Some Random Photos

No More Posts for a While

It is now one week until we leave for New Zealand. We arrive in Wellington on Saturday morning March 8th. Please pray for the children and I as we travel. My back has been pretty good lately but is always sore when I sit for too long which is unavoidable on a long flight. Also pray for us as we are separated from Mark for about 9 weeks. He joins us on May 10th. There will be no more posts for a while and limited posts from New Zealand as my family do not have fast internet. We are really excited to be travelling home in time for Leanne and Chris' wedding on the 16th.

Rachel's Haircut

Rachel has been growing her hair for some time to donate it to 'Locks for Love'. This is an organisation that makes wigs for cancer patients. She had a foot cut off yesterday. Here are the photos:

The 'before' photo.

Half gone, half to go!

The new haircut

Joel's 10th Birthday

Joel had a few friends over for a birthday dinner and movie. Race, his old friend from Village Manor and Drew, a new friend from basketball. Race was also in the same team which was neat.
Joel had a great day even though his traditional breakfast with Dad was cancelled due to the ice storm.

Playing 'Pass the Parcel' which is an unknown game here in America.

Joel LOVED his cake!

Ice Storm

The weather continues to be cold. We recently experienced our first ice storm. It rained ice and everything just froze. Again everything closed and everyone was sent home early to get off the roads before they too became a sheet of ice.

New Glasses for Joel

We learned recently that Joel is short sighted and needs glasses. He thinks they are cool and that they make him the only smart one in the family.

Lunar Eclipse

Last night we braved -7 degree weather to watch the lunar eclipse. We were wrapped up in as many blankets we could find and Rachel and Chelsea brought us hot chocolates. Notice Rachel still wears t-shirts even in the coldest of weather!

A borrowed photo of last nights eclipse.

Tania's Birthday

Ok so all the photos of my birthday are of food. The children, with Bens help, brought Mark and I breakfast in bed. Yum. Then Mark and I went shopping and he surprised me with a hair appointment. My first cut by a hair dresser in 1 and a half years. Nice. We then went out for lunch (more food). Chelsea prepared a wonderful dinner and even a birthday cake! All this to say that I was terribly spoilt!

Our yummy breakfast. Waffles with blueberries, a fruit smoothy, homemade strawberry sauce, fruit salad and of course, coffee.

Chelsea and I with the lovely meal that she cooked.

The yummy cake that the girls and Chelsea made for me and the new haircut.

A Homeschool Snow Day?

While other states experience snow all winter Louisville is not very well prepared for it. Everything closes and everyone is encouraged to stay off the roads. Seminary and all the schools were cancelled, Chelsea didn't have to go in to work until lunch time and some shops are even closed. Even though our children can make it to school safely (not having to leave the house) we decided to have a 'Snow Day'. Mark and Ben took the three youngest to the park for a sled and the rest of us sat in front of the fire with a hot drink and a book. The snow was nice but the freezing rain which followed was a little cold.

The stables where Anna-Marie works

The B.B.Q

This is a video of Mark and the kids driving through the seminary to go sledding.

Rachel's Basketball Video

Upward Basketball

Rachel and Joel have been playing basketball in a church league called Upward. It has been great for them. It is really well organised and the coaching has been good for them also. Both of their teams are doing really well. This is a video of Joel playing. Joel is wearing white shorts and a gold top. He gets a goal right at the beginning of the video.

Ben and Chelsea

This is the wonderful couple that we have moved in with. The transition has gone really smoothly and we have enjoyed sharing a home. They are very patient, caring people who love the Lord. What a blessing they are to our family.

Tornado Season?

The middle of winter is not normally tornado season as the weather is not usually warm enough to produce the right kind of conditions. But not this winter. Last Tuesday evening we were hit by a storm and lost power for several hours. I had a drive to pick up Rachel and Joel from basketball practice with tree branches falling all around me. Several houses were destroyed by uprooted trees and many homes were without power for days. The weather then returned to its normal cold state.

Last night (Tuesday again) the weather had become unseasonably warm and a storm was on its way. Basketball was cancelled this time and we were told to listen out for the tornado sirens. The storm hit around midnight with very loud thunder and lots of lightning. The sirens sounded so all eight of us went to the basement to seek shelter.The only problem - the back of our basement is ground level! The winds didn't seem that bad but this storm caused 44 deaths over 4 states, 7 deaths in Kentucky and lots of damage.

I don't think I will ever get use to the threat of tornadoes.