april fools

              April Fools is BIG at our home and has become one of our most favourite times.
Weeks before the big day arrives, the anticipation is already high. I am a lover of practical jokes; I come by it honestly. My mom's side of the family could write the most hilarious book on all of the practical jokes that they have played.
When Adam and I got married, it quickly became apparent that he was the only one on the receiving end because I no longer had sisters living with me to bug. What always got me was that when Adam had the perfect opportunities to get me back; he never did. He told me that his brain wasn't wired to do mean things to other people. I, on the other hand, was constantly looking for opportunities to get him.
Adam was glad when we started having kids, and he wasn't sole recipient of my jokes any more.
From the time the boys were small, we played April fools jokes on them.
It started with sneaking into their room at night and wrapping their bunk bed with streamers so that when they woke up in the morning, they couldn't get out of their beds. The only bad thing with that joke was that I was nervous that they would have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
I made jello and stuck straws in their drinks so that when they tried to suck the juice it was solid.
 We put food colouring in their cereal so that when they poured their milk, it turned into a different colour.

Two years I googled "jokes to play on your husband." One joke caught my eye and I knew it had "Adam" written all over it.
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We have our own business and there are times when customers call our home phone line and I take a message and email it to Adam. On April fools, I emailed Adam this message:
"Hi Dear, hope your day is going well.
 A man named Mr. Lyon called and he wants you to give him a call back. He says that it is urgent. His number is 1-416-.....and the rest of the number was the telephone number to the TORONTO ZOO.
Adam called the number and a man with a strong accent answered. Adam kind of ignored the man's rumbling and asked to speak to Mr. Lyon. The man started to answer Adam, but again Adam couldn't understand him.
 Adam said to him, "I don't think that you understand sir. I am trying to speak to Mr. LYON and MR. LYON said that it was urgent. I NEED to speak to him."
The man on the other end replied, "You have called the TORONTO ZOO! Someone has played an April Fools joke on you." CLICK.
Adam quickly caught on and burst out laughing!

BOOKS

Every season, the members of our church library committee take turns writing a newsletter highlighting the various books that are available in the library.

This is the newsletter that I put together in the Fall - the theme is World War II stories

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Can God be at work in the evils of war? Read these true stories from the turbulent years of the World Wars that tell of the saving power of the Gospel and the men and women who answered God’s call to obedience

 

“War and Grace: Short Biographies from the World Wars” by Don Stephens. This book captures God’s amazing providence during the world wars in 13 short stories. Read about the Japanese fighter pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbour and who later became a Christian; the German pastor who was prepared to suffer imprisonment and death for the sake of his faith; the American airman who was converted while a prisoner of the Japanese and who later returned to Japan as a missionary; and of the Jewish girl who came to know Christ as her Saviour while hiding from the Nazis.

 

“One Woman Against the Reich” Helmut Ziefle writes about the true story of his mother Maria’s struggle to raise her children free from the hate-filled grip of the Nazi regime. It is a powerful portrayal of the courage and determination of a Christian parent to remain obedient to God in spite of the enticements and assaults of a hostile culture.

 

Anita, a young Jewish girl was abandoned by her German father when World War II began. She spent her teenage years desperately fighting for survival yet learning to trust in the One she discovered who would not leave her. How this Jewish girl discovers the Messiah’s faithfulness in the midst of the Holocaust is something that you will want to read about in “Trapped in Hitler’s Hell” by Anita Dittman.

 

“Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II” by Darlene Deibler Rose                Read this awe-inspiring story of God’s care for a young American missionary, Darlene Rose. She miraculously survived four years in a notorious Japanese prison camp set deep in the jungles of New Guinea. This book is a confirmation of the faithfulness of God.

 

“Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Eric Metaxas. A small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. Bonhoeffer, a humble German pastor was one of these men. As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, tried to exterminate the Jews of Europe, and caused many to leave their churches, Bonhoeffer tried to stop the rapidly growing Nazi movement and in the end paid for it with his life.

 

“The Last Jew in Rotterdam” Again you can see God’s gracious hand as He worked through various circumstances and a young Jewish man became converted through the witnessing of his Dutch friends.

from the homefront - February

We have had many friends and family over for skating and it has been great.
You can see the kids improve each time they are out on the ice.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caleb has such alert, bright blue eyes. It almost feels like he is ready to talk and tell us a story. We already know what his first sentence is going to be...."Tyler! NO!"

 

 

My sister Renee held Caleb for his baptism

 

Our Pastor was a minister at our church when I was a baby and he baptized me. After ministering in various churches, he returned to our church almost 12 years ago and baptized the rest of our boys. I think that this is a very special picture.

 

 

Oma and Opa
 

Great grandpa and grandma
 

Grandmpa and Grandpa
 

You can pick your friends but you can't pick your cousins!

There were so many captions to write about this picture - if you can come up with some doozies please share them!

house decorating

How do you know how much time, energy, and money should be spent on decorating your home? This can be a struggle especially with decorating blogs, pinterest, face book, and so many do-it-yourself websites easily available. These websites offer wonderful ideas and can save money, but when used too much they can also become big time-wasters, and make you disastisfied with your home.
Just like everything else in life, I think that balance is the key. Your home should be a place where people feel comfortable, kids can play in, but yet pleasing to the eye.
 Sharon James wrote the following about Elizabeth Prentiss, a very Godly woman who lived in the mid 1800s. Prentiss was the author of "Stepping Heavenward" a must read book.

"Women often asked Elizabeth whether it was 'worldly' to devote time to making a home beautiful. Elizabeth was convinced that God made a beautiful world, and that He gifts people with creativity. He is glorified when human beings make their surroundlings clean, attractive and pleasant. She would sometimes joke about her mosses and branches being her 'idols', but in reality she believed that enjoying the creation and giving God thanks for it brings glory to the Creator. She did not believe that costly extravagance was justified: the many decorations found in her house actually cost very little in monetary terms, though a good deal in time and effort. Moreover, much of her time was employed in making gifts for friends and relatives, and she believed that giving others pleasure in this way also brought glory to God. She loved to welcome visitors and her hospitality was legendary.
One greatful guest wrote:
What a delightful home she made! The 'good cheer' she furnished for the minds, hearts, and bodies of her guests was something remarkable. I shall never forget my visits. I always went away full of the marvels of the visit, as well as loaded down with many little tokens of her kindness and thoughtfulness."

I was encouraged when I read this about Elizabeth Prentiss. It is not wrong to enjoy going to garage sales, thrift stores or spend time changing your furniture around to make your home attractive. God loves beauty too! But God also loves it when we have meaningful conversations, enourage, show kindness and graciousness to those who visit our home.