Barrie Bachelor Bash - Hanniel & Richard

Well since Hanniel and I are each others "best men" (Hanniel is getting married December 9th) we decided to organize a joint 'bachelor bash' and in order to involve all our Northern friends/family we held the event in Barrie. It was "almost" half way...although the 3.5 hrs for the Northern guys is in a whole different league to the 1.5 hrs that we GTA guys had to travel! Thanks to all for your attendance and for making the event a 'smashing' success! :)

Here are a few pics - Glow in the dark mini-put is a little difficult to photograph...

Then we went to the Mandarin for dinner ~ great food!

Thanks Hanniel for arranging the details! :)

...And thanks James S. for the 'history' shot...hee hee hee

We're Famous!!!!!!

About a month ago I submitted the story of how Richard proposed to me to "The Knot" website which we are using for our wedding planning and guest tracking.

I signed in today and saw on the main page "Ten Best Proposal Stories of 2006" and guess what? Check it out at:
http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=A61109180628&keywordID=166&keywordType=2&parentID=533&HPpos=4a&HPdate=20061115

Scroll down to "Seeing Things"

It's a little shorter than what I submitted and any reference to God was cut out...too bad. I'm still proud of my wonderful fiancee-he's so creative!!!!!!

Linia Rose Van Essen

David is very impressed with his new sister.

Trip to Nebraska

One of the many benefits of marrying Richard is that I "inherit" nephews and nieces! I was privaledged to be visiting Richard's sister and her husband when they welcomed their fifth child/second daughter.

I didn't have much time to take pictures but did get some great shots and cute videos too.



Apple picking with Grandma Van Essen.






My precious pumpkins! (Or cashew pumpkins-my pronunciation of 'precious' sounds a little strange to Timmy!)

Caleb finds the perfect apple!

The little homeboys chillin' out in the basement.



The next Hatch associate-Lily Van Essen!

Kap-Kig-Awan Park

Englehart Pictures

View of the property from a viewing tower built by the Kerr boys.

On top of the tower...and the world!

Englehart Pictures continued

Enjoying a family games night!













View of Kap-Kig-Awan falls

Premarriage "Crash" Course

Yes-we are still getting married! Why the "crash" course then? Well, we basically covered several weeks material in a week. Richard and I have been discussing and dealing with so much over the past several months that a lot of what is dealt with in premarriage counselling we've already covered...plus we're older so some issues that younger couples would deal with aren't applicable anymore.

The week away in Englehart with the Kerr family was just wonderful. Peter Kerr had graciously agreed to perform the ceremony and invited us up for the week to prepare for both the wedding and the marriage afterwards. He and his wife Dorothy spent time with us discussing marriage from a Biblical standard and gave us excercises to do both seperately and together. It was a very challenging time but also such an encouragement to both of us.

But it wasn't all work! We had a very enjoyable time outside exploring their property and an outdoor lunch/hike in Kap-Kig-Awan Provincial Park which is in Englehart.

Now, some of you may be asking, 'Where is Englehart?'. Well, Englehart is about 45 minutes north of New Liskard. For those of you asking, 'Well, where is New Liskard?' it is a few hours north of North Bay. If you don't know where North Bay is, well, it's north of Toronto by about 4 hours. Bottom line is, we were up north among moose, bears, & very kind people.

With the Kerr Family...
Richard, Peter, Kendall, Sam, Tim
Katherine, Heidi, Dorothy, Leanne
Chelsea, Bethany

More Brooks/Wilkinson Wedding Pictures

The "new" Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson with
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks



Moments after the wedding...

















At the reception, cutting the wedding doughnut.

Charity and Matt's Wedding

This really shows how far behind we are!!!!

Charity (Richard's cousin) and Matt were married on June 10th of this year. It was a beautiful day focused on the Lord. Here a few candid shots from the event.




Last steps as Charity Brooks with her dad, Ed
























This is my favourite shot...Charity and Grandpa Brooks.

Elim Lodge

Back in August, we went to Elim Lodge for the weekend where my parents were staying for the week. Growing up we went almost every year. My parents continue to go and really enjoy their stay.

Elim was started years ago by the Assemblies in the area as a Christian campground. There is not much assembly involvement now, but they still have the breaking of bread service every Sunday. Until recently, everything shut down whenever there was a service going on (even during the week) and the pools, playground and lake were all off limits as an encouragement to go to the meetings which were always well attended.

There is a featured speaker every week with twice daily services as well as a featured mission. The week my parents were up the speaker was Dr. John Moore who is also a hymn writer. I think his best know hymn is "Burdens are Lifted at Calvary" which Richard tells me is a favourite in Zambia. Richard demonstrated for Dr. Moore how it is sung in Zambia(Bahdens are leeftid...) and Dr. Moore sung it as it is done in Scotland (Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrdens are lifted...).





Here we are with Dr and Mrs. Moore

Photo Journal

We have been so blessed to be able to offer hospitality over the past few months. Here are just a few nice shots of those times.

LIFT group-We had about 20 out that night to watch a film demonstating what happened as a result of God being removed from society's moral code. How can we say what is right without refering to and revealing the source of what is right?

Mr. Miller and Mr. Dougan from Hopedale Bible ChapelTwo of Richard's coworkers from Hatch. Both are away from their families right now who are in Brazil and the Phillipines.
Sunday evening post service get together.

Aunt Betty came out to the prayer meeting at Hopedale. She is doing incredible well- PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

I've had a few people ask me over the past few weeks how the wedding plans are coming along, so I thought it would be a good idea to use this space to give an update on how things are progressing.

But first, I have to say a big thank you to my Mum who has been a big help from the beginning.Before Richard and I had decided on it as a location for the wedding, she accompanied me to the Crossroads Centre where we enjoyed a very nice lunch. After a look around the building, making observations and giving suggestions for the setup, she had a browse in the bookstore while I took pictures and a video of the location.

Just a few weeks ago we went to Staples together to have a look at stationary. Since wedding "season" is pretty well over, a lot of the supplies they have are on sale. It was great having Mum there because she is so good at math (one of the few things I did not inherit from her) so she was able to work out which was the best deal as well as how many inviations I would actually need. We also picked up some nice accessories to "pretty up" the plain invites and programmes. If you have the time, doing it yourself can be a lot cheaper. If you also have the talent that is, which I don't. But my wonderful sister-in-law to be, Rachel, does.

And now to the dress. It was so hard to find a non-strapless dress. I had an idea in mind of what I wanted but my first shopping trip yielded nothing. I had a great group come with me for support (thanks Rachel, Laura, Shiv & Sharon) and it was a great day. Although the strapless dress with feathers that the saleslady had me try on was a bit much. I do have pictures but I think I'll keep those to myself.The second store I went to was great. Mum came with me and had great success. After I described the dress I was looking for, the owner brought out four dresses, all similar to what I wanted. It was the first one I tried on that was THE one. Mum took pictures for me and chatted with the woman about alterations. I did try the others on but the first one was it. As for the look, you'll just have to wait til January 6th to see it.

Finally, shoes. After perusing snapshots of other Christmas season weddings, I saw a shot of a bride's shoes with her bouquet. I guess you have to see it to get the impact but the shoes were red and looked just beautiful with the white dress. So I decided to look for a similar pair especially since I could not justify spending the money the "bridal" shoes cost given I would just wear them for one day. Mum once again came through and found a beautiful pair which fit great but I could just not justify the price. But we did continue shopping around that day and she found a similar pair with more support for an 1/8th of the price!More to come but I think that's enough detail for now.

So...what about wedding gifts & registries?

Not growing up in Canada I have had to learn a lot about traditions...but the topic of wedding gifts and "getting registered" is one we'll touch on here.

I consulted some of my "global" co-workers and discovered the following:

Chinese tradition: Bring cash or cheque to the wedding
Iranian tradition: Bring cash or gold (coins, etc.) to the wedding
Many Europeans: Bring cash gifts

And Canadians?...bring pretty much everything except "cash" - it seems that cash is viewed as "a lazy way out" or "a bachelor's gift" (he doesn't know any better). :)

Anyway we'd like to do something a little different:

1) Our official line is if you are bringing a gift then bring cash or cheque.

Rather than just asking money for ourselves we'd like to suggest the following options:
a) Everyday Publications Inc. (www.everyday.on.ca)
b) New Life Prison Ministries (www.nlpm.com)
c) Our Honeymoon

Cheques made out to either EPI or NLPM can have tax receipts issued (more details on why we'd choose them later)

2) If you prefer to bring a gift then we are registered for some "wants" (not needs):

a) The Bay (www.hbc.ca)
b) Canadian Tire (www.canadiantire.ca)
c) Rob McIntosh (www.robmcintoshchina.com)

3) Just bring a card and your smile

See the wedding website for more details: www.theknot.com/ourwedding/KatherineSmith&RichardBrooks

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Speaking of God's spiritual gifts:

1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

When...Where...Why?

OK - so after the "What?" and "Who?" questions are answered the most common "follow-up" question is: When?

Answer: January 6th, 2007 (D.V.)

Mom & Dad will be back in Canada for Christmas and December is just too busy of a time for us...so January (a week before they have to leave for Zambia) seems the best date.

The next common question is: Where?

After much deliberation we (well, to be honest, more on Katherine's part as she is much more organizationally minded than I...to say that least!) have set our planning arrangements on the Cross Roads Centre in Burlington. We wanted a "one-stop" place for both wedding and reception considering the time of year, etc...and after meeting with the managers last week we are certain that this is the place for us.

The Chapel can seat +250 people

Right "outside" the chapel is a covered courtyard where receptions and banquets are held.

Now...another question to answer: Why "Grace Proclaimers"?

Grace simplified is God giving us what we don't deserve. We deserve the full punishment for sin, but the "GRACE" of God is revealed in Jesus, in that He bore our sin in His own body on a cross (Roman execution - death sentence)...so that we who were dead in sin (all of humanity) might be made alive (spiritual life) in Him. God provided His Son, Jesus, to be put to death on a cross (the "punishment for sin is death") so that we might have life ("whoever believes on the Son has life").

We have experienced His Grace in our lives and our relationship. In retro-spect it is amazing how self-serving and self-centered we were at first and probably will be again but the Bible indicates that "the grace of God leads us to repentance" and it is our delight to proclaim that GREAT GRACE to others. "Our God does all things well"..."His work is perfect and ALL His ways are just (right)".

Basking in the sunshine of His Grace...

She said, "Yes!"

April 28th, 2006

The moment of truth...

I surprised Katherine at noon at her work place (see pic) and brought her our favorite Tim Horton's Toasted Chicken club sandwich. After a quick tour of the place we proceeded to head to a "last minute" eye test appointment that I had "just managed" to arrange for her for 1 PM. She didn't think anything of it...yet... :)



We arrived at Dr. Gall's (my optometrist) on time and were met by the front office staff "just like a normal business day" and the preliminary tests were started. (they only did a few) Then Katherine was ushered into Examination Room #1 were the visual accuerty (sp?) testing continued (we needed to determine whether she would even be able to read the sign!). Then Dr. Gall's assistant indicated that there was another test that they needed to perform and she hung up my sign (see pic) and asked Katherine to read the letters as she was able. She started..."W", "I", "L", "L", "U"...that was IT...the next letters were "MARRY" and she finally "GOT IT!" ;)
















I had a letter to explain the signs details and there significance to our relationship and all that the Lord has done to change us both and allow us to "see each other with new eyes!"

Well after some hyper-ventilating and (not too many) tears...mostly shock...she said "Yes..."

















The Ring is 0.266 caret authentically Canadian brilliant cut diamond from the Northwest Territories.




















Dr. Gall and his team, who had "made themselves scarce" came back into the picture with a bottle of champagne! I didn't arrange that, but certainly appreciated that gesture...they were so excited!


The rest of the day...

We left the eye office, sign in hand, after making a "real" appointment for Monday and made some phone calls and a couple house calls before heading to Walmart to develop some of the photo's that I had taken of the day. We immediately put them in an album so as to be able to show others what happened. Then it we headed out to the Niagara Escarpment. It was a beautiful day, with nothing but blue sky and warm sun. After a relaxing drive around Cambelville area we headed to Lovelle Park and had dinner at Lovelle Bistro. The food and service were amazing! Then a walk in the park and some photo's before heading back to Katherine's parents place to show off the ring and share our pictures.

Thank You Lord for a wonderful day!

Ps. 71:14 "But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more"