Hello guys and gals!

Hope you're all well.

Man, have things ever been busy! wow. Its all kind of a blurr, but here's what I remember. tee hee.

Yesterday was the PYPS meeting about closing PYPS's doors for good. Synod Exec has decided that PYPS should close and a new chapter of youth work needs to start. I've got some misgivings about how this is all going down because PYPS isn't under the Synod's mandate sotospeak - we have our own constitution, etc, so they really have no right telling us to close. That said, they do give us quite a bit of money each year so we can function as a society - so we don't have to collect dues from our members. We can't function without that money. But in the end we've decided collectively that disolving PYPS is the best idea. Its a broken system and there are so many other ways we could be doing things... we're stuck in a rut basically.

Anyway, the meeting went well and we were done by 1pm. Kathy dropped me off at the housesitting house afterwards and I played with the dogs and ate my lunch there. Jill picked me up just after 7 for our "girls night" with our cousins-in-law. It was quite fun... Jill and I only have one girl cousin and she lives in Kamloops - too far away! We're enjoying having our cousin's wives to watch a movie with! The movie was ok (He's just not that into you)... Jill and Sherry had already seen it and were talking about how it shows you your own flaws, painfully. I felt a bit out of place because I don't have stories to share about stalking guys or waiting by the phone. Oh well. People keep telling me that my time will come. ha ha.

I got home around midnight and as soon as I turned my beside lamp out, the dogs started whining. They calmed down a bit when I showed them they could sleep beside my bed. It was nice to have a dog sleep next to me - made me miss Lucky a bit! I was up at 3am because I thought Luca, the cat, wanted to eat, and again at 6am to feed the dogs breakfast and let them pee. Went back to bed once they were all taken care of and woke up at 9 to let them pee again... I threw in my first load of laundry then and then had something to eat and then chilled for a few hours, played with the dogs, etc. Dave picked me up at 2ish and we ran errands, stopped at Starbucks for coffee (actually stayed inside starbucks to drink it - a first for me) and also went to the Base to pick up a few things and so Dave could throw his wash in the dryer there. We headed back to the housesitting house at about 5:30 and fed the dogs their supper and let them go outside. After all that we headed over to mom and dad's for Chinese food for Father's Day supper. Mom and dad had invited Dave to stay and after supper we all started busting out stories about our embarassing parents. teehee. It was quite a lot of fun.

Jen dropped off some stuff from Jenny today... two wooden kitchen chairs, a big fan and her BBQ... just have to get a propane tank. I'm grateful for everything, especially the chairs. Another one of the metal ones I have bit the dust the other day. Yikes!

Jen flys out of Vancouver at 11 tonight but will leave Chilliwack around 7. I got to give her good bye hugs and kisses this morning - I'm thankful for that. She seems excited, though she said she just wants to get the traveling portion of it over with. Will be praying for safe travels for the lot of them.

Jenny leaves the day after tomorrow (Wednesday). Golly. This is going to be harder then I thought. I talked to Jenny briefly today and we're going to meet up with each other tomorrow at some point because she still has a few things for me (a vacuum and a CD player). And so we can properly say "farewell". We've decided that "Good Bye" is an evil word so we're not going to use it! tee hee.

Should get a move on. I'm going out with Jill pretty quick to run some errands.

Anyway, I'll talk to you soon!

Hello!

Hope you guys are all doing well.

Had a great time on our holiday last week! Jill and I travelled to French Beach, on the Juan de Fuca trail. It sure was beautiful over there. We had pretty cool weather, I wished I had packed more sweaters but was thankful I packed my sweatpants - ended up sleeping in them to keep warm. The temperatures dropped steeply at night, down to between 6 and 10*C Brrr! The mattress Jill and I were sleeping on had a super slow leak. We would pump it up at night but my morning, we'd be sleeping on the hard ground. It wasn't terrible though... we got used to it.

We made a friend - one of the campground operators - Velvet. She was such an awesome lady... kept checking in on us, making sure we were safe. Lovely lady! She was a great source of information on everything local - it was appreciated.

Jill and I took trips to the Sooke Potholes where we scrubbed ourselves clean in the chilly water (it wasn't too cold once you got in!). Jill and I had the shore to ourselves both times - it was great! We also went up to Port Renfrew and took a stroll down to the tidal pools. I enjoyed the trip down to China Beach. It was goregous! I wish we could have stayed longer but it was getting dark by the time we got down there.

The bugs weren't bad. We found some bug spray that worked and its been reformulated so that it doesn't stink like standard bug spray! It smelled almost fruity - a nice change.

I don't have any pictures to post yet - they're all on Jill's camera. Will post some once she uploads them.

Things have been pretty busy since I got back.

Jen and Jenny are getting ready for their trips. Jen leaves on Monday night for Haiti. She's really looking forward to it, to seeing her husband, and to seeing the children again. Jenny leaves next Wednesday for Hailifax and is in the final throws of packing. They're both doing well and I'm excited for 'em! I saw them yesterday for a cuppa tea and a light supper as well as delicious coffee cake. I'll post the recipe at the end of this note.

Got to see an old friend tonight - Dave. He's working on the Base this month and is staying with mom and dad with his dog. He popped over for a cuppa tea - it was great to see him and catch up. Got to see pictures of his wife and son - beautiful! Will hopefully see some more of him before he heads back to the island at the end of the month.

Tomorrow I'm heading over to Jenny's. Dad/Jill are going to drive Jenny and family to the airport next Wednesday and we need to make sure all the carseats will fit. If they don't, they mentioned that we'll just split the five of them between Dad and Mom's trucks. It means so much that they're willing to do this... its very special.

Time for bed!

Talk to you soon!

-----------------------------

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Allrecipes.com

Ingredients
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Mix in 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Spread 1/2 of batter in the prepared pan.
Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl mix 1/3 cup flour, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle cake batter with 1/2 the filling. Spread second half of batter over the filling, and top with remaining filling.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Hello!

I'm home from my lovely holiday! Had a great time.

Am going to hit the hay but will post more in the next few days along with some pics.

Talk to you soon!

Hello!

Its been a busy couple of days. :) In a good way!

Church yesterday was lovely. It was communion Sunday - always my favourite. Met a strange elderly man who sat beside me who didn't say anything to me except "Have you always lived in Chilliwack?" He seemed nice enough but it was a weird question! I helped with the offering after the service. Arlys gave me a call on Saturday to remind me because I completely forgot last month and left her high and dry (Bad Danielle!). Whoops, eh? Afterwards I went over to mom and dad's to do laundry and help pack for the camping trip Jill and I are leaving for today! We got about half-packed... just have to load the groceries and a few odds and ends.

Oh, sounds like Jill is here. Should get a move on! We're heading to the island (French and China Beaches)

Better run! Will be home Friday!

Talk to you soon!

Hello!

Another hot day, eh? It sure is nice that I can get my place to cool off at night! I'd die if I couldn't!

Tomorrow I'm off to Parkholm for the first time in months. Between the pool being down and me not being available, they haven't seen my shining face in ages! After Parkholm, dad is picking me up and we're going to get the official paperwork that says I'm allowed to camp for free in BC parks. Its a pretty sweet deal!

Jill and I leave for four days of camping on Monday!! My only regret is that it'll take up time that I could be spending with Jen and Jenny. Jill and I have been trying to coordinate our schedules for ages but the only week that would work is next week! So that's what it is. We're going to head to the island and poke around Sooke and parts of the Juan de Fuca trail. I'm super excited about it!! Jill has grand plans of us hiking every day... I told her that I don't mind walking lots but I'm not such a fan of hikes in nature for no purpose! (Those of you who like random hikes will disagree with me but I prefer to walk for a reason... with a destination... like the Library or going for tea at Jenny's!).

Got to have tea with Aunty Gloria this morning - lots of chatting as usual. Love it! And then I went over to mom and dad's where they spoiled me with a new washboard! We had supper together, the four of us, and then dad dropped me off with my groceries and he had a look at my new-to-me air conditioner. I've emailed Bill, my building manager, for permission to set it up. I don't think it'll be a problem but its good to dot and cross, right?

Today's dishes are calling me. Better go take care of 'em!

Talk to you soon!

Hello!

Wow, this is some heat we've been having, eh?

Both of my fans have been working overtime but so far it hasn't gotten unbearable in here... usually gets to about 28 by the time it cools off enough for me to open the windows and start blowing fresh air around. I'm dawdling about going to bed because my livingroom is getting nice and cool (22 degrees)... I wish I could leave my patio door open all night and get it really, really cool in here! That's the downside to a ground-level apartment.

Things have been pretty bland around here. Mostly staying inside to hide from the heat. Went to Janice's today for a bit and watched a movie. Jill came over for a late supper and then we went out for ice cream. I made her chicken and broccoli stir fry with peanut sauce. She inhaled her plate (as did I!). Its quite delicious. We decided that I'll have mom, dad and Jill over for supper one of these days and I'll make them that. I think they'd like it.

Jill and I are making plans to go camping. Am really, really looking forward to it! Jill would love for us to go to the island... somewhere around Sooke. I think that'd be rad, too... even if it is a little more expensive. At least the camping is free (an upside to being on disability)! So this week I'll go and get the appropriate paperwork and get everything in order. Jill mentioned that maybe next week would work. We'll see what her schedule is like.

Tomorrow I need to pick up milk and hit up the post office - I need to mail my Uniserve modem back to them. I'm on Shaw now and love it!

Talk to you soon!

Hello!

I have pictures of Baby Rowan! She's just so sweet... I got the cuddle her today and didn't want to let her go! She needed to eat though, and there wasn't much I could do for her on that front!

Got to see Jenny, Josh, Eli and Rowan this morning while Shea was at preschool when I snapped a few pics of Rowan and Eli. Adorable.

While they were here I got a call from Ali, the clerk of Session at church (Session is the committee that kind of runs the church... its a board with the elders as well as the minister who talk about a lot of really dull stuff). Anyway, one of the dull things they talked about last Wednesday had to do with me. Ali called to inform me that there is now a no-camera policy at church! Wow, eh?! I was floored and my eyes filled up with some mega tears when she told me. I'm touched to say the least. She said they posted some posters and made annoucments. She said that its something that should have been done a long time ago but no matter, I'm just so thrilled that its happening at all. For all the headaches I get over church, it means the world to me that they're willing to do this for me!

And finally, here are the pictures of baby Rowan and little Eli (who isn't so little anymore!)

She's all of 5 days old today. Adorable, eh?

Eli is quite the tea-granny! He runs around chanting "tea! tea!" when I pour the water into the teapot... hasn't quite figured out the whole notion of "steeping"... he'll get the hang of it. :D The cup is nearly as big as his head!!

It was quite as cute, he drank the tea so fast he was panting to catch his breath when he was done!

That's all for now.

Talk to you soon!