Second from First

Moving Day

2008-07-29T18:57:00.001-06:00

This blog is moving to http://gracehappens.wordpress.com
come on by.

Pictures from Riding Mountain

2008-07-27T20:41:00.002-06:00

Here are some of our favorite shots from Riding Mountain National Park.

Serenade

2008-07-27T19:17:00.000-06:00

On Friday night, our second last night camping, a group of young German Mennonite women took the campsite next to us. We were sitting around the fire when the two carloads pulled in. You could hear their laughter and shrieks of joy as they entered the campsite. Their laughter continued as they tried to set up their tent in near darkness. Two of the young women came over and asked if we had a hammer or something that they could use to pound their tent pegs in with. Yes, Alan had brought a hammer, plus other tools, just in case. They were very appreciative and finished getting their site put together. They brought back the hammer and then they all climbed into their tent and proceeded to fill the night air with laughter and more shrieks.

They left early the next morning and did not return until late Saturday night. Alan and I were getting ready to go to bed when these young women started singing in 5 part harmony. It was absolutely glorious!! To be serenaded to sleep with songs that sounded like hymns or folk songs was absolutely wonderful. It was a perfect way to fall asleep.

This morning we were once again treated to the sounds of their voices. We were taking down our campsite and it sounded like they were having a worship service in their tent. We were brought into their worship through the gift of their song; young women’s voices joining in with the rest of creation to praise God’s name. Perfect.

Memories

2008-07-27T19:16:00.000-06:00

Wait!...There it is. Where??
No. Wait! There it is again! Did you see it?
What is it?
Is it a star? I don’t think so….
Is it a fire ember floating through the trees???
I’m not sure…….There it is again! Did you see it?
What is it?

At dusk we chase them; my cousins and I. We run through the grass clutching our glass mason jar in one hand and the lid in the other. We grasp at the air or crouch near the ground in the hope to catch our prize. The prize? Fireflies!! Little nondescript fliers who by day are mousy coloured and drab but at night dazzle and trick the eyes of those who watch them when their abdomens ends light up as if by magic.

I caught one!! My cousins gather around me and we pass the glass jar around; each of us marveling at the firefly as though it were one of the Seven Wonders of the World. To us who had never seen them they were a marvel. A miracle even! They filled us with wonderment. How do they do that, that lighting up bit? Does it hurt them? Why do they do that?

I caught one too!! my cousin exclaimed. There were so many of these fireflies. It made your eyes dizzy to watch them! Each cousin caught a twinkling bug, some were lucky enough to catch two or three in their jar. One by one we lined up our captive fireflies in their glass mason jars on the porch railing of my grandparent’s house. We sat transfixed on the porch swing and chairs watching with our grandpa the efforts of our quest. We sat in still and quiet amazement. We feared moving or saying too much lest these beautiful fireflies would quit lighting up. All that was ever said was an odd “Oooo” or a quiet “Wow”. Watching their abdomens light up was like watching miniature fireworks. It was a magnificent display.

This night too they were putting on a magnificent display. In the tops of the trees I could see them twinkling; at other times they looked like falling stars. Alan and I went and stood out on the road and as we gazed up we were treated to a magnificent display of firefly fireworks.

Before we went to bed, my cousins and I would unscrew the lids off the mason jars to let the fireflies go. We would say goodnight to each one as it flew off. I remember thanking them in my head for the beautiful show and asked them to forgive me if I had hurt them.

Alan and I crawled into bed tired after a lovely day. I unzipped the canvas so I could look through the screen up to the treetops and stars. I could see them twinkling in the tree tops; their little abdomens blinking in the night. As I had done as a child I once again thanked the fireflies for the beautiful show and now I thanked them for the memories of times gone by. They twinkled their answer to me.

I should have known......

2008-07-27T19:12:00.001-06:00

I had seen them on our walks but was not sure what exactly they were. I knew enough not to eat fruit from bushes if I didn’t know what it was. I must admit I felt kind of like Eve in the Garden. The fruit looked so good. The branches of the bushes hung heavy with ripening fruit, they swayed in the breeze and played coy with me. Looking at those bushes made my mouth water. I thought, “One taste wouldn’t hurt anything. Would it?” Then I saw her.

She was standing before one of the bushes popping the fruit into her mouth as though they were candy. She looked like a child eating blue licorice ice cream; her face and hands were covered in blue. I stood watching her for a moment before I realized that my mouth was open and I was staring in disbelief. I was agog at this grown woman yanking the precious fruit off the branches and stuffing them into her mouth, like a greedy child grabbing all the candy.

I slowly approached her. I was not sure if she noticed me watching her. Perhaps she didn’t’ care. They way she was attacking the bush she seemed uncontrollably intoxicated by the fruit. She seemed wild; mad with such fervor for the fruit!

I stood watching her from a short distance and then I got up enough courage to ask her what it was she eating. Approaching her from the side, because you never want to use the element of surprise with an unknown intoxicated person, I said, “Gee, those look really good! What are those?” She stopped, turned, and looked at me with her eyes wide. Those eyes of her were wild!! Apparently, from the look I received I did not understand the severity of the situation. I thought, “Oh dear Lord, I’m a gonner. She is going to kill me here and now.” This woman with the wild eyes and covered in blue fruit explained the situation in one word, “Saskatoons!!!!”

Thanking her and backing away slowly I walked quickly back to campsite and exclaimed to Alan that the fruit on the bushes were Saskatoons. Gathering up a container and beckoning him to help me harvest some of the berries I ventured out to gather some of those coy little berries.

Alan and I must have spent at least half an hour gathering Saskatoons. Our hands were blue and sticky from the delicate fruit. The berries were so beautiful and ripe that they literally fell off and burst at the slightest touch. So delicious!!! We gathered enough for a pie within that half hour. Would you like your slice a la mode???

Stones and Sunsets

2008-07-27T19:11:00.000-06:00

The quietness makes my ears ring. At night there is not a sound. Everything and everyone is quiet as though they are experiencing something very holy. Perhaps it is just that sleep after a day filled with fresh air and playing makes a person tired and sleep is a welcome gift.

We have spent the last couple of days taking walks, reading, sleeping, and enjoying the campground. We had to take a run into Riverton to pick up a few groceries. On the way there we stopped at the old quarry by the edge of the lake. The stones there are great for skipping across the water: flat, smooth, and thin. Perfect. I picked up a couple of stones to add to my growing collection. My Aunt Lois from Kansas gave me a beautiful stone which, I think, is from Kansas. I have stones from BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan and now Manitoba. If you ever come to visit us bring us a stone to add to the collection.

Alan is a sunset junkie. He takes the most beautiful pictures of sunsets. We watched the sun set while we were sitting on a picnic table on Sunset Beach. After the sun set Alan and I tried to skip rocks on the water. I don’t have the knack for that but Alan does. it is all in the motion of the wrist. right……apparently I don’t have the right wrist action because my stones plop into water. His on the other hand merrily skip across the water. It is great to see!

Hecla

2008-07-27T19:10:00.000-06:00

Hoooeeee! that was some thunderstorm last night!!! The heavens were really rockin! But we all survived including Holly. By mid morning it had quit raining and the sun beating down on the roads created steam. It really is a neat effect. Today is the last day of Provincial Park weekend. That means there was no entry fee to get in all weekend. All the weekend campers will be going home today. It should be nice and quiet all week. I am really looking forward to that.

We took a short hike to Sunset Beach to check out the dog safe beach. Lovely sand but there were so many dead fishflies – YUCK!!! And of course the dogs have to roll in them – eeeewww gross, gross, gross. It would be much easier having a cat! I put them in the lake to wash off after their little roll in the sand. They were not too impressed but I was not impressed with them either! They dried off on the treck home and didn’t smell all that bad.

After supper we put the baskets on the bikes and went for a bike ride. The dogs handled it very well. The roads here are so smooth not pocked and bumpy like our city streets. We made a fire and then drifted off into sweet dreams. ZZZZZZzzzzzz………

Rebel...addendum

2008-07-18T22:10:00.002-06:00

My apologies to my dearest husband who made a comment about my Rebel with a Cause blog. He mentioned that I had not included how upset he was with me for burning the book. For those of you who thought my actions went unnoticed....he noticed.... and yes, he was rather upset. He said he wanted to read it and now because I had burned the book he did not have a chance read it.

Sorry darling, but what's a rebel to do????

The Return Home - Part One

2008-07-18T22:07:00.001-06:00

Holidaze – Day 5

Alan, the furkids, and I returned home today from Riding Mountain. We had tried to extend our stay by a day but the site we were in was booked for the weekend. Ah well. Maybe it was just as well. It has been nice to come home to our own bed and the comforts of home. Although, I really like our hardtop trailer. It has a fridge (a small one), a sink, a stove and lots of storage space and seating areas. It is quite comfy but sometimes, especially when it is wet and cold it is nice to be in our own home. Frank Sinatra has a song that goes something like “Its very nice to go traveling, but its nice, oh so nice to come home.” My sentiments, indeed!!

However, we are off wondering again tomorrow; this time up to Hecla Island Provincial Park. I’ll catch up with you when we come back and will share some pictures of our escapades. Until then…

Rebel with a cause

2008-07-18T16:43:00.001-06:00

Holidaze – Day 4

It is official.

I….am….a…..book burner (gasp!!!) Can someone please pick the librarian up off the floor???? Thank you.

Yes. I am a rebel. I tore apart a book…. I admit it. It felt so good to do it!

I tore it apart not because it was heresy but because I was bored by it and I needed fodder for the pitiful fire. I was trying to read A Prayer for Owen Meany. It was really good up until the middle then it went down hill and I was having a hard time staying involved in it. Sorry John Irving, your book did not do it for me.

After a while I thought to myself, “Self, why must I waste my time trying to read this??? Surely there are other books I brought in my pack that would capture my attention?” And yes, yes there were. So…into the fire page by page it went.

I am such a rebel and proud of it.

It's Raining Bears

2008-07-18T16:42:00.000-06:00

Holidaze – Day 3

It began sometime during the night; the sound of rain on the roof of the trailer and the rumblings of thunder, waking us up from the sweetness of sleep. We were worried about our girl dog – she is scared of loud noises and thunder I would believe, falls into that category. We found her crouched at the back of the trailer trying to get her nose as far into a corner as she could possibly go. We decided to give her a Gravol so she would relax. We got that pill down her throat without much disagreement – I sure am glad I have dogs. They are so much easier to give pills to than a cat. Anyway after we got the pill into her we made a nest/cave for her under the setae and then we all went back to bed. Spoiled you say?? Definitely!

So we slept the four of us till mid morning – what else is there to do when it is thundering and raining? We realized in listening to the rain that we hadn’t got the plastic up yet so after a cup of coffee and putting the kids out to pee we got to work rigging up the plastic walls. We got it done and it kept the rains out nicely. We finally ate some breakfast/lunch and then decided to go into town - what else is there to do when it is raining? We were trundling around the shops in Clear Lake when Alan and I recognized a woman I used to know through Beta Sigma Phi in Regina. We were looking at the trinkets and I kept hearing this woman’s voice and I thought I recognized it. It wasn’t until she rounded the corner that I knew who that voice belonged to: Deanna Owens. What a small world. We had a nice chat and then saying our goodbyes continued on our shopping trip.

Some time later we get back to the site and as we are getting our things out of the car the security people arrive and tell us once again that a bear has been sighted very near our site – great, just great – I hate bears.
Because there have been so many bears in and around the campground we have had to keep all of our food stuff in our truck. I know this is just good camping practice – it keeps the bears safer but man is it a pain in the “you know where”. We can’t even leave our teapot out! And with the rain it was just a lot of hassle. Plus my anxiety was increased because every movement I saw in the bush I thought was a bear. My hubby deserves a medal for putting up with me. He is not afraid of bears. Lucky for him. He has told me numerous times of a platoon survival camp he was involved in. He had to sleep in the jeep with his bare feet hanging out. He was awakened by a bear licking the salt off his feet. So….he has been up close and personal with a bear but not me. No thank you!

Day 2

2008-07-18T16:40:00.000-06:00

Holidaze - Day 2

Not too much going on today - it was our collapse day. We slept in and had a leisurely breakfast and then after another sleep we went into Clear Lake and spent some time on the grassy area near the beach. We read, slept, drank cappuccino, visited with passing dogs and their owners. All in all it was a dogs day!!
On our way back to the campsite we went to a town called Onanoll (yes it is on the knoll of a hill – hooee!! someone was very creative with this name!) We stopped at the Home Hardware and got plastic to line the add-on room; the forecast was calling for rain and then we stopped and purchased some wood for the fire at the Friends of Clear Lake Wood project. Man what terrible wood it was! Wet Wet Wet! Alan and I spent most of our fire-side time after supper fanning the flames to keep it hot enough to burn. We were looking forward to spending a nice quiet evening by the fire but instead we had to work for every bit of flame there was! Grrrrr. The fire pit design itself does not allow much air to get into the box. So after giving up on it and letting it die down, which did not take long, we went to bed. Nights here are chilly but once we are under the covers it is ok. I wish I had brought a toque. It seems silly to sleep with a toque on in the middle of summer but it really is cool. I think a more appropriate term would be it is cold. Certainly not the hot nights of July we have had some years!

Day 1

2008-07-18T16:39:00.000-06:00

Holidaze - Day 1

We slept in to 1030!!! Holy Cow! We never do that! But it was so good to sleep. I don’t give my body enough sleep, obviously. Alan and I ate a late breakky thing and then we set up the add-on screen room to the trailer. Once that was done we went to pick up a couple of things we had forgotten (Murphy’s Law) and then came back to start supper – hamburgers served with mushroom, spinach and garlic sauté. Alan’s sister Pat made us some desserts – that was so nice of her. Then after supper and doing the dishes we went on a “honk”. This word ”honk” has been in my family for years. Every night for two weeks at Shuswap Lake Campground in BC Mum, Dad, Rachel, and I after supper would go for a leisurely walk around the campground. The “honk” would inevitably end up at the corner store where we would pick up an ice cream treat. We would spend time visiting with people there and getting to know the store managers – my Dad liked to do this. Then we would meander back to our site and light a fire.
This is what Alan and I did too. Although we didn’t get to go to the ice cream store we had a lovely “honk” down by the lake and around the town. We came back and lit a pithy fire – the wood was to green – and were in bed by 2300. A lovely day..

The getaway

2008-07-18T16:37:00.000-06:00

Holidaze 2008

So we got away at somewhere around the 1600 time after finishing packing all our gear in to trailer and double checking to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything. We arrived in Riding Mountain National Park about 1930. The park is beautiful and upon first glance we were very glad we had chosen to come here.

We get our campsite and are traveling around the bend where our site is located. A guy and what looks to be his son flag our truck down. “Just to let you know,” he says in a hushed tone, “a bear just went across the road.” Oh great, a bear. Nothing freaks me out more when camping than bears, or even just the thought of bears. Images fill my mind about the bear in The Clan of the Cave Bear ripping peoples heads off. I know this is a bit extreme and would probably never happen but the possibility is there, I’m sure! Although when I was younger our family had a couple of experiences with bears up in Loop Creek at the top of Rodgers Pass in BC. One time the bear tried to get into the tent trailer and its snout was coming through the canvas. My Mum was clanging pans together and My Dad took a cast iron frying pan and swung it like a baseball bat. It hit the bear smack on nose – we could hear it yelping as it ran away. So from that time on I have been very afraid of bears.

When Alan and I hear this news about the bear being in such close proximity to us Alan turns and looks at me; my face must have told him a thousand things. He asks, “You going to be ok with this?” It takes me a minute or so to answer as I am mentally weighing out the pros and cons of the situation (my husband deserves a medal for all the mental waiting with me he has to put up with) but finally I say it will be fine. We scope out our site and get things set up and fall into bed exhausted from the expectation and the realization that we are actually on holidays!!!!! Yay!

It is so close I can almost taste it

2008-07-12T23:16:00.003-06:00

Freedom!!!! I predict it will happen at 1136 am tomorrow. Not that I am great at predictions, they are usually wrong. but I figure after I get out of my garb from church and head out the door then it is holiday time. Am I excited??? Nooooooooo. Only a teensy bit! HA!
Tomorrow is a bittersweet day again. It will be the last time for almost a year that I will not be worshiping with my home parish here. I am preaching tomorrow and have not said anything about leaving on internship - I think for my self preservation I shouldn't - I am a mushface after all.
Peace to y'all who read this. I am leaving for some well deserved R&R for almost three weeks.

On with life

2008-07-11T05:33:00.005-06:00

It has finally arrived. The final day of CPE!!! I am so glad it is here but I am ready to have a break. I think I have said this before - perhaps a few times, eh? I know, I know, its been my mantra lately! What an amazing journey this has been. I have grown so much over the past 11 weeks - I am in a completely different space today than I was when CPE began. No doubt part of it is due to just being home and getting reacquainted with the man I love and leaving the stress of seminary behind. I have met three wonderful people who have made the CPE journey a positive experience, my two peers and my supervisor. So today is bittersweet because I need to say goodbye to some patients who have welcomed me into their journey of healing and dying. I also need to say farewell to some of the staff who have been instrumental on this journey. Then it's on with life! I can't wait for the rest of the journey.

I dont' get it

2008-07-09T20:47:00.003-06:00

I don't get it. Actually I am very frustrated by it. Maybe someone out there is cyberspace can help me with this - I have been trying to add to my list of blogs I like to visit. It will not let me add Kristen Steele's Canadian Lutheran Chick blog. I dont' get it...Anyone else have trouble with that. I looked on a couple of the other blogs I visit and they have it so WHY WHY WHY won't it go on mine....help.

Dogs in the baskets

2008-07-09T20:22:00.003-06:00

Well....Alan and I decided we would try the dogs in basket thing again. Check it out. This time Holly did not try to get out she sat very well. Her harness worked well. Perhaps she was so scared she couldn't move even if she had wanted to!! When we went for the ride I didn't go that fast. I really hope she will tolerate it when we go out for a real ride. We will try her again tomorrow. Here are some pictures from this....man, my kids are cute - perhaps I am biased a teensy bit???? hmmmm???

Speaking of tomorrow - it is my last full day of CPE. I cannot believe that this course has ended. I have a lot of things to mull over in my mind about CPE. The stories I have heard; the lives I have been welcomed to share in; the tears I have wiped away; the laughter - it has been an extremely enriching experience. But I am really ready to move on. After our holiday my internship begins. I am soooo ready for that!!

I am procrastinating doing my sermon prep for this Sunday. I had a great visit with my niece, took the dogs for a walk, met my neighbors, helped Alan find stuff to pack the trailer with....yah, procrastination, isn't it great!

Are we there yet?

2008-07-07T18:26:00.002-06:00

I am getting so excited! only 4 more days to go and then I will be done, done, done with CPE. Not that I haven't enjoyed the experience it has been great. I really feel for those who have had a less than wonderful CPE experience. But I have to tell you I am really ready for a break. Alan and I are leaving Sunday afternoon to go into the wilderness for some R&R. I hope that it won't rain too much. Camping in the rain with two wet dogs is not my idea of a fun holiday. Ah well, we will keep our fingers crossed.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

2008-07-05T18:50:00.002-06:00

Today Alan and I decided that we would try and find a basket that would attach to our bikes so...ok, don't laugh....I know you will anyway....we have been looking for baskets to transport our dogs when we go on bike rides on our holiday. See I knew you would laugh!!
Anyhooo...we did find one and Alan rigged up a harness attachment that would keep them in the basket. We were quite surprised that both of our fur kids tolerated the experience. So I guess the saying is true - you can teach an old dog new things! I will try and get a picture on here so you can see them in the basket. It really is kinda cute.

I can't believe it! Only one more week to go until its R&R time. I am really looking forward to pitching our tent and doing nothing - absolutely nothing for about two weeks, that is except reading, writing, and sleeping! Yay!

Crash and the Nightmare

2008-06-26T06:33:00.002-06:00

I have just read this mornings' paper about the car that created mayhem in downtown Winnipeg yesterday. Can you imagine what it would have been like for those people who's life changed in a blink of an eye because someone else chose to act a certain way? Our lives can and do change in the blink of an eye and we forget this. One minute we can be walking across the street and the next - poof!- we are dead. Our loved ones have to deal with the nightmare that comes next. People's lives changed in a blink.

Doing the CPE thing has made me more cognizant that the line between life and death is often just a blink. It amazes me that at one instant you can be living and the next you are not. No fanfare, no fireworks, nothing except a holy moment. But death can also be visceral, earthy and bloody like the deaths that happened yesterday in downtown Winnipeg. Where is God in all of this? Does God care about the suffering of people? Why doesn't God do something? My instant response is God does care, God is here and God does help us.
Jesus was with the disciples in the boat as it was tossed about on the lake (Mark 3:1-4). It was a nightmare for them. They were scared and wanted Jesus to do something to help them. The disciples trusted that Jesus would calm the storm that was happening in their life. Jesus does the same for us. When the unexpected storms rise up out of nowhere Jesus says "peace be still". The promise is that Jesus is with us in our storms. He does not abandon ship but stays with us to help us weather the storms. Jesus brings us peace, calmness because we are cared for.
My prayer is for the families of the victims of yesterday's crash - all of them not just those who died, even for those who caused the crash and my prayer is for all of us who are experiencing our own storms and nightmares that we may be reminded that Jesus is with us calming the stormy seas and the winds that toss us about.
"Peace be still".

I will try this again

2008-06-25T21:05:00.002-06:00

Yes, I realize that it is nearly 6 months since my last post. Incredible isn't it? I must be the worst blogger ever. But hey, I need to be good at something eh?

I cannot believe that I am half way through my training towards becoming a pastor. It seems only yesterday I was leaving to begin my studies. I am constantly amazed by this journey. Right now I am finishing up my CPE training at the Victoria General here in Winnipeg. What an amazing experience this has been. All the horror stories I have heard about CPE have been grossly overstated. I have found it to be a truly rewarding and growing time. My supervisor calls me an adrenaline junkie - Heh heh!

At this time of year there are many invitations to the seniors ordinations as they receive calls to serve in parishes...it leaves me wondering where Alan and I will be when I finish in 2010. Isn't that something 2010! Seems like such a weird number and sooooo far away. but it will be here sooner than we know it.

I will try and keep up with this blog for the next 2 weeks. Lets see how I do with that shall we? Talk to you soon.

Seems like I have fallen off the edge of the world!

2007-11-25T22:16:00.000-06:00

Yikes! it was brought to my attention by a very good friend (you know who you are!)that it has been a substantial amount of time since my last post. The thing is I keep meaning to post something and then I get swept up in the rapture of reading Isaiah and doing what seems like ten thousand different things. I am a total squacker when it comes to blogging.
However.....to make up for it I am including a link so you can see pictures of a service we had at the seminary when the National Bishop Susan Johnson was visiting. Check it out: http://thelorax.smugmug.com/gallery/3473425#P-1-15
Bishop Susan was here for the Board of Directors meeting on the long weekend of November. Bishop Elaine got quite the razzing from the other bishops as most of us from MNO synod were in the library on Saturday when they were meeting. Elaine took it in good sport!
Anyway, that is all for now - I am trying to get seven projects finished up in the next two weeks - wish me luck!
hugs - me

Memories of Carrots

2007-09-28T21:21:00.000-06:00

Is it true what they say (whoever they are) that the amount of love you had for someone is based on the number of memories you have of them? I don't believe this. I think those who believe this are completely misunderstanding the concept of love and the relatonship love has to memories. Does the fact I don't have a whole lot of memories of my Dad mean that I did not love him much? I don't think so.

While I don't have memories of lots of interaction with him what I do have are memories of things associated with him. Such as garden sweet carrots, freshly washed and drying on newspaper under the train layout. My memory takes me back to a time when Dad taught me how to plant the carrot seeds and cover them with enough soil (but no too much) and to care for the living plants in God's creation.

I am sitting in what used to my Dad's study. Mum, Alan and I have changed things around so it is more conducive to Mum's and my liking, but sitting in this chair I am reminded of all the hours Dad used to sit in it. Dad used to write me letters when I had lived away from home. Knowing he took time out of his busy day to write me a couple of lines and include a "little something" meant the world to me. So, letters remind me of him.

Thanks Dad for the memories of sweet garden carrots, trains and letters.

Snapshots of the beginning of Seminary 2007

2007-09-28T00:05:00.000-06:00

The Pictures here are of President Ogilvie and myself leading opening worship at orientation. Grapes from Mum's backyard. The three angels of seminary!!! and Theology 431

Sinners Breakfast Club

2007-09-27T23:35:00.001-06:00

Thursday is the day we sinners get together in true Lutheran style: up early (at the crack of dawn) sharing a good cup of coffee and stimulating conversation over a meal. This is our Sinners Breakfast Club and it happens every Thursday at local restaurants around Saskatoon that are open at the crack of dawn to feed hungry theologians and sinners!!!

Summer pics

2007-09-20T23:53:00.001-06:00

Alan and I goofing around at the Explore! Manitoba pavillion at the Forks
Picture #2 Loreen and Barbara checking out the handpainted wolves at the Forks. They came for a visit on the August long weekend. Picture #3 Loreen and Jenn enjoying each other's company. Picture #4 The three amigo's!!!!!

pictures - test

2007-09-20T23:45:00.000-06:00

OK. here is a test of an uploaded picture.

Not sure what to call this......

2007-09-20T23:18:00.000-06:00

Well, here we are at the end of week two. My head is swimming with Dogmatic's, trying to figure out how to explain the Holy Spirit, Isaiah, and exegesis!!!! I am ready for a quiet weekend of reading and writing.

This evening before I came home I attended a talk by the missionary from the Etheopian Lutheran Church on the place of women in the church of Etheopia and Female Genital Mutilation, a huge problem in that country, and other harmful traditions and how they are working with government leaders, pastors and health workers to educate the people and turn the tide on these harmful traditions. Very interesting to hear how things are in her culture and also to hear the discussion between her and the men from the Sudan in our class. I had heard of FGM from a National Geographic article some years ago. The images in the article still haunt my memory.

I hope you are all well and settling into the fall routines. I will try and get some pictures up on this site by next week to show you what is happening and what has happened here at the seminary and in my life.

Peace to you......

It's Official!!

2007-09-14T17:01:00.000-06:00

It's official folks, our cross cultural immersion trip for 2008 is taking us to Madagascar. That is so amazing and terrifying all at the same time. We leave from Saskatoon on January 3rd and arrive in Antananarivo on January 4th. This is so exciting. I am looking forward to experiencing something like I have never known before.

Our first week of classes has finally come to a close. Only 11 more to go in this term, but who's counting!! We are trying a new thing in chapel this year with the introduction of International Vespers on Thursday. This week we had African Vespers, next week is Asian, the following week is South American and then it is North American followed by a pot luck (how lutheran!). I had hoped to share with you some photos from this frist International Vesper service but I am trying to figure out how to resize them from such a huge file to something a bit more managable for the computer. Bear with me, I will get it figured out sooner or later.

Blessings!

My apologies to Larry

2007-09-11T17:30:00.000-06:00

Well, yes here I am on my knees.....it has been qutie a time since I have entered a post. To you Larry, I apologize. What can I say except that well I dropped off the edge of the world! But.....I am back. It is a new year of seminary; one filled with many opportunities for growth.
I am now in second year - or middler as we are known here - and it is interesting watching the entering students find their way and greeting the returning interns who are both glad to be back and wishful for this year to be over. I wonder if that is how I will feel when my turn comes.

Summer was good, although I found that I pushed myself to hard. I was trying to do a reading course and recouperate from such an eventful first year. By August my body and mind gave up. My Academic Advisor here calls it a delayed reaction from Dad's death. All I know is that I burned out, well that in conjunction with an impacted wisdom tooth that required surgery and large doses of antibiotics all set me back. But, grace abounds here and for that I am grateful.

Yes, it is a new year and as Arnold Schwartzneger (I am not really sure how to spell his name) says......" I'll be back!"

We are almost there!!!

2007-04-25T11:11:00.000-06:00

Hoo Whee!! I can't believe this year is just about over. It is incredible. I feel like the year has just begun in so many ways. I feel like I am just getting into the groove of seminary life. It has been an interesting year and a life giving one too.
Right now I am trying to finish up a theological brief for Theology 1 and then it is on to a paper for Narrative Hermeneutics and finally a paper on the Sacrament of the Altar (my favorite subject). With the end of the year so close it is hard to focus on what I need to do - thoughts of going home permeate my brain quite often!
Only 6 more days and I will be back to my home and my man...oh yeah and the furkids too. I can't wait!!! Anyway must go and write.

Are we there yet?

2007-04-15T16:08:00.000-06:00

Well, i realized that I haven't been keeping up with this blog and my humblest apologies goes out to anyone who checks this on a regular basis - that would be you Larry.
I am dumbfounded that the end of school is fast approaching. I can't believe it!! I am procrastinating working on a theology paper becasue I keep finding much more interesting things to do. I can not wait for term to be over.

It's an interesting time right now at the sem. Emotions are really high as people are realizing that life is changing for them. The fourth year's are preparing for graduation and calls to parishes, the second year's are getting ready to go on internship, and we first year's are readying ourselves for CPE placements or finding jobs or taking the summer language classes. In our Friday morning Narrative Hermeneutics class the presenters were all emotional as they (myself included) were coming to terms with the impending changes. My biggest change for next year is I am moving in with my mother. She gave me an offer I couldn't refuse and besides, I like my mother - we get along well and understand each other. Now, telling my friends that I had change plans on them was a different matter. They were understanding saying I had to do what I had to do but really I felt bad that I had let them down because we had been planning to move in together for a whole year now. I hope that somehow they will forgive me. So this is my public confession.

Anyhow, I am looking forward to returning home and resting in May. If I don't post until I get home please don't think I am lazy or stupid - I have 5 more big assignments left to do in two weeks - so go easy on me eh?

God's Beauty in Creation

2007-03-01T13:09:00.000-06:00

The other day I was struck by the beauty of the hoar frost on the trees. So being the shutterbug I am I took some pictures. Enjoy!

Mardi Gras in Toon Town

2007-02-25T09:40:00.000-06:00

Well don't we look divine!!! We at the Seminary celebrated Mardi Gras on Tuesday. It was a joint celebration between the three seminaries on the U of S campus.

We had tons of fun - great music (complete witht the chicken dance!! My friend Jim was the King of the Chicken Dance - he put in moves I never knew existed!)
dancing, laughing, good food and drinks - a great way to start off Lent.

We have one more week to go of classes and then we get a week off for reading, rest and relaxation. I can't wait to be back home!!!

The silence is broken!!

2007-02-12T21:48:00.000-06:00

I realized that I have not posted for about two weeks now. The silence of no voice seems to have affected my typing skills too!!
But good news!! My dr. says that I am able to resume speaking - albeit gently and to ease into singing. I am so happy as is my voice teacher and choir director at the seminary. I hope all of you are well and have not succumbed to the winter nasties.

Classes are well under way. This term is really hard - yes that is a good word for it. It has shown me just what all I don't know. Humbling to say the least but good opportunities for growing.

I have been asked by our Dean of Chapel if I would consider taking on one of the sacristan positions. I accepted and am looking forward to my new job. It doesn't pay but it is well worth the experience. Understanding how Altar Guild works and what is needed to keep the house in order is important incase you have to do it yourself in the real. Besides, I really enjoy doing altar linens and polishing silver - I don't think its for everyone but I enjoy it.

We are getting ready for the LTS annual open house this weekend. It will be great to meet the potential incoming students for next year - my girlfriend Amber from Winnipeg will be attending - she and I plan to live together next year. I am looking forward to that :) The open house gives incoming students a chane to meet the profs, current students, and see what the lay of the land is.

The following week will be the 1st Annual Mardi Gras party at St. Andrews Campus here in town. We share classes with the St. A's students and it seemed only right to have a party together. Anyone else having a party???

Well, I think that is all the news for now. I get to see Alan for a few hours this weekend. Woo hoo! I really miss him and all the silly daily stuff of life. I can't wait for this term to be over so I can be back home.

Until I write again,
J

First week is done

2007-01-28T10:38:00.000-06:00

Well, the first week of our winter term is through. I am really looking forward to this term - several of us are calling it the 'meat and potato' term - we are such praire people aren't we?!! I am taking four classes: The Lutheran Confessions, Theology 1, Intro to the New Testament and Narrative Hermeneutics.

You may ask what on earth is Narrative Hermeneutics ( I know I did)!! It is simply understanding what is happening when a story is being told. Pastors tell stories - biblical or otherwise - the key is fully understanding what is happening when you tell the story that makes an impact or a connection to people. A very effective tool for ministry.

My story telling is rather limited right now as my laryngitis has come back with a vengance. My dr. put me on some strong antibiotics. I don't usually like taking things like that but it just wouldn't go. The hardest thing is is that I am also on complete voice rest. No talking (very limited c. 5 min per hour) and no singing in order to allow my voice to heal. So February will be a silent month. Maybe that is good in a way. Sometimes I think (forgive me if I sound bit philisophical here) we place too much stress on filling the silence of our lives with noise. We are uncomfortable with it. We are not sure what to make of the silence. What do you think?

Peace to you all.
silent sam signing off for now.

Heading Back to Saskatchewan

2007-01-21T09:43:00.000-06:00

Today is a bittersweet day for me. I find leaving my husband, home and pets and returning to Saskatoon hard, but it is filled with anticipation too. Such mixed feelings....sigh. I have enjoyed my time at home immensly! It was good to reconnect with people either in person or on the phone. I remember when I would go home to Mum and Dad's for a break at the holidays, invariably I would end up being sick...poor Dad would say "You only come home so we can look after you!!" ummm...YUP! that is how it felt this holiday. I battled from some sort of virus that Alan and I kept sharing. I lost my voice (which I think ALan secretly enjoyed!) and did enormous amounts of sleeping and reading. Come home to be looked after?? ummm.....YUP!

So tomorrow is the first day of classes for the winter term. I will look forward to hearing about the adventures of Peru from my classmates who went on the cross-cultural trip Jan 3-20th. I am also looking forward to hitting the books again. This term we are getting into the 'meat and potato' of our faith. A good meal for sure!!

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. It means the world to me. Blessings.

Here it is!

2007-01-14T20:13:00.000-06:00

Well, like I said in my opening I finally decided to get with the tech age and create a web log!! Woo hoo! Maybe now I can loose the moniker of 'technopeasant'....big smile...I really wanted to create this for you, so I can keep you up to date on my life at LTS.

Alan gave me a digital camera for Christmas and I thought I would use it to share events in my life. That way, even though I am many miles away we can still remain connected.......Now all I have to do is figure out how to down load the pictures from my camera onto the computer and we will be all set!!!
Until next time....Peace to you.