When cold winds blow...

Forever ago was our last post. So much for being a real blog. :) But with a toddler jealous of the computer and many other activities requiring lengthy, focused attention, it's just life right now.

Winter is definitely here, in Idaho at least. A couple of weeks ago the temperatures dipped way down to below freezing and went BELOW ZERO several nights in a row. We were shivering, and so was part of our apartment...one of our pipes froze for several days. But now that it's warmed up (to freezing and just above!) it doesn't really feel that cold and the water is flowing in that faucet again. We figure that this weather is another way the LORD is giving us an opportunity to prepare for Canada's cold winters, and that's a blessing!

Dejan loves the cold anyway, and Julie likes winter well enough while there is something white to cover the barren ground and trees, especially before Christmas when everyone has lights up to keep things from being so dark. The cold is quite manageable, actually, if one has the right gear. So for Christmas this year, we asked for wool long johns and have been seeking other cold weather gear. Julie's motto right now is: Embrace winter. "Do all things without grumbling or complaining." (Phil. 2:14) So far so good!

summer preview

As we are reading about Edmonton and looking into some of the facts about the city, of course the weather is a point of interest. I think that weather is pretty much important to everyone; no one is completely ambivalent about it, with a "whatever" attitude, or we wouldn't talk (or complain) about it so much.


Edmonton is quite far north, close in latitude to Moscow, Russia, so the temps aren't anything to look forward to, or are they? Dejan doesn't do well in the heat and actually prefers colder weather. I used to think that summer was my second favorite season, after spring, but in the last several years the heat is really getting to me. Cold weather isn't bad as long as there's snow to cover the ugly bear, and Canada seems to have no issues in the white fluff department. But their summers seemed to not have warms temps; only high 60's and into the 70's in July?

This summer in Idaho the weather has been untypically cool, with lots of rain and temps that don't soar as they usually do, into the 90's and even low 100's. It's been more like 70's, and it has been so enjoyable. It's as if the Lord is giving us a preview of the Edmonton summer temps. And after it was very hot and humid this past weekend, a reminder of the central European heat we lived in for about 4 years, it's made me thankful.

Celebrating the maple leaf

July 1st is the official celebration of Canada's existence since 1867. It used to be called Dominion Day, but is now Canada Day. As far as we read in our little culture book, it's basically celebrated in a manner similar to the U.S. Independence Day (4th of July): barbecue, get-togethers, fireworks.

The only obvious difference I can figure, aside from the calendar date, is that Canada wasn't formed by a revolution or war. I guess North Americans--whether they are Canadian or U.S. citizens--are similar in several national celebration habits. However, as patriotic as Americans are and have become even more so since 9/11, Canadians have always been quite patriotic. When I went on an outreach to British Columbia in 2001 there were maple leaf symbols everywhere. Even the McDonald's used the maple leaf in place of the apostrophe between the "d" and "s" on their sign!!

We were only able to take note of this holiday and did nothing further to celebrate it this year, not even wishing our Canadian friends here a "Happy Canada Day!". But I will say that I didn't buy any 4th of July decorations, since Lord willing, we will be in Canada by next summer!

Start where you are, and if you're new, start HERE

If you're new to keeping track of us, we're currently in the U.S., but we don't plan on staying here.

. . .We began our married life in Hungary 4 years ago at the school where we met, then we lived two years in northern Serbia in Dejan's hometown of Subotica. Over that period of time, Dejan served as the assistant pastor at his home church, oversaw the new men's ministry, played in an outreach-focused Christian hardcore band, and was in the early stages of translating Pastor Chuck's sermon series through the Bible. Julie studied Serbian and eventually began teaching/overseeing the women's ministry and a little bit of singing lessons for gals on the worship teams. Also during that period, Julie's health became more and more depleted until we discovered in 2007 that her immune system was overburdened and we started to work on recovery to the best of our ability. Then we took a wonderful vacation to the Croatian coast and came back to Subotica, when Julie's health seemed to take a nosedive. We later learned that a baby was on the way, and because of her declining health, we were advised on all sides to come to the States so Julie could get rest, the chance at better prenatal care and a healthy baby. . .

Fast-forward 19 months, to the present. Our daughter is already over 1 year old, healthy, and beautiful. Julie's health is much stronger and more stable. We are living in an apartment in Idaho, Dejan works part-time at the church here and on that same translation project. He received his resident "green" card earlier this spring (after 12 months of paperwork and waiting), and we are making plans for a return visit to Serbia in late August.

It's only a visit, though, which we didn't forsee when we left there in November '07. We're on the path to going to Edmonton, Alberta; Lord willing, next spring. But first we really need to see Dejan's mom and round up some gear we left in Serbia.

So this is our current starting point: in America, going to Serbia with the eventual plan to head north. More about it in coming posts. . .