More pictures

The flood still goes on and we are living on the edge. One foot on dry ground and the other in the water. We are the marina, Kerry and others boat from here. Kerry provides service for those who don't have boats if and when they ask. I haven't taken many more photos of flood waters because to me they all look the same, water , water everywhere. There have been some bright spots and of course one of them is our new little Nolan. He is home and doing well, as are his mommy and daddy. He is mostly eating and sleeping but we have been enjoying him and getting in some cuddles.









Nolan with his Grammy Iris

















Kerry was up early one morning and saw the clear sky and the moon and star shining out in the east, so he got out the camera and took some shots and this is one of them. There are moments of beauty even in the midst of the flood weather and we are thanking God for protection in the midst of this all.

IT'S A BOY!!

IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE TO ALL THE BIRTH OF OUR FIFTH GRANDCHILD AND THE FIRST GRAND SON

NOLAN DOUGLAS born to Shaun and Vicki at 4:30 this afternoon, the 17th of April, 2009. He weighed in at 8 pounds 11 ounces and measured 22 inches long.


We have all been waiting for this little one to arrive, and he is our little flood baby, seeing as how he arrived on what we hope is the crest of the flood of '09. He slept peacefully the whole time we were in to see him, and mommy and daddy were doing fine, although hoping to get some sleep tonight. His Grandma and Grandpa Kraubner are arriving tomorrow from BC to meet their first grandchild. We are thanking God for his safe arrival and marvelling again as His wonderful handiwork.

MORE FLOOD

Last night we decided to go see how our friends were doing. Normally we would walk over there or just hop in a vehicle and go, but now we had to go by boat. This is the view to the south of us, just acres and acres of water .

We boated up to our friends' little island

parked our boat on the driveway and went in for a visit, and caught a great sunset picture. The water continues to rise.............................

FLOOD continued

This is how Erik and Amber's yard looked yesterday afternoon. The water is up to and into the garage, and there is lots of debris that has make its way onto the yard as well.

From the front door , looking south, there is water as far as the eye can see and Kerry and Erik had to move more stuff out of the garage to higher ground.

The back yard---the garden shed has water in it but the girls playhouse is high and dry-----hope it stays that way!

Another view of the back yard. Erik and Amber and girls moved into our house on Sunday night knowing that access to their place would soon be cut off.

FLOOD continued

We have a dike around our yard, but there is a culvert through it and though there is a trap on the other end, still there is seepage and water gets to our side and so we have to pump to keep things under control on our side.

With boating being the major mode of transportation for anyone living south of us, this is a common sight just to the south side of our dike.

Coming back from Erik and Amber's house, up to the south side of our dike. You can see our house and the water surrounding us.

FLOOD 2009

It started back when we were in Palm Springs on holidays. We heard rumors of flood . We started checking flood statistics and following what was happening via the internet. We weren't sure what to think of it all, we thought that it wasn't all that likely that there would be a major flood. Sure, some of our land was sure to get flooded and there would be some inconvenience, but nothing too serious. What did we know! Time and circumstances sure can change things and we are in the midst of a flood, just of what proportions is slowly becoming clearer. Lower than 2006, higher than "79, lower than '97, higher than '06 but lower than '79, where will the crest hit? Many numbers and predictions but the truth is we have water everywhere and it is still coming. We felt pretty safe in our ring dike, but now we are wondering if we need to raise it on the road side where it is lower. The top picture was taken on Sunday morning when the water was just starting to come over the road a little south of us. Cars were still able to drive through with relative ease. The locals had the foresight, (thanks to other flood experience) to mark the edge of the road with stakes and flags in preparation for just such an event.

By Monday evening the road was covered right up till the edge of our dike and even the semis were pushing water as they came through. by now travel is limited to boat and the road north of the yard is lined with the cars of those who have to boat in to their homes.

This person came through here yesterday, and I am thinking he was taking a bit of a chance. A boat would have been a better idea.

The parking lot to the north of our yard. It is the south edge of the Rosenort dike, and on the other side of this there is no flood,

MDS Re-visited

After the house dedication we moved on to see how the other sites were coming along. We were excited to see the progress made at each site and to chat with the volunteers and see their dedication and joy to be able to serve and help the clients get that much closer to moving into their new homes. At site #2, there was interior painting happening and the floors were ready for flooring.

Site #3 had made a lot of progress since we saw it last and we were interested to see the color it was painted. We kind of liked this one, it reminded me of butterscotch pudding.

Inside there was a lot of dust as the mudding and sanding continued.

And at site #4 we were pleased to see that the concrete work was done and the joists on and the floor was ready for sheeting. We also got to talk to the homeowner and see her excitement that things were finally happening. It was good to go back and see how the work was progressing. It was a good day! God is still at work!!

MDS Re-visited

While we were on holiday in Palm Springs, we received an invitation to attend the dedication service of the first home finished by MDS in Dulzura CA. As we were on the ground there when it was started we decided we would make the trip out, and see the finished product . It was great to meet Steve and Elsie again, and to be there with them and others to bless their home. It was a warm and windy morning but quite a number of people showed up for the event, representing many different groups that had made this home a possibility and a reality.

Steve and Elsie cut the ribbon for their home, with the project director, Charlotte looking on, as well as Mel, the California MDS rep who was quite instrumental in getting MDS going here. There were also many presentations to Steve and Elsie as well. Shown is the quilted wall hanging presented to them, thanks to MDS partnering with Mennonite Women USA, who make and provide these hanging to us to present to clients for whom MDS has built new homes. Other presentations included a comfort made by the ladies of a church in Oregon, a Bible and a copy of the MDS book, A Hammer Rings Hope, as well as a framed certificate naming all the organizations who had a part in this home becoming reality, and some gifts for the home from the Harris CRT, and a welcome mat for the front door from the Salvation Army.

There were words of Dedication read by the project director and the construction foreman, as well as a response by the crowd. The picture shows the pastor of the church the clients attend, reading scripture as well as offering the prayer of blessing and dedication for the home. Once the formalities were over, we were all invited inside for coffee and cookies and visiting and a chance to see the finished home. It looked really good and we were happy to have been a part of the whole process and to be able to get a place for our clients to move into. Steve and Elsie are looking forward to settling in and having their lives get back to 'normal', more than a year after losing their other home in the fires.

Some pictures of the inside of the house that MDS built.