From Our House to Yours

Praying that all of our family and friends  

enjoy a very Blessed Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

"But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."  Mt. 1:20-21

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

This is what my hubby does when I say, "Carpe Diem!"

We are having a lovely Saturday in the Schenk house.  I am getting through the piles of laundry that accumulated as the week wore on, we are enjoying the left-over food from the party last night (lunch was super easy), the girls had a successful trip to the mall, the house is relatively tidy, Amber is spending an afternoon and evening with some friends, and Rick has enjoyed several games of hockey with his boys. 

Amber and Taylor's trip to the mall was one of "urgency" because Amber is heading to OFSAA with the King's senior women's basketball team this coming week and she needed something new for the banquet.  OFSAA is being held at Ridley College in St. Catharines, so if anyone wants to come out and cheer, just ask Amber for the schedule or check out the OFSAA website...we would be happy to have extra voices to yell and encourage them!  Last year we had such a "hoot" cheering them on.  It is exciting basketball to watch!

This past week was leaf pick-up time in our neighbourhood.  I love how things are done in this city...a big dump truck pulling around a wonderful giant vacuum...a crew of 3-4 drive and walk around town and suck the leaves up from the curb.  Perhaps it's a relative of Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street...

There was a big moon in the sky this week and I had fun trying to capture a nice shot...

Yesterday we had a funeral in our church for a wonderful Christian woman who recently lost her battle with cancer. Muriel Scott loved the Lord and was a wonderful witness for her Saviour till the end.  It is my understanding that she planned the entire funeral herself.  I was thankful for the opportunity and honour of ministering in music. During the service we sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow."  The latter was not in our hymn book at Trinity, but we sang it because it was a song that had special meaning for the family.

I don't know about tomorrow:

I just live from day to day. 

I don't borrow from its sunshine 

For its skies may turn to grey. 

I don't worry o'er the future, 

For I know what Jesus said. 

And today I'll walk beside Him, 

For He knows what is ahead. 

Every step is getting brighter 

As the golden stairs I climb; 

Every burden's getting lighter, 

Every cloud is silver-lined. 

There the sun is always shining, 

There no tear will dim the eye; 

At the ending of the rainbow 

Where the mountains touch the sky. 

I don't know about tomorrow; 

It may bring me poverty. 

But the one who feeds the sparrow, 

Is the one who stands by me. 

And the path that is my portion 

May be through the flame or flood; 

But His presence goes before me 

And I'm covered with His blood. 

Chorus:

Many things about tomorrow 

I don't seem to understand 

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand...

(Ira Stanphill)

Pastor Carl Muller preached a simple and clear gospel message.  He shared with us that Muriel had told him that the service was not to be about her...It was to be about Christ...and so it was.  God's offer of salvation was presented to her family and friends.  Now we pray that God might use this time in their lives and this message to change hearts and save souls.  One of her daughters shared how her mother had two dreams.  One was to see her Saviour (that is now her reality!) and the other was to see all eight of her children in heaven some day. Perhaps some day she will...what a blessing that would be! 

Retirement Party

A big "Thank You" to everyone for coming out to celebrate Dad's Retirement!  50 Years of farming is quite an accomplishment and something worth celebrating.  God has richly blessed Dad with health and safety and we are thankful for all his many years of hard work as a wonderful provider for our family and a godly example to us all.

We had a lovely time of fellowship and enjoyed lots of delicious food.  The chocolate fountain malfunction may have let me down, but the melted chocolate was still delicious to eat!

I thank the Lord for my parents and pray He will continue to bless them with many years of health as they enjoy their retirement and continue to serve God during these exciting years.

WE LOVE YOU!

Silver Medalists

This was a Silver Medal week in the Schenk home.

Levi's volleyball team came in 2nd place at the elementary school tournament held in Hamilton yesterday, and today Taylor's basketball team came in 2nd place in the HSSAA Tier 2 championship game.  Many thanks to her coaches Eric Bulthuis, Elspeth Jones and Richard Stewart for all their leadership, encouragement and dedication.

Congratulations Taylor on a wonderful season!!!

OCSSAA Champions 2011

Award for a Job Well Done

This fall Amber was presented with the Platinum Award for her academic achievements in grade 10.  (Two years in a row...good stuff!!)  ♥We are proud of you girl for working hard and using your God-given gifts to the best of your abilities!♥

Sunday Autumn Stroll

Rick and I went for a stroll by the lake today.  I treasure those times together when we can just talk about family and life and enjoy God's beautiful creation.  It was lovely weather for November!

King's Basketball Update

The regular season is over for both the senior and junior girls' teams.  Taylor's junior team has had a fantastic season, ending in second place.  They are on their way to the championship game, having won both the quarter final game against Burlington Central 45-16 and the semi final game against M M Robinson with a score of 40-27.
The King's junior team will be playing the Halton Tier 2 championship game this Thursday morning, at 11am at Sheridan.  They will be facing the one team they have yet to beat this year, White Oaks.  Each time they have faced this team they have played better and better, so it should prove to be an exciting match!

Amber's senior team was knocked out of the playoffs by Pearson.  They played a tough game but came up short in the end, losing 21-35.  They have one more game coming up in a couple weeks, and if they win that game, they qualify for OFSAA, which is being held in St. Catharines this year.

This past Friday and Saturday, the senior King's team played in the OCSSAA tournament held in Hamilton.  They faced teams from various Christian schools in Ontario.  There were 16 teams represented in the tournament, and the King's seniors came away Champions!!!  They defeated Hamilton 37-23, Brampton 54-21, Heritage 45-29 and Toronto (we couldn't remember the score), before they went on to win the championship game against Smithville 49-40 after double overtime.  They were behind the entire game until the last quarter when they battled back to tie it up just before regulation time came to an end.  During the first overtime, the only points scored were one foul shot by each team.  It wasn't until the second overtime that King's managed to pull ahead and finish on top.  The girls and coaches were thrilled and the fans went crazy.  This is the first OCSSAA senior girls championship for King's, so it was a great milestone and a wonderful tournament for the team.  They played very well together as a team, so it was a great tournament to watch.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera with me on Saturday, so I didn't get any pictures from the gold medal match...rats...however, Amber was gracious enough to pose for me at home with her medal.
I will try to post a team picture later, if I can get a copy from a parent who was smart enough to remember their camera that day.

Bazaar Beauties

Trinity Christian School had their annual Bazaar last weekend, adding to the excitement of Levi's birthday weekend.  The girls volunteered some time selling items and daddy spent the day greeting visitors.  I had plans to help out selling baked goods, but because of a nasty chest cold and a weak voice that led to coughing fits, Taylor graciously took my shift for me.  David and I went to the games rooms and he had a good time winning a few cute prizes.  We also put a few bids on items at the silent auction, and ended up coming away with a great glass chess set and a lovely vase full of roses.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the roses, although they are almost at the end of their life now, but the chess set has proven to be a great purchase as well.  David has beaten most of the people in this house, myself included.  He was home all week from school as a result of getting croup, so we had the opportunity to play a few games. We have yet to get daddy to play a game.  I guess he never played chess growing up in the Schenk house.  He says he doesn't know how...(I'm not sure I'm buying that one...)

Teenager #3

Last week our Levi turned 13.  We had been so busy with school and sports stuff, that by the time his special day came last Sunday, we were seriously ready to relax and party.  We enjoyed a lovely day together as a family with a special visit from Grandma and Grandpa too.

Fall's Fleeting Colours and Christ's Transforming Power

This week I finally found a little bit of time to take a few autumn pictures.  There's something about this season that fills me with renewed energy, but also carries with it a sense of sadness. The fresh greens we have enjoyed all summer long are soon going to disappear from the landscape and be replaced with browns.  I will miss the colour when autumn is chased away by winter's frost and snow.  I really do try to enjoy every season...I suppose I'm only wishing this season would stick around a little longer.  It's such a feast for the eyes!!!

The fleeting seasons are a good reminder that things on this earth don't stay the same.  Autumn's end might be rather brown and dead looking, but the bright snow that comes in winter makes the earth look bright and fresh.  Every season has its beauty. God keeps changing the landscape from one beautiful season into the next.

Just as this earth keeps changing, we also ought to change.  We shouldn't be staying the same from one season to the next.  We should be transforming as well...constantly becoming more like Christ.  We ought to be putting off more of our sin and putting on more of Christ.  God keeps making beautiful things out of each season, and He is also about the business of making beautiful things out of us.  Don't we have an awesome God?!  I'm so thankful that He doesn't leave us alone to fend for ourselves or to find our own way.  He has equipped us with everything we need to be transformed.  His Word and His Spirit are His gifts to us.  I pray He will keep giving me the grace and a growing desire to seek Him and I pray that His Spirit's power will continue transforming me into something more beautiful for Him.

Even though I'm not sure if the colours outside are as vibrant as they were last year...I still think this season is another amazing masterpiece by the Master.  I plan to soak it all in until it's gone!

Fast & Furious Fall

It has been several weeks since my last post...needless to say, we have all been just a little busy.  It is a fact of life in this house that when school starts, we all hit the ground running...some of us do more running than others, but in our own ways we are all running the race!

 

Taylor and Amber started basketball on the second day of school, and that generally involves games and practices 4 out of the 5 days of their school week.  Levi has already finished the school soccer season as well as the cross country one, and for the first time in his school career, David was also on the cross country team.  He had a great time competing at the first two meets.  The junior team came away with a 2nd place finish at one of the meets, so he was pleased to come home with a lovely blue ribbon.

Levi exceeded his own goals at the culminating All-Ontario Christian School meet, coming in 31st place!  There were over 30 Christian Schools represented at that meet, so it was most definitely a personal best for him!!!  We are so proud of them both for training at school and at home and for persevering and using their God-given gifts.

The girls are almost at the end of their regular season games, and then hopefully they will put on a good show in the play-offs.  Having girls on both the junior and senior teams has proven to be very exciting!  Lots of games to watch and lots of time on the bleachers.  (Can't say my back always likes that part of it.) We haven't been able to watch all their games, but when things aren't too crazy, we are there with our voices to cheer them on!  Both teams have done quite well this season...I think the junior team has only lost one regular season game so far...SO...the play-offs should be VERY exciting! I will attempt to keep you posted once that showdown starts.  (Amber is really hoping the seniors will make it to OFSAA again...only time will tell.)

Rick is busy at school with all that is involved in keeping things running smoothly and he does his best to keep everything in balance.  At the end of September I started my EA position at DCCS.  I am enjoying my time back in the classroom.  My immune system is working overtime trying to fight off all those germs that 4 and 5 year olds are so great at sharing...but other than that, it is going very well.  I love being back with the children and because I have the pleasure of being an EA, it doesn't involve all the extra prep-work that goes along with teaching.  Besides the work at school, I also teach a few piano students during the week and that is also a lot of fun.  

We have had so much rain and nasty weather this autumn that I haven't made it out to take any fall pictures...YET!  I hope to squeeze a bit of photography in there before all the leaves are gone...they are falling fast and furious these days...