Whew! Getting Close!

Well! Since my last post things have been a little bit more exciting around here! Last Saturday we had a double re-wedding!  Shawn and David and another couple Brad and Chantel renewed their vows before all of us who reside here with them. Both couples underwent a lot of personal renewal and healing during what has been Christened "freedom week" and felt that it was time to allow that renewal to become a part of their marriages as well.  It was beautiful! Shawn was a radiant bride in her first ever wedding dress both she and David were all smiles for the whole time.

Even Zane thought that Shawn was beautiful, even though he didn't nap the entire day and had to follow, lead-footed, for the photoshoot.  He wore the most adorable outfit and I must say he completed the family attire (just kidding Shawn, you were the star of the trio!). 

 What other excitement has been going on?  Well, the bandit has not stolen our trash for at least four days, which seems to be an acccomplishment, and for that I am very excited.  Otherwise, the weather is getting cooler, and the clouds now compete with the sun for dominion over our sky.  It is starting to remind me more of home in that way.

Over the past few days Shawn and I have discovered an amazing new napping schedule for Zane that leaves all three of us winners!  Zane goes to sleep a little earlier every day, and wakes up earlier, usually just in time for Shawn to be back from class.  Shawn and Zane get more awake time together and I get off work a little bit earlier.  It is quite a lovely arrangement, and all of us are very happy with it. 
Now, nearly at the end of this endeavor, Zane has finally really started to like me.  The past couple days he has been very sweet and will wrap his little arms around me and look up at me and say "My Nanny Katie!" and smile.  He makes me feel very loved in those moments.  There is something so special about earning the love of a little one! (Even when he makes his goofy and grumpy faces).

Even with all the good things going on, I am very excited to return home in, what is it? 19 Days?!!!!!!!!!!!  (notice the excitement indicated by the exlamation points ;) ).  See you all in less than three weeks!
        

The Zane Dictionary

To assist in the interpreting of Zaneglish ;)

1. Bowf - Both         
2. Wao - Yellow         
3. Kai - Katie         
4. Waing - Swing         
5. Wide - Slide
6. Ting - Sing        
7. Warwiana - Ariana         
8. Gabel - Gabriel         
9. Daee - Daddy        
10. Bictor - Victor         
11. Merry wound - Merry-Go-Round         
12. Hers - She         
13. Wan - Van
14. Who This Is? - Who's is this or who is that?         
15. Pink - Purple    
16. Fart - Fort

One Month Remains

Hi everybody, sorry to have left you all hanging for a few weeks. Not much has been going on as of late.
The past few weeks have been relatively mundane, Zane is growing up a lot.  He speaks more and better every day!  I had four days off last week and even in that short time it seemed as though he had grown up more!  He is beginning to be very difficult to carry.
The nanny house has become a night-buffet source for a local raccoon a few times; he seems to quite fancy left over pudding cups and oreo cookies. 
The most exciting thing about the past few weeks has been a couple very thrilling thunder storms!  Due to living on Vancouver Island, I have missed out on good thunder storms for almost four years!  Therefore it is quite an adventure to experience the skies lighting up and the thunder rolling across the clouds in massive roars. 
Today has been a cloudy one, thankfully, because I have been craving the miserable, cloudy, wet weather of the Island (I know, I am crazy)!  All you Islanders, I am so jealous of all the fog you have had lately!  Please do blow some down here!
Well, thank you for all your prayers, you have no idea how much I appreciate and need them.  I confess I miss home more every day and long for Canada (and Tim Hortons, American's don't know what donuts are ;) ).

Adventures with a Toddler

Hey Everyone,
Well, welcome to October!  50 days remain in this series of adventures with my little charge and we have been having fun together. 
Shawn and I figured out the best way for Zane to have a good day is to make sure he has plenty of either alone time or one-on-one time with me while in my charge.  He has been far more relaxed and at peace and joyful since we made this discovery and I have to say I am quite fond of the arrangement myself!

Lately, one of Zane's favorite past-times is good, old-fashioned playing in the dirt.  With his two hands and two trucks the sand pile has become a highway, a construction site, a cave, tunnels, and earthquakes (he greatly enjoys helping me dig a tunnel and then intentionally caving it in).

Even though he has had a lingering cold, Zane has been his cheerful, loving, affectionate, and hilarious self; everyone here absolutely adores him!  And no wonder, he is so precious! 


The end of summer and beginning of autumn have been flirting with one another for the past two weeks, with crisp, even frigid-feeling mornings and evenings, yet 25+ afternoons.  It definitely makes clothing an issue, what with starting the day in my warmest clothing and changing into lighter clothing in the afternoon, only to have to change right back into warm clothing soon after dinner at 5:30.  Autumn has become, by far, my favorite season of the year.  The colors are vivid, the baby animals are growing up and exploring more (several of this spring's fauns playing farther and farther from 'mommy' lately), and wild turkeys wandering about as if they cannot wait for Thanksgiving!  I hate turkeys; they belong on my table or out of my way.  A more creepy bird never existed!

The other day I went for another walk in the twilight and it was quite nice.  The quiet and the woods were so peaceful along Richardson Springs Rd.  There is a family of seven deer that I see almost every time I walk or drive down this road, but I have yet to see a rattlesnake or a cougar.  Call me crazy but I think it would be neat to see either of those creatures.  On Sunday morning we did see a coyote, which is, apparently a rare sight down here. 

Dave and Shawn's vehicle, thank the Lord, is again in working order which has afforded them and I the privilege of 'escape' when the base grows clausterphobic or overwhelming.  Sometimes too there are groups of the people here who go into Chico together and that is always a fun time.  So far my favorite places around here are Barnes & Noble, Tea Bar, and Chico Mall.

 Pictured here: my first In-N-Out Burger experience.  I must say it was pretty good!  But not nearly as good as the ones found at Burger Hut down the road.









(Left) The best vanilla latte on the planet, compliments of Tea Bar

And finally, below, a police officer was visiting the group of high schoolers who were guests here (probably for a teaching time with the youth), and Zane was so excited to see a real police car up close!

Well, that brings you up to date on all that's going on these days.  Zane is happy and growing and beautiful, and Dave and Shawn seem to be learning quite a lot in their classes.  It is so good to have the too of them in this 'foreign' land.

Thank you all for your prayers!  Please keep them coming!

End of September!

Hey All,

Well, the time past since my last post has gone by quite uneventfully, with the exception of coming home the Thursday before last to find a tree colapsed clean across the road.  One of the staff here got up out of bed with the backhoe to 'rescue' us all. (I will provide further photos).

Zane and I have been getting along quite well, he is one of the sweetest little boys I have ever had the privilege of knowing.  He has the funniest ways of saying things and brings joy to everyone around him.
If you could all consider praying for his health, however, he has had a lingering cold/cough for a while and is often very tired. Prayer that he would get back to the healthy little boy God made him to be would be wonderful, if you think of it.

I have been enjoying the weather these days, as my favorite season begins to peek its way around the back corners of summer.  The autumn smells and temperatures have been sneaking in and the wind and still infrequent rain are most enjoyable.  Yes, getting a tan is fun, but I must admit I love to wear a nice scarf and sweaters to keep out the cold air. 

Please pray that I can endure here with joy, because as nice as this place can be, I miss home very much and long to return to the ocean and community I have with my family and Camp Homewood.

58 days until I return home!!

God bless! Photos to come :)

The Promised Photos

Zane's new good friend Ariana taking a lovely walk with him to the park.  These two get along well most days, though they sometimes bicker like an old married couple.

The Kids playing together in the playroom at #49 (currently known as "The Nanny House")  Since this photo was taken, we have had more toys lent to us, which has been a great blessing as now the play room looks more like a kid's room.












These two are from the other evening when I took a nice walk after dinner down the driveway from the base.  One of these days I want to attempt to walk all the way into Chico, but I doubt it will happen because the driveway alone is 4 miles long.  It is quite nice, however, that in this community, someone is almost always going to town in the evening which provides a great opportunity for escape if anyone feels a little stir crazy on the base.  

 

And finally, this photo was taken at my new favorite supermarket, Trader Joe's, and look at that lovely price of milk Canada!!  A whole dollar cheaper!  We must learn from our American counterparts the kindness of lowering grocery prices! I saw a very large box of cherry tomatoes for under $3! Amazing! (yet surprisingly, the strawberries were from Abbotsford!)



Haha, anyway, that's all I have for you for now.  Hope you enjoyed them!

Two Weeks Down, 10 To Go!

Hey y'all!

Well, this week is winding down in quite an exhausted fashion, though there were some good adventures.  This week, for some reason was not the greatest for a couple of our kids.  Lots of somewhat sleepless nights, meltdowns, colds, and tantrums.
Ten minutes before I sat down to write this Zane was screaming at his loving parents his refusal to take a nap, yet we all know that once he has slept he will be back to the loving, joyful, hilarious boy God has made him to be.
Today I as I carried my little charge up to the hotel for lunch he gave me the snottiest kiss on the cheek.  I love his adorable, innocent affection.  That is a gift I hope and pray my own children possess in their lives one day.  It is that affection and joy and innocence that reminds me every day how valuable children are, even when their noses run and they wipe it all over their faces and mine.  Children are such beautiful treasures!
One of the lovely adventures of this week was being stranded in the parking lot at Walmart in Chico for an hour because our lovely car would not start.  During this time of awaiting rescue, my companions came to the conclusion that racing around in and on a shopping cart would be a rewarding endevour.  Unfortunately, I could not stop myself from joining in the 'fun', and was rewarded by the entire party flipping on top of me.  I write this with many bruises and a few scrapes.

On another note, I had the privilege of finally speaking to my mom and my sister over the phone at the beginning of this week.  To hear their voices after about 3 weeks was so refreshing, yet reminded me of how far away they are and I confess that I really do miss home.

Yet despite that I know God is doing good things, both in my heart and the hearts of those around me.  Thank you all so much for praying for me, you don't know what it means to know I am being thought of and lifted up in prayer.  Remember that I am praying for you in return!

Adios mi familia!!!

Sunny Days

Well, I have been in California for almost a full week, and yesterday started my first official week of nannying.
The trip down her went very well, with no trouble at the border and very few issues while driving.  Zane did not enjoy having to stay in the car for so long, but he did get more sleep than Dave, Shawn or I, so I feel like he was a winner lol.
We arrived at the YWAM base at Richardson Springs, just outside of Chico, at about 6 am last Wednesday and have been pretty much getting into things ever since.  The C/DTS team has about 40 people, with about 5 families, there are three other nannies besides myself and we all live in a little 2 bedroom house on the base, while the C/DTS students live in a dorm-like building called 'the Lodge". 
There is a really nice pool here, which is a definite neccessity, as it has been no cooler than 34 degrees Celcius since we have arrived, with yesterday's tempurature peaking at about 40 degrees!  So much sun!  I am already getting very dark, because we have been at the pool nearly every day.  Its really nice to be able to swim for a while then just sit and read in the sun each afternoon.
So far nannying is going alright, Zane and I are still trying to adjust and get into the groove of things, but seem to be getting along alright.  We both have moments when we are overwhelmed, but I imagine it would be that way no matter what situation we would be in.
Hmm, more about this place...
There are two very small playgrounds that the kids get to play in before the heat of the day comes, which is great for them because they wear themselves out just enough to sleep really well at naptime.  Zane is a very imaginative and hilarious and adorable little boy.  He often will climb onto the merry-go-round at the park and pretend he's driving a boat (complete with motor sound effects) and then climbes off and announces he's going to drive the Homewood van somewhere.  So adorable!
The work days really are quite nice with a child of Zane's age, because I start watching him at 7:15 in the morning, and then at 1 he goes down for his nap, and by the time he is up again, Shawn and David are out of class and want their little boy back.  Communication with Shawn and David as well as our relationship have been going well so far, especially regarding Zane.  We almost always seem to be on the same page and God seems to be guiding us every step of this beginning of our way, which is very encouraging.
There is one thing I really need prayer for right now, however...My sight.  In the past week my eyes have seemed to have changed so much that neither my glasses, my contacts or my 'naked' eyes can see very well.  My right eye sees perfectly, but my left is rediculous, no matter what I do and it is exhausting.  Prayer that my eyes would be able to make it until I come home would be so appreciated, because I really do love to see.  Usually in the morning my sight is ok, but by the time afternoon rolls around everything looks like I am seeing double because of how different my eyes are. 

Otherwise I think things are going alright.  God is working on my heart in ways I do not understand right now, but I know everything will be alright because I am in his hand and the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Thank you for praying for me in this adventure.

Hopefully there will be photos coming soon.

A Quick Anthology by Katherine Cunningham (Me) - My Favorite Pieces

Don't You Remember?

I stay in your closet,

Have you forgotten me?

The time we spent together?

I was there, it was the most important day of your life

We went down the isle together, 

And you simply pass me by...

Don't you remember me?

We danced with him,

On the most important day of your life,

And you just go about your day...

Do you know how lonely I am?

You close the closet door.

Why have you forgotten me?

Day and night I sit here,

Sad and neglected.

Then, you open the closet door,

(You know that you should get to work)

You look around inside,

Your blue eyes fall on me,

My lace trim and white frills

(You are going to be late for work)

From the place I have sat and watched you

you carefully examine my white sequence

(You are late for work......BUT WHO CARES!)

You put me on and float about the room,

A bride once more!

You take the veil out of the closet, and put that on too

Young and beautiful bride,

You do remember!

Sister

She's the one you think you hate,

The one you fight with.

She's the one you love more than anything.

The one you trust in,

The one you confide in.

She's the one who stays up late with you

(Even though you know you shouldn't)

The one who knows how you feel,

The one who can almost read your thoughts

She's the one you cry for,

The one you hurt for

The one you defend

The one you protect.

She's the one who cries when you're gone

The one who misses you with all her heart

The one who wants you back

The one who wishes you were here

She knows you

She is the one you can always turn to

She is the one you can lean on

She believes in you

She loves you more than anything in this world

She is your God-given 

Sister

The Song of the Old Man

Many things I have seen

Many things I know

But God Almighty, the one I love

It's time to call me home

I've walked thro' fields of green

I've gazed at skies of blue

But now I know they would not be

If it weren't for you

I've watched a mother birth her child

The child I watched grow up

But many times she would not have lived

If your hand we had not kept

I saw birds fly overhead,

Streaking through the sky

And lying in the grass to watch

Was always you and I

But God I'm tired

I'm old and all alone,

And it would please me so much

If you'd let me come home

Life to the Fullest

I am a sinner

I am dead inside

My life has no meaning 

          except to please myself

What kind of life is this?

Taking  pleasure in all things

           empty

I have heard of one who would save me

Release me from my emptiness

Who is this person?

How can he free me from my bonds?

When I myself could not do so?

They have said that he can 

         move mountains

Someone so powerful must be able 

           to free me from my prison cell!

They told me that he is a great

            king,

How may I see him?

A king would not wander among

             my kind

I am not good enough to be freed by a king!

But they tell me that he is different,

That he holds the key to my 

            freedom

I need to see him!

To meet this powerful one!

They tell me that to meet him

I must admit it,

I am a sinner,

And not worthy of his 

          forgiveness

Then they give me a book

"This will help you to understand"

I open the cover

A young man dressed in white smiles at me 

           from the pages

He seems to see through me,

Into my soul

           but does not criticize it

He holds it and then asks for it

              softly

Surely this must be the great 

          King!

This one with such a gentle touch

He is the One!

I throw down my care and 

            surrender to him

I give him my soul,

and he holds it and caresses it

           lovingly

I am a sinner

But I have given my 

             soul to a king!

I tell all who might listen, 

            

            "I am free!"

Goodbye

I miss you more than they know,

Hated to see you go.

The thought of life,

Without your embrace

And seeing you face to face

Made me feel so alone

There is no dream without you

But I know all you said is true

I can trust the Word

That holds me firm

I will put my faith in you

That day was cold

You took my hand

And helped me understand

Your love is more powerful than distance

And within that great instance

You have reminded me

"I will be back someday"

Tears fall down my face

What is life without your embrace?

But the hope you have instilled within

Shows me of your grace

You broke the tomb of my mind

And I no longer need to hide

I am safe

Within your grace

'Cause I know you will come back someday

Sin

An infant, You cry alone in the darkness

Beckoning to anyone, anything

This world is not what was promised for you

There is no one to avenge your sould

Bereft of life, the land about you is nothing but 

A war zone

A child, you toddled through the landmines,

Growing up among the cherry pickers

Who do nothing but shoot at your feet

There is no one to light your path

But your soul cries out for a ray

Of sunshine

You have come to twin the world around you

Empty

The mire of everything you have become grips heavily at your feet

As you drag on, still searching for meaning;

A secretariat in this world full of hatred,

You run in circles that strangle you

So tightly

You have known nothing else,

Yet there must be more than this

Constant longing, pining for air

Starving for love.

You are forever trapped in this hell

Alone

Is there nothing more?

The Tree of Life

I am a servant

Here I was born

Here I remain

     to give life to those surrounding me

     to give strength to the one who gave me life

I drink of the light and return it to my creator

So strong

     stood firm before my time

     will stand after I am gone

So tall

     I cannot fathom the height of its pinnacle

So wide

     will never know the extent of its limbs

Though the wind blows 

I am safe

Though the rain and snow weigh me down

I am held fast

Until my time is done

And I return to the roots

     to dwell forever under its canopy

I am safe, I am free

Freedom

Flying through the wind,

Snow bursting forth from the colt's hooves

A gale streaming through my loose hair

     which mingles with the flowing main of my mount

No earth below us,

Only heaven around us

This is freedom

Golden Retriever

A golden tail sweeps gracefully in the grass

A background to the ever-cheerful face

Joy is apparent wherever the sparkling brown eyes dart,

And a happy bark is sung

When she sees her best friend round the corner

She begins to leap and spin in excitement

As her best friend draws nearer

Her excitement becomes soft and gentle 

When her best friend approaches

She waits patiently for the leash to be placed around her neck

Her full tail sweeps ever so more fast 

And she starts to pant hard

The excitement is too much for her

Then her best friend says one word,

"Come"

She leaps up joyfully,

     ready to follow wherever he will take her.

I Am Weary, Let Me Rest

I am constantly wrestling with why God has allowed my road to be so rough...why he seems to have shrouded my path and taken away my sense of direction.
Where is my compass?  Why is his Word not inspiring the joy and wisdom and encouragement that it did in the past?
I cry out to my God and seem to hear nothing by my own weeping.  What have I done that makes my Father seem so distant?
Why can I not accept his forgiveness for the things I have done?  Yet how can I when I cannot even forgive myself for some reason?
Who has stolen my true joy?  Why must there be a facade!  When will I finally feel completely real with all the ones I love?
Why do I feel like such a burden to both my God and my friends and family?
Sin has no reward but shame and guilt and lingering regret of the very beginning.  I wish I could go back several months and undo the past.  Why was I blind to the truth God laid out before me?  Was it laid out before me?  Did I not seek him enough?  Did I shove my God out of my sight and make my own way?
Is this the path back to righteousness?
I am a burden, I am selfish, I am entitled, I annoy my friends, I break hearts.....I can never focus on the present without pangs of the past and nudges of the future nagging at my mind.
My heart is exhausted from trying to be loved, despite the knowledge that those in my life do not seek for me to earn their love.
I feel I have slid so far back.......from everything I was, everything I was going to be, to do, to love......
Why must my prayer be a cry in pain and not in joy?  Why do I look ahead with apathy?
I am weary, Lord give me rest!

Wow, I was just looking back at all my past posts from this and my blog on Xanga, and I am blown away by how far God has taken me over the years! I have grown so much since those first entries back in 2008! God is so good! In all of it, I see his fingerprint; he was there all along and I know he continues to be there for me and in me and around me.
 
 Over the past year, I have been reminded almost daily just how faithful and wonderful and loving God is. I'll start worrying and doubting my friendships - suddenly he confirms them. I think I am going to fail at some task, and he always comes through, even if I feel it's impossible. He just keeps coming and holding me up.  The verse: "Cast your cares on him, for he cares for you." has really become an echo in my life, and I have truly learned that the "joy of the Lord is my strength" in everything.  Sometimes it is hard, just because life has struggles, to remind myself of this joy, but most of the time, he pours out his joy abundantly upon me.    

 I started working at Camp Homewood on Quadra Island, BC back in June, and I think God may intend for me to be here for a long time. At least, that is my hope. This is quickly becoming home, well actually it really is home, because it has truly stolen my heart :) Who would have thought that this prairie girl would end up so at home and so in love with the coast and the mountains and the rain? Well, sometimes the rain gets boring, but this place is so incredibly beautiful! And the friends I have made are even more so! It helps that my they are also genuinely joyful people and we have all grown very close and encourage each other daily.  I am so privileged to live and work with some of my now best friends!  Sometimes I miss my family, but this new family has truly fulfilled that and I am so grateful to these girls for pouring out so much love upon me :)  What a great gift this life is!