2018 Our Year in Photos

 Our year has lots of good memories.

January 9 On Mayne Island it seldom snows.

January 24 Irrigation hibernating... on a winter walk in Lake Country.

January 25  To pour concrete in the winter we had to use 50 insulated blankets and pump in heat.

Feb. 28 All natural stone installed on a nice day in winter.

Mar 3  The Winfield Sevens... there was actually nine of us that joined in the Hike for the Homeless at the Kelowna Gospel Mission.

March 9 On a walk in Lake Country... will it ever end?

April 30 Spring is here at the Uplands in Lake Country. Balsam Root and Saskatoons in bloom.

May 4 Trusses going on the roof of Townhome #10.

May 9 Shirley planting on the hillside in the rain.

May 27 Near Campbell River, Seth caught the biggest fish.  We were celebrating Alan's 60th birthday.

May 27 Mr. Prepared with Mrs. during the Campbell River runaway.

May 31 Begonia's blooming at the Greek House Restaurant in Lake Country

Aug 2 We worked for ten days preparing our decks on Mayne Island for repainting.

August 4 Selfie taken at Edith Point... our favorite hike on Mayne Island.

October 13 Sabbath afternoon walk on the Rail Trail, Kalamalka Lake near Vernon.

Oct. 13 Shirley captured the autumn reflections of Coldstream from the Rail Trail.

Oct 16  Golfed 9 holes on several Tuesdays with the Rotary Group at the Pinnacle Course.

Nov 2-10  Dr. Sid Kettner and Carol came from Creston to help us with our Live Your Best Life Seminar at the Winfield Seventh-Day Adventist Chruch. We had the grand privilege hosting them for the week.

Nov 24 Shirley, Sherilee, Kim and Maizy walking down to the ocean at Cannon Beach.

Nov. 24 Celebrating our daughter Sherilee's Big Five O at our ThanksBirthMas Getaway. It has become an annual event to celebrate US Thanksgiving, all the October and November Birthdays in our family and exchange Christmas gifts (but not open them.)   Hence the abbreviation ThanksBirthMas. We even made customized hats the say ThanksBirthMas 2018 for everyone.

Nov. 24 We enjoyed walking on the beach every day and taking photos of Haystack Rock.

Dec. 22  Several huge trees blew down crunching our fence and totaled out the neighbor's storage shed on Mayne Island.  The power was off for several days but was back to normal before Christmas. Our tenant Chris took some photos and sent them to me. A good neighbor's brother is going to clean up the logs for the firewood and use my little John Deere tractor.

"In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable." -Philippians 4:8

Picking a "WORD" For 2019

It has been fun to see how over the years the idea of picking a WORD for the year has taken off. We have enjoyed seeing our daughter Sherilee doing this since 2010.  I asked her to share with me all the words that she had picked... and in a matter of minutes, she sent me a text message right back.  She had already chosen her word for 2019.

• 2019:  Strength
• 2018:  Cultivate
• 2017:  Wellbeing
• 2016:  Savor
• 2015:  Presence
• 2014:  Pray
• 2013:  Light
• 2012:  Grace
• 2011:  Focus
• 2010:  Pause

Shirley reminded me that she has been picking a "Word of the Year" for probably 25 years!  In fact, she has been doing it so long she thinks that she was the one who invented it! So you can see the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree!  I am working on getting her list of words too, but it is not going to be easy since all of her old journals are at our home on Mayne Island.  We are not going to see her complete list any time soon.

Sherilee told me that, "she finds the impact of the word extends greatly beyond just one year.  They stay with you in a kind of cumulative effect. And they need to be revisited, too.  It's not like a goal to be achieved and then you move on, at least not for me."

She also told me about the huge number of bloggers and scrapbookers and everyday people on the internet who are advocating the power of picking a single word to live by for a year.  There is a whole culture out there sharing their passion to pick a word. And some of them have made a business out of it.

So check out some of the ones I have listed below... or just Google it up and you will soon have more sites to visit than you have the time to do.

http://myoneword.org/pick-your-word/
https://youngwifesguide.com/2018-word-year-pick-hf-105/
http://elanalyn.com/2017/01/01/word-of-the-year/
https://www.blessingmanifesting.com/2017/12/choose-word-of-the-year.html/

One way to get started on picking your word for 2019 is to spend some time in thought and reflection.  When you look back over the past year ask yourself what were the best parts... and what parts would you like to have a redo?  Is there any part of your life that you wish you could improve?  Is there a role model you look up to?  What if our hopes for the new year focused on who God wants us to become?  What word do you think He would like to see you will pick?  This is heavy stuff...  but it is exciting stuff.  It is the kind of stuff that can be very rewarding and even life-changing.  Are you up to it? Please share your word of the year and tell me in a few words why you picked it.

As you are thinking about the different qualities you admire, keep a notepad nearby and jot down every word that you like. You may have difficulty deciding... there is more than one good word.  But at the end of your deliberations, there will be one winner!  One word will stand out above all the possibilities. And that will be your word for 2019.

For me, the word for 2019 is going to be Prayer.  I have done a lot of study about prayer this past year, and for the first time in my life I have written out my prayers, often every day... just one page. I have filled up two journals.  But I am not satisfied... I know I have lots of room for improvement.

This New Year I am going to compile a list of my favorite quotes on prayer.  I will be trying to find a different quote every day.  Quotes from the likes of Oswald Chambers, who I have just discovered has the most wonderful perspective on living your life for Jesus.  He said,

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work.
Prayer is the greater work."

"Never make the blunder of trying to forecast
the way God is going to answer your prayer."

"Prayer is not an exercise. It is a life."

If you have a favorite quote I invite you to share it with me.

There have been some horrific winds on Mayne Island these past several days. Our tenant took these photos on Saturday morning of several massive trees that took down our fence. The problem is that we are not able to go home to clean it up.  We are on a plane to Tucson on Boxing Day.  We don't yet know who we might find who can clean this up.



Our neighbor lost a small utility shed.  Power has been out for several days, and maybe it will come back on tomorrow here.  We thank God that it wasn't any worse.  This is not the first time this fence had to give way for a mighty tree!  It is all fixable.

The Last Week of My Thankfulness Challenge

One of the best parts of our LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE week was having Sid and Carol Kettner living with us. We not only enjoyed all the stories they shared with us, but we had our very best food all week, and it was most delightful.

Shirley was in charge of arranging the special music for each evening, and I regret not taking any other photos of this delightful part.  Every night was excellent.

On the last evening of the event, we gave a "Thank you" gift and card to Dr. Sid and Carol.  It was the most enjoyable and beneficial week.

We didn't get any photos of the Elders Ordination Service for Shirley and Dave Boulainne on November 10, 2018... but Elder Tom Glatts from the Conference gave an excellent charge and all the past and present elders came forward to lay hands on the newly dedicated elders as Pastor Molina offered a prayer of dedication. It was awesome!

We had a special retirement dinner with gifts and a cake for Pastor Jim Weir and Joann. Do you notice a couple of extra hands on the cake?

Regine got caught in the picture when the cake she was holding up for the photo dropped. What a hoot!

This was the group photo taken at the Retirement Dinner.

I am always grateful to see interesting quotes.  This was on the wall above some coolers in Urban Fare where we got the gift for Sid and Carol.

This past week I was grateful to get the last of the tile and grouting completed on the church shower. Shirley's sister gave us a shower curtain and so now Angelo has a very nice shower to use.

Thankfulness Challenge Week Three

Last week started with an anniversary of my first date with Shirley 56 years ago.

On October 20, 1962 at CUC on a Saturday night entertainment, we spent our first evening together in a progressive party on the campus. We were both in 11th grade.  All the students met in the chapel to divide into groups of about 20 kids. I made sure to gravitate into the group where Shirley was. We were both 15 at the time... and I thought she was incredible! I am very thankful for the beginning of a most amazing relationship.

A plumber I am not, but I was thankful for the encouragement of a plumber friend who loaned some of his tools... a crimper and pipe cutter, etc. and instructed me how to do this little renovation project. We are putting a shower into the church. Not a difficult job for a plumber who does this kind of work every day... but a real challenge for some one who hasn't done it before.

I learned how to use Sharkbite fittings to connect pex pipe to copper lines. It took us a couple trips to the both Ace and Home Depot to finally get the right parts. 

Working in a dirty cramped crawl space is not fun. Could not have done it without the help of Norm Chabot.  Here Norm is putting teflon tape onto the clean-out plug that we had to remove to make the tie into the sewer main. We worked for more than three days (part days), and believe me, we were both very thankful to get this job done.   We were most thankful to pass the water test without a leak. 

We got the shower valve installed into the new wall we built, and the first coat of mud is on the drywall. This week I will tackle the tile job. I was hoping to find some tile guys who work of us to do this, but they are swamped, so I will do it. I know how to do it.

October 24 was Shirley's birthday. This was the first formal photo that she gave me in 12th grade. It is one of my most treasured memories. I am thankful for my sweetheart. 

I worked this week on some graphics and quotes to update the bulletin boards in the fellowship room where Dr. Sid Kettner and pastor Angelo Nugent will be doing our mini series, LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE. I am thankful to be able to work on the evangelism team and help with the advertising materials, tee shirts and signage. On Friday November 2 the meetings will be under way.

Thankfulness Challenge Week Two

I am thankful for the peaceful view that we have from our deck.

Several mornings this past week we had low clouds in the valley. After the sunrise it was not very long before they lifted. I am thankful for a perfect week of sunny days.

Tuesday afternoon could not have been a more pleasant October afternoon to golf. The view here on the 6th green at Pinnacle has the famous Layer Cake Mountain in the background.  Along with my shadow selfie, is Kevin, Marvyn and Bill.  I am always thankful for an afternoon with Mr. Green.

As I was preparing the advertising for "LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE" I was thankful to find a good picture on Facebook of Dr. Sid Kettner.  It was an answer to prayer when Dr. Sid agreed to set aside the time to come to help our little church in Winfield.

Angelo Nugent, our associate pastor hated to have his picture taken, but when we finally got it done, what a difference. We are so thankful to have him as a part of our team.

We may be a little ambitions with the idea to make Tee Shirts for the event, but the response to the slogan "LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE," has been most encouraging.  I am most thankful how we stumbled onto the theme of the series from an old tee shirt the Pastor Josue had from "Let's move Vancouver."

On the back of the tee shirt we have put a list of the "Eight Doctors." In my first job after graduation from PUC with a degree in Commercial Art, I was hired by Dr. Mervyn Hardinge, Dean of the School of Health at Loma Linda University.  We worked for several years developing these "Eight Doctors" into ten-minute short film strips. This was in the early 70's, long  before VHS videos.

I remember Dr. Hardinge saying that one day medical science will endorse the the counsel the Ellen White advocated in the book Ministry of Healing. Now today we can all see that he was right.

"Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power -these are the true remedies. Every person should have a knowledge of natures remedial agencies and how to apply them.”  MH p. 127 

Many times I have expressed my thankfulness as I looked back at the life changing opportunity to work at Loma Linda in my first job after college. I believe that throughout my life God has opened and closed doors, giving opportunities to do things for Him.

It was great to walk again on the Rail Trail at the end of the afternoon.  What a pleasant October day.  On this exact date in 1962 Shirley and I had our first date at CUC in 11th grade.

It was 56 years ago this evening on a Saturday night, October 20, 1962, that Shirley and I spent our first "date" together. We were involved in a progressive party and we both remember several of the stops as we moved around the campus from one house to another all evening.

Over the course of one's life we make many decisions... some are good decisions and some are bad decisions... but I am most thankful for the decision to spend my life with Shirley. 

31 Days of Thankfulness

This morning we drove to McCurdy Road where the new part of the Rail Trail has been paved. It was great walking on the fresh new pavement... and for the first bit we had it all to ourselves.

There were a few bikers... but then a whole slug of bikers came... Maybe 30 or so.  I missed shooting the first guys.

There were lots of folks enjoying a day off and some family time.  We saw this father and daughter later on their way back.

They stopped to see what Shirley was taking a picture of... and we struck up a conversation. It looked like Shirley was taking a picture of something on the ground. But she had read that to get more interesting photos, don't always take your pictures from eye level standing up. Go down low and shoot up. She was actually taking a picture of graffiti on a nearby building and was shooting it thru the reeds.

I was so impressed at this precious little girl... her polka dot  helmet matched the polka dots on her bike.  I asked her permission to take her picture. She gave me a gracious smile.

But the hike became all the more special as we stopped walking nonstop and started taking some photos of the awesome nature along the trail.  I was amazed at how the snowberries were so plump and plentiful.

And so were the rose hips. Their bright red colour is so beautiful.

I didn't taste these choke cherries... but I was attracted to a single rain drop clinging on for dear life.

When I saw this seed pod burst open, I wasn't sure what it was.

I've seen milkweed earlier in the year with the huge fluffy globes... but I have never seen one this late in the season with all the seeds. It was so unusual I took several shots and then Googled up to find out what it actually was.

Some of these seeds will get eaten by the birds... and a few may actually start to grow next spring.  So amazing how God keeps the native plants all reproducing without us having to do a single thing!

We never get tired of walking on the Rail Trail.  This bridge is over a creek that goes thru Scandia Golf and Amusements... And the last time we walked here...

I took this photo of a couple throwing stones into the creek off the same bridge... Sept 5, 2016.  So you can see the progress that has happened in the development of the Rail Trail.

I picked up a book in the "Share Department" of our Church library... it is called "31 Days of Praise."  

Being a bit of a list maker, I was attracted to the title... so picked it up and gave it a quick read.  

Thankfulness and gratefulness is all related to adoration and praise.  I talked with my daughter last evening about how to get more people sharing the things that they are thankful for.  She did a Gratefulness blog for more than five years where every week on Friday evening she would post the things that she was thankful for.  After five years it got to be kind of repetitive and she wanted to do something different.  I can tell you that I really loved it when she wrote out her new list ever Friday evening.  I never missed reading what my daughter wrote.  

The Thankfulness Challenge!

Whether you feel content with your life right now or you wish things were different, you can make a decision to be thankful.  You may have a hard time believing that thankfulness can make a big difference, but it is the little things that we do every day that pay big dividends.  Before you get out of bed in the morning, thank God for three things in your life.  Write it into your journal and watch the list grow day by day as you start to thank God for the many things that we often take for granted.  As you go thru your day, recognize and vocalize gratitude for the traits and kindnesses of others. At nightfall, offer up a prayer of thanksgiving and praise God for the challenges we are facing. 

Just as I looked forward to seeing what my daughter was grateful for each Friday evening, I believe our heavenly Father looks forward to his children telling Him all the things that we are grateful and thankful for.  So my challenge to each one who reads this is to start a page in your day book or journal... or take a notebook and start to make a list. Make a point of adding to your list something every day that makes you thankful and tell the Lord about it.  This one thing may help you have something positive to share with others and encourage them. We all need to be an encouragement to each other, don't you agree?  Make a point to do it every day.

Let me know if you like this idea and are going to accept the challenge.  Thank you.