Our Living Room Soundtrack

Another week has flown by in Edmonton. My brother came to visit us this week. After living away from home for over 8 years this is the firs time I have ever hosted my brother. I hope it won't be another 8 years until we repeat this. We had a great visit. Celebrated Kyle's birthday and Jake received a belated birthday present. We had dinner with new friends and I have a coffee date planned with an old friend. I went out for dinner with an accountability partner and skyped in for a book study. Edmonton has been good to us. While there are many things I can be thankful today the current soundtrack in my living room beats them all. After a sleepless night and plagued by new teeth and yet another cold he just keeps going.

A Timely Reminder

A few evenings ago I was invited to a Ladies Night Out with the Bible study group I attend on Wednesday mornings. It was a lovely evening filled with many new faces, as are most of my days as of late :-). I had the opportunity to get to know some of the women better. One particular conversation has stuck with me since, a conversation that I can't shake, nor do I want to.  I was blessed with the opportunity to talk with one of our co-leaders for an extended period of time. She is a dedicated woman of God who has adopted two children from Haiti. As I also discovered, she faces incredible health challenges on a daily basis. Not the stuffy nose, sore back variety but the life threatening kind. Her illness is so severe that when first diagnosed she was given only two weeks to live. That was over 12 years ago, praise God! It got me thinking.....sure I have a child who has presently decided not to sleep, a husband who needs to dedicate many hours to studying for a looming exam, and I am feeling slightly out of my element in a new city.....but I have my health. My boys are healthy, my family is healthy, even my dog is healthy! There have been times in my life when this has not been so, but I experienced healing. So easy to forget. So easy to take for granted. So easy to feel entitled to health. The most striking part of our conversation was her reminder that, "Nobody ever thinks it is going to happen to them, but then it does, and you have to deal with it." I only hope that if or when our little family faces serious health challenges that we "deal with it" as humbly and graciously as she has.  I am so grateful for the health I have and intend to enjoy the things God has blessed me with as much as I can, including my two wonderful boys.

My little man helping my big man with a little 

plumbing project before we left.

Enjoying an afternoon at the dog park.

Wonderful Wonder

It has been a while since I have posted. I had fallen into a slump of believing that there was not much to be thankful for. Funny how fickle we can be and how short-term our memory is when the laundry piles up and the weather turns sour. I have realized that it is more a case of skewed perspective rather than an actual lack of blessing. Ann Voskamp dedicates a whole chapter to perspective and gratitude in her book "One Thousand Gifts" a read I highly recommend. The last few days Jake and I have ventured out about. Sometimes far sometime to the front lawn. As I watch him explore the world around him and experience things for the first time I am struck by the utter sense of wonder he demonstrates. Things I have taken for granted (watching the birds outside) or now view with complaint (the first snowfall) completely captivate my little man. My response to the snow this week, "You have got to be kidding!" As if snowfall in Edmonton in October is completely bizarre. Jake's response....squeal and delight, reaching for snowflakes and watching in wonder as they melted on his mitts. Here are a few pictures from our week, my attempts to capture Jake's wonder. I am thankful for Jake's daily reminder that wonder surrounds us every day. We just need to view it from the right perspective. A one year old's perspective seems to do just great.

 

Jake and I have been spending a lot of time exploring the local library. They have a great fish tank with tons of fish. Jake loves watching them swim around. 

 

Jake discovered this week how to turn his nightlight on and off. Anytime he is in his room he heads straight for the nightlight and squeals with delight at his new discovery.

 

 

Alas! The snow has made its first appearance. While brief it is a reminder of what is yet to come. Jake loved watching the flakes fall from the sky. 

Sometimes I wonder at why we buy toys. Jake was occupied for quite some time yesterday by the inside of the salad spinner. Who knew so much fun could come from kitchenware?

A Weekend of Thanksgiving

I had logged onto my computer this morning intending to tell you about the weekend filled with friends (new and old), family too rarely seen and ridiculous amounts of delicious food and great fellowship. Before I could log onto my blog I saw a beautiful video posted on Facebook by my home church in Abbotsford. The video was created by the members of the church as a touching reminder that we have so much to be thankful for. On a morning that I felt came way too early with a grouchy little boy, a clumsy dog and a coffee pot that just never seems to brew quickly enough I was brought to tears of gratitude. I too am thankful for friends and family, good food to eat and the gift of music but this morning I find myself overwhelmingly thankful for a little church in the countryside of Abbotsford. A church that ushered me into their arms almost twelve years ago. A church filled with people who loved me and drew me into the relationship I now have with the Lord. A church filled with generous pie bakers, dedicated Sunday school teachers, gracious children's ministry leaders, God fearing leadership and many loving arms that welcome me home each time I make it through the doors. Though the building has changed, new faces arrived and familiar faces have either gone off to be with the Lord or journeyed on somewhere else like myself this morning I am incredibly thankful for you Arnold Community Church.

While I tried to embed this video into my blog posting today it hasn't seemed to work. Hopefully this link will.

He Hears and Answers

Jake all ready to rock for an outdoor excursion.

 Taken in Saskatoon but the look is much the same here. 

The last few days Edmonton has been graced with some beautiful Autumn weather. The leaves are almost off the trees but line the streets and make that wonderful crunching sound when you walk through them. Jake, Sophie and I have been taking advantage of the nice weather by exploring our neighbourhood. Jake hasn't been sleeping the greatest so he enjoys the crisp air and a few zz's in the chariot while Sophie and I enjoy some peace and rest from grumpy baby. This morning Tim was able to join us on our exploration. As we walked we ran into the people who live in the basement of our house walking their dog. We stopped and chatted and I couldn't help but think of how rarely this happens in Saskatoon a much smaller city where we know considerably more people. We also visited a local coffee shop called The Wired Cup. Great coffee, neat art and gifts to look at, delicious cinnamon buns. So many yummy things to be thankful for. As we were talking, a lady at the next table overheard we were new to Edmonton. She turned around and continued to tell us all the local attractions and some great places to run and cross country ski. She found out I like to run and gave me her number and email address in case I ever want to go out running with her or just meet up for coffee. This is the third time this has happened in the last week. First the lady at Bible study, then another mom at the Baby and Me Music class and now random lady at the coffee shop. Not to mention the friend of a friend who offered to help move us in and has already arranged a "date" next week with us. My biggest prayer in coming here was that I wouldn't be lonely. I think I can safely say that the Big Guy upstairs has heard and answered. My only dilemma is who to call first.

New Friends

 Mommy's sidekick! Man, I love this kid.

Yesterday morning Jake and I ventured across the great unknown that is Edmonton to Ellerslie Baptist Church. Prior to leaving Saskatoon I emailed many churches in search of a ladies morning Bible study. My search led me to Ellerslie Baptist. Jake and I were greeted at the nursery with open arms, loving baby talk (for Jake not me) and lots of reassurance. I was off to get a coffee and join the rest of the ladies for the morning. I was also greeted warmly. The lady I had been in contact with came up to me and said, "You must be Erin." Perhaps I looked a bit lost :-) I had a great morning of discussion and prayer. Jake had a morning of playing and a nap How wonderful is that? They had a place for him to take a nap! We both left refreshed. I from adult conversation and a couple hours of being "baby free" and Jake from a much needed morning nap. This morning I am thankful for welcoming community, loving servants in childcare, and the internet and email to facilitate it all.

Driving Edmonton 101

Today Jake and I ventured further than our neighbourhood. With Tim's iphone traveling around this new city has been a piece of cake.....traveling around without it....not for the faint of heart. We made it to Uncle Dave's for a lunch date with Grandma and Grandpa (they leave tomorrow) and after some creative driving and a few wrong turns we made it back home. The roads of Edmonton have taught me a few things today.
Number One: Not all roads are two way. In fact Edmontonian (is that what you would call a person from Edmonton?)  road planners quite like multiple laned one way streets.
Number Two: Google maps is a useful tool; however, it often does not make it clear whether a road is one way or two way (Are you starting to see where our trouble may have started today :-).
Number Three: The roundabout is a challenging roadway construction that Saskatchewan does not prepare you for.
Despite the one way street blip I am super thankful for google maps today. Without it I would be lost....literally.

A New "Home"

We have arrived, unpacked and are starting to settle into our new home. While being away from Saskatoon has a funny way of making me more thankful for the city we have left behind I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the home we now find ourselves in. We are in the heart of Edmonton, a wonderful location with easy access to the places we need to be. We have a comfortable home with landlords who took great care in preparing this place for us. This morning as I watched Jake play with Sophie (our pooch), I was reminded of how great it is that we were able to bring her along. Yes, she causes us much grief at times but she is an important part of our family and Jake adores her. Three months would have been a long time without her. So, today I am thankful for the provision of a home. A warm, comfortable home in a great location. A home away from home that allows our whole family to be together.

The Adventure Begins

As our family of three embarks on an adventure in Edmonton I have decided to start my own personal adventure into blogging. While my journey to prepare for this three month elective time away from home has led me to feel many different ways, I have chosen to see it as an adventure. One in which I am certain God is trying to teach me something. Having had to move to new cities and start over multiple times I wasn't all that excited about leaving our little community once again; however, this is for but a season. So, as our adventure begins so does my challenge to share what I am thankful during a season of change....my challenge to embrace everyday.