Where we hang our hats and welcome our friends:

Where we Hang our hats and Welcome our friends:
8011 Plaxco Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37421

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

It wasn't on our Bucket List

  College room-mates in Michigan couldn't get us to do it 36 years ago, friends at work and church in Wisconsin couldn't convince us 27 years ago, and more friends in Rockford, Illinois 25 years ago were unable to make us switch from water-skis to snow skis.

  But...when in Canada....

  We were invited this past Sunday to join a family from Amazing Grace Community Church who were taking their kids skiing.  A couple of their kids had never been before - so they would be learning for the first time.
   
   And so would we!  

   There was a bit of apprehension as we actually tried on the ski boots and were fitted for skis, helmets and poles.  We paid for our rentals and loaded them into the truck - we were committed.

   Below are a few of the photos from this epic adventure for Howard and I - we call it our 35th year anniversary challenge - as we went white-water rafting in our 25 anniversary year.
(Howard says that sky-diving is on the agenda for the 45th year...not for me)

You can just see the mountains through the snow as we get close to our destination.
Proof! (plus something for the scrapbook album)
It was snowing most of the day - but it wasn't cold or windy, thank goodness.
The sun tried to peek out around noon, but is was just a glow in the sky.
Two pairs of socks...at the end of the day our knees and ankles
felt just like they did when we took our kids
ice skating in Lakeland, Florida many years ago.  
Lodge view with the snow coming down.
And we are off!
Howard and the two boys heading off into the
white wilderness - Kynan and Dustin were pros.

Looking like I know what I'm doing...not.
On to the beginners hill - which was all Howard and I could manage.
We took a peek at the next size hill and decided we valued
our bones more than the adventure -
 we couldn't get the hang of stopping very well.
On our way to check out the next level of skiing after we hadn't fallen down
for about a half-an hour.
Snow selfie!
This was more work than falling and getting up again.

Instead of warming up in the lodge - we cooled down after working up a sweat.

I can do this...
 And just in case you thought we didn't actually move on the skis...



Ellis and Shanika after a full day!

Nadine and Faith the snow-board queens.

Lunch and skiing challenges happened at this table. 
On the way home we stopped at Lundbreck Falls to see them in the winter:

December view above - August view below.


An iconic peaceful photo to leave you wanting to come visit us
here in Lethbridge in the winter!



 

Thursday, December 24, 2015

The Celebrations of Christmas!



In early December the Amazing Kids program finished up our quarter of studying
how we Belong to the family of God - All of the kids who memorized the verse

 signed their names to our poster and received a prize.
What follows is a sampling of the season - in no particular order,
we have been celebrating and singing,
eating and visiting, and sharing the good news of Jesus.


And lest you think it's all fun and games...we are getting snow every few days,

 enough to make the white truck filthy. 
We even acquired our first windshield chips on a drive down
Montana we made last week to mail your Christmas Cards.


Read all the way to the end to hear about two young ladies
who asked Jesus into their hearts this week.
The last Monday of every month we have Family Dinners with our Amazing Kids families,
and the tables are always covered with paper and crayons are provided - I am
always impressed with the art work that shows up!


Some of our Amazing Kids families enjoying our Christmas meal.

Jasmine and her daughter Zakyra who attends our Amazing Kids program 
loved being an angel in our Christmas story.

One of our First Nations families who really appreciate what we do for their children.
Doing Christmas Crafts with the kids.

Yes, there was a chocolate fountain and much messiness ensued!
Opening their gifts - we purchase a special book for each child
that attends Amazing Kids - for some, it will be the first Bible they will
ever receive. For others it will be another book about Jesus and his love.
We received an email after the party from one mother who stated
"we aren't even Christians, but my daughter has been 
reading her Bible every night since the party. Thank You so much"


It is a blessing to get to know the parents of the kids
we hang out with on Monday afternoons!

The Amazing Grace Church family had a Christmas Dinner
with Carols and Gifts and Laughter.
We were served by youth from the church who are raising funds
 for a trip for their French class.
Our bass-brothers practicing for Christmas Choir - Danny and Rohan.
Howard found some "grand-kids" to play with during the meal.
It's not Christmas without celebrating with kids and cake!

This is my good friend Holly from the Lighthouse Church, we did
not plan to wear the same clothes last week - but it definitely warranted a photo!

Making snowmen with kids on the reserve during the Kids Party.
    On the Saturday before Christmas, I was teaching Sunday School to the children who attend Lighthouse Church. When the sermon begins, the kids and I head out to do a Bible lesson, make crafts, play games, sing songs, and play games.
    This week, I read them the Christmas story from a great book which gets all the facts of the story correct - even adding Anna, Simeon and the Wise Men at the correct times in Jesus life. We then made necklaces with beads that told the story of Jesus life - anyone who has had me for a teacher knows the ones I mean. 
    As we were making them, I shared with two of the young ladies the meaning of the beads - how our sins keep us from going near to God and Jesus came at Christmas with the purpose to die on the cross for us. We then made hearts which said "For God so Loved______________" and they placed their names on the heart.  I asked the girls if they understood what this means and they had a few questions, but yes - they did understand.  I then asked if they wanted to invite Jesus to come into their hearts this Christmas.
    On December 19th, 2015 - Astrid Three Persons and Kobe Small Eyes invited Jesus into their hearts. We celebrated afterwards by sharing with the rest of the congregation at Lighthouse Church.  Their parents and grandparents were there to pray over them.

The Joys of Christmas Celebrations when we remember the Reason for the Season.


 (Again, apologies for some of the blurry photos. If someone could give me a recommendation for a camera that fits in your pocket that takes clear photos quickly - I would really appreciate it!)

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

A Christmas Drama for you!

   We decided to get in the spirit of the season and be adventurous and corral 20 wiggling children to act out the story of Jesus arrival on earth the first time.
    It was quite a bit of preparation ahead of time and then, 30 minutes of mass chaos, mixed with laughter and the children correcting me when I left out parts of the story - but it was so worth it!
    (apologies for photo quality - catching moving children with small camera is tricky)
    Here is what we enjoyed on Monday afternoon with our Amazing Kids:

In those days:


The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and Joseph and told them
they were going to have a baby and they should call him Jesus
because he is going to save the world from sin.


Mary and Joseph were surprised, but Ok, so they got married.
Then Caesar Augustus made a decree - but Caesar didn't want to dress in her costume - so we moved on...
Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem to be counted
 so Caesar could get his tax money.
The local Inn Keeper told them there was no room at her inn.
The Inn Keeper told them she had a "foostable" out back they
could stay in until the baby was born.
Out in the field there were some shepherd sleeping, and snoring -
you should have been there to
hear the noise they made as they got into character.

The angels told the shepherd that the Savior had been born in Bethlehem
and showed them the way to go.


Wise Men from the east saw the star which told about a new King.
They came to King Herod to ask about the new baby and bring him gift.
They were told to go to Bethlehem.

So they found Mary and Joseph and the baby and gave them their
gifts and worshiped the new King.
When Herod found out the wise men didn't come back to
tell him where the baby was living, he sent soldiers to kill all baby boys
under the age of 2 - Herod wanted to be the only king!


Joseph gathered Mary and Jesus and their gifts and fled to Egypt until it was safe.
Our group of actors and actresses celebrating the completion of our play!



Sometimes it's the simple pleasures and costumes that are the most fun!

The kids are really excited to perform this play live for their parents at the Amazing Kids Christmas family dinner next Monday.

 I am excited to share the good news of a Savior who came to our messed up world to bring HOPE!