A Little Fall Adventure

Here are a few pictures of Ben @ the pumpkin patch yesterday. It was a family affair, we went with Denise, Alicia, Izzy, Jacob, Auntie Eileen, mom and day. We all had a great time and most likely will go again next year. It was Denise's idea and we really love spending time with her and her kids in the great out doors.

I was so warm that I'm sure that Ben was wearing too much, because I was expecting it to be cooler.

Autism Walk

This is Megan with Ben. Today we all gathered with her to raise money and walk for autism. Her nephew has autism and learning more about and raising money for autism research is very important to her and should be for all of us.

It was a privilege to do this with the majority of the Bjorndal family. Usually on Sundays all of us get together to catch up and just enjoy each other, so today we thought we would join our beloved Megan and walk for autism. It was a great way to do more then just catch up and enjoy each other, we made a difference (some of us more than others). Over $207,203 was raised today in the very first walk in our area. We only decided to walk a few weeks ago so I didn't really fundraise but we are thinking of doing it next year, so get ready to open your hearts and wallets to make a difference in many familys and childrens lives.

Here are a few shots of the rest of the family enjoying the day, only dad and Jacob were unable to make it out. It was a great day in so many ways.

Here is Jana with Adrian, just before Logan fell and we lost them for a little while. That is until they ran to catch up with us.

Here is Bella getting a good laugh with Jaclyn (Bella is in the stroller).

All the kids were interchangeble and here is Ben with David in Katherine and Chris' stroller.

Here we are getting ready on this cold day for a good walk.

My little family. We got the carrier yesterday and Ben loved it, he would have got tired of the stroller, but did great and was good the whole time in the carrier.

Here is Jaclyn all bundled up for the cold. All the kids were in great spirits considering how cold it was for them.

Here we all are for a our prewalk warm up. We were really just standing around wating to get going.

Megan and Mike enjoying a good laugh while walking in a very large crowd that wasn't moving too fast.

It was a good day and we all had a great time and I am looking forward to doing it again next year.

Ben's Got His First Job

Here's the story. I tried and tried and tried, but Ben was convinced that it was time for him to get a job. I was having a really hard time with the idea of him going off to work so I decided to go with him. So Ben and I are now Bella's (my niece) nanny's. Ben being the older one, is all in-charge. He keeps track of when Bella goes to bed and when to feed her and just plays with her if that is what she really needs at the time. Now Ben and I take the train to Port Moody 4 days a week to go meet Bella for Ben's new job.

Really I started working for Megan and Jer. two weeks ago taking care of Bella 4 days a week. Ben and I do take the west coast express most day and we get to play and have loads of fun with Bella. Here are a few pictures of the fun we have had already.

This is Bella.

Bella and Ben having a little lunch together. They don't have their bibs on here, but usually Ben ends up in a pink one because Bella shares all of her things with Ben.

Here they are just hanging out by the t.v. stand, which Ben has now figured out how to open. He's getting sneaky that little guy.

Most mornings I get to go into Bella's room and pick out an outfit for her. I really have fun with this, because girl clothes are just so cute. Not that I don't love dressing Ben but she wears more then a e-shirt and jeans every day.

Ben is trying to become more educated while we are working so here he is reading a book. "Ben I think the book goes the other way."


Here are the kids and their new ride. We just got the double stroller out today and it was a great day for a walk. After a week of teething and colds we all really needed to get out of the house. The kids really loved it and so did I.

Here's my BIG boy riding on the train. He tries to walk or crawl every where on that thing. He scared a young lady the other day because he touched her arm and yelled @ the same time. I though it was funny and I hope that she did as well.

Bathroom Duty

My mom had cleaned the bathroom last Sunday and Ben thought that he wanted to join in and this was the result.

Oh, Benny!

This is for Uncle Perry, Auntie Dawna, Derek and Shawn

Well we didn't end up moving out in your directions, but I thought that you might like this shot of Ben and Mike with their t-shirts they would have worn almost every time we came to visit you. Oh how I love Value Village you find the most wonderful things. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Go Lions Go!!!!!!!!!!!

Are we not Comanded to Love one Another?

I heard a story today about a few people that I know that made me wonder about the love that Christians are suppose to show to one another. My first reactions was to be cruel and ridicule back, but that is not how I should respond. I too was hurt by the actions of another in this story that I heard, but I need to move beyond that and I truly struggle with becoming bitter and angry. The tongue is a true and mighty sword that can hurt deeper and longer then any surface wound.

I was also watching a movie just the other day (Mean Girls, I know it is totally cheesy) and the story that I had heard was about women talking bad about other women, so this made me wonder....... Why do women have such a cycle of bitterness and anger towards each other? I'm sure that men are not immune to this sort of behavior but it seems to be more prominent with women of all ages. I even saw a documentary recently on TV that was about young girls being violent towards other young girls. This seems to be a small theme in the things that I see and hear in my life right now. Why are we this way? Can I be different? How could a teach a daughter of mine to be different, if I had one? Is this a problem from one generation to the next or is it a cultural thing? Or could it be the alternate battle of nature vs. nurture?

Well, instead of becoming bitter and angry this one time I thought I would put my thoughts out there for people to hear and think about. Also to calm my heart so I would reflect on my mind was taking me places that even I didn't want to go.

Our News Advetures as a Family

Here is a little update of our family and what is going on with us this fall. Mike is already back to school and he has started his pastoral internship @ Olivet Church as the middle school youth worker. These are both great things for Mike but they both come with struggles. Of course with Mike in school that means that we have less of an income. My parents are gracious enough to let us live @ there house for a fraction of what it would cost us to live anywhere else. This is truly a great help, but we still struggle with everything that has to do with finances. We are still learning what is important to spend our money one and how to save together. Mike in school also creates a little tension so we really truly need prayer for patience with each other and the journey that God has set us on. We need prayer to be humble through this experience and also that we are able to create a balance between work, school, church and family.

Soon I will be starting a new job of being a nanny for my niece in Port Moody for four days of the week. I am filled with anticipation for this new beginning and a little nervousness too. Talking to my sister in-law Jana has gotten me even more exited and nervous about this. I love working with children because you can be a part of shaping who they will be but that is the same reason that I am nervous, I am going to be part of who this girl will be one day.

Over the last week or so I have been thinking of things that I would write about in an update for my blog and right now I seem to have forgotten most of them.

I just ask for prayer for our little family as we embark on so many new adventures this fall. Prayer that we raise Ben as God intended and that when we do make mistakes that he is protected from them. To keep us safe physically and emotionally in our jobs and that we can learn to live and laugh through all of the struggles that life will throw @ us.