Category Archives: Day to Day

September 14, 2008 · 2:41 am

Post Convention

Since Friday, I have been in Saskatoon for the annual Scientific Session of the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan.  It was quite the gathering this year – being attended by a record number of people.  I think almost 800 were registered.

Usually I don’t bother to go.  I’m not big on the golfing aspect that usually takes up the half day before the scientific sessions start.  And I am not big on the partying that makes up the evening activities.  For the past few years the topics covered at the convention have not been of particular interest to me either and since I didn’t need the continuing ed points, I did not see much reason in going.

I am glad I went this year.  Dr David Sweet spoke on Thursday.  Topic was Forensic Odontology.  Sort of a more realistic version of CSI, but for real.  I found it fascinating.   Today, I listened to a talk on the Swissair disaster and the role of dentistry in the identification of victims.  Fascinating again – to me. 

I think I am coming to the conclusion that there is not going to be enough length to my span of years to learn everything that I find fascinating. 

Now I am back home, going over tomorrow’s talk for church.  The sermon.  And also reflecting on how good it was to spend overnight with my kids and grandkids in their home where I feel so comfortable.

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Filed under Day to Day, Dental, Travels

September 11, 2008 · 1:10 pm

Oh, Election Mode!

What a lot of junk mail elections generate!  I can’t say that most of it influences me to vote for the party that sends it out.

We got a flyer this week that to me appears to be full of half truths designed to distort the thinking of average Joe Citizen so that the party in power will gain their support, or keep it and increase it.  The flyer shows a tattoo "Not on Your Dime" and talks about the perks given to prisoners. 

Hey, everyone is against crime, right?  Therefore criminals should be deprived of all privileges and punished more severely.  So this government is appearing to come down hard on crime.  That should gain votes for sure.

If that is what they want to say, they should come out and clearly state that.  Without manipulating the reader to suppose that the proposed tattooing program in prisons is just about perks for prisoners.  It was proposed as a way to cut down on the transmission of disease as well as a way of teaching safe tattooing methods for those wanting to get into this field – if they aren’t already – when they get out. 

Just be honest, dear government leaders.  Tell all sides of what the proposal meant.  Don’t try to manipulate us into voting for you.  Give us some good stuff that will improve our society.  Don’t play on our fears and prejudices.  We get too much of that anyway.

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Filed under Day to Day, In the News

September 8, 2008 · 3:43 am

So, the time has come…

Sometimes we get to see a person demonstrating obedience to God.  The places He takes us aren’t very often what we would have dreamed up – but there you go – God’s ways sure are not like ours. 

Randall resigned this morning.  He’ll be off to a new place soon.  In a field.  We may have to write a new version of "The Church in the Wildwood"  if you are old enough to know how that one goes.  At least his neighbors will be quiet – or far enough away that they can party and he’ll never know.

We have learned so much from God as he has pastored our church.  Now, I guess, God needs him somewhere else for a bit.  We send him off with blessings and prayers and a lot of tears.  But it will be good.  If God is in it, it will be good.

But it is hard saying farewell to someone who has been a good friend.  Oh, we don’t have to stop being friends – we’ll keep our connections in this blog world.  But things won’t be quite the same and we will miss the presence of Randall and Lauralea. 

We love you, Randall and Lauralea, and that will not end here.

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Filed under Day to Day, Dealing with stuff

September 4, 2008 · 1:36 pm

The day begins

Got a stupid phone call in the middle of the night – 2:30 am – from someone who must have been drunk as a skunk. 

Lost about two hours sleep after that. 

And today is going to be busy.

Lord,
Give me energy for the day
Help me to see clearly
Make my hands steady.

Though I am tired,
Give me an alert mind
Words that reflect your wisdom
And your love.

I am going to need you near me today, God,
And you promised.

For the honor of your Name
Help me live up to the name I have chosen as mine
To follow. 

Today, Lord, just one moment of grace at a time,
Till rest comes at its end.

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Filed under Day to Day, Poetry and Stuff

September 4, 2008 · 5:08 am

That was a long day

Began with prayer – for our church at our church at 7ish.  Ending with prayer for a hurting daughter just minutes ago.

Lots of work and busyness in between.  One assistant still quite sick so extra busy at work.  Work day ending with a meeting. 

Then straight up to Mama Mia.  A good old popcorn supper that cost as much as a good sitdown meal.  Lots of fun with good friends.

Now bed.  I am needing some good sleep.

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September 1, 2008 · 3:46 am

Now she is packed

And the baking begins.  It always seems a bit strange to me to begin making banana chocolate chip muffins at 9:30 pm.  Maybe that is to guarantee that a few are left for breakfast?

I think she may let us eat one each but she insists that these ones are to take to Saskatoon. 

Not only the muffins but also the apple crisp. 

 

She’s taking our goodies and then she is up and leaving too.

 

Life is not fair!

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August 29, 2008 · 4:18 pm

Happy First Birthday

Before Rachelle and Ronin left us for Toronto, we had a birthday celebration.  Both of them had birthdays coming up in August.  Today is the actual Big Birthday Day for Ronin.

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Happy Birthday from Grandma!

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Filed under Day to Day, Photos

August 28, 2008 · 4:11 am

It is good

It is good to spend time in good conversation over good coffee and a decadent dessert. 

That is what I did tonight.  It just is good to find someone -  not from my own church group – that thinks in similar ways, has faith and dreams and hopes and ideals that I share. 

We’ll be talking again.  And exchanging some books.

Maybe the biggest blessing of my day.

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August 26, 2008 · 1:37 am

Fun stuff

After work most of our staff headed up to one of the local pubs for wings and drinks.  Now, I usually decline.  It is not easy to just up and leave a starving family at home while head off to the pub.  And sure, they really can look after themselves but there is this huge guilt thing about taking off to a pub after work, let alone leaving my family foodless. 

But, tonight we were saying goodbye to the student who has been with us for the last six weeks or so, and he has been good to have around the office.  How could I not want to say good bye in style? 

I am glad I went.  The kids survived and I had a nice glass of wine and some delicious lemon pepper wings. 

Now – off on my bike to work those greasy little things off!

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Filed under Day to Day, Dental

August 25, 2008 · 5:14 pm

Back to…

Routines;  we get tired of being stuck in them but when we have been out of them, it sure feels good to get back to them.

That is kind of what it feels like around here these days.  It seems as if the routines of fall bring some kind of groundedness back to my life.  So, it felt good to get up and go to work this morning.  It kind of feels good to talk about getting Sara packed up and off to school.  It feels good to be looking at starting up music lessons and orchestra again, getting back into the regular schedule of meetings, etc.  And this week seems to be a bit on the full side of all of those things.  I got out my bass and tuned it up this weekend and now must get back to practicing in earnest. 

I think I will miss my own course work but I have already discovered a really good book that I am almost finished and want to read again because it was so full of stuff that resonated with who I have become – The Power of Solitude by Annamarie Kidder.  And since I only borrowed this one, maybe I will have to buy it because I heard that her son wants to borrow it too.  It is one that I think I would like to own so that’s okay I guess. 

I’m also looking forward to getting back to meeting and talking with people – listening mostly.  I find that I love the kind of listening I am able to do as a spiritual director.  No better way to spend an hour than listening for the movement of God in a person’s life.

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