Grade 8 Grads

Since the parents haven't posted here, an Auntie will post something too special to miss:

2 of the grandchildren graduated from Grade 8 this year:

Raph & Sharon's eldest, Rachel Christina,

and Christine & Maurice's 4th, Joshua Ralph

proud Opa & Oma with grandson Josh

proud Oma with granddaughter Rachel

Rachel diligently sewing her dress as part of her sewing lessons from Oma. We all enjoyed the excuse for having her here often! And she did a great job on a challenging pattern!

Congratulations both of you!

And all the best in the greater challenges ahead in highschool!

Our Josiah is 6!

Josiah's really into pickups right now. So, he was happy to receive a number of hot wheel and other pickups, and even a 'pickup' cake.

We thank God for our son who is growing up to know and love Him.

It is our prayer that he will always keep his focus on the Saviour of his soul, our precious Jesus.

Visits

At the end of April we were also able to visit with the Boekees for the first time at their goat farm in Aylmer. We had a great visit. The kids made great friends and have wonderful memories from their time there as well. Next time at our place? :)

Visits

Just a few pictures from our visit with Lisa and the 4 youngest children (Apr. 23). We went to the nearby Conservation Area for a walk and enjoyed the playground. Thanks for coming still, Lisa. It was an enjoyable day.

Happy 3rd Birthday Bethany!

Ode to a Dandelion

Heidi's Latest poem...

Ode to a Dandelion

Uncontrollable
Irrepressible
You could call them
sunshine incarnate
in the simplicity of cheer.
Childish exuberance
like laughter dancing over spring fields
Yet with a serious side
as wispy silver wishes
float over summer breezes.
Call it a weed if you will
I do not think it
such a shame
to be a Dandelion.

My Kub Kar

Last Saturday we had kub kar races for Cadets and Kingdom Seekers(which we didn't get any pics of) and My car won first prize for best of show! :D

Here are some pictures of my car:

Other animals

A few weeks ago, the kids found this Painted Turtle in our yard. We looked up information on it and tried to keep it for a few days, made it a habitat and provided food for it (earthworms and dandelion leaves). We didn't have it covered up, so he just crawled on out on the second day and disappeared. Too bad, but it was kind of exciting while it lasted. We were going to let it go by the Chippewa Creek Conservation Area anyway.

"Our" horses are back - across the street. We missed them all fall and winter long. It's good to see horses and cows filling the pasture again. The girls went down the street a little and watched for a while and got a couple pictures.

Kittens - growing up

The kittens are growing so quickly - they are at an adorable stage right now: playing and tussling with each other, exploring a little, and even crunching away at the dry cat food.

2 weeks old, eyes barely open.

Almost 4 weeks old.

Tarzan with Sarah. This and the rest are at 4-1/2 weeks old.

Tracy with Esther.

Tarzan climbing on Joanna.

Tarzan eating from the bowl, George nibbling the fallen pieces.

Tracy exploring. They're so much fun.

For my birthday

Esther made me a cake all by herself. It has purple icing on it - Joanna told her it had to be purple because that's Mommy's favourite.

Some gifts - Josiah made the cross in the background with Esther's help. Esther made the beautiful shelf, with a little bit of John's help, Sarah made the little tissue paper flowers, and Joanna had to add something so she gave me the little toy horse. The beautiful new Bible is from John with some help from the girls. So sweet!

Joanna's 3rd Birthday

I know this is really late, but I thought I'd still put a few pictures from Joanna's birthday since we didn't have hi-speed at the time. She turned a big 3 on February 23!

Joanna got a cute pink teddy bear from Sarah, since pink is her favourite colour, so I thought I'd try to duplicate it in her cake. I think she liked that. :)

Spring Gathering

"Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet"

The Theme for our Spring Gathering was Psalm 147:1

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God.

Cuties

What cuties!

Good Friday

For when we were still without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8





See what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes,
Tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God’s salvation plan, wrought in love,
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, ‘Where is He laid?’
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope,
Bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit
Who clothes faith with certainty,
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned
With power and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won,
Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won,
Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend




After the Good Friday service, we enjoyed a delicious dinner with our church family.

More kittens!

What fun! Our cat Tiger had three kittens on Thursday - at least we think it was Thursday. That afternoon after school was done I went outside to give the cats some chicken scraps and suddenly Tiger came out of the Cat house leaving 3 squalling kittens behind her. What a surprise! We had been so busy with school that we never thought to check on her that day yet. Here are just a few pictures - not easy to take right now with them all looking alike and blending into her and together and with them being inside the cat house all the time pretty much.

Hair Cuts

The girls just got their hair cut yesterday - short! - to donate hair for kids who lost their hair because of cancer or other illness. Just thought we'd share some pictures of the transformation experience. The girls are happy with their cuts, though it will definitely take some getting used to (and some fixing up here and there).

Some more hike pictures