February 9, 2012 · 11:30 am

Blogging hiatus

It has been over a month.

Something about blogging just does not call to me like it used to. I guess that is just the way things go. I still enjoy reading the blogs of the friends I know here but even that I am not so faithful at. Forgive me.

Life has just gotten in the way and it has become less important to write about it than to spend time just doing it.

But still there is something about writing out the thoughts of my heart that I want to do. It is good for me to do too. So I will try and return here.

The focus may change. That is, you may get more contemplative thoughts. If I have them.

Less activities. Maybe I will get back to photos again since they record things I feel in a visual way.

IMG_3591-1

Talk to you later – hopefully not a month from now. I’ll try and do better than that.

Comments Off on Blogging hiatus

Filed under Day to Day, Photos

January 7, 2012 · 3:29 pm

Red Sky

IMGP0988

Yesterday I made a trip to Saskatoon for the White Coat Ceremony for the 2nd year students at the College of Dentistry.  This is basically a time before they begin treating live patients when they vow to practice their new profession ethically.  This year the first class of the college was invited to cloak the students since this is our 40th anniversary since graduating. 

As I pointed out to the other 6 of my classmates who were there, we left behind our own legacy, notably the “Boot Play” trophy which is still passed on to the student who makes the biggest gaff of the year.  Like we did – to the student who left us to join the Med students.  We had other disasters we celebrated later with much laughter – the gold crown getting its final polish that was sucked up into the vacuum system and the long hair that got entangled in the old belt driven slow speed handpiece.  Those were the days!

Our class were the pioneers, making do in temporary quarters, learning to improvise when we lacked some tool.  Good training.  As Jim said we were a “first class” first class.  Yesterday seven of us were there for the ceremony but all ten of us are living and the seven of us that were there still are practicing to some degree. 

I spent the rest of the day applying for a new passport, had supper with Sara and saw her new lodging – way out on the south end of Saskatoon – a place that did not exist the last time I drove south of town.  Then decided to spend the evening with Dave, Annette and kids; watched a movie and slept over. 

Which is why I was up and driving home when the sun came up.  I took advantage of a day with no fixed agenda to drive off the beaten track and snap the red sky as the sun came over the fields and forest.

IMGP0966 second rev

Comments Off on Red Sky

Filed under Day to Day, Dental, Family, Photos, Travels

December 23, 2011 · 9:35 pm

Semi-retirement perks

I was only in the dental office one day this week, only spent one real day at the church plus a few hours here and there.  The rest of the week I have been getting ready. I have been able to clean a bit in my office at home – much needed.  Wrapped all the presents.  Usually I’m doing that last minute while yelling at everyone to stay out of the bedroom.  Since no one else was homeI got to do my wrapping this year on the dining room table. Way better than the bedroom floor.

Tomorrow the kids come home – except for Rachelle, Asen and Ronin (sigh).  They will be home in a couple of weeks though. 

We should be 22 around the table(s) tomorrow night.  Then we all will head over to the church for the candlelight Christmas Eve service.  Back home after for our gift opening.  We will be up very late I suspect.  Sunday morning we will (Leo and I at least) get up for a casual breakfast/Sunday/Christmas Day service.  It will be good to worship our Saviour with the other brave souls who venture out.

Then I will crash and just chill out the rest of the day.  If I get my way.

 

It would have been nice to have some snow for Christmas but they are predicting +2 or so and I suspect not much snow will remain.  Shouldn’t complain – better than –40.

Comments Off on Semi-retirement perks

Filed under Christmas, church, Family

December 17, 2011 · 10:38 pm

Accompanied by a dancer

Today started off with suture removal.  It had been 5 days and I figured that since she said 5 to 7 days that meant my little incision would have been pretty much healed up.  I’m afraid my pristine beauty has now been marred by my rushing things.  The incision –the one up by my hairline – opened up.  I am now closed up with superglue and a bandaid.  Not quite what I had intended but that is how life goes I guess.  Nice to have a Dr hubby on mornings like this.

Started cooking the meat for tourtiere and finished off my writing for the Advent Candle lighting tomorrow. Then a little ballerina arrived.  She was dressed all in pink and we began what ended up being a day spent together.  We all went out to choose trees and threw three of them on top of my little Matrix with the car top carriers.  Delivered them.  Went for lunch at McD’s and then for groceries.  Interesting, grocery shopping with a 3 year old.  She decided that she needed a bag of marshmallows.  She wanted to ride in the cart, then out of it, then hung on behind for awhile.  She held the list and we did manage to get everything on it and make it to church for music practice in time. 

At worship practice we were treated to an hour of interpretive dance and attempts to help Birdie play the organ.  Mrs. Birdie was most tolerant, bless her.

One week left till Christmas.  Lots left to do I’m afraid. 

Comments Off on Accompanied by a dancer

Filed under Christmas, church, grandchildren, Songs and Music

December 16, 2011 · 10:13 am

Let the Holidays Begin

I have just uploaded my final paper for the New Testament class I have been taking.  This last assignment was a doozy – an exegesis of Heb.6:1-8.  Now even my computer thinks it is supposed to write in Greek!  I keep having to correct it and remind it that its default is English – Please. 

Anyway, it is done.  Now I am free to do all the preparations I need to do before Christmas.  Tomorrow we go buy a tree and set that up.  I must take out my pork and get it ready for tourtiere.  There are many items on the grocery list to go shopping for.  And then I must sort out the gifts and see what I am still missing.  Leo’s arrived yesterday.  I do love on-line shopping.

Yesterday was a particularly good day at our house.  Rachelle called – she was promoted to manager of her store.  Sara got her acceptance letter to SAIT for Respiratory Therapy. Zaka came over for a sleep over and got to play Wii mini-golf with Grandpa and Nan.  Nan made his first ever foray into the world of haute cuisine – Brownies for his class potluck.  And I was putting the finishing touches on my paper.

Today, I am indulging in some of the many treats at the office as I write this.  Too many of those by far.  I hope I don’t gain too many pounds over the next two weeks.  I plan to enjoy those two weeks anyway.

1 Comment

Filed under Christmas, Day to Day, Family, grandchildren, Studying

November 27, 2011 · 4:09 pm

Want to Help Others This Christmas?

Sometimes there are just good things to support that come across one’s radar.  There are a couple of projects that I have become aware of in the past few weeks.  One is the Aviva funding competition for Harbour of Hope.  If you haven’t heard about this one yet, check out Jordon’s post about this worthwhile project.  Click here to read about it and then please go to the Aviva site, sign in and register to start making your votes.  It really does only take a few minutes of your time. 

Today at church we became aware of another worthwhile project.  Family Futures of Prince Albert is launching a fundraising project “Unto Us A Child Is Born.”  This is a program that gives support to  young mothers and children. Mothers with young children in need receive support so they can be better parents and understand better how to feed and nurture their children.  I can’t think of a better way to honour Christ on his birthday than to help children get a better start in life.  It is not a Christian organization however I think that when a group targets Christian churches as part of their fundraising and we respond generously we state loudly that we care for the least among us in Christ’s name. 

Another group with which I am involved is Fresh Start Ministries.  This is a compassionate ministry with the Nazarene Church but they gladly let others join them in reaching out to the hungry and homeless people of Prince Albert.  In fact I am chair of their board.  I know that we can use funds to help distribute hampers and small gifts to the homeless.  We are just a small organization but the opportunities for service to these people is huge.  If you need a good local charity to support send me an e-mail. 

These are just a few of the opportunities to get involved.  If they are not enough for you then get over to one of the groups that sponsors children overseas like World Vision or Compassion and send a little extra their way.

We already have enough stuff to put under our trees at Christmas time.  Lets spend some of our excessive wealth on others that really need it.

2 Comments

Filed under "Fresh Start", Christmas, Dealing with stuff

November 17, 2011 · 7:31 am

Life is good

Here I am in the “great”city of Winnipeg enjoying the weather.  It is actually a couple of degrees warmer than PA was when I left and they don’t have the beauty of our snow either.  So far the boots have been unnecessary. (In winter, I think the baggage allowance on airlines should increase – it takes a lot of room to pack along boots,winter coats, scarves and mitts.)

The Church planter conference that I am at – re:CALL – is as good as I expected.  Maybe better.  You can check out what is going on here.   I’ve been to workshops by Karen Wilk: Learning to Live in the Neighbourhood for Transformation and Shari Russell: First Nations and today I think I will attend the one by Christine Pohl: Recovering Hospitality as Christian Tradition.  Good stuff.

It been a really busy couple of days.  All the Covenant folks kind of hang out together too and that is great.  I do sort of feel a bit like the grandmother to this group – not that they make me feel old or anything.  It is really great to be with so many young leaders of the church.  Getting together with Marc and Dixie, LT(well he’s not Cov. but we like him) new folks from Ontario as well as the Winnipeg gang and other pastors from across Canada is always fun.  Jamie obligingly signed a copy of his book, The Cost of Community which I brought along  for that very reason.  I just wish I had more time to read the fun stuff they were selling on the table outside the meeting place!

I am anticipating enjoying the rest of my week as well.  I will be in ECCC board meetings for the next few days, then a committee meeting Saturday, will worship with the folks at Faith Covenant Sunday morning, at Little Flowers Sunday evening, run out to Otterburne to get the inside story on the trailer life of a seminary student.  I have to find some time to shop for a gift for my 4 year old grandaughter too since I miss her big party on Saturday.  In between all, I have to keep up with my class and start work on my exegesis paper. 

Life is good.  No shortage of things to do.

3 Comments

Filed under Books and Articles, church, grandchildren, Ministry, Studying, Travels

November 2, 2011 · 8:26 pm

Whew!

This week is crammed with stuff to get done. 

Half way there. 

So far: Sunday – the usual worship practice church and Sunday School class.
Monday – Halloween.  Took Nan for his road test and YEAH he got his licence!  The evening was spent getting up and down and going to the door to hand out treats, then back to the computer to finish posting for my class.
Tuesday – Grandson’s 6th birthday.  No party this day but I did cram in a shopping trip to pick up his Wii.  Then worship practice following a full day of Bread ministry, staff meeting, school volunteering and choosing some songs for Sunday.  I am the leader this week.  Prep for the Kids Klub craft.
Wednesday – a meeting and lunch for the School Dental Programme with the Saskatoon program in Rosthern, prep for kids Klub, hair appointment, then Kids Klub itself.  Got home, took out the garbage and here I am at the computer trying to think worshipful thoughts and put together Sunday’s service. 

The rest of the week won’t be less busy I’m afraid.  Work at the dental office tomorrow and Friday.  Soup on Saturday and I will be helping make soup.  Somewhere in here I am supposed to be studying, reading on Ephesians and Colossians and thinking some thoughtful thoughts on those two books. 

I wish I could say that next week will be better.   But Monday is already full of chores to do plus the delayed Birthday party.

Meanwhile, I carry on.

Comments Off on Whew!

Filed under church, Day to Day, Family, grandchildren, Ministry, Studying, Worship events

October 20, 2011 · 9:48 pm

How can a baby …

get older when I am sure his mother has hardly doubled her age?  It seems strange to think that he is 38 already.  That age even sounds a bit on the old side to me. 

But there he is.  Thirty eight already.  Having to watch his blood pressure no less!  With one super smart and strong willed 3 year old child catching on too quickly to how to manipulate words and the next baby only about three months from being born. 

He has almost grown up. 

4 Comments

Filed under Day to Day, Family

October 19, 2011 · 10:26 pm

It’s a wonder

Kids Klub this week was pretty tame compared to the last couple of weeks when the young men who are really too old for kids stuff dropped by anyway for a free supper and an occasion to try and drive the supervising adults crazy.  Tonight it was just kids.  The boys who made themselves unwelcome last week were nowhere to be seen.  Thank you to their parents for some great help. 

We were about 23 kids tonight.  I had the story telling and craft duty tonight and the story was Jacob and Esau.  Twins but not at all alike.  So we looked at things that were similar but not quite identical.  Then we talked about the things we are good at – our gifts and how we are all different.  God loves all of us even though we are all different and have different skills. 

Taught the story once to the older kids and then again to the wee ones. 

Then I came home exhausted. So I veged out in front of the TV for a bit with Nan.  We laughed together at the Dumbest Things on Wheels and wondered how they arrange to get such crazy videos.  I wonder if people are really that desperate to get their failed stunts on TV that they would risk injury to do it? 

People never fail to amaze me. 

Comments Off on It’s a wonder

Filed under church, Day to Day