Recent Happenings

It was nice to have a normal weekend (for us, that is) where I can actually take a true day off. I do not apologize for not returning phone calls of a less than urgent nature or waiting until I feel like it to return a text message. I am a pastor, so it means that I'm always on call, but it does not mean that I must be at everyone's beckon call. Or is it beck and call? I looked it up and smart people have no idea which it is. This week Monday we left our kids with a babysitter so Faith could go to a bridal shower and I could go to a board meeting. I think she got the better end of the deal, but she deserves a date night from me rather. Or maybe repairing the dishwasher again between playing Wii and building Lego and biking with the kids? How about a couple of deck boards replaced so no one else steps through it? Judah thought it was caution-tape worthy after he repeatedly crossed the gap left when I removed the rotten boards.

The sunshine has been fantastic. Two solid days where we could put the sprinkler under the trampoline and concern ourselves with what SPF of sunscreen to put on the kids. So fashionably greasy! And there have also been thunderstorms, but we don't care as long as the hail stays away and no more forest fires begin. Speaking of fires, in the background you can see my two barbecues getting along famously.

That's right, I got a new BBQ. I told the clerk to hold it so I could ask my wife (which I honestly did) while I price and quality checked three other places in town and did some brand research. I figured that this time around I would not go absolutely cheap and get the simplest one possible so as to be able to entertain better, but a Weber was still out of my league. I got 67,000 BTU's wrapped in stainless steel with no matches, no briquettes, no round-wired grills - and after our debacle with inviting 20 people over for burgers when our other BBQ was busted? Yeah, it's a dream. Faith and the kids assembled it while I was at some other meeting that week and left me one piece to put on myself I went to test it and found a leak on the only part I put together (before lighting, of course) which I repaired, and then proceeded to get the thing warmed up to condition the coated grilling surface. And I ran out of propane. Of course. 5 burners go through a lot in 5 minutes. Oh well. On Sunday we had one of our young adults craving burgers and here I had two BBQ's sitting in the back and I had to borrow my next door neighbour's grill. Crazy. We're good to go now. Maybe I should fill the second tank, huh?

We went to a BBQ at Micah and Aslynn's school on Friday evening where they had 3 large blow-up bouncy castles going. The kids were pretty good for the most part. Judah would occasionally run back to grab a cupcake and a drink and go hard at it all over again. Micah played soccer and such with a number of Grade 3-4 kids, and Aslynn found a friend or two and stuck by them, even if it meant not doing what she had insisted on doing. Judah would not eat a burger, but settled for cheese on a bun. This meant Daddy was fortunate enough to get a double burger, and then Aslynn hurriedly ate her salad so she could spend time with her friends and virtually left her burger alone. Score! I think they all made up for it in cupcakes. We lost count at four with Judah. And some watermelon to go with it. It was a lot of fun.

And today Micah went to the bike rodeo at the Grant Fuhr Arena. I think he was a little intimidated by all of the uniforms. It looked like we might get written up over not having a working bell or shifter. It was all good though. Micah rocked the course. And got a certificate from the distracted officer. Then I went back and got Micah a goodie bag from said officer. Micah and I were wondering why everyone else got one and he didn't. I don't blame him for sending Daddy to talk to the nice police officer for him about his complaint.

We would have gone to a local park to play Bocce together, but a complainer got sent home as we arrived which took out an adult and our party was down to three. Tonight Faith and I were looking to play Catan with Brian and Janice, but those losers said they were going to be late coming. Pshaw! Who cares? I think they just can't stand to lose to someone as good-looking as Faith. The kids and I helped do some take-down for the seniors picnic next door at the Alliance church today too. Russ Friesen was playing a 20 song set with his band there, so I thought we ought to say "Hi" and not let the seniors do the heavy lifting of putting away the outdoor stage and heavier items. And Judah got himself all wrapped up in knots while we laughed and sent Micah to take a picture. He dragged the string-ball set around the yard for a bit in a tiff until he could free himself. What mean parents and siblings!

And Aslynn is SO super excited. I pushed her down a hill and - maybe I should tell you she was on a bike at the time - one with two wheels and not four - and she rode it out. She is getting the hang of the balancing. Now instead of turning away from where she leans, she's turning into it. And instead of sticking her feet out awkwardly when she gets that falling sensation and really biting the dust, she is pedaling - sometimes. When she isn't braking, which just complicates things even more. And she has gone from freaking out at the sight of gravel and pavement to riding her bike home on her own. I tried teaching her at Uncle Robert's place with a vast crowd of onlookers, tried one earlier day this week, and for her to be getting it this quickly Faith and I are both slightly surprised. From all appearances this was going to be an all summer bummer. Today Aslynn told me that her friend Dominique laughed at her bike because it was Spider-Man and not a princess bike or something like that, and she was devastated. Maybe she's got some motivation or ulterior motives? And she's working on the monkey bars at school too. She and Judah were both stoked to be on her school's new playground structure when it opened officially Friday.

- Mark