It is hard for me to believe that this little guy is already 5 years old.

We had a huge birthday party for him on Sunday, but I have yet to get the pictures up. He had so much fun with all his friends. It is a funny thing, him being 5, it's been really hard for me to realize he is growing up. No longer is it just a matter of me just caring for him, but teaching him so much too now. He is smart, yet there is so much he doesn't know yet. Like how to relate with groups of friends. Who would have known that kindergartners have "girlfriends", or that there is intense peer pressure at this age. How am I ever going to handle his teen years if I have to deal with this stuff now? He is no longer my baby, but he is still my precious gift from God, and with His help, Ryan will grow up to be a respectful, God-fearing man. (I pray).

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings to all our friends!

Well, I suppose I haven't been so great at keeping this blog up to date, thanks, Marcy for the nudge to update. I've been keeping most of my stuff on Facebook and, frankly, just haven't had the time to put this all up, but thanks to Christmas vacation, now I've done it. I didn't send out Christmas cards, this year, so I'll share somethings about us now.

Our year has been a very blessed one without out any real tragedies or sadness, for which we are very thankful. We started the year in India visiting Cherag's family. It is hard to believe that the trip was really a year ago, we still talk about and miss our family very much. Ryan turned four in June, which we got to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa. Being four, we got to enroll Ryan in Kindergarten in the fall. He loves it very much and has been asking me everyday since the start of Christmas break when he can go back again. His biggest "accomplishment" this year is that back in October, Ryan asked Jesus to live in his heart. It was such a precious moment, one I will cherish forever, and I am so thankful to God that Ryan is now truly a "little king who has Christ in his heart." (the meaning of his name).

Cherag has had big year in way of his career. He has taken some bigger responsibilities and is in a managing position for his company now. If, you don't know, he works for a small business owner who has IT and recruiting work. Cherag really loves IT and anything related to building and working with computers, but has accepted the challenge of "head hunting" as well. We thank God for this blessing and the fact that this change has brought us one step closer to having our own home.

We've been living with Cherag's parents for over a year now, and it has been going great. Ryan loves being close to his Papa and Granny. And we have enjoyed being with them as well. I am still driving a school bus, but tried my very best to change that through the summer. But, the Lord know best and saw fit to keep me where I am for now. It works out great. I am home in time to put Ryan on the bus in the mornings, and of course, he rides with me in the afternoon.
As a side "job" I've taken up cake decorating and have a few returning clients. I've also started hosting children's cake decorating birthday parties. It's been fun and something I've found out I really enjoy doing.

We are so thankful that this year has brought us so much closer as a family and closer to God. We are thankful for our little boy, who shows an obvious love for God and others. We couldn't feel more blessed going into this new year. All the best to your families in the start of 2009.

Love,

Shyrna, Cherag & Ryan

Sunshine & Lollipop

Well, we finally did it. Ryan and I convinced everyone in the house to let us get a pet bigger than fish. We named them Sunshine and Lollipop. Very fitting for their colours. They are only 3 months old, so they are just babies, but big babies. They are living in Ryan's room for now. We'll see how that goes. And, boy, can they sing!

So, what do you think? Pretty good for the first try by himself. We had been practicing the A for a while now, and were starting to work on Y, when all of the sudden, this morning at breakfast, he decided to write out his whole name and this was the result! I am so proud of my little boy. This will be a special treasure to always keep!

What a lovely Mother's Day this year. For the first time, Ryan really knew what the day was about and made me feel extra special with lots of hugs, kisses and "Happy Mother's Day's". He had so much fun. He was telling everyone "Happy Mother's Day" at church. And, I mean everyone, until he caught on that all the mom's were wearing corsages. Then he said it to only people he saw with flowers. In Sunday school, my little two's and three's made beautiful cards for their moms. We had fun making them.

For the message, Pastor spoke on what three things mother's want and used three Biblical examples. I thought the message was beautiful and felt quite uplifted at the end.

What do mother's really want?

1. To be listened to (ex. Lois and Eunice - Timothy's grandmother and mother) Timothy listened and heeded to their words, and look at the influence he has had on the world.

2. To see redemptive value to what they do (ex. Hannah) She wanted to have a baby so badly that it was her only focus. But why? To have a baby and only give him right back? She wanted more than anything to have a son who could possibly be the Messiah. Although Samuel is not in the royal line, he was one of the greatest prophets and he annointed King David, who is an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

3. To know that the pain leads to promise (ex. Mary the mother of Jesus) The most beloved of all women, chosen to bear the Son of God. She was given the promise that her son would be the Messiah. It was perhaps the only thing that allowed her to survive the pain of watching him be crucified.

As mother's today, we may not have such extreme circumstances, but I believe that we do want these things, especially to be seen in our children. We want to know that they listen and believe what we teach them, that they do have a grand purpose in life and that all the pain we have gone through and will go through at each stage of their lives is worth it. We want the name of Jesus to be honoured and glorified in all we do, and we want that reflected in our children.

Celebrate love and mother's all year long!

This morning, our pastor spoke on Serving the Lord. He said something that I feel was absolutely dead on and want to BLOG it for all to see! He said,

"If you develop a reputation for not being reliable, frequently canceling commitments, and generally being unpredictable, then you only become a source of aggravation to other faithful servants. - Sadly, faithful servants have to work harder, suffer the consequences of those those who fail them, and then demonstrate a good attitude toward helping the 'faithless' ones.

Wow. Doesn't that make you think?

Super Hero to the Rescue: In a daring turn of events, our local superhero, Ryan, captured the evil villain, Ice Cone, from stealing all of our city's supply of ice cream. Is this the end of of Ice Cone? Has Ryan finally "licked" him? (copied from the Globe, April 8, 2008 pp. 1)

Local Boy takes home gold for Cycling BMX in the World Championships: Ryan is the youngest member of Canada's Cycling BMX team, he is said to make the record books in this exciting off- road racing sport. Cycling only since the age of 3, this soon to be 4 year old is leaving past world records "in the dust!" (as seen on Global TV, April 8, 2008)

Millionaire Movie Star Does It Again! A-list member, Ryan' once again takes home 4 Oscars, on top of the already declared 5 nominations. His roles have been insightful, comic, and appealing to all genre's and generations. What next? we asked him, he replied, "When I am four, I am going to school." Is there nothing he can't accomplish? (as quoted from Time, April 2008)

Too much snow!

What can a crazy guy with too much snow build?


A friend of mine who lives in Ottawa sent this picture to me yesterday. This man, Luc G. has been working on this snow bank since November building it up. His profession if you haven't guessed is a carpenter, so I guess he would have made it pretty sound. It was approved by the fire department and city planner. He now has to use a extention ladder to get to the top to smooth it down. He even adapted his snow blower to make the snow fall right on top of the wall. Read more about him at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080310.wmacgregor10/BNStory/Front/

Ryan's First Sledding Day

What beautiful weather we had on March 1st and 2nd. On the Saturday we had a scheduled youth event and went to them to really nice hill in Clarkson. We started on the the "bunny hill" but soon progressed to the "Black Diamond" well, that is everyone but me. I freak out riding a bike down a hill. They got me to go down a total of three times during the course of two days. Ryan went down so many times I can't count. His favorite person to sled with was Auntie Sarah Jayne. A little obvious from the pictures. He went once with Daddy, but wiped out and that was the last of that. On Sunday, our college & career group decided to copy events such it was again such a beautiful day. So two days of sledding! Ryan loved it, Daddy was a little sore, and mommy had enough stress to last me a week! All in all and really, really fun week!

Happy Leap Day

(and Happy Birthday, Mimi, wherever you might be)

Cherag and I got a new camera this week. Something we've been wanting for a while. You gotta love a good sale! Anyway, we got carried away taking pictures of Ryan and these are my top 5!

Happy Valentines Day! We love you!

India Trip

October has been the month for dress up. Starting at the beginning of the month with a "Fancy Nancy" Birthday party, for Ryan's little girlfriend who turned 5. He was the only boy who went but had a blast. He took a bouquet of 5 pink roses for the Birthday Girl

Last night was the first time Ryan went out for Trick or Treat. He had such a fun time! He was so excited all day he wouldn't even nap! He wore his costume all day, so by evening it was a bit dirty. We went out after dinner and he only made up and down our street before he was too tired to walk anymore, so much excitetment all day! He sat on our front porch and passed out candy with his little friend who lives next door. He did a great job, remembering to say "Happy Halloween" to all the kids as they came. If they looked like they were going to pass our house, he'd yell out with his fist full of candy, "Hey Kids! I've got some candy for you!"

Ryan want to be a pirate for Halloween this year. This will be the first year he has done anything for Halloween. We bought facepaint at the dollar store to get ready, and he decided he wanted to practice by having a snake on his face. He made me into a princess. Don't we look so cool?!