By the way...

We did sell our house to a lovely couple from Oakville, ON a week after we left Nova Scotia! Go figure. I guess it was waiting for them since it all went very smoothly and the closing date was February 15th. Thank you to everyone for all their prayers and good wishes over the past year as we waited for the house to sell. We would have gone crazy without everyone's upbeat support!

the long, slow departure

So.......after the decision to move in January, things started moving very fast. We had a very cozy Christmas and made the most of enjoying the calm before the storm and spending time with our friends. Once the new year was upon us we really had to ramp it up and get things moving...literally.

With the help of friends and family from afar we managed to get everything we owned loaded in a very large truck, suitcases packed, and the house ready to show for potential buyers. Walt and Lucas packed up the van with provisions for their cross country tour...5400kms in mid winter.

It was very tough on us to leave and I don't wish that on anyone...we just put one foot in front of the other. Thank goodness for the support from our family when we arrived who understood just how much all our friends in Nova Scotia mean to us and how much we love the Maritimes. And special mention goes to our dear friend Nancy who took care of us the night before we left and bravely sent us on our way.

Walt and Lucas had a fun, safe trip across the country with an overnight stop in Quebec City at the Chateau Frontenac and another overnight in Toronto to view the CN tower and city and spend some time with Karl, Hetty and family. Other than some weather around the lakes near Thunder Bay, ON, they were very fortunate with clear, albeit cold, weather.

lounging at
the Chateau after a tour of the old Quebec...what a cool experience (in more ways than one...it was -20 degrees)




Meanwhile, back in Edmonton, Spencer, Ethan and myself were settling in at my parent's place and trying to get our bearings. The boys started school together on February 1st and, of course, it was a big day with a HUGE change for all of them. I was nervous too. It was very strange to drive down the street where the house I grew up in sits...next to our old neighbors who still live there...on the way to school. Ethan's school has a small assembly every morning and he was greeted by a collective hello!! He is settling in well and likes his teacher and classmates. He told me the other night that he misses Ms. Leslie's evil eye though...it sent the class into giggles :) apparently. Ethan is very outgoing and I wasn't too worried about him fitting into his new school. His classroom is in a building that houses the Kindergarten-Gr 2 classes (see pics). He missed 10 days of school after only being there for 3 days because he had a very nasty virus that took a very long time to recover from and get back on his feet.

Ethan's school's front entrance

Lucas and Spencer are in another building, just next door, that accommodates the grade 3-6 students in one wing and the Junior High students in the other. The school population and building is much smaller than in Fall River so that was the initial adjustment and then, of course, trying to pick up with school work mid year and the most difficult, finding some kids to hang out with at lunch. We have had our good days and bad days but, for the most part, Lucas and Spencer have been working hard and digging deep some days to face the challenges that this move has presented. I am very proud of them. Last night the school had exclusive use of the West Edmonton Mall water park and the kids went with their Uncle Henry and cousins for 3 hours of water park fun! Everyone, except Lucas since he broke his wrist at the beginning of the month during a ski day with the junior high classes....yup, just to make it all a little more exciting.

Below is the entrance to Spencer and Lucas' school which houses the gr 3-6 students in one wing and the junior high grades, 7-9, in the other.

Walt, meanwhile, was in Fall River finishing his work there and staying with our neighbors across the street from 66 High Road. Paul and Celeste were gracious hosts and we are very grateful for their support over the last few weeks while things were so crazy. We hope we can have them over to our new home whenever we are settled over here :)...who knows??? With Walt here just last Wednesday we jumped right into looking at a few houses that were just listed and, on Friday, found our new home! It isn't finalized yet, but barring any major issues that come from a home inspection....things look good. We'll post some pics when we get possession on April 16th.

So...the odyssey is nearly coming to an end. What a year so far. We are slowly feeling like things aren't upside down and are really looking forward to settling into a new home and having Ella back! She has been staying with Walt's brother and being spoiled. Our family here have been a lifesaver and have held us up during some dark days. We have felt the Lord's hand in our lives throughout this too and that gives us peace.

We hope this finds you all well and we hope to be in touch again very soon.

Love,

Walter, Leona, Spencer, Lucas and Ethan

God bless.