From an old steam ship that ran along the river. 

The Peace River Museum 

The view as you enter the Community & Family Services building. 

CFS 

CFS. 

My office. 

Here's a picture of Michael and Lindsay Decker from the day after their wedding.

Special moments...

I love special moments, especially special God moments. The latest came to me by way of e-mail. I got an e-mail from my friend Leslie yesterday, and in it she told me a story that really hit home for me. Interesting enough, the story was about something she heard that was really special for her. She wrote about a quote that she heard a speaker use during a talk she attended recently. Here's the quote: "Have faith that you are where you are meant to be." Those who have talked to me in recently months or have been reading my posts know that I've been struggling with things. I've been having a tough time finding my spot in lfe in Peace River. Work has been discouraging at times. But in the past few weeks I've been learning to accept life as it is for me right now. I've been learning to allow myself to settle into my life here. And really I've been learning to "have faith that I am where I am meant to be." And reading that little sentence in an e-mail meant a lot to me right now. It has helped to put into a single thought many thoughts that I have been struggling with recently.

It's kind of interesting how what one person said to someone impacted that person, but in sharing that thought another person is impacted. I have heard it said many times, that you never know what impact you have on others and what the cumulative effect of that imptact is.

I love my job!!

Well, for the past while a lot of people have been asking me how I am finding life in Peace River. And the answer: I really do like my job. I'm having a tough time adjusting to my life here. Not being able to get things easily at the stores I'm used to. Few choices at the movies (actually I haven't even gone since I moved here - and three movies without going to a movie is very unusual for me). No bowling alley. No Wal-Mart to pick things up at quickly. It's a very different life. And my family and the friends I have known and grown so close to over the past six years are all an eight hour drive away, which turns into a 13 hour Greyhound ride. It's been tough.

But I do love my job!! And this is where I am right now. I had started to get very discouraged up here, but lately things have started to turn around for the better. Here are some things from last week that have brightened up my life:

- New "after school program" for elementary age children 5 days a week
- Partnership with Katimavik to increase our resources and "people power" to make a larger impact on our community, as well as contributing to the leadership development of the participants
- Promoting Jr. Youth Councils (4 kids probably going already, my goal is 10)
- New drop-in centre service started last week
- Re-arranging Family Service hours to provide greater diversity in when our services are offered
- Going to get a car within the month (hopefully)
- All those little blessings that I generally forget but that help to keep me going day by day
- The support and encouragement of my parents
- Joshua 1:9 "Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

Labour Day Weekend

Well, I've been in Calgary since early Friday morning (5am). It's been a great weekend. I had two reasons to be in the city this week - firstly because it was a long weekend and I had an opportunity to get down and see my parents and friends and secondly because two of my very good friends were getting married on Saturday.

Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Lindsay Decker were united in marriage on Friday, September 2, 2006. The wedding started about half an hour late, no suprise there, but was absolutely beautiful. There is a profound difference between the wedding of a relative who you don't really know all that well and the wedding of two close friends who you've spent a great deal of time with over several years.

I actually got to see it several times, as I was at the rehersal Friday night as well. I ran the sound board for the wedding, so I needed to be there for the rehersal. But on Saturday I felt so happy for my friends as they took their vows and exchanged rings. I was so caught up in the ceremony that at the end of the wedding service I forgot to turn my father's (who was performing the marriage) microphone back on so that he could present the couple to the attendees.

The reception went well, and the food was delicious. The chose a roast beef dinner with gravy and veggies. The wedding cake was chocolate with blue icing (that stained teeth and tongues). And of course, there was a chocolate fountain...which I didn't get a chance to partake of. As Lindsay was born in Edmonton, Alberta and Michael is a Newfoundlander, it was necessary for Lindsay to be made an honourary Newfoundlander by way of the traditional ceremony. Lindsay's father, Kerry and his best friend (and Emcee for the night), both Newfoundlanders themselves, performed the ceremony. Lindsay was required to eat a Purity Lemon Cream biscuit, drink pure Purity Syrup, and kiss the fish. The fish is traditionally a cod fish, but as there are strict restrictions on the cod fishing industry they used a salmon, a 13-pounder.

Sunday I went to church and then down to the Guy house for a late brunch, the gift opening and a Newfie coldplate dinner. Lindsay was given a set of plates from one of her grandmothers, which have been collected over several years. It was very moving to see Lindsay open that gift - more than one member of the family shed tears.

Sunday evening I watched a movie with my parents, which was nice. We haven't spent a lot of time together over the last few months since I moved up north - even though I've been down to Calgary 4 times in the past month.

Today we've just relaxed around the house. Mom and I had a game of Scrabble before lunch and then Dad joined us for a second game over lunch. In the afternoon Dad and I had a couple of games of chess out on the back deck - I let him win them both after I devestated him on Friday.

We're having a BBQ for dinner and then I'll have to get ready to head back up to Peace River. I kind of wish I could stay a bit longer down here. It's been so great to spend so much time around my friends and family. But I have a job waiting for me back up north and tomorrow there is work to be done. I'll be back in Calgary for Thanksgiving in mid-October and then again for Christmas, so I have those times to look forward to.