December 2024-March 2025 Reflections

 It’s been a while since our last update and much has happened since the year began. So, friends and family, here are our:

December 2024-March 2025 Reflections:

December was a month filled with anticipation as we enjoyed teaching Melody about the truth of Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins, exchanging Christmas cards with our new church family, and starting new traditions (including an immersive Nativity experience put on by a local church). We were grateful to be able to return to the homeland and spend a few weeks visiting both our Winnipeg and Ontario families.

We spent much of our January outdoors hiking, biking and enjoying the cooler “winter” temperatures of North California.

In our time here we have enjoyed harvesting fruit from many different trees including persimmons, avocadoes, pomegranates, figs, Irish strawberries, oranges. But by far one of most treasured experiences so far has been waking up in the morning and picking fresh tangerines from the tree for breakfast or a quick snack! We still often ask ourselves “what is this life we live!?”

Towards the end of the month, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease (a genetic autoimmune disease which is triggered through exposure to gluten). This diagnosis has truly been an answer to prayer as I have had health struggles without knowing the cause since Melody was born.

In February we welcomed my sister Reynia for a 6 week visit which included trips North to San Franscisco, South to Monterey, and East for a weekend trip to Yosemite. I am so thankful for the special time we could spend with her going to thrift stores, Trader Joe’s, coffee shops, hiking, and gymnastics with Melody. She blessed Caleb and I with weekly date nights while she was here and spent many hours reading to Melody, taking her to the park, and sneaking her treats when Mommy and Daddy weren’t looking. We all miss her and Melody still asks often to pray and thank God for her Auntie “Ra-Ra”.

March was a breathless month filled with hosting many guests from across Canada and new friends from California and traveling back to Winnipeg for the annual MACHS (homeschooling) Conference where I get to work for my Mom and her company The Learning House. Melody enjoyed “cousin camp” with her Grandparents and Caleb got to celebrate his birthday with his brother by going to a Rend Collective concert.

Overall, God continues to be faithful in providing for our needs in this season. We are so thankful for a church family who loves to worship, fellowship, and celebrate the many good things that God has given us (like pie on Pi day).

In this season, please join us in praying for:

- REST. After such a busy season of traveling and hosting we are looking forward to having some quality family time this spring, becoming more involved in our church, and getting back into our regular weekly rhythms.

- Continued INTEGRATION into our new home/community. Although it sometimes feels like we are just on vacation, after returning from our last trip to Canada we all felt a sense of peace and familiarity returning to our new home.