What a week!

1. I was recognized by the church and it turned out to be a lovely service. I feel blessed by those who attended and by so many who sent cards, notes and messages.

2. Canuck`s lost the playoffs and a HUGE and terrible riot happened in Vancouver. Enough said.

3. I talked to my Dad and we have one of the best conversations ever!

4. Tomorrow I will celebrate my nephew`s sixth birthday. The critters guy will be at the party and he will bring along 10 critters to share (spiders, lizards etc). I think I will be hiding in the kitchen.

Tonight is the night!

My recognition service is tonight.

A service to officially recognize me as a Recognized Designated Lay Minister and to lift up the 18 years of ministry that I`ve completed so far. It`s taken a year for a church committee to work through my recognition process.

Today I am feeling thankful for the church and feeling disappointed in it too.

Hopefully tonight will be lovely.

Pentecost Picnic

Yesterday in the church we celebrated Pentecost with ribbons, music, fire, scripture and a picnic! About 130 people stayed for the picnic which was an amazing turn out. I bought 120 of everything (hot dogs, buns, plates etc.) and we ran out. That`s always a good sign. The weather was warm and wonderful allowing for egg relays, face painting, games, bocci and water balloon activities to happen. Everybody seemed to have a great time and my colleague said it was the best picnic he has ever been apart of. Yay!

Antique Shop

This is one of my favourite shops to visit. I always find wonderful things to bring home.

Hockey Town

Lucky Local Day!

In the market I found an incredibly amount of delicious local food....
onions
garlic
red peppers
yellow peppers
bok choi
spinach
mushrooms
carrots
baby potatoes
rosemary, dill and basil

In the butcher....
I bought two ethically raised chicken breasts and 10 pieces of bacon

I cooked dinner for Mom and we had a great feast. The smells coming from the kitchen were incredible.

What a lucky day!

TGIF!

The sun is FINALLY shining today! It`s been a long season of rain this year. My week off is going well. I am getting lots of rest, lots of house projects done and lots of time to reflect & plan my future worship services. Mom flies home today and will be here for the month. I can`t wait to pick her up. It`s been a long time.

Local Season Begins!

June 1st makes for a perfect day to begin a season of eating locally. I`ve been in the winter rut of eating lately and it`s time to get back on the bandwagon. My two favourite & inspiring books are ``Animal Vegetable Miracle`` by Barbara Kingsolver and ``The 100 Mile Diet`` by Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon. I read them every year. Together they create perspectives and resources from the USA and Canada. A great mix!

The 100 mile diet, if strictly followed, requires participants to eat food that is grown & produced within 100 miles of their home. This includes every ingredient in a product. Exceptions are allowed if we state them in the beginning. So my exceptions are:
1. Any Fair Trade products including coffee, sugar, spices
2. Ethically raised meat and wild seafood or fish.
3. Social Life Amendment (Meal invitations with family & friends)
4. Travel

So today I began. I visited my local farmer`s market and I spent time in my garden.

At the market I found:
cheese
salad greens (a variety of Fraser Valley leaves)
rhubarb
potato's
two tomato plants grown by Kwantlen College`s Horticulture Students

In my garden I picked:
chives
lettuce
basil

ZUMBA

ZUMBA classes begin tonight. I am excited to try a new activity! I love a new challenge and gaining exercise all at the same time will be an added bonus. It will also be nice to meet some new friends.

Off to Conference!

BC Conference meets this week in Penticton. I am leaving today and making the five hour trip up to the interior. This year I am on the Children at Conference team (again!). I am pretty sure it will be my final year. It`s time to hang up another hat and let other people have a chance to offer their leadership. Next year, Conference will happen at UBC. Nice and close to home. It will be grrrreat!

Victoria Day!

I love the silence of Sunday mornings on long weekends. The world around my neighbourhood is so still. It`s beautiful. All I hear are the sounds of birds. All I smell is bacon waffling through the windows of my neighbours. It`s probably one of the only times when the world wakes up slowly.

Tomorrow is Victoria Day. The day Canada recognizes it`s relationship with the Queen and England. It`s also unofficially the beginning of the summer season. For the first time in 21 years (21!!) I am not away at camp with a group of teenagers. It feels a little strange. Instead I am spending the weekend at home. In my town I am surrounded by the Cloverdale Rodeo. One of the last places I would find myself at. It`s interesting to see all the tourists in town.

Wedding 2

Looks like I will be officiating a September wedding! Tonight I met with a couple who were recommended to me by a mutual friend. I was really nervous but the hour went well and I think everything will work out just fine. The wedding will happen at a well known golf course on a Sunday afternoon. It will be Wedding 2 for officiating!

Circus!

On Saturday I took my 13 year old nephew to the circus. It was a youth circus and it was brilliant!! I was incredibly impressed with the entire, two hour show. All the participants were under 18 years old and were highly qualified in their areas of speciality. One of the teens from my church trains on the ladder. He balanced a ladder on his face and completed many other tricks. The neatest thing is that his photo made it into the local newspaper. How fun!

Global Experience 2011

It`s Official! I am heading to CHINA this summer!!!! My friends won a land tour package to China and they gifted it to me. Wow! I`ll be going on a 10 day Historic Tour through Beijing and Xi`an including the Great Wall of China, the Terra Cotta Warriors, Tiananmen Square and lots of markets. We will be taking a train from Beijing to Xi`an which should be very interesting. I am really excited. Time to get a tour book!

Eat Pray Love

Somedays I just want to leave and head out on my own Eat, Pray, Love adventure. Maybe one day I will.

Final Interview

Today I had my final interview with the Fraser Presbytery Education & Students Committee and after a year long process I have officially been recommended to be recognized as a Designated Lay Minister in the United Church of Canada!!!! This means I will be able to work in any congregation in team or solo ministry. One day I might just have my very own congregation! The official ceremony will happen on Tuesday, June 14th at 7pm at Crescent United Church. All are welcome to attend.

Retreat Time!

The sun is shining and I am leaving today for a two night, three day retreat hosted by the church. We will be staying at a new retreat lodge in Abbotsford. My second retreat in Abbotsford within the last three weeks. Amazing! This time I actually get to attend and participate and I won`t be leading anything. I can`t wait to dig into a new book, go for great walks and do some deep personal reflecting and thinking. I am so thankful to have this opportunity.

2011 Garden List

I have three gardens on the go this year. One is fully planted. One is half way done and the other has yet to be started! I hope to finish all the planting by the end of this week.

Corner Patch (Backyard of a neighbour)
Strawberries, lettuce, beets, basil, peppers, zucchini, cucumber, peas, tomatoes and potatoes, carrots

Balcony Garden
Onions, strawberries, peppers, rhubarb, mint, parsley, basil, dill, cilantro, lavender, blueberries and lots of lettuce

Garden Plot
chives, broccoli, potatoes, onions and more lettuce. I might also try corn for the first time this year.

It will be interesting to see what works out this year. I can`t wait for a tasty summer season.

Mom & Daughter Weekend!

I am SO excited! My Mom arrives this morning and we will spend the weekend together. We will be shopping, gardening, watching the wedding of the year, attending a fashion show and church on Sunday. It looks to be a fun & enjoyable weekend.

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter day! Christ is Risen! Allelulia!