Passing The Test

I wrote my test, as we say here in Canada, on Thursday afternoon and passed with a 100%. :) Not bad for a 20 Q. test! :)

I just want to say Thank You to all those of you who have been praying for me/us in regards to this day finally being realized. (I do still have a swearing in ceremony the first part of May, so it isn't "official.")

Honey, thanks for being there to quiz me, encourage me, and to tell me to go to bed when I was exhausted and still trying to put in some study time for this test. :) I love my Canadian Man. :)

I was greeted today when I returned from showering after the morning's Dobu session by Shane and I's group singing 'O Canada' to me! That was so sweet you guys!!! It made me feel very special. Thank you too to the rest of our class who are excited with me/us about this part of the hurdle being finished. 'Thank You' fellow staff members who have been there with me, encouraging me all along the way.

I am sorry for not posting sooner, but life continues to not allow me to have too many windows to post, but it is almost 11 P.M., Friday night, and I am on my way to bed. I couldn't let it go one more day! :)

Time at Crocketts

The other half of our week was spent with Shane's sister and family. We had so much fun with them! This was our first time being at their home. We really liked it! It was a very nice place.

We did an assortment of things while there, some of which I don't have pictures for. Carolyn and I went for a walk between rain spells, and got a little bit of exercise. Shane played cards with Ashley, and one morning we went out for bagels and coffee after the girls went to school. We were at Paneras for over 3 hours! We had a great time talking. It was good.

One afternoon, Carolyn drove Shane and I over to Cleveland to shop at a good Asian store that she and a Dutch/Indonesian friend shopped at recently. Carolyn was so excited to take us and we THOROUGHLY enjoyed it!!!

Carolyn & Shane before we headed in...


















Carolyn being funny.... :)














Going through the check out.....














We ate lunch at an awesome Chinese little restaurant....














I was hungry for some noodles!














Once we got home and put things away, Carolyn and I made some 'klepon'. They were so yummy! I had never made them yet, Carolyn had, and so with buying the ingredients at the Asian store, we whipped some up. They were so good!!!














One night I coloured/colored Carolyn's hair. She'd been wanting to do it, I love doing it, so we got at and did her hair...














While we waited, Carolyn helped Mariah study.....














Then we played games.... (We played lots of games!)











Friday night, Mariah and I made cards together....













While at the Asian store, we bought fish for an Indonesian meal. Here's it going on the ol' Babi.'














The finished product.... Mmmmmmm














The table set, and ready....














We are now almost done with our Spring Break. It has gone by fast, but it was so good. There were so many things that we saw God work out. His timing is perfect. Here are two main praises for us:
* My dad's 80th birthday fell during our spring break. We could spend a lot of time there with him, not cram it into a regular weekend where we are trying to get our breath from the weeks' responsibilities.
* We checked our mail just before we left and found my citizenship test notice. I now had the break to brush up, not during our busy class week. (In case you haven't read our recent prayer update, I take my test on Thursday!!!!! We weren't expecting this all to happen til mid May at the earliest. We have some real prayer warriors out there!! :) )

It is almost 10 and I am headed off to bed. It has been a long day. Everything is unpacked, dishes are done and a few of our 'Thank You's' are finished. We praise the Lord for you, and the impact that you have on our lives. Thank you for your love and friendship.

Double Trouble

You may hear me say often that there are a few things good about getting older. One of them is the opportunity to visit with childhood friends and being encouraged by their walk with God knowing that neither one of you were headed in that direction as teens.

Annette and I are no exception. We hated each other to only become jointed at the hip, so to speak. We were double trouble, in not too bad of a bad way. The Lord has brought us a long way. I'm thankful for Annette and the friend that she has been to me. She is loyal and loving.

Annette is married and has 3 children. :)

We had a great time catching up with them again after about 5 years of not really visiting because of moves and distance. God is good, and I am so glad that He has brought us into good marriages and by His grace we are walking with Him today.

Dad's 80th Birthday Party

Shane and I traveled to Pennyslvania March 16th to be a part of Karen's dad's 80th Birthday party with the family.


VIDEO: Us traveling south...

Click To Play

Dad...















Dad's cards.














Cookies for the Cookie Monster.


















Dad and his birthday pie.














The family that could make it. Ken, Lori, Dave, Becky, Shane, I, Dad and his friend, Juanita.














On Sunday evening, the church had a surprise party for Dad. He had mentioned to me a week and a half earlier that he hoped the church hadn't gotten wind of it as he dreaded everyone singing to him making him the centre/center of attention. The party was very nice and dad was surprised! :) He did enjoy himself. :) (Dad getting a bit of blowing help from Andrew Sullivan.)




























Dad visiting around with the guests.














Shane, Dad and Juanita enjoying cake and ice cream. (I was too busy taking picures that I forgot all about getting cake and ice cream!) :)














Lisa and I.














Dad and more cards. :) He really enjoyed his weekend. :)

Staff Party - Real O'Reilly

Over a week ago now, Shane and I helped Frank & Eleanor van der Meulen with brainstorming, organizing, and being in charge of the O'Reilly party on the 13th of March. It was a fun night full of laughs! We also have a lot of good liars there at NTMC, all for a good game though. :)

(The Real O'Reilly - 4 contestants who have 1 true story of 1 of the contestants. They all had to embelish on the story, tables got to ask one question, and then they voted on the 'Real O'Reilly.' It was so funny!)

The Vans and Us.











Me waiting at the door to take the raffel tickets.


















Ray choosing the first raffel ticket.












Eleanor and a raffel item.














Shane leading the game.














Tables vote.

Spring Is Showing

I was pleasantly surprised as I stood on a chair at our livingroom window and checked out my eye-level garden. I have flowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Here are my crocus' coming up!














Here are my tulips and hyacinths coming up!














There was also a bit of fog... here's across the road from our window.














Fun picture.

Dobu Has Begun

Life is crazy to the max for the time being.... until May. We are more involved with Dobu this year and it will require a lot of studying on my part. To give you a view of our day, it is as follows:

• Up, ready and in the portable to paint at 7 A.M. (some mornings may be earlier depending on what may be happening in the village)

• In the village at 8:30

• Session til 10:30

• Shower til 11:10ish

• Bounce time with our teams til 12:00ish (Talk about observations, etc.)
  

• lunch

• Class for teaching and prep for the next day - 1:30 - 2:30 (All Training Staff meetings on Wed. after class til 4:30 or so.)
  

• Office work and details to do for the next day til 4 (sports @ 4:45 on Mon./Wed./Thurs./Fri.)
  

• Supper prep at 5

• Evening for studying...

This practicum is quite exhausting for us on staff, and this week coming we have a staff social Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening we have our 2nd Year Ladies tea (Normally takes place the 1st Friday of every month, but we need to have it in the evenings during Dobu.) in which I am sharing my testimony, and Friday we will leave as soon as we are able, heading to my dad's for his 80th Birthday party on Saturday.

All this to say, we would appreciate your prayers for us. We need stamina, clear minds, word retention, patience with each other as we grow physically and mentally tired towards the end of the week, Godly wisdom as team issues arise and we need to address them helping students work through it, and for the overall Big Picture of what we want to see accomplished during this 8 week intense practicum. THANK you!!!! :) Karen

Sarah's Bridal Shower

Last night, Cindy, Lavonne, and Chris, put on a bridal shower for Sarah. :)














Sarah is finally able to get married after a long visa ordeal! We are glad for the growth God has brought in her and Nathan's lives through this year long trial, however, we know that God's ways are always good and He has had a purpose in it for them.





















































Sarah and her nieces.





























Cindy organized games. :) (Paperclip stollen because of saying the word: Sarah, Nathan, or Wedding [Hemp was our winner.], a quiz about Sarah and her and Nathan's dating and engagement [Kathy Baker was our winner.], and getting the total price right for household items [Ruth Kane was our winner].)


























Shane and I congratulate you and hope that your wedding day will be the best day of your live. May you serve God faithfully, and be blessed by the lives you touch because of your willingness to be used of the Lord.