Year End

We're very excited to say that our property has been appraised at an awesome value and we have been approved by a lender for a mortgage to build this spring. It is such a blessing that there are no restrictions on what we can use the money for and no time restrictions on when to build nor how long we can take. We have decided on a builder and are now hoping we can set up a time for them to start building as soon as the snow is gone. Pray!

The Wednesday before Christmas Eve we went up to the property to get our mail to only find that someone had broken into everyone's mailboxes. This was disheartening as we were looking forward to picking up Christmas cards and Trinity's birthday cards that may have arrived. So, we apologize if you sent a card and we never received it.

Other then this disappointment and the fact that elk ate all my hay and a bobcat or something ruined our rabbit pen, our winter paradise is beautiful in the snow and we miss being up there daily.

We all hope you had a wonderful Christmas! We love you all. Really we do. More than you know.

Winter Is Here

We've been in our little rental shack now for 3 months already. It feels homey with the Christmas tree up in the corner of the living room/girls bedroom/office. It's a tight squeeze, but the girls and I could sit and color in front of that tree for hours listening to Christmas music. No snow down here so we long for Saturdays when we can head up the mountain to our winter paradise.

The property has about 8 inches of snow and more in the forecast before Christmas. We've had a blast sledding and making forts in it.

We enjoy skating at the public rink during these mild days down in town. The girls couldn't be happier!

As of now we are happy to say that we had our property appraised and the value is more than we anticipated. We should not have any problem finding a lender, so we can start building our home in the spring... as long as we can find a builder. This has been a much more frustrating task than we thought. Doesn't anyone want a job??

Winter is here, we are smiling, we have our family, a warm home, jobs, and a reason to celebrate this winter! Remember the reason for the season :)

The good and the bad and the silly

Many of you have been asking how the last 3 weeks have gone since my post. It kind of went like this:

Dead mouse smell for 5 days.
No smell for 3 days.
Dead mouse smell for 1 day.
More masking tape.
No more smell.
Wrecked my back and bed ridden pretty much for 4 days, recovered slowly for 2 weeks (still recovering).
Frost fans in the vineyard next door on full throttle from 7pm until 8am each night; sounds like a helicopter landing on our roof = very little sleep.
Subtle dead mouse smell for 1 day; currently masking it by boiling cloves and cinnamon.
Found bear scat in the back yard beside the rabbit pen. Rabbits still alive. Phew.

The better news is the following:
Sold Jason's truck.
Bought an AWD car for Jason to commute in (yay for generous parents).
Therefore, freed up money...
Well casing, pump, and tank all hooked up! We have water at the property!!!! Woot woot!!

Next steps:
Get property appraised.
Find a lender.
Find a builder with the best quote to build.
Hopefully start building in the spring!

As for now, we just look ahead to tomorrow. We plan what we can, while keeping our hands open to what is being given.

Oh, and we're enjoying the little work that needs to be done outside of our jobs, and therefore having fun together as a family. Here's our first YouTube video (please note, you can only watch it on desktop mode or on a computer, because, yes, we broke copyright laws :P and it won't play on phones or apps). Our video.

Fall smells... literally

Our little cabin has been suiting us fine. It's small, but much bigger than the fifth wheel. Yes, it's old, with single pane windows that need a constant wipe, rotten floors and home to rodents, has only one bedroom, and the living room serves as an office, bedroom, playroom, and piano room and holds no such furniture that one would find in a typical living room. But, it's a place for the time being that isn't costing us a fortune.

We managed to plug up all the holes from allowing mice into the house from outside as well as from getting into the living areas inside. But, since Tuesday we have come to know that this doesn't solve the problem of the mice that are living in the walls... and then dying there. Oh, the smell. And there isn't much that we can do. We open the windows wide when we can. We masking tape any place we find that the smell could be possibly drift through. It seems to make no difference. How long will this odour linger?

Then, we come to realize there is another animal living under our house. I bet you could never guess what it just might be... A skunk.

But, it is home until spring when we can head back up the mountain to our property in hopes we will have running water by mid April.

Despite the trails, we choose to keep plunking along, one day at a time, keeping our eyes fixed on the bigger hope. The hope that nothing on this earth can offer.

Living in this world

As we settle in for the winter in our little one bedroom home, life continues one day at a time. Most days are just filled with school and work as we pass the days while Jason is in Kelowna working. We go up to the property most Saturdays to do a bit more work on the shed.

Each time we head up that mountain I am drawn to that awaited life. My heart squeezes, wanting to burst, some days as I take in the beauty and simplicity of it all. The girls play in trees with their treasures. I work side by side with my husband in the quiet of this space. Despite the infestation of moths and black flies, forgotten tools and supplies, no running water, and coming cold temperatures, I find the truth in the day to day living in this world.

When you know what you live for and why, it is easy to find joy in everything else.

Seek and you will find. 

Gifts

Just a quick update!

We went up to the property on Saturday to see for ourselves the wonderful gift of electricity! We were like giddy children over candy. I couldn't help but take a photo! The first time plugging something in:

We got to work on this beautiful October day, without the noise of a generator, and put up trim on the shed.

Thank you, Lord, for these gifts! Please pray for us as we search for a builder for our home and for financial wisdom so we can start building in the spring.

September

Fall came quickly. Nights were cold but propane kept us warm enough. We knew, for sure, that we made the right decision to find a place to rent in town for the winter.

The string waited in the pipe. Waited to pull the long awaited electrical wire. We waited too, wondering, when will the day come? We've worked so hard to get to this point, what is taking so long on the other end? Almost three weeks go by. We make a call. There was a mix up and Fortis doesn't even know we are waiting. Finally we are put on the list. We will have power... sometime this year.

In the mean time we move to our winter lodgings. An old, one bedroom cabin (?). The windows are single pane, and after much effort and time, the house is sealed from the mice. But, it has heat, water, electricity, and even a full sized fridge and working oven! The girls run in the yard every day and go for horse rides whenever they can.

We enjoy fall days at the beach, the fall fair, and cozy school days. Venturing out, we explore the hidden gems around town, like desert and beach walks.





Then, Jason's truck quits, breaks seized, thankfully in the driveway. We're grateful it happened after the two of us manage to move the 500+ pound piano from Kelowna to the cabin and pull the RV into position for next year (although the RV's retractable legs are now stuck in position and the screen door handle broke, but at least it is now all winterized and ready for the cold).

Then it happened.

This morning I got a text from a friend who just so happens to work for Fortis. And he sent me this:

And as Jason put it: We have been electrified!!!

Daily lessons

The last couple of weeks of summer have flown by quickly. Full of heartaches and heart fullness, each day teaches us something.

A week of summer holidays with Jason was wonderful. We did very little work and enjoyed what we could of the area despite the thick smoke we were living in. Much was spent in the trailer to escape the dense haze that settled on the property, but we managed to see some new places, such as Conkle Lake. Family time is never wasted.

Fortis came on the 21^st to pull the string through the underground conduit. We were ecstatic to know that electricity was coming soon. Not all things go to plan though, as we know. Instead, we found the old conduit full of water and Fortis was unable to complete the job. So, Jason and I took things into our own hands and after some intense digging, we managed to clear the way and pull the string ourselves and left the last 10 feet (out of 300) for Fortis to complete. One week later we finally had the string all the way through from the meter base to the transformer. We still sit and wait for Fortis to come back, yet again, to pull the wire through. So, we might, just might, finally have electricity next week… just in time for us to move into our winter rental down in town. Oh well, I guess we’ll be set for spring. Patience is never mastered.

Yes, we found a cheap rental place down the mountain in town. Just a little one bedroom cabin, but it’s much roomier than the trailer for the winter. The most wonderful thing is that we can bring the rabbits and it is located on an acreage which boards horses. The girls are in their glory with horses in their back yard. Minutes from the library, skating rink, and stores, we’ll be set for winter. We will surely miss the property, but look forward to sledding days when we head up there for snow fun. We have been blessed twice this winter.

We continue to work on the shed, putting in insulation and beginning the siding. We hope to have it ready for the winter for the days we come up. We’re not sure if that will happen as winter is approaching fast. Fall is definitely here and the nights are cold. Our timing isn’t always the best timing and that’s okay.

Lastly, we said good-bye to the straw bale idea and finally decided on a beautiful small cabin home. As much as I’m a bit sad, now that the decision has been made, I’m very excited. It is everything we need, fit into 1000 square feet. I can’t wait to start the next step in the spring. Dreams never stop evolving!

Daily storms and rainbows

Weekend update:

1.Hot water is flowing again. No leaks, no mold. We replaced all the rotten wood, and so now we have a new plywood closet to go with our new hot water tank.

2. Fires sparked and we watched hillsides go up in flames across the highway Friday afternoon. We hear of fires to the east and west of us. Surrounded, we wait in smoky air. The wind comes. Fires grow, but slowly creep away from us. Rain comes with cool weather. Blessings from above.

3. Due to the fires, the inspector was unable to come and so, we hope we are passed on to the next step which will be calling Fortis to pull the wire and turn on our power.

4. We now know we will not have water before winter, so we will have to find a place in town or in the city to rent. Finding a place for short term deems difficult, but we do not take time to worry. Things always have a way of working out in one form or another. Finding a winter home for the rabbits may be the more difficult issue. But, still, we know the problem will be handled.

We weather the storms by dancing in the rain.

Alive

Afternoon sun rays freckle me through the larch tree branches. The warmth washes over me. Deep breaths, I smell the trees, the air, and the earth around me.

Eyes closed, I listen. A sound is first heard far away. Closer and closer it comes. Wind. It dances into this space, singing its arrival around me. I feel its refreshing breath. It speaks to me. So clearly, I realize the truth. It is alive.

I open my eyes and see the color of the land. The deepness of greens in the leaves, the browns of the dirt, the blues in the sky. It all moves. It all sings. It is all alive.

The lost in the city see cars, computers, and things as being alive. These things move, make sounds, help us, and give to us. We take pleasure in them. We take care of them. We give them our time. But they are dead.

The world, creation, in all its glory, is before our eyes and we don’t see it. We abuse it, we hurt it, we ignore it. We do not see it as it should be. Rich and alive. Only giving of itself. Sharing all what it is.

But now, my eyes are changing. My heart is unfolding. My arms spread wide and yearn to take hold of this beauty I see.

Living in a poem. All creation sings. How beautiful you are.

Perseverance

Saturday we work. Up early, we face the day. With work gloves on, we tackle wires, trenches, pipes, and dirt. The hours race by not giving us a moment to rest. The lunch hour arrives and departs without being noticed and soon it is dinner time. We complete the last tasks of the day. Now ready to call for inspection, we pray all goes well - that we pass so we can call Fortis.

With success, also comes trials.

Drip, drip, drip does not echo the sound of much needed rain, but the unwanted sound of a hot water tank leaking. Slowly the unknown leak has worked its way through insulation and wood to be noticed in little puddles on the dry ground. Up late, we face the night. With tools we tackle a hooped hot water tank, ruined wood, black mold, and even growing mushrooms beneath our RV bedroom closet. With the need of a new tank the job is left to wait until we can replace wood and bleach away any remaining mold. We go to bed exhausted as the bedtime hour has already come and gone.


But, trails can only bring your down if you let them. We take each day one at a time. Trusting, persevering, with one foot in front of the other.

By perseverance the snail reached the ark.– Charles Spurgeon

Dream

Sunday we took the day off and enjoyed a much needed family day in Penticton. We headed back home by the east side of Skaha Lake. It was a beautiful drive. As we drove we came around the corner to find a hidden gem. It was so exciting. Right there was our idea of a perfect little straw bale house. The building was built as a fruit stand for the Matheson Creek farm. We pulled over and took time to explore the little place and marveled in its simple beauty. I felt the eagerness and passion swell inside me once again for our heart dream.

Do not get lost in the little steps. Dream. Dream big.

Rewards

This weekend was to be the weekend that we would call for the inspection - that if we passed, we could call Fortis to bring us power. Jason and I worked hard (Jason harder than me – I was more of the gofer) pulling wire, screwing plug and light boxes, drilling holes, spray foaming, and mounting electrical panels. We could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We were so close to having everything ready to close up when we found ourselves unable to shut the metal panel. The massive RV wire wasn’t going to fit where we first put it in the electrical box. It was frustrating because the box has multiple holes where you can insert different sized wires, so why would there be a large hole in the box where you would put a large wire but then only finding that you can’t close the box that needs to be closed?? Arrr. So we undid our work, and managed to rewire through an alternate route. Yay! Success after tedious maneuverings. So close! It was time to put in the gigantic fuses. We could call for inspection tomorrow! We pull the fuses out of the box only to find that we were given the wrong size. Seriously? Right amps, wrong size; so, they won’t even fit in the panel.    

From that moment, we surrendered the remaining work to be done. No point in rushing to get the few other things done if we have to wait still another week to call for inspection. Frustrating, yes. Discouraged, no. Another week without power isn’t all a big deal. Of course it sure would be nice to have. To be able to plug something in and have it work would be amazing. To be able to charge my phone or computer other than using the library would be great. Being able to listen to music or watch a movie without having a loud generator blaring in the background sounds awesome. But, we have a fridge that works, a propane stove and hot water tank, free water we can truck in, a roof over our heads, beds to sleep in, food to eat, and a world to explore. And I can make just about anything on the barbeque including French fries and apple pie!

Hard work and sacrifices sometime defog the heart to reveal where rewards really lie.

Together

You can’t help but fall in love with the rain as it patters on the roof of the trailer and it is early morning and the sun is rising behind gray clouds, giving permission for longer sleep and a later start to the day. With autumn feeling air at the end of July, we are grateful for the working furnace to keep us warm and the propane stove to cook steaming oatmeal for our hungry bellies.

 

The girls claim it is a pajama day and I agree, but Jason and I are ready to head out and set forth the day’s work. The rain continues to gently fall, but we don’t mind. We know the need for rain on this province during this dry time, and we love the feeling of the drops as they kiss our foreheads as we work side by side taking another step towards our heart dream. 

We rent a back hoe to fill the trench that will eventually hold our electrical wires for power. Jason works hard moving dirt, one scoop after another while I lay yellow caution tape below the surface. We work slowly down the 100 foot length trench. The girls enjoy rides and try their hand at dumping the dirt and moving the controllers on Daddy’s lap. Big smiles all around. We work together as a family.

 

The last 5 feet lay in sight. But, no day goes by without some type of challenge. One of the back hoe’s tracks falls off and we can no longer move the machine. We’re stuck. With a job unfinished. 

But, instead of fretting, we have to laugh. Why not? We take the opportunity to explore with the girls and clear out underbrush to create a new child’s play place beneath the fir and larch trees.

Another week added to the many others of waiting for electricity, but another week added to learning, growing, and being together.

Summer days

I'm sitting at the Rock Creek Trading Post with my neighbor and new found friend, Heidi, using the Wifi while our kids are at Vacation Bible School. We're checking emails and school related things as we are both DL teachers. It has been exciting to find that we know some of the same people although we work for different school out of Kelowna. It is refreshing to chat with someone else who understands the DL world of teaching too.

Lately, Jason and I have continued to work hard building the shed on the property in hopes we'll soon have power . We're getting closer and closer. Next will be water as soon as we have the money for the pump.
The plan for this weekend is to finish putting in the windows and begin siding the shed, at least on the wall that will hold our meter for power. Another neighbor will be coming to back fill the trench and dig another trench for our water piping and power from the well to the shed.

It's been over two months since we've been living here and it really feels like home now. I love hearing the girls joyfully sigh, "We're home!" when we come up the driveway after a trip somewhere. Days when Jason isn't home, we continue to enjoy the property, playing games, reading, coloring, and exploring. We keep up with reading and math and live rather simply day to day. We also enjoy trips to town for long beach days. We're beginning to make relationships with people we have come into contact with. We've even met two other home school families. 











The girls finally got their white rabbits. They look forward to seeing them each morning to give them their morning treat of a piece of apple. We built a pen for them last weekend and the rabbits love running in circles and leaping around in their new found freedom. The rabbits are sisters and are found quite frequently lying together in the shade.

We had our first company stay on our property last week. We loved having friends to share in the beauty of our property and surrounding areas. The girls were all smiles to have little friends to show off their rabbits too and run freely in nature with.

The discovery of a creek nearby with a water hole to relax in on hot summer days was a highlight. Being just 10 minutes away, we know this will become a favorite place when work days get hot and we need a quick cool down without having to go all the way down the mountain to the lake.

Things continue to slowly come together. Although I know we would love for things to move more quickly it has been refreshing to take each step slowly, with thought and without extreme exhaustion or burning out. I'm grateful for this time when Jason has to work out of town. It allows him time to do his job without the pressure of hurrying home to do physical work on the property. It allows time for processing and rest. It keeps us sane and our priorities in check.

Again, we are blessed to be where we are and to be on this journey. While not knowing what the future holds, we stop planning and go with whatever each day brings. Enjoying the life we have today.

Heat rises

The trailer indoor temperature reads 34 degrees Celsius. The sun burns and sweat drips.
 We work in the heat and finish the rafters of the roof. We heave and pull sheets of wood to roof the shed. Jason saws and staples, nothing is square. Feelings of defeat rise. We return to prime and lay the water resistant barrier. The tar melts in the sun, sticking to everything - fingers, wood, and to itself. Anger brews. We finish and pull long metal sheets up to the roof to begin to screw down. The sun sets, the mosquitoes swarm, horse flies bite, we have not the right tools. We tire. The day is over and still we are not finished.

We pause. We breathe. We see. Such little lives we live. What of these things really matter? The sun can shine, the rain can fall; the bugs can bite, the bees can sting; the tools can break, the power can die; the plan can go wrong, the money can be gone. But, we can stop living our little lives and get out of the holes we so desperately hang on to; and, we can remember the big life we can live because of the love we have from the One who loves us. We are given mansions to live in. We are given the Son. Freedom, merci, grace, and the hope that never ends. Live that! and the seemingly big things dwindle to nothing. And we walk, knowing who we are in Him, only because of Him.

Play 'n Nature

Making fairy trails in our secret tree house

I love watching the girls explore our new home. Their excitement for what's real and alive makes me so grateful for this step we have made together as a family. Eyes sparkling and faces beaming they share the treasures they find. Bird nests filled with baby birds, another with blue eggs, cocoons changing colors, and a stellar jay's blue feathers.
Faces close to the earth they look for bugs and sprouting plants. They smell the wild flowers and feel the larch needles between little fingers. Legs run after butterflies and laughter is heard through the trees. The hawk screeches, the deer pauses in the grass.

The song that creation sings is heard - of how great is He.
           Beauty is here.
                         We play in nature.
                                        We play in His masterpiece.

Our days

Another week gone by and we lay in anticipation, praying, hoping, begging that the first inspection for our electricity will get passed. If all goes well, we can finally fill the 100 foot long trench that holds the conduit for our electrical wire. After gluing pipe, filling sand, and clearing rocks, we really would love this step to be soon completed.

The days Jason isn’t home I find my days filled trying to get the girls school year wrapped up. We work though math books, writing assignments, reading, and spelling. I desperately try to add some more fun activities to the day like looking at little treasures found in ponds under the microscope, or making crafts to hang in our forest hideout. Once school has been completed for the day I work until I sweat under the heat of the sun, shoveling and moving barrows of gravel to fill the space around the foundation of our shed for drainage.

We managed to side two walls of the shed this weekend. Thanks to one ladder and the tailgate of Jason’s pick up truck. Some days I wish someone was here filming it all. We must look like two crazies; but, we manage with what we have and get it done.

The fridge did finally quit on Wednesday. RV refrigerators are an absolute rip off. If only we had power, I would get myself one scookum commercial fridge for the price we’re paying for a too-small RV fridge. However, that is the way it is, so we bite the bullet and get the new fridge (it arrives Wednesday). I will definitely be grateful when that arrives.

The nights are hot, with days even hotter, but the sky is beautiful and blue while pink sunsets keep us in awe. The breeze keeps us sane during this early summer heat and we look forward to water to fill kiddie pools.

We found out that we have access to excellent internet, once we have power. Jason will be able to work from home on Thursday and Fridays instead of going down into town those days. This is good news for my job too!

The girls are pumped because we now have a 10 foot bunny hutch waiting for little hoppers. They really have their hearts set on white girl bunnies, but we’ll see what females we can find close by for as little money as possible. I’m excited for them as well.

For now, we continue to take little steps, while trying not to get discouraged when things go wrong (like truck repair bills). However, saying that, we love it out here: in the quiet, peaceful surroundings of His great work.

Each Day

We worked hard last weekend and accomplished getting the four walls framed and raised for our shed. It took us about 4 hours to get the first wall raised as it weighed hundreds of pounds and it was just the two of us. I was certain someone was going to get seriously injured. So, we took it slow and thought out each step. I have a whole new appreciation for simple machines. Levers, wedges, and screws were my new best friends. Literally, inch by inch we raised that wall. I will admit I did a happy dance when it was finally up.

The next three walls were a piece of cake. However, the next challenge is to side the walls, which will be this weekend. I have no idea how we’re going to accomplish the whole task without scaffolds – but I’m sure we’ll figure out something.

The furnace and fridge are back working again – yippee! No more cold nights and no more warm milk.

We continue to truck in water and covet our hot (short) showers in the evening after working all day in the dirt.

Friday was spent taking Daddy to town for work and enjoying exploring our new home town. We checked out Home Hardware and found work gloves for little hands. We found a café with an indoor waterfall and pond to do our school work beside while we treated ourselves to a raspberry strudel and fresh fruit. We headed to the library and found a lovely place to explore books and read stories. For lunch we went to the beach with a fun park to watch the ducklings and play until the rain began to fall. Walking along the waterfront, we checked out the grocery store for weekend food. The cashier was joyful and kind and we ran out into the pouring rain to Daddy in the truck, who was done ‘work’ for the day.

Over the week we enjoyed finding new treasures like water salamanders, fuzzy caterpillars, bird nests full of spotted eggs, tree frogs, white-tailed does, and neighborhood kitty cats.

Each day a challenge, each day an adventure, each day a blessing.

The next day...

The next morning we awoke to beautiful sunshine! Ready to start working on the shed, Jason headed out early as I got the girls ready for the day.

Not too far into laying the floor, Jason nail gunned his thumb. It could have been really bad, but thankfully it wasn’t. It was just a bit traumatizing watching him pull a nail out of his thumb bone. Thankfully it didn’t go through so we didn’t have to take a trip anywhere. With a little hydrogen peroxide and a big Band-Aid we set off to start working again.

The girls played on the swings, played horses, pruned grass and trees, played in the trailer, practiced the piano, read books, and drew pictures hour after hour while we hammered and sawed, made mistakes, and redid mistakes, to finally complete the floor and one wall. The next step for the two of us is to get the wall up without killing ourselves.

That night we decided to pull the non working fridge out ourselves and bring it to Kelowna instead of paying a guy to come all the way out there to look at it. After working, making whatever dinner I could from the non-molding food we had and without being able to cook on anything, getting things packed, showering and pajama-ing the girls, we loaded up the vehicles and headed back to Kelowna.

Now, after a week of being away, we look forward to heading back to the property tomorrow, although we know it only holds hard work, sweat, and most likely tears.

Despite the challenges, I’m finding peace in the chaos. I’m finding freedom in the surrender. I’m learning to let go of what I think what matters and reach for the only things that fills. We can take on the darkness of Shadowlands when we know who is walking with us. When we remember we have the Cornerstone, nothing can break us. The ‘hard’ has yet to come, but that’s okay. Each day He proves himself faithful that we can trust Him.

May this journey our family is taking be only a testimony of His great love for His children. This story is not about us. It is about what He has done and what He is doing. Know His love and live a life knowing it. What adventures there are to experience with Him! Do not fear what will come; we have everything we need in Him. Fear and pride can so easily get in the way of living a life fully. Don’t be surprised that you can reach heaven on your knees.

First days

Written May 17th, 2015

I’m drinking a cup of tea by the electric fire place in the RV. Just finding the joy in the little things when it seems like so many things are against us.

We’ve been living in the RV on our new property now for just 3 days.

The electric fireplace is on because it is our only source of heat as our furnace has decided to not turn on. The gas generator runs hard to provide us what it can for power during the couple hours we have it on. Nights have been cold, as I see my breath when I get up each night to check Trinity’s sugar levels.

I drink my cup of tea to warm my insides as the rain comes down outside, adding another day of wait time to start building our electrical shed. Another day further from getting power and running water.

The fridge decides to quit so our meat goes bad and I hope Trinity’s insulin is fine. Yet, we shower finally last night and get rid of the dust and dirt. We were loaned a water tank for the back of Jason’s truck to fill the holding tank in the RV. And praise the Lord, the hot water tank works! So, hot water runs when we need it. Sparingly we use our water; how we easily take things for granted.

Despite frustrations, cold mornings, and warm almond milk, we venture and find tadpoles hatching, frogs swimming, squirrels playing, and hawks flying.

Even with the loud generator running, we enjoy Saturday night family movie night with BBQ’d smokies.

The girls swing on the swings, explore the trees, ground and ponds, and practice using their tools of bow and arrows, pruners, and dull Swiss army knives.

Eden is right into helping build and fix whatever we’re working on. Trinity still enjoys her time reading books, drawing, and discovering things. They wear dresses with jeans and gumboots, put away their beds in the morning and again help make them at night. They keep up with their school work and practice their piano on the little keyboard someone blessed us with. We read novels aloud and still have our tea time.

 

We are learning to slow down. To not sweat the small stuff. It’s tough when things do not go according to our plan. So, we are learning to go with the plan that unfolds before us. To rejoice in each moment. To sip tea, love blankets, and live the day with Him by our sides.

Looking forward

We took two trips up to the property yesterday. It's all becoming more and more real as the days get closer to moving out of the house.

We had our fifth wheel towed up there in the afternoon. It's exciting to see it there - our home for the many months ahead. We drew out the lines for septic, water, and power, as the septic tank finally goes in on Tuesday!

Jason and I talked about our fears and thoughts as we drove out there the second time that day. We both look forward to this new adventure and long to begin making the small changes in our lives to live away from the rat race of the city, to get back to the basics, to dwell in nature, to live simply and take the steps towards self sustainability. But there are things we know we have to endure on the road to these longings. The days of transitions will be hard until life becomes more routine again. We don't long for the days when Jason is at work. We don't long for the days of finding our footing in our RV. We don't long for the days when we grieve for the 'easy', for the comfortable, for the known. But they are all things we know will come, so we prepare our hearts, we look towards the future, we trust in the one who sends us.

When the past calls, we can answer:
Past, we were once with you, but are no more. We hold you in our memories and rejoice in the times before. We take you with us wherever we go, but there is no adventure in you, you are everything we know. We live for today and look forward to tomorrow. We hope for courage for what is to come, so we can learn and grow more into who we are to become. Past, we thank you for the wisdom you give, as we learn from our mistakes and others. We cannot stay with you, as knowledge and experience are never ending and we want to never miss a chance to have more of them.

So, we will enjoy today and look ahead to the tomorrows, one day at a time.

Count Down

The count down is on.
Twenty-five days left of being Kelowna residents.
So much to do and so little time left.
Still waiting on septic, which means still waiting on power, which means still waiting for water.

We took a trip up to the property for the first time since mid-February and were happy to find no snow and beautiful spring weather. The air was clear and blue. Two baby white tailed deer peeked at us in curiosity through the trees as we unloaded some lumber for the electrical shed that needs to be built. The girls ran and climbed trees, made things out of sticks and rocks, and felt free in nature.

Back in Kelowna, we slowly pack, give away, and recycle all that we own. The RV is clean and ready for living, so this week will be full of filling cupboards and making ready our new home.

The bitter-sweet end is coming near of leaving this house we have called a home since the days Eden began to walk. But, we turn the page and the new chapter awaits to be written.

The count down in on.

Twenty-six days until we begin a new journey of something we have yet to experience. A new day, a new challenge, a new adventure.

Live not the same each day; experience all that you can. Life is just a moment. Do not fear to try something new.

Hoping for spring!

Not having fun...

For Valentine's Day we went out to our property to see how much snow we still had, hoping that it was melting and soon to be gone with all this beautiful weather. We brought the old snow blower along as we wanted to clear the area where the septic tank will go so that the ground can start thawing as soon as possible.

We arrived happy, seeing bare roads and fields, but the driveway still was deep with snow. The truck wouldn't even take a chance at it. So, we started snow blowing pathways up the driveway, only for the motor to give up on us. This led to lots of shoveling and finally getting the truck up the 300 foot driveway to basically slip into the ditch at the top. It was a moment of stillness and silence. I silently yelled up some prayers. I really didn't want to walk to the neighbors or the few kilometers down the mountain until we reached cell service to call a tow truck. Prayers were answered, for somehow, Jason was able to get out and up to the building site. Phew!

Having fun!

While Jason and I worked our tails off, the girls were in their glory, climbing trees and stumps, finding hide-outs, and spotting animals tracks! So fun!

We'll be meeting the septic guy next week at the lot to plan out the site, so once the snow and frost are gone he can go and get it done! I never thought I'd be so excited for something like a septic tank.

We also had good news that there is conduit from the power transformer quite a ways up our property, which means less work and money for us to get our power in. We now have to decide were we want our meter (our electrical shed) so Fortis can come up and do what they need to do.

Yay, for little steps!

Finalized

Today, with all paper work completed, stamped, and documented, an RV in the driveway, and with "keys" in hand, we are proud owners of lot 19!


No more waiting to know where we are going.

Now we take the next step towards our heart dream - planning. With many mistakes already passed and more to come, we pray, we look, we learn, we listen, we step, we breathe.

Not knowing what each step may hold, each feels like a leap. However, the hand we hold never falters. It will never let go, no matter which way we go.

New home!

Another step has been taken. We purchased our future temporary home today - and 36 foot fifth wheel! It is hard to believe that we will be living in this RV for quite some time starting May 1st.

This is not the exact one, but it gives you an idea!

Lots have happened over the last month. Jason and I have decided not to build this year and wait it out, giving ourselves time to experience living in a way we have never lived before, getting to know the land, and taking the time to just enjoy our land before diving into building and investing money into it.

We also decided not to build the straw bale house we initially bought plans for. We really had to think about our priorities, needs, and wants. It came down to two things. Either we:

1. Build this larger straw bale home and have a mortgage (payments every month for quite sometime) and therefore not having the funds to become self sufficient anytime soon (solar panels are very expensive).

2. Build a small cabin type home (very small mortgage or none at all) and have the money to do the other things we hope to do during our lifetime (including traveling, saving for the girls post secondary education, saving for retirement, giving to charities, recreational activities). As well as getting to being self sufficient much more quickly.

Option two sounds much more appealing. Why do we need a big house? So what if the girls need to share a room - most kids in the world do. What is really important? Having more space per person or having the ability to do more things together and having more options?

As much as we would love to build a straw bale house, it isn't the only way to build "green"; there are so many other options. Bring "green" has so many sides. Building a smaller house that takes less material, less energy, and produces less waste is green too.

This is the plan for today. We'll see what follows...