Heading South

Clint and I are heading south! To North Dakota, that is. Clint just corrected me and said we are heading to “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” While it won’t be much warmer there than here, it IS a trip without the kids, just the two of us, and it IS overnight. It IS also a business trip, as we have to pick up some equipment in Minot. And it is also the first time that we have driven over the North Dakota border together since our 18-hour trips from the farm to good ol’ Dordt College in Iowa.

I will miss those kids, but I’m looking forward to this!

Clean up

We just went to Canadian Tire and spent our Christmas money on practical things like new car mats, plastic storage towers, and hockey sticks and net for Owen. It’s funny; I didn’t think chucking out the old holey car mat would make me so happy. Or that Owen would be thrilled with his newly organized room, and want to put EVERY toy away. He even wanted to clean the living room before he could go to bed. I know this won’t last, but it’s nice for a change!

Happy New Year! May the Lord bless you and keep you in 2010.

News article on the Baynes

An online news article can be found here, from Sunday’s Vancouver Sun. In it, Raphael Alexander, aka Adrian MacNair, objectively states the fact of the case wherein three children have been unfairly removed from their loving parents for over 2 years.

On January 12-15, the case will come before a judge who will decide whether or not to return the children to their parents. Please be in prayer for a fair verdict, for the trial as a whole, and for the children and parents – Paul and Zabeth.

Christmas 2009

It was a fun, relaxing day, though Christmas Eve gave me cause for worry. Owen went to bed with a fever, without supper, after having fallen asleep on the couch, twice.

And Clint had sensors in the barn that weren’t working, so the temperatures for the turkeys were all over the map while he spent hours trying to figure them out. And who can get a mechanic to come on Christmas Eve?  Clint and his dad came in from the barn shortly after 10 pm, having fixed the sensors “good enough”  and then Clint and I went to the Christmas Eve service at 11:00.

Christmas morning we had omelettes and pancakes all together, and then opened gifts. Owen was feeling much better, and was in high spirits at the prospect of opening gifts.  Here he is pulling the gifts out from under the tree.

Julie got a 2nd bunny in her stocking. Actually, it’s a 3rd bunny. Her original bunny totally and suddenly disappeared a couple weeks ago, and she has grown to love and accept the “new bunny.” Now we have a backup again.

She also got a doll, which she was quite excited about. Or maybe it was the doll’s soother that she wanted.

So it’s Christmas Day, and what are these kids filching from the pantry? Bran Flakes.  Thanks for the Christmas outfits, Opa and Oma!

We had a dinner with small frying pans at Mom and Dad L.’s with part of the family and other friends.

Clint and I didn’t really exchange gifts this year, although we are going on a trip to Minot in a week or so that is our gift to each other. And I got him a couple things, ha ha. Normally he spoils me so I had a chance to play a little catch up.  And I did get Version 2 of My Memories Suite,  a digital scrapbooking program.

Merry Christmas!

With love from our family to yours,

Karen

Peace on earth

This verse from I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day really struck me this morning, as we sang it in church. The  lyrics are by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1867.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

I thought of those for whom Christmas brings more pain than joy: the Bayne family, struggling families in our church, and two friends who have recently lost grandmothers.  Then there are those stuck in poverty around the world, those enduring war….

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

God WILL triumph over evil; He IS faithful, and He “upholds the cause of the oppressed.” Psalm 146:7.

Our pastor preached a sermon on Ruth that was a good reminder of God’s provision and faithfulness. It can be found here or at least it will be in a few days.  I heard the whole sermon, and Julie stayed downstairs without crying for the second Sunday in a row.  Both kids are now napping, so possibly they will last through the whole Christmas program at church tonight.

As for us, we are well, everyone is healthy, there isn’t much in the way of Christmas baking in the house, but I feel ready for Christmas nevertheless.  We’ll probably put the gifts under the tree a few days before Christmas. I haven’t been able to listen to much Christmas music, because Elmo has taken over the airwaves. If our house was a radio station, it would be CLMO: all Elmo, all the time.

I’m interested in hearing any neat Christmas traditions you or your family have to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, little things that make the season come alive to you and your children.  Anyone?

5 days away from Christmas

Clint came back safely from Edmonton very early Saturday morning, after being gone nearly 24 hours. Between faulty brake lights, slick roads, hitting rush hour in Edmonton, and driving home slow with a loaded trailer, it certainly took longer than he hoped it would.  Here is what he brought home: our second piece of farm equipment, the first being the turkey loader.  We are hoping that it can do almost everything that a tractor, forklift, and bobcat can do, but in one machine.

 

And here are pictures of the two kids:

One evening Owen got into the baby powder and sprinkled it liberally over himself, Julie, Julie’s clothes, the change table, and the floor. What a mess! Thankfully, it was bathtime anyway, and the trusty Dyson picked up all the powder. Although when I emptied the canister, it looked like a white bomb had gone off in the garbage can.

Julie was not too pleased with the dusting, or my taking a picture of it.

Goofing off in the baby bathtub; Julie is wearing a Dalmatian outfit from Grandma.

Strange bedfellows.

Julie playing with Owen’s track after he had gone for his nap today.

Fetch

Tonight I threw a ball to Julie and she kept fetching it for me. It was so much fun, and she was so pleased with herself when she brought the ball back to me. After I threw it, she would say "Oh!" and do her fast walk-run over to get it, say, "got it," then hand it to me and say, "dake you." Over and over. I think that tired her out; I didn't hear a peep after I put her to bed.

Owen was already asleep, having asked to go to bed at 6:30, most likely to avoid having to clean up toys. He would almost always rather go straight to bed than clean up toys. And usually he is so "done" by that time of day that it's easier than fighting with him to clean up.