Check Out the View

This is the view from where our house is.

It is pretty amazing really. We look down on a good portion on the property.
I should have taken a photo of the mountain directly opposite us over the river. I'll do that when there is snow on it (which there was the other day, but it melted).

We are starting to settle into our little house and make it feel a bit more like home. We are slowly sorting through the boxes and can see part of the floor in the spare room now! We hear we might be having visitors in November so that is an incentive to get the room ready - can't just leave it full of boxes.

Tamzin and my mission today is to bottle (canning they call it here) peaches. We got a couple of boxes of beautiful peaches delivered to us yesturday. They do a bulk order for all the staff and the cafeteria, which is nice.
I am thinking we should have gotten more but I wasn't sure what they would be like having not gotten any before. We have found some jars in one of the old sheds here so haven't had to buy any jars (as we didn't bring any empty ones with us, only ones full of wonderful apple sauce that Mom bottled for us right before we left - thanks Mom!).
So that should keep us busy today.

Tamzin has been a great help around the place. Our days are quite different than they use to be in NZ. There is only the 2 of us - there is no arguing with her brother, or arguing with me as to who should do the job I asked to be done - as there is only her to do it! And she quite happily does it - it is great. When it gets to quiet round the house we head off to find Alistair down in the carrot shed or go to the administration building and chat with the students or staff. So it is nice that we don't just have to look at each other all day if we don't want to!

We are slowly finding her school books in the boxes, so will be starting that 'full on' next week.

Kyle is starting to 'fade' somewhat with his new schedule. Last night he was particularly grumpy at having to sit in class for 4 hours in a row and then having to have homework as well! Leaving him very little 'free' time. (Welcome to the real world we told him - but in a nice way of course!)

We found out this week that he will be off to Oregan in 2 weeks for singing training. Apparently they take the mixed choir down for a week of singing lessons with this man and then they do some concerts. Still have to get the whole 'low down' on it all. Never a dull moment round here!
At least he will get a week off school!
His singing is coming along - he is still having to work hard at it - we are keeping praying hard too.

Well I hear those peaches calling so best get onto it before I lose the urge................

You all have a great sabbath and good a weekend.

Kyle's Girlfriend Arrives!

Sunday was a big day for Kyle (and us all) as the love of his life arrived - all the way from New Zealand. I am sure you have guessed that it is Missey (his dog).

She has been staying with Heather & Grant since we left NZ, till we got ourselves a bit settled.
She hopped on a direct flight from Auckland to Vancouver and 13 hours later she arrived here. She was soooooo excited to see Kyle, she didn't know what to do with herself. She leap around for a few seconds, then she took off running! Kyle took off after her, but couldn't catch her! She was heading for the closes piece of grass - she had held on for the entire flight, plus the hours prior to the flight she was in the cage, and after, in all it was about 17 hours!
It was funny watching her cause she wanted to be with us, but she really had to go toilet and she didn't quite know what to do. Once she got that out of the way she was wiggling and squirming with excitement.
Kyle couldn't stop smiling the whole way home!



Missey's nose hasn't stopping 'sniffing' - so many new smells and sounds for her. I don't think she realizes she in on the other side of the world.
Kyle left for school this morning and Missey wouldn't settle - I figured she might need to go toilet so I let her outside. Within seconds she had picked up Kyle's scent and was off at a 100 miles and hour to find him - it took quite a lot of yelling for me to get her to come back (I hope no one on campus heard me yelling!).

Missey checking out the view.

We left early on Sunday so we could do some shopping in Vancouver before we collected Missey. We are starting to get a feel for the shops (which you would imagine as I have spent so much time in them!). We went to Costco to stock up on a few things and we found this fantastic looking pumpkin pie - it is hugh and it only cost $5.99. We are having it for tea tonight - I can't wait.


Some of you have asked how Kyle's first quartet performance went on Sabbath. Well they didn't perform - they didn't feel they were ready yet. Which took a bit of pressure off the 2 new guys. Kyle is finding it quite challenging to sing a 'part' which isn't the tune. He could do with a few prayers if you feel so inclined! He has never sung a part before, so is having to work quite hard at it - but he will get there. They are planning to sing this weekend and instead of performing one piece, they are planning to do 2! Pressure, pressure pressure.

I am sitting in orchastra practice at the moment and the quartet is going to sing! I am nervous and excited at the same time. I will let you know how it sounds....................

............... sounds great - I am feeling very proud right now! Thanks for those prayers - keep them coming

Visitors - both furry and not!

What a lovely sabbath we are having.
Last night we went to vespers - we felt a wee bit out of place as there didn't seem to be any other staff/parents there, just students - but thats ok, we want to get to know the kids and be part of what is happening. None of them minded at all that we were there.
We spent nearly 2 hours listening to the students testimonies of how they came to be at Fountainview and experiences they had had over the summer selling books.
Listening to some of their stories made us realize how lucky/blessed we are.

The orchestra and choir did there first performance today in church. It sounded great. Here are a couple of pictures - can you spot Kyle and Tamzin? It's not hard to find Kyle in his red shirt, Tamzin on the other hand is a bit harder to spot in amoungst all the guys in the cello section!



Speaking of Kyle and his red shirt. Here at F/V the boys are required to wear ties to vespers and church. We still haven't found/unpacked Kyle or Alistair's ties yet. The only tie he had was the one that came with this red shirt we bought for his baptism. Well this tie is the narrowest tie ever - I think it came from the 80's! Kyle did not want to wear it as the fashion now days are those great big wide things! But since that was all he had, he wore it.
Well the whole evening all the students kept commenting on how 'cool' his tie was - it was so funny - maybe he can start a new (old) trend.

Today we had our first visitors - they came for sabbath lunch. I wasn't sure if the food would be hot or cooked as I am still trying to work out this oven. But it all went well.
They were Steve Hall and his daughter Jessica. They are the family who live close by and are the only ones whose girls are day students here (rather than living in the dorm). His wife and other daughter were away for the weekend so we thought we would have them over. Jessica is in grade 12 here at F/V - she is lovely.

When we got home from church today we found we had another visitor - it was a deer in our yard. It was great. It was missing an antler though. This is the first time I have seen wild life here on campus. They say there are a number of bears and cougars around. Don't think i will rush up and take a picture of those if I see them in the yard!


Today in church they announced that they will be doing another major filming production this year - like the Steps to Christ in Song DVD they did. They will be basing it on the book Ministry of Healing - they are hoping to film it in Hawaii. Sounds like lots of fun (and lots of work).

The weather has turned cooler (told you that would happen when we bought an air conditioning unit). Last night there was snow on the mountain beside us - it was gone this morning, but in it's place was fog! So we felt quite at home. The fog was gone by 9am which was nice.
It is much cooler today thought - had to put a sweater on, and it is cloudy today. They say fall is on it's way.

Rumor has it there is a games evening tonight - if so we will go check that out.............

Hope you all have a good week.

Singing News

Today was a good day for Kyle - he found out he will be singing in the guys quartet!
He couldn't stop smiling. All the kids have been congratulating him and encouraging him.

They have 2 existing singings in it and they took on 2 new guys - one being Kyle and the other a student that was here last year. Kyle will be singing baratone.
There first performance is this weekend! Talk about pressure!

Tonight at orchestra practice they had the choir singing with them - it was fantastic, made me get goose bumps listening to it. And to think it was only there 4th time playing/singing together.

I can't imagine what they will sound like by the end of the year.

Kyle seems to be doing quite well this week - after spending 2 days working in MG (Market Gardens) with Alistair, they put him in Media (video editing) - which he thought was great. Not quite sure how he managed to get a go in there, but he thought it was pretty good. All the students who have had a go in media have been given the same song to edit and make a video of. I guess that way they can 'compare apples with apples' and see who does best, then they can decide who they will have in there long term. Kyle isn't holding his breath on that one.

I didn't unpack any boxes today - thought I would have a day off.
One of the other new staff families here gave us a microwave today - which was a blessing. They had 2 and were having trouble fitting 1 into there new place netalone 2, so gave it to us. It was the very one I was looking to buy (at $150) - God is good.

Tamzin and I went to Lillooet again today to do some more 'poking about'. It isn't too bad of a place. Seems to have most everything one needs, and the prices are quite good too.

Well 5.30am will come all too soon, so I best be off to bed........good night all.

Frist Day Of School

Yesterday was Kyle's first day of school. Doesn't he look handsome?!

He wasn't too sure about this whole business of sitting in class for half the day (they work for half the day and have classes for the other half).
But the day went well, and I think it would be safe to say that he actually may have enjoyed it! He got to hold a snake in science class, so thought that was pretty good. Lets hope the enthusiasm continues.
He has a very busy schedule: He leaves the house at 6.45am to be at the boys dorm for worship at 6.55, then off to breakfast at 7.15, music practice from 7.50-8.20, then work from 8.30-11.55, lunch 12-12.55 (they have to change clothes in this time), classes from 1-5, orchestra from 5.10-6, tea, then worship from 6.45-7.10. He comes home till 8 as this is the boys study time then heads back to the boys dorm at 8 to have free time with them till 9! Not much time to for the students to get up to 'no good'. I think that is the idea.

It has been a few days since I last updated the blog. This is due to some internet difficulties, but we had the computer man up at the house today and he seems to have sorted it out. So hopefully I will be able to do regular updates again. (As if you guys hold out for my updates!).

We had a fantastic time at the lake over the weekend. Tamzin went out for the day on Friday and had a blast with all the kids wakeboarding and knee boarding and all that fun stuff. James Rafferty took his wakeboard boat also, so that was fun.
The camp is about a 20 minute boat ride up the lake. On Saturday Alistair, Tamzin and I went up to the camp site on the jet ski. The weather was amazing - the lake was as smooth as glass. The surroundings are so ruggered, set in the midist of hugh mountains. The helicopters would come a fill up their water buckets from the lake and dump it on the fires which were burning on the otherside of the mountain!

Upon arriving at the camp, I was blown away. There were near on 200 people camping there (all the students, there families and some staff). The size of the beach was not what I was expecting, it was about 3 meters wide at it's widest point and was about 100 meters long and there wasn't a grain of sand in sight - it was stones/pebbles.
Mostt of the boys had just rolled out their sleeping bags and slept on the beach/stones and the girls had pitched their tents up amongst the bush - which wasn't very flat. What really amazed me though, was that there was just 1 long drop toilet for all those people! I tried really hard to not have to use it while there, but unfortunatly wasn't able to hold on so had to brave it - not something I would like to repeat!

Having said all this, it was very well organized. They feed all those people without any power or running water and the food was great.
They ferried everyone's things over on the pontoon boat Fountainview made themselves and also on the houseboat of one of the staff here. The house boat comes equipped with a hot tub which was very much a hit with the students on Sunday when the weather turned rainy and cold, but they all still swam etc, so was a nice place to warm up in after. There were so many kids on the front of the boat it looked like it was going to sink!
Unfortunatly, the weather didn't play the game on Sunday and rained - they only get a few inches of rain a year and it had to come on that weekend. So everyone packed up and headed out earlier than planned. But it was still enjoyable.

Yesterday there was a first for me too - I went to a new hair dresser! I have been going to the same one for 15 years, so it was quite a big deal for me to have to find a new one. I managed to find a lady who works from home in Lillooet (about 20 mintues away) and she did a good job. So that was a relief. And she was reasonably priced too - I guess we are talking Lillooet not Vancouver!

Alistair is still 'finding his feet' with work. His job discription has change from what we thought he would be doing, so he is getting his head around that. He is now the Farm Manager for the the organic carrot market gardens. Fountainview is the largest organic carrot producer in British Columbia, so he has his work cut out for him.
His work force is 28 students age between 15 and 18 (some of whom would rather not be pulling weeds in the carrot patch!). They rotate the students around to different parts of the school for the vocational work. Kyle has been put in the market gardens with Alistair (not our choice), but at least Alistair knows his capabilities and can put him on the machinery.
Kyle is hoping to get a go in the media department where they do all the video editing etc. I guess he has 3 years to get a go in there - i think it is pretty sort after.

Tamzin and I unpacked a few more boxes today. Doesn't look like we have made much of a dent on the piles and piles of them. Small steps I guess, a few each day and we will get there. Somethings will have to stay in there boxes as there just isn't room in this house to have everything out.

I better go do some more............

A Busy One

Another day is drawing to a close - and it has been a busy one.

It was registration day today - The place was 'humming' with people. It was quite the operation getting all the kids through all the stations - auditioning, uniform sizing, student id, financial, student life to name a few.

I even had a job - I was working in the office helping to make sure each students papers were in order. Haven't even been here a week and I'v got a job! So much for the unpacking........

Tamzin and I returned back to F/V last night after a very busy shopping trip to the 'lower mainland', as they call it. The back end of the van was nearly touching the ground with the load we had in it. We had some pretty heavy items (it wasn't all clothes!). Had to buy a wall drobe unit for the kids rooms as there aren't any in there, and a 'garage in a box' for Alistair. It is what is says it is - a canvas garage which is big enough to put your car in. (it was really heavy). We don't have a garage and we thought it would be good to put the jet ski in, plus the bikes etc.

On our way home I realized we had forgotten to buy hand soap and since we are soooo far from anywhere thought we better get some. So we got off the freeway at Chilliwack and pulled into a shopping centre to go to Walmart. Well much to my surprise there was a police man standing in the parking lot stopping cars, and you guessed it he stopped us. We rolled down the window on Tamzin's side (as that is the side he was on), he took a look in and then informed me that Tamzin was wearing her seat belt incorrectly - she had it tucked under her arm. That is a $167 fine for that he says - and told me that I would get the ticket (not Tamzin). I couldn't beleive it - as if we hadn't 'hemeraged' enough money in the last 2 days! like I needed to pay that, specially after we had had to pay $150 fine last week when we got towed.

I never knew you could get a ticvket for that - at least she was wearing the thing!

Well next thing he just stepped back from the car. I sat there waiting for him to give me the ticket. Then he says 'you can go'. What a blessing. That would have been a really expensive bottle of hand soap!

Alistair and Kyle have gone to test out the jet ski. Thought they better give it a trial run in the water before we take it out on Sunday for the campout the students are going on.

We went and checked out Seton Lake which is just out of Lillooet, about 30 minutes away. It looks great, and it is hugh. I will put in a picture of it.



This is the lake the camp out will be on. All the students are leaving at 8am tomorrow (Fri) to go camping till Sunday. They are getting a speaker in for the weekend - James Rafferty - he is from 3ABN and does a slot with Ty Gibson I believe. I think we will go out for the days. Quite a few families are camping too, but I can't face the thought of packing up for camping right now. It is hard enough finding all the stuff in the boxes that Kyle needs for the weekend!

The weather has cooled off. That would be right, just when Tamzin and I bought an airconditioning unit! The A/C does make it nice though and I guess now is the time to buy while they are on sale for next year.

When I say cooled off, I think it was still round 28-30 degrees today.

Tamzin auditioned for the orchastra too today - they have said that she can be in the orchastra also even though she isn't a student. So that is great. She is quite excited about that.

Well I see the boys have just returned from jet skiing so better go get the 'low down' on how it all went.

Till next time....................

Here I am Finally

Well I can finally get on the blog! Sorry for the delay in putting an update. For some reason at Fountainview the blog will not let me update it. They are having a few issues with the server there and will be updating it soon so hopefully that will fix it.

At the moment Tamzin and I are down in Abbotsford/Vancouver shopping so am taking the opportunity to give you all an update................

Let me see, where did I get to - we collected our belongings from the container on friday. Mitchel, Aaron, Ruby and Connie came and helped us - which was great. Made the job go so much faster and was a great help with my back the way it was. (It is much better now) Everything seems to have travelled well, which is nice.

We bought a jetski trailer so we could get the jetski home. They are the biggest rip off's ever. They cost a fortune for not much of a trailer - anyway I guess we had to have one.

So after getting all that sorted we headed on our way back up to Fountainview. We got to F/V right around sunset, so we left everything in the truck till Sunday.

Kyle was rather 'gutted' that we didn't get back a bit earlier so he could ride his 'new' bike which he purchased 3 days before we left NZ and had to put in the container.

F/V has lots a great places to ride a downhill bike. I wonder how long it will be before he puts a scratch on it - or on himself!

Saturday evening we unloaded quite a few boxes as it was much cooler then. Then Sunday we finished unloading the truck and squeeeeeezzed everthing into the house. We have 2 bedrooms FULL of boxes, but at least it all fitted in.

I have spent the last few days unpacking and washing. For some reason everything has come out of the container smelling horrid, so I have to wash EVERYTHING. Bit hard to wash the couches and mattresses! I think I will try and get some sort of fabric spray to make it smell better. Those who know me well, know that I have a rather sensitive nose, so I will have to sort something out.

Alistair started work on Monday. He still isn't sure what he will be doing, so he wondered around - actually he stole someones motorbike and cruised round the place most of the day I think! No, he did try to look like he was doing something useful!

Kyle has been working on campus helping prepare the place for the students which arrive Wed (tomorrow). Tamzin did some work too. They had to sort, wash and bag-up for freezing 250kg's of blueberries for the cafeteria. They are a bit over blueberries at the moment.

I did a 5kg box for us - they are yummy, will be nice to put in/on pancakes.

On sabbath we went to church and met more of the people here on campus. They are all so friendly and welcoming - it is really nice. They all seem to know who we are, we are having abit of trouble remember everyones names, but we will get there.

Sabbath afternoon the princples and his family asked if we would like to go for a hike (obviously they don't know me very well yet!).

Alan, you would have been proud of me - we climbed up the side of a mountain in 38 degree heat - and I didn't even complain (perhaps that is because I couldn't speak as I was gasping for air). Finally, the family must have realised that I was on the brink of 'passing out' so decided that perhaps we should head back down the mountain and sit by the creek - I would have jumped for joy at this suggestion - if I had had any energy left in me. I think they got the idea that I thought that was a VERY good idea, with the vigiours nodding of my head.

I haven't felt that ill in a long time.........

Today Tamzin and I have headed down to Abbotsford (a 3 hour drive each way) to do some shopping for things we need for the house and also to buy her a cello. We were hoping to make it back home tonight but the cello buying took longer than we thought and we had to go right into Vancouver which took quite abit more time. So we are staying at Janel and Dan's place (I use to babysit her when we lived here) - that makes me feel old.

So tomorrow we will hit the shops again then head homeward.

I better get some sleep so I have the energy for shopping tomorrow - I must say I am a bit over this shopping.........