Final Sanbanks photos!

Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth!

Dad's milking ?? the trailer before moving her back to 32.

A mixup caused us to meet this neat Jewish family to whom we were privileged to show from the Bible that Jesus (Y'suah) claimed to be/is the Messiah.
Pray God will open their eyes & hearts. (Pictured is part of the family)

We also met others, some of whom we were able to have good talks or share Creation magazines with.

(This is evidence that our early, quiet, vacation was not as dead/lonely/boring as Dad said/feared - We need this evidence for our next off-season trip :)

Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee,
"How great Thou art".....

Apple blossoms (May)

And the lucky vacationers are: Oom Evert & Tante Marian!

On Friday of the Victoria Day weekend, Dad & Mom went home and dropped me off at Selina's.
Her parents, my uncle & aunt, came to Sandbanks to enjoy the gorgeous setting, comfy trailer & time together - just the 2 of them!
I also enjoyed spending some time with my cousin(s) - got to see Tony & Theresa & kids too!


In the "living room" of my trailer

Enjoying a delicious peasoup supper together on Monday before they left and we moved back in again

Bethany

Ralph & Sharon's oldest and youngest children

Baby Bethany Marguerite is only 2 days old in these photos

That's # 18 for the proud Opa & Oma!
Bethany tied up the score between the boys & girls (- until Nov! :)

Spanish Brothers

Dad & Mom went home to see their new grandchild
and this grand production:

A play put on by Chris' homeschool group (written by James Z.) about the Spanish Inquisition
and the end of the Reformed Church in Spain in the 15 hundreds

"Donna Inez" cousin of "Carlos"

Elisabeth put together her costume with some help from Oma.

She also did the costumes for Mark (the father of Carlos) and Josh's (one of the henchman pictured below and also "Prior" - one of those responsible for the persecution and whiping out of the believers.

"Gonzalos and Carlos" - you can tell by the costumes who was upper-class. Good job Deanna!

A touching scene where the Christians are about to be burned at the stake because of their faith in God

Picton Friends

After going to Sandbanks so many years, we have a number of good friends here who we always make a point of visiting
-on the cold rainy days of course :)

This beautiful Oriole is a frequent guest at Melrose's lovely home.

Melrose is a dear Sister in the Lord and we always enjoy the fellowship we have with her.

Here we are in the gezelig sunroom of Pat's (Mom's friend and maid of honour!)

Trilliums in the Park

One day Dad took me for a walk to the woods behind us and I was astounded to see the campsites transformed to a white sea of trilliums -

- wave upon waves of white and pink trilliums for as far as the eye could see!

I've never seen so many in one place! Gorgeous!

How the Father clothes the flowers of the field!

(and are we not worth far more - why DO we worry!!?)

Dad missed his weekly chess games with Jim and so roped in whoever he could find. Sometimes that happened to me - who am no match! tho I DID WIN ONCE!!:) Ok, so he gave back a stupid move of mine!






Look at that nice clear view we had from the trailer.

Aawe!!!

Sandbanks May 9-31

Camping in the beginning of May was a new experience! A little risky, yes, but part of the never-ending quest for fresh air! And that we got, as often there was "not even a chicken in sight" according to Dad.

It looked quite different with the trees still in bud or just breaking out in to lacy leaves. So pretty tho!

I (& Mom) loved the peace and quiet with all the time to really rest, relax, read... :) And Dad did manage to find enough people to talk to still.

We had our own private dinning area on the beach just in front of our spot (that white thing you can just see in the back is my trailer). From here we watched many a gorgeous sunset! Our God is the most amazing artist!
(Aah, what's that at the water's edge? Could be some chickens, Dad? ;))

Ok, Marguerite, here's a belated announcement for Bethany's birth. :)


We thank the Lord for our sixth child!
Bethany Marguerite was born at 8:13 p.m. on May 17,
weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Catch-up time

Hello everyone!
We're back from our vacation!

I see there's been nothing happening in our extended family since the 3 of us have been away!?! Huh!! (Wake up all you fellow Contributors!)

In truth, we have been greatly blessed as a family - nucleus and extended. Most notable of course has been the blessing of a new daughter for Ralph & Sharon: Bethany Marguerite (I love the name! :) & feel honoured - Tx!).

Others have been blessed with another year of life:

Betty

Mark - turned 13!!! yikes! ;)

Josiah - turned 3!! (Sorry we missed it)

Arianna - turned 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY all of you!!!!

Chris & Maurice another year of marriage - Congratulations!!

Another notable Anniversary for our church was May 26 with the ordination of our dear pastor 7 years ago! We thank the Lord and Pastor Rich for his faithful ministry in our midst! May He bless and prosper the church through it for many more years.

~

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 136:1

~

So that's a few items of praise. Also that we had a good vacation and many safe travellings. Check back often over the next week or so for continuing coverage :)

Tante Tena

We finally got coordinated enough to take Emebet along with us from downtown to visit dear Tante Tena!

Tante Tena has become like Dad's own aunt over the many years that he's been visiting and helping her. She is actually related - to Mom - Mom's father is her 2nd-cousin!

We were priviledged to witness the sign & seal of God's gracious covenant upon our little niece on Sunday, at Living Waters URC.

"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God,
the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy
for a thousand generations
with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
Deuteronomy 7:9

"For the promise is to you and to your children,
and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:39

Daniel & Josiah get along just great --
it was suddenly their idea to start hugging!

New Zealand

Check Bill & Rita's blog for many beautiful pictures of New Zealand,
where they are biking across the country with a team of friends.
(Just click on "Flickr Photos,"
at the top right-hand corner of their blog.)

He is Risen!

…as the first day of the week began to dawn, …there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it...and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said."


He Lives

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal halleluahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Chorus: He Lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Hymn by A.H.Ackley, 1933

There are many historical proofs and witnesses* to the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection. However, all the proofs and facts in the world won’t prove it to those who don’t want to believe – only the change it makes in the heart and life, and the Holy Spirit within testifying of adoption into His family will be evidence enough.
May He work that faith, resurrection life and assurance in the hearts of all of our loved ones!
Christ is Risen!
*1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Good Friday

See, My Servant will prosper; He will be highly exalted....
My Servant grew up in the LORD'S presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weakness He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God for His own sins! But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!

Isaiah 52:13, 53:2-5 NLT (pronouns referring to Christ I capitalized for respect)

*

It was a blessing to be able to worship with God's people on Good Friday.
Pastor preached on Christ's words on the cross just before He gave up his life: "It is finished!"
He completed the work His Father sent Him to do! Perfectly! Out of love for His Father & His lost sheep!
This is the greatest moment of His Passion, of His life thus far.
And this should be our focus, not His physical suffering - great as it was.
It offends God when we try to re-enact His Son's suffering - as if we could even fathom it, let alone correctly portray it! (aside from the command not to make images of Him)
And Scripture is sufficient. God ordained preaching as the main means of grace.

However, I find that after hearing the wonderous story so often, it doesn't always move me as it should.
Thankfully, God also ordained singing and I think that is one of the best ways to involve our senses and emotions -singing it or listening to the gospels set to great, soul-stirring music - as in Handel's Messiah - "He was Despised, Rejected"..., or the great Passion Oratorios by J.S. Bach... These are beautiful, rich, Scripture-based, God-honouring musical recountings of the Gospel Passion story which stirs up our affections for Him. I'd recommend it! - don't forget to have tissues handy esp'ly if you're watching it... (Thanks R&S for lending your St.John Passion DVD - excellent!)

So glad it didn't end there! Sunday's coming!