The Strangest Annual Meeting Ever!

In more than 18 years here, I have been to many meetings. Elders meetings, deacons meetings, elders/deacons meetings, camp, ministerial, congregational, individual, group and any other kind of meeting that you can think of.

I have seen people get so mad that they have walked out. I have heard things said that should not come out of the mouths of sane people (mostly they came out of my mouth - sorry about that!). I have seen people break down in tears of frustration and in tears of joy. But I have never seen an Congregational Annual Meeting like the one that I saw today.

We did the normal stuff. I did a devotional about hope and what God could do among us if we let him. Various ministry leaders got up and gave updates on their 2009 plans. Dennis gave the financial report and presented the budget. All normal stuff.

Then Calvin got up. Calvin is always a good elder and a good leader, but no more so than today. He gave an open, honest speech about what it is like to be an elder and where they would like to see the congregation going and growing in the next year. Then he told people that Ron Jacobs has agreed to let his name stand as an elder. I don't have the time to explain how nice it is to see someone "step up" and help out in this way, but lets just say that it has been a long time coming and that it is good news.

Ron gave a bit of a speech and then Bill Muirhead got up - gave some "thank-you"s (To young moms who bring their kids out faithfully, to the deacons for their hard work, to the "FriendSpeak" group) and then led the closing prayer. That is when the odd part happened........

People got up and started smiling and shaking hands as if we had just won the Stanley Cup. People (the women I mean - not us guys) were hugging. Pats on the back were seen. Nice things were said to one another. No fighting. No "issues". No upset people. No fretting. Just a family - happy to be together - glad for another year and looking forward to what may come. They even offered to let me hang around for another year.

It is interesting what happens when there is hope in air. I like it. :)

Getting things together (And Lanny MacDonald)

So far the weekend has been really nice (I say "So far" b/c this is only Saturday night - Sundays are usually good, but you never know right?) :)

I spent all day Friday goofing around in my garage. I had put the door openers up last weekend but I had not done all the wiring really neatly, did not put up the safety lights (just put them on the floor) - so I cleaned all that stuff up - did some rewiring - adjusting the closing force - little stuff that needed to be done. In the process of needing things, I also got to go hang out at Peavey Mart and Canadian Tire too - which is always fun! (I told one of the teachers at Sari's school that it is like going to Disneyland only cheaper!) :)

The kids and I then met Shady and Keith at the Bruins hockey game (-43 with the wind chill and we go out to a hockey game!). They beat the Melville Millionaires 14-0. I have never seen a game like that. Melville is way ahead of the Bruins in the standings but they got whipped. Lots of fights (like 10) it was fun!

Adding to the night was the fact that former Toronto Maple Leaf, Colorado Rockie and Calgary Flame Lanny MacDonald was there (The Bruins brought him in for a PR thing). That was sort of cool. Growing up a Leaf's fan, I really liked Lanny. Fun to meet him.

Sari stayed home and got some stuff done for Ladies Retreat which is coming up in the middle of February.

Today (Sat) we slept in - then had brunch - then went shopping. It was nice just hanging out as a family with nothing to do for a change. And since it was so cold, of course we had to go to Dairy Queen for ice cream. Back home and just hung out till the kids and Sari went to the movie and I stayed home to watch the NHL All-Stars competition.

So all in all it has been good. We got to do some stuff together. The big projects on my "To do" list that I had made for myself after Christmas is close to being done. We are planning to go out for supper tomorrow night to use up some of gift certificates that we got for Christmas.

Life is simple but good! :)

An amendment to the last post

One other thing that I hope I never forget ....... I am almost 40 years old and should not be trying to "surf" down the toboggan hill on the top of the sleds anymore. I wiped out about 10 times.... banged my head once..... then I gave myself whiplash the next time (trying to keep my head from hitting the ground again).

My neck is sore.

My back is sore.

My shoulder is sore.

But I "surfed" farther than anyone else!!!! So I can't retire yet! :)

Weekend

I hope I never get to the point of not being able to appreciate "little" stuff in my life. This weekend was full of good "little" things like......

- Putting up my garage door openers. I know that many of you have garages and door openers and never think twice about it, but let me tell you.... they are luxuries!!!! I spent a few hours Friday and a few more Saturday putting my openers up and it is like winning the lottery to pull up to the door and being able to drive in without getting out. Seriously - you don't use your opener for a month (especially when it is -40) and you will find out how nice it is to have one.

- Going to Calvin and Mary's for supper with Jurgen, Pia, June and Isabel. Good food, good visit, unexpected invitation - it was a nice way to spend a Friday night.

- Playing "Rockband" on the PS2 with Sari and the girls. Who knew that I was a good drummer????? 45 right "notes" in a row (On the easiest setting but come on!!!!)

- Going to the Bruin's game with Shady, Keith and all our kids. Good game. Good guys.

- Having a little German friend, named Bernice, stay with us all day Saturday while her parents went to Minot. She is fun and sweet. The girls were really good with her too - helped a lot.

- A good morning at church today.... good atmosphere, visitors, a buddy from town who has been there three Sundays in a row now. It was nice.

- An impromptu "sledding party" this afternoon with about 20-25 of our friends meeting at the hill for 3 hours of fun in the nice warm sun. What is better than getting 20 people that you like, sticking them on sleds, making a chain and then just about killing one another when you wreck 1/2 way down the hill????? One kid even bit his lip and bled all over the place...... good times!

- Then, to top it off, walking the dog after dark with Sari.

Just some of the "little things" that made this a really nice weekend. I hope it never forget to be thankful for things like this!

NOOOOOOO - NOT AGAIN!!!!

It has happened again!!!! I have been sucked in by "American Idol"!

I saw the ads for it all week long.... "Who cares?" is what I thought. Then, tonight, I am flipping through the stations after the news and what do I find???? So I call Sari and the kids (they like it) and I start to watch it with them..... now I can't wait till tomorrow!!!

I KNOW!!!! It is pathetic!!!! It is stupid!!!! But it is funny!!!!! :)

And inspirational at times (but mostly just funny - I usually lose interest after the first few weeks - after they get down to serious singing).

Oh well - what else am I going to do when it is -90 outside???? Read?????? HA!

Stop one leak - get another

For a few month, the cold water tap has been leaking in our tub. Actually, water comes out around the handle when the water is on. This is not a big deal really, but it is not right and it is annoying, so I fixed it today. That may not seem like a big deal, but these are reverse flow taps (not "Reverse flow" you say in horror - yes - REVERSE FLOW!!!!!) so they are different and hard to set and generally a big pain.

The good news: the tap leak is stopped.

The bad news: My truck's water pump started leaking today. Like not dripping but pouring. Leaking everywhere. Good times!!!! So that will be the next thing to deal with.

Good thing I can still drive the mini-van that has exactly "0" clearance. Did I mention that a buddy of mine got stuck on our street tonight...... in his Four wheel drive pickup! We has stopped to push out another dude in a 4 x 4 and after discovering that he was in too deep to get out, we got stuck. So I had to walk the rest of the way home to get some shovels so that we could dig everyone out.

Maybe I will just stay home tomorrow as we are supposed to get another 10 cm of snow tonight.

Anyone want to go on a "Hot Holiday" right now? I love winter, but getting stuck on city streets makes me wonder if they have this problem in Jamaica? Do you think they do?

Let's go check it out! :)

The hills are getting longer

I swear it is true - someone lengthened the sledding hill this year. It took way longer to climb back up than it ever has before. Or maybe it was that 4 feet of snow that we had to plow through. Or maybe we just slid a greater distance. It certainly has nothing to do with being another year older on my part (I think the hill is more rough this year too - my legs and back hurt a lot too). :)

The kids and I got dropped off by "Sari-rella" (she could not stay and play but had to go shopping so that we could eat for another week - poor girl) and met Paul and his kids as well as Shady and his kids over there. It was a lot of fun - except for the face wash that Katie and I encountered when we took the road less traveled through the biggest powder drift in the world (20 feet of snow flying in your face.... or maybe it was 200..... or 2000 - it was hard to tell really). My face/head have never felt so frozen - not sure why Katie did not sacrifice her body to protect me from all that snow. What are kids for anyway??????

Snow, Snow blowers, Kids and other things

Though it is hard to display in pictures, we got a lot of snow yesterday! Like 15 cm! What that means is that where it drifted up, it was several feet deep. What that means is that we had to take the kids and the dog for a walk in the badlands behind our house today. There is nothing quite as funny as watching Murphy running through snow that is deeper than he is tall. Especially when he goes into a really deep spot and disappears. It is pure joy for him to run and for us to watch him. :)

Unfortunately, my free snow blower broke down earlier this week. I think I am going to demand my money back! The drive chain broke, but that is not the worst part. The chain broke because there were 8 various parts (Bolts, set screws, keys) laying in the bottom tray and they got caught on the sprocket. Some investigation showed that the parts were from the second stage fan - the bolts should have held the part that blows the snow out of the machine to its shaft. Fortunately, the fan is rusted on the shaft so hard that it does not seem to need the bolts - so I will re-install them in the summer when it is warmer and I do not need the machine. The other fortunate part was that Paul Quilliams got me a new chain link to fix the drive chain - cost me $2 and he delivered right to my office. A few hours of work later, I was out blowing snow with it again yesterday.

Of course, school started again this week, so all my girls were back at it. I think that they enjoyed it, even if it meant classes and work again. Megan signed up for Basketball and for Art club. This is reportable news b/c it is usually Katie that signs up for everything(which is great), but it will be cool to be able to go watch Megs do something too. Both girls are curling right now too. I was supposed to go help teach that on Friday but Megs stayed home (not feeling really well) so I missed my chance. Oh well.

So that is about it. We are back to "life after vacation". The kids and I are going to the Bruin's game tonight, so that will be fun. I am looking forward to church tomorrow morning. Life is good! :)

Home and thinking

So this is the last night of Christmas holidays and I have to admit that I am really sad about that! Not that I do not like my job or the routine that comes with the kids back in school etc, but I don't want Christmas to be over.

We got to spend so much time together as a family (with both just the four of us and with our extended family) and I miss that already. I appreciate a lot the chance to get to hang out with everyone and just spend time together because I know that we will not always be able to do that (it will change someday). We had lots of fun in Manitoba and at the wedding. Thanks to Dave and Marilyn for all the work you did to make our Christmas away from home (anyone's home - we stayed at a B and B) fun and homey away. The wedding was fun as was the dance. I enjoyed our "last lunch" in Portage on the way home (That is where the Mullers went north and we kept going west). Then in MJ we enjoyed seeing everyone - watching hockey - good meals - laughs - going out for coffee late at night - playing the Wii. Even Murphy behaved himself (both in the kennel and at Deb and Dorian's).

Anyway - this is just a short "thanks" to anyone who helped make our Christmas fun - so much fun that I do not want it to end. I am already looking forward to our next chance to be together.

The guest room is empty next weekend.... whadoya say? :)

Re-load

We are home again after a very nice Christmas and wedding in Manitoba.... now we are re-loading and heading to Moose Jaw!!

Thanks for the fun Mullers! :)


PS. You will notice that I stopped numbering my posts - after 60 + consecutive days of blogging my streak was broken. But do not fear, I will start again in the New Year.

Our own private Hotel (64 of 33)

So on the way over here, Sari and I were discussing that there may not be many people in the hotel in Steinbach - I mean - it is off the Trans-Canada - if you are coming here you are probably coming to see family and don't need a hotel, etc (for the record we are here for Sari's brother's wedding)

Well - apparently - this is the night to be in the Days Inn in Steinbach. It is us and one other family (and they are on the floor above us and down at the other end). We had the pool and water slide to ourselves. The hot tub was empty. It was great! It was like being rich. :)

So we head out to the Bed and Breakfast place with the rest of the family tomorrow - but tonight we have a whole hotel to ourselves!!!

I don't think we will have to get up early to beat the line at the continental breakfast in the morning. We could probably go in our PJs since we will be there by ourselves.

It is like a Christmas miracle! :)

Can you Believe that (63 of 33)

Sari took Murphy to the "doggie resort" as they like to call it these days (otherwise known as the kennel) because all our usual dog sitters are going to be away this year. This has caused a little bit of stress because, as some of you know, Murphy isn't exactly the friendliest dog on the planet - at least with strangers - so we have been wondering how he was going to do.

When Sari got home, I asked her a pile of questions.....

"How did it go?"

"Good"

"Did he bark or growl at anyone?"

"Nope!"

"Not at all?"

"No! There was another dog there and he played with it a bit and then just went and got in the kennel - no big deal"

"Really?"

"Yep! Why are you asking me so many questions about this?"

"Well, you know Murphy. He barks at everything"

"Well, that is just around here when he thinks has to protect the yard"

"Really?"

"Oh ya! He is just a grouch at home - out in public he is happy and as nice as can be"

To which Katelyn yells from the other room, "He is just like you, Dad!"

Can you believe that? I think that she is lucky that we had "early Christmas" today - she may have had a few less presents if it were tomorrow! :)

Wow (62 of 33)

So today was like "mini-Christmas" for us.

Many preachers complain about how their congregations treat them, about how they have no real friends in the church and how they have to fight for everything they get. That is not true here.

The church is not just where I work, they are our family in Estevan. They love us and look after us and spoil us. That was evident again over the past week or so in the cards, gifts and nice things that have been done or given.

We know how fortunate we are to be here.

Only in Canada (61 of 33)

The girls and I have been to lots of Estevan Bruin hockey games this year. Katie likes the game and Megan likes the snacks! :) (Actually Meggie is more and more interested in the hockey part too now). I enjoy going just b/c I like hockey, it is something to do (support things happening in your home town right?) and it is like a mini-reunion. I see guys from hockey. I talk to a guy who works at the funeral home. I visit with the guy from whom I bought my truck. Living in a small town means that you cannot go anywhere without running into people that you know.

We had an added bonus to tonight's game (several actually). The Bruin's played the top team in the league and almost won (lost in a shootout - really good game). Santa was there which meant that we got gift bags (they were supposed to just be for the kids but it was so cold out that the crowd was small so we all got them). Then, even more odd than seeing Santa at the game, we saw Sari there too. I think it would be fair to say that Sari goes to hockey games just b/c I like to have her go with us once in a while - and it was nice.

So there you go. - 29 (-42 with the wind chill) and we pay to go and sit in a hockey rink for 3 hours - only in Canada! :)

Have I got a workout for you (60 of 33)

So have I got a deal for you. A whole new workout thing. Forget all that other junk you have been doing - here is the hottest thing going.

Here is what you do..... get up and go out to your garage (or mine if you do not have one - I don't mind sitting out so that you can try this). Set up a bunch of ladders and junk. Find some sheets of OSB and then spend the next 3 hours climbing up and down the ladders putting the OSB on the walls.

Then go to noon hockey and skate for an hour with a bunch of guys that played junior hockey. Guys who have been playing all year - are 15 years younger than you - and have 39592359253 times more skill than you.

Then come back and spend 6 more hours climbing up and down the ladders 904359028359083259 times while you finishing the sheeting in your shop (Oh did I mention that it had to be -10 inside the garage at the time?) Drag yourself into the house - eat supper - go back out and spend other hour finishing up.

I guarantee that this workout will do things no other one has ever done (Have you ever had so much sawdust in your eyes that they crunch when you blink after going to the gym???? I did not think so!)

So - give me a call - I am not charge a lot for this experience (an introductory special - this month only). Do not worry about the fact that the garage is now done, I have LOTS of other good ideas for you. :)

PS. Christmas holidays officially started for everyone else but me today (I still have to teach and preach on Sunday) - and I think that they all miss school! Can you believe that???? Even Sari mentioned (Twice) how much she is going to miss her friends at school! Can you believe that? I hope the withdrawal is not too hard on them. :)

Holiday Party (59 of 33)

It was Sari's staff party tonight and it was lots of fun.

Good food! Good company! Good laughs! Potatoes! :) It was great!

It's getting closer (58 off 33)

I am starting to feel it. People are getting happier. Talking like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Holidays are coming!!!! :)

I have one more day in the office (tomorrow) and then we go to Sari's first ever "Office Christmas supper" tomorrow night. Kids and Sari are done school at 1:30 on Friday. I preach Sunday and then it is Christmas on Monday (We are not going to be here for real Christmas so we are opening our stuff early so that we do not have to take it with us).

I am not really worn out - but I am looking forward to the break - to getting my girls back and just hanging out. Oh - and eating lots! Don't forget eating. And the World Junior Hockey Championship. And skating at the oval in Moose Jaw. And sledding. And........ :)

Dude (57 of 33)

So did you like know that it is a lot warmer working in a garage than working outside? Dude! (Not sure what the surfer thing is about - sorry!)

While the girls and Sari carried on their baking extravaganza..... I went out to the garage and replaced a connector that went to one of my headlights (it shorted and burnt off). It was nice to have a place to go - no tools in the snow etc. It will be even more fun if my plumber shows up and puts the furnace in sometime - the space heater is ok but.....

So we are getting excited about holidays. It is going to be nice to have some time to just hang out as a family. No where to be in the morning. Eating a bunch! Playing games (that will be fun if everyone lets me win - otherwise........) :) Three more days for all of us (I am in the office for two more but preach Sunday - Sari and the kids are done Friday)

Life is good! :)

The first time ever (56 of 33)

For the first time ever, both of my vehicles are in the garage tonight.

Now you may say, "So what?" Blogging that you have both of your vehicles in a garage is like blogging that you watched the news tonight or that you bought new socks - big deal - who cares?

But I care.

It may sound stupid if you do not know me that well, but because I grew up without a lot of stuff, I appreciate a lot of things that some people take for granted. I know lots of guys who bought houses that had garages..... they neither care nor appreciate the fact that they have one. In fact, some of them never even use them - they are just full of junk. I have literally waited years and years and years to build one - changed oil and worked on vehicles in the snow winter after winter - and tonight is the first night I am really using my new garage - and I appreciate having it.

One other thing that makes it even nicer is that I will always remember Bob, Mel, Skip, John, Margaret, Miles, Adam, Jurgen, Pia, Paul, Shady (not to mention Sari and the kids) who helped me build it (either physically or with advice when I needed it).

So on this cold, windy, -40 degree night, I am thankful for having something as common as a garage. What about you? Can you see your blessings?

Sunday (55 of 33)

So what do you do when it is -29 out and the wind chill is at -40 something? Well if you have a snow blower that you have never used before........ :)

I bundled up - went out and cleaned up my garage a bit and then got thinking, "I bet that there is enough snow in the back alley to try out that snow blower" - so I filled her up - set the choke - pulled the rope and away she went (not on one pull like it did back in Sept when it was 10 degrees outside, but it started) - so I went and threw snow all over the place for a while. It is the best free, 30 yr old snow blower that I have ever been given. :)

Sari and the kids did Christmas baking this afternoon. I did my part too (my part being "eat at least 8 balls of uncooked cookie dough" - mmmmmmm - raw eggs and flour!!!!!) I was waiting for Sari to slap my hand and tell me to go away - but she didn't (somehow I think this has something to do with all the extra life insurance that she now has on me - hoping I would get some "Chicken disease" or something from the raw eggs and then she would be rich. But.... HA!... I don't die that easily) :)

Then we wrapped up the day of happiness by renting "Fred Claus". Yes, it is as predictable as you think it might be (go ahead - imagine what you think the plot is....... yep you are right!). However, as family movies go, it was nice and fun. The kids liked it, so that was worth it.

That is it. Hope you have a good week. Let me know if you need some snow blowing done, cause I am ready!!!!! :)