The Little Joys of Life!

 We like to sometimes do things spur of the moment. March 6th was one of those days. It was just a normal Friday; school and different jobs were filling up the day, when Mom had an idea..."Lets go to Bemis Hill." A statement which put the kids into quite an excited mood :)

It did not take long to communicate to Dad who was at work, collect the necessary items, and pile into the van. All said, it was a very fun afternoon. Sledding, Family Time, Creation, Over the fire food, Singing hymns together...life can't get much better :)

Warm, crackling, smokey, bright...adjectives that all describe the fire that Daddy prepared.

Esther!!

It's a long trek up :)

Cooking your hotdogs is so much fun. And they taste so good when you've been sledding for a while:)

"What is the best route down to the bottom without spilling out?":) Thankfully we left Bemis Hill with nothing more serious than some sore muscles!

~"This is the Day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."~

Marie loves to write. One day she wrote a fun, short mystery to preform in skit form for Mom and Dad. A valuable picture is stolen, a detective is called, a suspect is apprehended, and justice is served:)

The terrifying robber!!

The brave queen!!

The resourceful detective!!

 

A post would not be complete without a few pictures of our sweet 5 month old nephew (grandson:)!

~"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb is his reward"~

"Joy is one of those rare treasures that is multiplied by giving it away" ~Unknown~

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Ps. 16:11                           

Happy and Godly New Year

"Great is Thy Faithfulness".  This year, as always, our Great God has remained faithful in His dealings with us. The year has come and gone, and I am just now sitting down to write, Merry Christmas, and a very happy and Godly new year.
As you can see, the addition of our little grandson Cedric Paul , born on Oct. 20th, was the big event of the year. So wonderful being called "grandpa" for the first time, and not just because I am getting old. Ben and Emily still live about 2 hrs away, so its nice to be able to see them every month. Please pray for them as they live out the faith in that area.
Reuben decided to go down to Sioux Falls S.D to work in construction this year. He actually went down to apply for a firefighting position down there, but of the 400 or so applicants,  20 were chosen, and he was not one of them. He has been busy roofing, hanging gutter, and finishing up his EMT courses, which he has done and has passed his national test successfully.  Please be in prayer for him as he seeks God's direction for his life, and that he would grow in his walk with God.
Elizabeth has been a nanny this year to two little ones, so 5 days a week finds her playing with, entertaining, working with and teaching them.
Rachel could have graduated this year, but decided that there were still some courses that she wanted to acquire, so she is still a regular at "Northern Pines Academy". She is one of the most disciplined people I know. This year, her and her sister plan on starting a discipleship group for young ladies called Bright Lights. A highlight for her was to go down to Florida for what is called "The National Bible Bee". A scripture memory competition.  Matthew (the bodyguard) and Mother travelled down with her. Needless to say, they had a great time, and even found time to swim in the ocean...for the first time.
A highlight for Matt this year was to get his permit...and to get to be taller than Dad. The other kids keep us young...at least at heart anyways. Our cup runs over.
Another highlight for our family was to travel to Toronto to join in the celebration for Bruce's mom....it was her 80th birthday. We had such a good time, and even manged to get there this time. After that, we headed back to Vankleek Hill, to where we used to live. It was so nice to connect with old friends from the Baptist church that we had pastored there. Such good memories. Another highlight was moving on to Ottawa to visit with Brian and Kim and family.  The trip to the parliment buildings was so educational, but even better was visiting with family.
This year, you would still find Bruce working at Marvin, helping to create windows, but he received a new postition, that of CNC programmer. It means he is back on day shift, working 5 days a week. So much to learn, but am enjoying it. He still fills in preaching and teaching, and still desires someday to do that fulltime again.
Linda, well, what can you say about my partner for these past 27 years.  A wonderful teacher, housewife, friend, gardner, seamstress , cook, and so much more. I think she loves being a grandma, and really enjoyed it when she went to "nurse" Emily and help look after Cedric. She finds time to volunteer as an election judge, at the second hand store, for the local cemetery, organizing a once year outing to Gilletes children's hospital to help serve at the Ronald McDonald house....in honor of Victoria, and this year we took on helping with a thanksgiving banquet for 100 plus people.
Its been a good year, but filled with tears and sorrow as well. If you can believe it, the house seemed quiet and empty after Victoria left us for heaven. It took a while to adjust, and so many things remind us of her.
As we enter the new year,  I am reminded of what Jesus said to "watch and Pray". Watch, because we don't know when our master will return. Watch how you live and what you love. Watch, for Satan as a roaring lion lurks about seeking whom he may devour. Pray, for yourself, your children (oh how strong is the appeal of this world), for your church, and for those perishing without a Saviour. Pray, because you are so in love with Jesus, that you love spending time with Him. Pray, that in our weakness, we would be made strong, so that the glory and love of Jesus would shine through your family, and our family.

                                       Blessings on your year, Bruce, Linda and family.

Ads

As many of you can see, I have added some ads to our blogs. I thought I would try this for a while. The thought behind it is that I allow ads on my blog, and if anyone clicks on them from my blog, we earn a little bit of money for the advertising. I don't control which ads come on, not too thrilled about that, but I was able to go through and try and filter out some that I thought I wouldn't like to have on here. Please don't think that I support all the ads that show up here,  and don't worry, if I find that they keep putting ones that are offensive, I will quit.
So, if you find something on here that you might be interested in, please click on it. (No, not quitting my day job.)

Speaking of advertising....I wonder, as you look back over the year if we have done a good job representing Jesus? We are after all His ambassadors, and it is as if God were pleading with others, through our words and actions, that they need to be reconciled to God. Thankfully, God can take our broken lives and make them into something beautiful....I just love His wonderful grace . So, in the coming year, don't cry over spilt milk...ie how we did last year, but let us leap into the new year with a desire to glorify God and His holy name , to love people, and to be sowing the seed of the gospel....for this may be the last year that God gives us to do just that.

I thank God for each of you that visit our blog and that have prayed for us, loved us, encouraged us in this last year. It certainly has been a year of change and challenge and comfort from God and others. Blessings on your new year....Bruce

Musings during the Christmas Season

J E S U S
It's what this season is all about. 
All too often we get caught up in a whirl of shopping, and baking, trying to get the best deal, and create the tastiest treats, to invoke the praise and catch the attention of those around us. 
"Be still and know that I am God,"  Psalm 46:10a 
This is not a passing statement, it's a command!!
So how we have peace in the midst of this season?
I want to share a story of an individual of whom we can all take lessons from on how to live a peace filled life.                             This individual life started the same as everyone else, it was born.
From the start this baby's life was a special one.
It's family had a lot of lessons to learn.
Lessons of faith, prayer, selfless love, trust, compassion, patience, gratefulness, unity and more.  
They would learn these lessons through this very very special baby.
-A baby is totally dependent on others for...well...for everything. If an adult decides, I am tired of taking care of this baby who only poops, cry's, sleeps and eats, then this baby will die. 
What carries some parents through babyhood is the realization that this baby will grow up, this season too will pass. Other parents choose to enjoy to the fullest every single season of their babies lives.-
Back to my story; this baby surprised many by it's tenacity in living when many thought that it's life would not be long for this world.
Though different, this baby ate, slept, and grew.  
This baby's family struggled, prayed, and took the best care of this baby that they knew had come from God, and was a "good gift".
 ^-17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.-
This baby had struggles. There were surgeries, illnesses, hospital stays, pain, frustration, and many shed tears. 
People would walk by this baby; there was kind remarks, some stares, thoughts of pity, and maybe even some fear of not knowing how to treat this baby. For this baby did look different from most babies
As the baby grew into a toddler, it became more and more evident to it's family that this was no ordinary child.
This child could not talk. 
At no one time could this toddler verbally express to it's family what was going on in it's thoughts.
Think of what might of been flitting through this child's mind; these thoughts were never expressed to this world.
It is commonly thought that the eyes are the windows of one's soul.
This child expressed much in it's eyes.
Pain Sadness. Trust. Happiness.
Looking up. It's what this child did.
Looking up with trust into it's family's eyes, this child lived, totally dependent on others for it's every need. 
Looking up in the midst of pain.
Looking up during seasons of relative peace.
There were times when this baby's family got tired of caring, tired of the crying, tired of seeing their "baby" go through so much pain.
Then they would look down see the trusting looking and feel ashamed.
-Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40b-
How often do we struggle manfully on in this life, and then as in an after thought look up to Jesus and realize that our struggling on our own will get us nowhere.
² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Then came a day, when this child's race was done. God called her home.
As many of you might have guessed, this child was Victoria. 
Our precious treasure who has been in heaven for 1 year 11 days taught us so much. 
We are daily grateful to the Lord for giving us a little jewel to care  for.
-The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21b-
So, how do you keep your focus on Christ during this Christmas season? 

L O O K  U P

Practice Jesus

If we practiced Jesus every way,
 It'd be like Christmas every day;
 If we, like Him, were meek and mild
 And loved each woman, man and child,
 If we'd read our Bible, it'd remind us,
 So that every single day would find us
 More and more in sweet accord
 With our sweet Jesus--Master, Lord. 

Then every day that we're alive
 Would be like December 25.

By Joanna Fuchs

 


 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Bible Bee trip to Florida!

This is the First year that Rachel has qualified for Bible Bee Nationals.  Yes, Nationals just happened to be located in Florida this time;)  And Yes, those are real palm trees in the picture;)  Mom, Matthew, and Rachel were the ones who traveled together to Florida. 

Mom and Rachel- in front of the Hilton hotel.  ( Psalm 119:105)  " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  ( Psalm 119:105)                         

 

 

~ Matthew and Rachel.~ Florida was AMAZING!  The weather was beautiful, and it was so neat getting to see palm trees and also flowers in full bloom!  God's creation is so unique and truly beautiful!  I love what it says in Colossians about how God made Creation for himself...and for HIS glory.  " For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created BY him, and FOR him."

We were quite excited to spend time with Hosanna while we were in Florida!  She was quite busy working as part of the Bible Bee staff...but we still had lots of time to talk and spend time together;) 

Rachel thoroughly enjoyed her first time competing at Nationals...and is very sad that this is her last year to participate!!  She did not make it on to semi- finals, but the amazing thing about the Bible Bee competition is that EVERYONE is a winner!!!  The scripture you hide in your heart will be a blessing to you in more ways than you could imagine.  God says that those who meditate on His Word will be successful...but how can you meditate on scripture throughout the day and at night if you have not memorized any?!!? 

We were only 1 hour away from the Atlantic Ocean...so one day we went for a visit;)  Rachel and Matthew had never seen the Ocean.  At first they didn't think they would have much fun spending a few hours there....until they starting swimming and riding the waves!  After swimming~ we felt like we all had our fill of salt for the day;)

(Psalm 90:1-2)  " Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

~Bethany M., Rachel, and Rachel C.~  One of the best parts of Nationals was all the wonderful fellowship!  All those who were competing had an instant connection...because they had all been studying Nahum and memorizing the same verses for the past few months!!!  " This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."  (Joshua 1:8) 

All 100 Seniors on stage after they had received their Bible Bee medals.   We were in Florida for a total of 4 days.  Each day was packed full with Bible Bee competition, watching Semi~finals and Finals, The Celebration ceremony, swimming, fellowship, ECT!;)  By the time we were on the airplane heading for home...we were all quite low on sleep...but we were so happy to have been able to visit Florida....and of course take part in The National Bible Bee!!!  Memorizing is so important, and the Bible Bee is an awesome competition which is really motivating in the area of committing God's word to memory!   Like it says in Psalms, one reason it is important to memorize is because it helps us to not sin against God.  " Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  

 

Cedric Paul

Cedric Paul Mitton!!!! 

Parents: Ben and Emily Mitton:)
Born: October 20th 2014
Weight: 7lbs exactly!
Length: 19 inches
We are so grateful for the Lord's provision and blessing.
Thankfully, mommy Emily is doing well. We were able to pop down for a short visit on Monday evening. To hold a little newborn is truly a miracle!! And yes, we are all just a wee little bit excited. We will try not to spoil him too bad:)
For more pictures go to:  http://emilymitton.com/

1. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
   Praise him, all creatures here below;
   Praise him above, ye heav'nly host;
   Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Part 3 of the Mitton Adventures in Canada...a little late:)

Time has been ticking by, and still these blog posts have not gotten done!!!
As I put my mind in reverse to remember those days in Canada, I feel gratitude to God for his goodness in allowing us to have such a special vacation!

Road hockey at my Dad's younger brother's house. What would we have done if it had not been for the hospitality of S. Mitton and his family!!

Pool fun at Grandma and Grandpa's apartments.

Smile:)

Center Island fun...bumper cars!!

A little tired after walking about 1 1/2 miles to try and watch an air show outside of Toronto. (We did get to see part of the air show)

Family...a blessed gift!!

Matthew's dream is to fly planes, so one of our stops had to be The Hamilton War Heritage Museum. Grandpa Mitton even had fun on these simulators!

There were many planes that you could sit in...and even play with the controls...everyone enjoyed that!

This plane actually flew on D-Day in World War II!! In just a little while this plane is going to be redone in the original camo colors. How grateful I am for those brave soldiers that gave their lives that we might be free!

Niagara Falls.

Psalm 93 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

² Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
³ The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
⁴ The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
⁵ Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

I could have stayed at this place for hours. What grandeur!! The power of God is truly displayed here for all to see...and feel.

"As long as I see anything to be done for God, life is worth having: but oh, how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!" ~David Brainerd~

Leaving Toronto behind, we drove to our old home in Vankleek Hill!! It was here that my Dad pastored a church for nine years. We stayed with some really special people the Zihlmanns;  Matthew and Caleb with two of the Zihlmann children.  They had a few people over one night and we enjoyed catching up a bit.  We also enjoyed a special Sunday morning worship service with them.  ("It is Well with My Soul" was so beautiful and such an encouragement).  Thanks so much Martin and Andrea!

Hide n' seek. (What better place to hide than under the table:)

Cheese!

Caleb and Todd


" If Jesus Christ be God and died for me then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." ~C.T. Studd~

After Vankleek Hill, we headed for one last place; Ottawa. Here we are at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.

The toothless astronaut.  :)
.

No trip to Ottawa is complete without a visit to the Parliament Building. What an incredible experience! So sad that just yesterday this was a place of such tragedy.

The view from the Peace Tower.

Our personal favorite part of the Parliament building was Memorial Chamber and The Library of Parliament. The Memorial Chamber is dedicated to all the fallen soldiers in Canada. Handwritten books these soldiers names are in glass cases around the room. Every day at 11:00 these pages are reverently turned. Throughout the entire year every name has been displayed, and hopefully read and remembered with thankfulness. And now, one more is added to the list of brave men.

In the center of the Memorial  this book with the names of the soldiers who died in WWI sits on top of a beautiful altar:

The altar is called the altar or remembrance and is so ornate. The altar was carved from a single piece of stone from Britain, called Hoptonwood stone. The First World War Book of Remembrance rests atop the altar and pays homage to veterans by listing the names of over 66,600 Canadians who gave their lives in service to their country. 
The inscription along the circumference of the upper section of the altar is from John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress from this World to that Which is to Come' whose character Mr. Valiant-for-Truth states:
"My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles, who now will be my Rewarder; so he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side."

In the gold around above that, we read verses from Ephesians 6 talking about the armour of God and there were little shields representing truth, faith, etc.

On the steps of the Parliament Building. Same doors I believe where the young man ran in with the rifle. Be in prayer, as we wrestle not against flesh and blood....

Games at Brian and Kim's beautiful home...a great Mitton tradition.

This fun little tractor representation gave you the option to see if you liked the feel of riding on rubber tires or metal ones...were the metal ones ever noisy and bumpy! 

It had been a long time since we had been together with all of Brian and Kim's family!  What a great time!  We thank God for you all!