Wow, what a summer!

We go from very hot, to rain, muggy, cooler and then back to hot again. But at least we are getting more rain this year and forest fires aren't a constant threat! what with the mountain pine beetle, forest fires and what have you we may find oursleves in a dessert in a few years! How sad to travel around this beautiful province and see the forests turning brown. We have kept busy what with church events, landscaping, agrowing a small vegetable garden and lots of flowers ... well there's hardly time for the kids who expect quality time. Our newly adopted son 'Luke' went off to Alberta and we miss him terribly. He kept us all upbeat, and there was never a dull moment, but he is havng a lot of new experiences in this great country. He keeps commenting on how well everything works, and how smooth the roads are, how friendly the people are, and how there is no niose and everything is peaceful etc. etc. He may just decide to hang around here for a lot longer. But we tell him ... just wait for a few more months, you may decided things aren't always what they appear, and he may be very glad to get back to Brazil. Our concern is that he think seriously about furthering his education, it would be such a waste of a brilliant young mind to chose to work at MacDonalds or Wendy's, rather than go to school! We also remind him that God must enter into the equation, He surely has gret and wonderful plans for him. I will learn to post pictures as soon as Luke gets back, that should add interest. Daughters Pat & Lynn both have a blogspot ... Pat Nelson, Salmon Arm - nelsonsdogpatch.blogspot.com Lynn Lagore, Mozambique - lynnlagore.blogspot.com Till next time ... Ruth

Some like it hot ... Some like it cold.

Haven't visited my blog for awhile, gees how time flies. It's hot, hotter and hottest in B.C. these days. People are rushing to stores getting fans, and portable air-conditioners. Not us tho, we want the real thing, a central unit, decided to spend some of our kids's inheritance money! Only thing is the company is so busy they can't come give an estimate until July 16th. and by then, knowing our luck, the worst of the heat may have got up and went! Earl is finishing his garage, and has done lots of lanscaping in the back yard. Once in awhile I go out and commend him for his hard work and tell him how nice it looks. I managed to put in a small vegtable garden, and my flower gardens keep me busy. The rest of my time is spend on the computer. I'm suppose to be writing a book! We plan a trip to Ab. for a cousins reunion 1st. of Aug. Then we go to Van. and Seattle to visit Elmer & Marlene, and Ruth & Royden. For Sept. the Schalm sibblings rented a huge houseboat and we are spending a week on the Shuswap Lake. that's about as close as we'll get to a cruise. Are sure looking forward to it. It's way too expensive to try it alone, one has to invite as much family as possibe to share the cost. Off season is more reasonable however. After that we plan a deputation trip to visit most of our supporting churches in Ab. & B.C. We will be away for 7 weeks and hope to get back before the snow flies. All is wwell with the family. God is good and we rejoice in Him.

Who's coming and who's going

Here I am again for the latest news about what is happening at our house. thanks for all the compliments on my blog. I'm being modernized by Luke. What a riot, he's not used to working with such dense minds! But we're loosing him for a month while he hoots around the country visiting other people. Someone is taking him to the Calgary Stampede, then he goes to help out at a junior camp, keeping a bunch of rowdy boys out of mischief. From there he plans to visit Amanda and Russ for a while, and from there I don't know. He was able to get some work helping seniors landscape their yards, and earned a bit of money so he can be more independent while he is here.

We will miss him, but like I told him our grocery bill will be less! The joke around here is, he can eat as long as he helps around here! Pat & Eric keep him occupied going to movies in the evenings. We will be picking him up the first week-end in Aug. when we go to a cousins reunion near Olds Ab. Then we have plans for the end of Aug. a trip to Seattle, and then a week on a house boat with the Schalm clan! Here's a few pictures for viewing.

Here's a picture of our pastor's two sons and their newly aquired wives. One was married the 16 of June and the other this last Saturday. Neat eh?

About us!

Hi! I decided to start a blog after much peer pressure from the younger members of my family who like to hang out with us... It's a wonderful way to keep in touch with our family and friends around the world! Just a little bit about ourselves... We were missionaries in Brazil for 30 years, and moved back to Canada in 2000. Our family is small... but influential!!! :)

First, there's Pat Nelson who insists on being my best friend, and I really like her a lot, but I don't like her dogs that much... They are too hyper for me! She lives just a few blocks from my house. She is very stylish, very intelligent, and loves to give orders (bossy!!! :p)... But she is married to the sweetest guy, his name is Eric Nelson, and anytime I really need help, he is always there for me! Partly, because he loves my home cooked meals!!!

Then, there's Lynn, our second daughter. She was born beautiful, talented, and definitely has a way with words, in fact I expect she will write a book some day! But until then, you can check out her blog: http://lynnlagore.blogspot.com/ (Just to make sure Pat doesn't get jealous, here's her blog, too: http://nelsonsdogpatch.blogspot.com/).

Lynn is married to Dwight Lagore, and they are missionaries in Mozambique... And like Eric, he is the greatest son-in-law anybody could have, and keeps his mother and father-in-law on track with their missionary carreer, and reminds us that there's no cut off date, or retirement age with God!!! :D

Then, there's the 3 grandchildren... And most certainly, the most intelligent, capable and talented of anyone in the world! Ruthie, the oldest is married to Royden Lepp. She is a nurse, and you will certainly want her around when you are sick!!! Cause she gives lots of loving hugs... Royden is an animator and also keeps little weird animals as pets on his desk! He's authored several books and he is becoming quite famous... (I think...) They live in Seattle, and their presence there is changing the history of that great city!!!:P

Russell and Amanda spent almost all of their lives in Africa and now are both in Canada and study at the U of A. Amanda just finished her 1st year of Bio-Chemistry, and Russ just finished his 2nd year in Electronic Engineering. And they are both pulling in wonderful grades and the teacher just can't stump them! (Especially Amanda... :P) Don't you agree, they are the most intelligent and talented of all grandchildren in the world?!

Oh... at the moment we have a third member in our family! His name is Luke and he hails from Brazil, in fact he attended our kindergarten many years ago, when he was just a tiny tot! He shares the same name as our son Luke, who went to be with the Lord at the age of 17, while we were in Brazil. He was also born in the same month, so... The Lord has sent another Luke along to bring us special joy and make up for the one He took home for Himself many years ago...

Now that you've met our family, I will update you on what we are doing at the moment!

We managed to get some landscaping done this summer, finally!!! It's looking real good, I can't take much credit for that. Earl has done most of it! I will post a picture of it next time... With Luke's help I finally got my spring cleaning done, and that's not easy when you're not a spring chicken anymore... :P We've planted some really nice flowers in our garden and I actually put in a vegetable garden. Thanks to my good neighbour Barbara, who has given me a spot in her garden plot! :) Sound's like we are going to have a busy summer and I will do my very best to keep you updated on what's going on...

That's all for now... until later...