Answer to Holiday train question and such

So - not a lot of response from people who found us in the "Holiday Train" crowd (though by looking at the web site stats I can see that some clicked on the picture and tried to find us).... not surprising that you could not see us because that picture was from the stop in London, Ontario (I took it off the web site). You didn't really think I was going to risk $20 on nothing did you? :)

So Sari and the kids had today off - I had to work but I am on holidays now. Let the fun begin! :)

Wooo - that is good stuff!!! :) (Click on them to enlarge)

"Poking her carrot in" - I am going to use that. :)

Holiday train

The CPR Holiday Train rolled into town tonight, so we went and checked it out (I will give $20 to anyone who can point us out in this photo). It was fun - nice night outside - ran into a lot of people we know - went for supper with some friends.... good times!

Sari and the kids are free - on holidays - I have to preach Sunday and then I am in the office on Monday and that is it for me too. Looking forward to going to seeing family - hanging out - sledding - skating - going to World Junior games - just having fun!!!! :)

PS. Check back tomorrow to see if you were right about where we are in the picture - seriously - $20 to the first one who spots us. Merry Christmas)

Christmas shopping

Is it a bad thing that I just started Christmas shopping tonight??????

Now - granted - it is not as bad as it sounds..... I mean Sari is great at the Christmas thing (If the elves ever go on strike - she could replace 98690348690368 of them - she would have gifts flying out of the North Pole like sixty) - so I don't have to worry about 99.9999999 % of it..... but I do have to get a few things.

Sari's gift is easy this year - she bought it for herself (ask her about it if you are curious) but I still had to get her a couple of things, right? As well, I had to get the kids a gift from their Dad (Sari accused me of buying a gift "for Dad" instead of a gift "from Dad" - I told her that it was going to be a Father/daughters bonding experience thing....... can I help it if they like the same things I like???? Gifts don't have to make the giver miserable do they?)

Anyway - there were a fair number of guys wandering around Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire tonight.... most were just "scouting still" - I mean, come on, we still have like a week left don't we? :)

Christmas on the road

Sunday after church we loaded into the van (at -32) and headed for Regina. Sari's mom had purchased tickets for us to see Steve Bell (a Christian singer from Winnipeg) that evening. The place was packed - we saw a lot of people that we knew - and had a nice night.

We then combined this event with our "Mooney Christmas". Sari and the kids took the day off school, Justin took the day off work and I moved my day off so that we could hang out there until Monday. It was really nice. The triplets are growing and changing rapidly, Caden told us lots of stories and we stayed up til 2 am visiting with Jen and Justin. It was very nice and relaxing and fun.

So - a few more things on the schedule this week - it is like the 12 days of Christmas (minus the "swans a-swimming" and the dancing girls) :(

Even more Christmasy stuff

So tonight we went to my "Office Christmas Party". Since I work alone (at the office anyway - other people work very hard - just not there), my party is really supper out with the elders and their wives.

It is a very nice tradition that has been going on for several years now and I really appreciate it. I do not know any other preachers in our churches that get an "Christmas party" so I consider myself lucky.

A nice supper, great friends, family, people who care about us..... a nice reminder of some of reasons we have been here so long.

More Christmas stuff to come.... stay tuned! :)

More Christmas.... it just keeps coming

Today is one of my favorite school days....... Christmas lunch!!!! Turkey.... ham.... mashed potatoes.... veggies...... coffee...... maybe even pie!!!! The school's "Spirit Club" puts it on and parents are invited. We all have to pay our own way though, so I intend to defend my "That guy just ate his own body weight in food" title (It is a real hit with the kids - not so much with the organizers though) :)


So I am off! More Christmasy stuff tomorrow and the next day and the day after that..... oh and I may even start shopping sometime in there too. :)

Christmas fun rolls on

Christmas tree decorated tonight - music - pictures - lights - nice! :)

The Start of Christmas Fun!

So we have officially started out Christmas season.... we went to see Stuart McLean in Regina (The dude pictured above) on Monday night. He is a storyteller who has a program on CBC radio and every year he goes on tour doing a "Christmas show" (Tells stories, brings musical guests, etc).

The thing that I really think is interesting about him is that (as you can see above) he just comes out on stage with a music stand, a microphone and a bunch of stories and mesmerizes people for hours at a time (who says the spoken word - including preaching - has no power or attraction any more?????)

This year we took the kids with us (normally it is just a "Sari and Me" thing). Over the years of listening to his CDs and things, they have come to like him too - so we included them.

We hit the road after school on Monday (at -25). Ate supper at Tony Roma's (yummmm). Went to the show (the girls had never been in the "Centre of the Arts" before..... yes I am aware that they call it the "Conexus Arts Centre" now but since I am sort of "anti-corporate naming rights" it is still the "Centre of the Arts" to me). Left the show at about 10:30 (after lost of laughs, good music and nice stuff) and headed home. Stopped in Weyburn at midnight (at -35) for snacks and finally got in bed around 1:15.

Mom and Dad made it to work the next day..... the kids slept in till 11:30 (but that will be part of the "nice memory" too, right?)

This now kicks off a ton of "Christmasy stuff" - I will keep you posted as we go.

PS. If you have not checked out Stuart Mclean before - you should. Maybe you will like him too.... click here.

Like some beautiful dream

It is a night that will live on in my memory forever....... the sights..... the sounds..... the colours...... the discounts!!!!!

Peavey Mart held their "Friends and Family" evening tonight and I was a "Friend" (at least I think that the manager is my "friend" and not a long lost cousin or something..... maybe that was his subtle way of breaking it to me... hmmm. Anyway.......)

You have to have a secret pass to get in(just like a secret agent - only instead of going to some foreign country you get to buy things from foreign countries - just about the same thing)...... and then the best words in retail.... "Employee pricing!!!!"

I saw grown men wandering around with their tongues hanging out as they tried to calculate (in their heads) what "20% off the last ticketed price" on that Plasma cutter is....... "Hmmm - 9 carry the 7........ well - it is cheaper than the rest of the year" - that is about all we needed to know.

So - I ran into several buddies over there and tried to talk them into buying some big ticket items based on the logic that....

1) When it is a percentage sale, the more you spend the more you save (so it is only smart to spend more) and

2) I may need to know someone who has that tool so that I can borrow it in the future (though that fact did not really seem to sway many of them one way or the other for some reason).

So in the end they had to pull most of us out of there kicking and screaming and holding onto the door jams (some ridiculous thing about the workers needing to go home to their families... or something).

So at the end of this most glorious night, I spent a lot of money....... but think about how much I saved by getting it on sale (isn't that what the women say all the time?????)

Wa?????

So I am playing squash with Paul Quilliams at the Leisure Centre tonight and I break my racquet. Now, this is a cheap old thing that I have had for probably 3 or more years. It has all kinds of dents and scrapes in it, the head is all bent out of shape and the grip is well worn out. Tonight several of the strings broke.

So I run into the locker room, throw the old racquet in the garbage can, get the other racquet that I have been carrying around forever (just in case this happened) and head back out to finish our game.

When I came back into the locker room, I look and someone took my old racquet!!!! Right out of the garbage can!!!! Wa????? I mean, it wasn't worth re-stringing (it would cost more to re-string it than replace it) and it had of no value at all.

The only logical explanation is that someone took it because it used to belong to me!!!!!

Maybe I have a stalker who was just waiting to go through the trash to pick up whatever worn out, broken, stinky thing that I throw away next!!!! I mean, I can see a whole new income stream here....... orange peels, old shoes, receipts from the gas station (those actually have my name on them even!!!!)..... the list of things is virtually endless. Maybe I should start putting towels around my neck and throwing them into the crowd like Elvis used to do (I wonder how much people would pay for a sweat soaked towel from me??????)

Anyway - if you are my stalker - this note is for you.......... send me an email listing the sorts of items that you are really interested in and I will send you a price list. If you act quickly (because I can't do this all day), I may even autograph a few of the items for you.

(I wonder if I should be investing in some "people" - you know like "I will have my people call your people" sort of thing. I have always wanted to have "people" or a "posse" or some "homeboys" or even a few "hangers on"........ that might be fun! Send your resume today! Space is filling fast!) :)

Not that Blogworthy

I bet that title really has you excited to read this, huh? However, that is the truth. Things are great! Life is good - just not really worth typing out for you. We have just been doing normal family stuff (as in "stuff families normally do".... I am not calling our family normal) :)


Katie had a V-ball tourney this weekend, so we spent some time over there (V-ball is done now - I may post pics sometime). Sari has been scrapbooking, to a card making thing and a craft show in town. Megan has been hanging out with buddies. I went to Weyburn for a hockey game last week, then I ended up taking my Korean buddy to his first hockey game last week (that was fun!).


I am loving having a heated garage to work in..... changed oil in the motorcycle today and put it away, tore the snow blower apart, just generally goofed around out there all day.


See - just not that interesting, but that is good. I was thinking today about how nice it is to have a family to hang out with on a Saturday. When I first moved here, I would go coach hockey at 8 in the morning and then just hang out by myself all day - just killing time. It is nice not to have to kill time waiting for something to happen, because - even if it makes sort of boring reading - it is still fun. Little things are the big things, right?

Deep thoughts (Part 0943946)

Confidence is that feeling you have just before you fully understand the situation.

Some Halloween pics

Jasmine picture

Here is a picture of Jasmine receiving her award from the premier. More pics to follow (maybe).

Supper with the Premier

Given my extended family's run-ins with the law... a date with a government official is usually not a good thing - but last night it was for me. I was invited to have supper with the Premier (and others) at Government House in Regina.


Jasmine Erickson, a young lady who grew up in our church, was one of five recipients of the "Saskatchewan Youth Award" this year and so she was invited to a presentation ceremony and supper. What does that have to do with me?


Well, when the selection committee was talking about the supper, they were wondering who they should have come and say "grace" before the meal - then they noticed that Jasmine had been really involved in her local church, so they called her and asked if she would like her minister to be part of the evening. Graciously, she said, "sure" so the Premier's Protocol Office called and asked if I would be interested in participating in the evening.


It was very cool - for many reasons. First of all, I have known Jasmine since she was a year old (she has graduated from a performing arts college now - so that is a while). She is very special to us.


Secondly, it was nice to meet the Premier, Brad Wall. He was very humble and warm and engaging. When he first came up to us, I was prepared to address him as "Mr. Premier" (as one should) and then he stuck out his hand and said, "Hi, I am Brad!" When he heard my name he said, "Oh, you are the one saying grace tonight. Do you know the Pastor of the Church of God in Estevan? He was my counselor at camp when I was a kid"...... he was very impressive in that he did not think he was impressive (I even emailed him today to tell him how nice the evening was and he wrote back to me two hours later - remembered our conversation, remembered that I was with Jasmine's group - very impressive)


Anyway, the Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan was there - he was very nice too. It was interesting to watch all the "pomp" surrounding him - he did not carry the book with his speech in it (an attendant did), we stood until he was seated, he left the room before the rest of us, we could not sing during the playing of "O Canada/God save the Queen" when he entered - but we were encouraged to sing later - all very interesting.


Other MLAs were there - the leader of the Opposition (Dwain Lingenfelter) - the Chief Justice of Saskatchewan (he and his wife were at our table) - the speaker of the house, etc, etc.


The banquet hall at Government house only seats about 80 people - so it was a rather small crowd - everyone included (dignitaries and guests) - so we really got a chance to visit.


And the food..... Yyyyyyuuuummmmmm!!!!! Butter nut squash soup, Beef Bourguignon, Roasted potatoes, asparagus.... gingerbread and raspberries for desert!! If you ever get invited - go hungry! :)


Anyway - I said my prayer and I got to meet and talk to some very interesting people. Most of all, though, I was proud to be there with Brent, Angel, Norma and Jasmine. What a great memory and what a blessing to be included in the lives of people that we love. It was wonderful!


I did not take a camera with me, but several in our group did, so I will post some pictures later.

Grandpa McMillan

Willie McMillan passed away today. He was 95 years old.


Thinking about him today, I am glad that I knew him. He was kind and gentle. Always friendly. Always ready to beat you at a game of horseshoes (and he did that a lot). He always went out of his way to say "hi" to me and to encourage me. He was always there doing his part - often in the background - but you could count on him.


Someone today called him a great "Christian warrior". Many have mentioned how much his example meant to them and how he encouraged others just by the way he lived.


I never heard "Grandpa" give a sermon (not that I remember anyway) - but just knowing him and even thinking about him today has taught me some valuable lessons.


A man named Eugene Peterson once wrote a book called "A long Obedience in the same Direction". That would be a good title for Willie McMillan's biography. Not flashy - not loud - just quietly going the right way - for a long, long time.


I am glad that I got to walk alongside of him for a while.

Is this a bad thing?

I decided to go to noon hockey today - for the first time in about a year. On the way over to the rink I see a hockey buddy named "Larry" and he tells me that we are playing at the "Civic" today - so I turn around and follow him over there.

Larry was saying that lots of guys had been showing up - so I was ready to go - but when we got to rink there was no one there. Undeterred, we went out and just skated around while we waited for the other guys to show up..... and we waited.... and waited..... and waited. Finally I got bored and left.

Turns out that we were at the wrong rink! After I left a rink rat dude asked Larry what he was doing out on the ice - we were supposed to be at the other rink (where - by the way - six other guys were waiting for us to show up)

Nice security there hey? Two guys walk in - open a change room - skate around the ice shooting pucks for most of an hour and finally someone decides to come out and see what on earth is going on. "City employees care!" - I think that should be their motto. :)

Possible bad thing #1 from this mix-up..... in spite of the fact that I was skating alone (basically) and just shooting pucks around - I was tired and sweating after only 15 minutes. So either it was really hot in there - or taking almost a year off is not the best thing for your hockey career.

Possible bad thing #2..... Sari has outlawed my hockey equipment! It is sitting in a room in the basement of the house drying out and she claims that she can smell it upstairs! In fact, I have been told that I have to take it out to the garage - now is that fair? Do I make her take her scrap-booking stuff to the garage? Do I? NO! (Granted - it may not smell quite as bad as the hockey equipment but the point remains).

Just because I literally have not washed any of it (not even the shirt I wear underneath it) in about 10 years is no reason to get all picky! Think of it as being "Environmentally friendly" - think of all the water I am saving by not washing it!!!

Women - they just don't understand. :)

From the "Better late than Never" file

So - I got it wrong! The Pro-life ladies weren't being rude..... they were just delaying their "Thank you".


They came by with a card, some dish soap, some paper towels (to replace what they used - even though I told them that they did not need to do that) and took out an ad in the paper thanking us for the use of the building. Seems they were just "focused" on that Wednesday. :)


It was nice of them though. I guess I should have waited before slandering them on this blog (good thing not too many people read it). :)


Stay tuned for another story where I learned something I needed to - the hard way -coming tomorrow (Or maybe in a day or two. The plague is sweeping through our household - I am the only one left standing so far - so we will see).

A life lesson learned

So I learned something yesterday......


Do not leave fifteen 65 year old Pro-life women standing outside your church building in the rain. In fact, if you have done that, it may be best not to stop to let them in - just keep driving right by the building and pretend that you do not see them. Trust me, it is for your own good!


We agreed to host the "Pro-life Soup and Sandwich Fund-raising lunch" yesterday, so I told the ladies that I would be here at 8:30 to let them in the building. Well, I got caught behind a train, so I did not show up until 8:40....... you should have seen it!!! Here are all these old ladies running all over the place - trying every door on the building - looking up and down the street - shaking their heads...... I thought they were going to start smashing the windows and lighting bonfires or something.... they were worked up!!!! :)


Anyway - I opened the door and it was like opening the flood gates on a dam.... they went rushing in like I had just pulled the plug in a sink! They ran all over the place - charged into my office and took it over with their coats, purses, boxes.... it was completely bizarre!


Then they started making sandwiches and they were scrapping and arguing with one another ("No that is too much mayonnaise!"... "That coffee is too strong", etc, etc).


After the lunch - they just bailed out. No "Thank you" no "It was very nice of you to allow us to use your building" - nothing! They just left..... it was sort of like a big snowstorm that just rolled in and then rolled out and was gone.


I survived the storm though. Good thing they are "Pro-life" - I may have been in real trouble otherwise! :)