Day 9- A refreshing beginning to the week!

So today was a beautiful day in Chilliwack, one of those days where you can see the tops of the mountains for at least part of the day. We woke excited to check out the church that some of our neighbors and new friends are attending. We've been praying that God would make it clear to us which church we are to plug into and quickly because we don't want to waste any time on the periphery but rather start fully participating in the church community as soon as possible.
Well a huge answer to prayer was that today's service totally had us excited as Pastor Ron spoke on some topics that have been near to our hearts recently. He challenged us to be genuine followers of God who portray Christ in their words and conduct. He spoke out of Jude where we are warned about apostasy and false teachers and how if we are not reading God's word and seeking his truth we, as Christians, are susceptible to be deceived. Furthermore, the first book that I saw when walking through the church foyer was "Weird" by Craig Groeschel. Many of you know that Dave and I love to tune into www.lifechurch.tv to hear Craig's sermons. Weird is a recent series that he did that has really convicted us to travel the road less traveled, regardless of how "weird" it may seem to others. If anyone wants to read his book, I suggest asking Kevin and Brenda Sinke to borrow it. I know they have a couple copies. Anyway, long story short... I think we found our church. We're going to continue praying about it and have planned to meet with the lead pastor this week to talk to him and get a better sense of who they are and what they are doing in the community of Chilliwack. It really is insane how many great churches there are in the area and so many friendly people with whom we know we could do life with. Please continue to pray for discernment and unity about where to spend our time.

On a lighter note, we had a really encouraging day. Church was great, the girls did awesome in sunday school, we had a lovely couple over for lunch after church, and we met some more neighbors who are also very involved in our church and have such a passion for many of the same things we do. It was funny actually, we've known they lived kitty corner to us and just haven't had a chance to meet them yet and then we were introduced at church which led to us borrowing their ketchup at lunch today which then led to a great conversation in their backyard while our kids napped. It seems Sarah (our neighbors are Sarah and Chad) and I have a lot more than just our names in common so I am thanking God for her and excited to see all that I will learn from her.

Another praise, is that our little Kara is totally connecting with the kids here. Our neighbors have a sweet little charmer who is just a few months older than Kara, and Nora, the daughter of a Kristy and Graham who I think I've mentioned before, is super sweet with Kara. The two of them played quite independently, having funny conversations while they played with side walk chalk in our back yard. It just warms my heart to know that God has provided friends for Kara. I think there is 10-12 kids that we've met this week that have kids within a year of Kara, many of whom Kara will see at church or at the neighborhood play ground. God is good.

Emily is loving life too. She has mastered the climber even though it was designed to keep little kids off of it (a rock wall). She also enjoys scampering up and down our two flights of stairs that are both soft carpet and split 8 steps at a time, so if she were to fall it wouldn't be devestating on her little brain. Speaking of little brain, pray that she starts talking more.:) She is getting frustrated with not being able to communicate so we are actively practicing and emphasizing words and common phrases with her in hopes that she'll acquire a few more words.

Super cute thing that was said today as we drove into our garage after our Vedder River walk this evening. Emily loudly and happily exclaimed "Yaaaaayyyy" to which Kara responded, "This is our new garage in our new house, I like our new house!"
Oh and when we were driving to the Vedder Trail I looked back at our chatting little ladies to find them smiling at each other and reaching across the seat between them to hold hands. "She is my stister and I love her," announced Kara when I praised them for being nice friends. They held hands all the way to the trail which is a 5 minute drive from our house and a great place to run and walk.

Our new "zooper" double stroller is far easier to maneuver than the double I used in St.Catharines but might not suffice if I am going to be running regularly with the two girls. We'll see what resale is like, in the meantime the girls love their new 'stoller'  :)

While walking the Vedder River trail we met a very friendly man named Pat, who to no surprise was a christian too, it seems everyone we are meeting right now goes to a church in the area. God certainly is providing us with a support network fast! We walked with him for a half hour and never thought to ask him to take a family picture but thankfully two very sweet ladies were more than willing to try and pull a smile out of our girls for the family picture.

So, it is Sunday, we've been in Chilliwack for a week now. We are chatting with tea while Dave plays his guitar (newly tuned and stringed by Dave after Graham showed him and who to Dave's delight is a phenomenal guitar player). Life is peaceful. We did some gardening, lawn cutting and relaxing with friends and our girls today. It was just a really nice Sunday. We are so thankful.

Day 8- Just 2 boxes left to unpack!

What a week! It has been so good to reflect with Dave about all the simple and huge ways that God has blessed us by bringing together all the details of our move out here. Now that we have had one week (crazy how time flies) in Chilliwack it is so easy to see countless ways that God has helped us and answered our prayers. From finding all kinds of furniture, and Chilliwack essentials at great prices, to meeting incredible people who have fed and encouraged us. We have had a busy but very full of blessings week. 

The biggest praise that I have today is that I already feel like this is becoming home. It is so beautiful here and although we haven't seen the mountains much since the weekend (today we came close, just the peaks were hidden), the community itself is so great. Everywhere we go everyone is so friendly. Whether meeting neighbors at the park, talking to bank tellers, or grocery clerks, it has been just one friendly helpful person after another. Moreover, I have met numerous ladies in the past week who have warmly welcomed us to the area, many of whom I hope to run into at church tomorrow as we are checking out a different church in town called Central. Kara will have already met 3 of the little girls that might be in her sunday school class tomorrow as I took her to a mission fundraiser today that had several ladies with their little daughters in tow. I am so thankful that Kara is meeting some friendly little playmates as she has been asking to see her sweet little Sinke friends back in Ontario.  Don't worry Katy, Kara has not forgotten you!

Speaking of Kara, I have to share some of the funny things she's been saying recently.

Earlier today when I was putting all my friends and family pictures up on the fridge Kara exclaimed "Hey that's Josh's mommy. I like him. He's my Josh. He's a REALLY big boy!"
Janet, my little lady hasn't forgotten her Big Josh. Her comment reminded me of a picture I have of Josh and Kara sitting in bumbo's next to eachother when they were babies. She was such a runt and he was such a big guy. It made me smile.

Later when I was trying to get Kara to go to bed she blurted out "I want to get big like Mommy and Daddy. I need to get growed up," to which I replied, "If you want to get big you have to eat your vegetables and drink your milk." So we marched down stairs to get some milk while she chatted away, "I need milk to grow me bigger. What else? I need water, animals, begtables... but NOT my potatoes. I want some juice too, to grow me bigger. I needa get me bigger soon!"

At bed time Kara was talking up a storm like she usually does and Dave told her she needed to stop talking and go to sleep to which she replied, "But Daddy people are sposed to talk!"
It's true I guess, we are always telling Emily that she needs to talk because that's what people do to communicate. Funny kids... they make me smile and laugh more than anything else in the world.

The high light for today and answer to prayer... finally getting Kara's room all set up. We found an awsome deal on Craigs list for a pile of furniture for Kara but had no way of getting it all. God totally took care of that as a couple from the residency program in the year ahead of Dave was heading to the same city with their pick up on the day that we needed to grab it. Then the Nate, Marcelle and the girls came to Chilliwack for the day and so Nate was able to help Dave move all of it into our house! It worked out so well. The highlight though was seeing the sheer delight of Kara when we set it all up complete with a "pokadot" blanket. In short, she has actually been asking to go to bed the last two nights she loves it so much, that and we've been running the girls ragged with visiting the park, meeting people, and running around the back yard or big box stores.

One last highlight... painting the girls toes...lol. Emily was super cute and insisted on being a big girl too so both our girls are going to church tomorrow with pink toes or "ink owes" as Emily calls them. :)

Anyway, I should really get to bed. Pictures are hung, boxes are unpacked, groceries are bought and laundry is all done (it's just strewn all over the floor ready to be folded and put away), and furniture is almost all purchased, just Dave's office desk needs to be picked up. Our house really is starting to feel like home. Dave's been a work horse, totally filling my love tank with my love language of "acts of service", lol. I've even seen him folding laundry today!

Bed calls and rest is needed! Hope everyone is Ontario is doing well. Please don't hesitate to call us, we now have a home line and local cell phone numbers.
Update: many people probably have the numbers by now, so we're going to take them off the website, but if you need them (or our address), just drop us an email :)