Oh, and we're alive too.

David just complained that "it's finally happened." "What?" "We're those people who only have pictures of their baby on their blog." "Oh."

So here's an update on US, since some of you, okay, a lot of you, have been asking us WHAT'S GOING ON? We're busy. Surprise, surprise. This semester, David is taking Preaching and Worship, Biblical Exegesis, and Christian Thought and Culture, all three very demanding courses. I am taking Church History 2, and Christian Counselling Lab. If that in itself wasn't enough to fill our days, add in a precocious and giggly toddler, some babysitting to earn a little income, a dog needing a good run every day, great bike trails calling Dave's name, my Pilates on Wednesday nights, community meals twice a week, church functions, a "Mommy and Me" playgroup for which I volunteer at our church on Wednesday mornings, Regent chapel and soup lunch on Tuesdays, and a few close friendships that we spend a good amount of time with, including those in our community house. The semester is busy, but rich. We are learning, as we have said every semester, a ridiculous amount. We feel bombarded so that we can't begin to process it all. But God is making use of our feeble efforts to transform us. There's no other word. We were just talking today about how we feel like different people.

So, with all that, you can imagine we don't get out for a date alone too much. However, there have been two very memorable dates this semester. One, to the Culinary Art School for a special dinner where we were presented a three-course meal of pure art. And two, a Valentine's babysitting extravaganza planned by our church. The Saturday after Valentine's, we dropped Cora off at church for about 5 hours and rode our bikes around the justly famous Stanley Park seawall, had a Starbucks coffee while sitting outside to watch the sunset, andwent to dinner at some friends'. Below is finally a picture of us without Cora, well, me anyway, to pacify David. Also, some others from the ride. Warning: some material may be inappropriate for children.

Gorgeous Weather

Whereas last winter, we didn't the see the sun pretty much from January through April, this winter has been unbelievable. The sunny days have far outnumbered the rainy, and the temperatures have stayed quite mild. For months everyone has said pessimistically, "Well, soon it will start and not stop until summer." But it still hasn't happened. The flowers are budding and beginning to bloom. I keep fearing a freeze will kill them off, but meanwhile anyway, we are outdoors every moment we can. There is an offleash dog park about 15 blocks away that we walk to a lot. Boardwalks line the marshy waters of the river, where Cora climbs and Cacao swims.

What Cora's Been Up To...

Walks with Dad

Kissing boys at birthday parties

Obsessing over the dog

Big smiles

Playing in the snow

Pointing out boats

Dancing

Sleeping

Christmas Story

This season, I hope you're taking time to delight in the story of God's love for you, that breathtaking story of extravagant love. Each day of Advent brings us that much closer to celebrating His birth, but does each day also bring you one step closer to Him? Don't let the busyness pull you away from a deeper relationship. Instead, take time to revel in the intensity of His love, the greatness of His plan, and the power of His sacrifice. Our perfect High Priest came and reconciled us to God our Father once and for all. That is so much more exciting than Christmas trees and cookies, as exciting as those are. So let that consume you. Not the hustle and bustle.

Cora update

Cora received a few early Christmas presents from her Grammie last week. She has since been zooming around the house either pushing her baby in a stroller, or collecting everything she can find into her shopping cart. She is a delight to watch.

Everyone is asking for an update on her Tuberous Sclerosis. Not much new news, which is GOOD news! She is not on anticonvulsant medication yet, against all the doctor's recommendations, and yet it has worked out to be so fortunate because we now know that her lack of any more seizures is a result of God answering prayer and not medication! The doctor on Monday was quite surpised that she hadn't had any more, saying that once they start, they usually really start since the tumors have grown enough to start really aggravating the brain. There is concern still about sub-clinical seizures which we cannot see or know she's having unless we observe a slowing or regressing in development. An infant development specialist will help to discern this (we are on a waiting list), but from our perspective, she seems to be developing quite well. She is learning new things everyday, and often surprises us when she responds in understanding to things we say. We're especially encouraged that she shows no signs of autism after seeing the frightening statistics of about 50% developing it in some form or other. She is as sweet and cuddly and social as could possibly be.

Our biggest prayer request right now is that we can get through holiday travels seizure-free. Then we do not have to further consider meds or have the stress of hospital visits while we are at home in the U.S. Please also continue praying with us that she will remain on the mild side of any and all symptoms resulting from the TS. Thank you!

December the 1st

Today was the start of Christmas for us. Oh, we've had a little tree lit up with lights and some holly and red candles scattered about for a couple weeks already. Christmas music, too, has been occasionally on the stereo. But today, it truly felt like Christmas.

Maybe it was the snow. Yep, almost a foot of it. All day large white flakes fell hard, starting early this morning as the three of us lay warm and cozy in bed together watching it through the window. Throughout our unhurried breakfast and couple cups of coffee, reading Cora some books and each other some Scripture, we watched Vancouver transform into a winter wonderland. Then we bundled up and went for a walk, Cacao bounding about with a white snout, and Cora tromping through it in her pink boots. The afternoon flew by as both Dave and I wrote diligently on our papers, but sitting next to the frosted window with hot tea and beautiful Christmas music playing made even the hard work absolutely delightful. An afternoon snowball fight between David, Jason, Cacao and I, while Cora looked on in consternation, was a fun break.

Or maybe it feels like Christmas because of our first Christmas party. This evening, we all dressed up, Cora in a red gingerbread man dress with even a little gingerbread man barrette to match, me in a coordinating red skirt. Then we drove through the swirling snow (passing by a couple wrecks on the trip there and back!) to the Regent Christmas party, where we socialized for a couple hours and then had a service of singing and meditations. Cora did even more socializing than us...she was buzzing about as the life of the party. She's very popular. Maybe we could learn some popularity hints: smile a lot, hold people's hands, and cuddle close if they want a hug.

All Cozy Inside

In the past couple of days, brilliant white tips have appeared on the mountains. Our wet and chilly autumn is slowly creeping into a wet and icy winter. But inside we have been toasty warm with frequent crackling fires, steaming soups and stews, and warm blankets added to the beds. Our lives, too, have been buffetted on the outside by freezing cold winds, hitting our faces and taking our breath away. But inside there is warmth and peace from the fire of the knowledge of God's goodness.

This afternoon since returning from the church potluck, I have been wrapped up in blankets in bed. First for a nap while Cora napped, now for reading and writing while David took her to the park. My mind is consumed as always by our recent events, but less for fear of Cora's future than in simply attempting to synthesize and assimilate all the many loving revelations the Lord has been teaching me. This has been such a painful experience because I of course want to protect Cora; my love wants to shield her from suffering any pain or difficulty in the future, which this disorder she has been diagnosed with will certainly cause. I want only good things, happy things, an easy road for her. But God knows that the easy road is the worthless, meaningless road. He likewise wants good things for His children: for me and David and Cora. The difference is that He in His infinite wisdom knows what is truly good. And this trial is good. It requires us to lean more on Christ; it flames in us a desire to seek the things above rather than the things of earth; it drives us to take refuge in God's shelter and to seek comfort from His Word; it changes each of us into more of who God wants us to be. And so I praise Him for this inner warmth amidst the icy cold blasts, and I look with hope and expectation to the fulfilling of all His purposes.