Tourist in our own town

One of the things we have tried to do each weekend this summer, is go somewhere local that one of us have never been before and enjoy our beautiful province that we live in. This past weekend we ventured out to Harrison.

On the way we stopped in Abbotsford for a "Lang" breakfast. (My Mom's side of the family) Grandpa was down for a visit from Osoyoos and it was so great to see him along with all the other extended family that were able to make it. We truly treasure our time we get to see Grandpa as each day is a gift.
Here is a pic of him holding his newest Great Grandson - Abraham (my nephew). Grandpa has 16 great grandchildren with 1 more on the way. What a blessing he has had the privilege of seeing in his lifetime.

After that we kept driving out to Harrison. I've been there on day trips before but Lance had never seen this peaceful place tucked away in between the glorious mountains. It truly is such a picture, perfect place. We had a great time exploring the place and walking through the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel pretending we were royalty. :) It was great to spend the day enjoying 1 more place that God's wonder and creativity is every where you look.
If you live in this area and have never been, we encourage you to go. It is a beautiful spot to walk, sit, bike, camp, swim, and enjoy a 'get-a-way' that is only an hour away.

Enjoy the long weekend - the official last one of the summer.

so far so good

Just a quick update about the new receptionist / administration job. So far so good. I've had the usual new place adjustments but everyday I'm getting more comfortable. The job itself is low challenge compared to what I did before but it is kind of nice not having the added stress. I can't believe I've been there 3 weeks already. God is already opening doors and each day I'm able to shine light to each employee and customer that crosses my path.


Other than that things in the Rourke household are going well. This week we had my cousins that are like brothers drive into town from Alberta and we had the chance to spend time with them. Every time we get to see them I'm reminded at how blessed I am with so much family - Immediate, in laws, and extended, whether far away or close, they are all amazing people that I treasure. :)

It is hard to believe summer is coming to a close. Only 2 more weeks and full schedules kick in, school begins and fall arrives. There is something exciting about the beginning of fall - like the beginning of a new year. We are looking forward to great things for the rest of this year as we continue to seek God's will and plan for everyday.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying today :)

Great News!

I'm so happy to announce I'm officially EMPLOYED once again!! :) God is so good! I start on August 4th with Vitrum Industries (A glass fabrication company known all over the lower mainland) starting out as their full time receptionist with HUGE room to advance within the company. I'm looking forward to working for a new place with such great people. I must admit I'm a little nervous but who isn't for their first day at a new job. I think I'm more excited than anything to start.

It has been quite the journey for the past 5 months but I'm thankful that the time has come for where God wants to place me in this new chapter in my working career. Thank you to everyone who has been so faithful in praying for us as we have continued to keep knocking on each door waiting for the right one to open. We serve such a great God who consistently loves us unconditionally and brings us through hard times to His promise land set apart for us.

Fun times in Edmonton

We had a wonderful week with Mom & Dad Rourke in mid June. They came for a week and we enjoyed everyday. Unfortunately I didn't pull my camera out once. Silly me.

At the end of the week we all headed out to Edmonton to spend time with the rest of the family. This was a very special time as the family hasn't all been together in 12 years. We enjoyed staying at Lance's sisters place, celebrating our niece's 10th birthday and being together on Father's day for Dad. It was Lance's brother's wish for us to have some family photos done to mark this great moment so on Father's day the adults did just that. We had great weather the whole time and it was sad to have to say goodbye.

Our trip up driving through BC


A few pics of family time


Lance with all his nephews and niece


Rourke Family Photo


Rourke siblings


From Edmonton we had planned on having a mini vacation in Whistler to join my sister & family along with my parents. The adventure turned to being stranded in Lillooet due to a rock slide that our car got damaged in. It was quite the trip and 3 days we will never get back :)



Once we got home I have been enjoying time in the sun with family and friends. We live in such a beautiful province with lakes and the ocean so close. Here are a few pics of times at these beaches.

Summer in the way of blogging

I can't believe how behind I am in not only updating this blog but also in reading my friends blogs. Reason? . . .the best . . . . enjoying summer days. 'Sigh', what could be better :)

I'm going to try and update this blog soon so stay tuned. I have so many photos to download as well and share what we have been up too. God is so good to continue to provide, bring purpose to each day and walk through life loving and serving Him.

I said Monday but somehow it is already Tuesday

How does that happen? I had a list made out of everything I wanted to accomplish yesterday and I was able to check about 4 things off the list. Blogging obviously didn't make it on that check :)

Regardless here is a bunch of things that have been happening around here and coming up.

1) May was a full month. It always is in my family due to so many birthdays. We celebrated my nephew's birthday, then Mother's day, then my parents went on an Alaskan cruise, then celebrated my Dad's birthday, then my Mom's, then a great friend's birthday and then her Mom's birthday. Phew! We had gorgeous weather the majority of May which brought us cleaning off our deck and enjoying the outdoors as well.

Pics of the cruise ship and my nephew at Canada Place

2) Due to no job yet, I've been using my skills and abilities that God has given me to bring in a little extra. A great friend of mine and myself booked a table at Kids Swap. For those that don't know what Kids Swap is it isn't to swap your kids. If that was the case it would be a new way for me to get one :) It is a place where you buy a table and are able to sell anything kids. You can find everything from furniture to baby toys to clothing to new items, etc. I LOVE making square receiving blankets for newborn babies as they are hard to find in the stores and they are the best to swaddle a baby in. So I have been doing a lot of sewing and sold a bunch of them! Every little bit helps especially with my teaching done for the summer. It was a lot of fun as well.

3) Still job hunting. This is a hard one as you feel so out of control in the whole process. The most any person can do is apply EVERYWHERE and wait. You can't force them to set up an interview or to say "You're the one I want to hire" as much as I'd like too sometimes. But God has the right job out there. Until then it is amazing how life can fill up each day.

4) My Piano recital is this week for my students and I'm quite excited about it. My sister and I always do a joint concert for our students and it is always a big hit for the end of the piano year. I've been busy with programs, tickets, awards, etc. to make the evening special for not only the students but the parents, grandparents, friends and other family that attend.

5) My in-laws are coming to town at the end of this week! That is probably why the list is so long this week of things I need to accomplish :) I'm really looking forward to having them stay with us for a week as we are blessed to see them once a year if it works out as they live on the other side of Canada.

6) And last but not least I have a new NEPHEW!! He was born on Saturday and he is just perfect! My brother and sister-in-law are doing well. He is their second son and makes their little family in a new spot in life but oh so good :)

So that is the update. When I have more time I'll add pics to this post. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying each day God gives us.

Update coming soon!

It isn't right that my last post was back in APRIL! My apologies. Excuse? Well I don't really have one besides life flying by and not taking the time to sit down to journal it. BUT I have a few great things coming from the last month and a bit to write so tomorrow is the day for blogging. So come on back tomorrow for those still following this blog to see what the Rourkes have been up too. :)

Auntie and Niece day!

My youngest niece had a field trip with her preschool that I was privilege to go on with her last week due to my sister having to work. I was so excited as I haven't been on a field trip since elementary school days myself.

It was a transportation field trip. This meant we road all different types of transportation here in the lower mainland. We started on the city bus, then to the sky train then to the sea bus and then back again. We stopped in Longs dale key in Vancouver for lunch and a chance for the kids to play at the park. It was a long day for the kids but such a great memory of spending quality time with my niece. Here are a few pics for you to enjoy. :)

Osoyoos

Lance was on holidays last week and unfortunatley was sick with a cold for a lot of it but we did have a chance to go away for 3 days to my Aunt and Uncle's place in Osoyoos. They own a mini vineyard that over looks the lake and we had a great time of relaxation. I've put some pics below. Everything is just starting to bloom so it will look different in a couple weeks time but it is a place full of beauty and slower pace of life. So wonderful. We really enjoyed our stay and time visiting with my Aunt.

The cabin we stayed in


Outside and inside


More of the vineyard & inside the home

Spring has arrived!

It is so wonderful to finally feel warmth from the sun, look at beautiful flowers, trees and plants budding and listen to birds sing away their song of joy for the new season of SPRING. A new season full of fresh potential and new life. As is in the Rourke household. We are so thankful to be moving forward with this new season and anticipate great things that God has in store for our lives. We are full of hope, joy, and God's promises for what is to come!

I'm still on the job hunt but know in God's time He will provide the right job. I'm on interviews weekly it seems but the right 'fit' just hasn't come yet. I embrace each day as a new day full of anything God has for us.

On the job hunt

It is hard to believe it has been 4 weeks since I was laid off. Since then I have been walking through a journey of God's healing but also moving forward with looking for work. I've been on 4 job interviews but no job yet. I know that God has the best one out there for me but I must admit the waiting is hard. Everyday I'm searching a list of job post sites to see if there is anything I can put my resume into. But I must tell you the competition increases with the economy right now and the Unemployment in Canada continuing to rise. BUT I know God is lining something up that will not only be something I enjoy but provide financially as well. And I know it shall be soon. The problem is my soon and God's soon are two very different things :)

Besides job hunting everyday, I've loved having the opportunity to seek God's face with no time limit on it each day due to schedules. There has been such a wonderful place of being 'Mary' instead of Martha' with the Lord. It is a season I'm treasuring to just 'be' with Christ. I've also been busy with having coffee with friends, keep the house clean, filing, organizing, do some baking, try out new recipes, do my workout everyday and sew, sew, sew! I haven't been able to do that in years and it is a hobby I enjoy.

I'm also thankful I still have my other job of teaching piano. I really enjoy having students to teach and pour into through music. I call it my 'hobby' job but I'm shocked every week at how much I look forward to teaching. It is a true gift - music that is - and what better than to invest that gift into others. I'm so glad the Lord created music and worship through it.

So I've finally reached a place of 'contentment' this week which is the first since circumstances blew my world apart with being laid off. It is a good place to be and I look with great anticipation and excitement for what God has next. Until then I sit at His feet, enjoying each day and thank Him for He is good!

A new chapter in life

This week has been a hard one for myself and Lance. One that we will not forget as it is closing of one chapter before turning the page to the next. With any good book there seems to be a chapter that you cannot put down before you finish it, it is that good. And then before starting the next you sit back and think about the chapter you just finished and realize how good it was. Almost in fear of reading the next as you think it might not compare to the one you just read. But in all books, it just gets better, and better till the end :)

The finished chapter in my life has been my employment at CLA for the last 10 yrs. I was laid off this week along with others due to finances being so low at CLA they couldn't keep all their staff. This was such a hard decision for our leadership Board and I respect the decision they made and choose to trust the Lord through this.

It doesn't make it easy since this chapter has been so good. I've been reflecting to when I started as the afternoon, part-time, front desk receptionist that used to be where the cafe in CLA now is. The changes that have taken place since then are remarkable. I went from front desk receptionist to full time Administrative Assistant to the Youth, then to Ministry Assistant to the Youth & Young Adults, and then to Executive Assistant to the Board and Executive team. God has blessed me with favour and experience as well as grow in my walk with Christ through it all. And we can't forget about the courtship that developed between Lance and I and all of the staff being able to witness God's goodness as we were married and started a new wonderful journey as a couple. God has been good. :)

I will miss the day to day working with the staff. When you spend 5 days per week for 10 yrs with these people, they truly become family. I think that is the hardest part. We will continue being friends but it will look different.

I have no idea what is next, but I know God does. He is so faithful in taking care of His kids and turning the storm into peace. What the enemy wants to use for evil, God promises in His word to turn it to good! I trust my heavenly Father completely and look forward to how He bring the BEST to us once again and all the glory and praise will return to Him as He is the one who will carry us through.

So friends, if you could remember us in prayer we would greatly appreciate it as we start a new chapter in life. A little scary, but with huge excitement, we flip the page to see what God has written next in the story of our lives.

Yummy Chili

I found this great, easy recipe for chili you do in the slow cooker that I have done a bunch of times. This past Saturday I doubled the recipe (Still fit in the slow cooker) so that I was able to put it into containers and freeze for an easy dinner when time is an issue. If you do double the recipe I cooked it for 6 hrs. on HIGH and this worked really well. So click here and if you try it out let me know what you think!

Playing Mom & Dad

Lance and I got to play 'Mom & Dad' for 4 days as Ben & Heather were speakers at a conference in Banff. We stayed at their place last weekend and had so much fun with their 4 girls. We have a whole new appreciation for parents and especially those parents that have large families. :)

Saturday we took them to swimming lessons and then to the Honey Bee Centre on a tour of learning all about bees and then seeing a real hive of working bees. It was very educational and fun. The girls were fascinated the whole time. It ended with receiving a 'honey stick' of any flavour you wanted. From there we headed to our favourite place - Starbucks! A much needed cup of coffee was ordered for both Lance and I and the girls had steamed milk or hot chocolate. We then had a great evening of making your own individual pizza and a movie that their Mom & Dad had bought them before they left.

Sunday we had a morning at home (didn't make it to church) and then met up with Jay & Sarah and my nephew Rhyse to go for a walk down at Crescent beach. We took Cookie (Their dog) with us for his first time at the beach. He was pretty excited. After that we headed over to our landlords place for dinner as we do every Sunday. They were all pretty excited to see us and get to know the girls better.

Monday Lance was back to work and I was off to a very full day! I experienced packing lunches, styling lots and LOTS of blond hair, school drop offs and pick ups in a mini van, helping with homework, grocery shopping, dance classes, doing puzzles & colouring, laundry, letting the dog out to go pee, and keeping the youngest entertained as she was my buddy all day long. What a blast! We were ready EARLY for everything and I was quite proud of myself for that :) We then had a great night at Nana & Papa's for dinner.

Tuesday I had an early meeting for my job to set up for so I was out the door by 5:45am, set everything up including breakfast and then headed back to the house just after 7am to get the girls up and ready for school round two! :) Thankfully Nana & Papa took over in the afternoon before their parents arrived home so I was able to work as well.

The whole 4 days were full and very busy, but so much fun and we were thankful for the special time we got to spend with our nieces! We are so blessed.

So the question everyone is now asking is "Do you still want kids?" Sure do, but not 4 at a time. We are thankful for the season we are in and when that time comes, we will start with 1 . .. . God willing :)

Writer's block

I know it has been a long time since I last posted a blog but I've come across having 'writer's block'. Nothing really to write about - that is blog appropriate. Life keeps going with ups and downs and we see God in the midst of it all. He is so faithful!

So what to write about when you don't know what to say? The weather! One of my favourite lines from Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' is "If you can't think of anything proper to say you shall restrict your remarks to the weather." We have had a week of heavy fog in Langley followed by a day of sunshine and then more snow today. I thought over the holidays we received our quota for 5 yrs. but obviously the Lord had other plans. :) It is a pain to get around in but such a pretty picture to look at.

One of my favourite things I love about the snow is how silent everything is. With rain you know it is raining due to the pelting on your roof, but with snow it comes down so quietly with no one knowing unless you see it or listen really hard. Kind of like how the Lord speaks. You need to listen as it says in scripture, 'He isn't in the fire, and He isn't in the wind, He speaks in a gentle whisper." So enjoy the weather today, wherever you are and let God speak through it. He always does.