Again.. Meet the newest member of our Family 2010 Addition

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Grinter. Brianne and Ben got married in Swansea, Wales on May 7th, 2010. I was unable to attend the wedding, but thanks to technology, I was able to watch the ceremony from a video camera in the room that they were wed. I was up at 2:30a.m. in order to watch the ceremony in Wales. There is a 7 hour time difference. Brianne looked beautiful and Ben was very handsome in his Dress Uniform. The are posted to Winchester in July.

Welcome to the family, Ben!! This is Ben and his Brother Nic.. and Brianne. These pictures were published in the local newspaper.

... Introducing the Newest Member Our Family

Well, it has been 7 months and a bit since I wrote on my blog, and alot has happened. Time has gone so quickly and life got busy ... which is good, but it left me little time to update this blog. I hope next year will be better.

So we have a new addition to our family. Remember Tami's friend Mike? He was in the May 3rd entry of my blog. Well, Mike is now Tami's husband. Yes, my youngest daughter got married. Thinking back a year ago, when we were unsure what the year would bring, well, it brought Mike. Michael Jason Woolley. They had been dating several months. Then in June I got this call from Tami saying that she really cared for this guy. A few hours later, I got another call from Mike, telling me that he wanted to marry her. They chose August 14th to be married. They had a civil ceremony in our friend's (Wayne and Jasmine Burton) home and it was a beautiful day, despite the weather. Thanks to the support and talents of Jasmine, her mom Judy Chan, Michael's family, Pat Standing (my bishop's wife) and Trish Standing and her remarkable decorating talents, the house was transformed from a home to a bridal parlour. I am truly blessed with great friends who were there to help us put this wedding together on a very limited budget. My boss came to the rescue the night before the wedding with extra decorations. My visiting teacher companion, Lorinda and my visiting teachers helped the day of the wedding. Betty Lou Forsyth did the cake and it was absolutely beautiful. My former boss, who is a judge but also a bishop, Eric Peterson performed the ceremony. He was inspired with his words of wisdom. There were about 60 invited guests for the ceremony.
Mike is an accountant and Tami is finishing her final year in her Master's (Psychology) at the University of Edmonton. Both are working very hard. Mike recently passed his National exam for Accountants. Tami has been asked by a former professor to be his Teacher's Assistant. It is just a few hours a week, but on top of her assignments, reports, practicum, she is keeping very busy.

BAMBI AND THUMPER REALLY DO EXIST....

Remember the movie 'Bambi' ...? Well most of you wouldn't. But back in my day, I remember distinctly, while sitting in a dentist chair, reading the Bambi comic book and crying because the movie was sooo sad. Now you may think that Bambi isn't real, but by some miracle, the following pictures were taken.. (forwarded to my by email by Brianne). I just have to share
.
Aren't these just the cutest pictures?

Yes, there is a Bambi and Thumper.. and I want you to know that I always believed. Always..

Banff ...

WHAT A PHENOMENON... These were ice crystals we kicked up on the snow that had not melted on the river. Just like teeny weeny Smallville house. (You know that Crystal one)..Just the neatest thing.

Love these kids...Charlie's wanna-bes ..
Okay the story .. Niall was to fly out of Calgary and Tami wanted me to meet her friend Mike. So I drove up to Calgary, met up with the kids and we drove to Banff.. as Niall hadn't ever been there. It was a day to remember. We took the Gondola (and I am afraid of heights) but the view was spectacular when we got to the top. I love the mountains. I often wonder when the Lord created the earth, that when it came to the mountains, did He personally shape each one? Something like if we were building a sandcastle .. or a young boy building a track in the dirt in the garden?
There is no doubt that when you are up that high, observing nature, that you tend to feel closer to the Lord.

Oh .. and this is Tami's friend, Mike.

Who Knew the Hoo Doos?

Tami.. balancing on a hoo doo.

(I am behind the camera having a nervous breakdown)

Tami's former housemate, Niall Sayers, flew over a two weeks ago for a spontaneous visit. Last week they came home after Tami's final paper and final farewell for the semester.. They went to Waterton for a couple of days and when they came home, after a nice brunch, we went to Writing-On-Stone Park. I am certain I haven't been there since my early early early years. I do remember seeing pictures of my brother and I when we were kids but haven't been there since.

Niall was like a little spider money, hopping from rock to rock .. one little break dance move on the top of a Hoo Doo and he scared me half to death a couple of times. But, it was a good day. I actually surprized myself. I managed to get from point A to point B without any incident.

'Old man look at my life.. I'm alot like you were...'

This past weekend, Lethbridge had the privilege to have Neil Young in concert at the Lethbridge Enmax Centre. I

was pleased at the attendance, and as far as I could tell, the whole crowd was very appreciative of Neil. Neil isn't one to really interact with the audience. I think there may have been some disappointed people who wanted to know of the background to some of his songs. At least he introduced the band, one of the members being his wife.

It was a very enthusiastic crowd of about 5500 people. Some were pretty high on 'wacky tabacky'.. At the security meeting they told us that Neil gets high on his music and sometimes he just keeps playing. His road manager said that when he gets off stage, he is totally zoned out and in another world. He has quite the repetoire, Neil has. He started playing at about 8:50 and he played till just past 11. It was a night to remember. I am glad that some of these 'legends' come to the smaller venues. I am sure that they can appreciate the enthusiasm of the crowds and it is a tad more intimate.

Harlem Globetrotters

HI RISE BROWN, HARLEM GLOBETROTTER

Last Friday night the Harlem Globetrotters were in town. What a bunch of guys. They were very entertaining. They were really crowd-pleasers. After they all stayed for about 20 minutes to sign autographs for everyone. It was a good night.