It's Christmas morning in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Quite a contrast to the setting we were in last year, but on the other hand, it has all the essential elements to make it a cozy morning...each other. We know that this is a difficult time of year for some of our dear friends, and we hold you in our hearts and prayers.
This year has been such a NUTTY year for all of us and challenged us to stretch ourselves in places we didn't know we could stretch! After settling into our new home at 27 Pineridge Crescent in St. Albert, AB, we continued the work of finding a new doctor, dentist, hairdresser etc. and getting to know some of our neighbours, school and church community. It has been a welcoming experience and we feel blessed by all the support we received from our family and friends...on both ends of the country. They nudged us when we were weary and celebrated with us when things were good.
Walt has been busy with his One Handy Guy Improvements and Renovations business, almost since his feet hit the ground. Much to the boys delight, he bought a big truck and this Christmas he strung lights on the rack. I know, really classy, but we try not to take ourselves too seriously :) Leona has been doing her usual HR job with her family and once the boys started school in September, painted the entire main floor. It has been a slow process to unpack and get things organized and hang pictures on the walls and we spend a fair amount of time out and about, involved in one thing or another.
Spencer is in grade 10 and enjoying the more independent structure at the high school. The school is very active in community service and the students participate with Boys and Girls Club of Canada and also have to contribute 75 hours of community service over each year. Spencer is volunteering some extracurricular service hours at a wonderful organization in Edmonton called, Dogs with Wings. They train dogs, almost from birth, to become service dogs for people with mild to severe disabilities and Spencer is a "puppy cuddler". His role is to help socialize the puppies, play with them and take them out for their potty time and walk. It is a perfect fit!
Lucas is in grade 8 and having a good year. He tried out for the Volleyball team and made the team so we have been busy driving him to and from events and cheering on the sidelines as their Jr team won the City Championships....a gold medal for the boys. He just made the Sr basketball team before Christmas and we hope a recent snowboarding wrist injury doesn't make too much of a dent for him in the season. Lucas is ready for a part time job to save up for a Mac Book, but in the meantime we're just telling him to enjoy his childhood :)
Ethan is in grade 3 and his recent report card reflects a very curious, engaged student that does well and gets along with his peers. We just discovered that he needs glasses, so he's just getting used to that experience. The highlight of the year so far has been a trip to an Oilers hockey game where he got a chance to see the warm up and talk to some of the players. Don't ask me who...Taylor Hall??? Anybody know him??? He's also involved in basketball on Saturdays and taking piano lessons to keep him well-rounded.
And the year has slipped by...almost an entire year since we moved...we shake our heads in disbelief. But, no regrets, just some waves of homesickness for our dear friends in NS and the beautiful Maritimes. It has been a real joy to be re-discovering our family here and also the beauty of the praires and mountains. The cold weather has been a little bit of a shock and Spencer wore his winter coat, inside and out, for an entire week during our first "cold snap". That takes a bit of getting used to!
And the greatest gift, which prompts me to write this greeting, is what God gave us with birth of his Son, the grace to make mistakes and experience the unconditional acceptance and love of our Creator. May you all have a Blessed Christmas and New Year and we hope to see some of you during the course of 2011.
Walt, Leona, Spencer, Lucas, Ethan and Ella, she misses Fletcher :(
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