Bad Blogger

Have you noticed?

Sometimes I am great at keeping my blog up to date,

then there are other most times I am terrible at it!

My apologies.

This blog is supposed to keep you

up to date on what's happening with us down here in Portland.

But it ends up being spurts of catch ups. 

We have some BIG news!

Spencer found out about a week and a half ago

that he is being transitioned from the on-campus clinic

he us currently working at,

to an off-campus clinic.

This is unofficially known as being "off-sited"

and is a super big deal.

Let me tell you why -

At the school campus clinic Spencer only

is able to treat faculty,

fellow students and their immediate families.

That is great, and still offers the hands on experience that he needs,

but generally speaking most of those people are in good health.

At the off-campus clinic he will be treating the paying public.

So basically people who have real issues that they really want fixed!

Spencer will be diagnosing, developing treatment plans

and putting the last years of schooling into action.

The thrill of seeing someone come in with something,

and eventually leave feeling well must be an amazing feeling for Spencer.

But let's remember to whom the glory goes to.

Spencer has spent hours upon hours

with his head in books,

hands in cadavers,

time in adjusting labs

in order to help people feel better.

But his hands are really tools of the ultimate Healer, Jesus Christ.

What an amazing way to glorify God!

With Spencer being transitioned 

it has increased our chances of him getting a 

preceptor-ship,

which would allow us to be moving back to B.C. 

in June instead of September.

The chances are great, 

but still not a guarantee.

Please keep us in your prayers 

as we are thinking, preparing and planning for this transition.

It is going to be a big adjustment moving our family once again to a 

different (although not new) country,

settling our family and learning to live a life NOT as students!

(Did you know that Spencer has been in school since we met in 2004?!)

Needless to say I am sure,

we are really excited to be close to our friends and family in B.C.

However,

 we have really come to love Portland,

our church family, and our friends we've made here.

The school is such an interesting community to be part of,

and I am going to miss certain aspects of it.

We love our church,

our small group

and the MOPS I am apart of there.

We've been blessed with amazing friendships

and it is really hard for me to imagine mothering without 

their nuggets of wisdom, advise and support.

Here's to blogging more often...

Family Planning

Yesterday at MOPS 

we talked about raising a purposeful family.

Beginning with the end in mind,

looking at the big picture.

What does our family look like to outsiders?

How do they describe us?

What is our family known for? 

Who do we hope our kids will be in 10 years? 20 years?

What are our family core values?

As I'm sure you can imagine,

this sparked some great discussions.

We were given worksheets so we can 

'map out our destination'

so I brought it home.

Last night over tea Spencer and I discussed

our goals and dreams for our family,

and specifically our kids.

As parents we have a big impact

(along with many outside influences like teachers and friends)

on shaping our children, a huge responsibility.

It was exciting (and a little bit scary)

to think about Claire and our other future children as teenagers,

adults and eventually mommies and daddies raising their own families.

We talked about what kinds of things we hope they take

from their experiences, lessons and opportunities

to teach to their own kids.

One of the activities was to finish these sentences for your family -

We will, We won't and We Try To.

Thinking about your own family, 

how would you finish these sentences?

Even if you don't have kids,

or your kids are already grown,

you can still complete them.

We had quite a few for each, but I will give you just a few examples.

We Try To

live a life pleasing to Jesus and obey his commands,

discern between needs and wants.

We Will

work hard, 

live a missional life,

encourage each other

We Won't

talk down to one another,

give up

How would you finish that sentence?

I'd love to hear.

It was almost two years ago that we found out

we were pregnant.

It has gone by so fast.

When I think 10 years into the future

and know that Claire will be ELEVEN it freaks me out.

My mom said it best

(always providing words of wisdom on days that I seem to need it most),

"The days are long but the years are short."

Amen, Mama.

Not Another Baby Picture

Honestly,

I feel like all my blog posts,

Facebook posts and Instagram photos could

be of our sweet baby girl.

And I am aware that most of them are,

but some days I need to think of the others out there

who just roll their eyes when they see another photo of a baby.

Please understand that to us,

to the grandparents and aunties and uncles,

she's our baby.

And I came SO close to posting a photo of Claire

wearing the sweetest pig tails (why are they called that?!)

They are getting longer, and her hair is getting curlier.

October,

from here until January 1st

is my favourite time of year.

I love everything about it,

yup, even the rain.

The smells, the sights, the tastes -

it is just so pleasing to the senses!

Currently I have two pots of apples breaking down for apple sauce.

I plan on canning it because my little

Wog Womp loves to eat it mixed with yogurt. 

It smells amazing in here.

October is also the month that marks

the anniversary of my grandpa's death. October 12th.

Six years ago,

and this is the first year that I don't have that heavy sadness over me.

I feel like the time has come that I can just say,

"Crazy, its been ___ years." 

And remember the find memories without crying.

I never thought I'd get to this place, but here I am.

Its remarkable how time really does heal. 

MOPS has started and is in full swing.

This year I am on the leadership team.

It feels good to have a role to play.

My dear friend has joined me again,

this time with her own little bubba!

Spencer has begun his NINTH quarter 

and is already swamped with exams.

He is about to be able to treat 'out patients'.

In one year (at most) we will be back in B.C.

We are thinking about where to live,

what furniture we'll bring back,

and how much we'll miss our friends and this

place we've come to love. 

That's our last couple weeks in a nutshell!

How 'bout you?

{45 pounds of apples ready to go!}