Christmas at home

We enjoyed a quiet and blessed Christmas here in our home. Although we missed our families from Ontario we did enjoy fellowship here. It was a pleasure to spend time with the family of God at our church Christmas eve service. The children sang and did recitations from Scripture. It was a blessing to be surrounded by the fellowship of the saints. We were blessed to be invited for Christmas dinner at friends from church. We hope your celebrations were a blessing as well.

The boys enjoyed a variety of gifts (toys, chocolate, books, gift cards...).

Uncle Scott gave the boys these "Music T-shirts" which Aunt Anita forewarned would be loud! Peter is beating on the drums and Gideon is improvising on the electric guitar. They come with a speaker and batteries! Thanks Uncle Scott!


Peter and Gideon with their gift cards from Aunt Joyce. To keep the boys in suspense, since they were expecting a Canada Post parcel....I wrapped the cards in a large moving box hoping to have the boys think it was Lego! Well...initially it was a go until Peter discovered when holding the box that it felt the same size as a moving box! (you know you've moved often when your son recognizes the size of a moving box!)

Peter used his gift card to purchase a digital camera(in his hand) and a small amount of Lego, while Gideon purchase the Fire Station Lego set with two vehicles and has a small balance for a future purchase! Thanks Aunt Joyce!


Knowing that the boys enjoy reading, Uncle Harry and Aunt Janey sent a gift card for the national bookstore. Peter purchased The Red Badge of Courage (Stephen Crane) and one of J.K. Rowling's books. Gideon purchased Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat.


We look forward to enjoying other gifts on our family ski trip in January.

Birthday Celebrations

Excitement was in our house for weeks prior to last Friday's celebration of Gideon's 7th birthday. He received a birthday card at least a week earlier from a dear cousin in Florida, then waited eagerly the week of his birthday stating "I should be getting some mail this week as it is nearing my birthday." Little did he know that the cards were piling up in mommy's closet awaiting the actual birthday. The night before, we set them out on the living room table along with our gifts for him. Early that morning, Gideon was delighted to observe the cards and gifts.

"I've always wanted my very own Bible!" Peter gave Gideon a pottery tea cup he had made at his art class at the local Arts Centre.

Uncle Scott can be assured that Gideon continues to have a love for hockey.
Gideon is happy that he is loosing and gaining teeth as the months go by. We enjoyed part of the afternoon at a local lake.



Swimming, birthday cake and more Lego! An enjoyable time for all.

Kananaskis National Park

Enroute to Lake Louise for a mini-vacation as a result of Albert having a conference to attend there, we were blessed to view God's majesty, power and Creation glory.

"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah55:12)



"The high mountains are for the wild goats" (Psalm 104:18)


"You cause the grass to grow for the livestock" (Psalm 104:14)





We arrived in Lake Louise to this spectacular view of the Lake from our Chateau bedroom window.

Lake Louise

We were blessed with the opportunity to discover and explore Lake Louise and area for three days while Albert enjoyed a conference at the Chateau with members of the Alberta Planning Association.

The lighting was spectacular on the Lake as the sun rose in the morning....




and at noon as the boys enjoyed jumping from rock to rock along the pathway beside Lake Louise.....








Strolling at dusk along the Lake was an incredibly beautiful experience of the majesty of God's creation.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty...The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them" (Psalm 104:1,8)

Monday - Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park boasts towering rock walls, spectacular waterfalls and 28 peaks over 3000 metres in height - it's no wonder that the word "Yoho" is a Cree expression of awe! The park was established in 1886 as another national gem along the Canadian Pacific Railway.





We viewed the entry and exit portals of a railway engineering marvel. The Spiral Tunnels, completed in 1909, reduced the original railway grade of 4.5% (the steepest of any in North America) to a grade of 2.2%. The boys are enjoyed the exhibits showing how the tunnels work and produced their own sketches.

Kicking Horse Pass - click on this picture of the plaque and read about the usual reason for the Pass being named "Kicking Horse Pass".




"Meeting of the Waters" along Yoho Valley Road near Field. There is a marked contrast in the colour of these two merging rivers. The milky colouration of the Yoho River is caused by glacial silt from nearby glaciers. Glacial silt in the Kicking Horse River has settled out in a series of upstream lakes leaving clearer water.

The boys enjoyed the majestic rocks and the beauty of the setting. We sang "Land of the Silver Birch" as a means to ward off any bears in this remote location, while sketching the majestic beauty of the mountains, river and trees.




We head into the town of Field and enjoyed some warm hot chocolate and a mocha latte -yummy and warm!