'Tis the season for twitter and taking over

Alright, so Kim is the one who usually posts on here, but I have taken over for this post. Before I do I just want to say those interested in keeping tabs on me can do so on twitter...I am into that more so than blogging and facebook right now so you can get 'up to the minute' stuff...anyway the paper is going good-we are excited to get some holiday time over Christmas and spend it with family and friends. Over the past few months we have done some fun stuff too like going to a preseason Flames game with Jeff and Joc and then myself I got to go to the west final between Sask and Calgary which was loud and awesome experience! I have my own sports column in the paper called The Point After which has been fun to write as well! Check it out thewatrousmanitou.com You may have to be a subscriber to see it online but I am not sure.

Anyway here is my post: In December I had the chance to meet my childhood hockey hero-Theo Fleury! Growing up as a kid watching the Calgary Flames, Fleury was the best guy on the team and I loved watching him play-I even took #14 as my hockey number in minor hockey cuz the guy was a beauty! We even got to watch a couple of Flames games including the one where he broke the record as most points as any Flame--So Fleury who has had a dark past wrote a book Playing with Fire where he talks about his past-and he was holding a book signing at McNally in Saskatoon thursday Dec. 3...so Kim and I hopped in the truck and headed to the city and after waiting two hours I was able to meet Fleury.

Fleury was really nice and willing to sign a couple of things and pose for a picture. I bought the book and read the entire autobiography in a couple of days. I am not much of a book guy but when I read a book I want to see what happens sooner than later so I go right through it-I want to become more of a book guy so we will see what happens. Anyway I met the guy and am still pumped about that opportunity. My sister Tanya told me about it, so a big thanks to her otherwise I would have never had that chance to see him.

In other notes: I am excited and anticipating becoming an uncle for the first time. My brother and sister in law are expecting anyday and I am looking forward to spoiling my niece or nephew! We wrapped up our first portion of 628 (junior youth) with a progressive supper. It was a lot of fun, but cold time to end the year. Next year should be a lot of fun and have some cool stuff planned. Looking forward to the weather warming up--right now it is -40 something with the windchill, the car and I had a disagreement earlier about it starting so hopefully that won't happen too often, anyway if I don't come on here until after Christmas which is a good possibility, I wish you God's blessings and a very Merry Christmas! Make sure and remember the real reason for the season-and that is Christ's birth!

Thankful

I'll admit, I wasn't too thrilled about having a "white" october this year however there are countless other things that have filled my heart with joy this year, here are a few of them;

~I am thankful that God is present and faithful amidst a long and sometimes painful journey. And that my lack of faith does not nullify His greatness and His ability to work in my life~

~I feel so blessed to have the most wonderful, loving, and supportive husband. Daniel, thanks for encouraging me in ever aspect of my life, I am so so thankful I get to grow old with you! I love you, sweetheart!

~I am thankful for family. I feel so blessed for the love and support we have from both sets of parents and for the friendship we have with all of our siblings. I love you all!

~I am so grateful for the opportunities that we have had to grow as a couple and to experience adventures together! Hawaii was wonderful and so full of moments I will cherish forever! Even our small little getaway in the summer and my first NHL game are some of the memories we will be able to look back at and smile!

~I am thankful for good friends and a great church support group!

~I know it's simple and kinda cliche' but I truly am thankful that we have jobs that provide. When you look at well over half of the world's population, poverty is very real, and we are very wealthy. I am thankful I have never had to worry about going to bed hungry or not having a bed at all.

~And, I am thankful that God is good.... all the time.

Unashamed

I have not much to offer you

Not near what you deserve

But still I come because your cross

Has placed in me my worth

Oh Christ my King of sympathy

Who's wounds secure at peace

Your grace extends to call me friend

Your mercy sets me free

And I know I'm weak

I know I'm unworthy

To call upon your name

But because of grace

Because of your mercy

I stand here unashamed

I can't explain this kind of love

I'm humbled and amazed

That you come down from heaven's heights

And greet me face to face

Here I am at your feet

In my brokenness complete...

Unashamed

by Starfield

A Beautiful summer evening.

There's nothing quite like walking by the lake on a calm summers night.  Daniel and I are in Waskesiu for a few days just to get away for a bit and to celebrate our first anniversary, can't believe it's been a year!  We enjoyed a lovely meal at Hawood Inn and just got back from a relaxing evening walk.  This is definitely my idea of camping.... at the hotel!!  

It's sad to think how quickly summer is slipping away, realizing that I need to savour every moment because I know I'll have to pull out those parkas way too soon.  Summer has been going well for us, enjoying our holidays but not overly thrilled to get back into the swing of things on Monday.  Daniel's work at the paper is going well, Watrous just celebrated their centennial so he was busy taking pictures for that.  He's pretty excited about the TSN/Kraft celebration tour that is coming to town, he's on the planning committee and will be busy getting stuff planned and organized for the live shoot at the end of August.  As for me, I'm at the at the clinic full-time for the summer which has been nice, I'll be starting at Home Hardware again come fall when they won't need me as much at the clinic.  It's been amazing to see how God has provided for us this past year, I am grateful for where He has brought us and the opportunities that He has given.

The past few weeks our pastor has been going through the beatitudes at church, the message from last week has had me thinking and re-evaluating my life. This week the verse was,   "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled."   Now obviously I don't know what true hunger is, I have never been anywhere near starvation nor have I ever had to worry about that.  However I do know that when I feel that growl in my stomach I won't be satisfied until I fill it, sometimes I don't really care what goes in as long as I feel full.  It got me thinking about how diligently I strive to live a life that glorifies God, do I really hunger and thirst with my whole being for that?  I also think that often I strive for happiness rather than growing in my relationship with Christ,  and I look to people and things to provide that happiness when really I will never be fulfilled.  It is only God and God alone who can satisfy my most inner self and no matter how much I think I know what I need to be filled, I really don't.  I'm praying that I will be able to look to my heavenly father for that fulfillment and not rely on my own selfish desires.  It's a challenge that I don't expect to ever fully conquer but something that I need to work towards daily in my relationship with Him.