Florida 2011

The Hanson family "needed" to see the beach again so we made the 10 hour trek to SeaGrove, Florida for a week of relaxing and spending time as a family.  We enjoyed the warm water, hearing the waves and walking in sand!  Sure made us miss NZ- heaps :)  We also enjoyed 2 days with "royalty" as we hung out with the KING family- what a joy to be with friends on a holiday.

tubing with Alexis and Rachel

The old guy still has what it takes! 

Ellie got up no problem! 

yes- we really brought these 3 with us:) 

I love this guy! 

The King family with us on the Blackwater river 

sand crab :) 

As we drove south to Florida we went through Tennessee and Alabama - it was a whole new experience to see the south.  Keith stopped at a road side place in Alabama for fresh watermelon, cantaloupes and BOILED peanuts... well we could hardly understand these guys with their southern accent.  Then there was Luverne, Alabama- I'm still trying to find a category in my brain that would begin to describe that town.

The Florida gulf coast beaches were white as I've ever seen- like flour almost.  The sand squeaked under your feet while you walked.    We managed to stay in a quiet area with quiet beaches, but there was a fresh bloom of algae so our swim suits were FULL of green guck after every swim.   We still swam lots!

So all said and done- we are home with a tan and some good memories.  Keith had lots of reading and 2 papers to do while we were away- so reality kept up with us :)  But one cannot complain if you get to go to the beach.

Luke is 9 :)

The young man of the house turned 9 on May 19th!  It was the last day of school and I think that could have been his present alone!  We celebrated with some Kentucky friends and played...  hockey!

summer has come!

With summer finally here the kids are digesting as many books as they can in one day and I am attempting to make most days productive- well a little productive if I can.

The kids finished their second year at Dorothy Sayers and we have them signed up for another year- we are thrilled with their progress and learning at this school.  All kids did very well in their classes and we are so proud of their efforts.  If I said much more then I'd be bragging- but we are really pleased with all they've learned.  I am most thankful for the work ethic and ability to be diligent that DSCS equips the kids with.  There have been many days when I feel more sanctified by the whole process, but with 3 months off- we'll be ready for another fall in September.

Grandma was wondering how tall Ellie would be! 

Luke needed a camel ride :) 

So did the girls!  

Keith's parents came for a week long visit after the kids were done school and Ketih was done his semester.  Is was great to see the kids hugs Grandma and Grandpa.  Their luggage was lost with an icky plane delay, but after that was done with- we could enjoy having them here.  Dad and Keith finished tiling the basement- the men always like a project.  This spring our basement flooded and we ripped out all the carpet- Keith and Dad tiled the basement instead of replacing the carept- looks great.

We went to the Creation Museum in Cincinatti, Louisville Sluggers baseball game, enjoyed introducing mom and dad to Louisville friends and having Grandma cook a yummy Grandma meal!  Time of course went way too fast and before we could blink we were driving them back to the airport to say good bye!  Having family come to visit is a treat!

This past spring has been a tough go for myself.  Somewhere along the way I have been experiencing odd joint swelling symptoms and other blood related problems.  At one point we were not sure if I was to fly home for further medical investigations.  I am so thankful for our level headed Canadian Dr. and my husband.  I am still on the mend a month later and hopefully all this will resolve in time.  Getting old does not help either.  Our care group and some other friends helped cook meals for us and looked after the kids- I am so thankful for their willing service to us!!!!

Our summer will be a busy one with Keith taking 2-3 classes, Keith flying out to go fishing with his dad and 3 brothers, family trip to Florida to sit on the beach, a 2 week trip to Canada (cousin time!!) and some panting projects around the house.  So far my garden is coming along this year and Luke now has an Airsoft gun to shoot at and scare the squirrels who dig up my plants!  It has been HOT- plus 33 celcius everyday for the past 2 weeks.  I am thankful for A/C and fans!

Spring Break 2011- Canada Eh?

We've just returned from Spring Break 2011 and are happy to see our own beds :) We planned a driving holiday to see friends that have moved on from Seminary.... and to get back to Canada. What an awesome and refreshing time with friends in between some long drives to see new country and places.

We drove to Vienna, Ohio to see Jason and Casey Cashell as they have been ministering there for 6 months. It was awesome to play with their cute little boys, sit by the cozy fire, laugh often, eat well, see their church family and hear Jason preach.

As we left there we drove north through Pennsylvania and New York states to get to Niagara Falls CANADA! As we passed into Canada the kids had to sing our national anthem and I sighed relief as we got through the border okay- again.

Niagara Falls was incredible! Of course it has been one of the coldest winters on record so the falls still had snow at the bottom and we FROZE! It tried to snow on several occasions, but we bundled up and carried on.  The rumbling from the falls and the spray from the water was an incredible sensory experience. We drove over to Niagara on the Lake and enjoyed seeing a lake that you cannot see the other side of. We are now much more familiar with the geography of the region and can appreciate the vastness of the great lakes.

After 2 nights in Niagara we traveled

3 hours west to see Melanie and Andrew Hall who are pastoring a church in Ilderton, Ontario. Our kids were so keen to play with their kids- there was a lot of happy reunion sounds when we finally got their their place! We enjoyed seeing their church, watching the Maple syrup process at their friends' farm, hearing the kids make up game after game, holding their sweet little Brita- a new addition since seminary and praying together.

We were so blessed with our times with both families and could see how the Lord is working through their ministries to reach the unsaved, teach the sheep and grow in GRACE. We'll be entering into ministry all too soon-Lord willing- it was good for us to spend time with them and learn.

So we're home and back to the grind. There are only a few weeks of school left and then it will be summer again. The spring in Kentucky is awesome this year and I am thoroughly enjoying all the blossoms in my yard. We are still trying to get the lawn even and green after we removed 2 large trees- it is taking awhile and the drought last year did not help previous efforts. Keith is into the books and deciding what to take over the summer- graduation time is getting closer and closer.

PS- we loved visiting Tim Hortons (yummy coffee and donuts) and Canadian tire (we got more hockey sticks and nets)

PPS We are looking forward to 2 weeks in Creston this summer- will be good to see some cousins and grand parents :)

The OLD GUY is 40 :)

Keith turned the big 4-0 yesterday! He sure doesn't look that old, but there are some days when he feels that old! People over 40 say that this is when life begins... I guess we'll find out :)

We had a small celebration to commemorate Keith's passing into aged-ness with people a whole lot younger than us and we stayed up past 10 pm playing games :)

I am beyond thankful for the man that God placed in my life to be my closest friend and companion! God is knew what he was doing when he placed Keith and I in a life long covenant!

Megan !!

Our baby girl has turned 11 years old this week! She had a wonderful day in Louisville: Breakfast in bed, a tea party and knitting lessons with Mrs. Gentry, lunch date with Mom and Ellie, fabric shopping with Auntie Katie and a fun games party with the Cheek family! What an awesome day for her! It was winter break from school so it was an extra treat to NOT have school work to do!

Keith has been enjoying his semester so far although the work load is much more now that he has Elder responsibilities on top of school and family! I am always so thankful for his kind heart and gentle spirit that loves so many! We are beginning to do Pre-Marital counseling for some young couples in our church as well!

Basketball season has come to an end, but what a great season for both Luke and Ellie. Basketball is the common language here in Kentucky and boy do they all know how to play! BUT - As I type this note Keith and the kids are at the church playing hockey with 15-20 other people... we still have the sticks and nets being used often! AND... I am getting a wee bit of alone time ...( bonus for mom! )

Spring is sprung in Kentucky thankfully! Ellie wore shorts today and I have all sorts of spring bulbs poking up out of the ground! I even have one crocus in bloom! I am hoping to get a proper garden in this year and not have a drought kill everything... we'll see how I do this year.

Life has been good and full these days! The Lord has been so kind to provide us with friends that are like family! Thanks for reading ... send us a note and let us know how you all are doing too :)

Happy New Year 2011

With Christmas and New Years all done I still have the Christmas tree up and no immediate plans to take it down! Even Keith is still okay with the tree in the living room... for now!

We had a wonderful break that went way too fast and was not long enough! I am thankful for the friends we were able to share Christmas day with- the Trebilcos from NZ, the Komatsus from Hawaii and Matt from the USA! We played so many rounds of Dutch Blitz that we could enter a state tournament- if there ever was one- and WIN! If you come to our house and the kids ask you to play- either politely decline or make sure you have practiced in advance!

Luke of course got Lego, Megan got a new power wing scooter (our way of getting her out to play more :) and Ellie a new chair to play her guitar on! Keith's mom gave him and beard trimming kit that he used to shave OFF his goatee.... LOL!!!

Keith made it to the dreaded mall to buy me some shower gel from store that offers many discounts for multiple purchases... poor guy got the to counter with 3 items and was informed that in order to get the deal of the day he needed THREE MORE items... well I got ONE very nice shower gel! I laugh when I think of the difference between men and women! For a girl getting 3 more would be Christmas all over again... for a man- well he would likely rather go to the dentist than shop more!

Hockey has arrived in Kentucky! Keith had a fellow Canadian bring down 12 sticks from Canadian Tire and he has now made 2 nets with PVC! The boys are ready! Our pastor is a Canadian and his boys love hockey- as well as a few other father/ son teams in our church! Let the games begin! A few of us moms have played (and have done very well I might add) , but we gracefully exit the scene once the men are sweaty!! Luke has been outside in the cold with his toque playing every day since the nets were made... awesome!

We are back to the school routine and basketball games galore! Ellie hurt her finger this week, but is on the mend! I love watching the intense Kentucky basketball fans.... very similar to the intense Canadian hockey scene!

Blessings to all in 2011!