Monthly Archives: December 2013

Gingerbread houses

A long standing tradition in our family is that of making gingerbread houses.  It dates back so far that I cannot remember a year when we didn’t make them.  In more recent years, we have extended this tradition to include other families as well and often the decorating is preceded by a chalk art presentation.  It is definitely a highlight of the Christmas season.

Though the basic structure of all the houses is the same and there are similarities, each house turns out unique.  I’m reminded of how God created each of us “with the same mould,” making for definite similarities in all of us, yet each of us is unique with a specially designed purpose.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

Catch up

Since there have been no posts about anything else since the wedding, I think it high time to catch up!  Not having a lot of time on my hands, I’ll simple blitz through the highlights and allow the pictures to tell the stories.

In September, Daddy and Mommy made a trip to the White Mountains.  What a beautiful creation God made!

Star Lakeatop Mt. Madison

 

looking back at Star Lake

 

the telescopeToward the end of the month, we took sunlit mountaina family trip up Mount Megantic.  Many have told us of the beauty of this mountain, but we had never been there ourselves.  The descriptions given us were not exaggerated.  We even had opportunity to tour the observatory at the top of the mountain.  The telescope is enormous!

another view from the top

IMG_4408 IMG_4409September closed with some of us helping to change the roof at the GCH.  We were privileged to work with 89-year-old twin brothers as well as several other wonderful volunteers.  Not only was it a good time of working together, but it was also a time of Christian fellowship on the roof.

kitchen crew October was a busy month as we planned and prepared for a 25th running the food lineanniversary party for some friends.  We were responsible for catering the meal, and as always when we get in the kitchen together, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

celebrating 25 years

In view of potentially keeping a future calf, Evelyn and I have been learning to train the two calves we currently have.  This process has been interesting at times, since neither of us have ever seen anyone train oxen, but slowly we are making progress – to the point of hitching them up and offering slightly unpredictable rides!

 

DSC_3562During the past couple of years, we have had minor water shortages.  This past summer it became evident that something had to be done.  So recently, Daddy called in a well digging team to deepen our well.  It was quite a noisy process and turned out to be much longer than we expected.  We were without water for three days.DSC_3603  When we were finally told that we had water for toilets, we made the mistake of turning on the system too soon and ended up with fine gravel in all our pipes.  Taking apart the toilets and faucets to remove the rocks was very educational!  At this point, we have water for toilets, washing, and bathing, but we still have no drinking water.  We are praying that will come soon!

 

DSC_3611

 

And now that it is December, our thoughts are turning toward Christmas activities such as chalk art.  And of course there is gingerbread house decorating.  But that warrants a post of its own…

The reception

So many activities have kept us busy these past few months, that I have not until now had opportunity to complete the wedding posts.  Here is the final one.  (And I’ll be brief so it really gets published!)

the cakes

the cakes

decorating the cakes

decorating the cakes

Those of us who hurried ahead to the reception had things to do before the arrival of the guests such as milking the cow and putting the flowers on the cakes.

As people began to arrive, we were very grateful that we had erected our big tarpaulin.  It never rained heavily during the reception, but the clouds drizzled from time to time.

socializing

Nana and Grandma & Grandpa

Nana and Grandma & Grandpa

The reception went well.  There were speeches and blessings from the groomsmen and the fathers, and the couples shared songs and Scripture passages too.DSC_2209

reading I Corinthians 13 together singing together

Toward the end of the afternoon, amid cheers from the remaining guests, the couples left in their well decorated cars – one bound for the east coast, the other for the west.

leaving

leaving

There were tears in many eyes as we watched them go.  Life would never be same again.  But even as we sorrowed over our loss, we rejoiced in our gain and took heart in the remembrance that sunset in one place is sunrise in another.  In closing one chapter of life, God opens another.  Though He was, is, and always will be changeless (Jas 1:17), the Christian walk is not a stationary process.