Back to work.

We're back at it. After our pleasant interlude at the coast, we are back to the usual comings and goings. The lovely folk at Paradise Hills tomato greenhouses have taken us back and are we back!. The first day back we picked, graded and weighed several thousand pounds of beautiful beefsteak tomatoes. The muscles are not used to it and we are both moving a bit gingerly. Yesterday, I went in to Morpheous Theatre for a workshop on character development. It was fun and pleasant to spend a day with theatre lovers of all ages. Sheelagh enjoyed her day at home to putter. At six o'clock we lugged our salad over to our friends Klassens to have a Bible study. It was good to see everyone and study God's word. This morning Sheelagh led the service on the second floor of the hospital for the seniors there. I say without hesitation that my wife has an exceptional gift in teaching.
Tomorrow Shush has to go back to the tomatoes, and I have a day at Brant School as a sub. Next weekend is the annual one-act play festival and for the first time a play that I wrote is in the festival. Kind of neat.
We hope that you have a happy peaceful week. From the Goofy Bunny to you, Happy Spring

We're home. After a wonderfilled trip to the west coast, we're home. Adrian and Jackie, who kindly allowed us to use their house, are home from a long dreamed of trip to New Zealand and Australia, so we had to leave. What with spending time with Dorian and Liam and his family, Grandma and Grandad, Adrian's boys, our good friends Jim and Kathy Graham and, for a little, Penny and Bert, it was great. We hiked, we ate and we just sat and talked.
The highlight of the trip actually took place after we left BC. In Edmonton we got to attend Liam's baptism. What an answer to our prayers. We are so thankful to Janelle for her gentle love and spiritual strength, to two little girls who, I'm sure, played no small part in this decision, and to this congregation who have been an encouragment to Liam.
Now we are starting to get our heads wrapped around the idea that in 3 1/2 months we leave this house for a year. This trip to come is really why this blog exists, so from time to time I'll add bits about our preparations. Things are starting to fall into place. Are the Canary Islands really named for CANARIS the dog? David Graham says they are, but his Mom thinks he may have made it up.

UBC Botanical Gardens

We had a great time yesterday with Grandma and Grandad. They came over in the morning and we went over to the UBC Botanical Gardens. The drive over took us through some lovely neighbourhoods and past the St. George's School. At the gardens we bought passes to take the tour through the treetops. We walked or tottered along walkways suspended in the trees as a guide described the various types flora and fauna. It was fun with lots of laughs.
After we went over to Kerrisdale to the Avenue Grill for lunch, and back home to have a blueberry pie we picked up at a bakery. The Jays pulled off a comeback win, Penny and Bert got home safely and Adrian and Jackie checked in so all was well.

Yesterday, cousin Paul, our outdoors guy, took the tribe for a hike. We went out to Lynn Canyon for a beatiful walk through rain forest, over swinging bridges, and up millions of steps. As you can see, even though Grandad wanted to do it, Beatrix was the one with the courage to sit down and declare herself in a state of rebellion. This took place shortly after we got out of the car. Still, she and Ngila turned out to be courageous hikers to the very end.
From Lynn Canyon we went to Deep Cove for a delicious lunch and doughnuts at Honey"s. Then we went home for a barbeque with Great Grandma and Grandad. The barby was preceded by High Tea with the ladies. A wonderful day. The Stones, younger, go home today.

The Lad Goes Home

After a wonderful two weeks with all of our family around us, the first departure happened this morning. Dorian packed his bits and pieces and he, Janelle and Liam set off for Seattle. Our family is such a wonderful little group. We enjoyed seeing Dorian playing with Ngila and Beatrix, and when the two boys and Janelle assemble the wit flys. It was good for us all to have a few chances to spend time with Mutti and Grandad. Mutti excelled herself in the dessert arena.
It will be 9 months before we see Dorian again, that time in Glasgow for Christmas. Liam and Janelle and the girls will be joining us in England in April or May 2010.