A year at a glimpse....

2025 began with busy-ness as usual. The year began with Doug having four-surgeries-in-one on his sinuses. As he was recovering, he ended up having a blood clot in his leg. It was a stressful several weeks, with trying to figure out what was needed so this would clear up and not occur again. But thank God, it did and Doug has a clean bill of health now! 

In April, Naomi graduated from Horizon College & Seminary with her Master's Degree in Ministry Leadership, and celebrated it at the ceremony in Saskatchewan with Doug,  her parents and her aunt. 

May came, and Doug and Naomi celebrated their tenth anniversary with a trip, just the two of them, in the Bahamas. A trip of a lifetime! Zach was home from bible school for a few weeks and filled in preaching for Doug and taking care of his siblings before heading off to his summer internship at a nearby city. 

Ethan graduated grade 12 in June, and received a few scholarships toward his post-secondary schooling! He is attending the same school in the fall as Zach, taking Biblical Theology.  June also brought more animals to our little farm! We hatched out 4 ducks, and inherited 5 chicks and two kittens, bringing our animal total to 14 chickens, 8 ducks, 3 cats, 2 dogs and a house ducky named Quackley! (you can read more about our house ducky's life here)

Summer brought loads of work to our little farm, including redoing the chicken coop to water proof the floor, successfully growing a bazillion tomatoes and a handful of pumpkins, but not much else, and chopping wood for winter! The never-ending chopping wood to feed our boiler for heat for the winter actually continues all year long. 

Emerald wasn't the first to buy a car this summer, but she was the youngest! She bought a 2000 mustang convertible (5 speed) and learned to drive it! Ethan also bought a car, and so did Zach! So now when everyone is home, we look like a used car lot with our dozen cars parked in the driveway! HAHA!! 

The fall changed our home drastically, as Ethan headed off to school a week after Zach did, and our house quickly became quiet and filled with girls! Doug is out-numbered by girls! Emerald went into grade 11 and Sapphire into grade 10! Emerald continues to lead our junior youth group this fall and Sapphire has been reffing soccer, volleyball and getting involved in music even more. Both her and Emerald play in an all girl band, Emerald on drums and Sapphire on piano! 

As we head into winter, time is going so fast, we are looking forward to our favourite time of year! We look forward to time spend with family and friends,  playing games and puzzling together, baking cookies and making homemade egg nog. But, most importantly, we look forward to this time of year because we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour and can openly share Christ with others more easily than in other times and seasons. We can point to Christ and His birth and purpose for coming to earth, and share the Gospel with others who might struggle with holidays for many reasons. We love sharing what He has done and we anticipate that God is going to continue doing amazing things in 2026! We pray that God will bless you, your family, and your life so richly as we begin yet another New Year.