Family Adventure: In the Backyard

In the middle of January we had a family "adventure" in our backyard. Although it was freezing cold, was a beautiful clear night with multitudes of stars filling the sky so we decided to go outside and enjoy it by having a campfire.
We brought out the Lowen's old washing machine barrel, and hunted down the ancient lawn chairs which were stored away (we usually don't use them in the middle of January...). Unfortunately we only had little marshmallows so Mom walked down with Shasta (the dog) to go pick up supplies at the corner store, and the boys lit the fire.
So we all sat around our washing machine basin campfire and roasted marshmallows while admiring the stars.

Roasting marshmallows.

Contrary to popular belief it is perfectly normal to roast marshmallows in the middle of winter. One advantage to having a campfire in the middle of winter is that it gets dark so much earlier so you can feel like you are staying up really late, when in fact; you are going to bed earlier.
It was great family time and although it was freezing cold and the chair legs sank into the soggy soil from all the melted snow, it was a very enjoyable evening.

As we gazed at the stars it is amazing to think that those are the same stars that will appear over the African sky. People all around the world can look up into the starry sky and admire God's creation.

Dad, Little John and Big Bro around the fire.

Little John would collect leaves from the forest and throw them in the fire to achieve leaping flames. He enjoys playing around the campfire in the summer on camping trips, and campfires in winter are no exception.

It was an enjoyable adventure and hopefully there will be many more to come!

Donations

If you are interested in supporting us through donations, we would be really grateful. Donations can be made through Samaritans Purse Canada and will receive a tax receipt.

When donating please use the code 008170 (and name if you know us), so the donations will go directly towards our account.

There are a number of different donating options, including: donate online go to the Samaritan's Purse website, donate by telephone call 1-800-663-6500, or mail your donations to Samaritan's Purse Canada,
20 Hopewell Way NE
Calgary, AB
T3J 5H5.

Just ensure you have our name on the memo line or an accompanying note with our name and/or account number on it.

Another option for donations is to support Tenwek Hospital directly. For more information visit the Tenwek webpage.

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If you have any questions about donations, or if you just want to send us a note, you can contact us by e-mail grandfamilyadventures@gmail.com!

Thanks for your support!

Em

Christmas Family Photo

On Christmas day we were able to take some beautiful family photos in the snow. Aside from the family photos taken at Christmas time, the last time we had a family photo of all of us together was in August, and previous to that December 2007! It has been good to update our albums. We took many pictures over Christmas, but wanted to share with you some of the best.

The whole family: Dad, Mom, Em, Big Bro & Little John.

I was also able to capture some nice photos of Mom and Dad.

Looking out our window right now, it is hard to believe the pictures were just taken a few weeks ago. The snow around here has rapidly melted and the grass is green again (and very muddy). There are a few piles left of sanded snow, but there is no hint left of the winter wonderland that visited us at Christmas. At least we have beautiful pictures and memories of the snow while it lasted...

Why Kenya?

How did we decide on going to Kenya? It was not an immediate decision but a decision that was made over a period of time. We wanted to do missions. We wanted to go to Africa. We wanted somewhere where we could communicate in English. We wrote that our preference was Kenya, and when we discovered that that would be our destination we were very excited!

With a physician in the family we were excited for the opportunity to work in a mission hospital. World Medical Missions, which is a branch of Samaritans Purse, is the organization who we have been working through and who have placed us at the Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. Tenwek hospital has 300 beds and an outpatient clinic, it is full of many people who need love and care and will keep us very busy. It is one of the largest mission hospitals in Africa and my Dad and I are excited to be able to serve there!

Although we don't know entirely what we will be doing, and won't really know until we get there, here are some of the possibilities:

• Orphanages: there are a number of orphanages in the area where we will be staying that are an 1 hr walk away.
  
• Schools: there are also a number of schools in the area where we may be helping out.
  
• Community Work: the hospital sends teams out into some of the surrounding areas to provide care for people.
  
• Hospital: Dad and Em will be working in the hospital, Dad as a family physician and Em providing whatever assistance is needed.
  

Those are just some rough ideas…if you want to know specifics you will have to follow the blog and see what we are up to when we get there!

New Year

We had a wonderful Christmas full of lots of family and fun.

There were lots of fun adventures, including sledding in the snow, boarding, playing tag on the ice, swimming at the hot springs, rolling in the snow, skating, and taking lots of pictures to record all our fun memories! I have really enjoyed documenting all our adventures with my new camera; I have a wonderful family who are able to put up with my camera always in their face :-).

Em on New Years Eve with Friends

Little John trecking up the hill for another sled ride

Big Bro after sledding

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In this New Year of 2009 we are not entirely sure what God has planned, but we know we will be stretched in many new ways and experience many new adventures. Kenya is the major event of the year so far, but I am sure there will be many other adventures along the way!

Preparations for our trip are continuing to get underway as we work out forms, flights and finances, and all the little details. There is a lot of preparation that needs to be done, and we are praying that it will all fall into place.

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I am working on finishing the last leg left of school…2 weeks and 2 exams left!

Big Bro and Little John are working really hard on their school work (mostly) so they can get their year done before we leave.

Dad is working hard and getting all caught up on his work.

Mom is busy working on getting everything in order around the house.

April is not that far away and we are realizing all the many things that need to be accomplished between now and then, which can be extremely overwhelming, but we know that things will start to fall into place soon.

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Happy 2009!

Em :-D