Constant Change

After a recent phone chat with a friend from the East we were reminded that we need to update our blog more often. We will try and do better in the new year.

The Christmas season was full of activity.
Our plans to stay in Alberta for Christmas changed when we recieved word that David's daughter, Allison would be marrying her longtime beau, Erik, on Dec. 19th in Amhurst, NY. So we flew to Toronto and then drove down for the wedding. She looked beautiful and we are so thankful that we were able to share in this event in her life. The next day we headed to Burlington, ON. to enjoy a Biehn Christmas. It was so good to connect with the brothers, sister-in-laws, neices, nephews and their kids.
After that celebration we made our way to New Hamburg, ON. for a quick overnight visit where we finally got to see our godkids, can't believe they are now teenagers!!
Christmas eve we were back in Alliston, ON. at Sonya's sister's place with the entire family there. We all attended a Christmas Eve service together at Stephanie and Tom`s church and then came home to relax. Abit of a flu bug seemed to hit various members of the family so things were more low keyed than usual. Christmas day was filled with excitement as we enjoyed the children opening their gifts with enthusiasm.

Sunday the 27th we flew back to Alberta. Yes, we were 2 of the approximate 400 people who were in the security line ups at Pearson Airport...what an experience of patience! Thankfully, even though we were an hour delayed, our flight arrived back in Edmonton and the cool, crisp, freezing wind was waiting to greet us. It was back to work on Monday and the week has slowly carried on since then.

No big plans for New Years...yet.

We are Alive

Wow...can't believe that we have been such bad bloggers!! Where has this fall gone? Even our neice (2yrs) and nephew (1yr)have been growing quickly! It has been crazy busy!!.
David has continued to work his full weeks at the Totem hardware store, and Sonya has been catching part-time hours at superstore gas bar, while keeping her school scheduale quite full. We also have been involved with many church functions. Working with one vehicle turns everyday into a planning event so as to avoid having to walk..
Here in Alberta we have had our cold snap and this week we saw the temperature fall down to -35 degrees...whew...thankfully the prairie wind remained calm or it would have been unbearable. Today we are enjoying a balmy -27 degrees. LOL.
Christmas is right around the corner and although we thought we would be staying out west our plans have changed. David's daughter, Allison and her beau Eric, are getting married in Amherst, NY on Dec. 19th so we will be arriving for that big day and then spending Christmas in Ontario with family. Then returning back to west on the 27th so time will go quickly.
If we don't get the chance to write again before Dec. 25th, we wish you all a Merry Christmas. Be safe and be blessed.

Our Actions

This was recently posted on a friends blog and we found ourselves quite struck by the impact of our actions in everyday life.




Although it is probably everywhere already, I loved the video Dave Carroll created in the aftermath of United Airlines failure to respond appropriately after “breaking his Taylor guitar.”
Watch the video, laugh as I did, and realize the power of these words, “Keep your behavior excellent in the world…that on account of your good deeds, they may glorify God.” The world is watching…just ask United (almost 3 million viewers have seen United Breaks Guitars).

For the first time in history, we have communication methods that are instant and incredibly extensive. “No one will really know…so it doesn’t matter how we respond” is not an option. At a cost of about $150, the songwriter and guitarist recorded a music video and posted it on YouTube. And then people like you and I repost it for our friends to see. Uh-oh, United, now everyone knows.

We have never lived in a vacuum, our actions have always mattered. But perhaps they were never made public as quickly as today. The actions of churches and individual disciples are constantly being observed, just as those of businesses are. It is time to let our light shine…so that the world can see our good works, and glorify our Father. What we do matters. While a Taylor guitar is a rare piece of musical craftsmanship, you and I are created in the image of God and our everyday actions must reflect His care and compassion.

Just a thought as we continue on the journey of life seeking to encourage others to experience more of Christ.

Waiting Waiting

Has anyone else ever experienced the test of one's patience while waiting for a repair peron to show up? I feel like today has been the longest day of waiting.
Soon our internet will be working much better...that is if someone ever shows up.

Ok, enough of the rant.
Today I heard about my dream job. You know how much I enjoyed caring for the 3 kiddos this past summer. Well there is another nanny job opening. The commute again would be a distance but it would be worth it, and David said it would be ok with him as long as he could come down and golf...LOL. Donna in North Carolina is looking.
www.donnadowney.com

Hey now a girl can dream!! You just never know what those dreams will lead to.

Adjustments of Life

As we prepare to head into the fall we have been thinking about what this new season will look like.

Our student from Hong Kong, Brian, has arrived and been with us for about a week. It was fun meeting his Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Grandfather, Father and Mother. Brian's English is quite good, actually better than we had expected so that has helped in the transition. He will be starting high school on the 31st and his mother is planning to stay for a few more days until she is certain that he is settled. It is going to be a fun year having him here with us. One of the girls, who will live downstairs has also arrived just today and then the other we will pick up at the airport on the 31st. Soon everyone will be in the settling mode.

Our house is looking more in order and cozy. Trying to set up a work space for scrapbooking is still on the "to do" list and we are planning to do abit more painting and yardwork. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished.

The next adjustment will be the second week of Sept. when things get going at the college again. Sonya plans to take 3 courses this fall. The reading and writing paper assignments will soon commence and we will head into fall full swing.

Random Thoughts

OK, ok, we will admit we have been terrible bloggers this summer but hopefully things will change once we get into our fall routine,

Since I got back to Alberta it's been full push ahead trying to get our new little house in order. We plan to have 3 students living with us this fall. 2 girls will be downstairs in the basement suite and 1 young man from Hong Kong will be living upstairs with us. We have always enjoyed hanging out with young adults so we are really looking forward to it. However before they arrive there seems to be a pile of boxes to go through and organize and we are in the midst of a bathroom reno. (No pressure here...yikes) With determination we will be ready.

David has really enjoyed his first year at Totem building supplies. It's hard to believe but yes, we have now been in Camrose for a full year. He survived the storm that hit Big Valley Jamboree. There was quite abit of damage in our whole community but it was a real amazing thing that not more people were killed. There has been alot of support for the family of Donna Moore who was killed.

Soon school will be starting. I'm abit mixed in my emotions about school again this year. I guess as an adult you know that there is life after school and I so want to be just living that life...but I know I have to finish this course. Maybe when I'm not studying there will be time for scrapbooking again?! As I've been unpacking my supplies I am feeling a creative urge coming on.

Well, thats it for now. David and I celebrated 13 yrs this week. We will try and post again soon.

72 hour Whirlwind

This past weekend was an unbelievably wonderful time and we thought we should update our blog again. (First we must say that if we did not get to spend extended time with you we apologize and ask that you'll forgive us)

David arrived in Ontario on Friday evening and was greeted by three happy little faces and a large sign saying "Welcome Home Unkle Dave...We love you". Hugs all around were given and the longest embrace was enjoyed by Sonya. After spending the night in Alliston, the happily reunited couple headed off to Oshawa where they enjoyed the entire afternoon with David's daughter, Allison. It was so good to reconnect, meet her boyfriend, her dog and see her house and yard. (Those of you who have supported us on this journey know how much this meant to us)

Sunday morning found us entering the foyer of our "home" church in Innerkip. As we entered the sanctuary we knew we were where we were suppose to be. IPC is more than just a building, the people ARE the church and the relationships we built while attending there can never be replaced! Even the sermon was what we needed to hear. So many emotions were going through us as we tried to say hi and hug as many people as time would allow. Quickly time was gone and we needed to head off to Thamesford to celebrate with family the 5th birthday of our nephew, JT. After the presents were opened, the food was eaten, the photos were taken and more hugs were given the entire family gathered in the camp prayer chapel to witness the child dedication of Miss Lily. More photos, more hugs, and abit more food followed. As the family departed we too were on the road and off to our old stomping ground in Tavistock. We had a patio reservation at our neighbours house where we enjoyed and evening of fellowship and friendship. It was kind of surreal sitting only yards away from our old house. In some ways time has gone by so fast and yet almost 3yrs have passed since we lived there. We enjoyed a good night's rest and woke up to another full day.

Monday morning David decided to return to work at Oxford Carriage Doors in Tavistock. It was fun to see the look of shock and surprise on their faces when we walked in. The guys stood around and talked about new tools, the shop, custom orders and life in general. The visit was only about a half hour but we really enjoyed connecting again. Next stop, Stratford where Sonya dropped in on her dear friend at Eyes to Buy family optical. Lots of catching up took place while taking in the new decor and current optical designs. Quickly time passed and the road was calling. A decision was made to go to the McDonalds drive-thru in New Hamburg to grab lunch and as we were picking up our order we looked in and saw our former Pastor's wife inside ordering, so we looped around and went inside. Both Wayne & Dayle were there...a meeting planned by God, a huge surprise that was again so special!! They encouraged us to drive down the road and stop by the old church to see a few others and the new addition, so we did. The Biehn connection then continued in Burlington at David`s brother home. His niece and her boys stopped by as well for a quick hello. Soon the clock was ticking again and the threat of Toronto traffic was looming so the next destination was back in Alliston where David was the special guest for a 5yr old boy at his baseball game. What an enjoyable site to see. Sleep came very easy that night.

We enjoyed sleeping in on Tuesday morning but before we knew it, it was time for David to be heading back to the airport. It had been such a great weekend and the refreshment that we both needed. I, Sonya will remain here in Ontario for a couple more weeks with the kiddos...it really is worth every moment because they change so fast and they give the best hugs & kisses. We will be posting a few pictures for you to all enjoy. We were told that many of you read our blog....but never comment...that`s ok..just as long as we stay in touch!
Here are a few video clips to make you smile!

Scrapbooking

Yes, I, Sonya still have a passion for this craft and the industry is still growing!

One of the exciting things about our new little home is that I have a room to set up all my scrapbooking things in...yeah... and Lori and the girls can't wait to join me.

There are alot of fabulous new lines coming out this fall and SEI is having an amazing giveaway. Check this out:

http://seilifestyle.blogspot.com/2009/06/100th-post-giveaway.html

Long Overdue

Well we just read a friends blog and she said how it had been over a month since she posted, and then it dawned on us....yikes us too! With all the crazy mix up of this summer we haven't posted anything. So sorry friends.
We are doing well and enjoying family and friends. It's only 2 wks untill we are together for 5 days and then soon enough we will both be back in Alberta and settling in to our new little home.
We will try and post a few more times this summer.

Only One More Sleep!

It's been so much fun this week counting down the sleeps with our neice and nephew. The excitment is rising minute by minute. Sonya will be headed to Ontario to help with some babysitting and camp work. David will follow for a visit in July. We hope to have the chance to connect with those whom we haven't seen in quite awhile.

Oh, and we are now in our new home. We are only renting but it feels so good to have some space and a yard again. We've been blessed with a great landlord who is very supportive in taking care of the house. For the past 2 wks we've been painting and unpacking and trying to make it "home", ofcourse with Sonya leaving for abit the real settling won't take place until August but atleast we are at "home sweet home".
We even had a deer in our back yard the day after we moved in. It was a nice welcome.

Alberta Weather

Well, I am home now and have once again returned to the strange forcasts of Alberta.

We moved into our rental house this past weekend...and we had SNOW all weekend?! Unbelieveably crazy weather. Today there was rain, clouds, sunshine, hail and extreme wind.. Hopefully we won't experience a white summer.

Our new place feels great. It is so good to have space and know that all our belongs are here. No more storage! We did abit of painting in the kitchen and will still be doing the living room and dining room just to freshen things up. Once again I will have space to scrapbook and create, (I have missed this immensely over the last year or so), and soon all my Alaska trip pictures will come to life again...can't wait!

Animal Day Alaska Pics

I'll start by saying we have an awesome creator God! The beauty we have experienced on this trip has been incredible. Today was animal day. We saw them all, moose, bear, elk, eagle, bison, and mountain sheep and multiples of all of them too. Often we drove right up beside them and they weren't even spooked. What a sight. Tonight we are in Fort. Nelson B.C. and we have one more full day of driving ahead of us. Then finally we will be home.
Enjoy the pictures...

Travel Day

We are on the road again and headed back south. We packed the van early and were driving by 5:15 am. We were spoiled in Alaska with all the good weather, but today we drove through lots of snow again...grr. Today was officially moose day. We saw about 12 moose...or meeses..as we have referred to them. It was quite amazing! We arrived tonight in Whitehorse, Yukon after driving 13 hours. Then tomorrow we will be up early again and on the road headed for Fort Nelson, B.C.

Last night in Fairbanks one of the families had us over for a BBQ. It was a fun night to gather with all the pastors and just enjoy our final night together. I will dearly miss the friendships we made during this trip. It felt like we instantly knew these people...I guess that's what being the family of God represents. They were so caring and encouraging to us.

It will be good to finally get home! (I miss you David)

Alaska-Day 6, 7, 8.

The days are continuing to be filled with much activity.
I, Sonya think I will either sleep for 3 days in the van while we travel home or sleep all weekend once we do get home. Either way it will involve a good sleep.(Seems my body hasn't fully accepted the 2 hr time change either)

On Sat. May 30th we did some fun sightseeing...saw the pipeline and the muskox
Yesterday, church was fun for me. Their attendance was down a bit because a large group of men were away on a retreat.The whole service...worship, prayer and sermon were quite enjoyable.

Today I get to share a bit at the Christian school in their chapel service and then we are driving to a near by camp to help with some clean up stuff there too.

Hope to post some pics again soon.

Day 5 Part 2

Well we've made it through another full day.

Thismorning (Thurs) had started with work at the local foodbank. What an incredible facility they have and the staff and volunteers there were awesome. Apparently one business man built the whole foodbank, women's shelter, and street mission facilty just to give back to God what he had been blessed with. WOW!! We also ate lunch there with the staff. Then the afternoon was back at the church and school doing outside projects. Cleaning the yard, raking leaves, scraping paint. It was another beautiful day. In the evening we were invited to a home for a fabulous chicken BBQ. Then most of the team went out for Ice Cream . I however, was kidnapped by the Pastor's wife who drove me on a little tour of the city and then back to the church.I still arrived back before the others.

Fairbanks, Alaska has been experiencing record breaking temperatures this week. Who would have ever thought? 80 degrees F and at 8pm it was still 75 degrees F. No one on the team thought it would be this hot. I'm thankful there is no humidity here, it is more like the dry desert.

The people here have been wonderfully hospitable, taking real good care of us. It is a very warm and friendly group of people

Alaska- Day 5 Thurs

Where has the month of April gone?

I'm awake early thismorning before everyone on the team. It seems my body is somewhat still on Alberta time. There is a 2 hr difference here. Maybe by the end of the week I'll sleep in...based on exhaustion.

It was evident that everyone was quite tired last night but still some of the team didn't get to bed until midnight. So hopefully the lack of sleep will not manifest itself into the uglies as the week goes on.

Alaskans are very laid back, go with the flow kindof folks. Nothing seems to phase them much so it seems that we are going to have to go with the flow for our week of activities. Yesterday, plans changed four times in one day, which was not the easiest on our fearless leader who was trying to keep things in order.

Well...hopefully I'll have some more fun updates at the end of the day.

Day 4...More Pics

Alaska Day 4

OK finally have wireless internet connection. So, enjoy the pictures.

Today was a work day around the Christian school which is right next door to the church where we are staying. It was a full and busy day. The weather was HOT...I mean sunburn, sweating hot....absolutely wonderful.

Alaska- Day 3 Fairbanks

We have arrived!

The final day in the van was long but full of much laughter. Ofcourse this could be we are all over tired! It has been an amazing drive. I can't emphasize enough the breathtaking beauty. Our God is such an awesome Creator, such details in every mountain.

We left Whitehorse, Yukon early in the morning. Each day has averaged about 12 hours of driving time. Then you have to add some washroom breaks and photo opportunities. So the days have been stretched....alot.
When we arrived here in Fairbanks we were given a warm welcome from the Pastor, Bill and his wife Cindy. There was a quick church tour including our rooms, the coffee center..with the gift of free travel mugs... and the SHOWER!! Praise God! (Yes, you can tell what the top three priorities were for me)

Scenic highlights of day 2 & 3 have included an elk, and the first steps of a baby bison...we literally slowly drove up as the birth was ending...it was amazing. We saw a linx and 2 moose. (Or meeses as they have been called on this trip) Hopefully I will be able to post pics soon when we have wireless access.

Thank you for all your prayers!
The team starts Wed. morning with activities. We are touring the Christian school, which is right beside the church and then the hands on work will begin. Raking and yard clean up and a few other renovation related things are on the agenda.
The team has been doing well. Jeremy has been introduced to gravol, Michael drove the entire trip, Kim slept almost the entire trip, Dave (not my spouse) has entertained us with his musings on life, Kyla's kitchen has been serving up the best snack food...and she started blogging (check: myalaskanadventrure.blogspot.com )..yes there is a spelling error..she was tired, and I have enjoyed many moments of laughter and pain from sitting so long in the van!

Alaska Day 2

Unbelievably beautiful day for travel and photo opportunities. The beauty of God's creation is so breath taking.
We have limited access to the internet today so I will try and post pics when I can.
Travel continues to be good. Some people sleep alot and that's OK with me...it makes for a more enjoyable trip.

Alaska Travels

So the trip has begun. I, Sonya have joined 5 others from Gardner College on a 2 wk missions trip to Fairbanks, Alaska.
The first day of travel was fun but the weather was very weird. Snow, rain, sunshine and everything else in between. We left Camrose at 5 A.M. and our first stop for gas and breakfast at A&W was in Whitecourt, AB. around 8:30 A.M. We then did the tourist photos in Dawson Creek B.C.
I'll do my best, when we have internet connections, to keep everyone up to date. Thanks for your prayers.

Another Day in Alberta

OK...so this is what it looks like outside right now?
Hmmmmmmmmm..........
and the golf course just opened. Not fair!!!

Is it Spring yet ?

Well, here we are putting the winter coats back on again.Woke up to -7 C with a nasty wind that made it feel like November instead of late April with the threat of snow in a few days. The local golf course was to open today but they are waiting until tomorrow when it will be a balmy +4. Hope the guys who went down South had a great time. We were thinking of you.
David's work is getting a little busier but not to the level of previous years so we are told. It is odd how "the sky is falling mentality" takes over and a lot of people talk only of doom and gloom. There are still jobs to be had.
Sonya has completed her trip to Saskatoon with a group of students for kids camp. On Sunday she leaves for Fairbanks, Alaska for a two week missions trip doing youth outreach, soup kitchen and shelter outreach. Graduation is this Saturday. HURRAH!!!!!!!!!
Last week,we said goodbye to Sonya's parents and youngest sister and her little guy who had flown out the week before to visit us. It was a great blessing to have family around us again.
May God bless you all and please keep in touch. Even a short note is greatly appreciated.

Last Week

Well the students here at Gardner College are on the countdown. This is the final week of classes and then one week of practical work in Saskatoon, followed by final exams and the two week missions trip to Fairbanks Alaska. The buzz is growing in the dorm as everyone prepares for their summer. It will be different, that's for sure.

Sonya's parents and youngest sister, and our newest nephew arrive tommorrow night for a one week visit. It will be nice to have some time with them.

Things at work are getting abit busier. This past Saturday was a beautiful day, which motivated many to begin working on there homes so there was lots of action around the store. It's nice to see sales increasing abit admist these tight economic times.

NO JOKE...The Sun is Shining

Atlast we have a beautiful day...and we are so excited. There is still snow on the ground but the air even smells like Spring. It feels so good! Soon the golf courses will be open and David can get to the driving range and also play a round or two.

The school year here is almost finished. Only 8 more days of classes, then a trip to Saskatoon to lead a 4 day DVBS and then exams and then Sonya will be headed to Alaska for 2 wks.

Well...we hope no one had to endure any huge pranks today. Just smile and enjoy the sonshine.

97 % 5 Days.ca

Well it was an amazing week to experience the endurance of our "homeless" friends. These young adults were truly inspiring...some pushing through temperatures of -25 plus windchill. Some days the brain function was slow but as you read their experiences on their blogs it's a true testament to their belief in the cause. The community really embraced them and they were well fed and donations did come in.

According to the website (www.5days.ca/camrose) the students raised 97% of their goal. This is SO amazing considering Gardner is a very small student body compared to many of the other universities across Canada who were participating. It was also the first year that we've participated in this awareness event so now a few lessons have been learned and next year will be even better.

To any of you who may have contributed...THANK YOU!

On another note we ask that you keep us in your prayers.
Sonya has now been sick with this cold/flu bug that seems to be all around us. Quickly the end of the school year is coming and the students will be leaving the dorm, which will bring another adjustment for us. Sonya will be joining a group of students who are headed to Fairbanks Alaska for a 2 week mission trip at the end of April and then we will be into our first summer here.

Homelessness

We wanted to bring attention to this cause. We have 7 students from Gardner College who are living outdoors for 5 days...and nights, in order to raise community awareness for homelessness and funds for a local shelter. Consider giving even a small donation online to help this cause and to encourage those students who are committed to this challenge.
Please take time to check out this link:
www.camrose.5days.ca
This is a national event that various universities accross Canada are participating in.

Colds & Flu

Guess what? It snowed again today! The temperature has dropped abit cooler and there are plenty of white flakes in the air. Grrrr... Someone please assure us that Spring is coming...it is right??

David had been attacked real good with this cold/fever bug. Almost the last 3 days have been spent in bed with lots of tylenol and water. Alot of people around the school campus have been sick over the past few weeks. We were hoping to avoid it but guess not. Your prayers are much appreciated.

Long Day...

So we were hit with more snow today...YIKES! Winter has been a really long season. We really are really tired of it.

Today the school was having a bottle drive to raise money for upcoming missions trips, so the falling snow did not help those who were out collecting. David & Sonya spent 9 hours sorting through cans, water bottles, liqueur bottles, 2 lt pop bottles, juice tetra packs and beer bottles. Talk about a workout...serious muscle aches....whew...but we took our first 3 loads in to the depot and we are around the $200 mark....and there is still ALOT more. It was a good experience of learning how different people work.

More Snow..Warm Thoughts

Is anyone else wondering if it will ever end??? All morning that white fluffy stuff has been coming down and covering everything again. Once again things look clean and fresh but who knows...in a few days that could change...again.

Everything right now is pretty routine. We have been trying to come up with ways to try and "celebrate" or atleast positively acknowledge the everyday ordinary things. So much talk right now is gloomy and economy focus and yet, we are so blessed and have much to be thankful for. Take a moment and look around....there are probably atleast three things or persons that you enjoy, appreciate, have, or take for granted. Do we need to follow the thinking pattern of our world?

March Already

Well where did February go to? We've changed the colour from red to green...kindof like this one.

We can't believe how quickly the time is flying by. However with the crazy weather it feels like we are still in the dead of winter. We've had another cold blast accompanied by snow. Brrr.... The old van tends to protest a fair bit in the mornings but atleast she still runs.
David's retail work is still abit on the slow side but we are thankful for the employment. He is itching for the weather to get nicer so he can get his hands on his clubs again and get out on the golf course.
We are planning a dorm party for Monday night with games and lots of junk food. So we'll see if we can last as long as the younger adults..LOL.

What We Desire

Some of you have asked how living in our "cozy" suite is suiting us. Well, we do believe that all of us have adjusted well. Our cats, Charity and Chloe at times feel limited on their roaming adventures but they are learning to become better friends. They have also become far more socialable with us too. Quite often all four of us will be sitting on the sofa together and there is no holding back their desires when the alarm goes off in the morning and they want to be fed. Even today it was like waking up to the hallelujah chorus...the two of them on the bed and meowing loud enough so we would hear them. They've got nerve....those spoiled "kids".

This made me think about our relationship with our Heavenly Father. What we may want and desire is not always what He knows is best for us. No matter how loudly or persistantly we "cry" out to Him, He patiently comforts us and continues to protect us and He allows us to come to Him again and again with His arms wide open.

We are experiencing a very long winter here. It warms up for abit and then we get hit with another cold bitter snap, which we are currently in right now. Not much snow, just bitter winds.

Reading

So, what have you been reading lately? It seems like most of Sonya's spare time is spent on reading and David usually reads the daily news off the internet.
It is said that reading keeps the mind sharp but after so much reading is that still true?
The students in the residence have been facing mid-terms this week so there have been alot of late nights, drinking coffee, eating popcorn and laughter which has helped when it comes to releasing tension. There is never a dull moment around here. Although Saturday mornings it is very quiet.

Sunshine

Well we thought in honour of the month we'd have some fun and change the colours up on our blog. If we could have decorated it with little hearts and such we would but that option is not available in the template choices from blogspot. For those who find this hard on the eyes....don't worry it is only temporary.
Thismorning we woke up to a beautiful sun shiny day and it's suppose to be getting warmer too. We've truly been suprized about the weather here and perhaps that's why we write about it so often. It is a constant reminder to us of God's mighty hand and His creative power.

Wait a Minute

People say that if you don't like the weather in Alberta, wait a minute, it will change. How true a statement that is today!
Four days ago it was -32 C and today, it started out at -2C.
This morning we had snow and winds that made visibility very poor(not the expected forecast of course). By 2:00 PM it was + 4 and raining quite steadily. Needless to say everything is now coated in a beautiful sheet of ice. Oh, how we long for the piles and piles of snow that Ontario is dealing with... nope, not really.
Life here in the land of the oil patch has taken a turn (a downturn) as happens every once in a while. Now we hear the cry of those who say the sky is falling.
Yes, the swing of the economy has taken a toll in recent weeks and we hear on almost a daily basis of more layoffs. Why should this be a surprise? We have all seen this before, many times over. The next few years will no doubt be tough, but it is only another part of the cycle.
We are very thankful that we are here at this time. We have a good place to live, David has steady employment, even though it is slow right now and Sonya has her part-time job. We feel that this is a good community to rest in.
We pray that God will bless all our family and friends. Those who are near to us that are facing health issues are in our thoughts and prayers. We will be praying for those that are having surgery soon. Thanks golfer Mo for the uplifting e-mails. Nothing lifts the cares of the day like a good laugh. (Hi to all David's golfing buddies.)
Well, its getting late and another day looms on the horizon so we will sign off.
Love to all and may all your days be filled with joy.

Another Update

Anyone else finding that January is just plodding along? We can't believe the month is half over. Some days are gone so quickly and others seem to drag on forever.
We've had alot more snow in Camrose over the last 2 weeks and David has been busy with the shovelling, but they are reporting that it is supposed to become very mild over the next week or so things will probably become very messy.
Second term at the college is now in full swing. We've had a new student move into the residence so that's added to the fun and made our games nights even more lively. Sonya isn't working as many hours as before Christmas which is OK, things are slow in the retail world right now. Beginning the end of this month Sonya will be working with a lady from Thailand to help her improve her English.
We find ourselves talking alot more about our many friends in Ontario lately. We really wish we had been able to spend more time with everyone over Christmas but often the visit is too short and full of so many activities. We miss you.

Back in Alberta

The Christmas/New Years break is officially over and we are back into the routine of life here.
It was great to see family and friends but we found ourselves missing our neighbours here in the residence and our cats.
The weather continues to be quite cold and the wind definately makes you shiver. There is a good cover of snow here now. We have found that in Camrose they don't plow the streets very often, only using gravel sand and some salt. It makes the driving sometimes very frustrating.