Winter with lots and lots of snow

Here we are just waiting for Spring, seems to be a long spell between winter and Spring! We have had more than our share of snow, and Earl has really developed his shoveling skills. But if he doesn't do it I make him walk with me, and he prefers to shovel snow! So far it hasn't been too cold though. We have already purchased the tickets for our trip to Brazil, we use air miles for one and buy the other. One has to start real early though, if you don't, you run into some serious problems. Last time we did that, we couldn't get on the same flight till we got to Houston Tx. But we think we have it fixed better for this trip. We plan to be gone from March 15th to April 28th. From there Earl will be going to Mozambique with Lynn & Dwight, who will be in Brazil with us for two weeks. I will be coming home .... I hope not alone. If we can manage it, Luke may just get his work permit by then and he can come back with me, that would suit me better. We usually don't both go to Moz. it's too costly, too tiring and too long for both of us to be away from home.

Earl's step father fell and broke his hip, he is 98, and that's not a good time to fall and break a hip. They operated on him and are trying to keep him mobile, but that's not easy. Just today we heard he has come down with pneumonia so we're all apprehensive. You will remember his mother passed away almost a year ago in March when we were in Brazil.

Our grand children, Russ and Amanda spent Christmas with their parents in Mozambique. They only had 10 days with them, but that's all you need when you are really homesick! they got home safely, though not without a few hitches. Our other granddaughter Ruth and husband Ruth Royden spent Christmas in Salmon Arm so we got to see quite a bit of them, they are always such a joy to have around. We get into some serious doctrinal discussions, and she thinks her grandpa (especially) has all the answers ... don't tell her differently! Not any other newsworthy items to write about so till next time ...

Christmas is over and we survived ...

We haven't updated for ages so we hope you haven't all given up on us! we had a wonderful Christmas, and probably about as stress free as it can get. Since half of our family lives in the far flung corners of the earth, we had a nice quiet day that ended up at the local theatre where our son-in-law runs the projectors. We all had a private showing of the Chipmunks. Lynn & Dwight's are in Mozambique and their two kids who are both in the U of A went there for Christmas. Mom and dad had accumulated enough air miles to bring them over! They had a good time even if it was only for 10 days. Coming back wasn't so great, they got bumped in N.Y. the by the time they caught another flight out, they missed their Calgary Edmonton connection. A friend picked them up OR they would have spent the night there. Amanda's luggage got lost in all the shuffle. Our other grand daughter and her husband came from Seattle and they are always such a joy to have around and usually have some weighty subject they want to discuss with grandma and grandpa. They made the rounds, just to keep things even, between her Royden's parents, Pat and Eric's and our house.

Our Brazilian Luke that spent 06 months here went back to Brazil on Nov. 1st. He had applied for an extention of his visitor's visa, but it takes immigration forever and a day to get back to their applicants, so in desperation he decided to go back in case they didn't grant him one and he would lose his return fare. His extention came just a few weeks ago, over 3 months after he applied! He is dying to come back, we tried to get someone to sponsor him so he could get a work permit, but weren't successful. Lots of people need employees, but they don't want to bother going through the government and doing all the paper work. So we are trying another route! He said a soon as he stepped off the plane in Brazil he knew he shouldn't have returned. He just loves Canada and says he wants to spend the rest of his life with ... is that a compliment? Anyway he was such fun to have around!

We are both well, and plan on going to Brazil again this Spring, and Earl will continue on to Moz. to give Dwight a hand with building and maintenance. I will come home, can't both stay away that long or our yard will turn into a hay field. Also there's the added expense we can't afford.

Pat & Eric are both fine, she has just undergone surgery and has to have more done. So she is recovering slowly ... they went in from the front of her throat, so she has a nice scar to show off! Not too much else to report, I'll try to keep up better with this blog and slowly but surely we are getting the hang of managing it .... Blessings to all