Tuesday, 1 September 2020
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
Birthday Dates COVID Style
Birthday dates this year with the grandsons was an opportunity to finally use the Grandparent Paddle-passes we had ordered the children for Christmas. The boys' reactions were so different. Seven-year-old Ellis begged to go closer to the spray of the fountain,
while two days later, nine-year-old Matteo put up his umbrella just in case a few raindrops landed on him.
Fortunately, for this second journey around Bower Ponds, the rain held off beyond a few spits. Awesome to see baby fluff balls swimming with their duck parents
Twenty-one teenaged geese swam with a parent [caregiver?] at each end to keep them in line. A muskrat sat near the bulrushes calmly chewing the fresh green leaves. Grandpa and I couldn't find the nest we had seen the first day, close to the edge of the water.
To avoid sitting in a restaurant, we chose a take-out lunch. It seemed funny to us to eat McDonalds pancakes at home. Grandpa's pancakes are so much better, in my opinion. But these came with their own generous container of pancake syrup, and were eagerly gobbled up by
each boy and Grandpa.
Ellis asked to play at our house with the LEGO, and didn't call it girly LEGO this year. The boys hadn't been over for at least six months, because of our being away, and the isolation situation, so Grandma's LEGO was a novelty again. His imagination took off, and he adapted a cake in the Birthday Party set and set it in front of Teddy, the hero of the latest story for the grandchildren.
Ellis knew Teddy would like to ride down the banister.
Matteo took the entire salon set apart (it being the most complicated set) and put it back together lickety-split. My job was to find pieces, but he usually grabbed them faster than I could find them.
I was impressed that he would run back up three flights of stairs and find our unit by himself, to retrieve his unfinished mango juice.
He knew how to text his parents, on my phone, that he was on his way home. He's growing up fast, and is a tall nine-year old.
When the boys got hungry again, they sampled their uncle's birthday cake, and watched a tall sparkler burn down in the dark of the laundry room.
That was cool, as we didn't see fireworks this year.
Happy birthday, Matteo and Ellis!
 |
| Ellis' day was sunny |
 |
| Matteo's day threatened rain |
while two days later, nine-year-old Matteo put up his umbrella just in case a few raindrops landed on him.
Fortunately, for this second journey around Bower Ponds, the rain held off beyond a few spits. Awesome to see baby fluff balls swimming with their duck parents
 |
| Goldeneye babies rest on the dock |
To avoid sitting in a restaurant, we chose a take-out lunch. It seemed funny to us to eat McDonalds pancakes at home. Grandpa's pancakes are so much better, in my opinion. But these came with their own generous container of pancake syrup, and were eagerly gobbled up by
each boy and Grandpa.
Ellis asked to play at our house with the LEGO, and didn't call it girly LEGO this year. The boys hadn't been over for at least six months, because of our being away, and the isolation situation, so Grandma's LEGO was a novelty again. His imagination took off, and he adapted a cake in the Birthday Party set and set it in front of Teddy, the hero of the latest story for the grandchildren.
 |
| Seven tiny animals gaze up at the tall candle on the cake |
 |
Ellis knew Teddy would like to ride down the banister.
Matteo took the entire salon set apart (it being the most complicated set) and put it back together lickety-split. My job was to find pieces, but he usually grabbed them faster than I could find them.
I was impressed that he would run back up three flights of stairs and find our unit by himself, to retrieve his unfinished mango juice.
He knew how to text his parents, on my phone, that he was on his way home. He's growing up fast, and is a tall nine-year old.
 |
| Matteo |
That was cool, as we didn't see fireworks this year.
Happy birthday, Matteo and Ellis!
Monday, 27 April 2020
Notes from the Bird Whisperer
I
love it when Nature teaches me something about God.
Terry and I were walking along a shaded path at the edge of a
golf course one Spring morning. Birds were just beginning to be
active in Alberta, and we were hoping to add to the Year List we
keep. Since we had recently returned from Arizona, we hoped to list
any local birds which were not necessarily seen down south.
“Chick-a-dee-dee!”
I heard. We stood still to able to see this energetic little bird as
it flitted from branch to branch.
“There
it is!” We had heard that Chickadees are friendly birds, and would
land on an outstretched hand. We decided to try it. Terry stretched
out his arm, and I got my phone into position.
Thrilled
is an understatement when a Black-capped Chickadee actually landed.
“Sorry,
friend, we don't have any seeds.”
It
didn't seem to matter, the Chickadee just sat there, eyeing us
curiously before flying off again.
Further
along the path we spotted Boreal Chickadees, who are found more
commonly in wooded areas.
"Put
out your hand. Let's see if they'll land, too," said Terry.
Sure
enough, a Boreal Chickadee landed on my hand. I could clearly see its
brown head, as opposed to the Black-capped variety. Its round black
eye looked my way as if to say, “I trust you. Don't you have any
seeds for me?”
Terry
was ready with the phone and captured the special moment.
It
was only later that I realized that the Chickadees we encountered
that day were a perfect picture of trust. Fearlessly they came to
perch, to say hello, and potentially to have their needs supplied.
That is what God wants us to do, to simply trust Him as the
Chickadees trusted us.
Monday, 20 April 2020
Requiem for Baby B
When we bought our 2009 Keystone Outback trailer in March, 2010, our principal put the following notice in the school newsletter:
Mr. and Mrs. B. have a new baby.
She is 21 feet long and weighs 4800 lbs.
She arrived last Friday.
A month later, we were accepted into the SOWER ministry, an organization in which those with RVs can travel in US and Canada helping churches, camps, orphanages, Christian schools and other ministries, with whatever they need. This was for the future, we thought, as I wasn't quite ready to retire just yet.
Baby B's maiden "voyage" was couple of weeks after this, as we camped with some fellow teachers at Gull Lake, during a highway clean-up weekend. Terry wondered what on earth we had gotten ourselves into as the snowflakes whirled around us.
"It's May, after all!" he thought.
It's a good thing we experienced this practice run, though, as the trailer battery died (this was before Terry used two batteries for the trailer) and the furnace stopped in the middle of the night. The weekend told us we didn't like camping in the cold.
Our first SOWER experience with Baby B. took place at Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre near Cultus Lake, B.C., in July, 2010. On the whole it was a positive experience, and we enjoyed living in our cute little trailer for three weeks.
Our first fall-winter SOWER stint began in the fall of 2011, at Gospel Rescue Mission, in Tucson, AZ.
After Christmas, we travelled to Texas, Alabama, and all the way to the Florida Keys. Baby B did well. That season was the first of nine seasons of SOWER projects, mostly in California and Arizona.
Baby B also accompanied us to five two-week sessions at Gleaners in the Okanagan, as well as a few summer camping trips.
After we cleaned up the mess in Baby B. after the accident [see previous post], and had to leave her for the last time, I threw my arms around Terry, and cried.
Here's our last view of Baby B. looking back in our rear view mirror, where we left her to her fate, one dull, grey day in March, 2020.
Later, we found out that indeed, Baby B. had died. She had sustained too much damage, and the trailer was written off.
All that's left are wonderful memories.
Thank you, Lord, for the ten years we had together.
We're awaiting the next part of God's plan.
I wonder what the future holds.
We don't know the future, but we know the One who holds the future.
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:19 (NLT)
Mr. and Mrs. B. have a new baby.
She is 21 feet long and weighs 4800 lbs.
She arrived last Friday.
A month later, we were accepted into the SOWER ministry, an organization in which those with RVs can travel in US and Canada helping churches, camps, orphanages, Christian schools and other ministries, with whatever they need. This was for the future, we thought, as I wasn't quite ready to retire just yet.
Baby B's maiden "voyage" was couple of weeks after this, as we camped with some fellow teachers at Gull Lake, during a highway clean-up weekend. Terry wondered what on earth we had gotten ourselves into as the snowflakes whirled around us.
"It's May, after all!" he thought.
It's a good thing we experienced this practice run, though, as the trailer battery died (this was before Terry used two batteries for the trailer) and the furnace stopped in the middle of the night. The weekend told us we didn't like camping in the cold.
Our first SOWER experience with Baby B. took place at Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre near Cultus Lake, B.C., in July, 2010. On the whole it was a positive experience, and we enjoyed living in our cute little trailer for three weeks.
 |
| Fall 2011-setting off for Arizona |
Our first fall-winter SOWER stint began in the fall of 2011, at Gospel Rescue Mission, in Tucson, AZ.
After Christmas, we travelled to Texas, Alabama, and all the way to the Florida Keys. Baby B did well. That season was the first of nine seasons of SOWER projects, mostly in California and Arizona.
Baby B also accompanied us to five two-week sessions at Gleaners in the Okanagan, as well as a few summer camping trips.
After we cleaned up the mess in Baby B. after the accident [see previous post], and had to leave her for the last time, I threw my arms around Terry, and cried.
Here's our last view of Baby B. looking back in our rear view mirror, where we left her to her fate, one dull, grey day in March, 2020.
Later, we found out that indeed, Baby B. had died. She had sustained too much damage, and the trailer was written off.
All that's left are wonderful memories.
Thank you, Lord, for the ten years we had together.
We're awaiting the next part of God's plan.
I wonder what the future holds.
We don't know the future, but we know the One who holds the future.
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:19 (NLT)
Thursday, 9 April 2020
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Here we
are, from this...
to this.
Our
mandatory self-isolation began the other day, after we crossed the
US-Canada border and the guard read aloud the conditions of
self-isolation.
“Do
you understand?” he solemnly intoned.
“Yes,”
we replied, not daring to ask any questions. Basically, we knew what
to do. Don't stop anywhere to get groceries, go straight home. We did
have to gas up once, to get home, and prove to the insurance
company the exact date of our entry back into Canada. Since we were
coming home a month early, we needed a receipt to get a refund on our
travellers' insurance. A month
early means it is not spring here in Alberta.
Except
for the geese flying overhead, not quite sure where to land. And the
robin pair we saw as we walked down the deserted country road. Tiny
pussy willows were trying to burst out. Those are the real signs of
spring, right?
It's
snowing lightly right now. What else can you expect for March, in
Alberta?
We're
warm and cozy, though, in a rural farmhouse that's not our own. We're
mostly set for food, having brought all of our fridge, freezer, and
pantry contents from poor Baby B (the trailer). We're eating
well,just like at home.
Our
children promised to bring whatever we need.
Nick's
visit was the highlight of Day #3. He brought our winter boots, and
an exciting cardboard carton.
We knew
what was in it, but he didn't.
“OK,
Terry get your phone ready,” I said, as we visited with our son,
leaning out of his van from a safe distance.
Terry
snapped a picture of me holding up a book from the box of ten books.
It's a
book from the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. So what is
the significance?
A story
of mine is published in it!
Actually,
it has Terry's name attached to it. Since the story had to be told
from his point of view, his name appears as the author.
Laughter
is the Best Medicine is for sale through Amazon, and in
stores, as of April 14, 2020.
Like
cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs
25:25
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
Quinoa, Paprika, and Soup Stock
Have you ever seen quinoa, paprika and soup stock stuck to a screened window? Wish I had taken a picture. But let me start at the beginning.
Our trip back to Canada proceeded without incident for the first two, long 12-hour days.
On the third morning, what a surprise to see fresh snow outside our spot at Walmart in Helena, MT! Oh, I forgot, we're no longer Down South.
We set out anyway, at 6:00 am, driving very carefully over the mountains, northward bound. On a couple of occasions, Terry used 4 wheel drive for the slushy road. Finally, we were on a straight stretch. Daylight, and the road looked bare.
Terry was keeping up to the traffic. All of a sudden the trailer began fish-tailing behind us. Terry calmly kept his foot off the accelerator and brakes as we swung back and forth across both lanes of the I-15, ten miles north of Great Falls. Alas, his efforts were in vain as the car finally came to a halt on the other side of the grassy median. No other vehicles were in immediate sight, and none in the oncoming lane.
It took me a few seconds to realize the trailer was on its side!
The recovery driver detached the hitch and lowered the car.
Long story short, the next two days were filled with wading through the rubble to retrieve our possessions and packing them into the Ford Expedition, which sustained no damage whatsoever.
Praise God, we are all right as well.
The fridge hangs out of its socket in the wall by one electrical wire, visible at the top. The next day the freezer contents were still rock solid, and transferred to the fridge freezer in our motel room, along with the food supplies we had bought for our self-isolation in Canada.
The slide which holds our bed has detached from its track.
I hope that means it's a write-off!
Like the COVID-19 pandemic, how things can change in a moment.
God is the same, though, and never changes. We're just waiting to see what the future holds.
Leaving soon for Canada, hopefully crossing the border Thursday morning.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Our trip back to Canada proceeded without incident for the first two, long 12-hour days.
On the third morning, what a surprise to see fresh snow outside our spot at Walmart in Helena, MT! Oh, I forgot, we're no longer Down South.
We set out anyway, at 6:00 am, driving very carefully over the mountains, northward bound. On a couple of occasions, Terry used 4 wheel drive for the slushy road. Finally, we were on a straight stretch. Daylight, and the road looked bare.
 |
| Note skid marks! |
Terry was keeping up to the traffic. All of a sudden the trailer began fish-tailing behind us. Terry calmly kept his foot off the accelerator and brakes as we swung back and forth across both lanes of the I-15, ten miles north of Great Falls. Alas, his efforts were in vain as the car finally came to a halt on the other side of the grassy median. No other vehicles were in immediate sight, and none in the oncoming lane.
It took me a few seconds to realize the trailer was on its side!
The recovery driver detached the hitch and lowered the car.
Long story short, the next two days were filled with wading through the rubble to retrieve our possessions and packing them into the Ford Expedition, which sustained no damage whatsoever.
Praise God, we are all right as well.
The fridge hangs out of its socket in the wall by one electrical wire, visible at the top. The next day the freezer contents were still rock solid, and transferred to the fridge freezer in our motel room, along with the food supplies we had bought for our self-isolation in Canada.
The slide which holds our bed has detached from its track.
I hope that means it's a write-off!
Like the COVID-19 pandemic, how things can change in a moment.
God is the same, though, and never changes. We're just waiting to see what the future holds.
Leaving soon for Canada, hopefully crossing the border Thursday morning.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Sunday, 16 February 2020
Valentine Messages
My Valentine's preparations started early this year. I made valentines for the younger grandchildren in January, to make sure my cards would reach them before February 14. It takes about two weeks for snail mail to reach Canada from the US. I forgot to document them with my iPhone before I mailed them, though. They were cute, with super hero figures cut from some Christmas wrapping paper I'd salvaged from a tidy-up job at our January project. No one saves used wrapping paper these days except those of us who see a future use for it!
Then I sent texts to the teenagers, with photos of heart shaped rocks with a message inscribed on top.
I was pleased that my January work buddy showed me how to add text to photos. What a useful skill!
Thanks, Betsy! I love it when someone explains another feature of modern technology to me.
At our latest project at Phoenix Christian Preparatory School, the five couples who are working together went out to dinner on February 13, to beat the anticipated rush on Valentine's Day. While we were waiting for our food, I passed out tiny candy hearts with messages on them. The instructions were: "Make a sentence out of at least two of your hearts, and say it to your Sweetie." Some of us got real kisses or hugs, as per the hearts that said 'Kiss Me', or 'Hug Me.'
Some had acronyms which none of us understood, like 'GOAT'.
I thought I knew what this meant. My mum used to call me 'koza' in Czech, which is what you say to someone who is being silly. The word means 'goat', and is a term of endearment mixed with a mild rebuke. So I began my sentence to Terry: "My dear goat..." Everyone laughed. Strangely enough, two days later I was looking through my old notes of sermons, and one young pastor had used this expression: GOAT, and explained that it meant "Greatest Of All Time." OK, now I know!
Did you know that YAAAS! accompanied by a fist pump is an expression of extreme excitement?
Well, now I know!
There were more, but I didn't research them before we began our game.
Christians are to be "letters from Jesus", "written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." II Corinthians 3:3
Then I sent texts to the teenagers, with photos of heart shaped rocks with a message inscribed on top.
I was pleased that my January work buddy showed me how to add text to photos. What a useful skill!
Thanks, Betsy! I love it when someone explains another feature of modern technology to me.
At our latest project at Phoenix Christian Preparatory School, the five couples who are working together went out to dinner on February 13, to beat the anticipated rush on Valentine's Day. While we were waiting for our food, I passed out tiny candy hearts with messages on them. The instructions were: "Make a sentence out of at least two of your hearts, and say it to your Sweetie." Some of us got real kisses or hugs, as per the hearts that said 'Kiss Me', or 'Hug Me.'
Some had acronyms which none of us understood, like 'GOAT'.
I thought I knew what this meant. My mum used to call me 'koza' in Czech, which is what you say to someone who is being silly. The word means 'goat', and is a term of endearment mixed with a mild rebuke. So I began my sentence to Terry: "My dear goat..." Everyone laughed. Strangely enough, two days later I was looking through my old notes of sermons, and one young pastor had used this expression: GOAT, and explained that it meant "Greatest Of All Time." OK, now I know!
Did you know that YAAAS! accompanied by a fist pump is an expression of extreme excitement?
Well, now I know!
There were more, but I didn't research them before we began our game.
 |
| Some read-Be mine, Let's Hang, Laugh, Love... |
Christians are to be "letters from Jesus", "written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." II Corinthians 3:3
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