We moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia, June 29th of 2015. With the move came many changes, one of which was the kids and school. All the kids were homeschooled this year. After being at the Christian school in Hood River for 3 years, it was a bit of an adjustment for us all. And by "bit", I mean "huge, gigantic, and massive". And that is just how the change felt to me. ;) It took us about half the year to get into a rhythm and the other half of the year to warm up to the change. We officially found ourselves enjoying school as of June 1st and I'm happy to say the school year officially ended June 3rd. :) Okay, okay....maybe I'm the only one giggling at this point! In all seriousness, we have finished school for the year, we did have lots of adjustments, and it wasn't always easy. BUT, we are thankful for God's grace and provision, thankful for the sin that was weeded out of our hearts as we all worked in close proximity to each other, thankful for much forgiveness, both from God and each other, thankful for the time we were able to spend together, thankful for the learning that took place, thankful to have made it, and looking forward to what God has in store for us in the coming year!
With each year, like it or not, our kids keep growing up!
Micah will be a junior in high school this fall and turns 16 in October. Yep...you read that right...although we have a hard time believing it! He's got his sights set on driving...and we have our sights set on a bus pass. :)
Grace finished 9th grade...adding inches to her height and taking several more off her hair this year. Grace isn't a big fan of change...but once she determines to do something, it's a joy to watch her bloom!
Samuel turned 14 in April and is ready for high school in the fall. He loves all things basketball...though he made a fantastic goalie in ice hockey this winter!
Faith decided she could use homeschooling to her benefit and skipped the 7th grade this year. She'll join the ranks of her older three siblings as a high schooler come September. She also entered the world of contact lenses this week...and will be praying she can babysit enough to pay for the damage :)
Titus turned 12 on Saturday....and is excited to join the youth group this summer as an incoming 7th grader. He continues to love all things water and still has his sights set on the Coast Guard one day.
Caleb turns 11 in just a few days. He's our last elementary kiddo with 6th grade just around the corner. He's got a smile to melt your heart...and a retainer to help hold it in place :).
(Note: most of our kids have a bit of metal in their mouths....apparently they got the "metal mouth genes" from both Bryan and I)
Bryan and I celebrated 18 years of marriage this past January. I was 18 when I married Bryan, so I have officially spent half of my life married to my other half! ;) And he truly is my other half! It has taken time and years to grow in deep appreciation for all the ways Bryan is different than me. Those early years, I found it easy to grow frustrated by the differences...to wish that he would see it my way....or at least to realize that his way was not the best way. (yep...I really did think that) I am SO THANKFUL that those God saves, He changes! That He is the master potter transforming lumps of clay into useful purposes for His glory, our sanctification, and for the good of all who love Him. The longer I am married (and the more God sanctifies me through His Word and Spirit), the more I see just how much Bryan's differences strengthen where I am weak, complete what I am lacking, and are a beautiful match to my half. The two shall become one. What a beautiful gift!
Andrew Peterson has a song called "Dancing in the Minefields" and it's a favorite of ours. When we got engaged on June 24th, 1997 we never imagined the many minefields (the daily and not so daily trials of life) that our married years would hold, or we might have jumped in a fox hole and given up before we even started. But, by the grace of God, we have been able to dance through them. The dance has not always looked pretty, but we have always been sustained by our Saviour, held up by God's mighty hands, and encouraged by His glorious Word. We have danced, not because our eyes have been fixed on each other but because they have been fixed on our Heavenly Father...the God of all comfort and HOPE!
A minefield of this past year was that our church, here in Canada, went through a church split not long after we arrived. It's painful, it's hard, it's so far from what you ever desire to see the church be and do...and yet, it happens. So, you cling to God's Word, you seek to walk faithfully in His truth, you pray, you keep serving, you keep reaching out, you keep loving, you keep being the body of Christ. And there is beauty for ashes, there are fresh blooms that rise out of what looks like barren land, there is dancing after the mourning. And the roots of steadfast faith grow deeper in the God who is faithful and promises to complete each and every work He has begun!
We look back on this past year with a thankful heart...not because life has been a bowl of cherries...but because the Creator of those cherries has chosen us, called us, saved us, rescued us for His glory, and has promised to use all things to accomplish His GOOD purposes.
We stand right now with the prayer that we will be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord."
And we look forward to God's plans for the Pichura Family in the coming year for we know that every moment, of every day, of every month of the year is held in His hands...for "from Him and to Him and through Him are ALL things. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen!"
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Love and miss you all!
Ruth
Juli