Carving Pumpkins :)

By: Reaman ~ Rachelle ~ Sonja ~ Jordan ~ Melissa

BAKIN' BUNS BABY!!!

By Brenda =)

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Makin' Music @ Market

This morning Sonja's music class provided entertainment at our local Farmers' Market...despite the very chilly weather and their freezing hands & fingers!

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Sonja and two of her friends played "The Pink Panther" theme song (two saxophones & one clarinet).

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Where to start??

I have to admit it's with lacking enthusiasm that I write, first of all wondering "who actually reads this?" and secondly... it has been so long and so much has happened I don't know where to start. Also I feel I have better things to do right now...there's always work and things to get done around the house, etc. I find that blogging is very time consuming especially when you make slideshows and do stuff with photos, trying to be a bit clever sometimes...but also just in the basic writing without anything else or trying to make it special. Right now I just can't keep up that level of creativity. It just takes too much time and energy and brain power.

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Life has been so crazy the past several months. Backtracking...June was absolutely insane...Sonja & Rachelle both got their driver's licenses, we celebrated three Birthdays (Sonja, Melissa & Jordan's), we also celebrated Rachelle's grade 12 Grad, Jordan's grade 8 Grad, our Wedding Anniversary...and in the middle of all that also went away on an OM Canada weekend retreat (which despite adding to the hecticness was very enjoyable). Then 2 days after Rachelle's Grad she travelled 5 hours up north to work for five weeks at Camp Kahquah.

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Summer did not slow down for us one bit. Jordan went to camp to work as CREW for 2 weeks in July, then Melissa went to camp for one week as a camper. While Jordan was away I painted his bedroom which was a bigger job than I expected ~ it doesn't help that I'm a slow painter. Also at the beginning of July we took in a boarder who lived with us for 2 months. She came to work with OM Canada for 2 years (she's now in her own apartment). In August as many of you know we travelled to Manitoba and Saskatchewan and were gone for 3 weeks. By the way we had a really great time and really enjoyed seeing everyone! Thank you so much to our families for everything and for making our visit so special!!! I took a lot of pictures but right now the task of sorting through them to create a slideshow is just too huge for me. Our trip went very well and we are so thankful we didn't encounter any road troubles. By the time we arrived home we had put over 7000 km on our van...we certainly don't take for granted the safety on the road when travelling such long days.

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While we were in Saskatchewan we got the sad and devastating news of Canadian OM friends who were in a tragic car accident on August 11th travelling through the USA...planning to head back into overseas missions. The husband and 11-year-old daughter both died while the wife survived but with many serious injuries. Even at the time of the funeral which Harv attended in Edmonton on August 31st she was still hospitalized and was only released long enough to attend the funeral of her husband and daughter. This tragedy was a huge shock to our whole OM staff and we pray for complete healing for our dear sister, physically, emotionally and in every way.

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After we got home from our trip out west we helped Rachelle get ready to move to Oakville where she's currently attending college. We moved her there September 1st as we also attended an orientation at the college that day. I ended up driving (my first time on the QEW!!) as Harv met up with us there having just flown back from Edmonton into Toronto that morning. As far as college, it's so strange having Rachelle gone, but she is doing very well living on her own and she is really enjoying her courses ~ she's taking Art Fundamentals. So far she has come home one weekend for a visit. The other three kids are back in school (three different schools) and doing great. Jordan is now in grade 9 and continuing French Immersion in High School. Sonja is in grade 12 and continues to work at a local pharmacy. Melissa is in grade 7. Life continues to be very busy and can become rather overwhelming at times. Whether it's school, church, work, OM or just family life in general ... there's always so much happening. God is good though and we have so much to be thankful for. Speaking of being "thankful" we enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving this year (as we have the past couple of years) with a few OM friends here. I cooked a turkey with stuffing and it turned out great. We had a wonderful time together!

Don't know when...

...so much is happening in life...too many things to do...so blogging just doesn't fit into my time schedule right now. Sorry.
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Worship Wednesday

Camp Kahquah

Jordan at CREW this summer (top pic, far right)

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Rachelle (cabin leader) and Melissa in Cedar Rest Cabin for BLAZE


WOW, July flew by!!! Rachelle has completed her five weeks of working at Camp Kahquah! Jordan enjoyed his 2 weeks of CREW working hard at camp doing kitchen duties, cleaning bathrooms, helping with programming, etc. ...they also got some free time. Melissa also participated in a week of kids camp called BLAZE. The theme for BLAZE this year was "Reality Check." The above photos are Jordan at CREW (2 pics) and the 3rd one is Rachelle's cabin of girls during BLAZE ... Melissa got to be in her cabin so she's in the photo too, next to Rachelle. Rachelle is in the front row wearing black & Melissa is wearing purple Crocs. They had a great time together! =)


Camp Kahquah is affiliated with the Brethren In Christ denomination, which is the church that we attend here. Last summer our family enjoyed a week of family camp as Harv was the "Camp Pastor" for that week. We had a wonderful time ~ he did an awesome job! =).
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What I love about camp is how it gives kids (and adults) an opportunity to experience God in a fresh & new way and grow closer to the Lord in the quiet atmosphere of His beautiful creation, away from all the busyness of life. It's so great for kids to experience being away from home and for parents to have that opportunity of "letting go." And even for older kids Rachelle's age who go and work there for several weeks it's like a "stepping stone" for the future ... for leadership training, developing independence and preparing to leave home after high school. We appreciate the camp leadership & staff so much for all that they do to bless the lives of so many people, especially kids. (And in Rachelle's case with her food allergies, the cooks have especially been a tremendous blessing!)
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Thank you Camp Kahquah for all the great memories!!! =) God bless this fantastic ministry!
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Posted by Brenda