Category Archives: Christmas

December 20, 2009 · 12:58 pm

The Staff Party

I work with a great staff and so our annual office party is always fun.  This year we decided to do something a little bit different so we arranged for a van to take us up to one of the lakes north of town where they have a great restaurant for our festive meal together. 

We also arranged to rent a chalet and have a sled dog presentation to help entertain us for the afternoon. 

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The chalet was cozy and of course allowed us to bring our own booze and have a campfire to enjoy outside.  The weather was really great so we all had a good time.

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We learned a lot of interesting things about the sled dogs too, including how hard they have to work!

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Unfortunately, I tripped and fell, landing on my right thumb.  It is swollen and bruised.  Only sprained I think but that is my working hand.  Tomorrow may be interesting.  😦

The meal was as good as promised – way more food than we could eat! 

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And my partner and fellow dentist was in fine form – not as fine as last year – he was able to get up this morning for church.  He does keep us entertained. 🙂

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December 6, 2009 · 2:56 pm

Zaka’s Party

This Friday I got a call at noon just as I was sitting down to dinner out with the School Dental Program staff, I got a call to tell me that Zaka was having a daycare Christmas programme at 3.  Luckily for me, we had finished up at both schools early and I was free for the afternoon. 

So, I got to attend my first school programme for one of my grandchildren.  The kids were ready when I got there and they had to wait for the parents to arrive to sing their songs.  They were getting restless and Zaka ended up having to sit off to the side away from the friend he was pushing off the chair.  And then he kept peeking in through the door of the room behind him where I suspect a bag of toys was being assembled. 

There were a few tears – par for the course at a preschool programme and then some very enthusiastic singing as they got into things.

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And the highlight was a visit from Santa of course.

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November 24, 2009 · 6:03 am

Connecting

In theses days of Advent, I receive a series of devotional posts from Goshen College.  In today’s devotional was a story I can identify with.  It goes like this:

A Hasidic story tells of a rabbi’s son who used to wander in the woods. The rabbi asked his son, "I wonder why each day you walk in the woods?" The boy replied, "I go there to find God." "That’s very good, son. But, don’t you know that God is the same everywhere?" "Yes," the boy answered, "but I’m not."

So, I likewise find myself needing to wander in the woods.  I think that is what my excursion to Anglin Lake was about.  Sitting inside studying my heart out may make me know some Greek but it does not connect my heart with God.  That connection with God is what I need the most.

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December 28, 2008 · 8:54 pm

Feeling a little Queasy?

Sickness has been making the rounds around here. Over Christmas first Annette, then David then Kieran – then Kimia and Zaka. Today Ronin threw up. I’m hoping my headache is not something fluish. Most weird is that Leo has broken out in a bright red rash and has no clue what it is from.

Hoping Ronin is well by tomorrow when we drive down to Saskatoon. He and Rachelle fly away early on Tuesday. It is hard to believe that their three week visit is coming to an end.

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December 24, 2008 · 11:00 pm

Merry Christmas

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From our house to you! 

Rejoice!  Rejoice! 

Isaiah 9:6 

       For to us a child is born,
       to us a son is given,
       and the government will be on his shoulders.
       And he will be called
       Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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December 24, 2008 · 2:46 pm

It is beginning

To sound like Christmas at my house.  Little voices can be heard.  The family is beginning to arrive.

It smells like turkey.  The ham goes in to the oven shortly.  Tourtiere too. 

I am going for a quick shower and then will lie down for at least ten minutes before stuff begins to happen.

Merry Christmas.

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December 16, 2008 · 9:52 pm

Empanadas

The folks from the lab presented me and my partner each with a big tray of home made Chilean empanadas and some home made fresh salsa.

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We had about half of them for supper tonight. MMmmn they were good.

Mind you I did have to go and brush my teeth before leaving for practice – the onion breath may just have been a bit much to breath on my friends at practice.

A wonderful change from the usual chocolates and cookies we get as treats.

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December 14, 2008 · 3:50 pm

These days

This preaching gig (if one can call it a gig) has its rewards.  It seems that if I speak my family lets me off from noon meal responsibilities.  And lets me nap in the afternoon.  Not bad.  They don’t let me take a long nap or cook my meals after doing a good wisdom tooth extraction at the office.

Today we had a most delicious stew prepared by Rachelle.  Venison, vegies and potatoes in a tomato based sauce.  Very very good. 

And a good nap is – well, always good.  And after partying with my staff last night doubly good.

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Yesterday we went on a sleigh ride with real horses in the absolutely freezing cold.  We were all bundled up to an almost unrecognizable state.  I am sorry I have no pictures of that! 

I loved the smell of horse and the out of doors.  It brought back memories of my dad.  It was just the sort of thing he would have done and enjoyed.  Funny how memories are triggered by smells and places. 

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December 12, 2008 · 8:05 am

Morning Prayer

These days where there is so much to ponder and reflect on, there seems so little time to do that.  Each weekend has its full quota of parties added on to my already busy schedule.  I am becoming quite tired and there is still much to do to get this house and home ready for Christmas.  Tree decorating will be done, tourtiere made and maybe some baking this weekend. 

I am the kind of person who needs quiet and lots of time to reflect on events.  Most of the people around me don’t really understand that I don’t think.  They have their own ways to prepare for the holiday and so we clash too often.

I need God’s gifts of love, patience and compassion if I am to reflect him at all.  So, this is my morning prayer, God make me more like you today.  Give me the gifts I need to make it through this day with grace.

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December 10, 2008 · 4:29 pm

Advent as necessary waiting

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In the seasons of Advent and Lent I find myself feeling a bit at odds with the frivolity of the season. (Not that Lent is exactly filled with mirth but it is hardly about getting stocked up on chocolate for the Easter bunny to deliver either.) As a culture we seem to jump from one event to the next without savoring any part of it – like draining a bottle of wine without holding it long enough in the mouth to appreciate its flavor, becoming drunk on the quantity we consume with no enjoyment of its richness. So, immediately one holiday is done the stores quickly remove all signs that it happened and gear up for the next selling opportunity.

Maybe if these seasons were only about Santa Claus and the Easter bunny it wouldn’t matter what big business did to stimulate us to buy candy and trinkets. But because these seasons hold such significant religious meaning for me I find myself wanting to withdraw from the glittery trappings of our consumerist world into an inward space sparsely adorned with things that have become symbols of where my heart is in these waiting days of Advent. A candle glows in the light of early morning as a symbol of God’s presence with me as I invite his Spirit to fill my day. The Advent ring of candles remind me weekly of expressions of hope, peace, joy and love that we ponder during the four weeks leading up to Christmas day. Some of the mournful tunes of Advent remind me of the longing of a heart for the arrival of a loved one long waited for, of my hopes waiting to be fulfilled and of the melancholy of a waiting heart.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not sad or depressed. The period of waiting gives me time for the preparation I need to do on the inside. I need the reminders of why we wait, why Christians devote this time to preparation and waiting and why it is good for my soul to stop and reflect before I jump into the celebration and joy of Christmas.

The celebration will come. My house will be full of children and grandchildren and their voices, of smells of baking and roasting turkey, the scent of the real tree, the delight of wrapping and unwrapping gifts, and the sounds of joyful Christmas music. But if my heart is not prepared for the coming of the King, a turkey and some mistletoe will not be able to fill my days with real joy.

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