First, it looks like Trev's going to be starting school in September! Yay! God is so good..... He'll be starting a 2-year IT program right here in Medicine Hat and WCB will be paying for his tuition, books, a new computer, as well as the wage he would have been making! Now, keep in mind that the big bosses at WCB still have to approve this, but his case worker, Nancy, ran the numbers preliminarily... If they were to expect Trev to go back to work right now at whatever job he could get, it would cost WCB $250,000 more than if they sent him back to school.... Sounds wonky right? WCB will have to make up the difference in Trevor's pay for the rest of his life, so if he's making $11/hour somewhere, it's up to WCB to pay him the remaining $15/hour so that we're not taking a pay cut after his injury. Anyway, long story short, it's looking good. I told one of my old friends about it yesterday and I said, "Frankly, this neck injury is a blessing." And he told me, "Um, yeah. Maybe in a grotesquely morbid way." Don't misunderstand me.... I don't love the fact that Trevor is in so much pain, obviously. But I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11... "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Amen!
I took Eli to CAPE school to accompany them on a field trip a few weeks ago and it went great! Eli showed no anxiety whatsoever and really enjoyed himself. We went to the Esplanade, which is our local cultural center and performing arts building, to look at a couple of art exhibits. He listened very well, obeyed the teacher and actually held her hand so that she could show him where to go. One of the exhibits was by an Edmonton artist and it was entitled, "Nocturne." When the guide asked the students if they knew what the word, "nocturnal" meant, not one student from the group (Kindergarten to Grade 3) knew, so Eli put up his hand and told them the answer! I was so proud of him! He is very excited to go back in September; actually, he begged to go back the next day! Praise the Lord! He told my friend, Kirsty, that the teacher was very nice and she didn't hurt him at all.... Do you remember what happened last summer in VBS? A teacher grabbed Eli and drug him across the carpet and left a nasty rug burn on his chest. Well, it seems that the reason he didn't want to go to school was because he thought all teachers would hurt him! Poor baby.... I'd have anxiety too!
After about one year away from church, we've started attending at The Link again. We've been back 5 or 6 Sundays now and we're really amazed at how it's been going. I spent a great deal of time soul-searching and talking to God about the reasons that we left the church to begin with and what I felt God was telling me was that, if at all possible, I should mend those broken relationships and forgive. I also was convicted by God.... Perhaps my own insecurities caused my point of view to be skewed; my assumption being that people meant to hurt me because I was so unlovable. Anyway, we've been welcomed back with open arms. A large number of people have gone out of their way to tell us that we'd been missed and that they are so glad we've chosen to return. Elias is doing VERY well in his Sunday school class and is soaking up information about Jesus and old testament stories. He told me all about Samuel's birth and how Eli was a prophet who taught Samuel... He was quite excited that Samuel and Eli were together in the Bible, just like in our house! Samuel is struggling to get used to being left in a class and has only made it through one Sunday. We'll just have to keep trying!
A couple of funny/amazing things from our kids recently:
Samuel is the most faithful individual in our family in remembering to pray for our Sponsor Child, Exan, from Indonesia.
Elias pointed to a picture of George W. Bush this morning and told Trevor that he was the president of the United States.... Granted, he's not anymore, but still impressive, no?
Sam is our little artist, constantly coloring and drawing pictures. He's really quite good! Eli had no interest whatsoever (and still doesn't) in anything to do with art, so it's neat to see that Sam is really his own person with his own likes!
The kids are both thriving here because of the easy access to the backyard. They both spend most of the day outside! I doubt any of us will be inside much this summer.
The home reno's are finished for now. We've finished everything in the main living areas of the house, including the baseboards. The next step will be bedrooms. Sam has chosen blue and green as the theme for his room and Eli has asked for green and purple spots. I think it's just as exciting for me as it is for them to be able to paint their rooms the way they want them to be! That was the thing I hated the most about renting a home.... We were told which colors to paint and if we chose another color, it fell to us to repaint it.
Anyway, I can't think of anything else to say.... A few slideshows....
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And our newest family pictures.... Which ones should we blow up? I'd love your input!
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