go kids!

^{Psalms 127:3-5
3} Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

We have been talking alot about this for the past week, trying to figure what it means for us. Off to do some research now...

From Anniversary's to First-aversaries

So the daily word has turned in to a every other week word, but it's for good reason.

First, there was the Easter weekend, which doubled up with the 10th wedding anniversary of a certain couple that I happen to be a part of. We had a tremendous dinner at the Seasons in the Park, overlooking Vancouver from the top of Queen Elizabeth park. I had all sorts of lovely things that I was going to blog here about how great it was to be married to my wife. In the end, the best I could come up with a movie quote that she came up with that night, which I will give back to you.
From the movie "Good Will Hunting" Robin Williams character (Sean McGuire) is speaking to Matt Damon (Will Hunting) in regards to his wife who has passed away. I give it now not verbatim, but in spirit.
*In the end, it's the little things that you know about each other that nobody else knows that make it special.*
This said after one of us (not going to say who) let off a bit of gas on the way back to the car after dinner, and it was so fitting (not the gas, but the quote) not only to the situation, but to life as well. Knowing stuff about each other that nobody else knows helps the bond stay bonded.
Until you blog about them farting on the way to the car. Then, it's run for the hills cause they're coming after you with a frying pan.

This past weekend we spent in Goldendale, WA. with a family that we have never met before, but will forever be in our hearts. We traveled over 500kms to a church conference, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, to stay with a family we hadn't even met.
I have to admit that we were a bit nervous before meeting our host family, but once we met them all of that went away.
They were some of the most hospitable, kind hearted people that I have ever met, and they gave to us with such a genuine love that we were both amazed. Not only did they provide for us food and a place to stay, we had the pleasure of meeting their daughter, her husband, and 7 of their 8 kids as well. Our kids bonded with theirs instantly, and immediately they all felt like family. So much so that 1o minutes after meeting them we were invited to their house for dinner. We went, and needless to say we had a great time. Truly we were blessed by our first meeting with this family, and we look forward to the opportunity to meet them again some time.

A trip through Portland for dinner, and then a long car ride home up the I5 and back to work this morning. Later this week, I should have time to get to the next daily word.

James 4:
¹³Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." ¹⁶As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.


Good for me to keep this in mind when worrying about getting in to school this year, or next, or what's going to happen when.
We need to make plans for the future, but we also need to understand two things when we do. First, make sure they are in line with God's plan for you. Second, understand that tomorrow it could all be over.

long overdue

I have not written much about my nephew Ryder on this blog, and I don't know that I ever blogged anything about his passing back in September. I'm sure I can make all sorts of reasons why not, but mostly because I could never write something quite as good as this:

Written by his Grandpa Dwight, published by the Globe and Mail,
This Story tells it all. Please have a read.

march madness, april fools

Ok, so I didn't mention I was going to take the month of March off. Sorry about that. I did. Now, I am back.

And back I am, with a fresh installment of daily reading, from the book of James.

"²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

I now need to persevere, and use this next year to become complete before I go to PCP (which doesn't look like it's going to happen until next year, after the olympics).