As people have genuinely been asking how the last week (or 3) have been, my mind feels stunted, I cannot remember, and I blurt out "good!" So bare with me as I recount the last bit of life; join along if you would like to know.
1. Easter.
...was good. Being away from family, holidays continue to take on a new flavour, in this new-again city. We spent two of the days of the long weekend with friends. We conquered Lynn Peak, which involved lots of uphill hiking, deep snow at the top and a veeery slippery decent. Good friends of ours also hosted a Sunday night dinner/potluck, complete with roast lamb (Kiwi/Aus tradition), communion and games.
Easter was good. I'm learning how to really recognize the freedom and grace of Jesus dying and rising again. I'm learning how to renounce other kings in my life, and exalt Christ as my King. I am his child. He loves me and I love him. From that identity, I get to serve and live my life in many different areas: marriage, family, friends, work... keeping Christ as my King, who I worship.
2. Starting a little balcony garden.
Even if we can't spend much time on our balcony (it being on a busy, loud, often abrasive transport truck-lovin' street), I still want it to look pretty, which means growing things! I don't even know if I like growing things. But I figured I should try. So I bought seeds and a bag of dirt (yeah... this originally farm girl BOUGHT dirt... er... soil. Ridiculous). I scrounged alleys for discarded planters and pots, found plenty on Craigslist, and even bought one new. I learned what germinate means. Mom taught me to soak sweet pea seeds first. Some plants need to be started indoors (who knew?!). And off we go. Already I have lettuce, daisy and forget-me-nots sprouted! I can not WAIT for sweet peas to start. I planted a LOT. I want an out-of-control, billowing CRAZE of sweat pea pinks, purples, whites and reds growing up the wall!
3. Refinishing our new table.
We got a sweet dining set from Chile... ahem... Craigslist (but originally from Chile) for $200 - 6 chairs and a sturdy table. The table top had water stains and plenty of wear, so we decided to strip and restain it. It now looks AWESOME! Andrew probably invested 10hrs of sanding, and I put in 2 days worth of staining. It took time! But... we thought the stain was going to be the same colour as the chairs... it's not. They are still dauntingly looming on the next-to-refinish list. Andrew already sanded one; it took 3hrs. Only 5 more to go...
4. Work.
April's been busy. I had 4 days off this weekend; I haven't had 2 consecutive days off in a row in 17 days. I KNOW this is too much for me... and so I crashed this weekend. There has been a FUNshop on cooking, a games night, introducing new volunteers to the community, planning volunteer training, farewelling to a team member, coffee with volunteers, babysitting little ones, cooking with the bigger ones, an improntu baseball practice at the park, meeting for lunch over school lunch break and of course dreaming about prom and upcoming high school graduation with some of the girls. I love my job!
5. Andrew's Selection Weekend @ Douglas College
Andrew has applied to Douglas College in Coquitlam (about 40min drive from us) for full time school in the fall! - for Child and Youth Care Counselling. It's a 2 year diploma, and Andrew hopes to go on and get his degree in 2 more years at the same campus. He so enjoyed his position at the youth custody in Kitchener, and feels like he's found his niche, both career and life-calling. He made the first cut, and was invited to a selection weekend in April, where they consider 120 people for the 30 spot program. Ask him - it was intense. He hasn't written an essay in almost a decade. So much group work, writing and sharing opinions and ideas - trying to impress the instructors, but not be over dominant. He has a strong advantage in being an older, mature male with life experience, but man, "We had to talk about feelings the whole weekend." The instructors commented on his maturity and sensitively (to women) (thank you, marriage), and strong leadership skills. It will still be another month before they announce their decisions - so we're really hoping and praying! This will dramatically change life for the next 4 years if he gets accepted!
6. My parents are coming in 17 days!
It will have been 8 months without seeing any of our family face to face. Mom & Dad celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary tomorrow and we're thrilled that they're pairing a week in Vancouver alongside with their celebratory Alaskan cruise. This will be the first time my parents have been out to visit together (they've always come separately) and this is obviously the first time we've been married and living in Vancouver. We can't wait to re-show them all our favourite parts of the city, hike the northshore, drive to Whistler, eat out at yummy restaurants, shop (with mamma), Granville Island, take them to our church, have them to Inner Hope for dinner, spend a night in Seattle with them... but mostly, I can't wait to have them in our home, cook dinner for/with them and of course... finish every day with a game, in true Hill fashion. The best part of living in Ontario last year was being geographically close to family to simply "share life". And we get to do this for 9 days here. We deeply miss our families; May 9th can't come soon enough!!
1. Easter.
...was good. Being away from family, holidays continue to take on a new flavour, in this new-again city. We spent two of the days of the long weekend with friends. We conquered Lynn Peak, which involved lots of uphill hiking, deep snow at the top and a veeery slippery decent. Good friends of ours also hosted a Sunday night dinner/potluck, complete with roast lamb (Kiwi/Aus tradition), communion and games.
Easter was good. I'm learning how to really recognize the freedom and grace of Jesus dying and rising again. I'm learning how to renounce other kings in my life, and exalt Christ as my King. I am his child. He loves me and I love him. From that identity, I get to serve and live my life in many different areas: marriage, family, friends, work... keeping Christ as my King, who I worship.
2. Starting a little balcony garden.
Even if we can't spend much time on our balcony (it being on a busy, loud, often abrasive transport truck-lovin' street), I still want it to look pretty, which means growing things! I don't even know if I like growing things. But I figured I should try. So I bought seeds and a bag of dirt (yeah... this originally farm girl BOUGHT dirt... er... soil. Ridiculous). I scrounged alleys for discarded planters and pots, found plenty on Craigslist, and even bought one new. I learned what germinate means. Mom taught me to soak sweet pea seeds first. Some plants need to be started indoors (who knew?!). And off we go. Already I have lettuce, daisy and forget-me-nots sprouted! I can not WAIT for sweet peas to start. I planted a LOT. I want an out-of-control, billowing CRAZE of sweat pea pinks, purples, whites and reds growing up the wall!
3. Refinishing our new table.
We got a sweet dining set from Chile... ahem... Craigslist (but originally from Chile) for $200 - 6 chairs and a sturdy table. The table top had water stains and plenty of wear, so we decided to strip and restain it. It now looks AWESOME! Andrew probably invested 10hrs of sanding, and I put in 2 days worth of staining. It took time! But... we thought the stain was going to be the same colour as the chairs... it's not. They are still dauntingly looming on the next-to-refinish list. Andrew already sanded one; it took 3hrs. Only 5 more to go...
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| ...complete with dead tulips & crooked frames. You're welcome! |
4. Work.
April's been busy. I had 4 days off this weekend; I haven't had 2 consecutive days off in a row in 17 days. I KNOW this is too much for me... and so I crashed this weekend. There has been a FUNshop on cooking, a games night, introducing new volunteers to the community, planning volunteer training, farewelling to a team member, coffee with volunteers, babysitting little ones, cooking with the bigger ones, an improntu baseball practice at the park, meeting for lunch over school lunch break and of course dreaming about prom and upcoming high school graduation with some of the girls. I love my job!
 |
| Our Inner Hope team (missing Jenny) on Bethany's last staff meeting day at our new local JJ Bean |
5. Andrew's Selection Weekend @ Douglas College
Andrew has applied to Douglas College in Coquitlam (about 40min drive from us) for full time school in the fall! - for Child and Youth Care Counselling. It's a 2 year diploma, and Andrew hopes to go on and get his degree in 2 more years at the same campus. He so enjoyed his position at the youth custody in Kitchener, and feels like he's found his niche, both career and life-calling. He made the first cut, and was invited to a selection weekend in April, where they consider 120 people for the 30 spot program. Ask him - it was intense. He hasn't written an essay in almost a decade. So much group work, writing and sharing opinions and ideas - trying to impress the instructors, but not be over dominant. He has a strong advantage in being an older, mature male with life experience, but man, "We had to talk about feelings the whole weekend." The instructors commented on his maturity and sensitively (to women) (thank you, marriage), and strong leadership skills. It will still be another month before they announce their decisions - so we're really hoping and praying! This will dramatically change life for the next 4 years if he gets accepted!
6. My parents are coming in 17 days!
Uh... You are a total babe in that photo with your parents! Your life sounds exciting right now!
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