Overdue Update

It's been way too long since I've taken the time to update this blog.  Shame on me.
A lot has happened in our neck of the woods in the past couple months, I shall try to be brief...so hang on...

Rick and I celebrated 20 wonderful years of marriage with a "no-kids" camping trip this summer to Bon Echo.  The kids were sincerely concerned that we would not be able to manage setting up camp without their help and muscles, but we managed just fine by ourselves.  It's amazing what you can do when you stand on a picnic table! That being said, I certainly missed their dish-washing skills...

Everyone is back into the swing of things in the school department.  Amber (gr.12), Taylor (gr.10) and Levi (gr.9) are diligently working at their particular subject areas for their first term at King's, and the girls are also back on the basketball court.  I've had the opportunity to watch a few games, and they are off to a nice start!

 I think this was Amber's 14pt game...she was tearing up the court...even impressed Coach Stewart with her left-handed lay-up...Gotta admit that it was so smooth I didn't even notice it was her left hand...

Rick and Amber celebrated birthdays in September...Sorry, no candles for Rick...

David (gr.5) and Rick (Mr. Princi"pal") are the only Schenkies left at Trinity, so David has a lot of responsibility being the only child who can keep an eye on daddy at school.  It's a lot of pressure, but he seems to be up for the challenge.  Our young man David is once again busy training for cross-country...he has his first X-country meet this week.

I am busy teaching/directing/herding 20 beautiful JK students three days a week.  It has been a steep learning curve for both the kids and myself.  Every day I seem to throw some plans out the window, or save things for another day, because you just never know what might go down in a day in JK!  I am having lots of fun, and God has blessed me with great health and a voice that has kept up with the all-day chatter.  I have two wonderful ladies who help out in the class as well, and they are a wonderful blessing!

Now I need to give my house a little attention...for some reason the house still doesn't clean itself...

Air Canada Centre ~by David Schenk

To preface this post, I just want to say that we were blessed to be gifted with some tickets to a Raptors game...it was a lovely gift and enjoyed by the entire family.  On another note, I did not ask David to write a report about our trip to Toronto...he had so much fun he just had to write about it.  I did, however, ask him if I could type up what he wrote and share it, and he agreed, so here is his take on our exciting outing to Toronto!  Enjoy! 

On February 3, 2012, our whole family went to the Air Canada Centre to watch the Raptors vs the Wizards.  On our way, there we saw a dead animal on the road. Did you know the Air Canada Centre can transform from Basketball to Hockey? When we got there we got Skittles, M&M's, big M&M's. When they were introducing the teams, for the Raptors they set off fireworks and there was fire that burst from behind the net. During the game, the dudes would just shoot and it would go right in. They would only have to jump a tiny bit and they would be able to slam dunk it. Most of the guys were 6 foot something, only two people on the Raptors are 7 foot something. At the end of one of the periods, the Raptor mascot jumped on a trampoline and flipped and dunked it. For the half time show kids came and played basketball and any time they did a good shot the commentator would say, "good shot there kid." The people said that if the Raptors got 100 points or more everyone who came gets a free piece of pizza from Pizza Pizza. The Raptors did score 100 points so we get free pizza. In the end the Raptors won. The final score was 106 over 89 for Raptors. On the way home we took a detour. It felt like it took a long time. We were in Toronto for a long time. By the Air Canada Centre were lights that lit up with different colours. There also was a tree that had stars on it, it looked really cool. When we got home I started writing what I am writing right now. In the end I stayed up till 11:03.  The End.

OFSAA 2011

The King's Christian senior ladies basketball team went to the OFSAA Championships held at Ridley College this past November, and we were more than a little excited for this opportunity to cheer them on for the second year in a row.  They played four very tough games, and finished in 9th place out of fourteen teams. Needless to say, we were very proud of them all and thankful for their wonderful coaches, Eric Bulthuis and Elspeth Jones, who were there to lead them. They might not hold the OFSAA title, but they do hold the OCSSAA title...see here. Congratulations on a wonderful season!!  We are looking forward to the next one...DV.

After the last play...a final cheer...

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! 

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!!!