It's Just a Bump in the Road

Meet Rick and Kathy. "It's just a bump in the road". That's how they are dealing with Kathy's breast cancer. Rick is a first cousin to my father. Kathy (not even 50 years old yet) has been his wife of 25 years. She is dealing with a very aggressive type of breast cancer. She is at the end of her chemo and heads to the OR next week for a double mastectomy. I admire her strength, the devotion of her family, and their hope. God has been by their side. Without Him, they are not sure how they would be doing. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Her husband and sons helped her pick out this wig. It suits her. She naturally has red hair and is a hair dresser by trade. She cut my hair all through my growing up years.
Shortly after she started Chemo, her hair started to fall out. So out came the clippers.
Kathy with their oldest son Zack.
Youngest son Josh.
Kathy and her boys.
During the night a beautiful snow fell. They have wonderful trees in their yard so it added to the beauty.
Josh looks up to his big brother.



They are still smiling. Not everyday is full of smiles, but she finds something positive in everyday. Kathy has not been working outside the home at her hair salon. She feels this has given her the opportunity to rest when she needs, go to her appointments, which Rick has not missed one, and to sail through chemo with some strength.

Remember, it's just a bump in the road. Bumps don't last forever.

Skating With Friends

It had been a while since Jen had been on a sled. The trail was very rough and she was a little unsure. The older you get the more bumps you feel.
It was fun to watch her and Ciera laughing and having fun.
There goes Russell and Hudson.
Hudson and his mom playing some hockey.
All the kids and one mom. We love having fantastic neighbors that live so close and we can walk over and that share their lake with us for skating.
Russell on a mission of clearing the snow.
Hudson doing good on skates. A little man on a mission.

Chloe and Ciera were just chatting about the week and what they have been doing that day. Those 2 girls are cute to watch and listen.
Chloe enjoying the outdoors. We have been blessed with such a mild winter. No scarves have been needed. It's nice not to have to bundle up lots just to enjoy some time outside, and we don't get cold in 20 minutes either!

Harder Family

The youngest member of the family. They have 3 beautiful children.
Oldest son, middle child.
Oldest daughter and child. Megan and Chloe are great friends.

Mom and son.

Husband and wife. i met this family through home school activities. They live close by and have children close to the same age as Russell and Chloe. I've enjoyed getting to know them.
Love how they still laugh and smile when each others company after many years of marriage.
The weather was a little cool out but the show must go on. The kids did great. Hot chocolate was made as soon as we were back at the house.
The little guy wanted to be by Russell. He loves Russell and likes to follow him around. He was not that interested in sitting with his sister.

Winter Activities

On our way home from the Whitmore's, we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Weich's in Castor. They have a beautiful place to stay. Chloe and Russell loved giving them rides in their wheelchairs.
Good old shuffle board.
Chloe and Great Grandma. I see similarities.
Mom and Dad bought an air hockey table for Christmas. It is loads of fun. Here Curtis is trying to stop a shot from his father in law.
Then there's Kimmy and Steven. There was some heated competition!
Yesterday was the perfect weather for snowman making. It is very rare in Northern Alberta when the snow has the right moisture to make snowmen. Curtis had to use the quad ramps to get the middle of the snowman up.

Mr. Snowman is sporting quad glasses on his face, K-cups for buttons, tree branches for arms and a flower pot for a stylish hat!
Hopefully the updates will not be few and far between. The kids have been working real hard to get ahead in school. We are leaving for Florida the end of April and want to have some of their work completed before we leave. Spring will hopefully be here when we return the beginning of May. By then it will be time to be in the great outdoors in the warm sun instead of inside doing school work.

We have all been healthy this winter. There was about week before Christmas where a nasty stomach bug ripped through our house. It left just as fast as it came. We have many things to be thankful for.

Updated PIctures of the Kids

Our neighbors have a beautiful stable they let us barrow. It was a bit cool in there so the it took a bit to get some good expressions of the kids. Chloe Jane is almost 7 1/2 years old.
Russell learned several of his expressions from his father.

Finally a nice smile.
I like this one too.
Our two beautiful children. We are so proud of them and all they have become.
Little Chloe has a scrape on her upper lip from hitting a snow bank with her sleigh. They both enjoy being on Christmas break, no deadlines, and fun time with friends. By the end of the 3 weeks, hopefully they will be ready for school.

We are heading to Grandma and Grandpa Whitmore's for a few days at Christmas. Curtis does not have much time off, but we are going to make the best of it. Being with family is a blessing.