Boise: the Hub

Here I am in Boise, and I'm loving Boise! Why is it that so many parts of my life seem to circle around this small city that isn't my home?
I've been here since Wednesday night, and have been to four births in the last four days. Which is a little wild, and it is all so good! I assisted at my very first water birth. Which I've always wanted to see - so great!
I'm really enjoying The Baby Place birth centre. I'm really enjoying normal, healthy, natural births. I'm enjoying the beauty of the care that is being provided. I'm enjoying time with good friends.
And I'm revisiting places with people, memories and feelings attached to them. And seeing them in different light. Good. But weird. Church yesterday seemed so odd without my 30-40 friends of that summer three years ago. I spent Saturday night in my old home, no longer full with 16 girls.
And with so many things converging on this one place and on some of these people, it's hard to keep track of what we have in common, and what is separate.

What a Good Day

A miracle was unfolded today. God gave me a gift.

I discovered just last week that all I need to complete my clinical requirements was one single experience, of any kind of skill. One that can be dated after January 27, 2008. So any experience I gain now counts.

And God provided! I had made a call, sent some emails, and I was waiting. Which I am very, very bad at doing. And just this morning my phone rang, one of my calls returned, the one I was hoping for. And an invitation was given to come and learn and finish my requirements! I am going to Boise, Idaho on Wednesday, for a week! I was crying and vibrating in my joy.

And then I went to work and received an email from my dear friend in Boise, with even more good news, and more excitement. In one day a wealth of God's blessings have been poured down on me. Jehovah Jireh. Giver of good gifts!

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)

"Jesus Changed My Life" Mad-Libs

After a week of intense theological study with our High School students, we were talking about telling the stories of how God has intersected our lives. Which naturally led to testimonial mad-libs over lunch. Here's what we came up with:

Before I jumped to Baltimore I was always ugly. But then I gave my girl to mewithoutYou and they make me so sloppy. I am so dead that he changed my frog.

...and then...

My life used to be full of sea monkey, but since I farted Jesus into my coffee pot my life is full of grey apple pie. Jesus has slapped everything.

I hope these don't offend you. They brought us great joy, which will be to all people. Hence why I'm sharing them now.

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.