Victoria

I was away for a second weekend in a row. The timing was not great, but teacher professional days are set the year before and the province wide one is a big one. So, Lesley and I decided to go to the primary teacher's conference in Victoria. We left on Thursday already so that we wouldn't have to take a ferry the morning of the conference. The weather on Thursday was beautiful and the ferry ride was amazing because of the views, but also the colours of fall and the sunset. The conference was at The Empress and the attached conference center. What a beautiful venue. And so close to everything. So in our free time we were able to walk and explore downtown Victoria. 

The conference itself was actually really good. Unfortunately I have been to a lot of terrible professional days where I learn nothing. This was definitely one of the better ones. Of course it helped a lot that we made a weekend of it and were also able to enjoy the pool and sauna in the hotel. But still, I took notes, I learned some new things and I got a lot of ideas for things I will implement into my classroom. 

Since we stayed until Saturday, which was a completely free day, we were able to have a lazy morning, go for brunch and do some shopping. Arriving home on the 5pm ferry and passing Tsawwassen Mills was just too great a temptation, so we made a "quick" stop. All in all, it was one of the best professional days ever.

Women's Retreat

Recently, I had a fabulous time at my third Christ City women's retreat. In the past I have often eschewed women's events because they are often corny and full of awful icebreaker games and singing Kumbaya and holding hands. Well, that last part might be an exaggeration, but you get the idea. I don't know why some people think that women prefer Chicken Soup For The Soul over solid Bible teaching, but that seems to often be the case. But not at Christ City and especially not this time. We had a great Bible teacher who went through Ephesians with us. She made us think and discuss and pray and it was meaningful and deep. I have often said that my measure of a good lecture or sermon is whether it challenges me and makes me think. Well, I am still pondering over the messages from the retreat two weeks later.  

The retreat was at Rockridge in Princeton and the drive there sucked. Sally my roommate and I regretted signing up for the retreat at all. It was dark and rainy and we had worked all day. But, when we finally got to the retreat, we immediately changed our minds. We saw friends, our room was great, the resort was beautiful and had lots of lounging areas. There was lots of time to hang around, walk, eat, read and drink tea. I was able to catch up with friends and get to know some new people. Even though there were about 150 women at the retreat, there was ample space and lots of different areas for chilling, so it never felt crowded or like there were too many people.

I came away from the retreat refreshed and happy. 

San Francisco

I spent last weekend in San Francisco with my friend Lesley and her two daughters. It was such fun. We walked a lot. We took in some sights. We shopped. We ate great food. We read books. We sat by the pool. The hotel we stayed at was right in Fisherman's Wharf, so there was lots to see just by walking down the block.

Timing

I went to a beautiful celebration of life for my childhood pastor today. It was like a slice of heaven: the music, the atmosphere, the hymns, connecting with old friends. The timing of it was so curious, or should I say providential. This morning I heard devastating news that a preacher that I look up to has had a moral failing and has had to step down from all his ministries. I don't know him personally, although I have heard him speak in person. I really thought that he was one of the solid ones; I couldn't imagine him failing, and yet here we are. But I have to admit, that although he was a powerful preacher and expositor of God's Word, I have no idea who he was when he stepped off the stage.

Someone I did know, on and off the stage, was my childhood pastor. So, interesting that it was his life we were celebrating in memoriam today. To admire someone from afar is one thing, but to know someone in a small church for 35 years is quite another. I have blogged about him before, so I won't go into it here. But, I am very blessed that I have had the privilege of knowing many strong pillars of the Christian faith up close and personal. And I am so thankful that they have been unshakeable and strong. That their moral character has been strong and unwavering. So yes it's terribly sad that a well known preacher has fallen from grace, but it happens. No one is invincible. But today we celebrated the life of someone I knew, who helped shepherd me as my pastor and who lived out an exemplary Christian life. I am so grateful for his example, for his faithfulness and integrity. I am who I am today in part because of the church he shepherded for 16 years. 

My pastor is on the left. He officiated our wedding 25 years ago, together with my grandfather, who is on the right.

September

September is the worst. I don't mind returning to work, or the coming of fall. What I can't stand is the uncertainty that September brings. Everything restarts, but it's all very unstable and unknown. What will our weekly schedule look like? Which teachers will my kids get? What will my own class be like? Who will be my support workers? What will the new staff be like? Who will be in my Bible study group? Everything in September is in flux and unsettled and I can't stand it.

Because everything restarts, there is also a lot of introductory sessions. Meet the teacher nights-both as parent and as teacher. Back to school barbecues. Fall launches. September drags on and on and I can't wait for everything to normalize. 

So, every year I can't wait for October. I love routines. I love knowing what to expect. I love being able to plan my life because I know what is happening. I get more done when I have a regular schedule. So the countdown is on! Three more weeks until October!

PS. Anyone who knows me knows I also love the season of fall the best. So here's to also eagerly anticipating candles, pumpkins, crisp sunny days, pie, colourful leaves, fireplaces, scarves and all the wonderful things that are fall.

Summer

The last languid days of summer...the lazy slow days of sitting in the hammock. Of swim and sauna. Listening to the crickets and the river. Savoring a good book. 

We're spending the end of summer at my brother's house and it's perfect. I feel like summer could go on forever. The kids are entertaining each other. The sky is bright blue and cloudless. Pentti and I go for a leisurely coffee at the bakery in the tiny town of Lumby. We all eat dinner together, all 11 of us, followed by homemade apple pie and ice cream. Our first full day here winds down. The boys are in the sauna...the four cousins. The dog is lying on the floor, exhausted. The rest of us are in our own corners and it's quiet and lovely and relaxed. Outside on the deck, I swing in the hammock and stare at the stars. I can feel the cool, crisp of autumn in the air. What a glorious end to summer 2024...

Providence

God works all things together for good....Oftentimes this is hard to see, but sometimes, especially in reflecting back, you can see how God has been leading and guiding from way back. 

Winnie and I met when our oldest sons started preschool, 16 years ago. We both also had second sons the same age. We were friendly, but not very close. When both sets of our boys finished preschool we lost touch. Unbeknownst to each other, we both had daughters five years later. Then one day, I "randomly" ran into her while on a walk in the forest. We chatted for awhile and agreed we should meet up. Winnie said she couldn't do Tuesdays because that was BSF day. Having never heard of it, I asked what that was and so began a long chain of events which have completely changed my life. All from that "chance" meeting.

I started BSF in 2014. It lead me to deeper Bible study. It introduced me to some of my closest friends. I formed a summer Bible study group with some of those friends which met for three summers to study God's word every week. Through BSF, I was also indirectly lead to the church that we have now been attending for the last eight years. Christ City church has been one of the biggest blessings of my life.

Through Winnie, I was also introduced to my choir. Again, I had never heard of it, but her friend sang in it and we went to the choir's Christmas concert. I was hooked. Through a friend in choir, I was indirectly introduced to Nancy Guthrie, who is a Bible teacher who has profoundly impacted my walk with God and also lead me to other Bible teachers who have inspired me greatly.

All that to say, I do not believe in chance meetings or coincidences. God is sovereignly guiding our lives in a million ways that we often do not see. That one meeting with Winnie in the forest ten years ago has changed the direction of my life in ways I could have never imagined. Amazing.

(Last night I met up with Winnie and Crystal, who was my first BSF leader.)