Still looking for a church to call home

We did not make it to church today. I guess we just weren't sure were we wanted to go to next. We have visited two chruches that we have seen. Today we were just too pooped to get up early enough to figure out were to next. I did get to do some more research and I have found a few more churches for us to visit, but we are in no hurry. God has been so good to us in this move. We have complete assurance that the Lord will lead us to the perfect church home for us.

There has been a few times when I have been out by myself and have felt lonely. Especailly when you see friends having lunch or a cup of coffee together. Then I began to long for some friendly conversation. Or when I have been out walking and thought "it would be great to have a friend to do this with." I begin to feel a pain from within because I miss all of my wonderful friends back home. But then I am reminded of who my God is and what he has promised me and my family. He has promised us a life-giving community to fit into. He promises to lead us to like-hearted, like-visioned, like-spirited others. His blessing is for us to be part of a family of ministy where we can enjoy our greatest fulfillment as we fit with other people who are finding their fulfillment in God's purpose, just as we are, and each of us is doing what God has designed us to do. I do not want to fill that place with my fleshly desires. So I choose to wait on my Lord and his perfect timing, becuase I know he wants what is best for us. I won't settle for anything less.

We are in our 3rd day of a spring snow storm, with a forcast of 2 more days. We have over a foot of snow outside, with winds that can cut right through anything that is not protected. It really only hurts any exposed skin. You would think people would just stay inside. Wrong! Not here. So we bundled up and headed out to University Hill yesterday to do some sledding. It was a blast. You really don't even fell the cold in the beginning. There is just to much fun to be had. What I like about sledding on fresh snow is that it doesn't matter how fast you go or how hard you crash, it doesn't hurt on the soft snow. What you really have to watch out for is your glove coming off and your hand going in the snow. Now that is painful. Or after a few trips up that hill your legs start hurting. For every 20 second ride down the hill you have a good 10minute walk back up the hill. After and hour of that the 10 minute walks turn into 15 to 20 minute walks because you are just so exhausted.

I was so proud of Sydney. In the beginning she was a bit scared of going too fast. So we did half the hill for a while, which was still pretty big. Then she decided to take on the entire hill all on her own. She carried her sled (normally it was me or Bryan) all the way to the top. Her ride down was well worth her effort. She loved it.I had my first day hike scheduled for last Thursday. I am very sad to say that I got lost on my way there and missed it. I arrived 20 minutes late. You know how much I hate to be late. Once I got over my disappointment I decided to go out on my own for a little while. Why not? I was all packed up for it. I had my lunch, rain gear, water and my gps. I was good to go, just me and God. Yes, I was a little scared beding by myself, so I did not go into the heavily wooded areas and stuck to mostly grasslands. I was at Sandy Cross Conservation Area. The main thing I was scared of was animals. It turned out to be a great day. The weather was beautiful (the day before the snow storm hit), windy but sunny. I was out in the open with a beautiful view of mountains at times. There were rolling hills which give a great workout. I stayed for 2 hours and then headed home.I just hope the next one is not to far away.

I love you all and look forwarded to hearing from you all as well. I would love for you to let me know how you are and what is going on in your life through the comments.

Be blessed my friends!
Ali

Surprise spring snow

What happened yesterday.......

They keep talking about spring showers and I have yet to see one. Every time they say it will rain it has actually snowed. The kids and I joke by saying they don't know the difference between snow and rain. Weather reports have been forcasting a warm up this weekend. Now I am sure that our warm and their warm up are completely different things...I'm sure? But the really funny thing was yesterday's weather. Not one weather report forcasted yesterdays weather correct. Not one!

Now, before I tell you about the weather I want to explain to you my plans for yesterday. Thursday was my first organized Urban Hike. I was very excited about hiking through a coulee here in Calgary. Well, when I came down the stairs ready to bring the kids to school I caught a glimps through the window. It was snowing. Not just a little, but alot. It was the most we have seen since we have been here. A lot on the ground and still falling. I got Brock and Sydney to school ok, but then had to decide what I would do about my hike. I was a little intimadated by the snow, but then figured why not. It is going to happen sooner or later. I even got lost on my way there because everything look so different in white, and this was in my neighborhood. Oh sorry, it is a community. It turned out to be the most beautiful thing ever. Fresh snow on the groung and covering all the trees. Again it was all breathtaking, except when the snow was hitting me in the eyes and I couldn't see anything (mental note....wear sunglasses).

But that wasn't all. On the radio they talked about the surprise snowfall no one knew was coming and the horrific traffic it caused. They said, " If you don't have to get on the road, then don't. This will wash away with the afternoon rain coming." I heard that all morning. That rain never came. The snow stopped falling around 11:00 and started to look pretty. At 2:30 as I picked up Brock and Sydney from school the clouds moved in. As usual they were playing on the play ground for a bit before we go home. That is when it started to fall...no not rain, no not snow, but ice. Those little bitty pieces of ice can really hurt. We realized that this stuff looked just like dippin dots. We watched dippin dots and snow fall all afternoon AND evening. I don't really have a problem with the snow. What was so fasinating to me is that they had no idea it would happen.

This morning the basic report was "Oops!"

I thought you would enjoy watching a few videos of us playing in the snow. I chose to only go half way up the hill before sledding down, but is was still fun.

Sydney makes a great snow angel!!!!!!

We are still having a lot of fun, though things are settling down. Bryan is out of town this week, or should I say out of the country. He is in Tulsa and will be home on Friday. Actually it has been kind of nice. Since we still only have one car we have to get up early every morning to bring him to the train station and then pick him up in the evening. Evening time is the hard part. I can't really start dinner until after we get him. We all know how much I hate that (yeah right). The car is scheduled to be picked up on Friday. I am not sure how long that will take.

I went hiking yesterday at Nosehill Environmental Park. Those hills can ware you out. At the same time, it is just so beautiful at an elevation of 4000 feet. You feel like you can reach up and touch the sky. I could see all across the city while there was deer running around less the 100 yards away. I can't believe I didn't bring my camera. I am going to have to bring it next time.

Check ya later!

Ali

Another week gone by. Again, we have had some fun. During the week we have been running around town ( it is a big city) getting somewhat familar with everything. Didn't seem like we were getting much done around the house. Most of the boxes are unpacked but the pictures are not hung. I know that was driving my mother crazy but I didn't want to have to worry about that yet.

We went skiing again. It was a blast! We had our lessons with all four of us on skies this time. Bryan says the snowboard is an evil thing. He liked skiing much better. Sydney got the hang of it and I couldn't get her off the slopes. Not even for a minute. She wore me out. It was colder this time. At one point I thought I had ice in one of my boots. I couldn't understand how it got there. When I couldn't take it anymore I forced a hot chocolate break on everyone. Turns out there was no ice in my boot, my toes where just frozen. I have now bought me some wool socks.

It is funny all the things you don't think about to keep warm. My mom bought Brock a ski suit for his birthday. It is just 3 weeks away. While we were shopping around we learned a few things. To stay warm you have to layer. Well, just about everyone knows that, right? So when they asked what we were layering with I said "tshirts". "That is a big no no. Cotton is rotten!" so they say. Once you sweat (because you do) cotton gets wet and stays wet, therefore you get cold. Go figure. You have to start with a baselayer of synthetic that wicks away (my new word) moisture and then cover with fleece. I always thought fleece was a useless fabric. Boy, was I wrong. Now it is one of my favorites.

Sunday we decided to make one more trip to the mountains before mom went home. It was even more beautiful than the weekend before. There was a fresh snow fall the day before. It completely changed to look of it. We up to Lake Louise this time. Here is a site where you can see thier pics , just click on thier slide show. http://www.fairmont.com/LakeLouise/?cm_mmc=icppc-_-Branded-CLL%20-%20Chateau%20Lake%20Louise%20-%20Canada-_-google-_-lake+louise+fairmont It is a huge resort hotel with an even bigger lake that is completely surrounded by mountains. Right now that lake is completely frozen. We walked on it. You can ice skate, cross country ski or just go for a stroll on it. Just next to the lake is where we did our sleding. That was is fun. Of corse Bryan, Brock & Sydney had to, no wait, wanted to go off road to get to the top of the hill. I tried to get up there but if you step in the wrong place you are up to you thighs in snow. I decided to watch from the bottom of the hill. Especially since I thought they were going to fly off the hill at the drop off. But I was wrong, they didn't, but I felt safer down there anyway. Brock jumped the bumpes going down. Bryan went about half way down to catch Sydney on her way down, but she was going to fast and he sank in the snow and missed her. I don't think I have ever heard Bryan laugh so hard. I did sled down the snow covered road with the snow bank at the end of it. I never could get my mom on the sled though.

Sydney met some friends and together they dug tunnels through the snow. I never would have thought of that. We slid across the ice with our shoes. I think Sydney has asked me for a pair of ice skates everyday since then. She wants to go back there, bad.

I did miss my first Urban Hike. When I went to get the kids in school on Monday I had to make an appointment with the principle for the same time as the hike. I will just have to wait ftil next week. When we met with Mrs. Witworth she tolds us that she had about ten new students coming in. They did not get to start school until Thurdsay. You should have seen thier faces. They were so sad. All that building up to starting a new school and they had to wait some more. Once they did start it was great. The classes took them in immediatly. As soon as Sydney walked in the door she had some friends come get her to show her what to do. She even came home with a really big note from her class welcoming her. They all signed it. It was so sweet. Brock did great too. He made friends right away. The only thing I am not sure about is how they have 1-2 grade and 3-4 grade. I will let you know when I find out.

My vacation has officially ended. Mom left on Wednsday and the kids started school on Thurday. It is time for me to get settled in . I am sure we will still have lots of fun. I am just amazed at how much there is to do here. We are going to do some day hiking together on the weekends.

We were expecting spring showers this weekend and we woke up to six inches of snow. It will problably be gone by the end of the day. We will visit Dalhousie Community Church this weekend. I was able to listen to some services on iTunes and I am looking forward to it.

I love and miss you all.