendance seemed very interested and asked what they could do to help. They were instrumental in the building of this church. If it hadn’t been for them…” While Bronwyn was listening, she was thinking, “Wow, that sounds like a great church. ” Then Paul said, “It was the Kures’ church, Kurt was the one who invited me, and Michele and Les were at the meeting.” (Were you there too, Elbert?) Bronwyn was, needless to say, very surprised. Lynn and I were talking this week, as well, and she said that if it hadn’t been for Sarah’s bout with cancer, Paul wouldn’t even have been there. God can certainly work ALL things for the good to those who love Him!
After church, Mackenzie, Josiah, Diana, Naomi, and Ezra went to the neighbours’ house for Rayden’s birthday. They had a great time with all the food, goodie bags, and games. Inge told me later that Ezra spent most of his time chatting with her at the kitchen table. That’s my boy….
When I got home after midnight, everyone was still up except for Ezra and Diana. There were hugs all around and we stayed up even later to talk and catch up. There’s no place like home….even when you’re not at ‘home.’
Monday, September 21, 2009
Have No Fear
September 16-20
Yes, we’re still alive and kicking. After a week of focusing on school, I went to a Ladies’ Retreat in Dawson City for 3 days. I left a schedule and chore list for the kids, and with some trepidation, Estelle and I climbed into Lynn’s van with 11 other ladies on Friday morning. It had rained all night, and the roads were a mix of mud and slush. We hit a snowstorm and we crawled along. After a lot of fish-tailing and one hair-raising slide sideways, we made the 2 hour drive to Eagle Plains in 4 hours. The road eventually improved, and we reached our destination, 10 hours after our departure. PTL!
I had a great time, and enjoyed being with the other ladies. The topics for the weekend were issues that all women face, personally or by extension- low self-esteem, depression, and fear and anxiety. Lynn, Sarah, Annah, their friend, Charmaine, and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking and laughing. I also enjoyed getting to know the Gwich’in ladies from McPherson. Caroline and Mary F. were elders, very quiet and very sweet, and neither one even made a peep when the van went out of control. (Lynn said in past years, some of the older ladies had never been past Eagle Plains.) Rosemary sat beside me on the drive to and fro, and the ladies all made fun of me when I was the only one who turned down Rosemary’s offer of a hardtack biscuit with butter. I found out you should not refuse a gesture of generosity! Annie and Mary M., bought Estelle a few things from a Dawson thrift shop, and Mary M. often had a joke for me. I got a homemade Gwich’in bonnet from Olive. Mary C. helped with the driving and I really enjoyed her company. There were other ladies attending from Whitehorse and Dawson, including the pastor’s wife, Maria, who met my oldest four at camp.
In our spare time, we went to the farmer’s market, and bought some fresh produce. Garden veggies are a treat wherever you are, but in the North, they are a treasure! We did some shopping around town, too, and it’s not a trip to Dawson until some placer gold jewellery has been purchased. We did not stay for the church service on Sunday morning, because on the phone, Paul told Lynn it had been snowing since we left and we might be hard pressed to make the ferry otherwise. So we hit the road.
Mary C. drove 5 hours to Eagle Plains and the roads were not too bad, but it was cold, windy, and snow covered everything. Lynn’s stretch of road was more precarious. Ruts, potholes, slush, wind and snow were the order of the day. I was riding in the back of Lynn’s 15 passenger van (a new perspective for me) and my body was rattled like a paint can in a mixer. Near the border, we saw a black wolf, standing in sharp contrast with the snow. A little further on, we saw men from McPherson with the spoils from their hunting trip. They had three caribou lined up in the snow and they were pulling them behind their snowmobile! I got out to take a picture. Or should I say 10 pictures, because I really wanted to get a good shot. Unfortunately, I did not notice the dial on my camera had been switched, and not a single photograph turned out. I was so disappointed. But it was neat to see. We made it to the ferry, and we were all so relieved to be in the homestretch.
But our trip wasn’t over yet. There had been so much rain and snow, the river was higher than usual. The ferry hands had considered closing the ferry temporarily but they wanted to keep it open for the many hunters who were out. They had just made new landings shortly before our arrival. Some of the ladies were alarmed by the water we could see on either side of the landing. Lynn approached the ferry, and we were soon stuck in the soft gravel. The caribou hunters were behind us and tried to tow us out, but we didn’t budge. So Morris, the ferry hand, pulled us out with the loader, resurfaced the landing, and he got in the driver’s seat to give it another go. He gunned it, and….we got stuck again. By this time, some of the ladies were burying their heads in their arms and grasping their seats. The loader pulled us out again, resurfaced again, and then Morris let the caribou hunters try to board the ferry. They revved up their 4X4 truck and were successful. They called out to Morris, “That van must be loaded!” Morris replied, “Ya, I think there are about 500 women in there!” Morris got in the van a second time, took the landing at high speed, and we were ABOARD! We all cheered and clapped to express our thanks.
We seemed to be in the clear, until we saw the landing on the other side. There was as much water as gravel. Morris stepped on the gas. Rosemary shut her eyes and turned her head. We sped down the ramp and-URCH!- we got stuck on the other side! But because of Morris’ forethought, the caribou hunters towed us off the landing in short order. We were soon back in McPherson, thankful to God for his provision and our safe arrival. And the ground under my feet has never felt so good.
Lynn dropped me off at 12:30 am, and most of the kids were up to greet me. At least their weekend went smoothly, but maybe I’ll save that for another day. God is good….ALL THE TIME.
Yes, we’re still alive and kicking. After a week of focusing on school, I went to a Ladies’ Retreat in Dawson City for 3 days. I left a schedule and chore list for the kids, and with some trepidation, Estelle and I climbed into Lynn’s van with 11 other ladies on Friday morning. It had rained all night, and the roads were a mix of mud and slush. We hit a snowstorm and we crawled along. After a lot of fish-tailing and one hair-raising slide sideways, we made the 2 hour drive to Eagle Plains in 4 hours. The road eventually improved, and we reached our destination, 10 hours after our departure. PTL!
I had a great time, and enjoyed being with the other ladies. The topics for the weekend were issues that all women face, personally or by extension- low self-esteem, depression, and fear and anxiety. Lynn, Sarah, Annah, their friend, Charmaine, and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking and laughing. I also enjoyed getting to know the Gwich’in ladies from McPherson. Caroline and Mary F. were elders, very quiet and very sweet, and neither one even made a peep when the van went out of control. (Lynn said in past years, some of the older ladies had never been past Eagle Plains.) Rosemary sat beside me on the drive to and fro, and the ladies all made fun of me when I was the only one who turned down Rosemary’s offer of a hardtack biscuit with butter. I found out you should not refuse a gesture of generosity! Annie and Mary M., bought Estelle a few things from a Dawson thrift shop, and Mary M. often had a joke for me. I got a homemade Gwich’in bonnet from Olive. Mary C. helped with the driving and I really enjoyed her company. There were other ladies attending from Whitehorse and Dawson, including the pastor’s wife, Maria, who met my oldest four at camp.
In our spare time, we went to the farmer’s market, and bought some fresh produce. Garden veggies are a treat wherever you are, but in the North, they are a treasure! We did some shopping around town, too, and it’s not a trip to Dawson until some placer gold jewellery has been purchased. We did not stay for the church service on Sunday morning, because on the phone, Paul told Lynn it had been snowing since we left and we might be hard pressed to make the ferry otherwise. So we hit the road.
Mary C. drove 5 hours to Eagle Plains and the roads were not too bad, but it was cold, windy, and snow covered everything. Lynn’s stretch of road was more precarious. Ruts, potholes, slush, wind and snow were the order of the day. I was riding in the back of Lynn’s 15 passenger van (a new perspective for me) and my body was rattled like a paint can in a mixer. Near the border, we saw a black wolf, standing in sharp contrast with the snow. A little further on, we saw men from McPherson with the spoils from their hunting trip. They had three caribou lined up in the snow and they were pulling them behind their snowmobile! I got out to take a picture. Or should I say 10 pictures, because I really wanted to get a good shot. Unfortunately, I did not notice the dial on my camera had been switched, and not a single photograph turned out. I was so disappointed. But it was neat to see. We made it to the ferry, and we were all so relieved to be in the homestretch.
But our trip wasn’t over yet. There had been so much rain and snow, the river was higher than usual. The ferry hands had considered closing the ferry temporarily but they wanted to keep it open for the many hunters who were out. They had just made new landings shortly before our arrival. Some of the ladies were alarmed by the water we could see on either side of the landing. Lynn approached the ferry, and we were soon stuck in the soft gravel. The caribou hunters were behind us and tried to tow us out, but we didn’t budge. So Morris, the ferry hand, pulled us out with the loader, resurfaced the landing, and he got in the driver’s seat to give it another go. He gunned it, and….we got stuck again. By this time, some of the ladies were burying their heads in their arms and grasping their seats. The loader pulled us out again, resurfaced again, and then Morris let the caribou hunters try to board the ferry. They revved up their 4X4 truck and were successful. They called out to Morris, “That van must be loaded!” Morris replied, “Ya, I think there are about 500 women in there!” Morris got in the van a second time, took the landing at high speed, and we were ABOARD! We all cheered and clapped to express our thanks.
We seemed to be in the clear, until we saw the landing on the other side. There was as much water as gravel. Morris stepped on the gas. Rosemary shut her eyes and turned her head. We sped down the ramp and-URCH!- we got stuck on the other side! But because of Morris’ forethought, the caribou hunters towed us off the landing in short order. We were soon back in McPherson, thankful to God for his provision and our safe arrival. And the ground under my feet has never felt so good.
Lynn dropped me off at 12:30 am, and most of the kids were up to greet me. At least their weekend went smoothly, but maybe I’ll save that for another day. God is good….ALL THE TIME.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Double Vision
September 14-15
Bronwyn has been playing my double. She was mistaken for me twice today. One of them invited her to a feast following a funeral. (From what I've seen, meals after funerals are usually public affairs, and anyone is welcome.) Then another lady thanked Bronwyn for helping her with a health issue. Bronwyn replied, "Uh, you must be talking about my mom. I'm her daughter." To top it off, someone saw her walking out of the RCMP compound and asked her if she was the wife of a new police officer in town. She finds it all rather funny, but a little disconcerting.
School is now in full swing and takes up much of each day. Naomi is on fire for reading and has surpassed all my expectations. She read 10 books in one sitting, two days running. The only thing that might hold her back is her mother, who's not sure she can keep it up every day, with 8 other people needing attention and...the occasional meal. Especially when Josiah wants to read to me one to two hours every night. What a wonderful problem for a homeschooling mother to have!
Estelle is coming into her own. She is crawling everywhere. She managed to find the garbage can in the bathroom, emptied its contents, fished out the remains of a cookie, and sucked on the fruits of her labor. It was like she had radar or something! Evangeline was hard pressed to eat a gummy bear I rewarded her, because Estelle kept trying to push her fingers into Evangeline's mouth to retrieve it for her own enjoyment. For fear of talking too much about the mundane activities of our lives, I will say no more. But it's all in a day's work.
Bronwyn has been playing my double. She was mistaken for me twice today. One of them invited her to a feast following a funeral. (From what I've seen, meals after funerals are usually public affairs, and anyone is welcome.) Then another lady thanked Bronwyn for helping her with a health issue. Bronwyn replied, "Uh, you must be talking about my mom. I'm her daughter." To top it off, someone saw her walking out of the RCMP compound and asked her if she was the wife of a new police officer in town. She finds it all rather funny, but a little disconcerting.
School is now in full swing and takes up much of each day. Naomi is on fire for reading and has surpassed all my expectations. She read 10 books in one sitting, two days running. The only thing that might hold her back is her mother, who's not sure she can keep it up every day, with 8 other people needing attention and...the occasional meal. Especially when Josiah wants to read to me one to two hours every night. What a wonderful problem for a homeschooling mother to have!
Estelle is coming into her own. She is crawling everywhere. She managed to find the garbage can in the bathroom, emptied its contents, fished out the remains of a cookie, and sucked on the fruits of her labor. It was like she had radar or something! Evangeline was hard pressed to eat a gummy bear I rewarded her, because Estelle kept trying to push her fingers into Evangeline's mouth to retrieve it for her own enjoyment. For fear of talking too much about the mundane activities of our lives, I will say no more. But it's all in a day's work.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Fox on the Run
Sept 12
Saturday morning, Keegan and Bronwyn helped the Hanthorns cut ski trails. We had a knock on our door at 11 am. The kids next door, Rayden and Kylin, invited my little guys to play. Inge, their mother, said she had to hold them off, otherwise they would have been knocking on our door MUCH earlier. Other than the trailcutters, my whole kit and kaboodle ended up playing in their house and Inge and I had a visit.
Before the Hanthorns showed up for Diana’s birthday celebration, I was determined to walk down to the river to take some pictures. It was such a beautiful day and I thought it might be my last chance. It was a rushed walk but I got my photos, though the beautiful autumn leaves had mostly fallen to the ground.
The Hanthorns arrived and I experienced a hostess’ nightmare. Because I am not completely familiar with my surroundings, I set the stove to 350, thinking that was all that was required, but I neglected to push the very necessary START button. Needless to say, they showed up and our food was not cooked. OOPS! So everyone played games and read our books while we waited for our enchiladas to bake. No harm done and nobody wasted away. It was nice to be able to invite them to ‘our’ house.
Church was good, though I was preoccupied with children for most of it. Immediately after,it was the Terry Fox Run to 8 Mile. It was so cold and breezy, Lynn and I decided to each stay home with our little gaffers. Keegan and Bronwyn ran with Sarah, Annah, Joel, and Ruth. They both said it was easier than last time they did it. Woohoo! Mackenzie and Josiah biked with Judah. They were rewarded at the end with free burgers. We finished off the day with games at the Hanthorns. I tried to call Kurt and missed him again. Better luck tomorrow.
Saturday morning, Keegan and Bronwyn helped the Hanthorns cut ski trails. We had a knock on our door at 11 am. The kids next door, Rayden and Kylin, invited my little guys to play. Inge, their mother, said she had to hold them off, otherwise they would have been knocking on our door MUCH earlier. Other than the trailcutters, my whole kit and kaboodle ended up playing in their house and Inge and I had a visit.
Before the Hanthorns showed up for Diana’s birthday celebration, I was determined to walk down to the river to take some pictures. It was such a beautiful day and I thought it might be my last chance. It was a rushed walk but I got my photos, though the beautiful autumn leaves had mostly fallen to the ground.
The Hanthorns arrived and I experienced a hostess’ nightmare. Because I am not completely familiar with my surroundings, I set the stove to 350, thinking that was all that was required, but I neglected to push the very necessary START button. Needless to say, they showed up and our food was not cooked. OOPS! So everyone played games and read our books while we waited for our enchiladas to bake. No harm done and nobody wasted away. It was nice to be able to invite them to ‘our’ house.
Church was good, though I was preoccupied with children for most of it. Immediately after,it was the Terry Fox Run to 8 Mile. It was so cold and breezy, Lynn and I decided to each stay home with our little gaffers. Keegan and Bronwyn ran with Sarah, Annah, Joel, and Ruth. They both said it was easier than last time they did it. Woohoo! Mackenzie and Josiah biked with Judah. They were rewarded at the end with free burgers. We finished off the day with games at the Hanthorns. I tried to call Kurt and missed him again. Better luck tomorrow.
Friday, September 11, 2009
A D-lighful Day
September 11
Today was Diana's eighth birthday. After she went to bed last night, Kenzie hung streamers, Bronwyn made clues for a treasure hunt, and we all wrote cards and drew pictures and compiled them into 'Diana's Birthday Book.' Diana was the last one to get up so we had lots of time to get our surprises together. Even Evangeline drew a picture for Diana.
We had her favorite 'boxed cereal'( a real novelty for our family) for breakfast-Corn Pops. I didn't even know she had ever tried them before. She didn't ask for them, but I thought I would surprise her, because she wouldn't expect to get junk food like that from me. I always let the kids choose their meals for their birthday so they usually take advantage of the opportunity to eat foods that make me shudder.
She read her birthday book, and followed Bronwyn's clues to find presents from her two big sisters. Then I took her alone to the Tent and Canvas Shop. She had no idea where we were going. She picked out her own tote bag, chose an embroidery pattern and the font for her monogram, and then watched Calvin personalize her bag. She really enjoyed it, and I must say she made good choices. It looks amazing!
Judah ran over to say Kurt was on the phone. Diana and I ran to the Hanthorns but we missed the call. At least Paul got to talk to Kurt for 15 minutes of so. We called Kurt back, and Diana did get a chance to receive birthday wishes from her daddy.
To add to her day, Diana received two birthday presents in the mail. Grandpa sent his traditional card and money, which the kids always enjoy receiving. Diana made a nice pose for you.
She also received some cake decorating supplies in the mail. (Thanks, Tim and Lori!) It was such a timely gift. I had made an extra cake, so we decided to let the kids personalize their own piece of cake. Judah, Jesse, and Esther joined in the fun, as did the neighbors, Rayden and Kylynn. Then they played in the yard, ate some more and we finished off her special day with a movie.
I love my little 'D.' Happy Birthday, Diana. I love you.
Today was Diana's eighth birthday. After she went to bed last night, Kenzie hung streamers, Bronwyn made clues for a treasure hunt, and we all wrote cards and drew pictures and compiled them into 'Diana's Birthday Book.' Diana was the last one to get up so we had lots of time to get our surprises together. Even Evangeline drew a picture for Diana.
We had her favorite 'boxed cereal'( a real novelty for our family) for breakfast-Corn Pops. I didn't even know she had ever tried them before. She didn't ask for them, but I thought I would surprise her, because she wouldn't expect to get junk food like that from me. I always let the kids choose their meals for their birthday so they usually take advantage of the opportunity to eat foods that make me shudder.
She read her birthday book, and followed Bronwyn's clues to find presents from her two big sisters. Then I took her alone to the Tent and Canvas Shop. She had no idea where we were going. She picked out her own tote bag, chose an embroidery pattern and the font for her monogram, and then watched Calvin personalize her bag. She really enjoyed it, and I must say she made good choices. It looks amazing!
Judah ran over to say Kurt was on the phone. Diana and I ran to the Hanthorns but we missed the call. At least Paul got to talk to Kurt for 15 minutes of so. We called Kurt back, and Diana did get a chance to receive birthday wishes from her daddy.
To add to her day, Diana received two birthday presents in the mail. Grandpa sent his traditional card and money, which the kids always enjoy receiving. Diana made a nice pose for you.
She also received some cake decorating supplies in the mail. (Thanks, Tim and Lori!) It was such a timely gift. I had made an extra cake, so we decided to let the kids personalize their own piece of cake. Judah, Jesse, and Esther joined in the fun, as did the neighbors, Rayden and Kylynn. Then they played in the yard, ate some more and we finished off her special day with a movie.
I love my little 'D.' Happy Birthday, Diana. I love you.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
News from Here AND Home
September 8-10
Looks like it was my turn to get some news.I have a new nephew- Jedidiah James Branson!! Congratulations Keith and Merryl, Jessie, Jacob, Rebekah, Gabrielle, and Maria! Can't wait to see your little baby boy! Are you trying to get us to come home or something?
Anyways..
Lynn and I started meeting in the mornings before the kids wake up to read the bible and pray together. It’s a nice quiet time, and a good way to start the day. I see the sun rise as I walk over to her house.
With the cooler fall weather, the bugs have dissipated, so we take our walks down in the river valley. It’s beautiful. One of these times, I’m going to remember my camera! There are lots of trails cut in the trees and along the water. It reminds me a lot of the River Farm at home. The kids run ahead, looking for the next great discovery. Unless, of course, they fall behind because they have found, yet again, the perfect walking stick. With Josiah, Judah, and Jesse along, you can be sure there is lots of ‘bush-whacking’ going on. Two sticks (one of them Josiah’s) made contact with Esther’s head on one outing, and that put an end to the stick-toting.
Lynn invited the kids over to do an autumn activity. We gathered leaves outside until everyone’s paper bag was full. We ironed the leaves flat, the kids glued them down and –VOILA- they each had their own placemat. They were all very proud of their creations. Keegan and Bronwyn also enjoyed the weather by running with Annah and Ruth.
Mackenzie stayed at the house because she was determined to finish reading The Lord of the Rings. And she did. She read the third book, The Return of the King in one day! I love The Lord of the Rings. Good is good, evil is evil, and good wins in the end. And LOTR has made readers out of Keegan, and now Mackenzie, and as a homeschooling mother, that is worth its weight in gold. Before summer, Mackenzie didn’t like to read a book unless she could finish it in one sitting. I think it’s safe to say she’s converted!
After their run, Keegan and Bronwyn wanted to bike, so they went to ask Lynn if her girls could go. Lynn asked, “Well, how hard are you going to go?” Bronwyn, from past experience, knew that when the Hanthorns train, Lynn likes them to push themselves. So to increase her chances of a positive response, Bronwyn replied, “Really hard.”
Lynn said, “Are you sure? Really hard?”
“Yes,” Bronwyn confirmed.
What Bronwyn didn’t realize was Lynn asked the question because Ruth did NOT want to go if they were going to go hard. The girls were on a juice cleanse and were not feeling too energetic. Plus, they’d already done their training with their run. Biking was just extra.
“Oh, well if you’re going hard, I don’t think Ruth wants to go then.”
Of course, Bronwyn was more than willing to have a more leisurely ride, “Well, Lynn, if it’s okay with you, we could go at a slower pace.”
So they went. And to top it off, Keegan went biking again with Joel when they got back.
In other news, Estelle is on the move. She gets on her hands and knees now, and can move herself along the floor. Having all the space, and some carpet, at the RCMP house, has made it easier for her, I think. She can sit herself up from lying down, and for the first time, she pulled herself up to stand at the windowsill on my bed.
Today, Bronwyn, Keegan, Mackenzie, Josiah, and Diana went to an assembly at the school. The 2008 Canadian female Olympic gold medalist for wrestling did a presentation. She used Joel as her guinea pig to demonstrate her wrestling moves. They really enjoyed it. It’s amazing to be so far away from home, in such a little hamlet, and we’ve had so many opportunities to experience so many things. I am so thankful.
Looks like it was my turn to get some news.I have a new nephew- Jedidiah James Branson!! Congratulations Keith and Merryl, Jessie, Jacob, Rebekah, Gabrielle, and Maria! Can't wait to see your little baby boy! Are you trying to get us to come home or something?
Anyways..
Lynn and I started meeting in the mornings before the kids wake up to read the bible and pray together. It’s a nice quiet time, and a good way to start the day. I see the sun rise as I walk over to her house.
With the cooler fall weather, the bugs have dissipated, so we take our walks down in the river valley. It’s beautiful. One of these times, I’m going to remember my camera! There are lots of trails cut in the trees and along the water. It reminds me a lot of the River Farm at home. The kids run ahead, looking for the next great discovery. Unless, of course, they fall behind because they have found, yet again, the perfect walking stick. With Josiah, Judah, and Jesse along, you can be sure there is lots of ‘bush-whacking’ going on. Two sticks (one of them Josiah’s) made contact with Esther’s head on one outing, and that put an end to the stick-toting.
Lynn invited the kids over to do an autumn activity. We gathered leaves outside until everyone’s paper bag was full. We ironed the leaves flat, the kids glued them down and –VOILA- they each had their own placemat. They were all very proud of their creations. Keegan and Bronwyn also enjoyed the weather by running with Annah and Ruth.
Mackenzie stayed at the house because she was determined to finish reading The Lord of the Rings. And she did. She read the third book, The Return of the King in one day! I love The Lord of the Rings. Good is good, evil is evil, and good wins in the end. And LOTR has made readers out of Keegan, and now Mackenzie, and as a homeschooling mother, that is worth its weight in gold. Before summer, Mackenzie didn’t like to read a book unless she could finish it in one sitting. I think it’s safe to say she’s converted!
After their run, Keegan and Bronwyn wanted to bike, so they went to ask Lynn if her girls could go. Lynn asked, “Well, how hard are you going to go?” Bronwyn, from past experience, knew that when the Hanthorns train, Lynn likes them to push themselves. So to increase her chances of a positive response, Bronwyn replied, “Really hard.”
Lynn said, “Are you sure? Really hard?”
“Yes,” Bronwyn confirmed.
What Bronwyn didn’t realize was Lynn asked the question because Ruth did NOT want to go if they were going to go hard. The girls were on a juice cleanse and were not feeling too energetic. Plus, they’d already done their training with their run. Biking was just extra.
“Oh, well if you’re going hard, I don’t think Ruth wants to go then.”
Of course, Bronwyn was more than willing to have a more leisurely ride, “Well, Lynn, if it’s okay with you, we could go at a slower pace.”
So they went. And to top it off, Keegan went biking again with Joel when they got back.
In other news, Estelle is on the move. She gets on her hands and knees now, and can move herself along the floor. Having all the space, and some carpet, at the RCMP house, has made it easier for her, I think. She can sit herself up from lying down, and for the first time, she pulled herself up to stand at the windowsill on my bed.
Today, Bronwyn, Keegan, Mackenzie, Josiah, and Diana went to an assembly at the school. The 2008 Canadian female Olympic gold medalist for wrestling did a presentation. She used Joel as her guinea pig to demonstrate her wrestling moves. They really enjoyed it. It’s amazing to be so far away from home, in such a little hamlet, and we’ve had so many opportunities to experience so many things. I am so thankful.
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