Friends… Wednesday, Oct 24 2007

I had lunch yesterday with my awesome friend Stacey.  She always makes me laugh with her directness.  You  never have to worry about knowing what she thinks as she says it “like it is”.  No unspoken agenda for her.  She is so refreshing.  So many times in life there are unsaid or unwritten agendas taking place behind your back and one day you wake up to a world you never anticipated.  We can get caught up in our own little world and lose perspective.  Today I need to see a bigger world picture.  I am not sure which window to look out to see this bigger world! 

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Rest… Monday, Oct 15 2007

Today I put into practice another Sabbath day.  My chest infection is into its 4th week and is still giving me some grief.  I worked some long days this week, so decided to take a day to reflect and be quiet.  I reread some of the chapters in the book by Ron Rolheiser “The Holy Longing”.  It is probably one of the best books I have read in the last year.  I reread the chapter on the “Paschal Mystery” and how it can become part of our daily life.  He talks about how we need embrace small deaths in our life every day and by embracing them we then have the capacity and strength to embrace new life and a new spirit for that new life.  Just some good thoughts about the reality of living real life and not remaining in some daydream world.  I also began reading a book on “Jesus through the Centuries”.  A book with a different perspective, but if we only read to affirm what we already know, we will never learn about other views and perspectives…gives me an opportunity to do some critical thinking and be prepared for some good conversations with my good friend Chris Garner.  Good day today!  Tonight we watched “Bad Boys I and II”.  We had some good laughs!

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Sabbath…Seeing my life through the eyes of others Sunday, Oct 7 2007

A couple of thoughts today as I am researching and thinking about exercising a Sabbath in my life on a consistent basis and as I look forward to turning 60 in December, looking at refining who I am by seeing myself through the eyes of others.  I want to finish well!  I don’t want to have blinders on my eyes and end up on the wrong side of the finishing line!

The Sabbath is something I have pondered on for quite some time but haven’t been specific in putting something together for it.  The book I am reading through is “Sabbath” by Wayne Muller, and it is an excellent resource and would highly recommend it.  It is highly practical as well and he gives many examples of what you can do to bring Sabbath about in your lives.  So today is my Sabbath…it is Sunday…I have no responsibilities except to have Thanksgiving dessert with Jordon and Wendy this evening.  Awesome!

Now, I really have no idea who reads this blog, but these are some of the questions I am asking people to give input into my life on…and if you want to do that for me…please email me or give me a phone call…I would be happy to hear from you.  These are the questions:

In knowing me and in your relationship with me, what has your experience been?  What has been positive?  Have I in any way hurt or disappointed you by my actions, words, attitude or behaviour?

What do you see as my greatest strengths?

What areas of my life do I not do well in?

What are some ways I could change or mature in to become a greater influence on the people around me?

What would be some words of wisdom for me?

Where do you see God working the greatest in me and through me?

My desire is to be all that I can be!  In order to be that person, I need to hear from those who know me well and are willing to be honest with me.  Please be gentle!  I do have feelings!

There’s my life update for today!

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Back at work and moving to health… Friday, Oct 5 2007

I went back to work on Tuesday.  Felt so good to be able to go pretty much a whole day without coughing my insides out.  Very busy at work…lots of changes and lots of challenges.  Life has its seasons and we are moving into another season of change at Lakeview.  Not sure how it will come out on the other end, but am trusting that good will come out of all the goings on.  I am continuing to learn lots about myself and working with others.  Life always continues to bring its challenges, and we need to be ready to embrace them and work through them.

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Sick… Tuesday, Sep 25 2007

It has been a long time since I have had this kind of cold/flu/bronchial/asthma stuff that has literally put me out of commission for 4 days.  I spoke to someone today who said I should be patient as it takes 3 to 4 weeks to recover!  Yikes!  That did not sit well with me.  However, if I continue coughing like I am it will be some time before I venture too far.  The only good thing out of all of this, is that I have done some reading and am again into “Buckleys” to try and remedy my cough!

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Back in Business Thursday, Sep 20 2007

We are back from our holiday and I didn’t blog as I forgot how to get into my site to write a new post…left the info at home.  We travelled to Fairmont then on to Langley, B.C. to visit my sister Joanne and her family; then on to Kelowna to visit Steve and Jacqui Acree our good friends; then to Calgary to visit Matt and Jesika and fix some plumbing…that is Jerry and Matt fixed the plumbing…and experiencing the excitement of our grandpuppies, Niko and Grifin, on seeing us again; then on home to Saskatoon Monday evening; then on to work on Tuesday morning.

 We had a great time away.  The weather was absolutely beautiful everywhere we went.  We enjoyed the sun; golfing; eating; reading; visiting; spending 6 hours looking at “fixed up” old cars; listening to some great CDs; enjoying great ice cream; and all the other good things that comes with being away on vacation.

 Sad to come home to some of my beautiful plants frost bitten and hanging limply from the pots…they were so beautiful before leaving.  I am hoping to keeping this blog up-to-date a little more consistently.

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Eventful week… Sunday, Aug 19 2007

Lots of things in the air these days…some great and some not so great…the great being that both Matt and Tamara arrived home safe and sound and we have about 9 days together.  It is so good to have them around and to be able to talk and hug them whenver I want.  They are amazing young adults and we enjoy so much having them around and hearing their perspective on life.  They teach us so much!  Great kids!

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Harry Potter book done… Sunday, Aug 19 2007

Well on Monday afternoon at 5:00 pm I finished the final Harry Potter book and it was well worth the wait and the read.  There were some surprises, but I was happy to know that I did figure out some of the story, although she does a great job on keeping pretty well everything under wraps until the very end of the book.  I thoroughly enjoyed these books and there were so many lessons and great quotes throughout all the books.  All about the choices we make in our lives!  Reminds me of something I used to quote to our kids all the time growing up…”Every choice has a consequence”. 

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Harry Potter - final book Monday, Aug 6 2007

Mason also loaned me the last Harry Potter book which I have begun reading.  I am going to savor every moment of reading…I have heard it is a good book so looking forward to enjoying it immensely!

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Jordyn and Mason wedding… Monday, Aug 6 2007

I officiated at a beautiful wedding yesterday held on the terrace at Louis’ on the university campus.  You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to have a wedding outdoors.  We danced and ate until well after midnight!  It was absolutely amazing.  Jordyn grew up across the street from our house and our daughter Tamara babysat the Friesen children for many years.  They are like a part of our family so to be able to do the wedding for Jordyn and Mason was a privilege.  For me there is always lots of preparation time as I like to make each wedding ceremony special to the couple that is being married.  It was worth every minute of preparation.  Jordyn’s grandfather was a minister and Jordyn’s mother gave me some of his sermons that he had written over the years, and included with those were some wedding ceremonies.  I was able to take parts of his ceremony done many years before and make it part of his grandaughter Jordyn’s ceremony, even though he passed away quite a few years ago.  That made the day very special for Jordyn and her family.  Mason comes from an incredible family as well, and he is just the nicest guy you could meet.  He is also the funniest and most exuberant guy as well!  He loves people and he loves to have fun, to laugh and to dance…which he did alot of!  It was one great amazing weekend with the Friesen and Loy families!

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