Christmas Moments

So we thought we'd try and post a few pics for family members who are far away to see. Christmas day was enjoyed by all. We were thankful to all be together even though Sonya ended up with a flu bug for 2 days, Lily had a very bad cold and Grandpa Landers had a sore throat. All in all we were very blessed.

Christmas Eve

Well finally after a 4hr delay we were up in the air and we arrived safely in Toronto. The best part was the suprise when we landed...our little 6yr old neice was quite excited that she had stayed awake until 1am to see us, and our brand new little nephew was there too! Oh sooooo good to see family.
We were in Burlington last night to see David's brother. Got blasted with snow and it took some time to get shovelled out. We were very thankful for Doug's snowblower!!
Christmas will be spent in Alliston.
Merry Christmas to all, may you enjoy the love of friends and family and most importantly remember the birth of our Lord and Saviour.

Still Delayed....

Our 4 pm departure is now 7:07pm...LOL
Everyone in the airport is either on cell phones, laptops, watching the departure boards or trying to sleep. You have to just smile and be thankful that we live in a country where we have the opportunity of "quick" travel. The West Jet people are doing an amazing job in spite of circumstances that are beyond their control.

Airport delays

'Tis the season and who would ever expect that Vancouver would be getting a snow storm. We are currently sitting at the Calgary International airport and they have announced that Vancouver is closed. The good part is ofcourse that we are going east not west and so far these shut downs haven't affected our flight...however we are sitting about 45min. delayed. The main goal is to get home by Christmas day and enjoy our friends and family.
Patience, patience.....and if there are any other changes, it will make for a real good blog story.

4 More Sleeps

Oh the excitement is building....and the countdown is on. We will be arriving in Ontario late Sunday night (21st). There are so many family and friends we hope to see that it will probably be quite hectic but so worth every minute.
It's good too hear that others are reading our blog and haven't forgotten us. Thanks for the phone messages too!(M.S...it was a wonderful surprise to hear your voice)
We haven't done any decorating in our compact space and we haven't even unpacked any Christmas music but it still feels that it's close. Some of the dorm girls have begun leaving this week too so it's definitely Christmas break.

CCCCold!

We were definitely blinded by our Spring like November and we still can't believe that four days ago it was +3 degrees. Yesterday though we felt the change of weather big time. It was -25 to -27 most of the day with a windchill that took it to the
-40's. Overnight it went to -36 degrees...Brrrr and this morning it is -29 again. Time to find all the really warm clothes.
Last year in Manitoba it very was cold but we were in sort of a protected area from the wind and never felt the temperatures like we do here. Out here on the open prairies of Alberta the wind goes straight to the bones. Whew!

11 Random Things

OK, a dear friend of ours from Manitoba posted her random 11 things on her blog www.cathysbloggin.blogspot.com and she challenged us to do the same. So here it is:

1. We are almost considered professional packers since we have moved 3 times in the last 2 years and covered over 2080.18 miles according to mapquest.

2. We love the beauty of nature and have often enjoyed just pitching a tent in a provincial park and walking the trails.

3. Coffee is considered a major food group in our house.

4. Our favourite night time snacks are cheese & crackers or plain potato chips with dip. (Kraft herb & spice dip)

5. We've learned to trust God for direction as He has carried us through alot of major adjustments. He has always provided for us and never let us down.

6. Our 2 little furry kids...Charity and Chloe are the sweetest siamese cats. They provide us hours of entertainment and their love is unconditional...and they've moved well.

7. We enjoy hanging out with young adults. We used to lead young adult bible studies and now we just have fun with the girls in our residence. We're kindof like that crazy Aunt and Uncle.

8. The strong and often cold prairie winds are not exactly our favourite experience but we are learning to adjust.

9. Survivor, E.R, and Biggest Loser are our favourite TV shows.

10. We are both born in November and often celebrate our birthdays together.

11. Being together with family and friends is one of the most rewarding experiences for us.

So there you have 11 random things about us. If you want to post your 11 things then link a comment on Cathy's blog.

Winter Wonderland and Wisdom

Well we finally have had a real good snow day and it's been cold enough to stay. The weather here in Camrose has been so strange lately and suprisingly mild. Having the snow on the ground has put a few people in the Christmas mood. So even though there is major studying for exams happening in the dorm....from time to time you can hear a Christmas carol or two. There is a rising anticipation in the thought of heading home after exams....only 13 more sleeps.

Last night we went into Edmonton for a church service at a newly planted church. It was such a great night and exciting to hear how God is working. There were maybe 35-50 people there and about 90% of them were Phillipino. Their love for God was so evident in their worship and prayer time. Pastor Ben preached a good sermon on "Words" which challenged us to think about how we live for Christ. He also talked with us afterwards, he works full-time days and his wife works a night shift and they have 4 children. He asked for prayer that God would provide a 12 passenger van for him so that it's easier to pick people up who want to come to church. Please join us in praying for Pastor Ben and the church at Millcreek, that God would continue to bless them with strength and discernment and provide financially for them.

Home

Ofcourse with our most recent announcement below and all the festivities of the season beginning there is nothing we desire more than to be heading home. We talked yesterday with our niece, Bailey and the countdown of sleeps has begun! Can't Wait!! The old saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder is really true. It goes beyond just being with family,(although we will cherish every moment of that time)its about friendships and familiarity...that sense of belonging.
The work load is pretty heavy here over the next 10 days so keep us in your prayers that we will stay on track and keep our focus.

Kale Gerrad Landers-Riddell

As the proud Auntie & Uncle we wish to annouce the arrival of Kale Gerrad.

This little guy made his arrival tonight after a very lengthy and trying labor. 8lbs 2oz Sonya's sister Stasia is resting and recovering after an unplanned C-section but both mommy and baby are doing well. (Daddy Ryan hung in there too!) We are happy for them and can't wait to get back to Ontario for Christmas and see them.

Prayer Support

Below is a copy of an email from our dear friends in Burkina Faso, West Africa. These tradgedies are common and quite devastating for them. It is a reminder to us how precious every moment is as we walk through our lives trusting God's guidance. Please join us and say a prayer for Pastor Michael and Lydia and all the children at the village. www.careforceinternational.ca


"It's with a great great sadness that we are informing you that the Pastor of the Children Village of Hope, Pastor Moise Yameogo passed away this morning further to a road accident. Please note that Pastor Moise is the brother-in-law of Pastor Michel Ouedraogo (the husband of his sister) and he accepted to come in the Village of Hope to take care of the children's spiritual growth. In 8 months, both of his two brothers-in-law who accepted to help him in his ministry at the Village of Hope passed away in road accident. It's a terrible shock and we really need your support and prayers"

Florida of the North

Another week has come and gone, and once again it's quite warm and mild.
The last couple of days we've felt abit lonely. Maybe it's because we booked our tickets to fly to Ontario for Christmas and now our minds keep thinking about it...only 28 more days! It sure doesn't feel like Christmas is so close. We have had no snow to speak of but very strong and cool winds. I know we will get our share of winter but the longer it stays away the shorter the winter will be....and we're not complaining.
There is not alot of excitement happening these days in our lives but it's not so bad just relaxing and pacing ourselves this winter.

First Snowfall

Well we finally saw some of that white stuff today. It seemed to fall gently all morning and it has continued to cover the ground tonight. For the last week the temperatures here have been around +2 to -1 degrees abit above normal we've been told...but we're not complaining.
There are a family of deer that linger around the park like setting near the school here. The other night we went for a walk and found ourselves within 20 feet of the deer. (all 6 of them) What a breathtaking moment. The beauty of creation and our country never ceases to amaze us.
Things at work for David are slow...and boring, but those are the joys of working retail hours. Sonya is filling her days with reading, writing assignments, working part-time at the scrapbook store and as a waitress at a local restaurant. So there's not much time for a social life right now but Christmas is coming and we sure are looking forward to the break!!

We're Back

We had a great time away on the weekend. The wedding was small, intimate and beautiful. Even the weather was quite enjoyable and the sun was shining. We arrived home on Monday and just enjoyed a quiet day on Tues.

Our birthday celebrations were low key. As we age...and the weather is changing we`ve been feeling a few more aches...we are almost considering Tylenol to be the new vitamin. LOL.

The only excitement lately was one of the toilet tanks in a dorm room cracked and leaked water everywhere even down onto the floor in the rooms below. The shop vac got a real good work out.

Still Here

Life has been abit crazy here but still good.
This weekend we are taking a little road trip to Prince Albert SK. for a wedding of a dear friend of ours. So, well be away from tomorrow until Monday. It will be nice to be in a different environment for abit...just the two of us!
This coming weekend both of us celebrate our birthdays. Every year keeps passing by faster and faster, but we continue to be thankful for every moment we have. God is our provider!

An ill wind blows

It is a nice sunny Tuesday morning here in Alberta. Last Friday we experienced winds that were 100 KM + all day and even the odd snow flurry. Needless to say, we have had several people into the Totem store looking for supplies to repair their roofs, fences, sheds, etc. The yard men had to shut down most of the yard because of lumber and metal blowing around and one of our display sheds (which was weighted down by cement slabs)took a trip across the parking lot. "It's an ill wind, that does not blow someone, some good ".
This past Sunday, the girls from the dorm and us went to watch the local junior hockey team, the Kodiaks, play Canmore. It was a good game. Camrose has a really nice sports complex with a main arena and several ice pads along with swimming pool,gyms, etc.
We are settling in more and more each day as we make this our new home.
Special hellos to our friends at IPC in Ontario. It is with the coming of the Christmas season that we miss you more than ever. Love to all our family too.
God bless you all.

Prairie Wind

Today we have experienced the most wind ever. Yes, that North wind has been blowing all day long and has put a bitter chill in the air. Most of the leaves are off the trees and before we know it there will be that white stuff in the air....shhhh...don't say the S word. A friend told us today that winter out here is easy, you just add another layer. Hmmm.... we'll see, we think we may feel it more that we did in Manitoba.

Finally Friday!!

So, this week actually seemed to go by quite quickly.

We are seeing more and more signs of the beautiful fall season. Many of the leaves are falling off the trees and there has been a brisk feel to the air in the early morning. This morning the sunrise seemed to fill the sky with colours of red, pink, yellow and white. It was a breaktaking reminder of the beauty that God has given us to enjoy and if we take the time to really see it we will be captivated by His love and goodness.

Camrose is an area where people take their sports VERY seriously. Especially when it comes to CFL and hockey. There is a definite division between Calgary and Edmonton and it's best not to get in the way of that passion. We plan to get to the arena soon and watch the local junior team. (Kodiaks) They have a passionate local following and it seems that everyone we meet has access to tickets. Yes, this is a hockey town.

Turkey, Stuffing and Study Parties

Hope everyone got well fed up over the weekend.
David unfortunately had to work all weekend but we managed to squeeze in a Thanksgiving dinner last night with a few of the girls who didn't get home for the holiday. After the pumpkin pie and whip cream we took on the challenge of Dutch Blitz. (a very fun and highly competitive card game) At about 9:00pm the girls decided to take a Tim Hortons coffee run to prepare for the night ahead.
Ofcourse it's been awhile since Sonya participated in a study party...infact there is absolutely no vision of this at all in her memory bank. LOL.
It involved 4 students, 2 laptops, over 11 textbooks, recipe cards, pens, pencils, coffee, chips, salsa, lots of discussion and 2 lively kittens. (not ours) The event started at approx. 10pm and went until 2:30AM.
Oh the joys of mid-term exams...ugh. It's going to be a "fun" week?!

With Thanksgiving

Atlast an update in the land of blog to let you know what we have been doing for the past 3 months.

In some ways it seems like just yesterday since we left camp but in other ways it seems like a lifetime ago. All in all it has been a journey of faith.

Once again we find ourselves in a new place of belonging. We have now been gone from Ontario for over 1 year and during this thanksgiving weekend we've been reflecting.

We are thankful for:
family-they have been our strength
friends-true friends who have prayed, encouraged, and loved us through transition
faith-without God there would be no hope or direction
each other-everyday moments are more precious

We have settled into Camrose, Alberta and are enjoying the beauty of this little city situated about an hour south of Edmonton. We've experienced our first northern lights display and even had wildlife, (deer) right outside our residence.

So what on earth are we doing here??
Well, there comes a time in life when change is inevitable and we hit that time head on. Through much prayer and counsel we decided to leave the camp in Manitoba. It was an important decision for the holistic wellbeing of our existance. So, God provided a new place of rest. We are now living on the campus of Gardner Bible College. The school graciously provided at a reasonable cost, a one bedroom suite for us in their resident dorm and allowed us to move in the end of July. Within a week David was able to find employment at Totem Building Supplies where he does counter sales and customer service.(All indoor work) In September, Sonya started studies to complete her Bachelor of Theology, which she started almost 20 yrs ago, and is already headed into mid-terms next week.

We very much like our new place of belonging and will try to update this new blog on a regular basis. For those who want to follow our updates please mark this in your favourites. We'd love to keep in touch with everyone, so feel free to post a comment, email or even send a letter.