daily life as life goes on . . .

Yesterday was great!  Three of our youth went through a sign of their commitment to Jesus.  Dunking under water!  This time around I got to sit back and watch.  I help to outline what our associate pastor, Ryan Lee, would walk through (almost swim through!).  On the day of the actual baptisms I watched with excitement as the youth were baptized, and as Ryan baptized them. The rest of the day I reflected on the impact this will have.  Both on the lives of those baptized - each one emphasized how this was the "next step" - and on the live of the baptizer - as he entered into a new sense of mentoring and influencing others. God loves us, and this was a clear demonstration by water drenched youth to show who they are in God! You can hear their testimonies at the church website - www.kindersleyalliance.com under the sermon tab!

Left at 6:12 this morning, back by 7:30 or so.  Visited with mom over the Christmas lunch - sang a few songs and said good-bye.  Also dropped by the estate house and talked with my sister who takes care of the house. All in all, a quick day - safe in travel and thankful to God for the time with my mom!

Today was a busy day.  In fact, 11 hours straight of activity.  Straight through lunch, out for coffee in the afternoon and an evening supper engagement.  These are days I enjoy.  Doing what I enjoy and being with those I appreciate. Which makes this time of night a conundrum.  I'm awake from the interaction, but falling asleep from the busyness of this week.  I yawn while quickly putting my mind into action on the upcoming day's activity. Which is - head to Assiniboia - a 4 1/2 hour drive one way.  We'll head out early in the morning and trust to get back early enough in the evening to make sure we can get to sleep on time. The purpose of trip?  To visit my mother at the Ross Payant home in Assiniboia.  This is a Christmas lunch with program and all.  This is a time to touch base with my mom.  This is a rush to a time of rest with my mother. Should be good - let's pray for that!

As a fun part of this advent I am working with an Advent Chain.  In my children's Sunday School class we prepared paper links with each day representing a day of Advent - beginning on December 1st. The activities on the chain have included writing Christmas cards, drawing a favourite thing and today's!! Play a board game with Jill!  Now, I'm not a board game player.  So, this is a labor of love.  And actually, after playing our Scrabble game, if was a game of love.  I lost royally!  Both of us had poor hands.  I had next to no consonants, Jill had no vowels.  Between the two of us we could have wailed - separately we were weaklings! I'm amazed with each new day how much I'm enjoying the tasks put ahead of me.  I'm just not sure what will come tomorrow!!