Go Take a Hike!!!

...Is exactly what my dad and I are going to do next week. Just a hike? I think NOT! A full-fledged 2 night snowshoe winter-camping trip into Algonquin Park, according to Suzon, the only place that REAL campers and canoers go!!!

It all started with a visit from a Kiwi family.

Eldon and Sheena Roberts lived here in Oakville years ago when I was just a child and I remember them, likely because they are both 6 feet tall! They are here with their family over the holiday season and we had Christmas diner with them yesterday.

Sheena has a photo album from home with some pictures of her brother and sister, both in the work, on a bike trip during their time off. So now I say I have a new idol... Sheena's sister. They were totally roughing it! Slept in the back of a ute one night, in a tent the other nights and one night in a bus shelter!! Simply viewing these photos sparked the inherent adventurous streak that comes from deep within.

That evening, during a competitive Rummycube game against my parents, when the call to adventure couldn't be denied any longer I erupted with a great idea:

"Let's go winter-camping, Dad!!"

Somewhat to my surprise he was right on for it right away! Thus the birth of a new adventure.... that stalled momentarily today when we went to Mountain Equipment Coop to look at their rental gear and they were closed!! What kind of store is closed on Boxing Day?! Apparently MEC.

So we went to Hiker's Haven to look at hiking gear solely for the purpose of getting enthused about the trip... not that we need it. We are already packing our clothes for the trip and there is still 3 days before we leave! Base-layer thermalwear, wool socks, fleece sweater, down vest and the like... Dad is ahead of me so I had better get moving! Bye!

Introducing Little Mr Caleb Benjamin Jacques!!!

This is a bit late. But all too important to skip!
Apparently I don't know how to introduce babies. Everything sounds so formal.

"Caleb B. Jacques was born to Ben and Tawnya..."

"On Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 Ben and Tawnya gave birth to Caleb...."

Here's the way it really is. Tawnya is my good friend. Ben too, for that matter. Last winter after a Gospel Meeting Tawnya whispered all giddy "I'm expecting!!! But don't tell, not everyone knows..." It wasn't too long until everyone knew. Then we waited.

So, he was born October 14th. This picture was taken soon after. And he is much bigger now. Can't wait to see him again at Christmas time.

Half-Time

So, here we are Sunday evening after Renfrew Specials and we are half-way through our 2008 Special Meeting Rounds. A few numbers to give you a taste of the past 16 days. 14 beds, 43 visits, 3 snow storms, 2 shopping trips, 1 cold, and 1 big happy family of workers.

We are sorry to see Bill and June (CA) leave us for other routes but we look forward to John (CA) and Dorothy (AB) coming in their place. Also Cynthia and Rosemary (NY). Otherwise, the rest of us are stuck with each other until the end. Not such a hard thing to do really.

These last weeks have be very enjoyable. Lots of great memories, including 2 spontaneous snow-ball fights. I still owe Klinton for nailing me close-up with multiple snowballs. I had snow in my shirt, mitts, purse, boots, and my hair was a mess! Oh what exquisite fun!!

Some other highlights were great visits with our visiting workers, breakfast out at Chez Cora's with Tanya and Marilyn, making connections with children in different homes, jamming with Jocelyn on her guitars, and heading out for runs on new paths every time.

Seeing as we were spending our first week in what is indisputably the most political city in Canada we felt that it would be a great experience to sit in on Question Period at Parliament Hill. This is a 45 minute daily session of bickering between the different parties that rule Canada. Pictured below are the Conservatives on the left and the Liberals etc. on the right separated by Mr. Speaker in the center who acts as a referee. Unfortunately we missed our Prime Minister by 1 day. But we did see Justin Trudeau! I won't be surprised if he runs for Prime Minister in the next 30 years.

Egghead

I just couldn't resist posting this. We had the most fun I have had in a while painting these faces.... The next few mornings we had a good laugh too!

Come and Gone

My grandparents decided to drive more than 8 hours North to visit last week! They arrived on Thursday in time for supper at Ranald and Vivian's (Picture 1 - L>R Ranald, Vivian, Grammy, Poppy) and they left yesterday in time to have lunch with my Uncle Don and Aunt Marge in North Bay.




We packed in a reasonable amount with visiting their old friends and tripping around. We even went up to Timmins for a little shopping trip.






But I was just really happy to spend a few days with them. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't spent much time with them since I started in the work. It was great to see how well they are doing. I think they really enjoyed themselves up here. You can even see that my Poppy has spunk. He is such a tease. Especially to my Grammy but she gives it back to him too!!














We had Wed Pm Study at Russell Carson's (standing beside me with Rhoda, his wife in front.) Normally they are just 4 for meeting. These four are very special and make great efforts to live a normal life despite serious illnesses.
















This is what we call meeting after the meeting.














We stayed with Bob and Joan Lougheed. Grammy and Poppy would come and spend 6 weeks in their motor-home parked beside Bob an d Joan's house. They often came at blueberry picking time. Twas a bit late for that this year.

A reluctant Good-Bye

Again it has taken me weeks to write a post! I'm still shy... a little. Yes, you laugh.

This "true north, strong and free" is quite a beautiful land. The trees are changing now. Eons before the southern sort change. I reluctantly say "good-bye" to Summer and "hello" to Fall. Muriel and I have somewhat amusedly asked almost everyone what their favorite season is. Is it coincidence that 8 out of 10 respond that they love the fall?

There aren't many maples this far north so we miss the oranges and reds on the canvass. But the dark green strokes (probably cedar or pine trees) against yellow puffs (birch) are quite charming. These days are windy. Sometimes it's cool and sometimes cold. Lately it's been warm, taking me to the other side of the world where one of my best friends is living a dream, harnessing that immense power with a sail! His other half's stomach cant take the waves. So, she bides her time with friends and family on land. 3 weeks down, 3 to go. Island-hopping from Cairns to Darwin. I am NOT envious.

Its good that there is lots to keep busy with here. Visiting our friends, studying with contacts, having Gospel Meetings, and searching for contacts does not leave a lot of free time to miss my parents or sailing. Yet we still find an afternoon free here and there. We are studying the Gospels of Luke and John with our contacts. In the mornings we study in Kings and Chronicles with our friends. The Old Testament used to be a maze that I would drop into now and again only to find myself lost. Since studying the kings it has become more like a map that has some uncharted territory but at least I can explore! Especially with Muriels help!

I have undertaken the study of the French language. It is a complex thing. When I think I have it right, I don't. Its as simple as that. Pronouns are relative, sometimes disjoint or stressed. Verbs can be reflexive but not indirect. Pronouns are indirect... or direct. All depending on a preposition! The Impefect Tense makes the imperfect tense. Yet I am proud of my workbook and all its 16 lessons so far. I have found a retired French teacher to tutor me. Mme Jestrebski. But she only tutors me if the weather is bad. Otherwise she wants to fish, and pick blueberries, and visit people. So among our travels and the weather I get to see her about once a week. I asked to go this morning while we were still close but it was sunny. See? Maybe I'll take a trip down on Friday.

It has taken me weeks to find the courage to write a post! Someone might read it!!! Anyways life is as interesting as it has ever been so might as well start now.

Muriel and I are together in the field now. Northern Ontario and Quebec. It is beautiful up here. The sky is so big and so blue! And the people are friendly. We came last Monday. By Sunday we had driven the length of our field visiting our friends and then 150km to the east and to the west of our field putting out invitations etc. Every day has some little or big adventure.

Muriel and I love adventures. Our most recent is "baching" although that isn't specifically what we are doing at the moment. We planned to stop in a town called Moonbeam yesterday and find a place to sleep and go out to meet people. We couldn't find a place to sleep! So move on. 20km to the nearest semi-city Capuskasing. We found an 'auberge' for the night. Pretty nice I must say. Then we walked around looking for people to talk to. The closest we got was asking a young guy for directions to downtown... Strait ahead... thats what we thought.

We make our meals here. Brought a 2 burner electric stove and a cooler that cools itself and food. Theres even a bbq outside for our use! After getting in touch with people that Muriel met 15 years ago looks like we'll stay another night.