Bath time!

and sleeping...

I'm a Nana...

Kyla Nichole was born to our daughter Chrystal at 7:15 pm today. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz.; measured 19.75 in. She is beautiful!

First Anniversary

My wonderful husband Peter and me on our 1st anniversary, Nov. 7, 2008!!! One year and counting!

He took me to Bella Jack's Mexican Restaurant in St. Thomas. I bought him the sweater he's wearing in the picture. :)

The Source of My Song

Sung by Greater Vision, the song "The Source of My Song" has blessed me so much lately...

Oh the source of my song is the Saviour
The reason for my singing is the Man from Galilee
It does not depend upon my circumstances
For Jesus is the source of my song

One verse says, "If we only sing when we're happy, we will not be singing very long." One of my good Jamaican friends has taught me that when I begin to feel irritated or frustrated to start humming... even if I don't feel like it. I have begun to put this into practice: with amazing results! Something wells up inside of you when you begin to sing to the Lord.

This morning all five horses we own ran out into the pasture rather than into the barn to eat their grain, as they have been trained to do. I was at the barn by myself, and I am not by any means an experienced horsewoman!

Let me back up and explain that everything in my life right now is an adjustment. There is not much that is the same. I live in a new country with a wonderful new husband. I am trying to build a relationship with three teenage stepchildren. I am learning-as-I-go as a pastor's wife. I am endeavouring to be my husband's helper as he works daily in his custom home business. I am about to become a Nana. (I get every grandparent's dream: have the grandkids first!) I am leading a choir (which I have only done once before in my life). I am coordinating numerous singing groups at church. I am seeking to shepherd and encourage our ladies.

Many days I feel very overwhelmed with my new life! (Understatement of the year!) This morning's experience when the horses all ran out into the field was one of those times: I burst into tears, and asked God if He'd left me! That sounds like an extreme response to horses running out of the paddock. But I can assure you it was not merely because the horses did not do what they were supposed to do! I was overwhelmed by the adjustments of life. I felt out of control. I felt stretched beyond what I could endure, beyond what I could handle.

I said, "God, I CAN'T do this anymore!" But He showed me that I indeed could do it--with HIS power. With the use of the whip, I herded all those equines into the barn and secured them into their stalls for breakfast time!

And God taught me a powerful lesson: I can't do anything without Him... and He is moving me to the end of myself so that I will look up and trust Him with EVERYTHING. As long as I can still do it in my own strength, in my heart of hearts I will believe that I don't truly need Him.

As painful as it is, I'm thankful God is removing all my props and teaching me to trust Him alone. Jeremiah said, "Lord God, behold I cannot." Chapters later, God replied, "Is there anything too hard for me?"

Kyla Nichole Guenther will soon be here...

In case you wondered... NO, I'm NOT having a baby!!! Our daughter Chrystal's baby girl is due on November 16.

Please pray with us now for this little life soon to come into the world. Please pray for her to come to know Christ as Saviour at an early age. Pray for Chrystal as she seeks to raise her in God's way. Pray for Peter and me as we seek to love and influence Kyla Nichole in a godly and positive way.

Wedding and Honeymoon

I found the love of my life Peter Guenther! We were married on St. Augustine Beach, Florida, on November 7, 2007. Attendants were my sister Kendra Carter, matron of honour; his daughter Crystal, bridesmaid; and his daughter Kali, bridesmaid; his son Anthony, best man; his dad Jacob Guenther, groomsman; my brother Casey Spear, groomsman; and my nieces Abigail and Hayley Carter, flower girls.

We honeymooned in St. Augustine and Flagler Beach, Florida for 10 days and returned home to Ontario, Canada.

Top photo: Crystal, then 17.

Second photo: Kali, then 14.

Third photo: Anthony, then 11.

Pastor and Mrs. Peter Guenther

Jesus, You’re My Spring of Water

Jesus, You’re my spring of water,
You’re that cool place of retreat;
I come to you all cracked and dry,
And You restore me from the heat.

I’m thirsty in my spirit, Jesus,
You’re the only Source I know;
By myself I’m a dull dry desert,
My arid soul starts to show.

So every day I come to the spring,
To our secret meeting place;
It’s so quiet, cool and calm right here,
I wish that I could stay.

But I must go back out to the world,
In the rugged place I live;
To share my knowledge of the spring,
To others Your life I give.

Jesus, You’re my spring of water,
You’re that cool place of retreat;
I come to You all cracked and dry,
And You restore me from the heat.

Dayna Spear, October 30, 2004