This post is rather overdue. At the beginning of February, some work was begun in the basement. The work progressed quite rapidly with a whole team on it. First, waterbarrier “paper” was put up on the walls.  Then horizontal studs were screwed on to the NUDURA so that there would be space for running wires.

   For doing the dry walling, we rented a gyprock lift which saved an enormous amount of time and labour. It was amazing how quickly we were able to work with that help!

Many hands make light work.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” Ecclesiastes 9:10

   The most important kind of construction, however, is not that of working on a house, but that of building in the lives of those around us. “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:9

 

   The mid-March weather was unseasonably warm.  The sun was shining in all its glory, the snow was melting at a prodigious rate, and a number of us began itching to get outside. One of our favourite summertime activities (for it truly seemed to have gone straight from winter to summer) is bicycling, so since the weather was lending itself toward this, several of us took off. Our first trip of the season, not counting the little 30 km excursion Stephen and I took together in February, was across the city and out into the farmland beyond to return a couple CD’s borrowed from some friends. What began as a pleasure ride, turned out to be quite an adventure. Not far down the road, we were faced with a flat – and no spare.  Thankfully, a bicycle shop nearby was open and we were able to change the innertube.

   When we arrived at our destination we were delighted to learn that we would have some extra company for the return trip – complete with a little detour to visit a wonderful, Godly widow friend.  Her yard was still covered in snow. A couple people took advantage of the easy “bicycle rack.”

   The rest of the trip home was uneventful and we enjoyed God’s marvelous creation as we travelled.

   This first trip made us all the more eager to get out again. About a week later, another trip was planned: beginning from our home, we would circle around the south of Sherbrooke, stop in Coaticook for icecream, and finish up in Cookshire – a total of nearly 100 km.

   Our route took us primarily through farmland. The rolling hills of open fields bordered by thick woods, the farm buildings dotting the landscape, lanes running beneath the overspreading branches of huge trees – it all seemed to lend itself to photographing.

Seeing sap buckets hanging from trees without any snow around was a little odd, but it is the right time of year…

   This trip, too, was not without adventure.  Less than 30 km into the trip, a bike accident (thankfully inflicting only minor injuries) necessitated a rather lengthy stop as we sought to repair one of the bicycles. In due time, however, we were again on the road to Coaticook.

   Lunch break was well appreciated by everyone, particularly as it was somewhat later than we had anticipated. When we had finished, we rode down the street to the Coaticook icecream manufacturing plant.

   While a few pictures were taken while riding…

  

… the cameras came out most often when we were paused to rest or talk.

Can anyone tell me why photographers like photographing each other?

   As I reflect again on the time spent enjoying fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ and marvelling at the magnificence of God’s creation, my heart is filled with gratitude that God has given us the capacity to know and understand the reason for it all – His glory. He has chosen to display His glory not only in nature, but also, and more importantly, in lives surrendered to Him.

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another…” Isaiah 42:8

“I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.” – Psalm 13:6

How I have longed for and awaited this day!  Ten years ago, the Lord worked in my heart to give Him my desires and aspirations and to start praying daily for my future life partner.  Five years ago the Lord brought someone into my life who would, in time, become more dear to me than anyone I have yet known.

In the years I have spent among groups of godly young people, I have met thousands who are seeking God and His ways.  One internationally renowned preacher described these groups as “the Godliest of the Godly young people” he has ever met.  Nevertheless, I have not found even in these circles anyone I can look in the eye and see that their heart is truly and fully dedicated to the Lord and His ways.  To see the fear of God exemplified in the same life, to discover an unshakable faith and a godly love that overflows onto all those around, to find responsibility, determination and endurance has been far above my expectations.  To know and be known of such a person is a privilege and an honour beyond my merit.  I believe that only God could have worked such a wonder.

It is my immense pleasure and honour to announce that I have now been officially granted by Mr. Taylor a courtship with his daughter, Erica Ashley Taylor.

This has been long in coming, and we have already spent much time with each other’s families.  Perhaps I will make another post soon with more details.

Some noteable posts from our blog: be sure to read between the lines; you may find some interesting statements and/or pictures.  
http://www.createdinchrist.com/Blog/post/More-concerts.aspx
http://www.createdinchrist.com/Blog/post/Friends-and-Fellowship.aspx
http://www.createdinchrist.com/Blog/post/Bicycling.aspx
http://www.createdinchrist.com/Blog/post/Hiking-the-White-Mountains.aspx
http://www.createdinchrist.com/Blog/post/Friends-Photographs-Valentines-Day.aspx

Erica, I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your fellowship from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about you, since I have you in my heart and you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.