Surprise!!

Hi All!!!
Or not such a surprise... who are we kidding... you've heard the rumour already!
Just to follow-up on the trend here after Sheri and Andrew, wanted to make sure that you all knew that you are most definitely invited to Alicia and I's wedding!!!! The wedding is this December 3rd, here on the island. Please e-mail, or contact me for further details if you think you might be able to come!! Above is the front of the wedding invites that we are mailing out! To save time and postage (we work at camp.... the time available to plan a wedding is very minimal...) we thought the quickest way to get this message out to you all was via the blog.

And since it's been so long since I've touched base with some of you... here is a lengthier update=) I first want to say that I get to see some of you every once in a while (especially those of you on the island) and it brings so much joy to me. I think it was honestly last Christmas, Christmas 2010 that I posted on here. What a year it has been! Last summer I applied for and was accepted as an Assistant Head Counselor at camp. What an adventure that was, with so much growing, and strengthening… it was amazing. In advance crew, a certain friendship that I had had for about 3 years began to develop and change into something more (this really started earlier that year but that’s a longer story for another time!). Just before summer I asked Alicia M. if she would date me… and she said yes! This launched a new chapter in the journey for me… now becoming us… and one that as been incredible. Alicia is the most incredible women. I love her very very much.

After summer, I went back to the mainland, to CBC and to working at my church as the Middle School Youth Assistant. Weekends were spent with Alicia, either her coming to the mainland or me going to the island. Those were good times. I was taking 19 credits that Fall and so my weekdays were spent from waking to sleeping on school work, and then weekends were times to forget all of that and rest. Alicia and I grew a lot during those weeks and months and continued to look to God for guidance and to learn what it means to enjoy the journey instead of wanting to get to the destination (which for us at that point was some far off time when we might actually live near each other). As December rolled around I started to pray about and look towards what God had for me after graduating that coming April. Discussions with Coquitlam Alliance revealed that they didn’t forsee having anything for me beyond the 8 hours a week I was presently at. God seemed to be working in me through this fact and many other things at church that it was almost time to move on and that I better prepare for this. After much prayer I stepped back from that ministry over the Christmas break and dedicated myself to finishing school well (that year I had to take a 19 credit semester and an 18 credit semester!) and to seeking out what ministry God would lead me to next.

December and January were full of e-mails, phone calls, meetings, and interviews with different denominations, churches, and camp ministries. Nothing seemed quite right. I felt like God wanted me back at Qwanoes, but there didn’t seem to be a position that fit (I was keen for working in the staffing office but their present search was for a Director of staffing who could start immediately). While I was getting further into the hiring process with a church, Scott called from camp with an idea/offer. It was a couple days later that I accepted with great excitement. Everything that I was hesitant or concerned about with the other ministries that I was in discussions with was answered in the proposal from Qwanoes! It was such an answer to prayer. I accepted a three year contract with the staffing office. I was the staffing assistant for this past summer (started immediately after my school ended at the end of April) and then stepped into the staff team coordinator position this past September! What an amazing time this has been and how faithful God has been in so many areas! Did I mention that Alicia is also the registrar at Qwanoes and so was already here year-round!

It was June 14th, when I planned a little picnic and hike out to the point from camp (a place Alicia and I had hiked to before)... we hadn't been out there long before I couldn't wait any longer and dropped on one knee to ask her to marry me... and she said yes=)

There is so much more to say, but for now I just ask that you pray for me, and for us. Pray for both of us individually, pray for us as we prepare for marriage and life together, pray also for us in our roles at camp. Pray that we would walk closer and closer with him as we rely on him for strength, wisdom, and perseverance.

Coming this Spring, Mr. & Mrs. Bertram :)

Hello our family!!
I am so sorry that it has been so long since either one of us has blogged. Andrew has been super busy with school and Sheri was waiting for this special announcement!!
So as we are sure most of you know, we are engaged!!! Finally right:) Here is the story from Sheri's side!

I was suppose to be catching a ferry Wednesday night to Tswassen to meet up with Andrew so that we could leave for Saskatchewan in the morning for his cousins wedding... Michelle had spent the day with me and at supper time she informed me that Stevie G had forgotten his marriage certificate at camp and we had to go and get it quick and bring it back to Ladysmith so that my parents could take it with them to his wedding.
Once we got to camp Michelle started heading towards the stairs, we enjoyed the view for a moment and I could see something that kind of looked like fire at the end of the dock. She wanted to go down and see if someone down there had a key to the office. It made no sense to me so I argued with her that we should just go to the lodge and see if we could find someone; but Michelle being the stubborn girl that she is insisted that we go to the water. About half way down the stairs I started to suspect something, my knees became very weak and I started to think about what I would say if it was what I thought. The rest of the walk down was me trying not to fall over :P We got to the pier and Michelle was just smiling big, trying to play it cool, but then she started to cry... I asked her if it was what I thought and she tried so hard to not give it away:) I got to the end of the dock and Andrew popped out from behind a wakeboard rack and lead me to the top of a candle outlined heart, he proceeded to read me the sweetest note and at the end got down on one knee and asked me to marry him :D I of course screamed yes and then screamed some more!!

We are so excited and so happy and are so excited to finally start living our lives together united as one by the greatest lover, God!

The date is June 2, 2012 and we would love it if you would be there to celebrate with us (please fb or email me your address)!

So here is a quick update on us...
Andrew has started his schooling at CBC in Abby and is in the Counselling and Caregiving program and doing amazing. He loves what he is learning even though there is more than a ton of reading to do. He is one studious man;)

I am working at a farmers market in the Deli and really enjoying it, learning a lot about what it means to have a job to be with people rather than the work (ex, I am not a huge fan of slicing meat, but enjoy the people I work with!). I am also trying to get licenced to sell insurence, not really what I want to do forever, but know it willl help pay the bills :)

As far as prayer requests, please pray for us as we have started a new journey as an engaged couple. Pray that I wont get super stressed and that Andrew will know when to tell me to chill :P Also I have been having a really really hard time with eatting for about 6 months and it is a constant battle, please pray for wisdom for both of us as we are trying to figure out how to beat this!

So this is our news:D
We will see you in June if not before!!
~ Andrew & Sheri