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Journal Entries for July 2004
July 2, 2004 - 7:14 am
Gone to California

Today about noon I leave to go to California with my church on a mission trip where we will be serving the town of Soledad. This will be the 9th year a group from Grace Baptist will have gone to Soledad (and my first time.) I will have many stories and pictures to share when I get home in about 10 days. Until then, have a great time everyone!

July 12, 2004 - 12:11 am
Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! After work (in the morning) I'll be going to the parents' house for a family celebration.

Back Home Safely

Just a quick update for anyone interested, our team arrived home safely this evening from our week in Soledad, and yes there will be LOTS of pictures once I get the CD from Josh. You see, since he was doing all the video for the trip I used his computer to 'dump' all my pictures from my camera, allowing me to take many more high quality images than would have otherwise been possible. Consequently I think I took somewhere in the range of 300-400 pictures! He's going to burn me a CD with them all on it (and I believe they will also be on the DVD once it is ready as well so when you buy this year's DVD you will have all the original full-sized, full-quality images as well. (but I could be wrong so don't quote me on that!)) However it is after midnight and I am still not feeling all that well but work comes early in the morning whether I am ready for it or not. I can't shake the feeling that God is still teaching me lessons from my experience in Soledad, lessons that I will admit are not at all pleasant in any way to learn. During the months of preperation before the trip and even while in Soledad I gave some of what I had to the Lord, but it seems that He is asking for more and I've been resisting. Seems ironic, doesn't it? For those of you who were there with me on this trip... Of all people I ought to know that it's a worthwhile sacrifice -- or investment -- to give up the things I cannot keep to gain better things I cannot lose. Yet for some reason I still struggle. It's not enough to 'know' these things, they have to be put into practice as well.

July 18, 2004 - 10:20 am
It's interesting how being in the same place and doing the same thing can sometimes trigger memories from previous times in that same place while you were doing the same thing. I've been mowing the lawn at my parents' house for as long as I can remember, and even though that lawn has changed, (they built condos in that field behind the house which deprived us of a good 100' x 30' of lawn which, although we did not own, we'd had the use of it for some 15 years or so...) But it's interesting, because although the landscape has changed, it still brings back memories when I cut that grass. Although I know she doesn't live there anymore, hasn't lived there in years, I couldn't shake the feeling that suddenly I was going to look up and see Lorina's head peeking over the fence. She used to watch me mow sometimes. Another friend I haven't seen in years but still wonder whatever happened to her. (Well, I suppose for the most part I do know, but I still haven't seen her in a long time.) Come to think of it I even know where she works. I might just have to stop in and say hi one of these days. It so hard to stay in touch with a lot of friends I'm finding. Whether people move or they change jobs, (or you change jobs) -- So much can happen that separates people who were once very close. I love running into old friends, it can bring an unexpected joy to anotherwise uneventful day. And even on days that are already going well, seeing an old friend can be the icing that tops the day off. I was on my way to my Uncle's Quizzno's the other day and saw two Sylvania trucks working on a sign at a Petro Canada. I turned around and stopped by and said hi to Pat and met one of the new guys. Again, a bit of unexpected joy to an otherwise uneventful day. Even just yesterday I was picking up a copy of the Pleasure Craft Operators Card course book for my brother so that hopefully he can get his boating license before our family goes to Pine Lake for their annual gettogether and he can drive my Seadoo. On my way out I ran into James and we talked for a bit. He and Gordana just had their fourth child, this time a boy (as James commented - "Finally!") and we caught up on some other tidbits of news. It's always nice to run into old friends.

July 20, 2004 - 12:58 AM
Man what a day. I wish it weren't 1 AM right now so I would have more time to write all about everything that happened today... The power failure that caused me to have to come home early, an awkward encounter with Raychel (I should probably update the Who's Who...) a powerful experience while playing drums at SEMP tonight that no amount of writing or clever words could describe... Yet another meaningful and insightful conversation with my good friend and roommate Luke... His coinage of a phrase that I found timely and appropriate... An incredible life story the Security guard at Rocky shared with me as I was getting ready to leave tonight... An awesome conversation to and from SEMP with Shaun... Some general thoughts on friends, life, plans, God, old folks homes, sunburns, personal struggles... I'm writing these headlines so that hopefully it reminds me to write more about each topic here. I know that most times the daily News ends up being the only entries that find themselves into my journal, but I have been trying lately to write more and more into the Journal alone, stuff that never makes it on the front page of my web site. I'm still waiting for the Soledad pictures... I can't wait to get those. Next year if I go, I'm definately bringing my own laptop. I could have written SO much on that trip, and most of the experieces have faded in my memory now if not been forgotten completely.. That's the problem with my memory. Long term is awesome. I never forget people. But short term? Forget it! (huh huh) I can hear some moans, I know.

I'm going to try to get some sleep now. Last night I had to sleep on the floor it was just TOO hot in my room. I've had my window all the way open all day now and a fan going in it to help get some cooler air in here... This place is really a sauna sometimes. And to make things worse I can't tell if I've got allergies or a cold, but whichever it is my nose is plugged right up. Right up!

July 22, 2004 - 7:19 AM
I had quite an unexpected but pleasant surprise yesterday... Raedene called to say she was passing through Calgary while visiting some relatives who live down here and wanted to know if I could meet her somewhere for supper. Our original plan was slightly different, but as we all know, plans change! Originally I was going to meet her somewhere, she was going to leave her car with her sister Crystal and her and I were going to go to SEMP which was at Calaway Park last night. Then we were going to go for coffee and I was to drop her off in Airdrie. But the timing of things and the cooler-than-desirable weather last night all forced the change and so it went as it went. Still it was very good to see her again, even though for a shorter than hoped for amount of time, and I was able to get to bed earlier than normal last night to boot. It seems as though my body just rejects any more than 6 hours of sleep though, I was wide awake this morning at 5:00 so I went outside and watched the sun come up (for as much as I could see inside the city) and spent some time with God in the quiet of the morning. I'm starting to understand verses that talk about seeking God 'in the morning', and when people 'got up early to pray.' It is a wonderful time of the day to spend with God. (Not that any time of day is a bad time, but there just seems to be less distractions, you're not plagued by fatigue and craving your bed, etc.) It was a good day. And now I am off to work, earlier than normal in the hopes that I might accomplish more today so that I can take a few days off next week while my family is all at Pine Lake. Ooh, which reminds me I need to pick up oil for the Seadoo today! I think I'm going to take the van out too, I was going to ride but I still need to get the tube up there, my foursquare ball, not to mention all my clothes and personal stuff as well... Man, now that I think of it there is a LOT to do today. And tomorrow I will throw Kayla into the lake because today is her birthday! Happy birthday Kayla. See you guys out at the lake!

July 17, 2004 - 10:47 AM
First Seadoo Ride of the Year!

Last night Bo and I took my Seadoo out to Lake Chestemere, or should I say Chester-SLEW... To test her out and make sure all was well before my family goes up to the lake for our annual get-together at Pine Lake. Now I realize the Seadoo is not that old but it was still really nice to see it start right up - first time, right away. So we went for a quick run around the lake, and I really have to say. If anyone things Pine Lake has dirty water, you really have to go to Chestemere. You'll be DRINKING Pine Lake water after you see Chestemere...

Yesterday also marks the milestone of the year when I deem it safe to finally remove my winter tires from the van and put the summer tires on. I'm just about to go get dressed and mow my parents' lawn, and then tonight I've got SEMP to play at. Have a good weekend!

July 30, 2004 2:21 PM


Back from my week at the lake!

This year I actually wrote a bit about what was going on WHILE I was up at the lake and I'll dump that text into the journal shortly, I've got several pictures to put up as well but considering I didn't get home from Pine Lake last night till after 1:00 am and had to go to work this morning, I haven't had any time do update anything yet... And the fact that I'm going camping with Bo this weekend won't expedite that process either. But I will get everything posted before I leave, or at least that is my goal. Kayla got her birthday toss-in-the-lake, and I had some very meaningful conversations with some old friends at Sandy Cove during my stay. Telle, Maria asked me if I would ask you to give her a call sometime. If you don't have her phone number, she said it is listed in the phone book and you shouldn't have any trouble looking it up. As for everyone else, sorry I won't be up there this long weekend, but I hope you all have a wonderful time.

Would you believe I almost left with my RAID tube sitting on the dock last night! (again) It was a great week though, and it was especially nice to see some old friends again. (Ahem Carmen.) PS: I've still got the onion! hahaha Anyhow, gotta go!
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