Just another day in paradise...

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. I believe that I say that at the end of every couple of weeks. There has been so much goodness though, which means there has been so much God at work in our lives. We went to Saskatoon for Mother's Day. It was a pleasant drive with the kids, absolute miracle. And, although we were there for only a few short days, we had a great visit with Blue's parents, his brother, Dale, and his uncle, Dennis. Family is a precious gift that is often taken for granted.
Last weekend was May long weekend here in Canada, Victoria Day. We decided that we were feeling young and adventurous and packed up the three kids, our dog, a few days worth of food and drove up to the takeoff point for the rafting trips that Blue will be guiding for this summer. Our good friends, Josh and Kelly, met us up there. Although, they were pulling a large trailer. Ok, I admit it, I was a little jealous. I do think, however, that the "five-man" tent that we slept in was a little misadvertised...maybe a three-man? Anyhow, 3 of our people were very small, and Kiska, our lab, was our heater. We had a great time, even waking up to snow the second morning, gotta love the mountains!
And, we made it out for our first, hopefully not last, hike of the year. Johnson Lake is beautiful, and the kids did a great job. I am so rich. God has given me a wonderful husband, and kids, and I am forever grateful.

What can I do?

It has been an amazing week. I called my sister on Monday. It had been nearly a week since we had last talked. The first thing she said was, "Where have you been?"
That is my sister. We usually talk every couple of days. We tell each other everything. We talk about our kids, our homes, our lives. We laugh, we cry. I live twelve hours away from her and miss her every day. She listened to me for over thirty minutes, telling her about my week. Then, my phone died. Arrgghh! Technology, who needs it? Well, at that moment, I did. So, I grabbed my other phone and called her back. This time the first thing she said was, "We sold our house!" "What!!!!!???!!" I yelled so loud, I probably permanently damaged her ears. She probably wanted to tell me quick before my second phone died. However, she managed to tell the story, amidst my whoops of excitement, of how her house sold, and they bought another house within a couple of days. God is so AWESOME!!
We have been praying for her house to sell for over a year. She and Joe live about 20 minutes outside of Rexburg, and believed that God wanted them to be closer to their church and their ministry. Their new house is four miles from the church. They also believed God wanted them to use their home for Him, they often kept missionaries in their house. The house that God has provided has more than enough space for them to house visiting missionaries comfortably. Did I mention that God is AWESOME?!
We sang a song in our worship this last Sunday that I haven't been able to get out of my head all week. I love it when that happens...

When I see the beauty of the sunset's glory
Amazing artistry
across the evening sky
When I feel the mystery of a distant galaxy
It awes and humbles me to be loves by a God so high

What can I do but thank you
What can I do but give my life to you
Hallelujah, hallelujah
What can I do but praise you
Every day make everything I do
A hallelujah, a hallelujah
hallelujah

When I hear the story of a God of mercy
Who shared humanity
and suffered by our side
Of the cross they nailed you to
That could not hold you
Now you're making all things new
By the power of your risen life




God is so good. Another amazing thing happened this week. We have been trying for a few months to make contact with and secure another lease from the landlord who owns the lot that we use for our Ice Cream Bus. We have experienced peaks of frustration that I never thought possible. Today was the deadline for submitting the lease to the Town of Canmore for development. This morning, as my heart began to admit failure, I bowed my knee to the only One who is powerful enough to create a miracle. An hour later, the call came in, they would meet with us this afternoon!
And, this evening, I am staring at our lease for the summer!
"What can I do but thank You, what can I do but give my life to you, Hallelujah, hallelujah! What can I do but praise You. Every day make everything I do a hallelujah, a hallelujah, a hallelujah."

1 in 8

I had the most blessed opportunity to attend the CAUSE Mother's Day Gala this past weekend. It has been said than when you are feeling sorry for yourself, there is always someone in a worse situation. This was one of those events that you walk away from feeling sober, guilty, and thankful all at the same time.
CAUSE Canada is a non-profit Christian organization that battles poverty all over the world, but has a focus in Sierra Leone, Guatemala and the Honduras. This particular event was a fund-raiser for the building of birthing huts for women and children in the country of Sierra Leone. This is a country that sees a staggering death rate among pregnant women of 1 in 8. Unbelievable! Canada has a death rate of 1 in 11,000. I have personally given birth to three children. Every time I found out that I was pregnant, I would experience a rush of emotions, a little fear, lots of excitement. However, it never once crossed my mind that I could die.
The cost of building a birthing hut in Sierra Leone is $3,000. This hut would provide prenatal and postnatal care. It would provide a sanitary birth by experienced midwives. It would give thousands of women hope that they and their newborn may survive.
At the conclusion of the evening, I was overwhelmed with the thought that I am so blessed here in Canada. I was convicted by the fact that I often get so caught up in my own problems, and think of the poor in Africa as something that I can do nothing about. However, God has told us that He has chosen the weak and foolish things of the world, I am sure that He can choose the poor as well.