January '26

We woke up in St. Thomas on the first day of the new year...

...one of the U.S Virgin Islands.

And after our week enjoying the sun and the sea and the ship in the Caribbean ...

we moved to a beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale for another day before heading home.

So thankful for this time together with our family!

We thought we would come home to winter...

but it seems winter is passing us by this year.

Leo brought his wife and daughter to Canada for a month over Christmas...

while he worked on the farm.

He was hoping they would have their first snow-experience in Chilliwack...

but not this year.

Once we were home...

Jeremy drove them to Sasquatch Mountain Resort (one hour from here) to play in the snow!

We may not have had snow...

but we had plenty of rain early in the month.

The odd rose was still blooming...

as were the winter pansies

And then came my birthday...

...and flowers from family and friends.

I went for a morning walk on my birthday.

The sun was shining. 

The sky was bright blue.

An eagle swooped down and flew overhead.

I was reminded...

they that wait upon the Lord will rise up on wings like eagles.

I don't know what the year ahead will bring...

but I know I am in God's hands.

Elmer and I went out for brunch that day...

and then hiked to the Hillkeep Park lookout on Chilliwack Mountain.

And then were celebrations with friends and family...

and by now I feel ready to journey around the sun once again! 

 We watched  Abbotsford Canucks vs Laval Rockets play on January 20th.

Josiah Didier plays for Laval in the American Hockey League...

and since he happens to be related we thought we it would be a good game to watch.

And it was!

Laval won 4-3 with seconds to go before the game ended.

Lucy's Grade 9 GW Graham team won the Junior Tournament.

We took in a lot of basketball games this month...

cheering for Micah's Sardis team as well as Lucy's.

We are really thankful for the deluxe bleacher seats Elmer got for his birthday.

The sun set on a very mild January...

with a walk around Cheam Lake Wetlands.

2026 is off to a good start.