2 Years .... but who's counting??

Just me I suppose!! :)

Hard to believe that two years ago this day we found ourselves making the trek from Chatham to here - from the big, huge, old farmhouse, to our little, small, city house. I can remember it just like yesterday - two week old colicky baby, no sleep, house a disaster for what seemed like forever ... what were we thinking?? But hey, we survived. Two years already ... but then again maybe I should say two years finally!! Just depends on how you look at it I suppose.

To all those out Chatham way... we still miss you!! Not just the big house, with the huge yard in the open pig smelling country, the people too!! :) Those three years went by mighty quickly, as I hope someday I'll be able to say about the 7 1/2 to 8 years here.

Our purpose of coming here was for Rob to study. The last place we wanted to live was right smack in the middle of the city, but here we are. With almost no time to be picky about where we were going to live we chose a place to live and afterwards began to realize how nicely situated we were ... all the necessary shopping conveniences pretty much in our back yard (If we had the yard that we had on the farm, No-Frills would certainly be in our back yard) :) , church only a few minutes away, and then the school moving to pretty much right beside us. Yup, for little choice, we sure found a good place.

It's amazing how we are always able to see the Lord's providence in our lives. Nothing happens without a purpose. The Lord knew that we were going to need to live in the city, near the hospital and doctors. Whenever I get exhausted from the many appointments I remember those long hours spent driving to and from London for pre-natal appointments and wonder how I would ever have survived doing that with James as often as he has appointments and hospitalization. We have adjusted to the city, and certainly see the advantages of living here at this time in our lives. Not to say we don't dream still ... I hear there's an nice, big house with a white picket fence going to be up for rent out in the country :) ... but I won 't go past dreaming, I know my limits ... I'll just look longingly when we drive past it!! :)

Although the extra stress is never welcomed in anyones life, and certainly not for Rob when he is trying to focus on his studies, we can also see the advantages of being a student at the school of the teaching hospital where James ends up with each hospitalization. It comes in handy when he has a break between classes and I have an appointment with James. Rebecca always finds it a treat to go visit daddy at school (she's even managed to sit quietly through a Greek class), and it makes it easier then having to find a babysitter yet again. It also comes in handy that Rob is able to pop in and out to visit us during hospitalizations. The days are long and drag on and it's nice to have someone to talk to or a chance to get out on my own for a few minutes, as well it helps Rob to be more involved in the treatments that are going on with James. I like that much better then the summer when he was working and I didn't know what time I'd see him again (or get my food supplies replenished).

But the last two years haven't been just about doctors and hospitals ... Rob is now proud to say that he is half way through university. He hasn't always been able to focus on his studies as much as he would wish and there never seem to be enough hours in a day for studying, but regardless he's doing relatively well ... for someone who previously wanted nothing to do with going to university. As we expected, the girls quickly adjusted to the new way of life; considering their age when we moved, we didn't think it would be too much of an issue. They enjoy the time we try to take during the spring and summer to discover nature within the city ... visiting parks and waterfalls. They especially love the waterfalls, we try to visit a new one each time as there are so many around here, but we unwittingly made the mistake of visiting the best one first and they always ask to go back there. We were especially impressed this fall when we went back to Chatham for a visit and Rebecca pointed out to us that the beans were ready and needed to be combined ... keep in mind, she was only two when we left the farm. She was also able to pick out the farm when we drove past it ... all those home videos makes a kids memory extra good. When we moved to the city the kids were thrilled to discover that there was such a thing as pools indoors and we enjoyed a years swimming pass which gave them a boost for when they started swimming lessons. Well the last two years have been full and I could be here forever if I kept going ... so I'll stop.

Here's a picture of James playing with his favourite birthday present. We didn't bring it home until Christmas Day as it didn't fit in the van after Santa (the same day we celebrated his birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's). He's been playing with it ever since we got it set up. I knew he would love it since he also loves to play with the one at the hospital when he's allowed out to the playroom.


The girls wanted to help with the cleaning ... they did a pretty good job.













On the note of James. Today he did relatively well. He woke with a fever, we dosed him up with tylenol and ibuprophen and he did well until the evening when his temperature slow rose back in the 38's ... looks like we're not through this yet.

May the Lord bless you and guide you in the new year.

I will end off the year 2006 with:
Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O My soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satifies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's ... For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;" Psalm 103: 1-5; 11