Learning - A Series....part 1

As we were driving home from our first Christmas Adventure, I was contemplating the year we have had. It has been a year of unexpected turns,enduring hardships & many crazy occurrences. We have embraced a summer of camping, selling of our build, buying a beautiful home, new friends, new community and new opportunities. We have seen God's hand at work as He has prepared the way for us, gently guiding, comforting, and providing. And we have become closer as as family as we have responded to his voice and leading both in ministry and adoption. So at the end of 2012, I can honestly say it has all been worth it. God is good and He is faithful. Riley had felt from the very beginning of this journey (back in 2011) that he felt this would be from " strength to strength" and it has.
So to close 2012, I wanted to share with you 5 things that I have learned through this year. Each one will be a different post as there is too much to share in just one. So grab a tea, fins a comfy chair and join me as I share What God has been up to in my life.

FIRST THING I HAVE LEARNED 

Taking risks is way better than not. 

 Let me first say, that this is my husband's natural state and for this I am Very thankful. God has graciously allowed me to grow into risk taking, and this year was no exception. I have to say that the decision and the time leading up to the decision to move our family to another city, province and join another ministry was a huge risk for me. 
On paper, the pros far outweighed the cons for staying. And I fought it tooth and nail for a good 6 weeks. But the moment Riley share with me that he had received the call, I knew. That still small voice ( AKA the Holy Spirit) that said it was time to risk. To make a move. And when we made the decision and took the risk we leaned hard into God's faithfulness and provision. There were numerous things that happened that we kept asking why ( vehicles stolen, emergency surgery, failed offers on our home, etc.) but we kept going. And it was worth it. I know without a doubt that this is where God wants us for this time. 

I also learned the value of taking a risk with our adoption. As you know from previous posts, we are in the midst of another adoption of a sibling group (2-3 kids). When we first prayed about this possibility in August, I was unsure as that is a lot of additional people in the family! But again, that still small voice kept nudging me...against my doubts of finances, the 'stigma' of being a large family, how I could have enough time for that many children, and many more....We knew it was more than us just wanting this but that another call had been placed upon our lives. And taking the risk was a great move. We have so much support from our social worker & our new community, both of which were unknowns when we decided to go for it. and now, as we await 2013, we look forward to hopefully knowing and meeting the children that God has for our family.

Taking a risk & responding to God's call has given me new perspective and allowed me to be reminded of my priorities. Following hard after God (even when it is seemingly the toughest thing ever) is far more life giving than living in relative comfort and perceived contentment. I have learned more about God, myself, my marriage and my children through stepping into the risk and I am forever grateful for it. Hopefully it will prove to also be a reminder in the future as well!!! 

 Blessings,
Candra

It's Christmastime...

Christmas holidays have arrived & our kids are beside themselves with excitement. This year, we are with Riley's family for the beginning of the holidays and my family is coming to our new home in for New Years. I was joking with my dad that will have to have our first fire in our woodstove with his help ( our friends have been bugging us about doing this!). Christmas this year has had a completely different feel.
About a 2 1/2 weeks ago, Riley sustained a bad injury to his knee and continues to be on crutches. It is likely that he will need surgery but first we have to wait for an MRI (3+months). This development has led to me doing most of the driving, packing and packing up and unloading the van, all household chores etc. But it has also given me a new appreciation for all that my amazing husband does for me and for our family! I sure hope he is walking in the New Year.
Secondly, Riley's new job has given us a different rhythm and pace around the holidays. The students have been gone since the 14th and we ended the semester with a great staff party! The last week was full of Christmas concerts and hanging out with friends- it has been good. As we were heading out of town for the holidays, Riley and I both remarked that we already missed our home. That is a good sign that we have begun to put down roots in our new community, and for that we are truly thankful.
This Christmas also has a different feel as we continue to wait for our child(ren) from Ethiopia. Through advent, we began to learn a few phrases in Amharic along with our devotions. The kids continue to pray regularly for them ( as do we!) and are excited to welcome them home. Although we do not yet know who and how many, they are truly part of our family...we continue to pray hard for all the pieces to fall into place - for our home study to be approved in a quick timeline, for provincial approval letter to be signed and for our dossier to make its way overseas!!! God is so good and we thank and praise home for this incredible opportunity to expand out family-we continue to trust Him for all the practical aspects to be worked out as well!

So Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of a King and reflect on His glory and grace!!!

Blessings,
Candra

A Quick Hi

Just wanted to pop by and give you all a quick update of our life...it has been a little bit hectic!

- Riley, last week had a knee injury playing basketball and likely re-tore his ACL. He had ACL recontsruction done in 2005. So he is on crutches for some of the holidays - hoping to be at least walking by Januaury...

- Riley also finished his first semester as Dean of Students at CLBI - it has been good and affirming. We know that at this time in our lives we are supposed to be here!

- Had 5 Christmas concerts in the last week! It was awesome and crazy busy but I did manage to videotape everyone of them for the grandparents and aunties and uncles!!

- We had our 7th annual christmas party and along with donations from our Saskatoon friends we raised 500 dollars for an organization out of Haiti! So much food and fun with 65 people in the house...

-we are healthy for Christmas. All of us had the flu in December but are all recovered - hope this is the last of it!

-AND...all of our necessary dossier documents have been sent to our agency - and they made it!! Woohoo!!! Our homestudy will be sent to the province tomorrow for approval (can take up to 6 weeks...ughh). We are praying for a much speedier approval and hope for February to get all of our paperwork to Ethiopia! We are so excited to have our children home and looking forward to the year and seeing what it brings....

I am sure there are many more things but that has been some of the highlights! Have a blessed Christmas....

Blessings from a couple in love and kids who are old enough to to say "yuck"!!

Candra