Goodbye, for now...

Last saturday, Mrs. Morrison from the Oak Bay Church who has been like a grandmother to us kids went to be with her Saviour at the age of ninety.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Psalm 116:15

When my dad first became pastor of our three churches over eight years ago, she and her husband were the first ones to learn all our names.

Mrs. Morrison was always full of hospitality, even after she was diagnosed with alzheimer's and had to be moved into a nursing home four years ago. One day a few months back when Timothy & Rosanna went to visit her she told them, "If your ever in Oak Bay just give me a call and I'll have some potates in the oven for you."

She loved her home in Oak Bay and soon after she was diagnosed with alzheimer's, she went to a doctor and he asked her some questions to see how far along she was. When asked what country she lived in she said, "Oak Bay." When the doctor tried to inform her that Oak Bay was not a country she replied "Then you've never been there!"

Mrs. Morrison passed peacefully Saturday night holding the hands of her husband Ken and daughter Sandra. We will all miss her greatly, and yet we know that this parting is only temporary.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

At her funeral on Wednesday, Mom, Rosanna & I sang three songs, one of which was Beyond the Sunset.

Beyond The Sunset

Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning.

When with our Saviour heaven's begun.

Earth's toiling ended, O glorious dawning

Beyond the sunset when day is done.

Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather.

No storms will threaten, no fears annoy.

O day of gladness, O day unending.

Beyond the sunset eternal joy.

Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me,

To God the Father whom I adore.

His glorious presence, His words of welcome,

Will be my portion on that fair shore.

Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who've gone before,

In that fair homeland we'll know no parting,

Beyond the sunset forever more.

Goodbye, for now...we'll see you later.

Guess what we got this morning....

MORE SNOW!!

When I got up and looked out my window this morning we had between 12-24 inches (depending on the drifty areas) of snow from the storm last night. Well, actually it is still snowing, but I think most of the storm is over. We already had quite a bit of snow on the ground before this storm so now the snow is really deep, and the snowbanks really high!

(Above) Me

(Below) Our home

Our van got stuck leaving the driveway...

...and it took about half an hour for Joshua & Andrew to get it out.

Rosanna shoveling the front side walk, notice how deep the snow is?

Okay so she was kneeling down! :)

Nathanael shoveling.

The snowbank between us and our neighbors.

Smokey says, "This is NOT the weather I requested! Fix it!"

After taking pictures for awhile, I walked to the grocery store to pick up some things for my Mom. When I arrived on the main road I realized that there was no sidewalk plowed! The good news was that although the street is usually busy...

...today it was almost empty of traffic!

And just to give you an idea of how BIG the snowbanks are...

...this is a BIG hardware store that you can just see a small part of...

...and this is a snowbank in front of a large supermarket.

Anyway, I enjoy winter, but I am starting to look forward to spring!

(This post is especially for my cousins in Florida who are mowing lawns and enjoying the early strawberry season!)

Church...

Well, I wanted to take some pictures of our drive to church this morning because the country roads were so beautiful! However, they were country roads and after several attempts at getting scenery, which were unsuccessful due to winter bumps in the road, I decided to try to get pictures of the passengers in our van instead...

(Above) My view from the backseat

Joshua

Timothy

"Smile Rosanna, your on candid camera!"

Nathanael listening to his bible on CD, oh...excuse me... on MP3.

"Elisabeth, it's not a CD or MP3, it's an IPOD file."

(Okay, so I'm a little behind in my knowledge of modern gadgets!)

Elisabeth (me)

Andrew

Arriving at church...

(Above) The Rolling Dam Church

(Below) A little grandson of one of the ladies in our church.

Aww...so cute!

(Above) Our van

(Below) Andrew getting the door for us ladies.

"Thanks for being such a gentleman, Andrew!"

Our second church service this week was in Bayside. At both churches Dad preached on Colossians 2:1-10.

"For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

Colossians 2:1-10

May the Lord bless you as you spend time this Sunday and every day of the week with him, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

Fun in the snow!

This morning I woke up to more snow falling.

It was beautiful outside, and I didn't even have to shovel it today!

(Above) Our home

(Below) Our street

After bible club this afternoon, my brothers Nathanael and Andrew, Daniel (a kid who attends our Friday bible club) and I decided to go sliding on a snowbank nearby.

(Above) Our sliding snowbank
(Below) Me sitting on huge snowball stuck in the snowbank
(hmm...is this thing safe?

Anyway, before long some other neighborhood kids joined us.

(Above) Nathanael on his sled

(Below) Andrew preparing to head down the hill

After sledding for awhile most kids voted to play "King of the Hill."
This is when I decided to become the photographer!

Nathanael watching Andrew & Justin battle it out.

A new king...

...but not for long!

Nathanael, the new KING OF THE HILL!


After taking pictures for awhile I went home, arriving just in time to help mom make Apple Crisp.

All in all it has been a fun day in the snow.