So, it's been a very long while since we posted anything. Being home in Canada for the last 5 months hasn't been much of a vacation. We've spent a lot of time on the road, visiting supporters, both in churches and in homes. Our travels took us from Medicine Hat in the south, to Leader, Sask. in the east, to Fort Nelson, B.C. in the northwest. We've tried to connect with friends and family, but this has proven a little more difficult as our speaking engagements kept us busy on most weekends, when everyone else is home.
Furlough has been interesting. We haven't had as much down time as we hoped, despite staying a month longer than planned. Maybe its been the rush of Christmas, but I feel as tired now as when I first came home. I'm hoping that somewhere in the New Year we can have a week to just relax, but I don't see that happening right away. Such is life!!!
Christmas was busy, busy. We went to Red Deer, where we have a daughter and her family, as well as Tim's sister and her family. We were joined by our younger daughter and a friend, our son and his soon-to-be wife, Tim's cousin and his niece with her family. All in all, it was great to see everyone, and we enjoyed several games of Scrabble, Phase 10 and, of course, crokinole! It was neat to see all the cousins interacting as adults, when for so many years, they were just the "kids".
Next Saturday sees us boarding a plane once again for the trip south. Two years ago, we made the same trip, laden down with ten bags containing the things we needed to begin life in Guatemala. Now we are travelling much lighter, and considering which of the 'things' we took we still need. Some will be coming home with a team that is coming down in February, others will be disposed of. It's really amazing how much you really don't need. I find that housework here is so much harder becasue of all the 'stuff' we have, and look forward to downsizing even more when we return in June for Adam and Laurie's wedding.
Speaking of home, some of you may be wondering... We did have our house for sale, but absolutely nothing was moving at any price this year, so we still have it. Adam has consented to staying here until the wedding, which gives us a bit of a reprieve with what to do with the stuff. We did get rid of an amazing amount of stuff in August, but I was really wondering what to do with my quilts and fabric, as they don't do well in an unheated space, which is all we had for storage.
Well, we'll try to get this blog a little more current in the New Year. Thanks for all the good wishes we've had from all of you, the gifts we've been given and the love everyone has shown. It all means more than you know. Thank you too, for all the prayer that has gone up on our behalf. It has made all the difference!
Blessings,
Sheila