Church

The request for a musical rendering of seven songs arrived by phone. 

The occasion? A 60th anniversary.  The plan?  Include snippets of songs that were popular "back then". 

Let’s trace the request back. 

In 1994 we moved to Prince Albert.  A realtor by the name of Louise Tarasiuk had helped us look for housing (we bought privately).  Louise attended the church where I served as minister of music — she sang and we became friends.  As the years passed, she and her husband moved to Candle Lake.  There they attended a small church (and I mean small in terms of building and congregation size).  With no regular pianist, they asked Jill to prepare a piano CD of hymns that they could sing along with.  One of the ladies who attended the church heard the CD.  She talked to Louise.  The results of this enquiry?  Tuesday’s phone call!

She needed seven songs — specific parts of songs.  She needed them in two weeks time.  She needed them on a CD.

Jill immediately went to the internet and research the songs.  We downloaded two that would be suitable.  The other five?  Jill had enough expertise to be able to listen, and with chords or sheet music, play the songs.

That’s where I come in.  Having done some recording lately my experience allowed us to sit down and within three quarters of an hour — record the songs, master them (which means put them in order to record onto a CD), and then record a CD.  As I walked out of the house to an evening meeting, Jill listened to the CD to be sure the music was ready to go.

Now, less than 48 hours from the time of request, the CD is ready!

I’m looking at my holidays next week.

I’ve got a few refinishing projects that could be prime holiday time!  Our expected visitors won’t arrive until a week later, so I’ll have time to have fun refinishing the projects (OK, maybe only one will get done, but that’s  start).

One is an oak desk – homemade but with good possibility.  The other is a dining room table of undertermined wood content.  Both were obtained for rock bottom prices — one for nothing, the other for only slightly more!

Tune in again to see how things go!

Some 24 hour periods are packed.  With friends, fun and fellowhip!

Lois and Steve Gustafson are friends of over three decades.  Lois was a bridesmaid at our wedding.  We all went to undergraduate school together.

On their way back to Canby, Oregon, they stopped in Calgary.  We were invited to join them for an evening.  They provided accomodation (as it happened it was a suite at the Hilton by the airport), a great meal or two, and company that encourages and refreshes.

Well, as expected, Jill and Lois were a constant flow of information and updating (an nice way to say they didn’t stop talking all the time they were together).  Steve and I added our thoughts every once in a while.  The time was great — we ate, walked, talked — and then took a look at the construction site of Ambrose University College in Calgary (sponsored in part by our denomination – the Christian and Missionary Alliance).

Jill remarked that our summer has been inserted with surprises.  We have these short times packed with unexpected blessings.  In the past month we have seen our daughter and visited with friends from Canby — both trips that were not planned until a week or so before they happened.

Now, you have to understand that my life has been one of planning.  I have been employed as an administrator for almost half of my working career.  And now — I’m open to flying by the seat of my pants!  Years ago my boss, Dave Hartzfeld, impressed on me the need to be open to the unexpected.  I wasn’t quite ready to hear this advice at the time.  In fact, I’m not even sure the lesson has started to sink in until lately.

God is good!  Somehow in a year where our vacation was going to be minimal , we are benefitting from short insertions of holy days.  Periods of time God set aside for us without us even knowing!!

Jill and I have had a running discussion for the last few weeks!  Will we  have enough laminate flooring to complete the basement?

I’ve calculated as we went.  Jill has said, "Let’s see where we end up."

I was ready to buy more.  Jill figured we spend money only when we need to!

I say I’m analyzing.  Jill says I’m worrying.

We have three boxes left over.  I worry that I’m not a good analyzer!! 

Of course, I’m the one who originally decided how much to order — based on the area plus 10% for wastage.  We had less than 5% wastage.  

Rationalization, rationalization,rationalization!!

Jill’s right — a little less worrying wouldn’t hurt.  And yes, I was wrong!