Its a New Day

Things have been quite busy with a new little one in the house. After a few weeks of adjustment (there are still a few things that need to be 'adjusted' to) things seem to be getting into a bit of a routine. Tristan & Hannah are still wild in love with their new little baby (as she is often called instead of Julia). There are just a few of the pictures taken in the last week or so. The three kiddies together Julia's quilt - finished last week. Julia's just relaxing with a bit of winter sun shining on her. Hannah holding her baby sister Tristan is really excited about his newest sister and often goes up to her and Hannah and tries to give hugs and say "I love you" (not that he's perfect... there is still lots of fighting, but he really does love his sisters). It is amazing to see how a 2 & 3 year old respond to this big change in the family and though at times it seems like things will never be calm or quiet enough, it is an exciting thing to be ...

Julia Faith November 24, 2009 5:57am Rachel & Ryan welcomed their new baby girl on Tuesday morning. Tristan and Hannah are thrilled with their new little sister and were already smothering her with smooches.

A Thankful Heart Yesterday we had a sermon on Psalm 100 and were reminded to have thankful hearts. It was another one of those sermons that you really wish you hadn't heard because now you're accountable for it. So in meditating on that passage today, I 'm wondering how thankful I really am. In all things. I think that's the most challanging part... the all things. I'm thankful to be single. I'm thankful for the job I have and the work I can do. I am thankful for my family and friends (well... most of my friends ;)). I am thankful for the grace my Father has shown me in sending his son to take my place on the cross. But am I thankful in all things? The honest answer is sadly a resounding no. The Lord is still working in my life and softening my heart (praise him for his goodness in that!) but there are still areas that it is hard to be thankful in. And knowing this, I am even more thankful that we serve a kind and gracious God whose mercies are new every mor...

A Kind Father The last week has been one of those weeks. You know, things start off well - I was in my old church on Sunday (and loved being able to see all my old friends again) and then picked up Hettie at the airport after being in Africa for 7 months. Then Monday was our church picnic (which was so nice to sit and talk, relax and laugh... oh boy, did I laugh). It was starting off to be a good week. Then it happened... Tuesday was one of those busy days, getting ready for sending out dinner invitations for work and getting ready for Hospitality and Ladies' retreat meetings and with too many things going on at once it hit. The head pounding, mind blowing, only good to be in bed kind of headaches that seem to be more readily available these last few months. While I was able to work most of Wednesday, Thursday morning I spent sitting at my desk, folding invitations and crying till I finally went home and back to bed. Friday was not much of a better day (though I did manage...

Friendships John Chrysostom (347–407) was one of the great preachers in the early church. He was given the name Chrysostom, which means “golden-mouthed,” because of his eloquent sermons. Here is one of his insights on the value of friends: “Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell. With friends even poverty is pleasant. . . . It would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends.” As I read this this morning I started thinking about the friends that God has put in my lifetime. Though some are old friends who I don't see anymore, I have great memories of laughing, crying, singing and playing with them. And now in this season of life, God has given new friends who challange me to grow in my faith, to love and who make me laugh. I am so thankful for each one (whether old or new) and how God ha...

The above picture is of the bothy in Scotland. Last week I took a class on landscape quilting. We had to bring in a picture and then we were shown how to construct the picture using material. It was a long day and lots of fun... now to find other pictures to quilt (maybe I'll have to go back to Scotland and purpose to take specific pictures for quilting). In May Lucy came for a week to visit. On the Monday night the ladies' from Riverside met at the Oosterhof's for a delightful evening. I still don't think that I've ever laughed as hard as I did that night... and hope to not hear about racoons with birds in their mouths again! We're getting ready for a new baby at our house! Rachel is due at the end of November with baby #3! Everyone is very excited. Hannah (at almost 2 years old) still loves to sit in the baby bouncy chair - I guess if you fit you may as well enjoy it.

Before the Last Snow Fell These are a few random shots that were taken a few weeks ago, just before the last snow fall. Lots of hockey, running and smiling. Hannah covered in sidewalk chalk Hannah was perfectly posed - and saying cheese. Holding on tight to the hockey stick and ball. GOAL!!!! Little Eli enjoying being outside too.

Someone wants to meet you... When I went to the post office this morning there was an envelope in the mailbox (for work) with the handwritten message "Someone wants to meet you..." Now to give you some background, for the last 4 years I have gone just about every week day to the post office right across the street from my office. Wendy, Rae & Mary are always behind the counter and we have a lovely little chat while they process the mail and get all the pertinant information into the computer. Wendy and I talk about quilting (as she is also a quilter - she let me borrow her ruler for the round quilt for mom), Rae likes to tease (I'm not sure why... but he calls me trouble whenever I come in) and Mary just likes to talk about what is going on (or asking me about how to talk to her friend who is in prison). No matter who else is in the post office, we share a laugh and it is one of the highlights of my day to go in there. Now, when I went to the post office this morni...

McDougall Cottage "Wee Quilt" Challange This afternoon I dropped off my 16"x 22" wee quilt for the wee quilt challange. While I was in Scotland I stopped by the Kilt maker and told her of the challange going on at one of the old Scottish homesteads in Cambridge, and when I asked for if she had some samples of tartan that I could purchase. She went through her garbage bin and scrap piles on the floor and gave me a bag full of scraps. I was back and had about 1 1/2 weeks to put something together (but with getting over jet lag it took that left about 4 days). Though not very creative, I thought it might be a nice way to display some of the fabric given. Unfortunately I don't know the names of all the tartans (the lady at McDougall asked me if I did) the kilt maker was talking so fast I couldn't keep up but I guess if I look it up in September (when I get the quilt back) I can maybe stitch the names underneath.

Ontario ARP Ladies' Retreat On March 6 & 7 60 ladies from the Chatham, Woodstock and Cambridge ARP churches came together to hear Ruby Taylor speak on Santification Through Relationships. It was a great time of learning and fellowshiping together. Below are some pictures of the ladies at the tables. Riverside is looking forward to planning for next year!

Spoiled I'm so sad that I forgot to bring my camera last night. There were 10 ladies from Riverside (and Grace VanDoo) that got together at Appleby's to celebrate my birthday! What a sweet time we had together, sharing, laughing (Betts my stomach still hurts... I have to remember not to sit beside you :) and enjoying our company. I think that it was more just an excuse to get out with some ladies in February (when nothing much goes on) but I was spoiled with gifts and cards as well. I'm enjoying a cup of my Scottish Breakfast Tea this morning with home made chocolate caramel popcorn, the scent of the grape/spiced plum candle and looking forward to making a meal in the new Coral dish (with carrying case). This week I was feeling discouraged that I wasn't able to be as much of a help as I'd love to be and then the Lord in his kindness gave me this evening to be encouraged. Thank you to Kelley for organizing it and to Jenny, Tini, Missy, Grace, Buse, Kathy, Sar...

How Can I do More? It probably seems like an odd question. It seems that most days we are scrabbling to get all the things on our list accomplished... wake up, devotions, eat, dress, work, laundry, cooking, changing diapers (yes even I change diapers every day), more cooking, housecleaning, wiping noses, drying tears, make lunches... never mind all the other things that we'd like to get done. But those aren't the things I'm thinking of for doing more. How can I do something from here to friends over there (where ever there is)? Today I'm thinking particularily of Hettie in Benin, Africa and Lucy in Tain, Scotland. If these dear friends were here, I could pop over for coffee or bring a meal, watch children but they are in different time zones (Both about 5 hours ahead of my time) and 1000's of miles away. Besides emails or cards, how can I show them the love that I have for them? I'm open to any suggestions (including from Lucy & Hettie). Now the o...

Scotland 2009 February 3 to 18th I was in Scotland visiting John & Lucy. I travelled up with John's mom and we had a very turbulant trip. John met us at the airport in Glasgow. It was about a 4 hour drive to the north east coast to Tain. It was lovely to spend 2 weeks with the family and see their new home. The pictures seem to be backwards so the end is first. It was my birthday (as well as Lucy's) while I was there so John's mom made vanEyk cake for me. Lucy said that they couldn't put candles on it because there would be too much smoke in the room ... hahaha! I was hoping to get to the bothy while there, but because of the snow and ice it was too dangerous to make the 200 ft decent. I was quite satisfied with seeing it from the look out and was so glad when the sun peeked out over the cliff as well. It was really the calm before the storm. Shortly after this there was almost a blizzard of snow as we made our way home - and John & Lucy headed to th...

A Morning in Prison Last Thursday morning Hans, Rudy & I went to the women's institution here in Kitchener, ON. Hopefuly this is just the first of many visits for me. Seven and a half years ago I started working at Cornerstone (yes time does go by quickly!). When I started I had never had any contact either verbally, in person or written form with anyone who had been in prison. My prison experience consisted of playing Jail on Sunday afternoons with my sisters. Cathy had a key chain with a million keys so she was the guard (she also had the play handcuffs). She would arrents us (in the basement) and put us in jail (the laundry room). The goal was to escape and then she would catch us again and throw us in solitar (the crawl space). Yep - that was my whole prison experience - not very qualified! The first time a student called the office I was in a panic. I couldn't believe I had someone from prison calling me on the phone!!! I quickly passed the phone onto Rudy...

I know you must be thinking "WOW! 3 posts in a short time... this can't be Jen", well there was something I wanted to share. This morning I was reading Cher's 'Over the Kitchen Sink'. (For those of you who didn't read her blog, Cher was remembering when her and Rich first got married and how God took care of even the smallest things - like providing material for Cher to make a dress for her little baby girl.) This made me think of things that God has done to show me -in big and small ways- that he loves me. Two years ago I had a few weeks to look for a new place to live (as Hettie was going to Africa for a year and our landlords needed our space). Everything was too expenses or not in nice areas. (though Jeff really did try to help me find something). I talked to Rachel who just had a baby (Tristan) a few weeks earlier so things were busy. I asked her to talk to Ryan about me coming to stay with them for a bit. (I was thinking till Hettie came home ...

Eli Michael Wood born October 11, 2008 at 12:15 am to Michael & Karen Wood Though he was a month early, we were so excited to finally meet our long-awaited newest nephew. He was in the NICU for a few days, but is home and slowly growing. We thank God for keeping Karen & Eli during the delivery. Rachel & I drove out to Toronto (at a more decent hour) to visit. We weren't able to hold him as he was on monitors, but we were allowed to go in and take some pictures. Mike & I are in the NICU with Eli 12 hours after he was born. The next Saturday, Ryan & Rachel and I along with Tristan & Hannah went to visit the new family member. Tristan was holding him like an old pro - even patting his bum when he fussed... Hannah - well, she's just over a year herself but she did give kisses. We are all so thankful for God's grace in preserving this little boy and giving Mike & Karen the opportunity to raise him to be a man who loves and serves the Lord.

Okay... I'll smile if you want These are just some pictures of Tristan & Hannah (from Rachel & Ryan) from the last few weeks. It is so sweet to see them together - not that they don't fight... but when they wake up first thing in the morning or from a nap or haven't seen each other for a while they get so excited Smile!

When it rains... it pours Okay so I haven't posted in 6 months and now I'm posting 2 times in one day... well I wanted this seperate. Back in March I had asked for some ideas on encouraging others in our families and church and there were some helpful things there. So now I'm going to share some more. First of all a great book to read is "Treasures of Encouragement" by Sharon Betters (which Trish gave to me years ago). Besides stories of how different people have been encouraged in different situations, there is an appendix at the back with 50 ideas from no money to some money, no time to some time involved. There is also a calendar book that you can get with more ideas and I've found it very helpful for keeping organized (and so I know who I've written or done something for). So here are just a few of the ideas that I've used over the years that I hope will be helpful. 1. Flowers. I only know 1 person who doesn't like flowers (well she likes...

Sorry... no pictures yet... Well, things have been pretty busy over the last 6 months. I do hope to put up some pictures soon but for now... this is what's been going on. 1. I started to take a quilting class. I've made a few quilts before but now I have a bit of a better idea of what I'm doing. I've determined that I don't like paper piecing or applique (and if I ever get those ones finished I'll post a picture) or circles. 6inch blocks are my friends (along with the seam ripper). Usually bi-monthly 5 ladies from church get together and we're working on a few different projects. It is great to have ironers (thanks Tini & Sally) and to sit and chat while we work away. So far we've completed 4 quilt tops for the church nursery and we're looking for some new projects. 2. John & Lucy (and family) moved to Scotland. This has been a bitter/sweet time for me. Having met the folks from the churches that he has been called to, I am very exci...

I suppose it has been a great while since I've posted anything on this blog... I promise that I have taken lots of pictures and things have happened and I will get to posting again soon. The last year and a half or so, I have been thinking about encouragement. In Hebrews 3:13 we are told to "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is today" 1 Thess 5:11 says "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing". How often do I do this? How often do we as a church encourage each other and build each other up? How do I go about encouraging my fellow believers? my elders? my pastor? those close to me? those I don't know so well? At the church I attend we have folks in different areas of life, young, married, with/out children, widow, and single. What are some ways to encourage these folks in the area of life that they are living? Sharon Betters has written a book called "Treasures of Encouragement" (Trish gave it ...