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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Song of the Week {Like A River Glorious}

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

~Francis R. Havergal

Friday, August 26, 2011

Just Pictures For Now

Pictures of scenery from out West--Calgary, Alberta--where my parents went for an Anniversary trip.









These pictures are from a recent visit to Washington DC.







Tuesday, August 16, 2011

A Short Update

1. I gave my first ever two weeks notice. I had a job with a grocery store, but things were just not working out. During the week of training I had 24 hours; the next week 10; then 5; and the last straw was getting only 4 hours. I understand they don't "guarantee" me any hours, but seriously? How is anyone supposed to make ends meet on 4 hours a week? Perhaps it is because I'm new and I would have to "work" my way up, but how long am I expected to wait? The last time I was in there looking at the schedule, two other employees were complaining they only got a couple days off--I would have gladly traded them!

I have jokingly said I would teach overseas...but that is looking more promising than looking for work here!

2. I have been looking for a cheap car just to drive around to and from work {when I get some} and have not seen anything promising until right now. Hopefully, everything works out! It's a green Honda and looks to be very well maintained, but I don't know the first thing about the running of a car, so I'm going to ask David's Dad--a mechanic--to look at it with me. I'm soo excited too because it's just down the street from where I live!

3. My parents are going on another trip...this time to Washington and they are taking all but three of the kids with them. Erm, Ruth, and Heyab will be staying with me.

4. My Dad's birthday is on Thursday and he will be turning 48 years old! My Dad is going to be in his 70's before my youngest brother is in his 20's! Crazy.

5. And for all of you interested in my border issue...

I have a plan tentatively set for the end of the month to go up to the consulate to talk to them in person, but after doing tons of reading and research online, it looks like I can't go back to the States for the complete 10 years. Unless, I marry an American--then I would need to do tons of other paperwork stuff. We'll have to see how things pan out, but my optimism and hope is running kinda low right now.

So, that's all for now; hopefully soon I can do an update on answers to prayer!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Monday Moments {A Trip to the Farm}

My Mum is a huge fan of healthy eating and organic foods. Only about 10% of the foods we eat comes from the grocery store.

Most of the foods we get comes from a farm about thirty minutes away from us. Angela and my Mum have known each other for 7 or 8 years and have formed a pretty good friendship. Angela usually comes to our house on Wednesday mornings to deliver goods after which she and Mum will have a cup of tea and discuss different topics.

Angela invited us out to her farm today so we made a day of it. We packed up most of the kids and arrived about mid-morning. Angela has two German shepherds--one is a purebred, and the other a Husky mix.

Dogs always run to greet newcomers, and these girls were no different. Only problem, most of us in my family are not too keen about animals. My philosophy is: as babies--great...once they grow up, I enjoy them from a distance. I prefer not to have dogs or cats rub against me; I do not like petting or playing with them; I don't want them jumping on me; I think that animals belong outside....our family has never had pets, so I suppose some people might think these views come a deprived person, but still. I will admire your pet from afar :)

My Mum opened the door on the passenger side, so I opened the rear door on the driver's side to let all the kids out. I learned something today. I learned that Ruth is absolutely T.E.R.R.I.F.I.E.D of dogs. The minute she got out and the dogs came over she climbed back in the van SO fast. She only came out with her arms wrapped around my neck and her legs hoisted up around my waist--far away from any snapping jaws!

The dogs soon went across their driveway into the field nearby, so I put Ruth down thinking she was pretty safe. Wrong! They were back in a flash and Ruth just started screaming and shaking like you wouldn't believe. Poor girl...she wasn't used to the dogs the whole time we were there, but she did get to the point where she didn't shimmy up the nearest person and hold them in a death grip and scream her head off whenever she saw the dogs.

Later, when Mum told her it was time for bed, she kept trying to tell us something. She started crying and refused to go in her room. I guessed that she might be trying to say dog, or perhaps that's what she was remembering since she did have a traumatic experience earlier in the day! So Mum walked over to the room and sure enough that's what Ruth was talking about. There was a big suitcase on the bed and to Ruth, in the darkened room, it seemed like an animal. Mum quickly reassured her, but I'm sure the memory will stay with her for a long time!

On a sad note, my camera died. I don't know what's wrong with it or what happened, but I'm officially in the market for a new camera. I've been reviewing/talking about the pros and cons of different makes...namely Cannon or Nikon. I have a Cannon that uses film, which I absolutely love; and my present Nikon...which is alright, but definitely not as loved as Cannon. So, right now I'm leaning more towards a Cannon. We'll see!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Song of the Week {The Crayon Box Song}

The Crayon Box Song

When I was just a little child
No higher than your knee,
My mother bought a box of crayons,
Just for me.
I picked them up and I opened them up
And I looked way down inside,
And the colors there reminded me
Of Jesus when He died.

O… Red is the color of the blood that He shed,
Brown is for the crown of thorns they laid upon His head.
Blue is for royalty! In Heaven He does dwell;
And yellow is for the Christian who's afraid to tell.

I colored and I colored
'Til the crayons were all gone,
And though I am much older now,
The mem'ry lingers on.
And when I see a little child
With crayon box in hand,
I tell them what they mean to me
And hope they'll understand.

Afraid to tell of a Savior
Who died on Calvary,
He died for lowly sinners
Just like you and me;
And someday soon He's coming back
To be our King,
And the colors of the crayon box
We will sing!

O… Red is the color of the blood that He shed,
Brown is for the crown of thorns they laid upon His head.
Blue is for royalty! In Heaven He does dwell;
And yellow is for the Christian who's afraid to tell.
So, don't you be a Christian, who's afraid to tell!

Written by William V. Mason

I first learned of this song at VBS/Teen retreat up in the forests of Wisconsin, way out north. Mr. R taught it to us and I remember it was a favorite with the whole group--young and old! Love it!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Don't Touch

Is respecting people's property really a hard thing? Is it too much to ask that you ask before taking something that doesn't belong to you? Is the requirement to check first--before doing whatever it is you want to...with my property?

I love sharing and giving of what I have. And, in most cases, I'm fine with a note being left if I'm not there to be asked. Case in point: college years. Having two to three people in a room, you pretty much treat each other like sisters once the ice is broken. But the rule was, you asked before you took, or left a note if you had an emergency and the would-be lender is not there. And if you were in too much of a hurry, you got someone else to tell the lender, or the borrower told them as soon as possible. In the four years I was at college, I only had one incident that went against the "borrower-lender" policy.

Also, if you are using something that is not yours, TAKE CARE OF IT! That is just plain common sense! You want your things treated with utmost respect and care, so do the same for others. Follow the Golden Rule. It will save much headache and annoyance.

As a rule, I love helping people out; if I have it and you need it--by all means, you are more than welcome to it. I'm not ranting talking about being selfish and hoarding all your things. What's the point if you never give...Ebeneezer Scrooge.  What I do want to stress is respecting people's property. And if you were not raised to respect others and what is theirs, then please learn now! I will thank you for it, and the lenders will thank you too.

Alright...I'm done now. I had to get it out of my system.

Hope everyone is resting easy! Enjoy the weekend!

Friday, August 12, 2011

A Night Out

Reece called me up this afternoon and said, "Hey, I have the car--you want to do something?"

I love impulsive, impromptu get togethers. Nine times out of ten, those work better than actual planned events. Not that I'm against planning or anything. Because I do love planning and organizing.

Anyway, she came and picked me up and then we headed over to Aunt T's house to see if Carolyn could do stuff with us too. Care and Aunt T were just getting ready to have a coffee break, so they invited us in for a few minutes before we headed out to...well, we hadn't decided yet what we planned to do, but that's the joy of being impulsive. Or the curse of being indecisive.

The majority of our time was spent talking about politics and history. The debut of HST--"harmonized sales tax" was during my years teaching, so it has taken me a little bit to get used to. To form the HST, the powers that be combined the provincial sales tax {which our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has lowered from 7% to 5%!!} with the goods and services tax {8%}...so we are now taxed 13% on everything. Regardless of whether or not it was exempt under the separate taxes. I say we get conservative, money-wise leaders in office for our province. Good thing elections are this Fall :)

We also talked about WWII and specifically about the Holocaust. May we never forget.

After, Aunt T showed us her pictures from their anniversary trip. They traveled up through the northern part of Ontario and into Quebec. Canada is such a pretty country! And I just love our nation's capital building. It's so full of character and is so majestic. I hope that I can visit up there soon. My province houses the capital of Canada, so I should be able to make it up there...right? It would make for a good road trip :)

So, back to our impulsive night out...

Care couldn't come since she was already expecting a guest, so after the pictures we said our thank-you's and good-bye's and headed out. I should mention that Dave and Reece just got a different car several weeks ago. A little gray Toyota...that is standard. Poor Reece {and me!} is still trying to get the hang of it, and let me tell you we had an interesting car ride. Care has a standard and drives it effortlessly, that I was convinced driving standards was a breeze...not after riding with Reece tonight! I see that having 3 pedals can be confusing, and stalling on busy roads during evening rush hour on a Friday night is absolutely terrifying! It's exasperating trying not to have to brake, but just coast along...only to stop on a hill for a red light. My heart was in my throat the whole time because I was afraid we would stall in the middle of an intersection {Thank the Lord we only stalled at the stoplight and stop signs!} or roll back and hit the car behind us. In one particular spot we were in a valley. And we stalled throughout the whole light. I look back now and I can laugh, but it sure wasn't funny then! Reece is pretty good at driving a standard, but having a lot of people lay on their horns as well as rolling back into someone on top of a stalling car, played on her nerves. Finally I just told her to put her hazard lights on and people could just go around her. I told her she could take as long as she needed and just to concentrate on getting us out alive. I didn't care about the horns, the stares, or even the obscenities as long as we made it safely up the hill. And she did. And I know the more she practices, the better she'll be :)

One major lesson I learned from our "impulsive" night out was to not "impulsively" buy a standard!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Timeless Treasures {Skills}

Peanut and Beans trying their hand at Bow and Arrow on the last day of school the first year I taught. They are so stinkin' adorable!






I think this is in the top 5 of my favorites of these two. Just love them!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

RED MARBLES

A story I came across in my files:

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes . Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.''Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.


'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.

Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me ab out her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his m ind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of  life you have lived.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Monday Moments {For JD & Marsh}

I frantically rush to get the five kids ready for school. I send the two older girls to take a shower while I give the boys their breakfast. The baby is wailing to be fed and changed. I leave the boys with specific instructions to eat quickly, and go pick up the baby. Phew-wy. It smelled like a stink bomb went off in her room. I decide to give her a quick bath but realize that the girls are still in the bathroom. I tell them to get out before all the hot water is gone. They quickly get out and after telling them to eat their breakfast once they change, I get the baby in the tub and sweet smelling in no time. Thank goodness the boys took their shower last night! By the time I get the baby dressed in her clothes, it is 7:45. There is still the lunches to make and myself to get ready before we have to be at school by 8:15. The baby starts wailing again--oh no, I forgot to give her a bottle.


While making her a bottle, I tell the boys to get their shoes and socks on and make sure they have their back-packs all set to go by the door. I put the baby in the car seat, strapp her in and give her the bottle. After making sure she is holding it and drinking, I turn my attention to making lunches. I get all the lunch pails set up on the counter so I can pack them assembly style. Each gets an apple, yogurt, chips, and cookies quickly thrown in. I don't have time to make everything pretty this morning. I hurriedly make some PBJ sandwiches for each child. After placing a juice box in each, I zip up the lunch boxes and stand them up on the edge of the counter for the kids to take. By this time the girls are done eating and I've just realized the younger girl is completely mismatched. I groan as I head her back to her room to find a suitable dress for school--the time is now 7:55. I get her changed and then brush her hair and put in a ponytail. Good thing she has short hair. I call the older girl in the room and start brushing her hair to put in a ponytail, as well.


I hustle the kids out to the van so we can drive over to school--which thankfully, is not far away. We get there at 8:13, and the older kids scramble out and rush into the school building. There are so many people milling about the front of the building which is quite unusual. I wonder what is going on. I get the baby out and head into the school. There are a lot of kids around; some I recognize. I see a few college kids I know, but none of them even acknowledge my presence in any way. I briefly wonder if I am invisible. Really strange.

Once I get in the building, a little girl asks me directions for something. She spoke as if I should know. I pointed her in the direction of the right stairway leading downstairs and explained that they led to the other wing of the building. How that information was lodged in my brain, I have no idea.

"Elsa" I heard my name being called and swung around to look behind me. I vaguely recognize the person, but he disappears into a room before I can remember. By this time, I no longer have the baby with me, but don't remember dropping her off anywhere. In a frantic state of mind, I rush outside the school building only to be met by a mom...of one of my students? What the lady was trying to tell me, I have no idea because right then I heard Marsh call my name. I turn to find her beside me to inform me I am late for teacher's meeting. What!?! Oh, man! How could I have forgotten! As we walk upstairs, I ask her why all the college kids were outside the building. Before she can reply, I happen to glance in the window outside the office. I stop dead in my tracks and look down at my outfit. There was spaghetti sauce splattered all over my shirt and skirt. I'm not going to teacher's meeting like this, I whisper horrified. How did I ever not change before coming to school?! I tell Marsh I'm leaving and she asks what I'm going to do about my class. I am so disgusted with myself. And mad that I am going to be late starting my class on the first day of school. As I turn to rush out of the building and go home, I have a startling thought: I am no longer the kindergarten teacher...JD is.

Then I woke up. What a crazy dream huh? I think it was a combination of Marsh's FB stats and thinking about the approaching school year...wishing I could still be a teacher to my favorite students.

JD, make sure you check your first-day-of-school outfit for spaghetti sauce splatters ;)

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Song of the Week {At the Cross}

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.

by Isaac Watts

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Celebrating Canada {A Canadian Alphabet}

Since the majority of my education has been about America, I'm sad to see this series end. I have enjoyed learning about the history--and even geography--of Canada.

A Canadian Alphabet
by Mike Ulmer
Adapted by Sue Fountain and Tracey Unger

U speaks to a time when there was a need to shelter human beings from the slave owner's greed. The Underground Railroad helped American slaves find in Canada the safety and freedom they craved.


Soliloquy

I am Josiah Henson, and my story of horrifying experiences as a slave inspired the American novelist to write Uncle Tom's Cabin. I guess you could say I'm the real Uncle Tom. True enough, I knew about separation from my family, physical suffering from beatings, hard work to secure my freedom and the freedom of my family, but I also knew the Lord as my Savior. My Lord enabled me to do the right thing when I was mistreated and cheated out of hard-earned money. I escaped from Kentucky with my wife and 12 children and in 1834, in Chatham, Ontario, established the Dawn settlement so black people could find refuge, receive an education, and start new, productive lives here in Canada.  The settlement  had its own flour mill, sawmill, and kiln for bricks. I believe it was the first example of adult-education and technical-training school in Canada. I also served as the pastor of the Methodist church in Dawn. Unfortunately, the community died out in the 1860's, but my home in Dresden was still turned into a museum.

"Look everyone! It's the Queen!" {Queen Victoria comes to the front slowly; she stops at the front and the girls curtsy while the boys bow}
Victoria in Canada is the most common name for cities and roads all named in her reign. Parks and great mountains and the capital of B.C. are lasting reminders of this long-ago queen. Please rise as we sing, "God Save the Queen". {Everyone sings song}




W is for the War of 1812, often called "the war that nobody won". The treaty that ended the war basically put things back as they were before the war began. The 49th parallel became the boundary between the US and Canada and both countries were forced to keep only four warships to patrol the waters of the Great Lakes to prevent smuggling and make shipping safe.


Soliloquy

I am Laura Secord and that little speech really oversimplifies the War of 1812. Oh, the times were dangerous. Most of Europe was caught up in the Napoleonic wars. Great Britain often stopped American ships to be sure they weren't carrying anything to Napoleon so the Americans--fed up with this kind of British intervention--decided to declare war on Britain. Well, they had no intention of going all the way to England to fight so they tried to invade Canada! I was living near Niagara Falls at the time with my husband James and our five children. We were Americans.

First Person interrupts to say: Hey! Was he one of those Royal Empire Loyalists who migrated to Canada before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War leaving everything they had and carrying with them what was left of their worldly possessions and settled along the north shores of Lake Ontario?

Second Person: There were so many of these English-speaking people that the governor of the territory feared they wouldn't fit in with the French who lived in what was known as Quebec, so Upper Canada {which would later be called Ontario} and Lower Canada {which would later keep the same Quebec} were created.

Laura: My husband's family were loyalists, but my father, a veteran of the Revolution, heard that the governor of Upper Canada was offering free land so he promised to settle a large section on the Thames River.

First Person: London!

Second Person: No, but not far from, right? Your dad's last name was Ingersoll, and that's where the up the road got its name.

Laura: Exactly. Now, if I may continue about my husband and the War of 1812 and why I'm famous in my own right. My husband was wounded in the Battle of Queenston Heights. When I travelled to the battlefield in order to bring him home, our house was looted by the Americans. Later while I was still nursing my husband back to health, American soldiers appeared at our door and demanded that we feed them. While they were eating, I overheard their plans. Horrified, I walked 32 long, dangerous kilometers to warn the British. If I had been caught, I would have been hanged as a spy. I managed to convince the Iroquois lookouts to take me to General Fitzhibbon. Oh, was I a muddy, bedraggled sight standing before the general's lieutenant, but he believed me.
The Battle of Beaver Dam, as it was called, was a serious loss for the Americans. At the age of 85, I was presented to the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, and son of Queen Victoria. I still remember writing him:

"I am now advanced in years, and when I look back I wonder how I could have gone through so much fatigue, with the fortitude to accomplish it. I am now a very old woman--a widow of many years...I feel that it will be gratifying to my family and a pleasure to myself that your Royal Parent the Queen should know that the services which I performed were truly loyal and that no gain or hope of reward influenced me in doing what I did...I trust that your Royal Highness will convey to your Royal Parent, Her Majesty the Queen the name of one who in the hour of trial and danger--as well as my husband--...stood ready and willing to defend this country against every invasion..."
A few months later, the prince sent me a hundred pounds in gold--the only financial reward I was to ever receive.


X marked the spot where the Last Spike was driven; it was done with a hammer, not the cut of a ribbon. And with the Last Spike we could finally proclaim that we were a nation united by train: for the railroad now linked the East and West. When Sir John A. Macdonald and his lovely wife took the train, he liked the comfortable passenger cars, but Mrs. Agnes preferred the front of the locomotive to see the Rockies best. Soon the cowcatcher became quite a fad and promotional tool for train travel.


Y is for Yoho, one of 39 sites with fast running rivers and dizzying heights. Our national parks belong to all who would hear the splash of the salmon and the rustle of deer.


Z stands for zipper, which everyone knows is very important in tents and in clothes. A US inventor had a zipperish notion, but it took a Canadian to get the zipper in motion.


God bless Canada!



Thursday, August 4, 2011

I listened in...

...on a conversation a couple were having recently. I didn't intend to, but they were speaking pretty loudly, and of all the things to argue about--they were talking about whether or not it is right to wear jeans to church.

The husband was emphatically stating that it was sin to wear jeans to church. And for anyone to wear jeans to church, the person had a "uncircumcised heart"...which I took to mean unsaved.

The wife came from the viewpoint that although there are rules in the Bible about the way we are to dress, material is not--ie silk, cotton, jean. She agreed with her husband that since it was a rule in their household she completely agreed with him; she just didn't agree with the fact that he had said it was "sin" and did not have any Scripture to back him.

Apparently this argument was because a child of theirs wore jeans to Wednesday night service. Personally, I didn't stay to hear the outcome of the debate because both thought they were right and were not going to budge on the stand they were taking.

I think their argument was a waste of time. As parents, they should have already been on the same page of whether or not they wanted their child to wear jeans to church. It seemed their child was of age to dress himself and therefore he should have gotten in trouble when he disobeyed {instead of said parents arguing about the issue in public!}.

I'm reminded of the verses at the end of Revelation that command people to not add or take away anything from God's Word. It is so important that we read the Bible and obey the Words that are written therein. It is not our job to conform Scripture to our views, but to conform our views to Scripture. Before one says something is in the Bible, they need to make sure it is and are not adding things they want.

Now I sorta wonder what the final outcome was....did they agree to disagree? Search the Scriptures? Find a man of God to help them?

I hope they were able to get things settled!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Celebrating Canada {A Canadian Alphabet}


O is for Ojibwa just one of the tribes that spanned this vast country before explores and settlers arrived. Iroquois, Huron, Mohawk, and Sioux, Inuit, Metis to name just a few.

Soliloquy

My mom and dad named me Mistahimaskwa. I was mighty glad the guys called me Big Bear. I was a Cree Indian and I hunted buffalo on the plains for food, clothing, and shelter. I also helped the fur traders. At first, I resisted the Canadian government's attempts to make treaties with my tribe in order to obtain our land for settlement. I knew my tribe must continue to care for itself in traditional ways. Eventually because my peop0le were hungry, I signed a treaty but argued that my people were not being treated fairly. I knew war would not accomplish any thing and tried negotiations with the government. When those negotiations failed and war came, I tried to talk my braves out of fighting, but they would not listen. My men did awful things. Along with Poundmaker, I surrendered to authorities and was tried for treason. Even though I had tried to stop the fighting,  and had helped save the lives of several prisoners, a jury found me guilty and sentenced me--mercifully--to life in prison. I pleaded with the judge to help my people who were destitute. Some years later, I was released when my health failed.



P is for politicians, perhaps statesmen is a better term for the men who helped shape our country's future. Men who dared to dream that we one day might be independent. Men who negotiated our Constitution and who today make our laws. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever he will."

Soliloquy

I served as prime minister of this great country from 1896-1911. I was the first French Canadian to hold the office. I had respect for people and their differences, and, as a result of this respect, I developed the ability to compromise thus balancing the beliefs of the English and the French. In fact, better relations between the two main language groups were at the heart of everything I tried to do. In 1897, I traveled to England to celebrate Queen Victoria's sixty years on the throne and became a popular speaker and even rode directly behind the queen in the Diamond Jubilee Parade! After all, I was the leader of England's oldest colony and a Frenchman! No wonder the queen also knighted me.
Affairs with Britain took up much of my time, but I was mainly concerned with Canadian issues such as attracting new immigrants to the wheat fields of the Prairies. It was the free trade issue that ended my years in the prime minister's office. I only hoped to help the western farmers. I did stay on to lead the Liberals, but many left the party over the conscription issue. I knew there would be problems if people were forced to serve. I stayed true to my convictions.

Did you know?

First person: Was Wilfrid Laurier the longest serving prime minister? Let's see 1896-1911...{calculates in her head}
Second Person: No, the prime minister who served the longest was William Lyon Mackenzie King, grandson of William Lyon Mackenzie who led the Rebellion of 1837. However, Prime Minister Laurier served the longest consecutive term. Mr. King served three separate terms.


Q is for Quebec where I always go to ski in "neige"--that's French for snow, and "suel" means that you're by yourself to lick "creme glacee" before it melts. Oh, pity the countries that must make do with just one language instead of two.



What to say?

First Person: {Looking at a map} Excusez-moi, comment puis-je arriver a Montreal?
Second Person: Just a sec! {holds up book and begins flipping pages seriously looking for the right answer in French...speaks in a really bad accent} Bonjour, Madamoiselle. Je m'appelle Ashley. Comment vous appellez-vous?
First Person: {surprised and a little frustrated} Eh?!
Second Person: What's the matter? Don't you know your own language? Eh?
First Person: {frustration showing} Excusez-moi, comment puis-je arriver a Montreal?
Second Person: {looks hastily through the book again and then speas ver slowly and deliberately} Comment ca va?
First person throws map in the air and stomps off stage. Second person follows saying, "What? I just followed the book!!"


R is Radisson and many other explorers who arrived in Canada before the settlers came. There was Cabot who sailed to Newfoundland; Cartier explored the coasts of the East and later took possession of the land for France and built several forts. Roberval established the first French colony but it only lasted two years. Samuel de Champlain established Quebec City in 1608 where the St. Lawrence narrows, the first permanent settlement in Canada.





S means stampede and Calgary is the place to see cowpoke and horses and the chuck wagon race. The world's greatest rodeo is held each July and includes a fine carousel with slower horses to ride. The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede was first held in 1912 and was called "Western Canada's greatest fair". 


T is for Toronto, a place where they say you can sped a year doing something different each day: riding at Ontario Place, watching the Blue Jays or Leafs, exploring Casa Loma, the Eaton Centre or Centre Island Beach--just to name a few.