It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at the close of another year. As the seasons change, it’s nice to reflect on the changes that have occurred during the past year and share what has happened in our lives with you - our family and friends.
The beginning of the year brought to our family a new sense of our desire to live more in the country and to be more self-sufficient. In the spring, we decided to put our house for sale. We felt that the Lord was leading us elsewhere but were not entirely sure of where. So we stepped out in faith that God would reveal His plan to us in His time. Our main goal was to be mortgage free (a very hard thing to attain in this day and age!) so the houses we were looking at were “less than impressive” for the most part. Our budget was really low and so was the state of many of the houses we looked at. But in the summer, we put an offer in on a place in Eganville that needed a lot of work but fit right into our price range. The only stipulation was that our house had to sell first. This was definitely a test to our patience! But in July, we were led elsewhere by God’s hand intervening and bringing us together with a wonderful family. We met at church one Sabbath, realized we had some common history and over time, they told us they were building a log house for someone which didn’t work out. After much discussion and prayer on both our ends, we mutually agreed that this was the place that God wanted us to be. So we let our offer expire on the house in Eganville and Matt has been building a log house (Stephanie’s dream!) in his “spare time”. So once it is finished, we believe that God will sell our house in His time. We will have 10 acres, a brand new log home, be self sufficient AND mortgage free. Isn’t it amazing how God works?
Another blessing that has been provided to our family has to do with something that has been a thorn in Matt’s side ever since we got married – and no, it’s not his wife! Matt was diagnosed with inoperable sleep apnea in August of 2004. The doctors said it was so severe that if he didn’t have a CPAP machine (designed to keep the airway open while sleeping), that Matt would have died shortly thereafter. Many times sleep apnea is linked to being overweight but at the time, Matt was in very good shape and at a perfectly healthy body weight. So there was really no known reason why he would have it. In March of 2009, we changed our lifestyle dramatically by adopting a total plant-based diet and forgoing all animal products. This has immensely improved our health and wellbeing and numerous medical conditions have vanished since we started this new lifestyle (as well as Matt losing over 70 lbs of unwanted weight!). A few months ago, Matt was starting to have problems with his CPAP machine so he went in to have it tested. After a couple of tests and sleep studies, he was miraculously given a clean bill of health! He no longer has sleep apnea and we attribute this entirely to the work of God in our lives in helping us to be healthier with the knowledge we are given. For those of you who are unfamiliar with sleep apnea, it doesn’t just go away. Sometimes if people are severely overweight when they are diagnosed and then lose weight, the apnea will go away. The problem can also be linked to enlarged adenoids and surgery can sometimes be successful. But in Matt’s case, none of those factors applied. We are very thankful for this miracle in our lives and Matt is glad that he can go interior camping again!
Stephanie has been busy this year with decorating cakes (over 150 to date!) as well as teaching cake decorating classes at Algonquin College. She’s also teaching a Sugar Free baking class in December that should be a lot of fun. This is the last year of decorating cakes as it is starting to take too much time away from the kids. With the children getting older and homeschooling becoming a daily priority, cake decorating is something that is not nearly as important as spending time with our children.
Stephanie also had the opportunity to take an 8-session sign language course at Algonquin College. She really enjoyed it and the kids are picking up on it quickly, too.
We’re looking forward to Christmas with a new sense of the true joy of the season – helping those in need. Our family is organizing a free Christmas Eve dinner and program at our church (the Pembroke Seventh Day Adventist Church) and we’re praying that it will be a blessing to those who are less fortunate in the community this Christmas. Stephanie is also planning on organizing a monthly supper club where we will cook a healthy vegetarian meal together, have a small health talk and then share our meal that was prepared. Based on the turnout of our first health series in November, we’re trusting that it will be something that is well received in the community. Many people are looking at how to live healthier lives and it’s a proven fact that a plant-based diet can, in many cases, reverse lifestyle diseases including high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and even cancer and diabetes. We’re pleased to offer this type of cooking class to the community and hope that many people see the benefits of adopting this healthier lifestyle.
In case you haven’t heard, our family will be expanding again! Our cute little bundle of joy will arrive sometime in the 2nd or 3rd week of January – four legs, fur, tail and all! We’re getting a puppy and the kids are so excited! Our friends bred their two Great Pyrenees dogs and the puppies were born on November 12th. We haven’t picked one out yet but we're leaning towards a male - the biggest one :)
We hope that this letter finds you all well. Hopefully we’ll get to see many of you over the holiday season and catch up on the past year. We’re praying that this New Year brings you a wonderful sense of God’s love for each and every one of you and that you take the time to search out His truths. As we close this letter, we’d like to leave you with this poem about the New Year:
Instead of making a New Year's resolution
Consider committing to a biblical solution
Your promises are easily broken
Empty words, though earnestly spoken
But God's Word transforms the soul
By His Holy Spirit making you whole
As you spend time alone with Him
He will change you from within.
Consider committing to a biblical solution
Your promises are easily broken
Empty words, though earnestly spoken
But God's Word transforms the soul
By His Holy Spirit making you whole
As you spend time alone with Him
He will change you from within.
Love: Matthew, Stephanie, Ryan, Joel, & Ella
