Forest Fires
Northern Saskatchewan has had at least 592 forest fires
this year already, currently 113 active fires. Roughly 400,000 hectares (4000
square kilometres) which is equal to three times the size of New York City has
been affected by Saskatchewan wildfires this year. That does not include the
observation zone in remote areas, where wildfires are burning freely without
any firefighting efforts. There are currently more than 12,000 evacuees from 54
communities, 12 homes have been destroyed, and 600 people are fighting fires
with 360 additional military personnel.
Just in case you’re interested.
Camping Trip 2015
I may write more on this at a later date, but our camping
trip was nearly thwarted by northern wildfires. We decided to go with Rennie
& Bren this year and ended up at the Narrows Campground on the west side of
Lake Waskesui, about three hours south of our usual destination, Otter Lake. We had a lovely relaxed time together in the
lush remote campsite. The children were not deterred by the haze of smoke that
stopped our boating adventure or the fire ban slapped down on us one day in. They
happily played ‘city’, using empty campsites for their respective stores,
hospitals and restaurants. At one point I walked by to the washroom and they
were all gathered around a picnic table and Wyatt obviously had the floor. A
town council, I got told. So, when we decided to leave one day early most of
our group was cooperative and when we got back to the town of Waskesui and got
told we would have got evacuated yet that afternoon we were happy we had packed
up and left before nightfall. It’s all about memories, folks.
Zach
Zach is doing great. He has enough energy to fuel himself
and his two brothers, like usual. He has a very high pain tolerance which may
be good but has its challenges. As of this week, he can start bending and using
his back. The thing is he’s been riding bike (carefully, he says), running with
his leg crutch and playing wildly rolling around on the floor. The only thing I
worry about is that the stitches from a layer down are starting to peak
through. And as for his foot, do you want the short story or the Bronson story?
In emergency he got told he had two breaks, then two days later when
orthopedics came to decide if he needed surgery or not he got told there was
only one break and it wasn’t very bad. Two weeks ago when he went for his hard
cast they said no, he has one bad break and one chipped bone. The bad break
hasn’t healed at all (and apparently can’t be seen from a top view x-ray) and
if it’s ok and healing open he can have his cast off in two weeks but if indeed
it isn’t healing we are heading for surgery and pins. I’ve decided not to think
about it.
Social Life
Where do I start? We’ve been going strong… Warman Bible
School is currently half over, so tonight is a wiener roast and volleyball down
at the river. Last night we joined our friends at Pike Lake for supper with
Colin & Denise. Last Sunday we spent with the youth and Warman Bible School
committee and teachers. One day Michelle and I took our boys to the zoo
together, where Zach immensely enjoyed popping wheelies with the wheelchair. I’m
quite sure they enjoyed the animals too. Last Saturday we had the privilege of
having Gregorio & Joy Pedernal (Pat’s Philippino worker), their two sons,
Jethro (3) and Ezra (1), and Greg’s parents who have just moved to Canada from
the Philippines over for dinner. We had a very interesting time with them. We
also spent one weekend in Swan River with 150 youth and 40 youth leaders. That
was very very inspiring. We are so blessed! We travelled there and back with the
Leoville youth group and leaders on a big bus and that was fun too! There is no
want for excitement in my life. Just saying.
Inspiration
We had a beautiful message about the end time last
Sunday. I can’t remember exactly what inspired me but I know my heart said
amen, and my thirsty soul was quenched. The guest speaker at Singspiration had
an absolutely beautiful and inspired message about finding Rebecca at the well
(Genesis 24). I loved how open and truthful he talked about the desires of our
hearts and making sure we follow God’s leading. We did lots of singing on that
trip and I’m always blessed and inspired by singing. This was exceptional. I feel like I’ve been living such a busy life
that my needs have been shown me in a new and direct way. A small bad attitude
can flourish into an angry tempest in the blink of an eye and I realize again
that I’m so very needy, so very small, so unworthy of HIS great Love and
forgiveness.
Lawn & Garden
My garden is an epic fail. I’m trying to see the humour
in it and really, I’m glad I don’t have so much to take care of… but it’s a
little disappointing. First off, we had a really late hard frost, then a mole
took over most of my bedding plants and then the weeds invaded. Oh, and the
very first thing I did was order only a fraction of the corn I needed. So I
have about ten plants of corn (I ordered my corn from Audrey now instead) and a
skimpy row of carrots, the two cucumber plants got tilled under in my husband’s
zeal to help the weed situation and about a fifth of the pea row came up. Will
you laugh together with me at this point?!? The good news is that the grass is
green and lush, my lime hydrangea is blooming (!), the roses are full of blooms
and my two big pots of vines, spikes, ferns and coleus by my front door are
beautiful, if I may admit.
