Time to Update

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.