This is likely one of the last posts...at least for a few days. The Christmas tradition around here begins in about an hour and a half when we head out for the Christmas Eve service, where I somehow got arm-twisted into playing/singing (ok, so I was more than willing ti participate). Then we come back unwrap some PJ's, and proceed to play games and eat munchies until the wee hours of the morning.
Then after everyone else goes to bed, my brother-in-law and I head for the TV to see what "amazing" movie we can watch. This year, we had to rent one and decided to go for, "The Man With the Screaming Brain".
Then it's on to the presents tomorrow morning, and then a turkey dinner. And to wrap it all up we head off for some Boxing Day shopping. I don't think we ever actually find any deals, but it seems to be a good enough excuse to spend some cash we don't have on things we don't need, but we think are cool.
And then it's time for hockey... the World Juniors to be exact. While I wish I could have landed some tickets to watch them play live, I'll have to settle for TSN. At least I don't need to get up at 0-Dark-Hundred to watch the games this year...Go Canada!
I'll just wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy your holiday season.
It's amazing what you can find online. I found another trailer at http://www.kiefer-rocks.com/news/index.htm. I'll warn you that it will provide some spoilers about what the upcoming season has in store, but you won't be dissapointed.
So we just finished up season 4. While I wouldn't necessarily classify it as the best season so far, it was still 24. And for that reason I will have no major complaints.
I think that after three seasons of twists and turns it's getting harder to be surprised by anything that happens. It's as if my brain automatically starts searching for what could go wrong.
This upcoming season will be the first time ever that I've actually watched the show on a weekly basis. My wife and I jumped on the bandwagon late, so we've constantly been playing catch-up. And now, thanks to unemployment, we've been able to get caught up.But now the questions are coming...how did Jack get to Chicago? Why is Chloe in Chicago? Who is trying to hunt Jack down? Who is the woman? Will we ever see Tony, Michelle, Kim, Edgar, or President Palmer again?I cannot wait...
Ok, so we'll break this into parts because so much happened today.Part #1I've been getting headaches and a fuzzy head lately after I've been reading, watching TV, on the computer or driving at night. Any guesses why? My wife suggested I should get my eyes checked. I figured $75 would be worth it if it told me what was wrong with me.It turned out that I have a slight case of astigmaticsim which would explain everything. So tonight I went and picked out some glasses with my family. Then we killed an hour by getting haircuts (the first one I've paid for in about 9 or 10 years), ate some supper, and then saw Santa (I know, he's not real...and we explained that to the kids). Then we picked up the glasses, and believe it or not, I can actually see better.I guess I can't call anyone "four eyes" from now on...Part #2We got a pile of Christmas cards tonight. First of all, thanks Bryce (and your family) for the Best Buy card. It was greatly appreciated and I'm sure we'll find a use for it somehow...Thanks!Second, we received a card from a student of ours who just graduated this past spring. It was beautifully hand-crafted card that was overflowing with love. Her words said "thank-you/love you/miss you" and left us with happy hearts (I don't know how else to explain it).Then we noticed a little piece of paper tucked inside a paper presnt on the inside of the card. Upon closer examination we found a cheque for $300! I'm not sure what to say. Who am I to accept such a huge gift from college girl who, no doubt, works for minimum wage and is trying to save for school. We are speechless. We are amazed. In the words of Wayne & Garth, "We're not worthy, we're not worthy!"
So I think it's all worked out. We'll have to see if they repay me for the cost of my original shipment. The woman on the phone said that 9 out of 10 times you get your money back. The police report got filed too, so that should also help.And now the parcel is in California, and it didn't get stolen! Now we'll just have to see if UPS can get it here. They can't do as bad as FedEx, can they?
So I ordered a present for my lovely wife. But as it turns out, the company won't ship to me because I'm in Canada. I think that's borderline racist...But a friend of ours, Katie, helped solve the problem by agreeing to have it shipped it to her and then she was going to ship it to me. (And for this I am completely grateful. Thanks Katie!)But...apparently FedEx left the parcel at her front door, so guessed what happened?!?! Surprise, surprise...someone helped themself to my wife's Christmas present! Crap, this sucks.Now I'm waiting on FedEx to do some "research" before they get back to me tomorrow morning and let me know what (if anything) they are going to do.The other bad news is that even if I reorder it, it probably won't make it here in time for Christmas. This sucks.
The unwritten rule is that your not usually supposed to buy yourself anything this close to Christmas. But sometimes this rule needs to be broken. I don't think Jack would have waited until Christmas.Season 4 wasn't supposed to be released until today, but due to the simple fact that people out here in the lower mainland occasionally get ahead of themselves (apparently something like this happened with the last Harry Potter book), my wife found it yesterday and bought a copy.Last night we got my brother-in-law hooked as we made it through disc 1. Our goal is to get this done so we can actually watch season 5 on TV like normal people. We'll see how that goes...At this rate though, we should be done by the weekend.I love this show and I'm sure glad that Bryce got me hooked on it.
Went out with my wife last night to watch "Walk the Line" (freaking awesome movie, by the way...I may try to post more on it later) and returned to the in-laws to find a message that I needed to call the head of the YP search committee at SOA. So I did. Their question: Would we come candidate in January?Our answer: Yes.While I would have loved to do it sooner, it makes sense to wait until the New Year when the Christmas schedule slows down. So right now we just need to pick a date and then wait some more.Waiting seems to be a normal part of life, even though I'm not a huge fan. But we're fairly excited about what God may have up His sleeve for us.
My wife looked at my a liitle sideways when I said I needed $5 (and that's US, which is equivalent to about $15 CAN) to sign up for a forum. But alas, she succumbed to my powers and I am now registered at YMExchange.com.I've been part of a few message boards in the past and I have come to appreciate them as an essential part of my online existance. I even tried to get my last youth group hooked on "posting" (which, I might add, actually worked for a few months).I've found myself connecting with a group of people who share a common bond: youth ministry. It is in these online communities that I have found others that will challenge, encourage, frustrate, inspire and amuse me (sometimes all at the same time). I've prayed and been prayed for. I've received and given advice. I've shared in the highs and joys of many people and their ministries. And I've even had the chance to meet some of them face to face.Sure, we may not all agree about everything all the time (what fun would that be?). We may get completely ticked off at each other occasionally. But hey, it's a journey...and we're all on it together.My hat (or toque, because it's currently snowy here) is off to Derek, Drew & Co. for starting up YMX. May it turn out to be a great online community for fellow youth workers!
A late congratulations to the Esks on winning the Grey Cup. I know this will mean very little (or practicaly nothing at all) to my "foreign" readers, but alas, another CFL season came to an end last Sunday.
One of the strangest stories coming down to the final game of the season had to do with Edmonton's quaterbacks Ricky Ray and Jason Maas. Maas played second fiddle all season and he handled it with the outmost class. He never once complained to the press. He always verbally supported Ray and the head coach, Danny Maciocia.
In fact, in the final two playoff games Maas came off the bench to lead the Esks to victory when Ray was failing to get it done. Maas delivered, but never once did he flaunt it. And when it came down to that last game of the season and it was announced that Ray would once again be starting, Maas' story did not change. He backed Ray. He backed the coach's decision. And he sat on the bench.And now the news is finally announced that Maas is on his way to Hamilton, a team with a dismal record, but again his ever-present great attitude is present.I think Edmonton dropped the ball with this one. Guys like this don't come around very often. Sure, Ray may be a good QB, but how do you get rid of a guy with so much potential and such a team spirit? I think they should have sent Ray packing instead.Jason Maas was a class act... and I'm not even an Eskie fan! Go Bombers!
Last Tuesday my wife and I performed one of our last official duties in Youth Ministry at our "old church". We attended a High School play. You know, the type that is filled with lots of giggles, a little out of tune singing (ok, maybe more than just a little), some good acting, a little bad acting, and lots of familiar faces.I've sat through some awful plays during the years, but I need to admit that this was by far the best I've seen. Sure, it still wasn't Oscar worthy, but it was miles beyond the previous years. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that we actually knew 75% of the cast.In past years I've gone and watched an entire play because only 1 or 2 students were in it. But this year, it would appear that we have a pile of budding thespians. Most were students who have come to an event or a Bible study while a few were from soccer teams that I coached. It just went to show me how far a YP's impact reaches into a community. And that didn't take a whole lot of work. Most of it just happened.I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, for fear of my arm falling off, but it was just a great memory to part with. I will miss those kids. They've left a mark on my life that will not go away (and that's ok with me). And for that I am grateful. I may not get any of those hours back that I've spent sitting in that Community Center, but I don't mind.I love what I do, and I can't wait until I get to do it again.
So all our stuff is crammed into the basement here as we wait for another bedroom to be finished up. That means we can actually access very little of our stuff. And with nothing else to do, I'd love to be playing some games on my PC or sleeping on my bed.Today we had the great joy of getting our car checked out. Just another check-up that the province wants me to do before they'll insure my car. Over and hour later (most of that spent wandering a lame little mall with my wife & daughter--my son stayed with Gramma) we were on our way...oh and my wallet was less $120.Spent some quality time with my Ipod after the kids went to bed tonight and even caught up on my "Dirty Little Secrets" (xxxchurch) podcast. Ok, so I didn't actually catch up...I'm still only on episode 5 of 11. Or maybe it's 12 or 13 by now. I wouldn't know since I can't get at my PC. You see my dillema?
So we made it safe and sound around breakfast on Friday morning (we drove through the night). And our stuff just arrived today and is now taking up the in-laws basement. A full house of people and stuff...yikes! Hopefully we don't drive everyone crazy.On another note, we're currently in talks with a church. Apparently they're quite interested in us (as we are in them, I might add) and they just had an "extended interview" with us today after church. They've checked our references, had one of their staff meet with us for lunch and they've presented our name to their Elder's Board. They had a few more questions which meant that we needed to get together today. Now they need to go back to the elders.It went very well and so far, we are very excited by what we hear. But now we go back to waiting. If they are interested, we'll probably get a call to candidate sometime in the next few weeks. Wow...that'll really change how our future looks. But it would be a great Christmas gift!This may not be normal, but it certainly is an adventure. And right now, I'm actually enjoying it.
Late last night I was sitting in front of the TV watching Fox Spots World. Then came the news that Roy Keane was calling it quits at Manchester United. I was stunned. I still am to some degree.
Some say they saw this coming with all the trouble he's gotten into lately especially when speaking about the team. A team, I might add, that had been totally stinking the joint out. He said what everyone wanted to hear...and what everyone needed to hear.
But it would appear that he may have crossed a line that not even he could come back from.I still can't imagine what it's going to be like to not have him as part of the line up. Even when he was out injured he was still a central figure in the team. Each comeback was eagerly anticipated. Every goal and every tackle was from the heart.This guy bled Red. He will be missed.
So, we thought we'd call a moving company to see what they might charge us to move our belongings towards the ocean. The guy wandered the house writting notes on his pad of paper and then sat down and pulled out his calculator. Minutes later we received the bad news: $3600.That's well over double what it would cost to do it on our own by renting a U-Haul. But then the guy phones back today. I told him we weren't interested because the price was way too high. He then asked if we would go for $3200. Again, I told him no. Then he asked if we would do it for $2500, but the catch would be that we'd have to leave next Monday or Tuesday.I told him I'd have to talk to my boss (a.k.a. my wife) and get back to him. We've decided that it's still higher than the U-Haul, but this way we don't have to load or unload and we don't have to drive the truck. Sounds like a good enough deal to me.Unless anyone wants to helps us move for even cheaper. Any takers?
One of the great things about being unemployed is getting to hang out with my family. Ate donuts with my kids for breakfast after we dropped my wife off at work. Then got started on some Christmas shopping.
We picked my lovely up after work and wrapped up the night with McD's and went to Chicken Little. Not the greatest movie ever, but it was fun to hang out with the fam and see the kids laughing!I should probably get some packing done tomorrow. Maybe I can put the kids to work...
Everyday a few more boxes pile up and the walls and shelves start looking a little more empty. Sometimes it amazes me when I look back at our past. I remember moving into our first apartment and being able to transport everything in the back of a pickup.Then we moved here and it took an entire U-Haul. It may have been the smallest one they had, but it was packed full. And now here we are soon to be packing an even bigger U-Haul with all our stuff (and that's after getting rid of a bunch of stuff). It's amazing how much stuff we've gathered over the years.We just got back from a retreat with the other pastors & wives. It was good to hang out together one more time before we leave. We've still got a dinner together planned, but this was a great 4 day retreat for laughing together and enjoying each other's company.On top of all that we've had some other recent developments. Since people have started finding out that I've concluded my ministry here, I've been recieving phone calls. I haven't been actively pursuing anything, but my wife and I decided that we would entertain conversations. God's definitely up to something.We're both very intrigued at the possibility of doing ministry while doing our schooling. Obviously it will mean that my school will take a little bit longer, but it does mean my wife can get cruising on her Masters. She worked so hard to put me through school, that it's definitely time to repay the favor. (Have I mentioned that I love my wife? No? I love my wife!)
Lots of tears were shed this weekend (some of which were mine), but our time has now come to a close. Friday was my farewell (and my birthday, I might add) and I just want to say that my students and leadership team rock! They did a "wicked awesome" (some student terminology for you) job on the whole night. I truly count it a privelage to have worked with them over the past 5 1/2 years. It really is sad to say goodbye, but we rest in the memories and knowing that we'll probably see them again. (Some of them sooner, rather than later, as they plan to invade our house one weekend in November.)We're now technically on holiday (or "vacation", for my American readers) until the end of November. We get 4 days in the mountains for a retreat with the other pastoral staff (and spouses) which will be a great way to say goodbye to them.I don't think that this has all sunk in for me. It might not fully hit me until the U-Haul pulls away from what has been our first home. We'll be "temporarily homeless" and we sometimes wonder when (or if) we'll have our own place again. I can't tell you exactly what our life will look like one month from now, nevermind 6 months.This isn't normal...but we'll manage.
I had no idea I had collected this much junk in my office. Ok, so it's not all junk. I actually have some good books on my shelf...some of which I have actually read.I also never figured it would be this much work to get things ready to leave. Besides packing books & shelf-toys in th boxes, I've got to change email accounts, change contact info at a bunch of places (many of which I'll actually forget to do), pass off all the website info for 2 websites...Oh, and look...I just found some money...why on earth do I have American coins in my desk?!?!On top of all that, my desk looks the same as it has for the past 5 1/2 years: a total mess! Maybe I should actually clean it before I leave. Hmmm...now there's a thought.Tomorrow is our farewell. Our students & leaders are planning it, so it should be both hilarous and completely embarassing. I'm sure they'll mock me to no end.And Sunday is our final day here. I'm wrapping things up by singing something for "Special Music" (apparently "Nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye" is not an "apropriate" selection for Sunday morning worship...go figure!) and then passing the torch to our volunteers. Something else might be in the works too, but I'll fill you in next week when I'm officially unemployed.
This is likely one of the last posts...at least for a few days. The Christmas tradition around here begins in about an hour and a half when we head out for the Christmas Eve service, where I somehow got arm-twisted into playing/singing (ok, so I was more than willing ti participate). Then we come back unwrap some PJ's, and proceed to play games and eat munchies until the wee hours of the morning.
