Jughead - the Hockey Song

Ok, one more.... There's a familiar scene in the background: College Station subway station (College & Bloor). I came off that stop on my way to seminary in downtown Toronto. Good ol' Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)...

Hockey interview

If you watch hockey, then enjoy this parody on a typical hockey interview. E.g., Interviewer: "What do you have to do out there in the 3rd period?" Player: "Uh, yeah, uh we gotta shoot the puck more and... uh ... skate hard and... uh... just go out there and ... uh... play hockey...".

Grandma enjoying her Mother's Day gifts....

....sent via canada post

Our new friends.

If you were at all shocked, concerned about our living conditions here in Winnipeg (as seen on a post in the Fall when we first came....) you might not be ready for this. But, the truth, as always, will have its way and spill out whether we want it to or not, so I'm gonna take the "bull by the horns" and let it out as gently as I know how. Right here. Right now. Take a deep breath, and meet, our new church family:

Here is Laura, trying her best to just, well, fit it. She now wears a house dress of sorts, floor length, b/c styles are......different here. But, let me emphasize now, these people are nice. Try to remember that as you marvel at the clothing.

Michele, Head Counsellor extrodinaire. She heads up the Kingdom Seekers group and does a terrific job!

Here I am with my dear friend Alison. We wear matching outfits as often as we can. I know, it seems a little odd, but remember, this is Manitoba.........And, why are our feet tied together? Just don't ask too many questions, okay?

Some of my other church friends. Lovely ladies. It's what's inside that counts........

Some of the counsellors - the middle one is Laura's counsellor. They are great role models for the girls - full of fun, but also teaching them about God's world and how to live as Christians within it.

Another group of moms......

Laura and some friends.......I tell you one thing - shopping is easy. You just go to the local thrift shop, close your eyes and grab. 5 minutes and you've got your new spring church outfit. As you can tell, I'm trying desperatly to look on the bright side......

More lovely girls.....

And more. One thing you can say in favour of local fashion is that they sure make generous use of colour. And that's......cheerful, right?

Robin, Erica, Lisa......each a unique individual. Somehow I can't think of anything else to say here........

Okay, time to be honest :) It was a "What not to wear" night, organized and put on by our hard-working Kingdom Seeker's counsellors as a wind-up evening for the year. They invited the moms to attend (and they forced us to also participate.......aaaargh......I'm not just not runway material......;) and we all had to dress as bizarre as we could. Then Michelle, serving spoon microphone in hand, mc'd as the girls walked the runway, reading off outfit descriptions written by the girls and their moms. Moms were then also made to walk the gang plank....er, I mean the runway, while Michelle kept everyone laughing with her "off the cuff" commentary.

There was also a time for singing, bible reading and prayer, time for the counsellors to talk about the year, and lots of time for fellowship. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening and I'm so thankful for these ladies who are willing to put time, energy, love and prayer into the lives of our growing girls. A beautiful example of the older women teaching the younger women within the community of the saints.

Thank-you ladies.

Cher's 38th B-Day!

This is a special weekend and a double celebration: Cher’s b-day (tomorrow) & Mother’s Day (Sunday) to boot. What can I say about my dear Cher? She is fun and enjoyable to be with. She makes my day when we start it off together with a cup of coffee and end it with a bowl of popcorn. She also loves to laugh and we have a lot of fun together. She is caring of me and others, especially her family. She is ‘dear’ and a ‘sweetheart’ (for that’s what the name ‘Cher’ in French means, you know). But above all, she is wise and helpful. I don’t think I could do what I do without her wisdom and help. She lends a hand when I need it. She sets me straight when I’ve erred or when I’m not seeing things right. Moreover she encourages me when I’ve been discouraged. She’s at my side being my helper in all that I’ve been called to do – even being willing to come all the way to Manitoba. :) I thank the Lord for her and for these words of Scripture that describe her:
“Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all” (Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-29).

I think that says it…. Love you Cher.

Love, Rich

Spring

YPs!

We had an enjoyable evening last night having the church youth group come over for YPs on Sunday evenings! They've been doing a series from RYS called "Lovers of God Rather than Pleasure." We had a good discussion with them. Rev. Paul Murphy is booked for Wed Aug 31 to Fri Sept 2 to come up to Pioneer Camp in Lake of the Woods to give three speaking sessions on the same theme. It is been a priviledge to get to know them a little bit better. A few of them lingered around afterwards just to chat with us. What a blessing our covenant youth are to our congregation!

Afterwards we played our favourite game - the drawing game :) We all put our names in a "hat", each pick a name from the hat, and then we have to draw the person we've picked. Then we pass around all the drawings and everyone has to guess who the various drawings are of. It's a riot - mostly really funny drawings, but some exceptionally good ones as well, like the above one of Brendan - done by Heather :)

Can you guess who some of these people are?