New look for the ol' blog

Thanks to Roy, the picture has been updated. I didn't want to leave the impression that I am so capable! We have returned tonight to the farm with Stephen and will find him a ride back to Saskatoon to catch his plane before Jan 6th. Hopefully he can be there a day or two ahead and do a little more visiting with his sisters and their families. It was a fun time being together, but we never got a family picture this time as one or more of us were not feeling well over the days we were together. Gianna and I had a cough going on, and then we decided to bounce the flu bug among the adults! Sigh, oh well, we were in good company. I will add some pictures from the time in Saskatoon. The kids joined the puzzle tradition and sure go involved!! Linaya was so excited she crawled right up on the table and sat at Grandpa's elbow. Stan and Josiah celebrated their birthdays together for the second time! Now there are two 2 year olds in the family! Linaya had her birthday back in October.

All is calm...

Well, we were off to flying start on Christmas morning with Stephen put up in a hotel for the night somewhere in Denver as he waited for a connecting flight and Robert calling to Monica's house to say he was off to the hospital with Melissa as she had a terrible night. By mid afternoon, Stephen and Melissa were both back with the family as we opened gifts and settled down to Christmas supper (yes, supper! We're prairie people :-)

No word from Melissa this am, but I know we won't be doing boxing day sales together. Please contiue to say a little prayer for her as this has been such a tough pregnancy and she can really use the encouragement of people who care as she waits these last weeks. The ultra sound shows a healthy baby on the way and we are just excited to meet this newest little member of the family. Gianna has improved so much from last week when she needed to be on nebulizer treatments for her congested chest. Today she is all smiles! She's just happy to be feeling better, too!!

We are reminded how great it is to be together as family and we count our blessings as we look around us. We are safe, warm, well fed and have a loving God who's always near. Have a good day :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays

We head to Saskatoon tomorrow to meet up with the rest of the family. Roy, Monica and the girls have been here for a few days and just headed back to the city ahead of us. Gianna had been having some resperatory problems that come with having a cold when you're 7 weeks old. She's doing a little better today and is to continue with nebulizer treatments for a week. Lots of cuddle time and she got lots of pats on the back, too! It was fun to play with Linaya. She changes so much between visits.
We're looking forward to time with Melissa, Robert and Josiah. She is looking forward to the new baby's arrival and feeling well again. She is 33 weeks now and baby seems to be very active and progressing well. Stephen flies in tomorrow night, I think?? If you've been following air travel over the last few days you will have noticed a few bottlenecks and delays. Stan got over the pneumonia and has been back looking for things to do in the shop. Good sign!! I have "turned into my mother" and have been packing up things to take with us to Saskatoon to use for Christmas dinner and beyond. I used to tease MY Mom and say "Don't bring water. We have some of that" Now I hear that from my girls :-) God's blessing over you and your family as you travel and spend time together!!

Now what?

Well, we've never thought our life was predictable. Stan thought he must be getting some kind of flu but it turned out to be pneumonia. I think the Doctor caught it early enough to get some antibiotics going and hopefully he'll feel a lot better in just a couple of days. It is hard for him to sit around and take it easy. We're on day 1 of that! I need to get some Christmas baking done so that's my good reason to stay home and in the house. They're forcasting a blizzard tonight and tomorrow. Our winter may really be on its way.

Home from the mountains

We had a wonderful time visiting lots of family between here and Vancouver and back. We saw, brothers, sisters-in-law, an aunt and uncle, cousins and their kids, neices and nephews and their families! In between the visits we took a little quieter time off and went on the Harrison River on a tour of a salmon run and bald eagles. Did you know there could be over 2000 bald eagles on the same river when the salmon are on the move! It was so amazing.(If you click on the picture of the tree you will be able to see a sample) The rest of the trip we kept watching for eagles. "On The Wings of an Eagle" is a special song and Bible verse to me. It was so exhilarating to watch so many rising and soaring!!

Here is my updated prayer list. Melissa continues to wait for the new baby. Her blood pressure has remained mostly constant but still a little too high. She has passed 30 weeks so let's make it 37 and then forty!! Go Melissa! Our prayers continue for you to do well. My friend Vicki has begun her chemo and radiation. Please pray for her to find the side effects tolerable and for her healing.

How many weeks until Christmas?? I haven't got my head there yet. My greeting cards are still on the kitchen table and not in the mail. Most of you know all about us if you're reading facebook, or blog anyway, right?? Thankyou for caring enought to check in on us. I hope this can be a wonderful Christmas season for you to be with people you love and not stress about "stuff".