Christmas Blessings from our house to yours. Here is Christine and Christian with their
cousins on moms side of the family...almost a year ago!
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This i
Brrr...this is how the day is today. Crisp, clear and cold...well maybe
not that cold. It shows some intricate handiwork of our Father on the leaves.
Yes, we do have lots of pictures of frost.
So Christian thought he would share the photo of the frossssty leaves!
This past year, and even now there has been a
LOT of roadwork while our little Village of Belcarra prepares to have city
water (well for those that desire it).
We are going to stay on our lovely well water. The most amazing party of
the project is the water is being piped from Mount Seymour under the ocean
(Indian Arm) to our side. We saw them
laying the pipe from our front/back yard.
Amazing.
Christine is in her
second year at Heritage Woods Secondary.
She has done an amazing job and we really like the recipes she comes
home with. She made the most amazing homemade pretzels. YUM! They were so good
she decided to do a repeat.
sadly, for some strange reason mom left some Dead Sea bath
salts in the kitchen drawer. Well let's just say the second batch was not as
palatable. So sad to put all that hard work into them and turn out EXTRA salty.
Nonetheless, Peter, who loves to eat most anything and hates to see things go
to waste ate them...once all visible salt was scraped off.
 |
| BRRRRRR! |
Early last year we decided to take the kids and Kirsi up to
Cypress to go sledding, it didn't go so well, it was 'bitterly' cold!! Brr.
Kirsi and Christian were brave enough to go sliding on their butts down a very
bumpy hill, just so they could say they had done it! Kirsi was a bit more in
her element as it was more like a Finnish winter.
With being in
regular school makes it much harder for the family to get to Palm Springs twice
a year and have 3 summers a year. Sigh. Oh well. Christine and I flew down at
Spring Break to join the 'boys'.
It was great getting to read, bike ride, sit by the pool and
spend time with awesome friends there. One night Christine's friends Kendel
hosted a Minute to Win-it Party with a group of about 30 teens. Crazy
challenges and amazing talent! I still have NO idea how anyone can balance 3 golf
balls atop of each other!
On our way home we went to visit my dear friend Traci in
Irvine. Oh joy, the most fabulous day to stroll along the beach. The surf was
amazing. There is nothing like California sun, the surf and wonderful friends.
Traci and I were able to connect heart to heart again. Here is Christine and me
at the beach...just minutes after she spotted the BIGGEST fattest rattlesnake
ever just under the sidewalk. She is definitely very observant and has saved us
a couple of times from rattlesnakes. Yeah, that is the third
time we have seen a rattler up so close!
Isn't it gorgeous! Of course we had to do this in bare feet. We spent the day shopping with Traci and her
daughter Tiffani @a cool outdoor mall in Irvine, followed by a spontaneous
drive to the beach at Crystal Cove. Yes...I think my girl was missing home but
she didn't leave without leaving some artwork on the beach.
Cam is still very much a part of her life and ours. We are thankful that he is in her life. We
feel blessed that he is such a wonderful, thoughtful young man.
Christian stayed beho
Christian and Peter stayed for about a month afterwards and
Peter's dear friend Alex came to visit (from Mississippi). What a blessing. (look how tall Christian is
getting!)
A young lady from our
Church, Jasmine Small started a coffee shop discussion group. I am honoured to
support them in prayer when I can. Peter also likes to join me on
occasion. The issues discussed range
from human trafficking, homelessness and African orphanages. Beyond just
talking about these issues there is often ways to help or share with those.
Christian wanted to add this photo of a yummy coffee beverage. So just enjoy...my
sister Carol and I got together for coffee, before going on to spend part of
Danita's birthday with her on St. Patrick's Day.
Ah yes, and our
three lovely cats. Yes we do have all three still. (just a photo of the
fluffiest one Moo/Mister) They truly are amazing cats. They are still outdoor
cats, but have been known to sneak inside for a minute or two so long as the door
is wide open. We are ever so thankful with all the wildlife around they are
still with us. Prince, Blackberry and Mister seem to be friends with all the
wildlife. Often they are sitting on the
porch while a raccoon will come along and eat their food. There is no fighting
or hissing and it isn't the same raccoon. It seems to be kind of like a spoken
animal code like you see in the movies.
We know we have coyotes living nearby as well since we often hear them
howling to one another and they have been spotted at the top of the driveway. The
otters still play on the float and the seal will frequently sleep there for the
night.
Peter's biggest
project this summer was clearing out the house next door! Whew...now that was a job! It officially sold
to some wonderful people who will be building sometime in the New Year. We look
forward to welcoming Kim and Lynda to Belcarra.
Their grandson goes to the same high school as Christine and Cam. Funny thing is that Kim and Lynda graduated
from the same high school as Peter, two years after he did in the same
graduating class as his brother George!
Small world!
Maria is attending
college to get her M.O.A. (Medical Office Assistant). She still works for Lynwood House. Richard is still working in Insurance. He commutes to work each day, but fortunately
doesn't mind the commute since they bought a condo closer to us at Lafarge Lake
in Coquitlam Town Centre. More exciting
than that is Richard and Maria are ENGAGED! He is such a nice young man and
they make a sweet couple. The wedding is going to be some time in 2013.
Christine is in
dance this year, doing lyrical and jazz.
For the first time she is going to be in a competition so mom can hardly
wait. Christine has been very involved
with fitness class (I still say she could be a fitness/nutrition teacher). She also tutors a young girl math once a
week. I still miss her being at home.
This term she is taking Biology, Math, Cooking, Fitness and
Socials. Most mornings she takes the bus
to school. But yes, her favourite
subject still is...need I say more?
Christian is having
fun taking Parkour. Oh yes...and he practises almost every move he makes:
jumping, flying, rolling through the house when he can. He loves his class! He is also enrolled in a writing class with a
group of Homelearner's at a dear friend's home.
The course it taught by Lee Edward Fodi. Christian is a talented,
creative writer with amazing style and passion. (Yes, mom is proud...Christine
has proven to be an amazing writer and now Christian is easily showing his
ability here too...must be in the Hilborn writing genes). Here is Lee's site. http://www.leefodi.com/ He is an amazing teacher and Christian works
very well with him.
We were so blessed
to have Daniel's entire family here! Oh it was wonderful. Sarah and the kids had never been here...when
they realized how mild our winters are compared to Lethbridge and Eston, well,
Vancouver is much milder. We did manage
a wonderful trip to the Aquarium. When
the family left, Claudine stayed with us for a month. Alex Fortune stayed with us too. The boys had fun. It was fun taking a trip out to the
Suspension Bridge. We loved the Cliff
Hanger walk.
Once again one of
my favourite things is hosting families.
It was wonderful to see the Halls again. Oh how I love their consecrated
lifestyle. When they arrived it was
about month 3 of their trip with 7 in the motor home after travelling across
the U.S. and into Canada going into places to pray and worship. Imagine giving up the comforts of their own
home and beds. Not only did they do this, but I think some of the family was
home for only a matter of a couple of weeks before they are off in different
directions helping, praying and ministering in Mexico and Israel. Their website
is
http://www.fire-international.org/rod-marion-hall/
We had the Mercers from New Zealand stay with us as they
renewed their Visas to stay on at Bethel and go to school. That was a fun visit. Peter really enjoyed getting to know
Craig. Just last month we had another
dynamic team of wonderful young adults stay with us. They were part of the Nefarious team going to
release the documentary throughout venues in the U.S. Such a sweet team of young adults! Funny
thing is that Georgia and Meghan and ourselves didn't KNOW the mutual
connections. When Peter was talking on the phone to arrange their stay, all of
a sudden it became apparent that we were the same family their dear friend
Blaire (from Kansas City) had told them about and Michael Lienau (our dear friends
from Camano Island) had just mentioned.
God is so good!!! Georgia,
Meghan, Michelle, Luke and John breathed so much life into our home with their
youthful joy and enthusiasm for life and what God is doing. It truly was a blessing to host them. The Nefarious Documentary is out of Exodus Cry
it is too strong for me to watch the whole thing, but the information is
factual about life today for those who have, or are being trafficked. Exodus Cry tries to help people out of
trafficking. Our friend Michael Lienau
worked on some of the filming with Benjamin Nolot (who is the main director
producer)
One of the many short hikes out our backyard I enjoy doing
with the kids! Christine is a fun loving young lady!
What a blessing! Actually I lost my cell phone that day on
the hike, but Christian remembered seeing something 'blue' as we went along so
he knew 'exactly' where to find it.
So thankful to have Peter's parents relatively close
by. We don't see them nearly often as we
or they would like. More than that I miss spending time on Vancouver Island
with Grandma Kay! Sp far away...and the kids do not like to take the ferry. I
was so blessed to be able to get away all by myself to visit with 'mom'/Kay!
That was very special. We had a wonderful time visiting and hiked through
Englishman River Falls. So pretty.
As I write this letter Peter is in Palm Springs...enjoying
my roses. Yes, the roses of November/December. Aaah , the bliss of sunshine..
Thankfully home here is lovely, to look out over the water, no matter what the
weather, it is a HUGE blessing to share in the beauty of creation.
Have a wonderful New Year and blessed Christmas.
