These are a few of my favorite things...

sung to part of "Raindrops on Roses..."

Kayaking in summer and fruit topped with candles,

Picnics by lakes and fresh farmer's markets.

Watching the sunset with Luke at my side,

These are a few of my favorite things!

When it's over,

and it's time to,

go back to work!

I simply remember my birthday divine,

and then I don't feel, SO bad.

Jenn

I'm not a book thief!

My name is cleared. For weeks (actually months) I searched high and low for two items I had borrowed from the U of R's libraries. I use a lot of books. I usually go to great lengths to ensure that I know what I have and when it's due to be returned (such as Google Calendar, email reminders, a homemade website with library login info, etc).

So, it was very bewildering to discover that, despite my efforts, I had lost two books! When my last renewal had expired, I emailed the library and explained that I had lost their books... But not two days later did they email back, and tell me that someone at their end had incorrectly scanned the returned books, and placed them back on the shelf, while my account showed them as still in my possession! All this time those books were safe and sound on the shelves, and here I was in a panic (or at least with a little pinch in the back of my brain, constantly reminding me that I failed the library).

I felt like Dr. House in that episode when Dr. Cuddy lets him believe that he had wrongly diagnosed a patient. For weeks after that, House was insecure about his diagnostic ability -- that is, until it got out that he was right. And so, much like House, I feel reaffirmed in my care of borrowed books.

I am not a book thief.

Remembering Ryan Chute

This afternoon I took in Ryan Chute's funeral along with thousands of others. It was a beautiful service. I was able to chat with his 4-year old son, Rhett. He's an amazing little guy, who loved his dad and wants to be just like him. When I found him, he was drawing on a pie plate. When I asked what he was drawing, he said, "A picture of my dad."

Click here if you'd like to read Ryan's eulogy from the back of the funeral program.

"Super" weekend in White Bear

This past weekend Jenn and I set out for White Bear along with Paul and Darcie. We had a great time staying at the Kenosee Inn, eating at the Moosehead Lodge, playing 54 holes of (mini) golf, eating lots of ice cream, playing with some petting zoo animals, exploring the artistic side of Kenosee, and checking out what's to be had at the Red Barn Flea Market (such as that 'Man of Steel' you see above). We didn't have the warmest weather, so we weren't able to hit the Super Slides, but maybe next time. Check out some pictures here.

News report on Discovermoosejaw.ca

This is the report given on Discovermoosejaw.ca:

A 28 year old Moose Jaw area man is dead after an ultra light plane crashed sometime Monday evening near Saskatoon. RCMP say a student and an instructor went for a flight and were supposed to be back by 8:00pm, but never arrived.

A search was launched with the help of a Military Search and Rescue Hercules out of Winnipeg as well as the Saskatoon Police Service plane. The small ultra light was found just after 6:00am Tuesday, three miles away from the airstrip.

A 56 year old man from Saskatoon and the 28 year old man from the Moose Jaw area were found dead inside. No names have been released as the investigation continues.

The Passing of a Mighty Man

Today my boss called to tell me that the man we're building a house for has died. He went down in a small aircraft over the weekend. This is really very shocking news. I had only met Ryan Schute last year. He was a man who loved to live. He was always thinking about the next thing, planning a new project or going to a new place. He has left behind a wife and two young sons. I'm sure he'll be terribly missed by his family. If you're reading this, please pray for the Schute family.

A little piece of renovational advice

If you ever install new windows into your home, I have some very important advice for you. If you use expanding foam to fill the hole between the window and its frame, make sure you wear gloves. Last weekend Jenn and I installed some windows for some of our friends, and I used the expanding foam, figuring it's just like silicone. Wrong! Silicone rubs off skin once it's dry. The foam does not. Looking on the internet for methods of removal, one site helpfully recommended "three Hail Marys or an atomic bomb." Thanks for that.

What worked in the end was patience, water, and a lot of sandpaper... Not extremely pleasant, but I got my hands back. So, please heed my warning. Use gloves!

Where was Jesus born?

At the work site on which we are currently working there lives a little boy named Rett. He is four years old and can do things not many four year olds can do. He drives tractors, quads, seeders, sprayers, combines, and bobcats. Whenever we're working in the yard, this is a very normal conversation:

Rett: "What's that?"
Luke: "That's a hammer."
Rett: "What does it do?"
Luke: "It... hammers things. Hits stuff into things. We use it for nails."
Rett: "Oh. Do you have another one of those that I can use?"
Luke: "Sure, Rett."

He's very much a hands-on little man. Because of this, we often enjoy asking him questions to see what answer his bright, resourceful, young mind will come up with.

At the front of their yard is a seed plant. It's a tall structure with silos for the grain seed, and all sorts of tubes and ladders. At the top of the seed plant is a Christmas star, which they plug in around the Christmas season since the seed plant is the highest point on their yard. Two days ago, seeing that Christmas star, we asked Rett,

"So Rett, was Jesus born in the seed plant? That's his star up there."
Rett: "He was... Yeah, he was. He was working there when it was put up."

Interesting... So, from the mind of a four year old, the creator, sustainer, and saviour of the universe is also one of his dad's seed plant employees... Perhaps some theological training would be helpful... But maybe that can wait until he's at least in kindergarten.

Last Installment...

Tomorrow we're off for this weekend's last installment. Saturday Jenn and I spent the day installing 9 windows into a house. Quite the task, and we got it done! It's very satisfying to see how quickly a house brightens up with new glass. Today we rested, which was welcomed after a full week of work. Tomorrow we drive down to White Bear to spend holiday Monday painting signs. I don't know if "full" really captures how this weekend has felt. But anyway, it's nice to have lots to do sometimes, and Jenn and I have had a blast working together on things -- an opportunity that doesn't come about that often.

Take care, internet.

Luke