Parc Jacques Cartier & Parc Chauveau

This Saturday we went to Jacques Cartier Park, which is about 30 mins north of Quebec City. We figured it would do us good to get out into nature and relax and enjoy the fall colors. We phoned the Nelson family fab 5 and met them en route.

We brought everything to have a picnic (hotdogs,chips,juice,fruit,etc) and went to try to find a day camp place that allowed you to have fires. Well that was easier said than done. But eventually we found one.







Parc Chauveau is inside quebec city, right close to our friends house. Bennett loved to go there because there is a small creek, and he loves throwing rocks in the water. Arielle loves exploring and I love the peace and quiet and gorgeous colors, so we all win! I brought Bennett's rain boots so he was so happy to sit on a rock with his feet in the water and play in the water. Of course he got pretty wet elsewhere still, but was so happy.



Arielle kept sneaking over the snack bag when i wasnt looking and I caught her several times with her "hand in the cookie jar" . Shes my little snack hound.



I fear in a few more weeks the wind will have taken all the bright colored leaves off the trees and the maples will be naked. I'll miss the bright mix of reds and oranges. Until then, I intend to go out lots and enjoy them, which suits the kids just fine!

Have you seen these bikes?

So a few of you heard that about a month ago Pauls Rocky Mountain ETSX-50 was stolen from Laval University while he was in classes. It was locked up with a thick cable in plain view. And yet someone walked up with big tools and took off with it. That was a hard blow for us, especially Paul. If you know Paul, you know his bike was important to him and mountain biking is his favorite thing to do in his free time.

So we decided to fly my good bike (Trek Fuel 90) out to Quebec from the safety of my parents basement so that he could still go on good rides. He bought a $200 bike to ride to and from classes and mine would always be at our apartment or under our butts. Never locked up or left in public.

Then yesterday happened. In the middle of the night, someone scaled the brick wall up to our third floor balcony (no stairs or access point) and stole my bike too. We have no idea how they managed to get up there. Scary thing is that we were sleeping only a few metres away and there is no lock on that patio door. They could have just walked into our bedrooms too. So now I dont even feel safe in my own home.

Add this to the fact our mailbox was broken into and everything ripped apart and a cheque went missing, and you will begin to feel the welcome here hasn't been so "warm".

I wont lie, this is brutally hard. A few things that we didnt give away when we moved, and were important to us and our lifestyle, have been ripped away. I can't comprehend the reason that this happened. Twice! And we certainly dont have the $8000 to replace them both now. Im afraid to leave anything of any value alone, am not safe in my own apartment, and feel discouraged and hurt. I know we left everything for a reason and are moving forward in trust and faith...but my faith doesn't feel so strong in times like this. Why do you get kicked when you are already down and live far away from anyone to pick you up? Such is the way of my thoughts. Paul is really angry too.

We thank you for your prayers and support. We know we made the committment to give it all up, to put it on the altar and trust...but those are not always easy.

Retreat in Niagara

This past weekend I had the wonderful retreat. My very good friend Jen F surprised me a few days earlier with a weekend getaway to the Niagara region. She grew up there and her parents and family still live there in a plot of land just outside of Saint Catharines.

What a blessing to have a weekend getaway to be surrounded by peace and beautiful scenery and a great friend who knows me well.

On Saturday (which was my 31st Birthday!) We headed to Niagara Falls. I had never seen them before.

The power of the falls is amazing. The river rushing down to it is much rougher and faster than I thought it would have been. And the power and sound of that much water falling is impressive. We walked the paths along the falls and edge of the canyon and then walked the tourist streets.





After the falls we went down the road a few kilometres to the Whirlpool. We hiked down this rough steep trail to the bottom to get a geocache and take in the scenery. We got a bit muddy since my coordinates for the cache were a bit off and we scrambled up dirty rough mud to a rock where nothing was hidden :) But we found it eventually.

Then we headed to the beautiful little town of Niagara on the Lake. We stopped at a vineyard and walked around first, then walked around downtown. Jen used to work at a wine tasting store, so we went there and saw some of her old coworkers and tasted some testers of the new best wines.



Then we continued to walk around town and hit lots of little stores. Guess what store this was :) We had such a great time. After this we spent a wonderful evening with some of her friends before going home late and talking more.



Sunday saw us up bright and early to go to the church Jen and her family attended.
It was an awesome, inspirational service and I left feeling really refreshed in spirit. You can check out the webpage of the church at:
http://www.southridgechurch.ca

You can also access links under the sunday section to listen to music and messages to inspire you as well.

After church Jen went to spend some time with her family while I sat outside and did some reading. Jen's family has a little vineyard out back and after I was done reading, I took the time to wander through the vines, enjoying the taste of a few grapes, the sounds and peace and quiet. What a wonderful time of refreshing that I am so grateful for.





Sunday night we went for supper and stayed up late talking. That was the best thing about the weekend - a trusted old friend who loves me and encourages me so much. I am so blessed. Thank you so much Jen.