Bruiser

At his 19 month check up we learned that Ethan is big. Nothing new there..

Naomi tells me that she has people ask if Ethan and Adelaine are twins. She says no and then asks them to guess which one is older and about 50% guess Ethan is the oldest. Adelaine (3.5 years old)  is only slightly taller, but Ethan outweighs her by 2.2 kg (5 pounds)!

Here are some Ethan stats:

Weight:  96th percentile at 14.5 kg (32 lbs) – and that’s after he lost four pounds a few months ago.

Height: 75th percentile

Noggin’ size: 95th percentile

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That big head on top of his body helps explain his method of walking. To walk like a Bruiser:

First, point your body at your desired target, feet wide apart.

Second, lean forward with your head out in front of you.

Third, hope your feet can move fast enough to keep you balanced and your face off the ground.

Fourth, get your face back off the ground, reacquire target, repeat process.

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The nurse had to give Bruiser two needles at his check up. He didn’t fuss with either of his shots and the nurse noted that he has a high pain tolerance and asked if we noticed that around home. Yes, we do notice it, especially compared to his two relatively wimpy sisters. Maybe it has to do with how often he falls down.

That’s ma’ boy!

Ministry Update :: May 29, 2010

Construction Project Update

After the long winter months where we were working outside on tin and inside on drywall and painting, we are now getting close to finishing the building. Exterior tin is done, electrical and mechanical systems are being completed (we now have light!), and finishing details are getting put in place. We have had a nice couple come in and paint hundreds of feet of floorboards and door and window trim, others help with last bits of painting and construction. Yet to do: doors, installing trim, finish electrical, install kitchen and bathrooms, lay the carpeting for stairs and offices, some painting, and lots of little jobs. There is lots more to do if you want to help!

Lord willing, we hope to be in by mid June!

Like many big projects there have been lots of challenges and struggles. But we are coming to the end of it and we really look forward to getting back to our main ministry of equipping people to share the Gospel in our new, larger facilities.

Here are some pictures from March until now. If you want to see pictures from the beginning of the project in October 2009 to March, check them out here.

Ellie’s Art Gallery

Ellie and Adelaine are colouring machines. I often come home from work to the faint smell of burning crayons as the girls have been busily creating new art. Ellie has especially gotten much better the last couple months (some of her early works). Something finally clicked and she now is getting quite good at her colouring and drawing. We can now usually tell what it is that she is drawing. Sometimes she will take a little pad of paper and whip out a bunch of quick drawings. I may even consider selling my camera and just take Ellie along with her art supplies!

Two versions of Ellie standing on a rock among the trees.

Here is a collection of her recent work:

Ellie has been so prolific lately that we decided that she needed her own place in her room to hang her favourite pictures. So I put all my new construction skills to work and Ellie helped me hang a magnetic board for her new art gallery. I think it is almost level too!

Thumbs up!

Ministry Update :: April 20, 2010

One of our dear coworkers in the Lord and here at GoodSeed has recently been diagnosed with an invasive form of cancer. Paul & Kathleen Humphreys have been with GoodSeed since the ministry began. GoodSeed is made up of a very small staff, so this has come as difficult news to us all.

They are currently in Australia where they were teaching believers about communicating a clear Gospel. While there, Paul started experiencing some problems and went to visit a doctor. They found a large mass in his bladder and he has since had surgery to remove it. Today, they got the pathology tests back.

The pathology report indicated that the cancer is invasive, having invaded the muscle tissues. The Urologist urged upon Paul the need for immediate surgery in conjunction with radiotherapy and perhaps chemotherapy. Paul and Kathleen are taking steps to return home in the next 48 hours. Please pray for them during these difficult adjustments.

Please pray for Paul and his family at this time. They have cut their ministry trip to Australia short and are trying to make their way back to the US for treatment. You can keep up-to-date on what is happening with them on GoodSeed’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/goodseed

Troy & Naomi

Nice day for a bike ride

Finally finally finally, the weather has warmed up to a wonderful 21 C today, a Saturday! We were able to get out and enjoy a bike ride with the kids.

Naomi pulling Adelaine and Ethan.

Troy and Ellie riding tandem.

We followed the bike trails in town to get to one of the playgrounds and enjoyed some much needed sunshine and fresh air.

Hope I didn’t scare anybody with my sun deprived Canadian legs.