The Giving of Thanks

Thanksgiving...

For any of you who truely know me, you know how much I love traditions. Living away from home for the last 51/2 years has required that I start some of myown traditions. My favorite one is that I have had Josh, my cousin, here for EVERY Thanksgiving since I've been in Edmonton...5 Thanksgivings to be exact :) I think it is safe to say that now, for me, Thanksgiving wont feel the same with out him :)

This year is the first year that he has come from Sask.with the same girl twice: year 1- Kim DeVine, year 2- Jenn Spen and Sheilagh, year 3- Suzanna, year 4- Krista (his girlfriend at the time), and year 5- Krista (his now fiance :D) and Keltie (and her friend Holly). I must also say, that Krista feels much like a cousin and I am very excited about their wedding in just...a month and a half!! Yay!

The weekend was full and fun...we went to the market, visited Krista's Gramma's house (and climbed this huge tree from Krista's childhood), went to Christian Publications (the best Christian book store-wish we had one in NS) spent forever at Ikea, went out for Ethiopian food, and stayed up late to talk and hang out.

Total people were Josh and Krista, Keltie and Holly, Jordan, and then on Saturday night Owen Marshand-who I han't seen in like 2-3 years came up from Calgary with 2 of his friends, Neil and Todd. Nine people total slept in this little appartment on Saturday night-a fun adventure! It was really great to have so many people from home here...did wonders for my soul! I have never cooked a big meal for 10 people and I was really worried that we'd run out of food...not quite sure what I was thinking though...either the 24 pound turkey was bigger than I thought or we had a little "5 fish and 5 loaves" miracle happening in my kitchen...cause the food kept going, and going, and going!! Jordan made a very impressive Pumpkin pie and a sweet potato dish, and Paul brought his Pumpkin soup...yumm!

Thereis just a lot to be said for having family around...and for having people that feel like family around :) We talked to Luke on the phone, we sat around and listened to music (picked out wedding music!), we sat and talked for a long time about the roles of churches, and church membership, and just ministry...I miss times like that.

It's wierd to think that this might have been our last Thankgiving tradition here in Edmonton...but hey, we thought that last year too :) Thanks every one for coming-it was a true Blessing to have you here in my little "Happy Place." Love you guys.

Edmonton Life

So September is now over (can hardly believe it) which means that many things are now underway...the biggest of which is the Navigator/University year :)

We were bussy with our Nav table at Clubs Fair week-telling people what small groups and activities we have to get involved with during the year and giving them an opportunity to ask questions and more inportantly to get to know what we are about. It's always a fun time of year...meeting so many new people, many of them 1st year's looking rather shell shocked and overwhelmed after their first University class...very cute :) This picture is of myself, my friend Grace from Malaysia, and Moriah from BC/Montana-apparently it was "pink day" as, seriouly, most of the girls that came by the table were wearing pink!

We had our "Year Kick Off" at the end of that week, along with our anual girls breakfast (which I had to miss 'cause I was in Whistler) and guys backpacking trip. We have some new faces out this year and we are really excited to see what the Lord will have in store for us all...He has been moving in big ways in the lives of many of our leadership team and staff and really...life with Him is SO exciting.

Last weekend was our Fall Retreat (oops...sorry, it has been re-titled to "Fall Advance") with the University of Calgary gang. It was a wonderful weekend for me personally as I took a lot of time to be with the Lord, pray, read, and just BE. I fell asleep by the lake on Saturday for like 2 hours in the sun...just listening to the water...did wonders for my soul :) I also got to spend some good quality time with my Roommate Pam...it is amazing to me how blessed I am because we still laugh until we can't breath and enjoy each other so much after 1 1/2 years...and despite so many things eh Pumpkin? ;)

Following the retreat I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Calgary with a couple from England (well, they are from Canada now...they moved 2 years ago to work with the Staff primairily by way of development and equipping). Anyway, Kath is also discipling me along with Paul, so it was great to have a few days with her-spending time in the Word and in prayer together...and to just talk and catch up. While in Calgary I was also able to spend time with Maike a friend from Germany that I met at our Somewhere Else Conference last May. She and I were instant good friends since that week and she has been a huge blessing to me.

September has really been a wonderful month as I have been doing more traveling and Nav-ing than working :) I certainly am not complaining about that since I felt in need of a break, and truely my heart, in Edmonton, is so much more on campus and in the Nav ministry than in the hospital-not to say that I don't like it, but it's just not what makes me tick in terms of Nursing :) However...I have WONDERFUL NEWS...!!

I am now a fully lisenced and qualified REGISTERED NURSE in the Province of Alberta :) I was very relieved to learn that I had passed my grueling exam from June and that I was clear from having anymore to do with University :) I can hardly believe that I really am a Nurse...4 years feels like they have flown and as if I was just magically handed these initials to place at the end of my name...maybe one day it will hit me that I am a professional with a career... ha! In the mean time, I will enjoy the pay raise and relief from no classes to attend! :P

So overall things are going very well here in Edmonton. I feel that the Lord is truely working in, and by His Grace, through my life. My development/training with Navs is going good-although I am torn with having to work full-time at the same timl...the 2 really don't go hand in hand very well and unfortunatly Navs usually gets the short hand. I am still praying and seeking the Lord as to what He would have for me next semester. I know where my heart is at, and what it desires most in this very moment, but all that means nothing if it isn't what HE has for me. I would greatly appreciate your prayers that I would be listening to the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His leading...but also that I would not focus so much on the future that I am hindered to do His work here in the present. He is very much Alive and Active and On the move among us...Praise His Name :)

Julia and the Bean Stalk

For those of you who have already read Julia's blog entry about our wonderful beans...here are the pictures!!

If you haven't yet been introduced...allow me to tell you the story.

Ally, Julia's fabulous little sister, mailed her out some "friends" from home-deeply concerned that Jules would have no one out here to talk to but me...poor thing-in the form of 4 little bean seeds. Julia forgot about them for a week or two and when she dug them out from their paper towel we were both surprised to find that they had already sprouted!

We quickly found some of my African Violet soil and planted them in this very chique yogurt container, said a prayer over them, and waited...

"Our" little plants were growing well in size, but Jules had to leave for home before the babies came... TA DA!!! We have Bean Babies! At first one of the stalks flowered then a few days later I picked it up for inspection only to completly FREAK OUT and scare my roomate at the JOY of discovering that we had grown a BEAN!! The Joy continues as just 5 days ago I came home from a few days away only to find 2 MORE BEANS! WOW...what good gardners we are!!

Whistler with Ma & Pa Fox

A few weeks ago I had a dream come true...a week in the mountains with my parents...and no hospital :) I was SOOO much in need of a break from work (I now understand how these vetran women of Nursing are burnt out and unpleasant after years of working...and I've only been doing this for 3 months! oh oh!) Anyway, I flew from Edmonton into Vancouver to spend a few days there before heading to Whistler for Dad's Royal LePage Conference--mom and I were just tag alongs-- :)

The Irvine's, mom & dad's good friends moved to Vancouver about 10 years ago and we were able to spend some good time with them before the conference. Their kids were friends with Janna and I growing up so it was really great to see Joanna and meet her boyfriend Pierre after SO many years! (Caleb lives in Calgary) There was lots of laughter-as usual with these four-and we even had a lobster dinner (mom and dad brought them from home...yay!)

I was also able to spend an afternoon with Jeanette which I had been really looking forward too! We walked around China Town, in and out of all the little gerocery shops (actually trying to track down a specific coffee candy that Dad says is to die for...but no such luck)...I love looking at foreign (as in 'new to me') food. It is so interesting...dried scallops, dried sea cucumber, dried dragons on a stick...cool! We went into this little flea market and both bought a belt for 5 bucks...nice deal :) Actually, "we" did more shoping than was intended...Jeanette found this absolutly georgous coat-wish I had a picture of her in it cause she looks wonderful-and it was a rediculous price :) Anyway! So we wandered around with our Starbucks in hand meandering through the streets (accidently crossing probably the worst intersection in Vancouver....Main St and East Hastings...oops!) and through a really nice little park with bamboo, big plants, ponds and the biggest gold fish I've ever seen--could feed a whole village seriously! Then we walked and talked along the waterfront, had dinner, and went back to her new place...it was a nice day. Sure wish we'd had more time though Jeanie...just not quite the same after being apart so long huh?

We were off to Whistler the next day traveling up with a bunch of Dad's coleagues in a bus! If mom and I didn't feel "out of place" yet...we sure did when we arrive infront of our 5 diamond hotel with all the staff and conference leaders clapping outside with a literal red carpet for us to walk off the bus on! Swanky! woof... it was a bit over the top, but hey, when else in this life am I going to be able to say that I walked down a red carpet! (I'll not tell the embarising story about how I dropped/threw my Nalgeene at the pretty hotel consierge-man on the way off the bus!! :S) The "out of our league" feeling didn't go away as we talked into the Hotel...becuase Dad was on the planning comitte for this shin-dig we were put up all expenses paid in the Fairmont...picture needed...my name for it? Mountain Palace :) One day I walked out the loby doors to see a couple sitting (perhaps awaiting their limo) on a bench...he was wearing kahki pants and a purple sweater and she was wearing perfect gray hair a white turtleneck under a navy blazer with gold buttons, kahki pants and little navy and white tennis shoes...where is the yacht??? (*here's how 'high class' I am...I had to look up online how to spell that word!*) Good fun! Needless to say, it was the nicest...and cheapest!... hotel that I'll probably ever get to say at :) We made good use of the pools and hot tubs twice a day...steared clear of the gym though ;) Actually mom bought us goggles so that we could "do laps" while we were there-which we did. But, what do you think...Are my goggles a bit too tight in this picture!? Mom almost wet herself laughing at this :)

We were such hard-core swimmers that we were even in the pool/hot tub the day it snowed!! Gotta live it up while you can...that's the Fox moto :)

Unfortunately I have limitted pictures of Dad on this trip...he was "working" and bussy with conference stuff most of the time I was there, but mom and I got some good time in together during the day :) We poked around in all the little shops, did lots of walking, contemplated the zip line, enojoying the mountains, ate good food, and went up the gondola on Whistler Mountain.

So our first day there was the best weather...after that is was pretty rainy and even snowy..yikes! The day we went up the gondola, we couldn't even get all the way to the top-just the midway point due to weather conditions, but mom and I still had fun. I liked this gondola experience better than in Ecuador-the pillars were closer together which greatly decreased the "sway factor!" As much as I love summer, there is just something about snow that makes me happy-not that I am wishing winter upon us quickly, but to climb a mountain, have snow for an afternoon and then come back down the montain and leave the snow behind is NICE! :) Mom and I even had a snow ball fight on the top! We bought some post cards...which was depressing cause they were all of the "beautiful view" from where we were...but we could hardly see 20 feet infront of us! oh well...I guess it's just nice to know that its out there?? I'm trying to be positive on missing the view :P

We felt bad for this 'little' bear...all covered with snow -and can't even wipe it off! :)

There was this really cool looking inukshuk up there too, it was huge...and very patriotic-I really like these :) Like Biblical "Standing Stones" to mark a time/story about what God did--they're all throughout the old testiment.

Well, I think I've talked about most things, and showed you all the best pictures... no..that's not true...I have a few more...
Jenn Spen made be take a "Princess" picture...and this is the best I have...us in these big white "robes" wtih the Fairmont "F" on the pocket :)... It was a pretty sweet vacation from "real life" and SO good to spend time with mom and dad. I cried when the bus was pulling out from Whistler...not becase I was leaving there, but because I've been away for so long dang-it, and I just love my parents :) The Lord has really blessed me throughout my life with them. They are wonderful parents-fun and funny, wise and caring, supportive and encouraging... I LOVE YOU!
Can't wait to see you at Christmas.

This last picutre is driving on the Grayhoundon the way back to the airport...back to real life... But, the sun's rays are shining through...God's Light and Hope permeates even the darkest clouds...He is Love.

Indescribeable...Untameable

There is nothing quite like driving with a friend, windows down wind whipping, music blaring declaring God's God-ness, staring at His amazing creation, goosebumps on arms, knowing that a great day awaits you :)

As our "last horah" Julia and I rented a car and headed out towards the mountains her last full day in Alberta :) We had SUCH a great time...it was the highlight of my summer (well, at least the "fun" highlight!) I finally got to see some mountain goats...or were they the mountain sheep? I don't remember...it's easier to tell sheep and goats apart in Africa--tails up or tails down? :) We also saw lots of caribou and dear...and hoped and prayed ALL day that we would see a bear... After all, Julia had prayed the whole 4 hour drive to Jasper that the rain/storm clouds in the distance would clear so that she could see the mountains...and the Lord answered! :) It was a perfect day-weather wise...beautiful clouds too :D

So we headed off to Angel Glacier, which I had visited 4 years ago and loved. It was snowing the last time I was there so I was unprepared to see how brown things were and to see that you could walk right up to the glacier....SOOOO cool!! It probably didn't help that the 2 of us had watched Al Gore's "Inconvienient Truth" movie about Global warming this summer...the glacier looked smaller to me :) I think that by far, one of the top three cool things I've seen or done in life thus far was walking INTO this glacier (along with seeing Tungaraguha volcano active and spewing ash, and almost getting trampled by a live hippo in Ethiopia). Julia will kill me for putting this picture up, but-don't look at her...look at the craziness of the glacier roof!! These caves were amazing...I was wondering if we might not be in the middle of an Avelanche by talking/echoing inside them, especially when we heard one give a big crack! --you should have seen the looks on our faces...whew! :) Jules stole a rock that was stuck inside some ice for her dad-we figure that she could very possibly be the first person to actually touch that rock besides God Himself! After all...this is Noah Flood water left overs! :) Enough to make a fella "star struck!" This place was so beautiful, the glacier lake so green and SO cold.

There were lots of people walking to and from the Glacier that day...many accents from British to Chiniese, but most of the people all decked out in hiking gear, complete with walking sticks/poles and backpacks....Julia and I were doing the hike in our Birkenstocks :)...we took a picture to prove it, and I personally think Freeman should use it as a poster adervising his business!...just a thought :)

We got to see a little piece of the glacier break off up at the top...("and people say there is no such thing as global warming..."). Well, it looked small from where we were standing...but in actual fact, it was probably the height of multiple "me's" :) I think that, had we had lots and lots of time, we both could have just stayed exploring and enjoying the Lord's creation for hours and hours. It was so great. Eventally we started toward the car to head off in the direction of a new adventure, when Miss Julia desided to feed these gray birds that showed up...

"What don't feed the wild-life sign Paul?" ;)...I don't think that birds even count as wild life.

Who knew birds liked popcorn so much!? As a tribute to Joanna I sang Mary Poppins "A spoon full of sugar" while feeding these things...Julia can testify. It is that song that she has a robin on her finger isn't it? :)

Our next stop was on the other side of the park to see from a distance the glacier we were just at...and no, Julia, it wasn't Mt.Robsin ;) Then we walked around Downtown Jasper for a while...drooled inside a Chololate Factory...and left like good little goldie locks's, not buying the very expensive but yummy looking stuff (I suppose it helped that niether of us had cash...but we like to call it self control ;) Unfortunatly, we didn't see a bear...but Julia was more than happy to pose with this fella'...I guess we weren't specific enough when we prayed....we just asked for a bear...next time maybe we'll pray for a "real-live" one ;) We had a great drive home-good conversation with a star gazing stop on the side of the highway. Love you Jules...Big bear Hug :)

Run Away with Jesus

Back in July I had the opportunity to go to a place called King's Fold Retreat center. My friend Paul had been there quite a few times, and as part of my ministry triaining that I have remained in Edmonton for, I went for a weekend of Silence and time with the Lord.

The retreat center is there for just that. They have individual cabins and rooms where people go to to get away from the everyday bussiness and distractedness of life and re-locate their true focus...Jesus :)

This time out there was just a blessing for me. I had myown little tree house, complete with bed, chair, desk, kettle and hot chocolate...what more could a girl ask for :) The cabin had 2 journals there that people had written in over the years as they stayed in that little "Hideaway"-and at first I really thought the idea was cheesy, but as I started to read the entries I really enjoyed listening to the wisdom, prayers, stories of healing and so on that were on it's pages. People are so broken and lives are in such messes. I'm no exception. I went, without an "aggenda" but really was hoping to spend time praying about a few things specifically, and was hoping to hear the Lord's Voice on a few specific areas of life perhaps...but I really was trying to just be silent and wait for what He would have for me. Well...I must say I was surprised. Have you ever had those "things" in life that you think you've fully handed over and layed at the feet of Jesus, only to find that months or years down the road they somehow ended up back in your hands?? Isn't that frustrating? Well...this particular time with Jesus He flippin' handed it back to me and said "Chris, this needs dealing with." Let's just say I wasn't too thrilled :) Just when you think you are healed and things in life move on, they are back...but, this was a first time for me that God Himself stoped to say "we need to dwell here." I still don't know what He is/was doing with that...I have more questions than answers, but that's ok...I got to cry for 2 hours in my little cabin with Jesus. Surprise! I had no idea He had that up His sleve for my weekend with Him :)

I had some really great times just reading Scripture, drawing-which I haven't taken time to do in EVER but is medicine for my soul, sing, enjoy creation from my favorite swing on a cliff, and just BE.

It was also a nice blessing to talk with some of the other people there. Some were attending a conference, another was given this "getaway" as a gift (and that guy really needed it), one mom who was tired of cooking and screaming kids and a bussy husband who "ran away" for a few days :)--I liked her. Others were in full-time ministry and just needed a refreshing break with the Lord...it was a really neat atmosphere. Although my favorite person that I met was Kacy...the dog :) She was beautiful and SO friendly...reminded me of Sprite and Coka the dogs from Langano in Ethiopia... The lady that ran this center told me that people often come for the weekend just to see Kacy...she is half the ministry. I believe it :) We played her version of "catch" for a long time...and she just has this way of making you think that you are her favorite person in the world...VERY therapeutic :) I wanna dog.

May I encourage you to do the same? (no, not get a dog...) Go "run away" with Jesus. Get away from the bussiness of life and spend time with the Life-Giver.