In January and February we again spent many enjoyable hours in the fresh air helping Milena and Derek on their acreage. A good part of this time went into pruning and fertilizing the blueberries, raspberries and other fruit trees.
In March Eileen traveled to Saskatchewan to visit her mother. She had a week’s visit with Mom and helped her celebrate her 91 years on April 1st. Her mother is doing very well health wise.
The end of June we went to Swift Current as a family, except for Derek, to see Mom. We were there July 1st and celebrated Eileen’s brother Cliff and Judy’s 40th Anniversary. On the way back home we had the honor of participating in the wedding of Frank’s nephew in Alberta. Frank felt honored to be able to perform the marriage ceremony as Jeremey Cote and Christine Unruh became man and wife.
In August, after most of the berries were picked, we had a great week of vacation near home. We spent e few days in Ladysmith (Vancouver Island) and then made day trips to Port Moody, Harrison and Fort Langley.
Our motto seems to be: BE AVAILABLE TO HELP OUT WHEN NECESSARY. This might be helping in one of two churches we attend, giving rides to those with special needs or taking care of our kids’ homes and pets. For example, Monica has to make frequent trips for work (mostly to Ottawa!), so we get the privilege of cat-sitting her two entertaining cats.
It means encouraging and praying with people at church or whenever. We still attend Maple Ridge Baptist Church twice a month, where our daughter Monica is a member of a Worship Team and choir. We are part of a prayer team, for the purpose of praying with those who come to the front. Mostly these are Christians with special burdens, but in a few cases people have come to receive the Lord as Savior. This has been a real blessing for us.
The other Sundays we attend Sevenoaks Alliance here in Abbotsford. This fall for two months it was a joy to help Milena and Derek as they conducted the Children’s Church at Sevenoaks. It was thrilling to see this bunch of kids from Grades One to Five get enthusiastically involved and then listen with rapt attention as God’s word is made to live before them. This begins again for two months the second Sunday of January.
One of our main jobs is to help our children and grandchildren. For the two granddaughters this has meant two or three days a week. Elyssa began Grade Three and Amy Grade One, this year; both in French Immersion. “Gramma, you don’t have the French “R!” they point out to us.
Frank enjoys his workshop. He recently finished making four toy chests for the rec. room and Eileen did a super job of making cushions for these “boxes.” Now Frank is building a somewhat elaborate doll house for the granddaughters!
We also enjoy taking walks, working out at the gym and reading books. We enjoy reading books while driving (well, Frank does the driving and Eileen the reading!). We've listed some of our recent favourites in the sidebar.
Thank you for your many greetings and continued prayers. Our prayer for you is that God would bless you in 2008.
