A Week to Forget...or Not...

Have you ever had a vacation when you should be enjoying your time off but you find yourself sick instead?  Well, that is what my week was like.  I've had a few days off from the greenhouse and I was so excited about having some time off...some days to get busy and productive around the house...but God saw fit to have me rest and deal with sickness instead.

I try to tell myself that there's a purpose in everything...so when I have days like this I try to use them to read more and pray more and reflect more...and when that happens, days that seem to have a cloud hanging over them, turn into days of growth despite the apparent lack of sunshine.

I have had to give up my LBS Tuesdays for a season while I work at the greenhouse, so I was happy to have the opportunity to go to LBS once again this week and experience the fellowship of my sisters in Christ.  It's always such a blessing to get together, read and study God's Word and grow and share in one another's lives. God always blesses our time.  

When Wednesday rolled around, my health grew worse, the throat was more swollen and sore, the headache more pronounced and the sinus pressure intense.  I had to bow out of Kid's Club and I really didn't want to do that because we are preparing for our Club Parents' Night next week.  I may have missed out on Club, but we had a lovely quiet time at home...it was good to spend some quality time together as a family.

Thursday morning arrived and I was awake before the sun with pain in my jaw and head.  Thankfully, after the Advil kicked in I was able to nod off again for a little while.  My day was quiet until noon when I got the dreaded "phone call" from the principal telling me about an incident at school involving one of our kids.  This is the second time in the history of Rick's administrative years that he's had to make such a phone call home to me.

Instead of taking a nap, I ended up visiting the school.  I must be honest...since that time, I have been struggling with anger towards those involved.  We have been trying to teach our children that when they are in a conflict they should respond in a Biblical way.  We've tried to teach them to turn the other cheek, to be kind and forgiving, to be leaders that God would be proud of and that other kids could look up to.  What happened to our child this week was disturbing on a number of levels, but it leaves me once again leaning on Jesus to trust that all things happen for a reason.  

God has been using this week to teach me to pray....more.  To pray that our responses might be godly, and to pray for the children and parents involved. I pray that God would help us all to see that His way is the only way to live a life that is pleasing to Him. I pray that our kids will learn to respond in love and to pray for their enemies. Oh that God would use this to help us all grow.

A week I want to forget?  On the one hand I would answer with a resounding "yes"...but the unexpected events of this week were showered with blessings and I pray that the lessons of this week won't soon be forgotten.

Maybe this post should be titled, "A Week to Forgive"...

Springtime Garden 2012

Spring started early this year, and with the busyness of the season, I finally took some time to capture a few pics from my garden.  Every spring the garden looks a little different...usually a few less tulips blooming due to the critters who eat the bulbs. I also have almost a dozen tulips with the blooms missing...someone has decided to eat the tops right off...either my stinker squirrel frienemies, or the cute fluffy not-so-little cottontails from the hedge across the road.  I've not caught either of them in the act.  Oh well...so it goes...   On the bright side, what has managed to survive is blooming and looks lovely!

Birthday Time

Happy Birthday 

Taylor Joy!!!

We celebrated another birthday this week in the Schenk home.  We thank God for blessing our Taylor Joy with 15 years and pray He'll bless her with many more!

Happy Spring!

"And He changes the times and the seasons..."

Daniel 2:21a

We've been feeling some lovely warmer weather for the past several weeks now, and finally the calendar has made it official...spring is here!!!  This is one of my favourite seasons.  I find that I have a renewed sense of energy and excitement now that the days are getting longer and the birds are waking us up with their early morning concerts (complete with the drumming of the woodpecker.)  I am the kind of person that always notices the weather and how much the sun shines.  (Must be the farm girl in me.) Maybe that's why spring is an incredibly invigorating time of year for me.  I find it more exciting than the clock hitting midnight on December 31st. There is just something about this time of year that puts more energy in my step and zest in my day.

We recently enjoyed a relaxing March break with the children, and we spent most of it right here at home.  We made an overnight visit to Wainfleet, and left a couple children behind to spend some quality time with Grandpa and Grandma.  We kept busy cleaning up around the yard, cleaning out the garden, going for walks, shopping, bowling, and finding our summer clothes (David was in desperate need of his shorts.)  The weather we were blessed with was absolutely uncharacteristic for this time of year, so we enjoyed it to the fullest and even hopped on the bikes and hit the roads and the trails.

We enjoyed a visit from some of the Pols clan, and uncle Andrew was kind enough to return our missing children to us as well as bring along his chain saw and cut down our pear tree that was infested with ants.  I am happy to see that tree gone...there will be no more messy rotting pears on the ground during the summer or bees and wasps feeding on those fallen pears in the lawn.  Owen stayed here to visit for a couple of days and after we returned him to his family, we went on an adventure to Niagara-on-the-Lake. We had a fantastic time and are so thankful for those days of refreshment.

Now we are back into the swing of things...school schedules and work.  The girls are seriously training for track and field, and I have added greenhouse work to my days that I am not in the classroom.  It's great to be "playing in the dirt" and watching the gorgeous flowers get ready for the gardens.  This week I spent one of my days transplanting annuals, and the other working in a sea of Easter lilies. Needless to say, my back was happy that today was a "school day".....it needed some recuperating time.

Signs of new life are everywhere you look. I took just a bit of time this afternoon to go out and find new fresh green signs of life in my garden...Makes me want to praise the Creator!!! 

Tips for Moms

This past week I had the opportunity to speak at a baby shower.  My thoughts turned into a bit of a top-ten list. It is by no means a complete list, but with the time I had to speak, I tried to cram as much as I could onto one page and into 5 minutes.  A few people have asked for it, so I thought I'd just post it here...

For Stephanie: Top Ten Tidbits of Mothering Advice ~ 02.23.12

Subject to change as I grow and learn more about being the mom God wants me to be… 

(*Crazy Glue: fixes almost anything they break…almost everything…)
10. Many wise women have told me this: Enjoy every stage of your child’s development.  Time is fleeting.  You won’t believe how fast the time flies…Before you know it they are behind the wheel & looking at universities… (Jms 4.14 Life is a vapour) Enjoy them while they are with you…some day you have to let them go…
9. Model a life of Balance…whether it’s in the work you do, the food you eat, the leisure activities you enjoy…the list could go on and on. What does this mean? One example: Balance work and play. It’s important to take time to play, dance and sing with your children.  When they grow up they will remember the time you spent playing with them, not whether your floor was sparkling clean. Give them undivided attention. Look them in the eyes when they are talking to you. Sometimes you need to demonstrate to them that they are more important than the dishes. (Eph 5.16-redeem the time)  
8. Be there and Party. As they grow older, be there for them.  Be there.  Watch them play their sports…cheer them on at the spelling bee or the battle of the books, and be interested in their hobbies and pursuits, whatever they are.  And Party with your children. Tell them you are proud of them. Celebrate their successes, remembering to thank God for giving them those gifts. Encourage them when they fail or fall. Let them fall…valuable lessons are learned when we make mistakes. Instil in them the desire to always do their best for God…and celebrate with them when they do! (Col 3.23; Eccl 9.10; 2Tim 2.15)
7. Let your yes be yes and your no, no. (Jms 5.12) If you make a promise…keep it…or…don’t make a promise you can’t keep. (Heb 10.23 God is the ultimate example of a promise keeper.) Along with this thought comes the idea of consistency.  Be consistent with what you expect in your children. Be consistent in your discipline. If you say something is going to happen, follow through with it…which also means, be very careful what you do say. 
6. Model gratitude and godliness with contentment (1Tim 6.6; 1Thess 5.18) – Being thankful – First to God for all His blessings, and also thankful to each other. Be content with what God has blessed you with. Teach the difference between needs and wants.
5. Model a love for learning and reading.  A love for godly wisdom and knowledge. Show your children what “lifelong-learning” means…especially gaining more and more knowledge about God…we never know it all! (Prov 1.7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom)(Jms 1.5 Need wisdom…ask for it.)
4. Model Love – speak it and show it daily. Say it and do it. Tell them you love them and shower them with affection. Tell them that you are so glad God made them. God has created us all unique. We are all created in His image…but we are also different from one another. No one is exactly like them…they have different gifts and talents…take the time to recognize them and help them to develop them and use them for serving God and others. (Ps 139; Mt25) Love them for who God created them to be.  Take that love outside the four walls of your home and touch your neighbourhood with love. (Jms 1.27)
3. Model confession and forgiveness (Col 3.13; Mt 6.12; 18.35) – we are all sinners. When you sin against your children, ask for forgiveness.  Pray with them and for them.  Keep your eyes and ears peeled for those unique “teachable moments.” Bedtimes are often special tender heart times…great times to talk about God and life…those times are often not forgotten.
2. Model the love of Christ and the church in your marriage (Eph 5.24-26; Col 3.18-20). This is one of the best gifts you can give your children…a model of a strong Christian marriage. Your children should see the love of Christ for His church being lived out before them.  They should see love and respect demonstrated in your marriage. They should see parents who serve one another and put each other first.  Protect your marriage. Put a hedge around your marriage and you will be protecting your children. Make your home a haven of rest, refuge and comfort for everyone.
1. Put God first. Love Him above all. (Deut 6.4-6; Lk 10.26-28) Put Him first before your husband and your children.  Maintain a strong relationship with Christ by spending quiet time with Him daily.  Take time to grow in grace and grow in your faith (2Peter 3.17-18).  Model the reality that you live under God’s authority.  Teach your children that they need to obey you, their parent…and demonstrate and tell them that you obey God. He is the head, the #1 in your life, your marriage and your family.

Hamilton Indoor Games

Yesterday, Levi had the privilege of competing at the Hamilton Indoor Games held at Copps Coliseum.  Trinity had a fantastic day and all the students competed with wonderful sportsmanship and heart.  TCS tied for 10th place out of 30 schools and a few of the students won medals, so it was an impressive display of God-given athletic abilities. We are very thankful for their coaches, Charles and Audrey McGregor, who always lead and coach with such enthusiasm and positive encouragement. Yesterday was a great experience for Levi.  He competed in three track events as well as triple jump. The opportunity to compete at this event was a great warm up for the upcoming track season...

Thumbs Up For Friday!

Thank you Disney*Pixar for such great little characters!

TCS Titans Hockey 2012

The two biggest boys in this house spent some time together at the hockey rink this winter.  The TCS Titans' hockey team participated in two tournaments (as well as an exhibition game against Dundas, which they won!) 

Levi enjoyed developing his skills and having fun with his friends on the ice, and Rick always loves any opportunity to put on his own skates and help out. 

After watching his brother at one of the practices, David said, "that just makes me want to play!"  (I'm glad he has a few more years to grow before he tries out for the hockey team.)  

Work and things of that nature kept me from going to the tournaments this year, but Taylor went with her friend to the tournament in Stouffville...(the girls were on a break between semesters.)  

I was very thankful that she went as the "Schenk photographer"...so thankful, in fact, that I let her take MY camera!

  The following pictures were taken and edited by her.  ♥Thank you so much Taylor!!!♥

Here are the "sports reports" that were put together by the team manager and published by TCS:

HOCKEY DAY IN GUELPH CANADA

On Thursday, January 19, fifteen determined hockey players rose early in the morning to travel for the annual Guelph District Hockey Tournament in Fergus.  Always a highlight of the sporting season, the hockey team practiced hard in preparation for a competitive day of hockey that included Christian schools from Guelph, Burlington Christian Academy (BCA), Kitchener and Brantford. 

The competition at this year’s tournament proved to be very strong for the Trinity Titans.  Although we began the day as the reigning Guelph District Christian School Hockey Tournament “AA” Champs, the day ended without a victory.    The team improved with each game and the players were a pleasure to coach and supervise.    Congratulations to all the players!  Well done! 

The team would especially like to thank our coaches, John Regeling, Jack Olewniczak and Tim Valters for all their help and all the parents who were able to drive.  We are looking forward to our next tournament in Stouffville on Friday, January 27.  We will keep you informed!

Rick Schenk

Hockey Night in Burlington

The hockey season at TCS has come to an end.   Fifteen young men strapped up their laces and took to the ice on Friday, January 27 in Stouffvulle to represent our school at the final tournament of the season.  Under the tutelage of head coach, Tim Valters and assistants John Regeling and Jack Olewniczak, the team improved significantly from the previous tournament. 

The tournament included teams from Stouffville, Barrie, St. Catharines and two from Burlington, including BCA and ourselves.  The team was faced with some tough competition and finished the tournament with a record of one win, one tie and two loses.  The scores included the following:  Stouffville 3, Trinity 2; Barrie 3, Trinity 3; Trinity 8, St. Catharines 3; and BCA 3, Trinty 1. 

The entire coaching staff was very excited about the level of commitment and effort from the hockey team.  After a rousing exhibition game against Dundas Calvin Christian School on Thursday, the team transformed from a group of hockey players into a team.  

A special thanks to all our volunteer parent drivers and the coaching team.  We are very thankful for the opportunity to lead this wonderful group of students and we look forward to another exciting season next year.

Rick Schenk

Team Manager

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.