February Fun

The longer I work at this school the more I love it.

This was what the staffroom looked like on one cold February day.

When you've got teachers that show up looking like this...

who get their students to run around giving out notes and flowers like this...

and there are groups of kids in the lobby looking like this..

Then you're glad you got up and braved the cold morning.

Because who could resist teaching a small, very sweet lion to read??  

Celebrating life, every single day.

Flowers, cards, kids, costumes, friends and love...

The mercies of God hunt me down,

His love pours out of heaven into my heart and splashes all around.

I was profoundly grateful to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the day my life was preserved on the 13th of this month.

I was profoundly grateful to take my kids out for supper on family day.

Profoundly grateful for a friend that would think to send me a card like this for Valentine's Day.

Every good and perfect gift comes from above... from the Father of Heavenly Lights.

He is my Great and Awesome Creator

He is Love 

And 

He Is Amazing...

Latte Perfection

While at work this morning I was dreaming of coming home and having a latte.  I arrived late after purposely sleeping in a bit and I was feeling VERY sluggish as I worked with my students. It was pretty much slow-motion-commotion but the kids didn't seem to notice and I was very pleased with myself for managing four students in my lethargic state.

The thing is, I tried a new sleeping pill last night, plus I took something for a headache at six a.m., so there was definitely some interference to work through.  I was tempted to make a coffee in the staff room to perk myself up, but a lingering memory of the last latte that Patrice made for me convinced me that it was worth holding on till I got home.  And my restraint paid off.

Every sip of this drink was absolute perfection.  Not only did it look exquisite with the latte art and beautifully chosen mug, but it tasted heavenly. It was made with some rather expensive beans that I bought for Patrice at Christmas and the steamed milk was like liquid velvet.  Maybe I'm still under some drug induced euphoria, but I just want to say that my daughter is over-the-top amazing as a Barista.

This day was also made a whole lot better when I saw my shiny red CLEAN car waiting for me out in the parking lot.  This has been such a long winter resulting in a thick layer of gritty sand and dirt covering my vehicle.  Last night I finally attempted a car wash even though my wheelchair and lift were on the roof.  I have been hesitant to do this since I am nervous about wrecking the lift, but my need for cleanliness prevailed and after shoving a plastic bag into the opening of the lift we happily watched as the giant scrubbies and bubbles engulfed our filthy vehicle.  We shot out of there looking very shiny and red and feeling like a million bucks.  My wheelchair also looked a lot better as it had also collected a layer of dust from the winter months of exposure.

It's the little things.
Somehow they actually pack a pretty big punch in the scheme of life.

EinKorn Adventures

Patrice found a place that sells organic grain near Armstrong so we packed Oma and Tante Hilda in the backseat and zoomed off to enjoy the day together.

It was such a treat for me to have Patrice do the driving so that I could take in the scenery, snap pictures and enjoy the sweet company.

The day was perfect.

Blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

Pure bliss.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a clear picture of Oyama where the two lakes meet up.  I tried sticking the camera out of the window to get a good shot but the cold wind almost blew the camera out of my hand.

So this is the best I could do.

Such an amazing place we get to live!

The area around Armstrong is a farming community.  Big fields covered with snow, resting... waiting for the coming Spring.

We wove our way through the country roads until we came to this cute little place.

The destination was well worth the long drive and Patrice loaded up the trunk with bags of Red Fife and other grains.

I'm so amazed with where this "healing journey" has taken my dear daughter.

Learning about creation care and going back to the "ancient ways" of managing the earth and thereby obtaining food that is natural and healthy...

The cost is greater but well worth the investment.

I pray this movement will gain ever more momentum and that Christians will be the ones to spearhead these endeavours since we were initially commissioned by our Creator way back to look after this beautiful world. 

Tante Hilda and I were excited to find that they sold honey so we each came home with a big pail of yumminess.

And what a treat it is to get home again.

The puppies are full of welcome and love.

My bed awaits and my heart sings a happy song. 

Still Steeped in Snow

Thank goodness there is somehow more space on my computer so I can post pictures of this gorgeous winter wonderland.

Here are a few snapshots of recent days.

As you can see we are steeped in snow.

Extreme, cold, breathtaking beauty surrounds us.

We're just all tucked in under a blanket of winter that is not wanting to end.

Patrice has been doing an online math course which requires hours of focused brain power.  

When she's not studying she is often making delicious food items for our happy consumption. 

This here below is a cashew, coconut cream blueberry tart.

...

I know, right?  

My weekday mornings look something like this, repeated about 5 or 6 times with the sweetest kids imaginable.

They are learning to read.

Except for one little guy. 

He's kind of stuck but I have a feeling there are other issues at play so I'm figuring we'll take a break until something is sorted out in his life.

We've also been having ongoing excitement and fun with Lana and Blue Birdie.

She is being very brave in this picture.  For some reason Birdie seems to love tormenting her.

He frequently swoops down over her and lands on her head.

We are LOVING having Lana here with us for this winter season.

This morning I picked up Oma and then Tante Hilda who had to navigate a rather slushy roadside to get into the car and we zoomed off to enjoy a little burger and hot drink at the icy lakeside. 

We even had to open the windows to get some fresh air as it was three degrees ABOVE ZERO!! 

Apparently this is the snowiest winter on record in 70 years.

It's been really lovely and I've had loads of grace to deal with it!  

God keeps surprising and blessing me in so very many ways. 

Deep in Snow

Apparently we haven't had this much snow in February for 70 years or something like that.  

It's just so very pretty

Backlog

I'm sad to report that I am once again dealing with a FULL startup disc on my laptop meaning I am unable to import any new pictures from my camera.
My laptop likes to remind me of this almost every time I turn it on.  (UPDATE: issues resolved and photos have been inserted to illustrate some of the story here.  For instance... check out the lovely snowy scenes above and below!)

Therefore I have a substantial backlog of photos and accompanying stories that are going to disappear from my own personal "story disc" if I don't deal with this soon.

Sorting out computer stuff is not my strength and it plays into my fear of losing data.  I have a huge hard drive that I think I have backed everything onto, but I'm not completely sure so I'm hesitant to permanently delete things.

This also highlights my procrastination issues.
I sometimes wonder if this is because doing stuff is more complicated for me. It entails hauling my body and the wheelchair in and out of the car, AND in some cases making phone-calls which I detest.

Anyways, until I sort this issue out here's the past few weeks in a nutshell.

January was cold and cozy.

Friendly dinners have been shared around our candlelit table.

Mornings find me zooming across the frozen white countryside under blue skies, heading back and forth to school where sweet students work hard at reading while battling an ongoing assortment of sniffles, coughs and sicknesses.

I am amazed and grateful that I have managed to avoid succumbing to the constant barrage of germs that surround me.

I continue to absolutely LOVE the precious kids and noble colleagues I get to work with, even when I arrive at school to these mountains of snow!

'

Thankfully the parking lot is plowed and I have easy access. Look at my faithful, dirt encrusted little Mazda waiting patiently for my return. 

I've taken my Mom and Auntie on a couple of little adventures to break up this long boring winter for them - a trip to the Spaghetti Factory proved to be a delicious and well appreciated culinary diversion. Such fine dining companions...

Patrice and I took a lovely drive up to Dee Lake this past weekend where we felt transported into some kind of a surreal, Narnia-type landscape.

Enticing, yes?

Icy...

And, enchanting...

Dreaming of owning or renting a little cabin on a lake like this somewhere ...someday, maybe.  

I have made far too many trips to a certain drive through which is offering my favourite small mocha drink  for a mere loonie.  The excitement this generates seems a little bit ridiculous, but then, it's winter and a special hot drink on a cold day is a big deal in my little world.


All in all it's been a lovely winter so far.
Pictures will be forthcoming and meanwhile I feel very accomplished for having made it to February.
Spring is just around the corner...

**Newsflash**  I have begun to catch up - managed to download a few pictures and there is now a January post covering a new addition to our family... go check it out!