If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking

He is jealous for me

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are 

And how great Your affections are for me

Oh, how He loves us so

How he loves us

How He loves us so

- How He Loves Us- David Crowder Band

I've had some good time to think on my days off. It's been a good month for that. Lots of contemplation. I thrive on contemplation.

Brian and I have settled into a comfortable rhythm of marriage. I am content. It's a really special season in life, I think. The things we learn about each other continue to increase at an astounding rate. I can only imagine what it's like after many years of marriage. It's such a gift. The little things are special too. Shared Sunday afternoon coffee on the couch, I knit and he studies. Oatmeal in the mornings. The funny stuff and disagreements. Proud to say that we made it through a grocery shopping trip yesterday without bickering at all. The tortilla chips and salsa were the closest bone of contention, but still, we escaped unscathed. Waking up next to each other, the fabled event I always dreamed of, is just really nice. Sure, sometimes I am grumpy and he is a bear and the alarm is obnoxious. But most of the time, its just contentment. Sometimes I take a step back and marvel at all this. Almost 3 years ago now, I met these intriguing redhead 3 days after I moved to BC. Now he shares my house, my bed, my heart, my life. Our life. As long as we both shall walk together on this earth.

Have been learning a lot about faith too. Being part of a very small on-campus church has its challenges, but it is helping us both to grow. A women's small group is on the horizon (meeting to talk about it tonight-yaaaay for materializing of dreams), a kids ministry is just starting up, and we are forming lasting relationships with people there. I am thankful. 

Making pea soup. Dutch Shop style. Went on a run around the Battery. It's a couple of windy roads right on the edge of the harbour, with quirky cute little precarious houses. Newfoundland, I'm still getting to know you more and more. And I like it.

How He loves us.

Flurries

Well, we got our first snow last night/ today. It's pretty much all gone now, it was only a few centimetres... and the slight rain that started this afternoon kind of killed it (which is what usually happens in St. John's).
But still, it's been a lot colder lately.. cold enough to realize, at least, that our house is extremely non-heat efficient. Think sieve. Strainer. Holey jacket. Probably going to be some hefty oil bills for the next few months. Ah well, what can you do. We can always think back to these days in future.. "remember that house we lived in when we were first married that was built in 1903 and couldn't hold any heat in whatsoever?" Room temperature has now become 15 degrees. But i'm okay with that. It is winter, after all.

On another note, I did some of my favourite day-off things today. Baked blueberry bran muffins, talked to Mum, Dad and Chris on Skype, made good coffee, went for a run, and wrote in my journal. Also a bit of household chores. I just have to add reading and cooking a delicious supper for my husband to that and its pretty much the ideal day off these days.

Back to work tomorrow. But that's alright.

Hiking on the edge of the world...

Perfect road trip- Timbits and coffee.... brings back memories of childhood holidays (the 65 pack from the Barrie Tim Hortons :)

The Southern Shore Highway

  
Port Kirwan- East Coast Trail, hike out to Berry Head on Spurwink Island Path. Near Fermeuse.

Climbing up 

Glorious 

Woodsy path

My love

Lest we forget

I am very impressed by the deep, sincere appreciation that seems to come from the entire province of Newfoundland towards the military, both fallen, veteran, and present. Yesterday Brian and I walked down to the national war memorial on Duckworth St to watch the proceedings. And there were literally hundreds of people there. Remembrance Day is a holiday here- everyone is off school and work. There were people from all walks of life out to remember those who have sacrificed. The little redhead, exact miniature copy of his uniformed dad, clinging to his crisp blue pantlegs. The photographers with their cameras, trying to capture the emotion of the morning in their art. Eager university students. A local widow and her two young children, laying a wreath for the husband and father they lost to combat three years ago. And the elderly couple- wrinkled faces, hands clasped, likely with images flashing in their minds of memories past, friends and family lost too soon many years ago. Blessed to still have each other, been through so much.

The deep, resonant trumpet notes of the Last Post
That mark our place, and in the sky, the larks still bravely singing fly.
The true north strong and free.

Classic hymns, they even prayed. At a public ceremony, no less. That is the bright and special side of this province being a little behind the rest of Canada, in some ways-- they still hold on fiercely to traditions and for most, faith is part of that tradition. Bagpipes. Soldiers marched, one after the other- a living reminder of those all those lost to the crosses, row on row. Wreath after wreath laid in respect for the fallen.

Cannons were fired off of Signal Hill, the giant rocky promontory that stands at the entrance of the St John's Harbour. You could see a flame, a puff of smoke, and a resounding boom. Taking us back in time to the battlefields of old. You could almost see the ships coming through the narrows...

our little house

It's time to give you a tour of our house... 6 Howley Ave. It's not huge but makes a cozy nest... which is good for nesty types such as myself :)

Bathroom... it actually matches, somewhat- we were proud of ourselves :)

Old fashioned style pedestal sink, hot water radiators. 

Bedroom with knitted blanket from Grandma Vanderwekken, and 'his and hers' closets- haha. There aren't any built in closets since this used to be the living room of the house. Note the fireplace/ headboard...

Our kitchen.... with the shelf Brian built fitting nicely between fridge and stove for pots and pans. Also, I made freshly baked cookies right before I took this, like a good wife ;) 

I love the glass cupboard- and the cozy pine cupboards

Eating/ working area. The brick part is another fireplace. Door goes out to the back porch.

Shelf for recipe books, random papers, magazines, appliances, potatoes...also, note the tomato plants :)

side note- i finally figured out how to make the pics on here bigger- yaaay!

our little house take 2

The laundry room in the basement.. the machines are a bit old but they do the job. The oil tank is through the door on the left.

Brian's workshop/ bike/ storage space. The door goes to the outside.

And now we go up the stairs to the kitchen...

Front hall- its pretty narrow but still great. We share the main front door with the upstairs apartment, then our own front door opens into this hall.

The living room- real fireplace (we are only allowed to use fire logs though), games and other stuff shelf, record player and book shelf. This is attached to the bedroom and the bedroom is attached to the bathroom.

Our comfy couch and coffee table

Snaps

I got an SLR camera... after much deliberation and research (the Nikon D3100 if any of you are into that).

And here are some of the first pics (click on them for a larger view)... I've got a LOT to learn, so excited to get more into this!

Brian in his 'man cave' aka workshop.. working on a desk

Orienteering trick-or-treat meet at Butterpot Provincial Park- Maggie with Brian and Dave in the background

my husband can cook! (and does it often)