Peaches - At Rest after 15 years :(

Our beloved cat, Peaches has been battling Diabetes for four years and more recently developed cancer in her mouth/jaw. She continued to have spunk and courage, but she was having great difficulty eating. She never complained, but we knew we had to give her the peace and relief she deserved. Thursday afternoon, I took her to our Vet and with the help of her assistant, Feng euthanized her. I had given her something to calm her about 1/2 hour before. Peaches growled when Feng clipped the hair on her leg and again when inserting the needle. I was able to pet her as she quickly passed on. Feng told me to make sure I told Diane that Peaches remained spunky to the very end.

I brought her home laying in familiar baby blankets curled up looking very comfortable in a box. We miss her. We were very accustomed to having to get up at 5:00 am every morning to test and feed her. At this time it seems only a small blessing that we can sleep in longer especially on weekends.

Busy Days

There has been a lot happening since my last entry of May 25th. Hopefully, I will still be able to post a summary of the events, but for now I will just make an entry about Peaches

Michael's 40th Birthday Celebration - May 24th

Sunday evening, we joined the Ganges at the Star House Restaurant to celebrate Michael's 40th Birthday.  We all chose the Chinese Buffet, which was followed by a delicious Birthday cake provided by Shirley.   Howard and Shirley presented Michael with a history photo book created by submissions to Apple online who published the book.

Twyla and Michael gave me a belated birthday card along with a Sudoku Book and a Golf Trivia Book.  I had to leave early to get ready for my concert.

Without A Song Concert Sunday Evening May 24th

The Weather was perfect.  There was a good turnout of our faithful patrons and many new ones.

This Train, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, Brighten My Soul with Sunshine, Keep in the Middle of the Road.

Guest Artist: Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie - Piano

Beat Mortui, Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace, Bless the Lord O my Soul, Steal Away.

Guest Artists: Emily Davis -  Tenor Trombone, Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie - Horn, Kathy Davis - Accompanist

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Frobisher Bay, The Two Roses, Summertime.

Guest Artist: Kathy Davis - piano.

The Policeman's Song, Java Jive, Bye Bye Blackbird, Without a Song.

The concert from our perspective went very well.  I have chatted with several people at the CO-OP Store today that said they really enjoyed it.

The Male Chorus performs a variety of musical styles from classical to contemporary.  The members of the Chorus boast a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds and all share the love of music.  Chorus director Bob Gibson provides a wide variety of musical styles and levels of vocal challenges that accentuates the unique quality of blended male voice harmony.

Although Charles Dent has been struggling with health issues recently, we still included his name on the program and we were pleased to see that he and Irene were able to sit at the entrance table and receive the free will donations.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

May 19th - More Winter

It started to snow in the afternoon.  I noticed it when I went to crush boxes at the CO-OP.  When I got off work it was a steady rain and still about +3c.  Sometime before 6:00pm it was snowing big flakes, wet ice pellets.  Downright depressing.  I shot this picture with my phone from the back step.   The one good thing is there should be lots of moisture for the fertilizer I sprinkled on the lawn.  

Sunday, May 17th - Supper at Ed's Inn

We phoned my brother Arnold just after 3:30 pm to see if he had any supper plans.  He said he had a large lunch at Johnny Boy's after church, but could eat again.  We picked him up just before 4:00 pm and headed out to Ed' Inn.  Call it a belated birthday gathering for both of us.  The weather was unsuitable on the 13th & 14th  to consider a golf game and we were both committed to other projects.  Golf will have to wait, but having a good meal is easy to accommodate.

May 14th, 2009 - Now 61 years old

I spent so much time last evening thanking everyone for wishing me a Happy Birthday that I had no time to write anything on my blog.
Most of the day was spent running around doing errands, such as delivering Posters for the PA Men's Chorus Concert. I did drop off my dress shoes for heel repairs to the Shoe Guy - Guy Shannon's new business venture. I had a short visit and checked out his accessories. Good choice, good prices. As I said elsewhere. I will be a regular patron of his new business.
My day took a turn for the worst when I went to Roberta's to look after her dogs. I let her dogs out and then went to work checking the light on her stove. I found a burnt out bulb. I went to the CO-OP to and found a replacement, went back and replaced it. Then I went to chat with her birds. I found them both dead in the bottom of their filthy cage, obviously deprived of water for sometime. The water container was bone-dry.
Diane treated me to supper at Johnny Boy Restaurant, but we could not talk about anything else but Roberta and her dead birds.
Roberta phoned me later before she had even walked through the house and I had to tell her about her birds. After I told her she had not left them water, and that she could never have anymore birds, I hung up on her.
Not a great way to end a birthday :(

Prince Albert Men's Chorus Spring Concert

Without a Song

W ithout a song, the day would never end.

Without a song the road would never bend.

When things go wrong, a man ain't got a friend - without a song.

Prince Albert Men's Chorus

Spring Concert

24th May 2009 7:30 PM

Calvary United Church

114 25th Street East, Prince Albert

Free Will Offering

In Concert! Anna Bekolay, Riane LaPaire, Diane Bestvater

Tonight I attended this Concert featuring Anna Bekolay, soprano, violin

                                                                         Riane LaPaire, soprano, violin

                                                                         Diane Bestvater, piano

The Benefit concert for the Honey Bee Music and Dance Camp was held at Mahon Auditorium, John M. Cuelenaere library, Prince Albert, Sk.

I have known Anna for many years and her mother for many more than that.  I went to hear her play her violin, but was also treated to her superb soprano singing as well.  Normally, I am not an opera fan, but listening to her mature, clear, voice with an incredible range of dynamics was refreshing.  I also enjoyed listening and watching her play her violin.    

I purchased her CD (Bare Bones) of mostly her own compositions and one song composed by her mother on the mandolin.  I will be listening to the CD in my Jimmy for quite some time.  I have fond memories of playing my baritone ukelele and singing in a Praise Group many years ago with her mother Diane floating around with her flute in what ever key we were playing in.  

It was not a large crowd, but definitely an appreciative crowd for all 3 musicians.  I am sure that whatever moneys were raised will be put to good use at the Music/Dance Camp this summer.

Thank you, Anna for coming and performing for us in Prince Albert.  I will continue to follow your music career with special interest.

Turned out to be a nice day

I took advantage of the nice weather to spend the morning and afternoon to finish the raking of the yard.  I tossed all the bags including Sylvia's (next door) bags into my utility trailer and tied a tarp over them to haul off later next week to the dump.

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

I worked at the till at CO-OP Hardware on Wednesday.  It was raining when I came on at 10:00 am.  Before noon, all the customers going past me or making purchases were commenting about the snowfall.  When I got off work, I drove home to -1c and wet pavement (Thank God!) with a layer of white stuff covering everything else.  I had planned to finish raking the yard Wednesday evening, but that was impossible.  The picture of our house and front yard was taken soon after I came home after work.  Depressing :(

OSL Information Meeting in St. Stephen's,MacDowall

Wednesday evening, April 29th, an information fellowship meeting was held at St. Stephen's Anglican Church in MacDowall.  Mel Melashenko and 3 ladies from the Saskatoon Chapter, Kathleen Stewart, Andrea Martinson, Mary Essel and myself from Prince Albert and a good turnout of ladies from MacDowall were in attendance.  We spent the first part of the meeting with a time of sharing.  It was most exciting to realize that after a passage of a good number of years with people in attendance at various conferences, that, in fact, some in attendance had prayed for one another and learned just at this meeting the results of their prayers.  Mel and the ladies gave a teaching on Mike Endicott's Kingdom Healing, Kingdom Living.  We adjourned for a short coffee break and then naturally started to gather and pray for one another.  It was a wonderful time of prayer evidenced by both tears and laughter.  The prayer theme throughout is a remembrance of what Jesus did on the cross for us, shedding His own blood for our salvation and healing.  Thank you Lord.  We said our goodbyes just after 10:00 pm and headed our separate ways.  I served as Chauffeur in Andrea's car both ways.  Thanks again for the ladies of St. Stephen's for being wonderful hosts.

John Diefenbaker School Talent Show

Grandson William Gange - John Diefenbaker School Talent Show

Imperial March - William Gange - Piano Solo.

Medallian Calls - William Gange - Saxophone Solo.

Great job William.

Granddaughter Rebecca Gange at John Diefenbaker School Talent Show

Fiddler on the Roof - Rebecca & her mother Twyla Gange - Piano duet.

Balance Beam Routine - Rebecca Gange.

Great job, Rebecca. (in spite of a bad headache.)

Messiah Lutheran celebrates 75 Yrs of the Lutheran Hour Radio Broadcast

The Men of the Way were invited guests to present a concert to celebrate 75 yrs of the Lutheran Hour Radio Broadcast on CKBI Radio.  Our guests were Gillian Lyons and my daughter Twyla played the flute part for Your Only Son. The concert was well received and I had a good visit with Angie and Morris Hesje at the Coffee Fellowship after the concert.

Lay Readers Licencing Service 4:00 pm

The Diocesan Lay Readers Licencing Service was held at St. Alban's Cathedral followed by a catered supper.  John Hareuther and I had to eat and run to go over to Messiah Lutheran for our Men of the Way Concert.

Order of St. Luke Healing Service, James Smith Reserve - Saturday, April 25th

I am using this picture of the Primate and me taken earlier in 2008 because St. Stephen's Anglican Church, James Smith Reserve is in the background.  The gentleman in the smaller right hand picture is Rev. Wilfred Sanderson, pastor St. Stephen's Anglican Church.

Four members of our Order of St. Luke P.A. Chapter left for James Smith Reserve from St. George's at 4:30 pm, with the assumption that the Healing Service was scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm.   We were travelling in Stella's minivan and we all decided that we would go on the pavement past Kinistino rather than travelling on the Coxby Road.  We guessed at what road to turn north on to go to James Smith, but the ladies thought we needed to turn east a few kms up the road.  That proved to be the wrong decision and we became hopelessly lost.  After asking directions a couple of times and having to alter course according to their instructions we finally made it to the main community of James Smith.  Kathleen and I went into the Service Station to ask how to proceed to the church.  We followed the latest instructions and soon after arrived at St. Stephen's Church assuming we were late, only to meet with Rev. Wilfred & Theresa Sanderson only to learn that he has arranged for the Service to begin at 7:00 pm.  So we had lots of time to set up the Service.

A good crowd showed up by the time the Service was to begin.  The Communion Service was a normal BCP Service using the readings to commemorate St. Mark the Evangelist.  Wilfred celebrated with Theresa assisting.  I read an introduction to Kingdom Healing by Rev. Mike Endicott which appeared in the March 2008 issue of the Sharing Magazine.  I was really impressed with the last hymn Bill had selected for us to sing.  I had not heard it before.  It was hymn in the evening section of the blue hymnal with a strong theme of salvation and healing.  The words of the hymn confirmed the words I had read from Mike Endicott's article.  

At the conclusion of the Communion Service, I decided that we would have 2 prayer stations with Andrea, Stella & Kathleen in the upper section at the front of the church and Wilfred and I would at the station in front of the pews.  Everything went well with a good response of people coming forward for prayer for themselves a family member.  There was even a young girl who came forward to ask pray for her Dad.  The last person was a young man with a troubled past.  The ladies had finished ministering at their station and Andrea asked if she could join us.  The Holy Spirit was speaking clearly to Andrea and she asked if she could ask the young man a question.  I, of course, said Yes.  She asked him if he remember anything happening to him when he was 4 years old.  He said to me - Yes, his brother had pushed him down a set of stairs.  Andrea had clearly received a word of knowledge.  Thank God for her boldness and obedience to present that word.  It changed the direction of prayer for this young man and definitely left an impression with Rev. Wilfred Sanderson. 

I made a special point to exhort Bill, another Lay Reader, who played the organ during the Service and the Prayer Session.  I told him he had a special ministry as organist and it played an important part in the Service.

After the Healing Prayer Session, we were treated to a feast of food before going home.  We were given clear directions on how to proceed home.  Just stay on the road heading south until we came to the Highway.  We eventually found the highway just as they promised and realized it was the same road that we had started off on when we had left the highway on our way to the Reserve.  We should have kept going North instead of turning east.  We will not make the same mistake twice.  We arrived at St.  George's at 11:30 pm and Stella still had to drive home to MacDowell area.

Delivering Posters for Victory Radio Fundraiser Concert next Week.

Well, I spent most of the day delivering posters for the upcoming Victory FM Radio Fundraiser Concert.  Had a nice visit with the Ukrainian Orthodox Priest.  He sounded very supportive of the Radio Station, especially when I said he could put promos on air and offer us sermons in Ukrainian.

I also visited with Lyle Locke and Pastor Ivan Brewer from the Apostolic Church.  I also visited with Pastor Ches Jacobs at Crossroads Pentecostal where the Concert will be held.