Another Smorgasborg

It's been months since I've posted much of anything so I figure it's about time to take you through another smorgasborg of pictures.  Sorry to make you look at snow again but this brings us all the way back to January!  

 Living in the same town as my sister and her family has been AMAZING.  I haven't lived in the same place as her in over 16 years so we're enjoying this.  

This is a common sight in our area and although I can imagine it's not too warm inside, I always think it looks so picturesque.  It's cute when the little kids stick their heads out the back window. 

 I got the opportunity to help process a butchered pig this year with good friends Martin & Ginger Witzke and Shane & Karen Whatley.  That was a first for me...which was obvious by my handiwork!

Mixing spices into the meat for sausages.  We did 5 or 6 different varieties including Honey Garlic, Chorizo and Breakfast. 

Ginger, Luke and I working some sausage magic.  I can't recall how many hundreds of sausages we made but I'm still enjoying the rewards of our labor.

This is where you'll find me most days at the New Tribes Mission of Canada head office.  The next time you call in you might just get me on the other end.     

I've been so thankful for this group of missionary ladies who meet together once a month.  We've all experienced big transitions in our ministries in recent years and it's been a big encouragement to get together and be a support to one another.

In April I got to cross an item off my bucket list by going to Quebec over the Easter weekend!  It was a "working" vacation at an organic farm where we got to help do everything from milking cows to processing maple syrup.   

 Anna-Spring's family owns the farm and she was an awesome host.  Here we were checking the vacuum lines that collect the maple sap.   

 This was a section collected by hand and horse.

 A highlight of the past few months was when my Mom came to visit from B.C. in April.  It was so good to see her again!

 Her and my sister, Nicki, and I took a fun trip down to Toronto before she flew back West.

I've really been enjoying the two-acre property that my building sits on...and having good friends to enjoy it with.  Matt and Joan Gunther and their daughter, Lilith, came to enjoy a warm weather favorite, Roll Kuchen and watermelon.

 I've been taking advantage of the river and walkway that run behind my house.  My place is to the left of where the path goes out of sight.

 Pete & Lesley Doerksen and Drew & Bobbi Scholl are great friends who I worked with in Papua New Guinea.  The Doerksens now live just a block away from me, and the Scholls are down in Indiana which is still close enough for visits!  It was awesome to see them again up our way just a few weeks ago.

Yard Saling in Ontario is pretty fun.  'Tis the season and I'm making up for lost time!

Myself, Nicki, Ryan and Sydney (sister and family) goof off at the New Tribes Mission Academy Graduation in May.  

Just can't get enough of my niece and nephew (Joseph and Sydney).