Where am I?

These two songs are so near to my heart as it really challenges me as to how I see Jesus, and his Kingdom here on earth. As I realize my shortcomings and failures to live more like Jesus I rest in the knowledge of how we are indeed saved by Grace and not Works. Merely living in this Grace, changes the inside of the heart and desire to serve and follow the real Jesus. My desire is to treat others as I see Jesus treating people when he was here on earth. I do not want to walk on the other side of the street. It's been a while since my last post as I have really been challenged over the last 6 months. If this song, "My Jesus" makes you feel uncomfortable.....it's time to pray.

Is there anyone without fault?

How many of us where taken by surprise????? There is a lot to be said about being ready.

Fall

This past summer has been a different one all right! I was wondering where I have been as I'm writing here, and even though I don't know what I'll write I think it just might take me somewhere. I got a phone call yesterday morning from Aaryn and she wanted help because her internet was down. As it turned out it was minor but I was again reminded of the time I left home. Now we did not have internet back then but I would phone home many times asking for help and or opinions. What a blessing that when your kids leave they still want to phone and come home once in a while. University was not exactly like she expected, but with the huge change in living,lifestyle, and responsibilities (is that a long word?) I'm not surprised. She was a bit surprised at the type of people in her classes. Everyone seems to be in groups of sorts and she's finding it hard to fit in somehow. She is feeling a bit better about her classes especially Math, where she would say language is a bit of a barrier with the teacher.
Yes School has started and back to the normal grid of getting two kids up and off with their mom. Wow what wonderful weather....no rain in september yet! We have been sleeping in the camper for the last month and this morning it felt kind of cold in the morning..but no frost! Jayms had a great time at hockey in the past weekend and we are again wondering if hockey will happen this winter...??? He has been talking about soccer a lot. Adison is in soccer at school, does not see hockey happening even though I think he should. I've got to run, gaylene is a callen.

Long weekend

Enjoy the wonderful long weekend! This is the last weekend before our oldest daughter goes off to University. Her cousin and her are renting a apartment near UofW so Gaylene and I have been helping moving her in. Untill this happens to you, you have no idea the emotions that occur with someone moving out of the home. In this world we live in we need all the prayers we can get! I thank God every day for his goodness, and promise to hold us in his care.

Larry Norman lessons to learn

Many of you already know that Larry Norman passed away one and a half years ago. Those old enough to know who he was will appreciate the witness he was to those he touched.

http://www.larrynorman.com/

No I am NOT dead!

No great blogging today, however I have been in great deal of thought as to where I am going to take this blog. In the meantime we are still alive and well! Thanks to God for all his blessings. We have found a apartment for Aaryn in Winnipeg. Her apartment is on the 12th floor, I beleive overlooking the Legislative buildings. She is looking forward to starting her career. Adison is taking a crack at this job thing. It's only on the farm so maybe not exactly like a real job, but maybe a example of a perfect job....hahaha. Seriously I am proud of him as he is showing responsibility. And Jayms, well same old Jayms, easy going and needing to work odd jobs to pay for his airsoft toys. Gaylene has finished her courses at UofM for this summer and is actually at home now. After VBS is done we are hoping to take some time for holidays and spending more time with family and friends.

spring?

What's a blog for if it's been five weeks since last post? Maybe just to annoy you? This sunday has been a very quiet day relaxing as Aaryn and Adison are at Abundant Springs. I'm so proud of both of them as they grow up into responsible young adults. This summer we are looking for apartments to rent for Aaryn and her cousin Steph. Any ideas? Gaylene has started her studies at the university of manitoba. I'm busy with brooding turkeys and running a breeder barn. Jayms and Adison are both playing soccer this spring. However with the cold spring this has not had a chance to get going.

hockey days but lives are more important

Wow it's been two whole weeks since I sat down and took some time to post. I wish I could honestly say it's been a busy last few weeks but if time allows for you to take a week to fly with your family to Sanfransico I guess I can not complain. We had a great time as a family touring the city sites and places such as Alcatraz and the golden bridge. Jayms and Adison and I went to see the Sharks play at the Shark tank in SanJose and then we went to Fresno for a few days relaxing in the warm 70 degree sun. We got back early Friday morning, like around 2AM and woke up early by 7AM to head off to Oakbank for Jayms to play hockey. Wow! talk about reality in a hurry. Jayms is playing on a real strong team and we greatly appreciated some great hockey. We played two of the top teams in the first three games and went 2 and 1 loosing to Elkhorn 4-0. The host team cruised through the first three games(one game a day) obviously setting themselves up for the finals, winning games like 9-0 stuff. Eastman altemately figured on playing Elkhorn in finals who would have had to play three games that day. Our boys played Elkhorn on sunday for right to play Eastman in finals and so we beat them after a five minute overtime in a shootout. Unreal! I was so proud to watch kids I don't even know, battle like they did. We then got to play Eastman a big and skilled team full of themselves and eager to stick it to us. Did'nt work out so well as we beat them 3-2 and took gold. Jayms has really grown (I wish I could speak of his size), the experience has been awsome. The other Interlake team he could have been playing on got blown out big time. This weekend we are off to Virden looking for another big weekend. On Easter?? Yes that part sucks, but Gaylene and I will have time to reflect on what our Lord did for us.

I have to put in here that life sometimes has its good moments, but not always does life give us what we desire. I am aware of friends and family with difficult times in their lives. Close Family members sick and even dying. I am aware of those who have lost loved ones and I feel for them. I will continue praying for specific needs of people around me. Hang in there!

Giving your best and other things

Over the last few weeks, my mind has been on Jayms's hockey team. We have ended the season loosing in game three of the North Division finals. I might have been the only person who thought we could make a run for the banner at playoffs. More important than this was building a team from two different communities given the tough situation we were in from the start of the season. I have no idea what impact if any I had on players on our team, but I have learned a lot from my players that many adults take years to learn. I wish many more people have opportunities to learn from children. Children have a great ability to overlook and accept each other, regardless of issues that might be present amongst adults around them. They taught me that if you care enough to win and succeed in life other people's shortcomings actually help build character. No I don't mean stepping on the weaker persons, but actually accepting the fact that not all people are in the same game or want to be in the game you may want to play on. Our team was filled with players who were along for the ride. Our key players or "die hards" overlooked the weaknesses of their teammates and performed over and beyond what was expected. O-kay I'm exagerating this point a bit but as adults should we not do the same? Lift each other up and support each other? I had the priviledge to "be there" at our teams biggest obstacle. Our players lifted their heads high between periods and finished the game to the best of their current ability.
We lost big on the score board, but as a adult I came away feeling uplifted as these same kids that were so down between periods, picked themselves up and left the rink in good spirits. Let's aways do our best and if others let us down, use that to grow, so we can be their to help others in their needs.
Jayms has two weekends of hockey and a few practices left. He's always loved playing and has always loved playing with his friends. He is dissapointed that he can not play with his friends during spring and summer, but as I feel for him, I see him growing and excelling by being around new surroundings.
Life is short and is going to be a lot shorter for some people. We have no idea how much time we have, but we need to Give our Best. Let's start with our friends and go outward. Stop living our lives looking back. The past is the past and will not change. We will re-live the past the same way, all the time if we allow it to.

Aaryn is 18! Until this happens in your home, you have no idea what that feels like as a parent. Teach your children when they are young. This has a whole new meaning as your child grows into adulthood. Adison is finding his way in life. This summer he will most likely work in Hecla. As a family we are heading out to SanFranciso and Fresno. Jayms and Adison are looking forward to Sharks game. We will be the stupid looking people flashing the sign "bring back the jets". Watch for us on the Shark attack twice side of the ice facing team benches near blueline.

I find it hard writing without being so serious and always trying to bring meaning in everything so I'll keep trying, so here is a joke off the top of my head.

Why did the Blonde get killed raking leaves??? She fell out of the tree.

later!

are we awake

No need for words.

keep things simple

Two more weeks before we head for SanFransico and Fresno Ca. We have been looking forward to this in a while now and have come to terms with Jayms' hockey. He will miss out on the Regional tournament but is very much looking forward to playing on a extended roster team when we get back. He will be playing in what should be a very good hockey team. His winter team is winding up with Finals starting on the weekend. This will be our teams biggest challenge of the season, playing Arborg. We are the only team that has tied them this year and so anything is possible. Spring is approching and with that our oldest daughter is in the verge of graduation. We are so proud of her. Aaryn has already worked a few days at the hotel in Hecla. She will be working there until she starts her 5 year University term in Education. Adison and I of course are enjoying the snowmobile. I have had some really good times going for rides. Last weekend we headed up to Biscuit harbour and had lunch before heading back. At work I've had great times learning from someone who has amazing knowledge of the bible which has really stretched my thinking and attitude of how important our lives are here in this world. I want to share some thoughts on

KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE

As human beings we must remind ourselves that there is only one real and true Gospel. This is the Gospel that presents itself by Paul the opostle. I am writing this with opinions from a writer by the name of victor Reimer. So if I say things you have read maybe you have. (March 3rd messenger). God of the Bible is perfectly innocent and he rightly demands that we be perfectly innocent. We are all guilty of missing this mark and God calls this Sin. I want to assure you that in God's court we all are found guilty of sin and deserve death, "for the wages of sin is death"
Romans 6:23 God is compassionate and so he sent his son to earth to pay for our sins. If you were found guilty of a crime in a court of Law, you would face judgement. No Judge that is a just Judge could release you. We would not expect a Judge to release a killer just because he promised not to do it again. And so God sent his son down to this world to pay for our sins. The innocent dying for the guilty so the guilty may go free. If you were guilty of a crime and someone offered to pay the price and do the time on your behalf, would you say no? If you refused this YOU would do the time. Keeping it Simple. It really is. There is nothing we can add or do to the work of Christ. We must simply be convinced and Beleive that Jesus paid our debt and that we are saved. To preach that we must somehow remain innocent before God after we are saved is of another Gospel. We are made innocent not by our own doing (I am a good person and do charity) but only by the one time sacrifice of christ. About 80 times in the new testament we are told that is all we need to do to be saved from eternal punishment,(you might have heard about it "HELL"). For God so loved the world that he gave his own begotten Son, that whosoever beleives in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That's it "KEEP IT SIMPLE"

Hockey weekend

When your 13 year old considers not going to see his favorite NHL team play in California in the month of Febuary, it must mean he likes hockey. With a lot of mixed feelings were not sure what to make of this. Jayms has been put on one team of three to make up teams' Interlake to play in a regional hockey tournament. This is a developmental tournament meant to prepare young hockey players in competative hockey. Organizers have informed us he may not be able to participate in practices or exibition games if they already know he won't play in the tournament. Do we leave him at home, or take him along on a family trip. It's not as if he does'nt have enough other hockey he can play. He has already been put on a team to compete in three extended roster tournaments made up of mostly Stonewall and Warren players. In any case he had a good time with his friends at the skate this weekend and since I'm his Dad I can say was proud of him. He felt he did have a good game later in the day because he felt it difficult to find open players. This might happen playing with a mix of new kids and I told him that was normal. Jayms is so determined to not let his size get the better of him. He informed me that he had to use his smarts to outsmart his bigger opponents.

Struggles

Well it's been a few week since I sat down, took some time and put by thoughts on cyberspace so to speak. Over the past couple of months our family has been in a kind of cruise control, with routine. Now I don't suggest that routine is a bad thing, however if it drags your life into a meaningless void of time you may want to check into that void or space.

We have been busy with school,hockey,yearend bookkeeping,graduation planning,college,holidays,barn work,house work,yard work,and the list goes on. Aaryn is super excited about graduation and her new dress. I'm still floating above the +/- budget for the summer but just barely as were only 16% into the year. We are going to be looking for a apartment for Aaryn and Stephanie to rent maybe as early as July. Gaylene is going to be taking some more University courses over the summer and since apartments might be hard to come by later, maybe we can make use of it earlier. Aaryn worked over valentine weekend at Hecla. Her bank account has drained over the winter and so this good for her to earn some new money. She has saved a lot over last summer and hopes to do the same this summer. We are also working on Adison getting a job in Hecla as well. Maybe in the Kitchen in food prep. or something? Jayms of course loves his hockey and has been asked to play on a team by a coach in Warren. He will be playing in three extended roster tournaments. His present team is going into playoffs this week and he's going to the Regional skates in Stonewall this saturday. Gaylene loves her job.... well as much as jobs can be loved. None of us would do it for nothing. Except farmers maybe. I'm trying my best coaching a combined town team, and so our lives carry on. We have a holiday planned for March 26-April 2 to SanFransico, then to SanJose for a Sharks game and a few days in Fresno to visit family. Jayms's is bummed out than the Regional's hockey tournament is on the same weekend....what to do.... sucks. We need to remember that family sometimes comes ahead of hockey and so maybe this is a test.

Ever notice that when your in a hospital and you see that line (now I don't have the time to research the name for that line) your well hate to say it but Dead! A up and down line is always more comforting. It's like that in life. Life is not a Game we play. Life is a wonderful Gift from God, and we have the responsibility to live it out for him. We were designed for this. As his creation made in his image it's not normal to live life without him. Ever try to wire a electric motor differently than the wiring diagram? We need to be wired in God's image and the Bible is our wiring diagram. Do this thing wrong and your in for a surprise. Our lives need to be up and down, we have our high times and low times. This is normal and we grow coming out of our low times. I have been struggling with this in the past. Life can sometimes go by so fast you wonder where is it going.

Did I mention my super fast F7 Snowmobile! How about Did I mention my super fast F7 breaking down? Those are ups and downs, but not one's we should concern ourselves with. Is God teaching you things? Am I in his word daily? Do I do what he wants me to do? When we decide to search out God's will for our lives, that is when those ups and Downs will come. In the book of James we are told to persevere and work through challenges as this will make us stronger.

post weekend

We spent better part of saturday and sunday in portage. Has a great time visiting Larry and Brenda and of course their kids. Gavin had a couple of hockey games we got to see. We were going to watch Amanda play however her game got cancelled, very much to her dismay. Aaryn stayed in Wpg to spend some time with her cousins. Also probally getting some briefing on college life and stuff like riding the bus. We picked her up at Amanda's apartment later Sunday nite before we went home.

Sorry have to go

It's still a great New Day

Wow! What a weekend. Loads of hockey some excitement and some low points. Most recent our PeeWee hockey teams' disapointing loss to Tuelon in MAHA. Exciting game and I really enjoyed having been part of it. We lost but grew as a team, realizing that even when playing very well, good things don't always follow. Life is kind of like that. People let you down, even when you think or try to do the right thing.
Jayms is at home today, due to taking a shot on the inside of his knee. We have a bit of a break over the next week and then it will soon be playoff time again and we will again strive to obtain the league title.

Our household is kind of like in cruise control. Sometimes I wish things were different on occasion but it seems Gaylene and the kids go off to school and I maintain record keeping on two sets of books and manage egg production in the barn. The Day goes bye(buy)(or whatever) and then it's off to hockey.

How can I forget?? And I will probally never pay back! Aaryn when shopping! Grad Dress. No need to say more. Have a great day!

Happy New Day

It's been a while since I blogged last, and I've been in front of my computer for several days now. Since Christmas time has gone by rather fast. Hockey is shifted into high speed, at least for this weekend. We have 6 games scheduled up until monday night and then possibly a 7th on tuesday. Coaching has it's moments, mostly positive I guess. We have a large team and not loaded with a lot of skill. Playing with four lines, well it kind of sucks. We would do much better going with three and sitting a few more players. I really find enjoyment watching the kids who really want to play develop into really good hockey players. Balancing these kids with kids that are there only for the ride is sometimes difficult. I have a strong opinion that communities need to pull together more and offer competative hockey for kids who want to progess, and let recreational players do their thing. But it is what it is and I've committed to do my best with what I have.
Hey I've got a blackberry!! Matching with Gaylene's wow! Got these a few days ago, and still working out the How to thing. Jayms had a geat time snowboarding at Panarama with Lucas. Adison got his Drivers License(learners). I get to take him driving now. He has not driven anything bigger than a quad yet. My snowmobile baby is still in the shop, more than out in the snow. but when it is everybody move aside, cause it's a going.