So This Is Christmas

Well it seems that Christmas is ever so steadily creeping up on us and I'm not really sure what to make of it all. Christmas just isn't what it was to me, and I know those who know me know that, and I'm not going to whine about it but I'm just having a hard time getting excited about Christmas. I think it may be, in part, that each of the past several Christmases have been so different from the one previous. Not much is familiar so it all just seems strange and a little uncomfortable. I am excited about spending my first Christmas with my wife and the new traditions we will start but even as the day draws near and gifts are placed around the tree there is a certain angst that is surrounding this holiday for me. Maybe it is just predisposed at this point. I don't know. I don't want to be a Grinch or be a downer and I don't feel I have been, mostly. I just hope when the day arrives that I can capture a little Christmas Spirit. I'm sure I will. Though I'm not really basing that on anything.

Either way I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas with your family and friends celebrating the birth of Christ and enjoying the spirit of the holiday season. We all have lots to be thankful for and I pray that God would bless you over this holiday season.

Merry Christmas

It is that time of year again

Well Christmas is sneaking up on us (less then two weeks!) and as exciting as it can be it is also a time of stress. With the crowds, shopping, bad weather, Visa card number and what I own on it about the same, and just about any other factor you like can add the stress of this season. Also something that I am not involved in but am very much aware of is that this is exam time for students. I know they are in the thick of it at MCC. And because I care for these poor students so deeply I will pass on my Christmas exam/finals stress reliever to you. Or anyone else who may encounter stress over the holiday season. This little snow-globe does it for me! It is wonderful!

Hockey Weekend

Well last Saturday I was lucky enough to wake up at 4am. Lucky enough to get into the back seat of a car and drive for 8 or 9 hours. Lucky enough to walk down some weird streets in Montreal in the cold and wait in a crowd for doors to open to the Bell Center. And lucky enough to get into the Habs and Leafs game. It was a Christmas present from my brother Dan and his wife Janelle to Jacquelyn and I. Did I mention I love them very much! It was a really fun weekend and a great game even if the Leafs did blow it in the last 10 minutes. I had a great time and can't wait to do it again next year!

Counsel From the Wise

Sometimes in life we just run up against walls, get discouraged, and feel like we don't know what to do. I feel like that sometimes. At times like these you can feel like giving up or you can reach out for help. I prefer the latter. Don't get me wrong, I can be as prideful as they come and don't enjoy asking for help. But I find i benefit so much from drawing from the wisdom and experience of mature Christians. This week I was blessed by a few different older brothers in Christ whose experience, insight, and encouragement are like gas in the tank for my ministry. I believe an important part of our Christian walk is the respect of our elders. I don't just mean the church leaders nor do I simply mean those who have completed the task of evading death. But those who have a wealth of experience and wisdom that has given them strong Christian Character. What a wonderful blessing it is to take advantage of what they have to share. I'm glad that I haven't missed out on this resource and I hope you are wise enough yourself to do the same.

Well I guess Christmas is here

Yes it has to be true. The Santa Clause parade is tomorrow, our tree is up, and to top it all off... Tim Horton's has started handing out their Christmas cups to jump-start your morning with a cup of cheer. Yes indeed, last night my wife convinced me that to help put up the tree and so we dug the thing out and assembled it. Before we even had it up and lit (it is a pre-lighted tree.. YES!!!) our lovely little dog Kadin had ripped off a small piece from the bottom and chewed it all up. It was kind of funny. But yes, if Santa Clause was coming tomorrow, we'd be ready... decoration wise anyways. Although if he came in and did the dishes instead of leaving gifts I wouldn't complain that much. Still on my to do list...

And Kadin got her gift early this year. A new kennel as she has completely outgrown the one Ian and Vic lent us (thanks guys!) so once the tree was up, Kadin helped me put her kennel together, although she really wasn't much help!!


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Ever feel like this?

Ever have the feeling that people are just trying to be negative? Trying to find something to complain about, waiting for someone to slip up? Waiting for that moment to pounce. There is a quote from the the first spider-man movie that says, "The one thing people love more then a hero, its to see a hero fail, fall... die trying." And we just love to attack and complain and criticize don't we? An article or two in the news paper was brought to my attention where two different people wrote about issues they had with the ceremony at the cenotaph last weekend. One felt that people should not have brought their dogs and seemed quite offended that people would do this. There was no mention however of the dogs being disruptive, loud, or wild. He just didn't like that they were there and felt their owners lacked good judgment and respect. Another actually wrote in complaining that some people had coffee at the ceremony with the article's title, "Are coffee cups needed at the cenotaph?" This was also an article feeling those who had their "Tim's" with them were disrespectful. However it doesn't seem like these folks were paying much attention to the ceremony themselves but rather scanning for something to complain to the editor of the newspaper about. I'll leave it to you to decide which you think is more "disrespectful."

I've often wondered how some people are offended so easily but I think it may be that some, for whatever reason, actually enjoy taking offense and want something to gripe and complain about. A reason to tear into someone else or belittle them. Maybe even really others against them. It is sad.

Here is the worst part however. When offense is taken, is it natural to approach the person who offended you and discuss your problem with them? No. Its to talk to other people about how terribly offensive this person (or persons) is and maybe even write to the freaking news paper about it. Rally the troops and attack.

Imagine if we took some of that energy and tried to encourage one another, build one another up, and if need be rebuke one another in a loving way. Imagine if we had a problem with someone and didn't trash them, but spoke to them like a person, IN PERSON. Wow, that would cool.

Deer Ol Dad

While the fact remains that a can't spell (i blam spel cheq) I have not misspelled my title. In this post I would like to inform you that my Dad got his deer on the weekend and it was a DANDY! 8 point buck, 219 pounds feild-dressed. So I'll be looking forward to getting some deer steak off you Dad! So that is awesome. I have fond memories of hunting with my dad and I was really excited to get his call on Saturday letting me know that he shot a big deer. It kind of makes me miss home a little. I wish I could have been there to be a part of the excitment. Oh well, what can ya do. I spent my Saturday putting in wood with the help of Jamie and Nicole (Nickey) who will be married pretty soon. We had a great day and a great feed. Fun times indeed.
By the way, I don't want any comments on here complaining about pictures of dead animals. What do ya think your Wendy's Classic Single is made out of anyways?!
Anyways, Way to go Dad!

The Mother Load

So this was quite a busy weekend and I have lots to tell you a bout so strap yourself in and here we go!

In The Box

This week good friends of mine Andrew and his Dad Phillip gave me the opportunity go work the penalty box doors For... Your PEI ROOOOOOOOCKET! (as Kirk says) So that was really cool and a very neat experience. And apparently, as Friday night's game was televised, I was on TV while there was a bit of a crowd in the box. Did it Friday and Saturday. Leafs won over the #1 Sabers that night too! Woot!

Black Eyed Me... Part 2

So I got a new helmet CCM with TML blue (snazzy). AND I didn't find the time to take the visor off my old helmet and put it on the new one besides the fact that I find the visor kind of annoying anyways. As I played on Friday night I liked my new helmet and found I would see a lot better without the foggy plastic in front of me. That was until there was about 7 minutes left and when two sticks collided with the puck it flew up my stick right into my left eye. (This has happened before!) So I covered my eye, crashed into the boards and fell to the ice. When I removed my hand I couldn't see anything out of that eye. But only because of the blood. My eye is perfectly ok and the cut wasn't very bad at all. I slapped a band-aid on there and went back out. And the sub-title is a little deceiving because the eye never did turn black. It actually looks pretty good. Here is a pic. I'll put up a pic later of how much worse it looked last time when the cut was further away from my eye and needed stitches. (tho he just glued it) Either way my eye is looking and feeling fine. Though I'll have to put off those grad pics for a little longer... sorry mom.

Rats Rats, Double Rats

Well it was mildly annoying when we thought we had mice (which we still do) but I think the mice will be gone soon. Not because we have killed them off, though we have killed some, but rather because I would guess that the RATS will eat them!!! AHHH! The one I saw was friggin huge AND he got out of the friggin glue trap! He pulled a brick on the trap and used it to pry himself off! So I'm not sure what the next step will be. I even had a conventional trap set. He snagged the bait and didn't even set off the trap!!!

Well there ya go. 3 posts in one! I'll post again soon when I hope my life is a little less interesting! Rats.

All in my head... or on it

So yesterday after our men's breakfast (oh how I love and NEED the men's breakfast) I went to get my hair cut at the mall. I hate paying so much for a haircut when I'm used to paying like 7 bucks at home. Either way I went into the mall to get my hair cut. I plopped down on the chair and had a good conversation with the girl that cut my hair, she was really nice. However something a little different happened. After she trimmed my beard a little and my side burns she did something that no other hair dresser has done to me before. Without warning she grabbed a comb, ran it through one of my eyebrows and said, "Why don't we fix this?!" and ran the trimmer over the comb. She then proceeded to do the other eyebrow and THEN!!!! She took the trimmer without the comb and eliminated my unibrow!!!! I couldn't believe it! I was sitting there in the chair dying, trying not to laugh. My poor unibrow! I had flashbacks to an appointment in that same mall where, while washing my hair, one lady helpfully suggested, "We do eyebrows ya know!" To which my reply was that I'd stick with just the one. Unreal. So I no longer have my beloved unibrow.

Then in the afternoon I was off to the dentist where I had another new experience... Floss. I don't floss, never have really. And now I think I know why. Because it freakin hurts!!!! Ouch! It was agonizing. My gums hurt and bled so much. They still hurt today. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to have nightmares about floss.

But the hair and teeth are lookin good! I guess it just hurts to look this good!! Oh yeah.

Halloween... spooky

Boo! Ahhh! Run! Yep, it is Halloween again, the spookiest (is that a word?) day of the year. Tonight all kinds of goblins, witches, super-heros and Jack-o-lanterns will be out door to door trick or treating. I would say the sacriest part of the whole thing would be if you have to be out driving, trying not to run over anyone! Whose idea was this anyways? Hey, lets get kids to dress in dark, spooky, clothes and then send them out into the dark streets on a sugar high so they can get hit by a truck!

Ahh it brings back memories of my trick or treating days. Hours would be spent contemplating the perfect costume. The day would arrive and I would get all my gear together only to have my mother make me wear my winter jacket over the costume anyways!But this can be a scary day with all kinds of bright lights of the community going around throwing eggs and setting things on fire. But I'm not worried. I showed up at work today only to find that I have some Super-Hero protection in the office next to me. Good day for him to show up I figure since some spooksters showed up outside my door this morning.

Happy Halloween.

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Fellowship

Yesterday was a good day. We had church in the morning where it was good to meet with the congregation in worship. I spoke on fellowship and felt that the message went well. We hung around and chatted for a while and then headed home to cook up a feast! We had good friends of ours Ian, Vic, and Barkley (the dog) over for a mid-afternoon pig-out. Jacquelyn and Victoria set the table, did up the corn and all that fun stuff while Ian and I handled the meat. And Kadin and Barkely played outside and got completely covered in mud.

It was just a great day to relax, eat and enjoy the company and fellowship of good friends. God has blessed us so much that we can all be a part of His body and live in harmony with one another. We have been so blessed with good friends and we thank God for it.

And the Leafs winning on Saturday night just makes it that much sweeter.
Good weekend.

Happy 500 Sundin

Wow, what a great game, what a great player, and what an amazing career! Mats Sundin led the Leafs to victory as Caption Clutch scored a shorthanded, hat-trick, overtime, 500th career goal. Now that is a mouthful. He is a player who has withstood a lot of criticism but his numbers and class are much louder then the Sundin and Leaf haters. Time and time again he is the one to step up and make the big play for the leafs. He is a big, strong exciting player and he is having a big year for the Leafs already. Way to go Mats!

Adding to the family

Well I had to keep the secrete until Thanksgiving and it was a close a few times but now I can blog about what most already know (if you know me personally that is) and that is there is a new little one in our family. Her name is Kadin and she is our little (getting big fast though) Golden Retriever puppy. She is wonderful and mostly everything she does is cute so it can be hard to discipline her. I wont go on and on though in case you are not a dog person but let me just tell you about her name and then I shall depart or at least hit the "publish post" button.

Kadin is (no doubt brutally mispronounced) Arabic for "friend." My first dog Chimo is Indian for "friend." The grandfather of all the dogs in Bonshaw was named "Woodstock" because that is where he was from in the late 80's or early 90's. Same place as Chimo so they are likely relatives. Very cool in my opinion. Anyways if you want to see some pics of her or just from my wonderful life then you can click here.

Crows... I hate them

I live in a pretty nice spot these days and you can see the sunrise here through the picture window. I really enjoy the space and the view. I like the sound and smell of the ocean. It really is a little piece of heaven... for the most part. You see there is one small set back and I'm sure you have guessed where this is going if you read the title. We have about 200-250 crows that hang out around here. I hate crows. I mean I really can't stand them. They are a bunch of chattereing desease bags, they crap all over everything they are loud and I just don't like them hanging around. I can't even believe how many there are. They come around a few times a day and when they do you can't hear a thing but crows. So if you are finding yourself with nothing to do some morning or evening and you want to come out and visit with a 20 gadge and make some target practise out of my little feathered friends I'll have my wife cook you dinner! How does that sound. Jacquelyn doesn't much care for the crows either as you can see.

I'm in

Well it's been a long road but I have finally been voted in as the Associate Minister at the Sherwood Church of Christ. It is certainly nice to know this is where we are going to be and we are excited to be here. We are also excited about all the new things we are experiencing in life. My wife and I are almost completely moved out to Canoe Cove and it is wonderful to live in the country again. I will post a pic later of the view from our back deck. We have our HOUSE (not really ours, we just live there but still!) pretty well set up and its not even embarrassing to have people over! It is wonderful to be out of that apartment with all the crazy's.

Side note
We had a neighbor who lived above us and across the hall who liked to borrow things a lot and while we were moving some of our furniture she actually asked me if we were moving out or moving in! She comes to my door all the time and I've lugged her groceries upstairs countless times! Moving out or moving in!!?? Holy cow.

So its nice to be out there and its wonderful to BBQ, Thanks Dan and Janelle! I'm enjoying this time in my life with my wife and I am feeling blessed today indeed!

Birthday Blog

Well today I turn 22 years old. Wow-wee. Last night I was young out back splitting wood by hand. Today I feel old and sore. Not really. I don't really make of birthday's. Not my own anyways. In fact I forgot it was my birthday this morning when I woke up until my wife wished me a happy birthday.

This birthday is a little different however. This is my first birthday as a married man and it is also the first time that I can remember where my twin brother Dan and I have been apart. (his birthday today too for anyone who might be a little behind) I've missed him a lot since fall arrived. We always lived apart in the summers but we always would be together again in the fall. It is still kind of weird to me not to have him close by where I can see him anytime I want. We still call a lot and stuff but it's still not the same. When you are a twin, your twin is a big part of what makes your birthday special. It's funny how when you're a kid you think it's kind of lame to have to share your birthday but now at 22 I'd like to be in Burtt's Corner or have Dan here in PEI.

He's my best friend (besides my wife of course) and I guess after 21 years of living together it takes a while to adjust. So here is something that only he, and maybe a few others will get on our birthday.

"Happy happy birthday on your special day!
Happy happy birthday in a special way NOW
Happy happy birthday may all your dreams com true
Happy happy birthday from all of us to you!"

Wheres my french fries, I've been here for four days!!!

And this is a look back at those 21 years from the toast I made for Dan's wedding stealing the song he used for mine. Happy Birthday Dan.

Big Day

Yesterday was the definition of a "Big Day." Now this term, "big day" is one that is most often coined by my buddy Graham or brother Dan from home. I've asked before when they say, "have a big day!" what it means and the explanation is like: An exciting meaningful kind of day like a birthday or something. Well yesterday was a birthday of sorts. But not mine. Yesterday I had the opportunity to preach on worship to @ the Sherwood Church of Christ which is nothing too out of the ordinary as I am currently one of the preaching ministers there. The worship service was great and the sermon went well but what made this a BIG DAY was when my good buddy Andrew Burt came to the front before I preached to give me a hug and some wonderful news and following the sermon when he carried out this news when I baptized Andrew into Christ. Wow! What an amazing thing. I'm so proud of you Andrew! Then we went to Pizza Delight with his folks and off to camp Sunday.

At camp Sunday we watched a video made by the amazing Tyler MacDougall, had a worship time, a testimony, and a short message. THEN we made our way down to the beach where I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize Tyler. What an amazing day. You could feel a strong presence of God throughout the day and it was AWESOME. I'm truly thankful for these two men who have made their commitments. God bless you both.

What a BIG DAY!

In Deep

Now by the looks of the title of this post it would seem that I am in trouble or in love or in a jam of some sort and while all of that may be true on some level it is not what this post is about. Actually it is because last night my wife and I purchased a "Deep Freeze." 5 cubic feet of cold because the tiny freezer on our tiny fridge just isn't going to cut it especially when we move out to the country hopefully by next week. Yet again, not my point. So before you give up on me I'll get to it. Last night to get this rig out to my new abode I needed a lift. Not a drive, but someone to help me lift it. So I called up my good buddy James. Why? Because James is a good friend who 9 times out of 10 will be there in a moments notice to help me with whatever I'm in need of. And I'm telling you it is good to have a few good friends you can count on. God has blessed me with some great friends and James is one of them. Someone who there whether I need a lift, an ear or a punch. You are rich indeed when you have people you can count on in this life.

Sawin Wood

Last night after I picked up my lap top from Future Shop (Yessssss!) I checked my messages and heard a message from by good buddy Jason who told me if I wanted to get some of the winter's wood sawed up that he'd give me a hand. This was very helpful seeing as he has a chainsaw and I don't. So I grabbed my work boots and headed out the door and we arrived at the wood pile and got a good bunch of wood sawed up given the time we had. I really enjoyed it. There really isn't anything fun about it really, I'm not all to sure why I find it so relaxing. You have to move and lug heavy logs, smell chainsaw exhaust, get sawdust in your eyes and it can be hard work. But the sweat, wood, and the smell of the saw really took me home. I couldn't help but think of the many years I lived at home and we put wood in every year. We always did it together. My Dad, my brother, Chimo (supervisor) and I. And we would often have some other family help as well. Again it was hot, hard work but when I look back on it I can't help but think, "Man, that was fun." I guess sometimes you don't realize the fun you're having while you're having it. Those were good days and I guess I really miss them a lot sometimes.

Back To School

Yes indeed, it is that time of year again. Back to school, but not for me! Yes it is hard to believe but for the first time in 16 years, School is starting and it is doing so without me. It is a dark day for school indeed. Sort of a weird day for me though. I very much have a feeling like "holy crap, I must be late or something I better get to school!" But it must be just gas or something because I have graduated High School, I have graduated from college and School is something I don't have to do again, for a little while anyways.

So this is the real world. No school but a job and an wife to support. We are in the middle of moving. Man I hate moving. And I have to get all my information switched over to PEI. I need to find out if we can get a cheaper insurance rate before my wife's runs out very soon. I have to get my tire for the truck fixed and the car needs a new muffler. I'm all sweaty, I can't breathe... I'm cold and there are wolves after me.

I think I miss school.

Or at least the last class, I get very glad in the last class. S'glad.