2 more sleeps...

...which means its packing day today!

So much work to do with a busy weekend ahead of us.

That means I HAVE to get everything finished today.

We are doing our Christmas with Joshua tomorrow, that way we don't have to worry about taking his presents along with us.

We can't wait to see his face when he opens up his presents...

it is going to be priceless. I'll try and get some pictures.

Joshua will actually get what is going on!

Sunday is our church Christmas program, pray that all that is done will be glorifying to God, and that we will have many visitors.

We will have passed out almost 2,000 flyer's by then, so Lord willing we will have some.

P.S. I probably won`t have time to do any more posts, so the next time I am on here, we will either be in Buffalo or Ontario!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Adam and Casie

Congratulations

Adam and Casie!!!!!!! :)

We are so happy for you guys!

Please post some pictures of your

"story"

Love you,

Nathan, Rachel, Joshua and Baby

Christmas Cookies!!

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to make and decorate (and eat)

Christmas cookies!

Here are all the necessary ingredients!

I bought some new cookie cutters for $2 the other night at Michael's...

that way I could get more out of my dough!

The more the better :)

So you understand what that big blob of icing is...

This year, I bought icing tips to use with my zip lock bags I normally use

every year to ice my cookies.

Well, apparently they make the zip lock bags cheaper, because after about 6 cookies, I popped a hole in each of my bags :( which made for a longer, not as much fun way of decorating my cookies with a knife.

Ah well, they still worked out, they just didn't end up looking like how I wanted them to.

They still taste as good, and that is all that really matters.

Remember I said that Joshua was not interested in cutting out the cookies, but was interested in eating them...? Well, he was definitely interested in decorating them ;)

I put some icing on a few cookies for him, and he did all the sprinkles for the cookies!

This is the final product...

made by Joshua!

Between each pinch of sprinkles going on the cookies,

a pinch of sprinkles went into his mouth

haha! :)

"Mmmmmmm!"

was the first thing that came out of Joshua's mouth

when he tasted the cookies (which he already loved) that now have icing

and sprinkles :)

I tried to get a smile, but he was to busy eating his yummy cookie.

Sneak peak...

Today was our home photo-shoot!

Joshua was really good too! :)

He was full of smiles and funny faces...

more to come!

A busy week to come!

This week is going to be a busy one...

we already have plans for each day! We really don't mind though, it means that the sooner

this week is over, the sooner we will get to fly 'home' for Christmas!!

Speaking of that, please pray for us as we head down to Seattle on Sunday night.

We have an overnight flight! It will give us time to spend with Nathan's parents before they fly out here on Tuesday morning.

Pray that Joshua (and us) will be able to sleep on the plane.

It will already have been a very long day on Sunday before we fly, so we are praying that

the trip and all the details will flow smoothly!

Yesterday, we had the easiest day of the week.

Today, Nathan will be driving down to Christopher and Melissa's to work on the van after work,

tomorrow, is church.

Thursday, we are planning on taking Joshua to Stanley park to ride on the Christmas train!! (they light up the park with Christmas lights).

Friday, we have to run down to the USA again to take care of some things,

Saturday, we have our regular morning schedule. Plus, we will be setting-up, decorating and practicing for our Christmas cantata on Sunday morning.

Anyways, enough about that...

Christmas time is always busy...but it wouldn't be Christmas, if it wasn't : )

Oh yeah, we are also decorating some Christmas cookies today!!!!

I cut out a ton of cookies last night, hoping that Joshua would help me so that I could get some pictures...he was not even the least bit interested :( :( maybe he will be more interested in decorating them today...I hope :)

He was definitely interested in sneaking them of the cooling rack!

He is such a boy! How do kids learn these things......

(Nathan!) hahaha!

Last night, we ran out to buy some sprinkles for out Christmas cookies, and Wal-mart had nothing, so we went to Michael's (I was told they have theirs 50% off), which they did, for one kind. Anyways, while we were there Nathan let Joshua walk around and look at everything while I looked for some sprinkles.

After a bit, I found them by a bin of stuffed animals and blankets... go figure :)

Joshua loves animals and blankets! ;)

When Nathan walked away to look at something, Joshua was reaching for one of the animals, a white bear with a blue blanket (with white snowflakes). When I gave it to him he started saying, "beas, beas, beas, beas, beas, beas!!" (his way of PLEASE) as he ran toward Nathan.

Now, obviously Joshua knows who to go to when he wants something. Although, I don't think that I would have been able to say no to him then. It was so cute!!!

Yesterday was also haircutting day for Joshua...

I always hate cutting off all his curls :( :)

I have been needing to cut Joshua's hair for so long! I was just waiting to have Nathan here to hold him for me. I don't know why I waited so long? All I did was put a movie on for him and gave him some treats and he sat there the whole time! He was sooooo good!

When I was finished I gave him this mirror to see his new hair cut and he LOVED it :)

I will try to get some pictures of the cookies later?!?!?!?!

Also, pray that Joshua will cooperate for me, I borrowed Jun's amazing camera to try and get some Christmas pictures of Joshua, since he was not impressed by the photographers at Wal-mart...at all.

Such a BOY!!

This morning, Joshua pulled out his guns and handed one to me...

So we played guns for a half hour! He is such a boy :)

In this picture, Joshua was sneaking around the wall looking for me,

so I went around the other way and got him :) haha!

Ready, aim, FIRE!!!!

Joshua will walk around with his guns all the time.
He always has a blast with all his cousins when they play
guns with him!

A wonderful evening...

Last night, we were privileged to have Pastor and Mrs. Smith over!

It has been a few years since we last saw them, so it was nice to catch up.

The Smiths are on deputation for "Claim Ministries" through BIMI.

They will be traveling around in different countries helping in building projects and in any other

area that is needed. It was such a blessing to hear how they are doing, and how their family is...we miss you all!

We praise the Lord for putting godly people in our lives!

Merry Christmas

Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

Tis the Season...Christmas tree time!

Tis the season!!

Daddy and Joshua looking for our perfect

Christmas tree!

Mommy and Joshua looking for our perfect tree!

It was so much fun having Joshua look through all the trees!

Joshua is looking at our 'perfect tree!'
Even though we didn't get to cut our own tree this year, it still felt the same.
All the trees were in a garden house, so it was still cold and dark, and they had all the trees hung up in isles, like they would be at a tree farm.

After a while of waiting for the man to help us, Joshua got board of waiting so he took Daddy around for a walk. :)

He loved walking around in all of the "tees!"

I was taking a bunch of pictures while we were walking around, and there was an old man watching us while he was waiting.

He said that we reminded him of his family when his children were young.
He said that he remembers following his children around taking pictures and looking for their perfect tree :)

It was so much fun!

We love Christmas time:)

*MERRY CHRISTMAS*

Snow...come and gone....

Once upon a time...we had some beautiful snow...

but now it is gone... :(

We are looking forward to being in Ontario and Buffalo this Christmas where there is supposed to be a lot of snow!

To our family, Our trip is official!

We bought our tickets last night!!

They were a bit more, well, a lot more than we wanted to spend...

but the Lord is in control, and He knows what we needed to spend.

We will be arriving in Buffalo Monday December 20th, at 10:20am.

We can't wait to see everyone!!!

Praying...

We are planning on buying our plane tickets today; to go home for Christmas.

Please pray with us as we are looking for a decent price ;P

Only 20 days until we go....

Lord willing!

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

A nice surprise for everyone to hear!

black friday shopping...

I went black friday shopping yesterday for the first time!!

Will I do it again?...

maybe :)

I actually got everything that I went for, plus one extra (which I have to take back anyways).

I didn't get to Wal-mart (my first stop) until 8:30am, the stores were REALLY busy, but there were no line ups, or trampling going on!

Yes, trampling happens...

last night, Nathan turned on the TV just to watch the news about the crazy shoppers. We didn't see anything on the news but Nathan found a clip on the Internet about 4 men getting trampled at the Target in Buffalo. It looked brutal! These guys weren't small or anything either,

apparently they were just in the wrong spot in line...the front.

If I go again next year, I will definitely wait until the crazy people have done their shopping :0 ...

Melissa :) hahaha!

I love SNOW!

I woke up this morning to the ground with a fresh covering of snow! Who doesn't like that? :) To top it all off, it is still snowing! I love snow! Praying that it sticks around for a while....

sorry this is an old picture...I haven't been out yet this morning.

Daddy time...

Joshua LOVEs to spend time with his Daddy!

Scrapbooking Ideas Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

A Call to Anguish - David Wilkerson

We saw this clip at the National Youth Conference in Portland, OR.
It really convicted, well, everyone at the conference, including us.
We praise the Lord for men and women who have had this anguish in the past...
praying that we will have this anguish today.

We serve an Amazing GOD!

In the past few months the Lord has allowed different things to happen to our family members (on both sides). Things that we have no answer for...things that just don't make sense.

I am reminded of the a verse,

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~ II Corinthians 12:9

I praise the Lord for His plan!

Its FINALLY here....SNOW!!!!

Last night while we were at church, we held a Singspiration, the snow began to fall!

When we got out of church it was just starting to turn things a bit white.

So for all of us normal people, it was so exciting...I can't believe how many people don't like snow??????.....

Anyways, by the time we got home last night, you could see the snow starting to stick to the ground. Within a half hour after we got home, the ground was covered!

I spent a 'few' minutes watching the snow just fall. Nathan and I wanted to go out for a walk in the snow (we usually go out for a walk during the first snow fall), but Joshua was in desperate need of his bed.

This is supposed to be the last picture...but...

I couldn't get it to move anyways,

after Joshua was finished with playing, well, "uh oh-ing" the snow, he went back to

fixing his stroller (He is going to be just like his daddy)!

First thing this morning I took Joshua out to play in the snow.

Mostly because I wanted to go out. When he woke up this morning I showed him the snow out the window and he was excited then...

but when we went out he kept saying, "uh oh, uh oh," because the snow was getting on his boots, then he would wipe it off and get it on his hands (he wouldn't keep his mittens on).

Lets just say, he doesn't know how much fun snow is...yet ;)
I guess I can't really expect him to know what to do in the snow. This is the first time that he has seen snow (other than when he was 6 months old) and noticed that it was something different.

I am sure, if he is anything like his parents, he will love the snow very soon :)

We are going to see his cousins later today, so they will be able to influence him a little :)

Hopefully...?


Joshua, right after touching the snow for the first time.



Our first snow fall of the year!!!!!!!!!
~I LOVE SNOW!~


P.S. Joshua's coat is in the mail... I ordered in on the internet, and we are just waiting for it.
Don't worry, Grandmas, he has an undershirt, a long sleeve shirt, a sweater and a jersey on. Along with two pairs of socks, jogging pants under his sweat pants...he was warm :)

White Christmas - Bing Crosby & Marjorie Reynolds

Slops open early this year...

I heard on the new today that all the slopes in BC are opening early this year!!

Cypress Bowl is opening almost 3 weeks early, and Whistler Blackcomb is opening 1 week early.

Whistler has already seen over 140cm of that wonderful white snow this season, with more on the way this weekend for a nice fresh covering to open this weekend.

Cypress is supposed to see 50cm before Friday evening, 24cm of that is already there!

I just love snow!!!!

Praying for some at our house ;)

Weather Note...SNOW

I just checked the weather, and.....

they are calling for SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday through Saturday!!!!!

Praying that the meteorologist is correct!

Our little baby #2

I had my first ultrasound yesterday, for baby #2...

the baby that is still a mystery :)

We are hoping that I will be able to get a second ultrasound to see if baby #2 is a boy or a girl.

It is always so amazing to see your baby... the baby that is still waiting on God's timing to enter the world.

As I watched the screen, our baby was wiggling around a lot ;)

The baby kept crossing and uncrossing its feet, and doing something to its face with its right hand. It was so cute to watch.

In this picture you can see the back bone, its right hand at its face, its legs are up, and the left hand on its tummy.

During the ultrasound, the tech. asked me if my husband is tall? I said, "not super tall." She then went on to say, "well, this baby has LONG legs!" You can see in this picture that it has BIG feet too. I guess I am just meant to have big babies.

The tech. was trying to get a good profile picture for me, but the baby wasn't cooperating very well. She finally got this one, which is alright. The baby was lying on its belly so she kept poking my side to try and get the baby to turn over. Every time she would poke, the baby would lift its head up and look and then go back to its original position, as if it was saying "excuse me!" It was so funny to see:)

I put this picture of Joshua (at my first ultrasound with him) so you can see how much the same they look! We couldn't believe it when we compared this picture, and the last one of baby #2. They look so much alike! Especially the face.

Only in BC

Last night while we driving on the expressway heading to the border, we crossed over an inlet from the bay, and saw a seal...then I noticed at the same time, we were right in farm country :) Put it together; expressway, inlet from the bay, farms, barns , and a seal!?!?! How random...only in BC

The funniest part was the seal. It was just swiming and watching all the cars go by ;)

Waiting for snow..................

I was just talking to my Mum, and she was telling me that it was snowing at her house.

Since moving out West, I have longed for snow... and its not only me.

Nathan, Christopher and Melissa and their kids, and well, I'm sure that there are others

that are missing the snow :)

When Mum told me that it was snowing, I looked out the window and guess what I saw....

rain :( :( :( :(

So, because now I am all sad that it is not snowing here, and not even close to snowing,

I turned up my Christmas music...

and it just happened to be "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!"

Perfect ;)

Praying for LOTS of snow when we go to my parents for Christmas!!!!

Charlie Brown Christmas

This clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas memories...yes, I know early...but my last post made me think of it:)

I'll just post it again closer to Christmas!

it is that time of year...

Yesterday, I took Joshua to Wal-mart to look at all of the Christmas stuff!

The first thing I took him to see was all the outside blow-up decorations...thinking he would love them!??!

When I showed them to him, he kept saying "no no no!" and shaking his head no!?!?

He was rather NOT impressed with them.

I guess I will have some work to do on him :)

The poor boy doesn't even get what all the huge fuss is about yet.

He did love all the stuffed animals that sang Christmas songs!

Especially the Snoopy and Woodstock that played the piano!

I am sure by the time all of our decorations are up he will "get it!"

Should I do my own Christmas family pictures, or should we go get them done?

Joshua and I made his first Christmas decoration the other day... a paper chain! pictures to come :)

Missionaries to the First Nations of Koruna, Ontario

I just remembered the name of our other missionary family we had at our conference.

The Moier family - to the First Nations of Koruna, Ontario.

That they might hear...

We started our churches 2010 Missions Conference last night.

We were privileged to have 3 missionary families join us.

We were actually only planning on having one single missionary to the Philippines,

but the Lord led two other families our way in the last week.

Our missionaries this week are:

Frank Danisi to the Philippines,

Harris family to Peru,

and another family...oops, I can't remember their name :( sorry.

We also have Pastor and Mrs. Bane, from Ohio, as our guest speaker.

We started out with Wednesday night prayer meeting just praying for all our missionaries for the whole night.

Friday night we had our first service.

Today, Saturday, we had our delicious international banquet,

and a fun game of "Missionary Jepordy!" It was a lot of fun!!

Tomorrow we close out our missions conference with a final message and our Faith Promise commitments for this year.

As of tonight, we are only $600 away from making and possibly going over our

commitment of $50,000!!!

Praying that the Lord will use our church to raise more for world wide missions.

We currently support 20 missionary families, just about to add on a couple more!

Praise the Lord for His goodness!

Im back...

Hello again....

I know, I know, it has been FOREVER since I have been on here. Yes, that was a Christmas countdown that you saw :) We have been working on our Christmas cantata everyday for our church and looking at ticket prices to fly home for Christmas...so Christmas has been on my mind a bit early this year. At least I am not as bad as some others. For my birthday Nathan took me out to eat, and on the way home I noticed a house that had their Christmas tree up already! Even I thought that was early!!

Be back soon, promise...

Journey

God has placed us each on this earth for His purpose.

He has given us each our own journey...

His own plan for our lives.

Trust His leading,

He will lead you through the unknown!

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."

Proverbs 3:5-7

Lately...

Hello!

Sorry, I haven't posted anything in a while.

It has been a busy couple of weeks.

Emma-Joy was born and then Grandma Ravert came out for 2 weeks.

Here are some pictures to see what we have been up to lately!

Joshua had his 1st kinder surprise!

At first he was a bit cautious...

then, he dove right it!

He was quite pleased with his "surprise!"

Nathan was working out on our porch a while ago,

and Joshua always likes to do what Daddy is doing.

He found his own hammer and wood and did "like Daddy!"

It was so cute! He knew what he was doing too!

Lately, Joshua has really been liking to colour!

Wal-mart had crayola crayons on for $ .25!

Lets just say between all of the kids here,

we went out of wal-mart with 35 boxes of crayons :)

While Grandma Ravert was staying at our house,

she slept on our air mattress (that doesn't hold air very well).

Every morning she left it up for Joshua to play on when he woke up!

He had a blast!!

Joshua is such a boy...

Every time we go over to Jun and Sandra's house, Joshua goes right for the blue car!

saying, "bbbrrroooommm!!!"

but...

when Anna is there too,

they have to fight for it...

in this case,

they shared ;D

having some fun!

Shirley - "Auntie Rachel, take my pictures...cheese!"

Our little man!!!

The last night we were all together with Grandma Ravert,

we took all the grand kids to a park to get some pictures for Grandma.

Jun took most of the pictures with his honking camera ;D

and I snapped a couple!

He got some really nice pictures...

which isn't very easy with that many kids who were all anxious to run to the

playground just 50 feet away!!

The newest of them,

Emma-Joy!

She's so cute :D

Right after Joshua tried to smell those roses,

Anna tried to pick him up....

what she doesn't realize is that Joshua weights the same as her if not more :D

Orange, yellow, and pink!

three girlies!

Joshua saw this, well whatever it is called, and reached up for it.

So Auntie Melissa helped!

You can't see any Nathan right??? ;D

Joshua is becoming a park king!

He figured out how to get up the stairs at this particular park...

there is a slide at each side of the top!!!

He LOVES slides now!

Yesterday, we went to Melissa's house until Grandma left for the airport.

It was a fun day...

we spent most of it outside!

Who said that the park is for kids???? :D

Smile!

These guys just love each other sooooo much!

Don't worry....it's on the cheek! ;D

He was playing peek-a-boo!

Another favorite of Joshua...

Isaac and Caleb have a F150 power wheel!

Joshua loves it!!!

Apparently working on cars just runs in the family!

It was hilarious!

I was out with all the kids, and all of the sudden they just decided that

the truck needed some repairs.

So while Joshua sat and gave the orders,

all the other boys fixed his truck!

Joshua and Mommy!

I love you!