He's here!

Well, after nine long months, he's finally here! James William Leppington was born June 28, 2007 and weighed 9lbs 2oz (22 in.). He's a big boy! :) Daniel called here at 3:30am this morning to tell us he and Carolyn were headed to the hospital, and only a few short hours later, James was here. I was in Burnaby writing a midterm at the time, but I scooted back to Abbotsford as soon as I could to be with everyone. Carolyn was checked out of MSA before I got there, so Becky and I spent the afternoon together at my house as her Mom and Dad did all the paperwork at the hospital. I finally got to hold the little guy later in the evening, and I tell ya, it was love at first sight. He is so content, so soft and unusually hairy for a Leppington. :) This has been a great day all around - not only did we finally meet James, but Mom quit her terrible job in favour of a better one (to start Tuesday), and Becky got an Academic Excellence Award AND the Work Ethic Award on her last day of Grade 7. I am so proud of her! Not only that, but she whipped my butt at Risk and is now Dictator for Life. Ha. God is so good to bless her with a brother - I don't know what I'd do without mine. I know it's a little overdone, but Psalm 139 evidenced itself today in such a cute little way:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Happy Birthday, James. Your auntie Kristen loves you so much.

KNL

A weekend on campus

Because the Fraser River is threatening to flood, and the West Coast Express (my ride to school) told us last week to make alternate plans to get into the city early this week, I had to spend two nights and three days in my pre-paid dorm room at SFU. (SFU didn't give me back the $600 deposit I made on my residence fees for the summer semester, so I have use of the room until June 22. Having stayed there 3 days ... I guess that's about a $200 a night. ha.) I am glad, however, that I had a safe place to stay during mid-terms.

Monday afternoon, I had a little free time, so I hopped on a bus, took the Skytrain, got on the Seabus, and eventually meandered my way back to campus. I love doing that, taking destination-less rides on public transit. I am sure going to miss Vancouver next year, especially the weather. Having lived here all my adult life, I have a hard time imagining myself anywhere else. I think the change will be good, once I outfit myself in a decent parka and a fashionable pair of Sorels.

My dorm room at SFU this weekend had no TV nor any access to internet, so I had a lot of time to just sit in quietness and ponder life. I brought a file of random journal clippings from way back, and I was surprisingly encouraged by some things I was led to write down back in the day, around the time I was contemplating leaving Nipawin to move to Vancouver 8 years ago. This one was especially encouraging to me in light of my upcoming adventure to la belle province:

Isaiah 43:1-5a, 18-19

But now, this is what the Lord says -
He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you'
I have summoned you by name;
You are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy one of Israel, Your Saviour;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Sheba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you ...

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

What a cool reminder of how God sees us. Praise the God of the Big Picture.

KNL

Anybody got a carrot?

I found this picture in an old photo album today, and I couldn't stop laughing. So, of course, I posted it so you all may laugh at me, too. Ha. Kind of looks like a 'bunny police lineup.' Those ears ... oh, my. :) That was Hallowe'en 1983, not long before we moved from Abbotsford to Nipawin. Now, I am getting ready to leave Abbotsford again, but this time for Quebec to check off that last thing on my life's list of 'Dreams to Fulfill'. Can't say I have the same great fashion sense I once had, but I was reminded today how wonderful my life has been, and how I should thank God a lot more than I do. So here we go - a start at all the things I am thankful for:

I am thankful for Mom and Dad.

I am thankful for Daniel and Erin, Daniel and Carolyn, Becky and the baby (any day now!).

I am thankful for my Grandma Leppington, with whom I can still hang out and make great memories, and for Grandpa Leppington and Grandma Peggy who are safe with Jesus.

I am thankful for all my aunts (and uncles) who teach me how to grow gracefully as a Cooke/Leppington woman.

I am thankful for my childhood friends, my junior high friends, my high school friends, my NBI friends, my Torch Trail friends, my Vancouver friends, my Korean students - you all know who you are, and each one is so special and irreplaceable.

I am thankful for a childhood on the prairies and an incredible Bible college education at NBI. As a campus kid, some of the best things I learned there happened way before I was ever admitted as a freshman.

I am thankful for French Immersion, and the way it has brought so many wonderful advantages and opportunities to my life. I thank my parents, too, for having the foresight to put me in it.

I am thankful for my country - trips to Burkina and Korea have reaffirmed my belief that we really do have nothing to complain about and everything to be thankful for as Canadians.

I am thankful for being born at a time in history when it is not only acceptable for women to go to school and get a job, but also that we enjoy a quality of life that is unprecedented in our society.

I am thankful for the rain outside my 3rd floor window at night, the smell of cedar in the morning, and the overwhelming experience of standing near the ocean.

What's that, little bunny? Yeah, life is pretty good.

KNL