A Trip Down South

As much as I love to write, I haven't felt much like updating here lately.  We just spent three weeks back in the Southeast, or "home" as we still think of it. Our trip was fantastic. We especially enjoyed the sunshine! One perk of coming back to Vancouver, though, is the "Christmasy" weather. At least with the rain and early darkness it feels more like the holidays somehow.

Our elf, Michael, has made his yearly return. This morning he left Hayden a movie--sort of a WELCOME BACK to help make Hayden's transition easier. Our son is having a tough time with us living here. We heard often over our vacation, "I'm not going back to Bancouber (Vancouver). You and Daddy go back; I'll live here with Nana and Papa." That tears at a mother's heart. When we arrived back in Seattle and retrieved our vehicle, he climbed in, we started down the road, and we heard, "I miss Mississippi." Please pray for him as we still try to find our place here.

I don't have my pictures on my computer to put here for you. We are settling back into our routines and praying through our future days. An early Merry Christmas to you and thank you for your encouragement as we live life and serve in Canada.

The Future

Am I the only one who ever just rolls millions of questions about the future around in her head? Now that we're "settled" in Canada, it still seems as if there are unanswered questions about the next few months/years. Maybe that's just the life of a church planter and living on faith. I know there will always be uncertainty about some things. For now I'm simply trusting that He knows all and He will continue to reveal His plan for our lives. That's all I can do. Well, that and take a week away from technology and "life" to focus on my family more intently and on what God is trying to say to us.

Comfort Zone

Have you ever considered that God has to move you out of your comfort zone in the wildest of ways? David and I talked about living in Vancouver even when we dated, but now that we're here it feels surreal at times. There are many times where Hayden and I are the only Caucasians in a room full of Asians. There are times I miss the oddest things from MS--like my gigantic kitchen. Many, many days I never imagined that I would leave Mississippi, much less Ocean Springs.

In just the few short months we've been in Coquitlam, I've learned a great deal about myself. Whether we spend two years or ten years or forever in Canada, God has and is using this time to reveal who Jamie is and who she can be. David and I have stepped out more in faith than we have in any other time of our marriage, I believe. We've learned to rely on each other. I have learned that I rarely put myself out there to meet new people; I typically wait on others to come to me. I've become more cognizant of the face I put forward when meeting/passing people (have you ever noticed how some people just always look unhappy?). Small talk is not my gift, but I'm getting better each day. I've learned a new respect for stay-at-home mothers; in some small, small way I have a slight understanding of what it must be like to be military and to relocate where you have no family and you must start the friends, activities, and involvement process all over every few years. I'm learning to stand up for myself--when I'm offended, challenged, and reproached. I'm learning to live on less, to wait for something I want now, and to be joyful no matter what.

I don't know what our future holds or where we'll "settle" down...or if we ever will. David and I have spent the past week earnestly discussing our lives and how we'd like them to look, what plans God may have for our family, and how we can best meet the needs of our family and our future. Above all else, even if our decisions and our lives make no sense to anyone else, we want Hayden to be able to look at us and say, "My parents were obedient. God may have taken them on a wild ride, but there's not a doubt they followed His bidding."

Fun with Mo

It's awesome in life that God gives us friends who feel more like family than friends. Such is the case with my husband's friend Matthew. Most people know him as Mo, and Hayden even calls him Uncle Mo. He took a vacation and decided to come spend a week with us when he could have gone anywhere else. We always have a great time with Mo and he's a fantastic houseguest.

We did the normal touristy things like Whistler, downtown/Stanley Park, Metrocentre Mall, and he even joined us for our first visit to a pumpkin patch. Enjoy the pictures of our time together (I'll save the heavy duty thoughts for another post).

 Cypress Mountain

 View of downtown from Cypress Mountain.

 Shannon Falls

 Whistler

 Laity Pumpkin Patch

 View of downtown and Running Man from Stanley Park

 Stanley Park colors

 Family in front of Lions Gate Bridge

Date Night Dreaming

This is really just a quick note, not for anything in particular. David and I went out last Saturday night for the first time in a while. We miss not having Shannon here! All we did was go to supper, but it's amazing how getting a couple out of their normal four walls can get them to talk about all kinds of things.

David and I simply did some dreaming. I don't want to divulge those thoughts, but it was so nice to just hear his heart. I never thought we'd leave Mississippi (or the Southeast) and now I feel we have a world of opportunities available. We don't know yet if we're called to stay in Canada forever or if we'll end up back in the States. If we did, we don't know if it would be anywhere near the South. We just don't know. And that's okay. We're enjoying this season of seeing God work...and dreaming.

A side note: Hayden is doing very well with Strong Start (school). While he and I do projects and school at home too, he thrives in that environment and with other children. And while I did look into it primarily to give us an outlet on the rainy days, it hasn't started raining yet. I bet I just jinxed this gorgeous weather we're still having. Maybe God knew we needed the sun just a little bit longer this year, eh?

Strong Start

It could be that with both David and me working full-time, Hayden in school, and church activities, I had no reason to go hunting extra-curricular activities for Hayden. Fastfoward to us living in Canada and adjusting to an entirely new lifestyle and suddenly I need things to help us meet people and fill our days!

 We've had such beautiful weather (apparently, not the norm and according to friends, we were getting spoiled!), but now the gray skies seem to have arrived. Not so much the incessant drizzle yet, but we have the overcast days. Bummer. We have not put Hayden into a sport this fall for a number of reasons. One is that with David coaching football and only one vehicle, practice during the week could be difficult to get to. The other is that we hope to return to the Coast for a visit at some point before the holidays, and when/if we do, we will miss at least 2-3 weeks. We want Hayden to be consistent if he's going to be involved, and this allows me the time to learn what's here. So that's what has led me to Strong Start.

Yesterday afternoon/evening I was able to venture across the border with some new friends to do a bit of grocery shopping. Sounds like the highlight of my week, right? Well, I was able to have adult conversation with other believers and not have to worry about bedtime (thanks, Dave!) and shop in peace. PEACE, I tell you. No "I want this!" or "What is that?" or "Are we going to another store?" Cassandra mentioned last night about Strong Start. This is the website's definition: "StrongStart BC early learning programs provide school-based early learning services for adults and their young children, aged birth to five, at no cost to families." Nice, right? And it's a come-and-go thing. I don't have to go everyday, I participate WITH Hayden, and it's free! FREE. That's huge. I'm working on the best location for us and filling out the paperwork. With all of the rainy days ahead, this will be perfect for getting us out of the apartment and doing something that doesn't cost us anything but time.

Our most local community centre (yep, centRe) primarily offers recreational activites and some can be pricey. There is an aquatic centre that we'll likely get Hayden involved in this spring. The aquatic centre is more like a YMCA. You have to buy a membership ($$) or we can do drop-ins for, I think, $10 a class. Hayden has done great in the pool and the spring will still be rainy, so this would be a great way to get Hayden moving and out of the apartment again. However, we did find a community centre not too far away that offers classes--some that cost and others that don't. There's a sports class on Thursdays that introduces preschoolers to all different types of sports. So we're going to start plugging in!

Within the next few months, I'll be starting some sort of job, so please be praying for that. Please be praying for David, too, because he'll become a stay-at-home dad concentrating on The Common Place. Whatever we get Hayden involved in, we want it to be good for all of us. With one vehicle, we'll have to do some figuring on a few things, but it's all going to work out. Right?

Short & Sweet

We haven't sent out a recent newsletter, but for those of you who are praying for us, first of all, THANK YOU! We can feel your prayers. Secondly, I have a few personal, selfish prayer requests that I wanted to make you aware of.

-I am looking to start a women's bible study. Please pray that the timing and right materials would fall into place. Also, be praying for the women I would be able to reach. I'm not exactly sure how this study will/would look just yet, but I'm already praying for the women who will come.

-We are just a step away from changing our visas so that I may work. There are a few ways we can change our work permits, but the easiest way would make us happiest, of course! If not, the change will still happen, it just may be more difficult.

-In reference to my being able to work, that means I have to find a job! David has been excellent in helping me look. I may have to take a position somewhere that is not "ideal," but it would allow us the freedom to look for something better/more long-term. I am looking into applying for a teaching license, so please pray that favor is shown on that. Apparently teaching jobs are hard to come by, and coming from a career where the two different teaching positions I've held were gotten very easily, this is all new!

We have thoroughly enjoyed seeing friends and family from MS over the past few months. It certainly helps to boost our energy and spirits!