Sunday Morning

I had tea with a friend this morning, so I made dark chocolate raspberry scones. Delish!

Smoky River

D and I spent an afternoon at the river. He and I are hanging out for these 2 weeks, I'm reclaiming my "domestic goddess" title, tying up all the loose ends for the trip and trying to get in decent shape.

Camp?... ...Check!

Camp is over. Camp has been the final mark on my horizon for months and months. It has been the marker of the last big thing to be done in my term as youth pastor. I was scared of it, but I was straining for it to come. And as I knew He would God renewed my strength every morning, and I found the energy, love and creativity to make it through pleased with camp, pleased with the offering. I hope it was pleasing in His sight.
Over the next couple weeks I will tie up details here at work, and finish this chapter. Reaching unemployment, which goes along well with my current homelessness. It's strange to be in a position that for so many is one of brokenness, of helplessness and poverty. And to be here by choice and without suffering or fear. I am arriving where I intended to be, and I am supported on all sides by those I call family. I'm not truly homeless by any means. Just without an address.
One month to go, with some more work, some care of Dakota, more couch-surfing and then Chantal and I set off on our grand adventure, to be followed by my own WWOOF adventure.
I'm considering all sorts of questions and directions right now. And I'm trying to regain restedness. And I'm just about to realize the excitement of this.
And here are some pictures of the last 2 weeks of camp:

Sr. High camp at Jarvis Lake. I even tried wakeboarding!And Jr. High/Kidz Camp at Pineridge.

J'adore Jasper

Kayte and I made a Jasper run. We needed some oxygen. And fun.

We ventured across Jasper Lake, barefoot, in April.

Trying to be brave at the edge of Maligne Canyon.

Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?

My sister eats her hair. Help.

Drunk trees.

There was something in the grass!

What's left of the Moberly Homestead on the Overlander Trail.

January & Music

A catch-up blog is long overdue. I have become a bad blogger, and I don't know if any of you even read this anymore, due to my long absences. The month of January started with a great dance party and ended with a trip to Breakforth in Edmonton.

Which was an odd experience. I loved getting to hear Shane Claiborne speak, I went to all three of his sessions and I was encouraged and challenged! The rest of the weekend was just odd. I'm not sure what I think of the glossy mega-conference, with celebrity speakers and worship leaders. That's the short version. I wrote pages about it in my journal and I've had many discussions, in short I don't think it's something I would go to again.

I did enjoy a concert with NewWorldSon! If you get the chance to see them live, GO! They aren't my favourite anything, but seeing them live, what a show! I danced and jumped my heart out alongside the Wiebe boys for the whole set, what a blast!

This past weekend Scott, Barry, Andrew and I hosted The Gallery, a coffeehouse venue for local art and music that we love. This was our second go at it, and it was incredible! I got to showcase my photos, which was really fun. And the evening started with my sister's first gig with her own tunes, included the local act This Conviction and Chanda Cooper with some of her musical friends. What a great night! I love good music!

This Conviction

Chanda Cooper (w/ Bob Cooper on the kit, and Daxid Stobie all blurry on the djembe)

Martin Johann Kloppers (playing w/ Chanda)

New Years

So this was New Years, in many many pictures. Let's just say it was a total blast, and very very cold outside! So that is my justification. Thank you Kayte and Nyla for such a good shindig!

We're time confused.

Kayte edited these, hence her calling me cool.

We may have found Nyla's old dresses, wedding, bridesmaid and grad! It was snazzy, and required dancing and posing! Here's a classic bridal magazine shot, plus a shower curtain.

And I guess I should explain, the pictures you are about to see are intended to be a sequence. This is the birth of my adult child.





Oh my baby, she's so beautiful! I'm so proud!

Remember, it was cold. Happy New Year!

A Merry Photo Shoot

As I said, Kayte and I had a photo shoot, here are some of the results.

Hope you enjoyed.