Happy Anniversary to my Beloved Wife.

So on this day, 14 years ago, I married the girl who would become my best friend! Often we hear or see on the wedding day about people marrying their best friend, but I think most who are married for this long would agree, it only gets better with time. There’s one caveat to that, we’ve both grown closer to the Lord over that time, too.  So to those recently married or getting married, here some free advice. Grow closer to the Lord Jesus together with your spouse and your marriage will succeed.  I’ve been truly blessed to have my beloved stand beside me through good times and hard, through better or worse, in sickness and in health. She has been there for me, and with me, and I’m so thankful. I Love You, Lenora!!

By the way, for those of you who don’t know, Lenora also does a blog, although mostly as a journal for herself.  I got her permission to link to her most recent post as I thought it was really nice.  I encourage you to read it here.

Here are a few more pictures to update you on our goings on.

For any of the guys I’ve hunted geese with, do you think maybe this guy is a little lost? If you can’t see him right away, look on the roof in the distance.  I theorize that this is a male and he is waiting for his mate who is shopping.

Carson was sure thinking of his buddy Troy when they did this.

We spent the entire afternoon there and barely scratched the surface of all we could’ve done.

Both Owen and Emery got this arch built at the Telus World of Science. We spent the entire afternoon there and barely scratched the surface of what we could all do there.

Tucker really enjoyed pretend flying this humongous jet, and Carson enjoyed this spinning climbing wall and Owen posed in his space suit for a quick picture before flying out to space.

Our boys really needed some exercise and their dream was to find a Christian Karate class. Lo and Behold, a quick google search and we found one.  They open and close in prayer and practice in the gym of a Christian School.

 

God Truly is Everywhere

So this weekend, we once again saw that God doesn’t live only in La Crete. He is here too. 😃

Not that there was ever any real doubt. Yesterday, we went to a peaceful protest at the Alberta Legislature regarding Bill 10. There were approximately 2,300 people there. They had a total of 9 speakers, some of which were pastors. Most of them spoke of the faith we have and how we should be able to raise our kids with our faith values, many quoted scripture passages such as:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:13-16

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

“Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

One speaker even spoke a beautifully worded prayer, in Jesus’ name.  We felt very blessed to attend such a Godly event in the heart of the city.

No surprise, the media did not do the event any justice.  There was a small pro-bill 10 rally before this main one but only had about 150 people there.  I will include two links for you to read.  The Edmonton Journal did a much better job of actually saying what happened:

Edmonton Journal Story

CTV News Story

This is the view from our spot on the Legislature grounds.

A slightly different view.

Today, our landlords had invited us over for the afternoon. Sadly, I didn’t realize they meant for lunch and had just eaten a great lunch with Lenora’s Uncle Ken and Auntie Susie. Thankfully, lunch took a little while yet and we had digested enough to try each of the roughly 12 dishes of their very traditional, Chinese cooking. I thought I probably shouldn’t take pictures of their food, but then they gave us some leftovers so I could get this picture of pork and cabbage stuffed dumplings at home:

It’s a little hard to judge, but these are about the size of a bun each.

Hilariously, they served good old roasted zoat for dessert. I guess it’s a Chinese tradition as well. Instead of salted, theirs was coconut flavoured, we might have to alert “Spitz” to that hidden little gem.

Effects during Round 2.

So I’m still feeling mostly okay, but a little under the weather. Mostly I’m noticing that I’m very tired today. You’d think I might be mostly used to that, but today I’m extra sleepy. Who knows maybe I’m still recovering from our time in La Crete.

Several people have asked me how these cycles work so I thought I’d give a little update on here:

•  In total, there are 6 – eight week cycles of chemo. I just started cycle 2.
•  I mostly take pills at home but have to go in on days 8 and 29 and once more in advance of the next day 1.
• I take three different drugs per cycle:
  • lomustine on day 1 only.
  • procarbazine on days 8 through 22
  • and vincristine on days 8 and 29

• Each cycle is exactly the same.
• During the two weeks of Procarbazine, I have to follow a special diet.

In doing this update, I realized I forgotten to post an interesting picture from our trip on Owen’s birthday so I’ll do that here:

We thought it was pretty cool to run across this road on Owen’s 8th birthday so we stopped and took a picture.  Now only Emery and Tucker to go.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
8″For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NASB

Round 2

So tonight begins Round 2 of my chemotherapy. Please pray that it will go as good or better than last round.

We are also heading North again on Thursday for Eug and Leona’s wedding. Other than church on Sunday, I don’t think there will be much extra time for visiting.

God continues to provide and care for us and we are so grateful for the blessing He is being through many of you. 

This is how Tucker fell asleep one afternoon.