Greetings! Time for another update, I suppose.

I have not been very good at updating this thing, eh? Life has been handing us lemons, but despite the sour lemons, we've been making some sweet lemonade. :)

Steve (my father-in-law) is on the mend post-heart attack. He is currently on the last few days of IV antibiotics and just in time, as Christina, my mother-in-law is leaving for Uganda on a Journey of Compassion with Impact Nations this coming week. We are still praying that Steve will make a speedy full recovery so he can rejoin her on their overseas adventures. In the meantime, Steve is getting some much-needed rest and time with his boys.

Speaking of which, Tim was hired for a management training position with Kal Tire this week! God is so faithful to provide. Though this job will mean extremely long hours the first year, it will yield some great career opportunities and long term growth. However, there is a negative or "lack of growth" in one area....he has to shave his face....no beard.

Now, that may seem like just a small sacrifice for a big return, but you just don't understand the ramifications of a beardless Tim. I met him over 10 years ago WITH beard. I married him WITH beard. We had two children WITH beard. There has only been one occurrence where Tim was without beard.....and it was at the request of his wife asking him to shave it to see what he would look like. Well, that went over like a lead balloon and I ended up NOT touching him until it grew back. A beardless Tim = a sad Bethany. However, I am THRILLED that he is excited about his new job. He starts Monday! Thank you all for praying.

Last weekend I left brave Tim alone with Promise and flew with Toby to Calgary for my dear friend, Serena's, wedding. I was reunited with some very dear friends from the Philippines and as one friend put it, "This was like a women's retreat!!" And so it was. We had some amazing God-talks and laughed and cried together as we relived some of the pain and joys of our time in the Phils. God was amazing and Tim survived! Although he says he will NEVER try to do Promise's hair again.

Easter was particularly meaningful this year. I have never come so face to face with all I have been forgiven of as I have this year. He was wounded for my transgressions.....oh how PRECIOUS His life, death, and resurrection. No words can express my gratefulness to Him. I am reminded of the Jeremy Riddle song, "Brought to Tears". Download it, if you are curious. Good tune. Expresses what I cannot express.

Promise got a nasty strep bug along with Pink eye....enter heavy antibiotics for her and Toby. Sigh. But thanks to Dr. Heidi Dunbar, our lack of medical care didn't matter in the least! Thanks, Heidi! She even called in our prescription! The kiddos are finally on the mend.

Then we headed to Oregon while our basement continued to be renovated. We visited my parents for 5 days and had an amazing time. It was so restful to have a few days of fellowshipping with my parents without any outside stressors. We had a brief visit with my brother, Andy and his family, too. What a blessing.

Then we headed back to Abbotsford just in time for Tim to hitch a ride with someone from our church to head to the men's retreat 3 hours away! So I am currently SANS Tim with Promise crying for daddy in her bed. Sigh. At least she hasn't woken up Toby, yet.

We love our church. Every week I find myself deeply challenged and convicted of my sin.....and equally as encouraged in the Power of our Awesome, Personal God.....more aware of His Presence and more desperate for Jesus. When I feel the walls of my sin, hurts, pain, and shame begin to close in.....threatening suffocation and crushing weight, I see my Father's yoke....the one He has fashioned for me. He says, "Bethany...I go with you....to the ends of the earth....my yoke is easy and my burden is light....release your control and yield." And I melt into a puddle of weakness and He carries me.

I am nervous about Tim going back to work....working a job 10-12 hours a day is scary enough, but I fear that he and I may drift apart. Our life already in a vulnerable spot, I fear that I may lose him altogether. I am relying heavily on the knowledge that God has our best in mind and this is where He has led us. Sigh. I am also a little nervous about having a toddler and an infant 12 hours straight everyday without a break! Time for more Bible studies with free nursery! HA!

I am praying for creative ideas for the kiddos. God will get us through another rough season.

Thank you for all your prayers. We are so grateful for them.

Be blessed.

PS. I will make Tim post some pictures when he returns....I know, I know...they are LONG overdue.

E-I, E-I....Oh.

So...as many of you know, Tim has been looking for a job in the Lower Mainland. We are currently on week 3 of the job search. No bites.

Tim is somewhat downcast and after 3 weeks of applying for over 35 jobs, he is pretty exhausted. Without an income for 3 weeks now, we are beginning to weigh our options while we continue to search for a job for Tim. He has been so diligent in looking and applying, but most jobs that pay what we would need to survive only allow online applications. Mmmm. So, today he applied for Employment Insurance (EI)....welfare. And this week, we are gonna hit up the Food Bank. Never thought we would get to this place, but somehow, we both have significant peace. It is just for a season.....sure wish the season would pass sooner.

I understand how difficult it is for families who struggle to feed their growing kids and spend a good majority of the day trying to find creative ways of making every meal stretch to two or three nights of leftovers. Yesterday morning, I pureed the last of the chicken along with some sweet potatoes for Toby's baby food. Getting more creative with my recipes for him.

To be honest, I am finding it rather rewarding to work at thrifty-creativeness.

Meanwhile, Tim's job search took a short hiatus this week as yesterday morning, his dad had a mild heart attack. Though recovering extremely well in hospital, our family is processing a lot of shock, pain, and concern for him. Please keep him in your prayers. He seems almost unscathed by the experience, but it will impact his ability to travel these next few months which is of great frustration for him and Tim's mom. Their ministry and livelihood consists of sending them overseas on a monthly basis, so this is quite the change in pace. Though much needed rest is required, I have no doubt he will make a full recovery. They thrive on physical, emotional, and environmental stress. :) They seem to handle it all with the utmost strength even when at their weakest.

Regardless, Tim is spending oodles of time with his family right now, as you can imagine.

Well, I am fried to bits....it's been an emotional week. We would appreciate your prayers for Tim regarding a job and for his dad for a speedy recovery.

Be blessed.