Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, I am " At the Well " today with hostess, Tracy of Thirsty for Him discussing the very timely topic of Keeping Christ in Christmas. I grew up in a Christian home where we had a Christmas tree, decorations, turkey and visits to Santa at the mall. We also exchanged gifts with the immediate family but never on Christmas Day, usually the Saturday before Christmas Day. I don't recall any traditions but we always went to church on Christmas morning and as kids we knew why Christmas was celebrated. In my young family to date we have two tradition: ~ new pyjamas, which was started by my husbands family when he was growing up; and ~ a family photo by the tree. Between my husband and I we discussed how we want our daughter to celebrate Christmas as she gets older. Unlike some Christians, we will celebrate Christmas. If I understand correctly, some Christians do not celebrate because many traditions e.g. tree and Santa, are rooted in pagan beliefs and there is no biblica...

Dear Diary, Yesterday we had a really nice Thanksgiving lunch with Merlin and Janet Moore. We (Colin) cooked and they brought a delicious pumpkin pie for dessert. I could eat pumpkin pie all year long! This was Colin's first Thanksgiving ever since it is not celebrated in the UK and I think he enjoyed himself, even if it just meant getting a couple days off work. Nothing exciting has happened lately but we did finally get the van registered in Colorado. Out with the Ontario license plates and in with the Colorado plates. We went a few weeks ago to the DMV to get it done but we didn't get the right forms completed by Border Control when we crossed over in October. We had to go to a Border Services office near Denver airport for a VIN check and complete the importing forms. No hassle, no fee, no fuss ~ just the way I like it. Anyways, back to the DMV on Friday morning at 7:45 and we were out of there by 8 a.m. Now we have to work on our drivers licenses. I'm dreading this ...

Dear Diary, ... he leaves comments like this on our blog: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heather dear, I just wanted to let you know that I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts about us over the last few weeks. As you know I love you more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow.. And I also want to say 'Hi' to all the wives out there that are giving Heather the ideas to blog even better.. Colin.. (Heather's other half) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's comforting to know that he'll always stand by me... Thank you Colin (but you made me cry when I read it!!!)

Dear Diary, It's that time of the week again, Thankful Thursday hosted by Iris of "Grace Alone" (I know it's Wednesday but Thursday in some parts of the world!) . As I mentioned in my previous post, next week is Thanksgiving and so I (and maybe others) tend to think a little bit more why we are thankful at this time of year. This week there is no particular theme to TT which is good because it's time to be thankful for the everyday aspects of life. In particular, I'm thankful .... 1. ..... we have a warm, cozy home. The winter cold is coming and I take it for granted that we have a roof over our heads but there are others in the world who live in mud shacks, cardboard boxes or nothing at all. Or in the alternative, what about the thoughts of wanting a bigger house, a bigger garage, etc.? Am I truly being thankful for what has been given to me? 2. ..... that we are able to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner next Thursday. What about those people living in countrie...

Dear Diary, Today I'm in a rambling sort of mood. Things just come to mind and I think to myself that maybe I should blog about it. Bare with me, this is a long post of stuff floating through my brain. First an update, we didn't sell our house Larne . This is not the economy to make a lot of money, if any, from the sale of a house but what she offered us was a negative equity offer. We are going to have it listed again today or tomorrow and we pray that we have an offer well under way before January 5 when the tenants move out. There are " if's " right now running through our head ~ if we sold last year at this time our profit margin would've been MUCH more than we're lucky to get now ~ but selling and moving wasn't part of the plan last year so there is no sense beating ourselves up. Right now, we'll be happy just to get it sold and pay off our mortgage in order to move on. We'll have to start all over again but that's OK, we can do it, we...

Dear Diary, Our beautiful girl is 9 months old! It's been exciting and so much fun watching her grow and learn new things. Just yesterday in the church nursery she started to pull herself up on furniture AND she went from the crawling position to the sitting position. The look on her face said it all. So cute, I just wish I had a photo to capture the moment! For now though, these will have to do. Her hair is really starting to fill out and it is a lovely shade of brown. I wonder if it is similar to my natural hair colour? A very typical pose these days, smiling! These two photos are taken in her bedroom. Her nightlight was the inspiration for her room colour scheme. We can't paint the walls but we tried to use the purple, yellow, pink and green as much as possible. It's also nice that her name is four-letters, one letter per colour! She is a joy in our lives and God has been good to us, she is our greatest blessing! 'Til next time, Heather, Colin & Isla

Dear Diary, Today is At the Well Monday, a meme hosted by Chelsey of Joyfully Living for His Glory . The topic today is Marriage. Colin and I have been married about 2.5 years (August 28, 2006) so we don't have a ton of experience but both of us have examples of good marriages in our families. However even though we are newly married (not newlyweds, that's only the first year) we have had our share of trying times and many happy times as well. We have learned what it means to be a husband and wife to each other. We are not perfect, nobody is, but we are doing best to be each others (2nd) best friend by following the biblical teachings of marriage. The topic questions this week that I will be addressing from my perspective are as follows: What does commitment in marriage mean? What kind of wife are we called to be to our husbands? What are ways that we can Biblically stand for our marriage? I read somewhere that Christian marriages tend to be "better", that is, they re...

Dear Diary, Just a bit of Saturday night fun... I've highlighted and italized all events that I've completed in my 34 years.... 1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland/world 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls ...

Dear Diary, Look at the view from our balcony this morning. Isn't it pretty? Sadly, most of it was gone by lunch. Oh well, maybe next time it will stay a bit longer.

Dear Diary, I joined the group of ladies who give thanks every Thursday because I don't want to wait until Thanksgiving each year to give thanks. This weeks theme is life. In my life give thanks everyday for: 1. Colin and Isla and the joy and love they bring everyday into our family life. 2. for knowing that I am heard each time I pray and never being alone in both my earthly and spiritual life.

Dear Diary, We've had an exciting few days. OK, maybe not extraordinarily exciting but more exciting than usual. First off, a bit of bad news. On Saturday we learned that our tenants in our house in Larne are leaving in 60 days. That is a big concern because as of January we will be responsible for rent here in Colorado and our mortgage on the house. That is alot of financial responsibility and we are quite anxious to either rent it out again or preferrably sell it. Which leads me to the second bit of news. On Tuesday morning we received an email from our agent in Larne that one of the tenants wants to buy the house but the offer was VERY low. We know the housing market is less than stellar at the moment but honestly, the offer was almost insulting. We counter offered back but at this moment we have yet to hear back. I'm assuming it's not good news but I am trying to remain optimistic and patient. Please pray for me, patience does not come easily! The plan at the ...

Dear Diary, Happy Birthday George! We wish you God's continued blessings throughout the next year and in years to come. Love from us, Heather, Colin & Isla George is my oldest, much older, bro. I'm not such a good little sister 'cause last night all of a sudden it came to me, it's his birthday tomorrow! Sorry, no time to put a card in the mail but maybe I'll give you a call tonight and hope you're not on the road (he's away from home alot and has a very patient and loving wife, Loretta, for putting up with it!!).

Dear Diary, Just a gentle reminder that if you have submitted your email address to receive updates to our blog, you have to activate your request before receiving the notice. If I understand the process correctly, an email should've been sent to your email address with a link. Click on the link and take it from there. Chances are you don't have the email anymore in your inbox, right? Well, no problem, just enter your email address in the box to the right and start the process over again. Also, feel free to leave us comments by clicking on the "comments" section at the bottom of each post. Don't feel obligated to leave something for every post, but if you feel the notion to do so, don't be shy, we love to read them. Isn't technology exciting?

Dear Diary, In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae , MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing,fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. The Canadian War Monument, Vimy Ridge, France I had the honour to visit this piece of Canada in France in 1999 and it was a truly moving and humbling experience. We live so many years after the Great War that it tends to just become history, something that happened in the past. However, once you see the row upon row of graves, names, ages of those who died, it becomes real. Those who say free...

Dear Diary, Two posts in one day, go figure but yet here I am. This morning after church we had the monthly fellowship meal followed by the second service before arriving home mid-afternoon. We fed Isla and hoped she would go back to sleep but no success until 25 minutes ago so here I am, dinner eaten, baby sleeping and I have free time to blog. First an update on our furry girls. When we drove back to Denver, we took them with us. Pearl was good but Dixie, well, let's just say she is not a travelling type of cat. At mom and dad's they were able to go outside most of the day if they wanted too but here they can't and they're both getting bored. My poor girls sit on the door mat leading outside and just look at me to let them out. As a consolation we let them on the balcony now again throughout the day and while we can trust Pearl not to jump we can't with Dixie, she is a bit more daring. Being on the third floor doesn't mean she won't try to jump and I certa...

Dear Diary, After my last post wherein I was "bragging" how Isla doesn't wake up once we put her down, she's been doing exactly that for the last two nights. Thankfully, not during the night, just the evening before she gets into a deep sleep. A funny little story about this... The other night Colin went to bed at about 10 p.m. as he was tired. I stayed up until 11ish and then as usual before I went to bed I checked on Isla. She had her head wiggled right in the corner of her crib but I didn't want to move her as she wasn't in danger of suffocating herself and she would only wake up if I did move her. I started to walk away from her crib and then I hear a wail. She was inconsolable! I tried rubbing her tummy, picking her up and even singing the "Isla, Isla" song. Nothing was working. Of course all this noise woke up Colin as our room is right across the hall. He comes in her room and does nothing, not even speaking. Isla saw him, smiled a...

Dear Diary, The ski resorts in Vail, Aspen, Copper Mountain and others opened today for the new ski season but we didn't go skiing, instead we spent the day driving through the mountains looking at the snow from the comfort and heat of the van. The first snow storm of the season came earlier this week so there was still some nice white stuff further into the mountains. Denver, unfortunately, is snow free albeit the temperature is noticeably falling. The drive along I-70 is lovely and relaxing. It travels right through the valleys and the ruins of old silver and gold mines dot the mountain sides in the little towns of Idaho Springs and Georgetown. Georgetown was our first stop, again. We made a previous visit on July 4th when it was about 100 degrees warmer! Today the lake was frozen over although I don't think the ice was very thick so no ice skating or games of shinny. After a break we travelled through the Eisenhower Tunnel where it was like another world from ...

Dear Diary, We've been back in Colorado now for nearly two weeks and we're slowly getting settled and back into a regular routine. The boxes are nearly all unpacked (just waiting to buy a bit more furniture) and I'm working on decorating Isla's room. Since we rent we can't paint the walls so I'm adding bits of colour through wall hangings and her bedding. It's coming along and I'll take a photo maybe next week if I get it done. No snow yet in our area in fact just the opposite, the weather has been amazingly beautiful for this time of year. Today is November 1 and it was 75 degrees! We've trying to make the most of it by spending time outside when we can because I'm sure it'll be a long winter in the apartment. Last Saturday we visited Andersons's Farm and Corn Maze in Erie, Colorado with our church family from Park Hill OPC . The corn maze is huge ~ check out the link! We strolled through the maze and made it to about 6 of the 13 check ...