The Gingerich's

Our family photo was taken recently because the Zurich Mennonite Church is celebrating 100 years in 2008. So the centennial committee is putting together a history book/ directory. They are doing a combined photo book with a historical account of where you are in life. The committee hired Sandra to do the photo shoot.

It is so hard to believe that my family has become so grown-up. It seems like only yesterday that we had three little kids. To look at them now, they are definitely not little anymore. Darcy at 17 is already 5' 10", just like dad, Kyle at 19 is 6' 2", Krystle at 20 is 5'7", and me well, I am the shortest in the bunch at 5'4".

Pretty good looking group, if I say so myself.

Krystle, Kyle & Darcy



I am so thankful for these three precious gifts from God. Each with their own unique gifts, talents & yes even challenges. It's been an amazing journey so far.

My dear friend Ruth was telling me yesterday that she finds it so hard to believe that our girls are already 20. I mean where did that time go? I look at some of the young moms in our church and try my best to encourage them to enjoy this time, because it goes too quickly. I am sure they are thinking "it's not going quick enough". Which if I recall, I thought the same thing. Why is it that when you're in it, it seems to feel like forever, but then you look back you think WOW, where did that time go? At least I did.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 it says 'to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven'.

I'm trying to really enjoy each season in my life, not moaning over the past, and trying not to be overly anxious for the future. I do look forward to many, many more years together.

Blessings

Autumn

Time to harvest.

Last week Wayne was getting the soya beans off, it seemed a little early to me, but they were ready. Then he started working up the land to get it ready to plant the wheat. Since Wayne also drives the bus both in the morning and evening, it really cuts into his day. So last week Wednesday, when I was done at the office, I came home and jumped into the tractor and finished cultivating the field for him. I find driving tractor to be pretty boring, you just go back & forth in the field. In the particular field we were working there is a grass waterway, which is a bit of a nuisance, but makes the driving a little more exciting as I got to lift the cultivator in & out of the ground. Thank goodness there is a radio to listen to while driving or it could be really boring. With BX93 playing, I was able to pass the 2 1/2 hours quite quickly.

The rain we got yesterday is a definate booster for the crop. It was very needed. The crops didn't do as well as we had expected, so there was a bit of a shortfall in our contract.

You know when you start to really think about it farming is a little bit like gambling. You work up the ground, plant the seeds, and wait to see how much you get.

But as long as Wayne enjoys it, we'll stick to it, he afterall has a farmer's heart. One instilled from God. His whole life, he grew up on the farm and that's all he ever wanted to do. So after Grade 10, he quit school and began to farm. We were dairy farmers until 1998, when our barn burned down. God was so gracious to us, we lost our barn, yes, but we didn't lose any cattle (they were out because it was July), we came close to losing our house, but didn't, we almost lost the implement shed, but didn't. Our kids & dogs were safely away from harm's way. The volunteer fire-fighters made to our house in 8 minutes. While they couldn't save the barn, they were able to prevent anything else from going up in flames. WOW

Life has a way of going on. Wayne went out to work for a while, but eventually found his way back to farming not only our own land, but he also is a hired man for a neighbouring dairy farm.

Romans 8:28 says 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose' .

Blessings

Extended Family

Dolly~~~ Ace~~~ Simon

Dolly is mix breed of German Shepherd & Husky (the only husky she has is that her tails curls). She was born February 14, 1998, and joined our family in May, just in time for Krystle's birthday.

Ace is a pure-bred border-collie. He was born January 9, 2007, and joined our family in March. Kyle bought from Gerard. He is at that very playful stage, chewing everything is site and dragging it ALL over the place.

Dolly & Ace are my faithful walking companions. No matter when I want to or for how long I wander, they are with me. They have really helped me to stay dedicated to walking each & every day.

Simon (the cat) came into our family June 1, 2001. Darcy wanted a cat for a very long time and he was quite specific in what he wanted. The cat needed to be a male and orange & white striped. Darcy had his name already picked out. Since I am not really a cat person (sorry Ruth) I post-poned this decision for a while. However, after friends told us of a litter with a male, orange & white tabby. We gave in and brought little Simon home. We actually had two (Simon & Samson), but Samson eventually didn't come home one night and has found a different home.

I've included our pets in our extended family, because I've found that life without them would seem like something is definitely missing.

Trampoline Fun

Kyle has always enjoyed the trampoline. Here he is jumping over Gerard who is standing on the ground.


Kyle was and is very athletic and he continues to push himself in his ariel dynamics on the trampoline.


As he flies and yet magically always lands on his feet.

We definitely got our monies worth from this investment.

Blessings

Anniversary

Wayne & I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary on September 6, 2007.

We were married at the Zurich Mennonite Church (the one that used to be on Goshen Street). It was a beautiful fall day. We went to Jamaica for one week for our honeymoon. We returned to the farm where we continue to live.


We enjoyed our anniversary by going out to eat in Grand Bend, went for a walk along the beach, sat at the pier and watched the sunset.

They (the experts) say that two middle-born children do not make good partners for each other, that they have too much of the same characteristics. Well, so far we've proved them wrong. Now don't take that the wrong way, Wayne & I have had our share of disagreements and some have been pretty heated. But when we said our vows, there was one line that we hold true to and that's "till death do we part" not until we no longer feel like being together or no longer 'love' each other. In this day and age it's not always easy, but we try.

Blessings

First day of the Last year

Darcy's first day of Grade 12, his last year of highschool.

I was reading Sandra's blog about her baby starting JK and here it is 'my baby' starting Grade 12.

Most of us faithfully remember and capture our children's 'firsts', we need to learn to recongnize and savor the often fleeting 'lasts' - those milestones that so easily go unrecorded.

Author Karen Kingsbury writes a beautiful book called "Let me hold you longer", it is a touching reminder that the years of childhood fly to quickly by us.

This book is a heartwarming reminder of the precious process of growing up and the joys of watching it happen.

Congratulations Darcy. Only one more year.

Blessings

17, 18 & 19

These three are so very precious to me. As I was looking through the stacks of photos on the computer I came across this one.

It was taken on the day of Darcy's 17th birthday. And in this photo Krystle is 19, Kyle is 18, and Darcy is 17.

I have always taken a picture of the three of them during the week between May 17 & May 25. After Darcy has his birthday and before Krystle has hers. Because for that short week, it appears that our kids are one year apart.

There were times when it was hard that we had the kids that close together, but now....as I look back, I think it helped them to be close to each other relationally.

I know this is a little out of sequence in the timeline of life, but I was feeling nostalgic tonight.

Blessings

Birthday Present

Here's Kyle's birthday present. Noooo it's not the car.
He bought that for himself last year. It's the personalized license plate.

It says SPIKE 12. We had nicknamed Kyle "Spike" when he was just a young guy of about 4 or 5. The name has sure proven true. He is 6' 3". The number 12 is just his favourite number. So we put them together and voila!

Unfortunately his plates did not come in time for his actual birthday, we did order then early enough, but they just didn't make it in time. But the old saying "better late than never" helped.

They came the day before he was to leave for California on a job set-up with Ice Cultures, so he had to wait until today to get them on his car. Kyle was gone for just the weekend. I cannot imagine sending a crew to California for a job, for only a weekend, but I am very glad that they do.

It's probably the only way this farm boy would get to see all the places that he gets to. It's hard to think that he's old enough to be travelling on his own, without either Wayne or I along. What a wonderful blessing it is to know that he is a good kid and he's able to take of himself.

It's one of those things in life, you know you've done a good job raising your kids when after they leave they are able to take of themselves. I guess a good parent truly does put themselves out of a job.

Blessings

Showdown

We celebrated Kyle's 19th birthday on Saturday September 1, 2007. We went to Philthy McNasty's Bar & Grill in Waterloo. (I know..... not the nicest name) At this restaurant they have "THE SHOWDOWN BURGER" it is a 1 1/2 pound burger with all the fixings and if you can eat it plus french fries, you get your meal for FREE.

So Kyle, being Kyle decided that this would be a piece of cake. His meal arrives and the waitress starts the timer. She made her rounds to our table fairly regularly and gave time updates. At 2 1/2 minutes Kyle had finished half the burger and a few fries. It was going down pretty easy. By 4 minutes and 40 seconds, he had the next half of burger half done.

But then................IT hit.

He broke out in a cold sweat and just wasn't sure if the burger was going down anymore or if it was trying to make a re-appearance.

So we said just take a breather and keep trying, but that if he couldn't continue that is was ok. it wasn't worth getting sick over. He ate a few more fries, trying to get everything down, and then she (waitress) was there and it was 7 minutes. He had a bite of burger and a dozen or more fries to finish.

Kyle commented that round one went to the burger, but he will try again and he will conquer.

It was a fun night.

Blessings