finally a new post:)

I know it's been ages, and I sincerely apologize! For some reason I always find something else to do...but I'm here now. So life since Christmas and New Year's. Well I'm back at school and because all but one of my classes are year long I already have essays and projects due this week and next. Yikes! I'm actually getting a head start on these assignments, last semester I was up too late working on assignments a bit too often. So no more "almost all nighters" this semester.

God is so good, I've finally gotten the last part of the immigration package finished which is a huge thing for Josh and I! So praise God for that:) He is so good to us and I am continually amazed at how He shows me His love. He has been revealing Himself in many new ways to me the past month and I love sitting in His presence and not having to do anything but enjoy His love. The other day I listened to the song "Your Love is extravagant" and that is so true...it is unashamedly extravagant for us!

I received a CD for Christmas that I have been listening to over and over again, it's called "Hymns Ancient and Modern," and I absolutely love hearing hymns...the words in them are so powerful! It's been amazing how much God speaks to me through songs written in worship of Him a couple hundred years ago. I love how our God is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Josh and I got to have some friends over the other night for dinner, it was great sitting back and laughing. Laughter is so good for us! We were talking about the silliest (most silly? I should look it up in a dictionary!) things and I think it's great when you can be comfortable enough around to people to say stupid things and know they will laugh with you rather than at you. After our friends left we watched "The Great Muppet Caper," and since then I've been impersonating Fozzie Bear--it's been great!

God is so good! His love is extravagant and He has given us all authority "over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness" (Matt. 10:1). I love it, overwhelming victory is ours!

oh christmas tree

Well everyone, we decided to take the plunge. Josh and I bought the cheapest Christmas tree we could find and used the decorations from Cindy (that's Josh's mom if anyone doesn't know) to make our little tree beautiful! I personally love it, but that's because it sparkles:) So I thought I'd share a few pics with you...I know they aren't as good as Jamo's, but I like them!
I was thinking about what my favourite ornament was when I was little, and it was a wooden ornament of a house with snow on the house and trees around it. What was your favourite or still is your favourite? Better yet, what's your favourite thing about the season...not simply Christmas but the whole season of December and January?

I hope you're all doing well! Love you!

elegy to blue kettle

Oh kettle, you served me so well
Tea, hot chocolate, soup, and coffee
No longer will you sing your song
That whistle died because I was gone

Oh kettle, only time will tell
If I will find another kettle for me
To sing a song and whistle along
And serve me again tea all day long

Oh kettle, I didn't deserve you
Your shiny handle and bright blue body
Now you're injured and singed
Because my brain unhinged

Please forgive me kettle, I meant no harm
It was only an accident since I lent an arm
To help a dear friend hang some photos
Now I'm paying dearly with my nose

Good bye dear kettle, I'll miss you so
So long, farewell.

first snow

"As long as the earth remains there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night." Genesis 8:22

I am so thankful that God created different seasons...because I love the variety, and I love snow (during the first 2 months). It is so great to know that when change (initiated by God) comes it brings life. Like is says in Ecclesiastes "there is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven." Isn't it great that God creates a time for everything in our lives and that there are seasons for whatever we are doing? I love how God works:) Some seasons are a bit more painful than others, but in the end life is produced...as long as we are hearing and listening to the Holy Spirit.

Sorry for the tangent, but I love it when God uses His nature to speak to me...It is so much fun! I know it isn't much, but I wanted to take a picture before it became dark (or the snow melted). So this is the outside of our house and the backyard during the first snowfall. The snow was so pretty falling straight down...I love it! The pictures aren't as beautiful as Jamo's, but I thought it would be fun for everyone to see the outside area of our living quarters:) Hehe. I can't wait to build snowmen,have snowfights,and mhmm sit in a warm house and watch the snow fall! So bring it on:) After a hot summer I'm ready for some change.

covenant relationships

Last weekend God spoke to me about covenant relationships. Josh and I, along with Caleb and Alix, went down to Grand Rapids for a couple days and in the midst of a busy weekend, spent Saturday night with our former GAP team members. There were eight of the ten members present and God moved amongst us. Although it had been over a year and a half since we had all been in the same room, we seemed to carry on as if no time had passed. It is a strange phenomenon to hang out with people who have matured and grown, but feel as if nothing has actually changed. That is what it was like. It was amazing because by the time the evening ended (which was in the early hours of the morning), God had clearly spoken to all of us about the importance of having Christ as the absolute centre of every individuals heart. It became clear to us why we were able to pick up where we left off despite the growth and maturing that brought about changes in our lives. We realized that when our eyes are fixed on Jesus and we are living passionately for him, there is bond created between people that cannot be broken.