nostalgia

A quick post about our very quick visit to Winnipeg over the weekend... we had a very packed few days.

Friday night, we took in KPAC's worship arts cafe.  It was awesome... this is an annual production put on by the Worship pastor at the church we went to in Winnipeg.  The first 'act' was Japanese drumming by the Fubuki Daiko troupe in training.  It was really great. 

 I have to say that the highlight of the evening  (at least for me) was Neil.  Neil is this guy who was baptised about a year ago, and he has this amazing story of being lost and searching....and then finding what he'd been looking for.  A persistent friend said 'I'm sticking with you while you search and fail and fall on your face, because I know what you're searching for and I want to be right beside you when you're ready to grasp it.'  Eventually, Neil was ready, and he plugged into a church home, a men's group, even moved in with a family from his faith community.  On Friday night, there was Neil, singing his heart out with the Choir.  They did a song with a repeated chorus of Alleluias and somehow I only heard Neils voice singing those praises!  He is a tremendous inspiration and I love seeing the fruit of his growing relationship with his Creator.

  

Saturday, the kids and I helped out with the Variety Gala set up, an annual thing we always did that we didn't have to miss out on this year!  It was fun, although we didn't get to do the table setting that had become the kids annual job.  instead we tied ribbons on plants.  Many, many artificial shrubs and greenery type stuff.    Then Bren and I went to the Gala in the evening.  It was nice, and I really miss working at Variety.. but don't worry Rosy, there was no one wooing us back!  We had decided last year to do a live auction for Variety's special needs program at this year's gala, and they stuck with that idea.  Would you believe they  raised about $6o,000 in about 15 minutes?  They auctioned off Play Centre items for Cancer care Manitoba, Parent support software for the Victoria Speech and Hearing Clinic, a boat for Camp, a Wig for a preschooler, tons of other stuff.  What a blessing it was to see all the skepticism about having an auction like this put to rest!  We've always done auctions for jewels, trips, a Vespa once, ... I was so impressed that folks opened their wallets even more for an auction that didn't provide any personal benefit at all.  We really enjoyed seeing all the volunteers, the committee, .. we got lots of hugs and kisses and felt very welcomed!  And Monty Hall was there, that was cool!  We'd met him at a different event a few years ago.

Sunday we went to Fort Garry MB, where we attended for many years until we moved to the inner city and went to church there for a while.  They've added on and have an awesome building now.  The Bethany players were there, and this was our first time seeing them.  I had hoped that some of my family would come and see them, but everyone had stuff going on...

we also saw lots of familiar faces from the past there!  And the Players (and Doug!) delivered a great message.  I think if I had to choose,  my favorite thing was the flagging. 

Monday, we drove home in time to go to the YFC Saskatoon banquet.. they have an AMAZING ministry.  I was really struck with the way that they (seemingly effortlessly) combine outreach to youth who are not yet believers with leadership development of youth who demonstrate deep commitment and faith... 

The REASON for our trip was of course a new baby in the family.. so we all enjoyed every minute that we spent with Haily.  I slept with her a little each night, then brought her to mom when she was ready to eat.  I did that with TJ last year, too.  I wonder if Karen will let me sleep with her in July.. although we don't usually share a cabin.. hmmm.?!?

Thats our whirlwind weekend in a few paragraphs.  Thanks for reading and staying in touch with us.

take care.