Nighty-night

I am just back from a really fun weekend. I went to Tucker House with the Bilberry Creek women's group. On Friday night we had a "nighty-night" party. We got in touch with our "inner" child. We played games and ate ice-cream Sundaes. Really suffered, didn't we? And the weather was just great. It was warm and sunny. So nice, it felt like springtime.
When I got home on Saturday afternoon, João greeted me with the terrific news that Sissy passed her vestibular (entrance exam to the university) for the Federal University in Rio, in the area of Speech Pathology. Isn't that terrific news? Seems like just a perfect weekend! Hope yours was as good.

Isn't She Lovely?

Don't you agree with the headline? Is there anything any more beautiful than snow? A friend took this photo of our church and our house and sent it to us. I couldn't NOT share it. The world looks a lot like Narnia doesn't it? The snow is still on the trees after several days. We expect more snow tonight and I'm looking forward to it. I like it when it snows often enough to keep it white and bright. Today, though, the snow plough passed by again and left a mountain of snow behind my car. I couldn't get out and it was like concrete. My big strong husband had to removed the mountain (albeit only a knee high mountain, my car couldn't drive over it.) On these bright sunny days, you really need your sun glasses, as it's dazzling. This is what João means, though, when he says the sun is hypocritical. It's a big blue sky and bright outside, but it's ever so cold. The cloudy days are definitely warmer. Even after 5 years, it's still an amazing phenemena to us.

I AM (not) CANADIAN

I told you I was back! Can't resist a few more shots out in the snow. I was trying to snowshoe. It's much harder than it looks like. But fun. I at least walked on top of the snow instead of sinking down into the snow. And while it may look like I am about to fall, I never did. I even climbed up and down the steps of the house. You can't really tell in the photos, but if you look at the trees and fence posts you can see how much snow we have in the back yard. It's finally stopped snowing and now comes the hard part - shovelling!

Back again

Yes I know I have abandoned my blog. No I didn't mean to do that. It's just that well, not that much exciting is happening and as a contradiction to that, I've been busy. So there you are. Cha-Cha's mommy has been with us this week, home from Trinidade. Although they were to have been on contract until next Sept or November, she and her husband are now returning to Canada in February. I am so happy for her and grateful that God cares even for the small things in our lives. I was concerned what I would be doing with Cha-Cha (in case you are not in the know, she is a cat) when we returned to Brazil. Now I am praying what I will do in the case of Sadik. Initially I had thought we would take him with us. Unfortunately the kind of plane reservations we have (3 stops, including Dallas and Miami where the temperature will exceed what they allow for a pet), it looks like it will be difficult. Repeat with me "Sadik is just a cat"! I've tried that, but I still shed a few tears when I think of leaving him behind. So now I am praying for just the right solution for him, like we had for Cha-Cha.
On to happier subjects... this year winter has decided to show us what she can do. This is the most unusual winter we have had so far. It is our 5th winter, but I don't remember having so much snow in other years. Today it is just gorgeous out there. It's like a fairy-land. It's hard for me to work down here in the basement, for I want to just sit at the window and look at the loveliness. I have to drink it in, for this is my last snow for what is certainly to be a very long time. So if you are all grumpy about the heavy snow, just think about never seeing it again. Be happy and enjoy it. And sing with me (to the tune of Three Blind Mice): I love snow, I love snow. Soft, white snow. Soft white snow. It falls on the ground, so soft and white. Sometime it falls all through the night. Did you ever see such a beautiful sight? As soft, white snow!

My husband just couldn't resist taking this photo the other night. It shows the icicles off our drainspout, and the neon cross of the church across the street. It is actually a stunning sight with your eyes, but the camera doesn't quite capture it acurately. You'll notice that the cross is in focus, but everything else is slightly out of focus. You see in our lives as we focus in on what Jesus did on the cross, everything else fades from importance. People keep asking us if we are leaving Canada because of the cold or if we are returning to Brazil to be close to family. The answer is NO. We have tried to focus on the cross and doing God's will. So all the other factors pro or con for pastoring PIBRJ (First Baptist Church of Rio de Janeiro) really have faded, in light of being obedient to God's will. Just keeping our eyes on the cross!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

We've decided, in Ottawa, to imitate the scenery of Narnia. It's been snowing for almost three days now. It's not a huge amount or anything, but it's quite a bit. This is actually the way I expected Ottawa to be, but for the first four winters we haven't had all that much snow at a time like this year. I guess the city is bidding us adieu. João loves to get out and play in the snow, so here he is shoveling a path to the car and mailbox. Me, I do the cocoon routine. I don't want to get out of the house. Today he says he dragging me out to do some exercise. He's right. Besides the driveway is all cleaned off and the streets are now ploughed, so I feel like it's safe to go out. Still, inside is so delightful...

Chronicles of Narnia

I had a great time last night at our "ladies night out." We started it out by heading to a Vietnamese restaurant where we ate pho - a rice noodle soup. It was delicious. Then we headed off to see "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe." I loved the movie. They changed very little, doing some condensation of the details for the sake of time. I was thoroughly entertained and did enjoy seeing Aslan brought to life. Now I can't wait for the next six movies.
It's nice to spend and fun evening like this. I'll have to do it more often!

The Cat is Out of the Bag

So my biggest news item of this century (only 5 years old after all) is out. And I sat on the news for a couple of weeks. That was tough. The worst punishment I can think of is having to keep my own secrets. But now everyone knows. João and I are returning to Brazil in April. Everyone seems so surprised. Can't blame them. I'm still in a state of shock. How did this happen?? God simply moved in our lives and now we are moving.
The neat thing is after so much fear and trembling and doubt, God has given us ONE mind. WE both agree this is the right and good and pleasing will of God for OUR lives. I have moved around most of my life and consider myself to be a flexible person, willing to embrace change with open arms. This, however, hit me blindsided. João and I invested all our savings to become landed immigrants in Canada and our plan was to spend the rest of our lives here. I even gave myself the luxury of relaxing and putting down real roots, instead of holding back "just in case" we might move again.
Even when we knew, in November,that First Baptist Church of Rio de Janeiro was consider ing João's name, we never believed it would go any further. Guess you might call it denial, but it was never anything we believed could happen. Every barrier we threw up, God took down. So now we are both ready to joyfully make this very HUGE change.
Just think about it for a minute. We will be leaving a city of less than a million, to go to a city of over 13 million. We will be leaving a church of about 70 people for a church of more than 2000 people. We will be leaving a sub-polar climate for a tropical climate. That could be downright scarey, except for one thing. We are NOT leaving our God or leaving his will. That's why we can be excited and happy. We have learned in our semi-long lives (I think at 52 I must really be middle aged now, having lived about half my life and hopefully adquired a tiny bit of wisdom along the way) that God is to be trusted. He is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken. Because He is truly sovereign, no matter what everything will work out "JUST RIGHT".
Me, the dreamer, will now have to do practical stuff. The kinda junk I just hate. You know - contact movers, get prices. Sell stuff. Box stuff. Get rid of stuff. Ship stuff. Just what I love - ARGH!!! But I consider this a real opportunity. First of all, once again God is giving us the chance to see whether we love Him or "things" more. To divest ourselves of any attachment to objects. That is a rare privilege (well not so rare in my life... I've done it 3 or 4 times already - guess I need extra practice). And it will be a chance to grow in my dependence on the Holy Spirit and to manifest His Fruit. Pretty cool challenge.
Looks like we will be going to Rio in early April. And once we get there, moving to an empty apt and starting life over again. Not everybody gets that chance for a clean slate at my age. It's going to be lots of fun with lots of challenges. Neat, though, for so many people have written saying they are praying for us. I've never felt any more supported in prayer than at this moment. Perhaps I've never needed it as much.
Now on a more fluffy note... João and I both got new glasses last night. I will be able to read again. I can only read without my glasses at this point and discovered I was doing that with only one eye. No wonder I have constant headaches. Same goes for João. And the guy who fitted us was a Brazilian. Small world, eh? Aren't we just the cutest things? I took the digital camera and we snapped photos of all the frames we liked and then chose it based on the photos. The mirror, for a near sighted person, just doesn't tell you much.
And tonight... tonight... I'm finally gonna see Narnia. Can't wait.