Hiatus

Heading out camping with the fam - check back near the end of August!

Allen Pond outing

Maple Shaved Ice

I took the kids to Millarville Market yesterday while Leslie had a morning out with the girls.

Maple syrup over shaved ice - delish!

The Walking Wounded

Here's to all the walking wounded...

to those still carrying a little heartbroken boy or girl inside;
to those who feel rejected and lonely;
to those who woke up with a dull ache inside;
to those who are wondering where God is in the midst of their deep pain;
to those whose past wounds have been pulled opened yet again;
to those weary and worn out and longing for some place called home;
to those in the darkness who can't seem to find the light;
to those who wonder if they will ever find love;
to those who feel misunderstood;
to the abandoned and discarded;
to those who feel they are running out of reasons to get out of bed each morning;
to those who are smiling on the outside but dying on the inside;
to those suffering in silence.

Here's to the walking wounded...

Written by Jim Palmer "Wide Open Spaces"

Porn & Theiving - Uncensored

I was asked to write an article for my denomination on the topic of mentoring. The premise was that I'd use my story & how someone had impacted my life and how I in turn am impacting others lives.

I got a package from a guy in the editorial dept. this week with the printed article. Truth told, I don't read our periodicals. However, Leslie read through my article and asked me if I knew the sentence referring to "pornography and shoplifting" was edited out. I didn't realize it had.

My final draft included this paragraph:

"Lee was there for me and made himself available at a time when my life was a rollercoaster. Between the ages of 15-17 years old I had gotten deeply into pornography and shoplifting. I was between a relationship with God and an anger at the world so intense that I had a willingness to take on all comers. I was struggling in high school, working my way toward graduation and career choices I didn’t know which way to choose. Despite these things festering unknowingly below the surface to the onlooker, Lee invited me into his life. He accepted me."

The article needed to be shortened to fit the space allotted and so the following was to be the paragraph going to print:

"Lee was there for me at a time when my life was a rollercoaster. I had gotten deeply into pornography and shoplifting. I was struggling in high school and confused about career choices. I harbored an intense anger at the world. But Lee accepted me for who I was."

When the magazine comes out in August, the edited version (which I was unaware of and didn't approve of) reads:

"Lee was there for me at a time when my life was a rollercoaster. I was struggling in high school and confused about career choices. I harbored an intense anger at the world. But Lee accepted me for who I was."

Unfortunately that one sentence was omitted. Why - not sure? To keep the magazine clean? To not offend readers? Because someone at the source of editing & printing was uncomfortable with those words?

Well, whatever the reason, those two issues were a big part of my story. By editing them out that section is inaccurate & doesn't make complete sense - nor is it authentic. It's a story but it isn't mine.

These are the days I know I know I know...

Constantly thinking, continuously processing, wondering, waiting - always growing not knowing but living by trust - hoping

I love watching the stampede (mostly the bucking horses and kicking bulls). I cheer for the horses and bulls to buck the crap out of the riders and toss them off before the horn. I love it!

I can feel my father in me. I feel like him from time to time like he's the one speaking, not me even though I hear myself saying the words. I feel like his mannerisms are coming through me even though I'm the one moving. It's really weird.

My church closed 6 months ago. Some relationships I thought were gone have resolidified themselves. Some friends I thought were friends have proven not so. I'm at a good place - settled & satisfied with what was & is.

I've been feeling my way through continuous life change as a result of an ongoing shift in my thinking. I'm certain I will not lead nor be a member of an organized church again in my life. It's not where my heart or head are.

I've been working at Starbucks for the last 4 months on a part time basis. Among the benefits of being in my community, working alongside my neighbours and making new friends - it further gets me thinking on paid 'professional' clergy & the priesthood of all believers.

I look at & play with my kids sometimes thinking and feeling like a kid myself. Do we ever really grow up or do our body's just change & get bigger? Sometimes it seems like the latter.

None Taken

The kids and I are doing some painting while Leslie is away & will surprise her when she gets home (no she won't be checking online while she's away...I don't she will!)!

Tonight I was finishing up when Julia (my 6 year old sweetie) enters the room and says, "Dad, you're the best painter in the world!" Jake (my 10 year old & getting older) quickly follows up with, "He's not the best in the world. No offense dad." I responded with a Harry, "No, none taken."

Just like your older kid to come along and put things into perspective - thanks J-man.

Dumb & Dumber has been on the brain - it's been a while, I really should give it a lookie!

Goodbye my Looovvveee...

Leslie left yesterday to be the guest for the kids programming segment at Moms & Tots camp...we all missed her today.

Puberty

So.. I'm sitting in the living room with Joel (my eight year old) where out of the corner of my eye I see him looking at his frozen yogurt popsicle. Joel says to me, "I think this popsicle is going through puberty." I said, "Why?" Joel replies, "Because it has a hair on it."

I laughed hysterically - he didn't see why it was so funny!