Our Easter was more of an Easter weekend. Just chock full of fun and activity. So much so that we were burned out and exhausted for school on Monday!

On Saturday all my hard work of stuffing Easter eggs was put to good use. We spent the morning at the YMCA. Well, some of us did. The door on the van was left ajar and the battery dead. So in between Ken smoking Sunday’s ham at the Schwartz’s (thanks so much for the loan of your smoker) I took Gavin, Echo and Trinity to the YMCA. Gavin and Trinity for club and Echo for swimming with Mommy.

Once the van was jumped and filled back up with kit and kids we headed off to visit our very amazing homeschool friends. Aimee had set up a rather amazing egg hunt all over their woodsy yard.

We played, watched a movie, ate wonderful food and snacked happily while we visited. It is such an easy situation on all adults involved as the kids really do entertain themselves. Aimee and I even ducked out to Walmart to pick up a few things.

That had us home in the evening and into bed so that we could be fresh and pressed for Easter service. Trinity even had her first communion! Everyone clapped for her when they were told before service.

The girls had their usual fancy hats and new dresses. I think we all cleaned up rather nicely.

We had Easter baskets and goodies from the Easter Bunny to enjoy.

We did our yearly photos, of course.

Gavin, Zander

After church it was back to packing up the van and heading over to the Novak’s for dinner and ANOTHER egg hunt.

We had so much fun there, as always. And it was ANOTHER day of easy supervision on the adults.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate with friends who have become family. I don’t think we could have had a better plan… well except for having the battery in the van die.

The Easter corner for the kids to eat in.

Christ is Risen

He is Risen indeed

Hallelujah

Now, enjoy the excessive amount of festive images!!!

Snoopy

Kiara

It was requested that parishioners write up their own experience of the Grace of God for a book for Lent. I agreed to do so and wanted to share my own experience here as well. Of course first I defined God’s Grace (like a good student)… I used the Wiki definition found HERE. The portion I used:

Grace in Christianity is the free and unmerited favour of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings. Common Christian teaching is that grace is unmerited mercy (favor) that God gave to humanity by sending his son to die on a cross, thus delivering eternal salvation.

Now, I can’t say for certain it is the Grace of God that led me to the conclusions and actions below… but it is an experience I still hold as something akin to a release in order to receive.

The grace of God is defined as the free and unmerited favour of God. I have never felt that grace as much and as clearly as I did when we finally decided to move to Minnesota from Alberta, Canada. God’s grace is not what we deserve, but a reflection of what we need, what will help us to become a more whole person. It is this gift that myself and my husband fought so hard against.

For months we fought tooth and nail to stay in Canada with the friends, family and familiarity of life in my birth country. It was not until we released our wants and listened to the direction of God that we began our big move. When we let go, the grace of God allowed us to transition. With this grace the process which usually takes many months was completed in 2 weeks. Passports, packing, goodbyes and the journey were all seamlessly and successfully accomplished.

Without this laying of our worries and path at God’s feet we would not have been where we needed to to help my husband survive his worst bout of depression to date; not been nearby when others needed our help. Rather by the grace of God we were where we needed to be when we needed to be. This gift has enabled us to have a fuller life and is a blessing.

This is what I have given to my church to share, and now given to you to also have a read. I think that no matter what we like to put some sort of reason or structure to chaos. Reason to the unknown, reality to the unreal. All I can say is, right now, I am here where I seem to need to be. Who knows what the future brings. 

Surprise Surprise… I am almost current! Woo! Well, October is Halloween (of course), and Ken’s birthday (39 this year!) AND Canadian Thanksgiving (yup this Canadian girl still celebrates).

We started off the month with a trip to Home Depot.

Visited a pumpkin patch with a lovely group of friends.

We all got a little sunburned after so much time in the sun.

We visited the Schwartz family for a bonfire and shooting off of rockets.

Spent time at the Novak’s.

Anthony

And had them over to our place as well.

We met Chloe, Anthony’s girlfriend.

Enjoyed all the colours of fall.

We learned about bats and made our very own cave in the cabinet.

We found plenty of time to do crafts and worksheets and learn as best we could.

We celebrated Nathan’s birthday at a super fun trampoline place.

Sang in the choir at church.

We spent time at the YMCA – swimming, working out and club.

I crocheted whenever I could.

Early Christmas present for my sister in law – a cupcake blanket

Cowls

And we snuck out on the warm days.

Cleaning the van.

October was a lovely refocus of our time. Lots of friends and family and quiet celebrations (we had take out for Thanksgiving, nothing fancy).

Snoopy

Lovely hair by one of the girls who run cluby

So enjoy the photos and the memories as I work my way to current and we currently wrap up 2016.

Playing Magic

Doing her own hair.

Fishing for letters

Sneaking out for coffee at Caribou.

Sunset

Ready for dinner out