bathing in milk

According to the master of the house (who returned this past Friday [and has kept me busy since then. Absolutely no time for blogging ;) ]) the water I shower in is the same water that is bottled and sold in the city. Remarkable. And what luxury! It almost seems like a waste to see such special water go down the drain. But sometimes recycling can be taken a little too far.

Friday was marked with the grand ceremony (that had to take place practically immediately) of opening the suitcases and tupperware bin that contained carefully wrapped treasures from Canada. Products like coconut oil that are made locally are cheaper across several borders (depending on your flight patterns), chocolate, sippy cups for baby, chocolate, and a whole variety of other treats and daily necessities. Oh, and chocolate.

acerola, a fruit rich in vitamin c (aka bermuda cherry)

On this momentous day I was also allowed to participate in a highly secretive afternoon outing as a guest and "third-wheel" with the recently reunited couple. A local cafe, juice made of acerola, wonderful company, life and marriage advice… I'd tell you more but I may not be back in Canada for a while, doing penance for completely revealing what truly happens on Friday afternoons.




There are some differences between here and home, and yet not so many as one might expect. That whole thing about culture shock - forget it. A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday afternoon baking while watching the snow descend in a flurry. And probably still listening to Christmas music. Let's be honest. This Saturday there was no snow (I think there was a brief burst of rain) but there was baking, and much of it. At least I am learning where my gifts and talents lie.

Saturday did include a family trip to the chicken farm (perhaps not something that would happen at home).

the chicken coops

 I had no expectations for what this place would be like. It was huge. With many, many chickens of all shapes and sizes and breeds.

beauty is in the eye of the beholder?

 The family expert selected the chicks with great care and wisdom.

boxed and ready for the trip home

bigfoot -- bigfeet?

We had to dash through the rain to the car today, before both services. Lord's Supper was celebrated this morning, reinforcing the beauty and wonder of the catholic church. Last Sunday I was thrown into the Portuguese language with hardly any knowledge of the language (I wasn't even able to say "thank you" to the warm introductions) and heard the word "pecado" repeated throughout the sermon. This means "sin." At least I can recognize it? I could also pick out the various persons of the Trinity and understood the "amem"at the end of the sermon. This week, however, I was given a quick and rough translation of the sermon in English that I might follow along and also be edified by the preaching of the Word. I am learning a whole new skill that combines listening to a language I do not speak, reading a translation, and following the progression of the sermon.

The weather has changed from the warm but breezy temperatures I have enjoyed for the past week. With the rain has come humidity and more rain. Apparently rain means it's winter. But it may be summer again tomorrow or Tuesday when the sun returns.

In comparing things to home, I remember when Mom and I would sometimes have reading dinners, sitting in comfortable silence - although we probably had some nice music on in the background - each absorbed in her own book. This happened again tonight.

I am truly blessed to be so warmly welcomed here and that I have become a part of the family. I'm even included in the bedtime goodnights now!

calling it home

After months of searching, watching, waiting, and hunting, we have been blessed with a place to call home for twelve months. It is everything I hoped for (except for the carpets and the lack of closets): location, privacy, quiet, and brightness. There is even space for a piano! 

times are a-changin'

It's strange to think that the past four years have slipped by so quickly. My life has been showered with so many blessings, with the support of family and friends. The Lord has seen me through my undergraduate degree and has enabled me to continue on with a Master's degree by providing me with financial support from the government, a large and generous scholarship. 

the recent graduates from Redeemer and Covenant 

the fruit of the field

Today, the kids and I met up with a friend at the local strawberry festival in Stouffville. The day started off grey and looked rather threatening, but the sun came out just as we were about to leave. For such an active and well-established festival, we had never heard of it before, and so we (well, for sure I was) were really excited to go see what it was all about. Imagine a small fair, all along one street, with various vendors selling their wares stationed along the sides, all calling and beckoning for your attention.

The boys weren't entirely convinced that this was a good place to go to until we came across a slide - the bouncy castle type of slide - where rides were unlimited. Yes, the free activities at this festival are definitely a perk: a slide, bouncy tree castle, wall-climbing, obstacle course, a cookie in the shape of a strawberry which you could slather with icing and sprinkle with red coloured sprinkles to satisfy the sweetest of sweet teeth, and, the pièce de résistance, a free pony ride. The only free item which I hesitate to be entirely enthusiastic about is the whistle, given by our neighbour across the street who was at one of the booths.

Of course, you can't leave a strawberry festival without having a bowl of ice cream with fresh, locally grown strawberries.

A quick stop on the way home at the local fresh produce stand brought home plenty of strawberries to feed an army of kids. 16 cups were made into pies, the remainder is sitting in a bowl (rapidly diminishing), and a quart is safely stashed away.

(we sort of, kind of, matched on purpose. i started the trend, though ... just for clarification)

Pie for dessert tonight. I think, after this weekend, I'll have satisfied my craving for strawberries. At least, for the time being.

the first step to overseas

I'm sitting at the airport right outside my gate. The airport offers the wonderful service of wireless internet - quite a lovely feature.

I've said my last goodbyes to friends, teachers, family and loved ones; the suitcase was packed, found to be overweight, and thus repacked into two; the last minute stuff is checked off; I've already forgotten an item and successfully retrieved it (sets a good precedence, doesn't it?); the bag has been checked twice; no sensors went off passing through the gate (oh good); and now I sit with strangers who are either going to England as well or using it as a jumping board to another destination.

1 hour to take off.

keeping up with the joneses

Blogs are allegedly the safe and the way to announce new relationships. Here, the news slowly circulates as people stumble across your blog rather than having the news plastered on the front page news.

As many of you have probably heard by now and for those who have not, I am dating a wonderful boy named Joel. [Insert pretend gasps of shock - we haven't heard that yet.] He's a special person.