Happy Thanksgiving

Last weekend was beautiful and sunny (much like today). So after church Marco and I went for a walk and took some pictures. It was so relaxing and wonderful to spend time together! We wanted to share a few of the shots we took. I also wanted to take this time to say "Happy Thanksgiving". I hope the time that you spend with family and friends around the table will be a wonderful time! I know I am blessed and I need to turn back and praise Him for all the things He has done in my life!

About half an hour ago, I watched as Marco drove away in a white 15 passenger van, not filled with people, but filled with dishes, glasses, prepared food, knives, and his red tool box. He is on his way to Calgary. Tonight Marco is cooking a revolving, six dish meal for 25 people.

I am so proud of him and am honored to call him my husband. He left cooking and working as a chef in the Fairmont Hotels about 7 years ago because he knew he was putting cooking before his relationship with God. He started pursuing God and seeking after Him with all of his heart.

When Marco moved to Red Deer and friends found out he was a chef they would ask him to cook for them. Over the last few years he has willingly done a few functions like Christmas dinners, youth fundraisers, and my grandpa's memorial service but he has not pursued cooking full time, even though it is his passion. At each of these events I would stand back and watch as he used his talents and gifts with food to serve people :). He always felt awkward and a bit unsure when people would say "Wow! This is amazing..." because he knew that God deserved the praise, not himself.

As I go to school each morning and get to work with kids (my passion), I've prayed that we would both know in a real way if and when Marco was to do a catering event. So, this weekend is different. It is not just a catering...it is an answer to prayer!

I love you Marco!

Our Summer Through Pictures

I can't believe that it is Labor Day weekend already. It seems like we were just at the beginning of summer. I thought I'd post a few pictures to let you see what we've been up to.

At the end of July we were all together to celebrate Erika and Arden's wedding :). It was a beautiful day but very hot!
















On August long weekend, we went camping with friends to Horburg (near Rocky Mountain House).






























 

 

 

I spent most of my days at home which was wonderful. I really enjoyed being able to read a book in my quiet house while drinking a good cup of coffee of course :). I was also able to pick some berries which was a lot of fun!

     
Last weekend, I flew to Winnipeg to celebrate Tanya and Todd's special day. I was blessed to be there.










I hope you enjoy the last few days of summer before heading back to school...or work :). Can you tell that I'm already thinking about Grade 2!

6 weeks and counting...

...we get to move into our new house. We are really excited and thankful for this home that God has blessed us with. As Marco and I have been praying for God to direct our next steps, He led us to this house in Lacombe. Come and have a tour :). It has a spare bedroom so we'd love for you to come and visit us in the summer. Then we can tell you the whole story.

After Dinner...

Marco and I just finished eating supper. For some reason I was really looking forward to tonight even though we try really hard to make eating together a part of our normal routine. Over the last month, life has been extremely busy with "more"...more meetings after school, more errands to run, more jobs to do, more lists to keep track of, more late nights.... After another busy day and with those other things in the back of my mind I was looking forward to sharing my day with Marco. He is such a good listener. Tonight while we ate supper at the island I often got excited about teaching and kids and he patiently and intently listened about my day.

Here are some of the highlights :):
* At 8:30 I took my Grade 2 class to gym. They were really excited to play tag games and floor hockey early this morning.
* For the rest of the morning, we wrote Dr. Seuss-like stories. Even if you are not a kid you should visit www.seussville.com. It's a lot of fun!
* After recess, I spent 20 minutes sorting out a bullying issue that happened on the playground because it was more important than doing math.
* Shortly after 2:30, I had a boy take a huge nose-dive on the classroom floor. There were lots of tears and blood. After doing the basic first aid, we took a little walk to the office.
* When I came back to the classroom, no one was focused so we had some free time at the end of the day :).

Our Christmas

Driving through the mountains...













A walk around Mill Lake with our neices Natalie & Jolene

















































Being together with our family out in Abbotsford, BC...Mom & Dad, brothers, sisters, and neices and nephews :)!