Back to Thompson

Bbbbrrrr Baby it's COLD outside!! Snow drifts as tall as I am STILL!! Roads are covered with ice and snow, but it is still so good to sleep in my own bed last night. Art survived just fine without me and is happy as his bowlings scores were good last week. Good to be back at work and seeing friends! Think I'll recap last week:

• Thursday: arrived - went to Perkins with Bella, Becca and Erica
• went to Moxies with Cheryl
• Friday: worked at the Mound, had lunch at Red Lobster as going away for Steph
• did pot luck dinner with friends from past work- Garth, Dora, Donna, Nelly, Stacey at Dora's house.
• Saturday: went with Sian, Brooke, Conlan, Cael, and Zane for Breakfast at Smitty's, met a friend and neighbor from Thompson.
• went with Rebecca to Steinbach to her friends house, ate Chineese food for dinner
• Sunday: Slept till noon - had a birthday dinner for Sian -went to Grande Forks with Brooke, Conlan, Erica, Bella and Becca - Had ice cream for supper at Cold Stone YUM!
• Monday: Shopped in Grande Forks - Ate Mexican at Paradicimo (or something like that) came back to Canada.
• Tuesday: Got my hair cut and colored!!! Went shopping with Karen (who is also in The Peg) - ate lunch at Montana's. Went with Floyd and Page to Montana's for dinner.
• Wednesday: Went for Breakfast with Rebecca and Gaily-Poo where they serve Mennonite food! Went to Costco with Erica and Cheryl- ate hot dog with sour crout. Shopped with Cheryl and ate dinner at Moxies.
• Thursday: Flew home.

Wow!! Look how much fun and fellowhip contains a common demoninator--- FOOD!! It was a refreshing time. Nice to see everyone.

Culture in Worship

Our backgrounds and experiences of God can shape how we EXPECT God to come to us and how we believe God would behave. I've seen some interesting things in a church that I attend. One leader there was raised Catholic so he experiences God in quietness, reverence, solitude, peacefulness, silence, and Awe. Öthers of the Penticostal variety, don't believe that God has showed up unless their is lots of shouting, hand clapping, tambouine playing and laughter. The second group love boldness, loudness, a sense of basking in"LOVE". The first person would value repentance, kneeling in sorrow over sins. Without grace being poured ou,t HUGE judgments could be a dividing point in this community. It will be interesting to see how this is played out.

Winnipeg

Yeah I'm in Winnipeg!! No six and seven foot snow banks to look around before I can turn a corner. The temperature is above -30 as it was this morning when I left. I had breakfast at PERKINS with Bella and Becca (Erica was there too). The waitress welcomed me back! She knew I'd been away as the grand babies told her. I found the suitcase I was looking for at the airport. Cheryl and I are going out for supper. Life is good!!!

VDAY

I went to see the Vagina Monologue tonight here in Thompson. It was serious and funny and entertaining and thought provoking but something still doesn't quite sit right with me. The friend that I went with was wondering what we would think if guys did something like what was done?? I laughed and reminded her that we always said men THINK with their appendage. I feel sort of sad. I don't think there is any other body part that has been so repeatedly and violently attacked. As they reminded up tonight, attacks on the women during and after wars always include rape. Is it because it brings new life that the vagina is so maligned? Is it because we are talking of something sacred? I still don't know WHY but somthing about the monologue doesn't feel ok.