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So, off to Calgary I did not go! The roads are not the greatest and so we decided last night (three of us pastors) that the class on rural church ministry could wait for another time (April 5th looks good).  So, the morning light dawned and here I sit. Not without humor launching a good thinking time!  Here is a version of the Lord's prayer that has some truth to it!!  Picked it up from Patrick Laughlin, a youth from a few years back. our father, who art a craftsman,prefectionist be thy namethy power tools hum,thy walls be plumb,upstairsas they are in the basement,give us this day a utility shedand forgive us our borrowed toolsas we forgive those who borrow tools from usand lead us not into renovation,but deliver us from moving,for thine is the hammer,and the Skilsaw,and the Duct tape,Forever and ever,Amen

For those in the equatorial areas of the world, this has no meaning at all! But for those of us used to snow and road conditions, this is not good! Roads west and south of town are closed.  The drifting and snow of the last day or so has caught up to us (actually it was with us yesterday).  We have cancelled a morning prayer time because those travelling in from out of town . . . And last night our children's program was cancelled as well. Not that we couldn't have braved the roads.  I was able to make it to the church last night. But you don't know how the next few hours will fare, and travelling when the sun is not up is treacherous. Having said all this, I did learn one new thing.  The pelting of hurricane speed wind blowing snow is good for the skin.  Much like a sandblaster that cleans the excess off a wall, I'm sure my old dead skin was blasted from my face.  I felt my face shortly after being outside and it was smooth (OK, I do have a few whiskers, but the overall effect was amazing!). So, in the midst of some of the worst winter for some time, I find joy in the weather!  May your day be joyful as well!

5:02 this morning. That's when Spring arrived.  I look out the window and see a few feet of snow on the ground.  I hear wind beginning to howl and a forecast of snow in the next few days.  The temperature remains on the freezing side. And Spring is here.  Not just on the way.  Spring is here. For all our thoughts of Spring  being robins and green grass, worms arising and lawns being mowed - this is on the way! I wrote in my journal that my life is much like this.  I have gone through a period of winter, where tough and exhilarating have stood side by side.  Often the morning has been dark, but the day has carried glimpses of brilliance.  Today, I determined to consider Spring arising.  I am  not only looking underneath the circumstances, I am expecting the circumstances to reveal a new day.  Where the seeds that have been dormant over the winter season begin to germinate into new growth. Hope Springs!

A revaluation of property assessment has just taken place.  For the sake of transparency, I am thankful that I can check on how the houses on my block are assessed for tax purposes.   I realized soon into examining assessed values of other houses that there are various ways in which prices are determined.  Mine is valued on a comparison basis.  I am thankful that someone thinks my house, in comparison to others, is a good value.  I'm not sure selling the house at this point would get the assessed value.  But I would hope to attain that price. Which is to say, for small town Saskatchewan, prices are fairly high.  I understand that prices just an hour down the road,  in a smaller town, are much cheaper. But this is Saskatchewan.  Assessed prices may be what they are, but the question is whether you can find a house that is available for sale.  We live in a booming economy.  Housing is at a premium.  Which may also mean that demand may even create higher prices. Now, all this meandering is to say that I'm very glad for the purchase made a few years ago.  I have a nice house in which I live, with room for others as well!  And to be quite honest - I also live in one of the best neighbourhoods in town!  I like my neighbours!  Which is an intangible in valuing a house.  Perhaps my house is worth more just because of my good neighbours!  I just wonder how an assessor takes that into account!!