I’ve been really impacted lately on the power of prayer, and been encouraged to lift those around me up in prayer. So tonight I ask for your prayer for me. For the last few years I’ve struggled with terrible headaches. Most of the time they are manageable, and I hardly notice, but occasionally the headache can be almost debilitating and I need dark, quiet places and much rest. I do find it sometimes frustrating when I don’t feel I can focus on my studies or things I need to be doing. Please pray that I would not have headaches, but if I do that I’d be able to manage them and will be able to get through the things I need to, and not be in as much pain.

I’d also like to encourage you to be bold in asking for prayer! Prayer is a powerful thing and God shows Himself through it!!

We recently moved into our new home!! Phil’s parents bought a house out here for their retirement and we’ll be living in it for the next few years. Such a huge blessing. We finally have space that will accommodate our youth group, Phil will actually have space for an office and I get a craft room!! YAY!

We had the most efficient move ever — 2 hours to load and unload the truck completely, it was amazing!

Here are some pictures of the new place.

For New Years we hosted our annual party and this year we had it at Ben and Lind’s new place… we had a wonderful evening and brought in the new year right… with friends!!

I could hardly believe that our last update was NOVEMBER 29th! That is way too long ago. So I have lots of updating to do…. I’ll update with smaller posts until we catch up… so here we go!

Christmas has come and gone… We spent it at my parents, and it was a wonderful relaxing day!! Here are some photos from Christmas day!

So, after reading some comments I realized I never posted photos from Halloween, so I thought I should do that as well as post some photos of our weekend away to Abbotsford to visit friends. So here you are!

A few nights ago we had Ben and Linds over for dinner and games. I had pulled out Phil’s Lego for a school project and while they were here Ben started to play with it, which gave us this brilliant idea that we should all play with it, and we did. It was so much fun! We’ve decided that we are going to have Lego nights sometimes, which will be awesome! Phil is stoked. So the 1st few photos are of the Lego adventures.

Next… my dad just turned 60! 6-0, whoah!! To celebrate we had a family dinner with the Endalls, and I made him a carrot cake (his fave!) It was a great evening, so here are some photos of that as well.

A good friend of mine is in the nursing program here at NIC and they have decided to be part of raising money to help build a well in Africa. If you’d like to donate to the cause that would be awesome!!

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=5420

Posted some new pictures on my Flickr page, available right here!

Last weekend, Phil and I headed down island to spend the weekend with his Aunt & cousin. We usually get to see Wanda, Al & Tra at least once a month (often more!) but have not seen them since July, since they went on an awesome trip to Israel and Italy. We try to spend every holiday with them in some capacity – and so when we went down we had Thanksgiving dinner (Al is always excited when we come, cause it usually means a bigger dinner, which we also enjoy!). We spent Saturday night with them, and came home Sunday afternoon. It was wonderful. Phil and Tra got to catch up – although no rough housing this time as Tra had just gotten all 4 wisdom teeth taken out. Wanda and I were able to catch up which is always so well needed, and wonderful!

In the morning before we left, we were talking about ‘where the wild things are’ and Tra went and got the book, we had story time on the couch – I read to Phil and Tra… then a little while later Wanda read to Al. Oh how I love that book! I am hoping to see the movie this weekend with Mom & Shannon.

Exams are now in full swing – I have 2 tomorrow, 1 Thursday and 1 on Tuesday of next week. I’m feeling pretty confident in them, but exams always give me a little more anxiety then I’d like. But, I feel that since I’ve attended every class, have very thorough notes and have done well thus far, I have nothing to worry about.

Anyway… next time I’ll be sure to post some photos of recent happenings! Actually, Phil should be posting some as he was out taking photos of the amazing fall colors we’ve been having!!

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

This thanksgiving, I was remembering a Thanksgiving many years ago … my dad worked shift work, 4 on 4 off. This one year he was suppose to be working, and I didn’t want him to at all. I wrote a special note for him to take to work, asking for him to have “Turkey Day” off, and was very thankful when he was home with us!

Like I said in my last post, we were hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for our youth group, I expected 15, we served 21!! I am still in awe that we fit everyone in our apartment. Everything turned out perfect, it was my largest turkey yet, and it was delicious!! Kids were happy, full and left smiling! The only down part was when our neighbours came up and talked to us regarding noise, but once we explained what we were doing they seemed better about it.

Last night we had dinner with the family, and again turkey was delicious, company was grand, and overall a wonderful evening.

This coming weekend we’ll head down to Nanaimo to celebrate Thanksgiving with Phil’s family. We have seen Wanda, Al & Tra since July so we are very excited to catching up and spending time with them.

Anyway, here are some photos from our youth dinner….