Goodness it seems like I have forgotten the reason for starting my blog in the first place and that was to invite you to journey with me on an adventure in Canada.

The man has been out gathering wood.

‘So, Michelle how is the Canadian adventure going’? I here you ask. ‘It’s a good week to ask thank you’.

The sun shines bright, the high sky perfect blue. Where am I Alberta?!

Autumn is looking very proud of itself – the Father of Lights offering a kiss of red gold. A carpet of leaves roll out to welcome cooler weather.

That is until the Collins twins hit the scene. The teens head to youth to play rake and run. I’ve heard of knock door run, a popular game in my childhood – Claycroft was just great for that – hiding around those flats.

But rake and run…. Teen turns up to youth with a rake and the group visit a nearby street. They proceed to rake the leaves on chosen front yard and bag them up, when the house owner appears and teen runs.       Good turn with a leafy twist!

We visited a new to us spot near Vernon on Friday, what beauty on our doorstep.

Bella began ballet and loved it, she is now known as Bellarina.

Phil and Emily are starting to organise their trip to Tanzania – more to come on that.

The big event of this week is of course:

Thanksgiving!

On Thursday, January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October”

‘Love your pumpkin as yourself’ is the now word as families scour the pumpkin patch in search of their perfect one.

Remember my favourite word? Eucharisteo. meaning thanksgiving, it envelopes the Greek word for grace, Charis, but also holds it’s derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning joy. A life of gratitude brings transformation. Jesus gave thanks and broke bread. The one healed leper returned to give thanks and in return received wholeness, it’s more than physical healing. As we study scripture we find the thread of thanksgiving and find that it proceeds miracles but precedes too.

I’m still trying to make this holiday a habit.

This time last year, Thanksgiving weekend, I sat with my precious UK posse, 18 adults and 27 children and we celebrated life and love around great food. I think of my friends and how much life has changed for them in a year. Some have emigrated, started new uni courses, opened a new medical practice, made life changing decisions. Some find themselves in the eye of storm, some are hiding, some questioning – there have been precious hellos and some sad goodbyes.

I know that through it all they continue lift up their eyes to the giver of gifts, to the One we love the most  – finding Him right there in their midst.

Miss you friends.. thankful for each and every one of you!

This year we gather with new friends, our fellow pilgrims, enjoying  turkey, pumpkin pie and enjoy the life stories that flow.

Abundance! 

‘Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world’  Sarah Ban Breathnach

Here’s to everyday epiphanies.

Happy Thanksgiving – thankful for YOU!

Love, Michelle xoxo

‘Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think’. Ephesians 3:20