Happy Halloween

We had almost 3 times as many kids tonight as previous years, 30! The two Princesses will be going to Disney World next week.

And I got to have coffee with a dear friend Ruth S. Wow she's 81 and going strong.

It is hard to believe that at this time next week we will be eating breakfast with Melissa in Kaohsiung.

Colleen's finished work so we are both retired now but sure have a lot to do before next Thursday morning's flight!

7 Canadian Days left

No the USA is not taking over Canada! Nor is Ottawa making any sweeping changes!

We will be over the Pacific before the end of next Thursday (the 6th for those like me challenged by this/next). Not much else to say right now. Lots of things to do but most are last minute stuff. I still need my underwear.

Please be remembering our family in prayer all are well but the strained connection ( near total lack thereof) with Jay & Julie continues. Please look after my son while we are away............

Feel free to ask direct questions if you see him or Julie. Loving, but direct.

Shallow thoughts, Deep thoughts

wow in 3 weeks we will be waking to our third day in Kaohsiung!

I had a twinge of sadness as I told my Power Hour small group I have 2 Sundays left. Of course some are still hoping for Travis to replace me but he is in College in Calgary now. He was one of my small group guys too QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO. Have I really been doing Power Hour small groups that long?

I was challenged and affirmed by David Barbour's message this morning I expect it will be at http://www.lakeviewchurch.com in a few days. He is refreshing much like Bob Opperman but a different style and applied many scripture references to carry forward the message of living in the WIDE OPEN POSSIBILITY of God. I am not able to do the words proper favour. I would like him to be our new lead pastor but I do not have all the considerations and perspective to make that call. I fully support the local and national teams making the decision.

I guess Colleen and I are embarking on one of those WOPs. Exciting. A bit scary, in a good way.

Thanksgiving videos

Videos are here. Photos are at Facebook.

23 dinner plates, 25 people of varying sizes, shapes and ages.

Backyard football fun and games.

Child dedications

This afternoon 6 more parents dedicated their 4 children to God! Many had the opportunity to stand with Elizabeth as she led Tanis, Jonathan, Kendall, Krista, Shona and Darren in dedicating Theo, Samuel, Bennett and Ivanna to God. Misha was even able to lay his hand on each brother in cooperation and affirmation.

Wow September passed with no posts

Today we watched a video tour of an apartment we might live in while in Kaohsiung. Sorry you will have to wait until we actually move in November.

Retired life is sorting out. I got 73% and 78% in my 2 Correspondence Courses for TEFL (google it if your don't know what it is). I will likley NEVER do correspondence again NOT MY LEARNING STYLE. I now have my Saskatchewan Electrical Contractors License. And 5 weeks from tomorrow we are ON THE PLANE.

GOD IS GOOD!

A range of thoughts

We are back to being empty nesters. Melissa is in Vancouver a couple days before getting back to Kaohsiung. I am finished my TEFL exams so we can get about the necessary tasks before we leave for Kaohsiung Nov 6th. Yikes so much in such little time!

yard work
a couple small renovation projects
Colleen working 25 hrs a week
me learning how to be retired and still productive
find our new relationship boundaries
LISTEN FOR GOD'S LEADING
rent the main floor for 5 months
deal with 2 vehicles while we are away(1 junker, 1 good)
insurance changes while we are gone
bill payment processing while we are gone
TAXES
Banking
connect with friends
LISTEN FOR GOD'S LEADING
find the connection with Jay and Julie
Keep Melissa working on any of our details
visas
housing
connect with Jay and Julie
LISTEN FOR GOD'S LEADING

My Pride and Joy

Melissa holding Gabriella

Melissa and Alexander

no other words needed

Retired! Projects? Contemplations!

Well, TEFL exams are done so I am starting to feel retired. Not bad since May 15th was my last official work day!

I've been thinking about how easy it was to blog daily several months ago when I was filled with angst and waiting for decisions. It will take a few more days to sort my thoughts.

Now that my courses are complete I can start developing my/our new schedule. Melissa is here visiting for 5 more days and then Nov 6th we fly to Taiwan for 5 months (not very far away!).

It's great to see progress with Corwin's adoption of Wilbur, Dillon growing, Gemma getting better, Glenn's olympic thoughts. Life is good!!!

It's August so we must be on another trip!!!

What a summer! It is such a blessing!

We picked up Melissa in Surrey on Wed. and drove to Qualicum Beach and then up to Colleen's sister's at Little Qualicum River. I had a great time helping Doug set up tents for today's wedding. Doug & Judy are planning their honeymoon trip to be to Taiwan while we are there. SUPER COOL!

All of Colleen's living siblings are in town for the wedding, And a Mexican fiesta tomorrow evening just in case there isn't enough celebrating! And there are lots from Doug's side too.

Many of you will also know I was able to see Alex and Gabriella a couple weeks ago, it was great and yet very tentative with the uncertainty of the past months and the months to come. God will prevail.

Now for me to be disciplined in the next 3 months before we leave for Taiwan. Yep 3 months from today we will be looking at our apartment in Kaohsiung. Melissa will be working on that as soon as she gets back.

Love to all

57 years used up!

Yep, older and maybe wiser......................................
not many clear thoughts tonight, many rambling and wandering thoughts. The 2 correspondence classes keep my mind fully occupied.

Tomorrow to PA for the day and this weekend to Crosby for a shared birthday celebration. My sister's death has created some new connections.

In 3 weeks and we will be in Vancouver picking up Melissa and heading to Qualicum Beach for a wedding.

Life is GOOD. Sure there are some aspects that have angst but when 2 people our age and stage can be seriously looking at living overseas for 5 months (by choice) how can things be bad?

Hang in everybody! Write often.

Life

Another week of studying Teaching English as a Foreign Language, finally into it far enough that it is generating interest rather than drawing on discipline. The grammatical terminology I've forgotten far outweighs what I remember. I'm on track to be ready for a break the first week of August and then 2 exams on August 16th. Please be praying for my diligence.

It may be mid August before I get back into my regular email pattern. All is reasonably well. We'll see Melissa about August 6th and bring her back from BC for a couple week's visit. Then she will go back to Kaohsiung to prepare for our November arrival.

HAPPY SUMMER TO EVERYBODY

Ordinary life, if there is such a thing

We had a quick trip to PA today to visit Colleen's Mom after she hurt her ear needing 9 stitches, some would say more stitches would leave a smaller scar. Time will tell.

This week is study, have coffee with a friend or 2 or 3, celebrate a friend's 60th birthday.

And try to catch up on some emails and small tasks around the house.

Still around and dealing with life

Well we are back from our 19 day, 5,800 km road trip. Rested. Colleen goes back to work tomorrow and I continue with my 2 University courses. I expect to load some pictures here and on Facebook in the next few days.

The weather has been and is expected to be wonderful for the next several days. I might even get some yard work done in my study breaks.

Small Corrections in Gabriella's update

A friend of Jay's passed along his email to her. Note the father's love and pride in his words.

She is here! Gabriella Marie was born Apr 29 - 5 weeks early. She was 5lb 3oz at birth and had to stay in NICU for 2 weeks to gain some weight, hardest 2 weeks of our lives - it doesn't feel right leaving your baby at the hospital and going home without her. She left the hospital at 5lb 5oz (after losing some). She's a perfect little angel. She's up to about 6lb 5oz now. Everyone says she looks just like me (minus the facial hair of course).

Please continue to pray for God's continued strength and healing for Gabby and all of us in her life.

Gabriella Marie Wriston arrived

Gabriella was born premature but healthy. She weighed 5 pounds and spent 3 weeks in NICU. Julie's mom said she is blonde and looks just like Jay. She was able to come down and care for Alex for 2 weeks which I'm sure was a great help.

I cannot find the words to express the mix of joy and sadness. At least the 2 grandmothers got to talk a bit. Now we have different mix of peace and turmoil, argh.

There is such a mix of physical, emotional and spiritual health aspects. Please remember us, Jay, Julie, Alex, Gabby and all the others in their lives especially Julie's Mom and her husband and Ian. God will lead your prayers.

Today and tomnorrow won't be quite as bad.

Each of you that has reached out through blog comments or Facebook have brought healing to my heart.

Now for Colleen and I to get our heads around the various impacts of the situation. I am trying to use only information I have and not entertained conclusions so far. I have enough trouble dealing with what I know without having to undo my guesses.

Thank you for your words, phone calls and prayers.

Holding the tears back......

I unwrapped my grandson's Christmas gifts today because I have no expectation of seeing him. I trust God that it will occur but after visiting Jay & Julie's place this afternoon I cannot keep the expectation alive. It is too painful.

The 5 minute conversation in the doorway seems to have accomplished nothing more than refreshing the wounds for all of us. Now I need to put Jay, Julie and Alex in God's container and leave it for God to open. It appeared Julie has had their baby but no mention or discussion was possible. So I place both of our grandchildren and their parent's in God's care. MANY TIMES A DAY!

Please pray for the hardness of heart, hurt, needs and whatever Jay and Julie need will be met.

I just realized I have THREE webpages!

Imagine! I went to a workshop here at General Conference about how to make a website in an hour. Well this is one of them! hmmm, well I do try to have a spiritual component as well.

It is a good conference. It's nice to realize I know a LOT of FM people across Canada. I got to reacquaint with Kris Gowdy, Suella (Merrit) McDonald, Nathan & Helen and my SCOD mates.

I'll add more as my thoughts clear.

Tuesday coffee with Ernest, maybe....................

Yahoo, the life of ease

well maybe not just yet. It will take at least a few days for the reality of not going back to work at the University after 32 years to settle in.

I am BUSY the next 4 days then have about 2 weeks to unwind, have coffee with Ernest and do things before our 3 week drive to Oklahoma-Kansas and back. July has no schedule so far except church and getting Colleen to work.

Melissa will be around much of August then she can go back to to Kaohsiung and start to seriously search for our apartment. September and October will finalize our preparations.

Ah retired life..............................................