Pizza Party

All of the student men are away on a three day hike.  So that has made it more challenging for the ladies and especially for the moms to work on their jungle camp houses while taking care of their children, cooking meals, doing wash, and keeping their houses running.  So tonight Vern and I hosted a pizza  party for the ladies and all the children.  We were 31 people  and I made eight different pizzas for the gang.  It was so fun to enjoy some pizza together and to hear the stories of the joys and challenging of their time building their "dream houses", oh, I mean "Jungle Camp" houses.  There are three days left of building.   On Saturday our students work all day on hiking their things up to the bush.  At 5:00 p.m. they will then officially start living in their jungle camp houses and be "Off the Grid" for a month.  Please pray for health and strength for our students as they keeps pressing on!  Thanks!

To Have and To Hold

Today Vern and I celebrated our 35th Anniversary.  As we reflect of our 35 years together as husband and wife we have walked through so many things together.  How do two very imperfect people live together and still love each other and enjoy spending time with each other after 35 years?  It is only through God's love, grace, and faithfulness to us.  We haven't done everything right.  But we have a GREAT BIG God!  We have learned time and time again to run to HIM and  put our full weight on his promises to carry us through.  We have moved many times and lived in different countries, we have gone through losing everything we owned, raised five children, struggled through many health and financial challenges and have seen God carry us through it all.  God isn't finished with us yet and we know there will be many hard and challenging things we will continue to face in life.  How thankful I am that God will continue to walk with us each step of the way. Here's to many more days and years ahead of "Loving for a Lifetime".

Celebrating the Day Together!

Dyck House of Pancakes

(I have had a few people tell me they are not on Facebook and instagram and they would like me to restart up my blog again.  So I will attempt to try to keep  this updated.)

Our students are putting in long days building their jungle camp houses.  As we were looking for a way to encourage them on, we decided to invite the class over for breakfast.  We got up at the crack of dawn and the Dyck House of Pancakes was open from 6:00-9:00 as we served several different breakfast options. We are proud of our students and how hard they are working.  The beginning of the week was rainy and pretty chilly.  There have been a few accidents and a bit of sickness.  The men will be leaving for a three day hike on Monday morning.  The ladies will keep working on their houses.  Next Saturday is the big move up day.  Please pray for the Emanate class for their health, safety, and encouragement during these challenging days.

Mission Accomplished!

Most of us have, at some point or another,  have had to fight the battle of the bulge.  It is certainly not easy.   The middle of March Vern and I started on a weight loss journey.  Our program constituted of eating a LOT less, exercising a LOT more, and praying every day many times a day for God to help us to not give into our cravings.  I am extremely proud of my hubby who has lost 60 pounds.  YEA,  WAY TO BE, VERN!!!!   Even though we worked very hard at it to see results, we know it was only through the Lord's strength that we have made it to our goals.   For any of you out there that are also on that journey, keep pressing forward, step by step, day by day!

Bringing Home the Bacon

Titus has been home with us for about 7 weeks now.  We have really enjoyed the face to face contact once again.  We are even sneaking in a few hugs!  I am trying to keep him well fed.  Although, I don't know if I am succeeding or not.  While in university or Bible School our children have come home to look for work so they can earn money for the next school year.  Vern and I start praying several months before hand that God will provide something for them.  We are so thankful that one week after Titus arrived home he found a job.  YEA GOD! He is working on a cement crew pouring foundations to houses.  He is working long hours and comes home exhausted and usually with some souvenirs from work in the form of cement all over his body, clothing, and shoes. 

Dyck Family Moments

We had the joy of making it out to BC for a week to spend time with Vern's mom as well as many other family members.  BC is an awful long way from here.  How we wish there weren't so many miles in between us! We sure made a lot of great memories together! Our niece got married during our time there, so that was a special treat to be able to celebrate that special event.   Since Vern and I have been trying to stay fit we went for many walks especially in the early morning.  It was so fun walking while enjoying the beauty of God's creation with mountains all around us.  The week went by way too quickly but what a treat it was!

Loving for a Lifetime

Last week my parents celebrated their 60th anniversary.  This past weekend we were able to celebrate this big event.  We made some very special memories together as a family.  I have only been around for 54 1/2 of those 60 years.  Ten and a half months after they got married my oldest sister was born.  They have had children in their home for over 59 of those years.  They have faced and continue to face many challenges in life and in their marriage.  They have raised 15 children and I think they have done a pretty good job.  But as anyone knows raising children is not easy and is demanding.  With a family our size they also lived through many very lean years.  My dad took on a second job and my mother did work from home.  There have been some incredible health challenges through the years.  And now these last years my Dad has been the care giver for my mother as she battles Parkinson's disease.  They have lived through - "For better or for Worse", "For Richer or Poorer", "In sickness and in Health",  "To Love and To Cherish, Till Death Do us Part ". The example of love and commitment for a lifetime is seldom seen it today’s world.  Yet, for my parents the longevity of their marriage and their selfless love for one another is not only a testimony of God’s faithfulness but a demonstration of God’s love shown between two people. 

 Mom and Dad June 22, 1957

60 Years Later 

Mom and Dad with all their children 

Our extended family, however we are missing many who couldn't make it. 

It was a joy to have Aurora there celebrating with us! 

 My sister-in-law Anna, did such an amazing job with the decorations!

What fun making special memories together!