there and back

Time it was, and what a time it was …

emotional; exhausting; beautiful; home.

A time for love and family and dear friends and too little time …

laughing and remembering and catching up on lives.

Precious hello’s and hard goodbye’s …

there and back again.

Our hearts and feet dragging to leave our land, our people; our heads clear that island living is where we are to be – here and now.

All of it a gift in every way.

May we know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

He is able to far exceed all that we may ask or imagine, according to His power that works within us – that Christ  Jesus may be the glory of the church through all the ages, world without end. (Ephesians 3)

it’s a long way!

Well folks, the tekkies have been washed,

 

the pile of snow jackets for Lesotho is ready.

Now we just have to throw our bathing suits in a bag, and off we are for a month to the Beloved Country!

Better go dig out those bathing suits …

happy new year and a polar bear swim

Well, the day finally arrived and off we went to the beach. Two of us were up for swimming, two had colds and were not in the running, and Boy and Small were banned from the water (frozen small children are not very fun).

 

It was rather a cold day, actually!

 

With a whoop and a cry we set loose (can you spot us?).

 

Aaaargh, get me out of here!

 

My wild child, this is her thing.

 

Time to defrost island-style.

Very, very, very awake. (And happy!)

hello snow

Since we live out here in the ‘tropics’ as far as the rest of Canada is concerned, we don’t see snow that often, and when it does come it doesn’t stick around for long. But when it comes, oh my, there is no school for that day, that’s for sure. It’s time for fun all day outside until they tumble back into the house, chilled and ravenous, leaving pools of melted snow and wet gloves in heaps at the door.

It is then that I especially appreciate JB’s wood chopping and stoking of the stove which leaves a cheery warm orange glow to welcome everybody in.

And for me, these gorgeous white bits floating down so gently and silently from the sky feel like God’s peace itself coming down, covering everything in a hush of beauty; like a balm – I can’t get enough of it!

Maybe we should move north. (HA!)

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

the little house on the hill

A glimpse into our abode for the folks back home …  step inside!

 Lounge …

kitchen …

dining room …

 

Snow outside!

 

Laundry room, bathroom, two bedrooms downstairs (four children, one room – love it).

Love everything about the little house on the hill. Big windows, light, height and air without forest crowding too close, lots of outdoor space to play …  and always sunny on the inside!

view from my window|full circle

Well, the view from my window has come full circle, all the way from early summer back to winter.

I don’t think I will ever tire of witnessing the sweep of the seasons, each beautiful and shouting - Glory!

 

 

 

 

the best autumn

It had been a golden autumn this time round. The best in 150 years, they say.

I felt very loved by my heavenly Father as the beautiful sunny days rolled on.

The truth is, though, even if every day of autumn had been gloomy and dismal, it would have been no less an expression of God’s love. But this autumn reminded me that He loves to give, and He loves to delight, and I am thankful!

Thankful for sunlight and blue skies when I was not expecting them; gearing up for grey!

(Our little house on the hill – been here a year now).