Ode to Laura

Laura, Friend
The words are almost synonomous
Ask anyone in our family
They will tell you
Laura defines the word Friend
How, Why,
She is there
She cares
She keeps in touch
She remembers
She listens, and doesn't judge
She is thoughtful
Mention something you like...
It will show up at the next birthday
She keeps track of so many
But each one feels important
She is part of our family
We share our deepest feelings
and thoughts with her
But what is really great is
She shares hers with us!
She can be in your home
but you are just as relaxed
as when she isn't...that's an art!
We feel so inadequate if we measure our friendship
against Laura's
But she accepts our attempts
and doesn't hold our failings against us
Laura, we've shared alot as families and individuals
Thank you for letting us be part of your life
And thank you for being part of ours!
(To prove my point...this was due when we celebrated her birthday in September!)

My Daughter!

I know, I've already written about Amanda
But she's feeling low today
And I wonder how she can be critical of herself.
Just two days ago we celebrated Thanksgiving
In her OWN home!
I am constantly amazed by her!
Two years ago, she came out to Calgary with
her three children and nothing else.
No job, no home, no money, nothing.
Today she has a great job, (still 3 great kids)
and her own home!
Keep on Keeping on Amanda!

Thanksgiving

Its so important
Satan capitalizes on
Our own carelessness
We are continually too busy
We forget
Not remembering to be thankful
Is one of the first steps away
From the One we owe all thanks to
Even the 'bad' stuff
He promises to turn
For our good.
And He cares
He 'keeps all our tears in a bottle'
WOW! Thank You!

Happy Birthday

Yep its their birthday, Imagine David and Erin having the same one. Wow that MUST mean something?????? What a unique couple, how adventurous, how daring, how do they handle 3 kids under 5 on a 24 hour flight to Russia????? Let's remember they are still just like us.They are human, with all that means. In other words, what you and I struggle with, they do too...only more so because they are in a foreign country with no family, long time friends close by, no easy phone call (its 10 hours difference). What does it all mean???? It means they need our support!!!! In everyway we know how to give it. Just because they are out of sight...let them not me out of mind!

Just Thinking

Change
I like it
Look forward to it
Sometimes seek it
But the down side
Is change

It's sad in a way
Part of your life gone
If you're moving
What to throw away
What to keep
What actually means something?

But not to change
To possibly stagnate
To become complacent
Possibly not to grow
That's definitely worse.

Change comes at the hands of others
Probably the hardest to accept
But for God
Circumstances,
next on the list of possible hard to take
Choice, ah that's probably the best and the easiest!

OFF TO THE PHILIPPINES!!!

What? Yes! Our amazing extended interracial family the Inch's and Tuazon's are taking us to the Philippines in December! WOW! We still can't believe it. We get to see where they grew up, their culture, their roots! We are so excited! I think I may even work in the rice paddy...they've promised me a pink straw hat! (just kidding) Thanks you amazing people. And again Andy and I state... they have been the biggest blessing to our lives not the other way around!

Andy's Coffee Truck!

"Want to see my route?" Yep that's the question you'll be asked if you talk to Andy about his new job! Personally I have already seen a huge change in him. All he has to worry about for now is getting up at 5, remembering to change the coffee from the day before and shutting all the doors before driving off. When he come's home we (for now) eargerly await what he HASN'T sold because that is our dinner! I'm sure the novelty will wear off but for now our food budget is VERY low! Of course being Andy he is striving to beat all records for sales. He comes home elated, or deflated depending on just how much he has sold!

We've moved

Everytime we move I wonder why we have so much stuff! Since we will be moving around alot and are still not sure where we will end up, we have found renter's for our downstairs apartement and are, for now, at Sara's place.

REVERSAL

Disbelief, it can't be
Shock stunned silence
Questions
How could it be
Day to night
White to black
Right to wrong
Loyalty to betrayal
Love to cold indifference

Denial
It can be made right

Reality
It won't be made right

Acceptance,deep sorrow, loss,
replaces
Anger, outrage, frustration

We close rank,
try to protect the hurt one
We love, we pray,
But most of all
We Hope,
not in others, not in ourselves
But in Him
Who works all things
together for good
to those who love Him.