2012 was another fun-filled year and we have so much to be thankful for!  The greatest highlight by far was the birth of our son, Elijah Robert Humphrey.  He is now 5 months old and quite the smiley boy.  Abigail has adapted to her new role as big sister very quickly and we are thrilled to be a family of four.  Here are some other highlights from the last year:

We continue to be amazed by the quality of interns that come to A Rocha.  Great memories this year include taking them to Galiano Island for a few weekends of fun, fellowship, and hard work at Hunterston Farm, hosting them for dinner each Wednesday night, working together on various projects, and playing music on Thursday evenings as part of our new house band ‘The Wee Campbells.’

In June we hosted a ‘Farm Table Feast!’  This fundraising dinner was a celebration of all things local.  Special thanks to a team of good friends who helped serve and our Chef (and summer intern) Joshua deGroot, who prepared an amazing 5-course meal for over 70 people!

Roxy was privileged to take maternity leave and spend time at home with Abi and Eli.  Some enjoyable diversions from this included preaching at our Church as part of Good Seed Sunday, an A Rocha event that coincided with Earth Day 2012.  She also met weekly with interns for tea, spoke at several middle schools and helped host school groups at Brooksdale.

Matt enjoyed lecturing for the ‘Food Course’ at Regent College in addition to a host of presentations and workshops this year.  He organized two Earthkeeping Institutes at Brooksdale with over 40 participants attending, including a new summer Institute on ‘Food and Faith.’  In January he embarks on a new and exciting opportunity – teaching a course at Trinity Western University on Environmental Thought.

Abigail’s highlights include becoming a big sister and giving Eli lots of hugs, enjoying her friends here at Brooksdale, helping daddy with the chickens, fresh bread from the cob oven, and many great visits with her Grandpa and Granny, Nana and Grandbird.  It is hard to believe she turns 3 in May!