My House

This is the plaque on my house. It was built in 1873. It was a one room school house that was built to serve its immediate communtity. It ceased to be useful in 1965, at which time kids were bussed to larger schools. We still get people stopping and saying " hey I went to school here". Sue and I have lived here for 20 years. Sue would be content to die here. I have wanderlust to roam, yet know that I could search the whole world and not find a better place to live. Its small, but cozy and the kids will be out of the house soon enough. We have a little slice of heaven here on earth. Now if I could only get high speed, my life would be complete!

Acton Church Plant

I am excited to be involved with the Acton Church Plant. I am excited about working and worshipping with some really cool people. I love Jesus and he led me to God. I love God and led me to EVAC. I love EVAC and I feel led to Acton. I feel that it is my obligation and responsibility to be involved with this church plant. I have been watching and praying about Acton for a while now. I am so excited for the vision and the potential that a Real Life Real Faith church can have. PLease pray for Acton. Pray for the Church plant and pray for the leadership. If you are interested in reading about some of the adventures and goings on at the Acton Church PLant, I would invite you to visit http://plant-a-church.blogspot.com

rANd0M REfLecTiOns

So theres this guy Jef.
He lives in the Philipines.
He has a cool blog.
He wrote this piece called RandomThoughts.
http://jefisthinkingaloud.blogspot.com/2006/06/random-thoughts.html

Well Snow read it as well.
She lives in England.
She too has a cool blog.
She wrote a poiece called Random Information.
http://snowtheflakeydrifter.blogspot.com/2006/06/inspired-by-jefs-blog.html

Well here In Canada and I am am thinking now about Random Reflections....

- I too use the same bar of soap to wash my butt and my face, in fact,
I even use it to wash my hair if I'm out of shampoo.

- I cant stand people who's voicemail says " you have reached xxx-xxxx".
Of course I have you banana, I am competant at dialing a telephone.
Are they all secret agents, wanting to hide or disguise there identitys?
Are they just angry cause they dont have a maid or a butler to answer.

- I like ketchup, I like hotdogs, I like Kraft dinner......
but dont ever put ketchup on the Kraft Dinner!
hhhhmmmm fancy Dijon Ketchup..perhaps

- I love eyes, they are the window to the soul. They tell so much.
They can share so much. Some people have shifty eyes that you
cant read or dont like reading. I dont like to bother with them.
I like to look for the genuine eyes.

- I gag when I brush my teeth

- I like stuffed animals. I like beanie babies.
I dont like Barbie...trust me. She is fake!
I could never be bothered with Ken
or any of the other male action figures,
but I saw a Jesus action figure that I have to get!
If anyone wants to give me a cool gift,
it would be the Jesus action figure.
I would smile and high five and chuckle with glee.
You'd feel like a million bucks watching my joy...
haha knock it off don

- I yawn when I am nervous

- I like a bit of danger. Thats not a healthy one to like.
I sat on the emergency podium at the middle of a long train tressel
across a big gorge as the train went by. It was so flippin scary we
just about pissed ourselves. But we did learn how it would feel
if you got caught out on the tressel when a train went by!
The concept does work..Dylan, Debbie....kids.... dont do stuff like that.

- I read national geographic, readers digest, my Bible and a bunch of blogs.
My favourite place to read is the john. I'm thinking about putting a PC there
so I can read blogs while I am reflecting and contemplating about
how much I like to read on the can....which strangley enough brings
us to the next point

- I like fart jokes and I beleive you should lift your cheek when
your on a wooden chair or your leg while you are walking.

- I dont care for sickening sweet people, and leave my cheek alone.

- I like Don Cherry and I like rockem sockem hockey.
I like watching sports where people push themselves beyond limits.
I like passion in the game.

- I can eat chocolate until I puke

From Bad to Worse

OK so I put the duck in a box. Much to my dismay, he jumped the box and ran across my living room and behind the wall unit. I cant seem to find him now. Theres a duck somewhere in my house. I have to go to work now so hopefully it will be OK. Friday morning duck drama. Life is fun.....if youre not a duck!

Romeo, Now Youve Gone Too Far

I must admit I get a quiet joy when Romeo brings home a mouse or a rat....but this time Romeo, youve gone too far! Romeo brought home a duck this morning..yes a duck! Where the heck did he get a duck? There is a little creek and swamp about 1/4 mile from our place and he has been showing up soaken wet. We thought he was falling in the pool (which does happen more frequently then you would think) ...but a duck! Come on...cut us some slack! I noticed the little duck was still alive so I rescued it. I've cleaned it up and have it in a little box. however now I have a dilemna. I need to find mamma duck and his brothers and sisters. I will nurse this duck back to life and return him from whence he came. Romeo...youre grounded...bad cat...leave those ducks alone!....He doesnt seem to be listening. If you dont smarten up I will have you castrated! His ears perked a little I think he listening. oh no false alarm..he thought I said "would you like some food"?

Wonders of Technology and Go England Go uh I Mean Germany ohoh!

Technology is so flippin cool. I took this pic of me with my cell phone. I emailed it to a buddy of mine in England from my cell, and she posted it on her blog. I stopped in on her blog and noticed my pic so I right button clicked and saved that pic to my desktop. Enjoying the round trip that this pic made, I thought I'd post it here for posterity.

So whats with the England shirt! Of course I'd like to see England win the world cup! My great great great grand daddy came over from England. My buddy in England is a BIG footie fan and I have become a fan by osmosis. But there is this little complication. My wifes folks are from Germany. Since they have adopted me, it is natural for them to expect me to root for them. I must say I have always favored Germany in sporting events. They just have this way of beating odds, or making that just right play.Their commitment to personal and team excellence is usually evident when they perform. So to keep peace in the family I have decided to root for .......Iran!......NOT!

Fabulous Mouser

My cat Romeo, the young male who we adopted, has become a fabulous mouser. The only problem is he insists on bringing us his catch for approval. Then he sits down and chews everything but the head and spleen...yech. He knows all the secret entrances and exits to our house, the screen that lifts in my room and the screen that lifts on the front door...he made that one himself. So we have had various trophies brought to us... mice/rats/moles/voles/rabbits/chipmunks/squirrels and several unidentafiables. Amazingly, he has left the birds alone...or never caught one. Whatever he ate last night was big enough to leave scars on his face. That means he will need an extra couple of hours rest on my bed today. Romeo, you are such a charmer, but you are grossing out the ladies of the house!

Fathers Day

Yesterday was fathers day. One week ago I received a phone call from my wifes mother. It went like this.....Hi, I'm just wondering if Suzie realizes she has a father? I said of course she knows that...why? Mom said, just wondering if she was planning on calling at all. I said sure, I imagine when fathers day comes, she will call. There was silence. Mom got mixed up about the dates. I guess she sat there and stewed until she made the embarrasing realization that she was one week ahead of schedule. When Sue called Dad yesterday AM, he answered the phone and started laughing. I guess he knew about the error as well.

So I got to thinking about my own expectations. I did not receive breakfast in bed. I did not receive any ties or chocolates. What I did receive was a message at church that made me think about fatherhood and the blessed gift that is mine. All the gifts in the world fail in comparison to the gift I already have. I have been so blessed to be a father. Every reward I could possibly imagine was given to me the very second my children were born. My wife bore the pain for my fatherhood. Memories such as the first time I looked into their eyes, the first time they said dadda, the first time they walked, all the milestones in their development have been fathers day gifts to me. The thought of comparing these blessings with a gift is frightening to me. To me, every day is fathers day. Every time I look at my children I am reminded of the joys and sacrifices. I remeber the first time I got puked on. I rememebr the first time I got shat on. I remember the first time my son got in trouble at school. I remember the sleepless nights and all the sacrifices. They are like investments for the love that I have for them.

Heres what I think. On fathers day, I need to stop and count my blessings. The fathers day gift was already given to me. I need to consider how I can be a better father. I need to figure out what more I can give, not what I can recieve. I am so blessed...blessed beyond description or imagination. How could I compare that to anything?

On Fathers day I chose instead to think of all those people who have been unable to have children. I think of those people who have had children and lost them to death. I think of the countless children who have been rejected by their daddies. I think of those poeple whos children have not lived up to their expectations. I think of the homeless people and the incapable daddies who were never taught or who forgot how much of a blessing children are. I think of my own father, whos life was claimed by cancer.

Without hesitation I thank the ultimate Daddy for the gift he has given me. ABBA, Lord God Thank You.

Peace and Tranquility in the Garden

I like to walk in my garden. It is so peaceful. Every day there is something new....a new flower, and new leaf, a new bug, a new bird, a new sound.....Oh the Sounds! Our garden is surrounded by Maple trees. We dont get much light, but we got lots of Birds! Not being a huge sun fan, I am rather grateful for the shade these trees give.

Hey, have you ever watched the ants on the peonies? Amazing to watch. Within days this little bud will be a huge flower. I like to stick my face in them and take a deep sniff. Close your eyes and smell.......thats what heaven will be like!

I Love My Church...Part 49

How do I love thee, let me count the ways. I love thee for it is the place I gather with my friends to worship the living God. I love thee for thy faithfulness to the word. I love thee for the inspiring hope and confidence. I love the people. I love the Pastor. I love the leadership. I love the joy and the smiles. I love the encouragement and the teaching. I love this church because it is outward, not inward. It is real, not fake. It speaks the truth of the gospel, not the lies of this world. It is not afraid to be counter cultural. It speaks my language. It has vision and it has hope. It is purposeful in motion. It listens carefully. It acts carefully yet it is not afraid to step out. It is vibrant and wholesome. It is passionate. I love the worship music and style. I love the creativity. I love the dedication. I love this church! This church is my home. After years in the church wilderness I finally found a place that I consider the promised land. This church is everything I ever dreamed a church could be. It is Inspired, motivated and captivating. This church is the bride of Christ with splendour and beauty. I lift my hands to God in great thanksgiving for the joy He has brought me and my family. I lift my hands in prayer, that God would continue to bless this fellowship, and that this fellowship would continue to be faithful with the gifts that God has given. I Love my Church. ThankYou God for this. You are mighty in power and Your faithfulness is astounding. Oh that a sinner such as I, could be held in the palm of Your mighty hand, and be shown Your tender love through Your death on a cross. ThankYou Lord. ThankYou.

Churchill Cup England vs Canada

As part of the Churchill Cup World Rugby 2006 Championships, Wellington County and Waterloo County challenged each other. Our Girls won and our Boys lost. They got to keep their special uniforms and got a free ticket to the Canada/England game. We got trounced. It was a great game though...lots of spirit.
The team picture was taken on the emergency field bed, as one boy broke his leg and the other separated his shoulder.

Confession Time

I have spent the last year with a wierd haunting feeling that I wont live to see 50. Seems like a rather nuerotic statement. I have lived 44 years with little or no concern for my well being. Suddenly I started to realize that the warranty is up. Dont get me wrong, I'm not frightened, I just have had this wierd "your numbers up" kinda feeling. I started experiencing chest pain, shortness of breathe and general fatigue. I decided to take this neglected body of mine to the doc. Well I got poked and proded, sampled and xrayed, filled with glow in the dark atomic crap and ran on a tred mill, all the while with needles in my arms and suction cups attached to wires and machines that can see inside everything. Well today we sat down to study the results. Seems I am 100% healthy. I have a good strong heart and have nothing to be concerned about.....except the pain in my chest. Doc says its likely a pulled muscle. I am to lose 10 pounds and see him in September. I called my wife, my mom and texted my buddy with the good news.
hhhmmm maybe now wouold be a good time to increase my life insurance!

capturing pixels

I Caught these pixels in my yard with my HP Photosmart635 pixel capturing device. I transfered them into the PC shaped holding device and plan on letting them out every now and then.

more fun with a camera

Its almost like stopping to smell the roses. Capturing that golden pic that tickles the senses; lifted and seperated from the moment. Pics that become only memories after the hard drive crashes, and slowly fade back into time..........

Weekend Photo Shoot

I love my digital camera. I like walking around taking pics, whenever wherever. I like playing with the settings and I especially like the macro feature. Its not even a very good camera. 1.2 megaPixels. Heck, my cell phone has higher res than that. I just like my camera..in fact I love it. These pictures all have something in common. Can you guess?

Memories of Variety Night

Thanks for the Pics RitaG!

Speckled Trout Fishing

Well I dug out my fly rod, bought some nice new tiny tiny flies, picked up my fishing liscence and put it all in my car for future consideration. Today I had to drop Dylan off very early for rugby practice and decided to stop by my old childhood trout stream. Three casts of the fly landed me a nice little speckie. These are very beautiful fish! I released him back to the stream, packed my gear and headed to work. I had a nice little 1/2 hour vacation and I'm ready to face the day. Life is good.