In some ways 2024 has seemed very long with lots of conflicting emotions but as I look back it's actually gone very quickly. So here's my attempt in a few short words and pictures to cover what has been happening to the Lavers in Canada in 2024.
The year started with Josh renovating parts of his new house and moving into it in January. He had a packed house for his housewarming party. He has continued to work on various aspects of his house this year, replacing the roof, fixing the deck, insulating and decorating. After a couple of years having braces the time came for his jaw surgery in Halifax. David took him over and stayed there until he was released from hospital which happened to be in the middle of a major snowstorm. Their journey home was long and difficult but they arrived home safely. As Josh needed 24/7 nursing care he and Chewie moved back in with us for a short time while he recovered.
Matt and Harri were in Norway and the UK over Christmas last year so we had a Christmas in January when they returned, it's a good way of celebrating for longer and we even found a Charlie Brown tree to put the presents under.
In March Isaac and Hannah had Henry. I have to say being grandparents is the best thing ever! Henry is a very lively little chap who loves dogs, chattering and has his own style of crawl to get around very quickly. The renovations in Isaac and Hannah's house have slowed down since Henry's birth but they did manage to finish an en-suite bathroom before he was born and have been working on a workshop, firepit and veggie garden as well as prepping for their winter project this year, installing the main bathroom.
In April we very fortunate to be in the path for the total eclipse. I have to say I don't think I've seen one before and it was a very cool experience to witness. We also got amazing views of the northern lights this year too.
In May we went to PEI to celebrate Matt's graduation. In the morning as we were getting ready Harriet went into labor 5 weeks early and had Reuben. Needless to say we never got to the graduation. Reuben spent a couple of weeks in NICU as a precaution to make sure he got the hang of eating and was thriving. He certainly is thriving and is a very sociable, smiley baby who has just learnt to sit and is enjoying tasting his first foods.
David got a new role at work which involves lots more travelling. So this year he's been to Toronto numerous times, Atlanta, New York and London as well as more local trips to Saint John and on a team building canoe trip down the Saint Croix river. He continues to have more than 2 full time jobs with his work at Introhive during the day and then he comes home to the farm and all that is involved with looking after cows, pigs, goats and chickens.
I visited PEI a number of times during the summer to help out with Reuben and to visit. I took my mum across and the favorite part of her trip was definitely the drive home with a new puppy on her knee who cried all the time except when she curled round mum's neck like a scarf! Queenie is David's corgi puppy who is very sociable and thinks she's a big girl. She is the Introhive office mascot and comes into work with me when David is away.
Mum and Dad came to visit Canada and America in the summer to see their new great grandbabies and to attend Ben and Susan's wedding. Their travel was challenging at times but the trip was lots of fun.
In the summer we celebrated our 14th Canniversary, Isaac has now been in Canada as long as he was in the UK.
David, Josh and I travelled to Michigan to attend Ben and Susan's wedding, we stayed a few days and had a blast visiting family and reconnecting with friends who we haven't seen in many years. It was a lovely wedding and we enjoyed exploring Michigan.
We got home and set off less than a week later to the UK. We visited family in Cradley Heath before driving to Oswestry for Oli and Susie's wedding. Once again we connected with folks we hadn't seen in years and enjoyed catching up, we stayed in a fun bed and breakfast in Wales before driving to the Yorkshire Dales and then for a quick visit to Whitby. It was quite the whistle stop tour!
I continue to work for Partners for Youth doing a very varied job that includes running the office, lots of report writing, camp cooking to name but a few things. I also come home a do farm chores. I look after the orders and since we started milking the goats I've taken up soap making, I sell it from the farm and before Christmas I did a few craft sales too.
David and I lead a life group at church and I also help out with the children's work in the babies room.
Isaac volunteers at the fire department and works for Degree Technologies, he and Hannah do AV and kids work at their local church. They are currently in Florida with Hannah's family and are enjoying the sunshine and I'm sure not missing the snow one little bit!
Once Josh recovered from his surgery he took up weightlifting with friends from the fire department, he competed in his first competition just before Christmas. He continues to work for Sonrai and volunteer at the fire department. He has a girlfriend called Beth who we are enjoying getting to know and introducing her to the British food and sense of humor as well as teaching her all our favorite games!
Matt and Harri bought themselves a plot of land on PEI and started building a house on it in September. They are onto the painting, flooring and putting in a kitchen and bathroom so they should be moved in sometime in January.
Although we are in the midst of Canadian culture and enjoy celebrating things like Thanksgiving and we even had our first set of family photos taken this year we still keep up with some of our favorite British traditions like bonfire night and eating a good curry!
Looking forward to 2025 we actually have no firm plans yet so let us know when you plan on visiting!
Take care and every blessing for 2025.
