It's been a few days since the last post, so what I will do is take a look back and then take a look forward. Last Friday Gerri and I took a trip to Banff and got to stay in the Banff Springs Hotel. We stayed in the wing that was most recently renovated and had a spacious suite. We had been in the hotel years ago but this time were able to experience it first hand. While we had some difficulty finding our way around we managed to wander the halls and found some trendy shops. The lady in the gift shop was warm and friendly, very engaging and she really enjoyed her job having moved to Banff recently from the Maritimes. We had a late lunch in the lounge with a gorgeous view and enjoyed our menu choices and were most impressed by the friendly service of our lounge staff . After spending the rest of the afternoon and early evening relaxing and doing a little reading in our suite we had made a reservation in the Suishi restaurant. An intriguing meal and again great service, a dining experience that was somewhat unique. After a restful night we got up in the morning had a leisurely brunch and again couldn't help but notice the friendly service of the staff in the Grill.
The best part of our time was the fact that Gerri and I got to spend time together, relaxing, and reading, but most of all being aware of the experience we were able to enjoy, just spending time together. It is one thing that has been a staple in our relationship, we enjoy each other's company and the conversation is rich. It helps keep our relationship alive and makes me so aware of how fortunate I am to have such a loving lady by my side. We were so aware of our surroundings and have always loved the mountains.
I couldn't help but reflect on the atmosphere and the warm, friendly and engaging staff that were part of the Fairmont family. It did make me wonder about the impressions people might gather when they visit a church. Do the people seem as warm, receptive, engaging and do we show that much interest in all of our guests? Do we really like being there? Do we really understand what we have and do we want others to experience it?
Sometimes I can be too pensive!
The last few days have had a lot going on and for the highlights you can check out our Ashby Empty Nesters blog.
As I am doing the blog I still have a few things to pack and then Gerri and I are off to Radium to spend a few days at the Resort to find time to relax, read, recreate and enjoy the nuances of the valley. A few days with my best friend, partner and wife. I promised Gerri that she wouldn't have to do much cooking. And no that doesn't mean I plan to do it, we'll both be safer and happier if we eat out some. It's an opportunity to spend some quality time after all Saturday is Valentine's Day and it's an opportunity to make deposits in the Love Bank, enjoy a romantic setting and cherish some time together.
Well it's time to go! Have a great remainder of the week and weekend! Until next time!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Beginning A Tradition
When you are blessed with seven granddaughters and are fortunate enough to have three of the girls in Calgary it presents some wonderful options. Now that Jaelyn's girls are getting old enough we decided to begin a tradition and that we would take each of the girls out for lunch and shopping on or near their birthday.
February 1 was the beginning of the tradition as Preslie (Jaelyn's second) turns 6 on February 4. So on Sunday we decided to execute the plan, after church we took Preslie who had been looking forward to the day, was a little apprehensive about this excursion and showed some reluctance when it came time to leave, but decided she would be OK with the idea with some coaxing.
So lunch at Earl's it was. She ordered chicken fingers and fries and a glass of chocolate milk and without much hesitation managed to drain the chocolate milk. She ordered a refill and managed to finish that as well with her lunch. She had her favorite toy giraffe along and managed to engage in conversation with the server, the hostess and Gerri and I. It was a great experience to have some one on one time with her and she talked and enjoyed her lunch and did a good job on finishing the chicken. We ordered dessert - ice cream with chocolate in a cinnamon-sugar edible dish to share and she and Gerri made short work of the dish.
Then it was on to the shopping part of the expedition. We set out for Market Mall and on checking the store list found that a favorite - La Senza Girl wasn't in the mall, so had to settle for Old Navy. We made it to the children's section and Preslie spied out a nice top which was her favorite color blue. Grandpa found a nice two piece orange colored cotton hoodie and caprice outfit and because the tops were a better price if you bought two Preslie picked out another top. On the way to the check out Gerri found a coloring sheet so we picked up three, one for Preslie and one each for her sisters Madison and Lacey. Just before we went through the checkout Preslie spied out a necklace with some glass balls and a blue string which was on sale (and quite inexpensive) that she liked so we added that to the purchases and went through the checkout.
A call to Jaelyn found that she was in the mall so we arranged to hook-up to return Preslie. You know the thing Preslie treasured the most was the pretty necklace - she couldn't stop talking about it.
Well it was real important to launch a tradition, and next up will be Madison in May and Lacey in July. We will also carry out the tradition with our other granddaughters - Ireland, Peyton, in Waldheim and Lauren and Ella in Moose Jaw. We'll have to be a little more creative because the girls aren't near by , but we will find a way to spend some one on one time with each girl and celebrate.
After the shopping trip was completed and Preslie was safely returned it was on to the Superbowl game but that didn't hold a candle to the time with someone special and the beginning of a new tradition. Preslie taught us an important lesson too - sometimes its little things like necklaces that make all the difference - she is a special little girl and I am blessed to have six more dates that we have marked on the calendar and we need to start making plans! I can't wait!!
Have a great week!!
February 1 was the beginning of the tradition as Preslie (Jaelyn's second) turns 6 on February 4. So on Sunday we decided to execute the plan, after church we took Preslie who had been looking forward to the day, was a little apprehensive about this excursion and showed some reluctance when it came time to leave, but decided she would be OK with the idea with some coaxing.
So lunch at Earl's it was. She ordered chicken fingers and fries and a glass of chocolate milk and without much hesitation managed to drain the chocolate milk. She ordered a refill and managed to finish that as well with her lunch. She had her favorite toy giraffe along and managed to engage in conversation with the server, the hostess and Gerri and I. It was a great experience to have some one on one time with her and she talked and enjoyed her lunch and did a good job on finishing the chicken. We ordered dessert - ice cream with chocolate in a cinnamon-sugar edible dish to share and she and Gerri made short work of the dish.
Then it was on to the shopping part of the expedition. We set out for Market Mall and on checking the store list found that a favorite - La Senza Girl wasn't in the mall, so had to settle for Old Navy. We made it to the children's section and Preslie spied out a nice top which was her favorite color blue. Grandpa found a nice two piece orange colored cotton hoodie and caprice outfit and because the tops were a better price if you bought two Preslie picked out another top. On the way to the check out Gerri found a coloring sheet so we picked up three, one for Preslie and one each for her sisters Madison and Lacey. Just before we went through the checkout Preslie spied out a necklace with some glass balls and a blue string which was on sale (and quite inexpensive) that she liked so we added that to the purchases and went through the checkout.
A call to Jaelyn found that she was in the mall so we arranged to hook-up to return Preslie. You know the thing Preslie treasured the most was the pretty necklace - she couldn't stop talking about it.
Well it was real important to launch a tradition, and next up will be Madison in May and Lacey in July. We will also carry out the tradition with our other granddaughters - Ireland, Peyton, in Waldheim and Lauren and Ella in Moose Jaw. We'll have to be a little more creative because the girls aren't near by , but we will find a way to spend some one on one time with each girl and celebrate.
After the shopping trip was completed and Preslie was safely returned it was on to the Superbowl game but that didn't hold a candle to the time with someone special and the beginning of a new tradition. Preslie taught us an important lesson too - sometimes its little things like necklaces that make all the difference - she is a special little girl and I am blessed to have six more dates that we have marked on the calendar and we need to start making plans! I can't wait!!
Have a great week!!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Spiritual Transformation
Have you ever wrestled with what spiritual transformation looks like in real terms? I think we all struggle with what may for us be ideally something we would like to experience, but aren't always sure what it means in practical and measurable terms. I am not going to suggest there is a formula or a simple three or five step process. But I was provided some food for thought in a presentation by David Collins at a recent C.E.M.A. (Calgary Evangelical Ministerial Association.) David suggested that arrogance, self indulgance and indifference are some common characteristics of human beings. What David pointed out was that if we are exposed to the life of Jesus and are willing to submit to imitating the qualities that he modeled we will gradually see a shift or transformation that will see other tendencies surface that replace:
With the goal in mind to expose yourself to a process of transformation that will result in this kind of change is a daunting task. On our own it would be virtually impossible, but as believers we need to realize that God has offered a helper, His Spirit to be our companion. But he also has the intention that we will find community and relationships with like-minded people that can partner with us and our shared journey and provide us with the ongoing reminder of our goal to have the preferred qualities, humility, generosity and sensitivity become descriptors of our character. We likewise want to be an encourager of those whose life path we cross to set similar goals to become all God wants us to be - to be salt and light and to be ambassadors of our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to experience relationship with Him.
I want to acknowledge that there are many who I am able to share the journey of life with who are real encouragers and want to be able to impact many more folks as the journey continues. May we all find ways of being transformed to replace undesirable qualities with desirable ones and may we influence for good those who we have cross our path.
Have a great weekend!
- arrogance with humility
- self indulgence with generosity and
- indifference with sensitivity
With the goal in mind to expose yourself to a process of transformation that will result in this kind of change is a daunting task. On our own it would be virtually impossible, but as believers we need to realize that God has offered a helper, His Spirit to be our companion. But he also has the intention that we will find community and relationships with like-minded people that can partner with us and our shared journey and provide us with the ongoing reminder of our goal to have the preferred qualities, humility, generosity and sensitivity become descriptors of our character. We likewise want to be an encourager of those whose life path we cross to set similar goals to become all God wants us to be - to be salt and light and to be ambassadors of our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to experience relationship with Him.
I want to acknowledge that there are many who I am able to share the journey of life with who are real encouragers and want to be able to impact many more folks as the journey continues. May we all find ways of being transformed to replace undesirable qualities with desirable ones and may we influence for good those who we have cross our path.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What Next!
Is this for real? Am I about to become a blogger? My wife is an avid blogger and has been for sometime, but me; who would have thought. I have contemplated this step for awhile now and after lunch with Brandi decided there was no better time than now. So a big thanks to her for setting this up!
What I hope to do over the days and weeks ahead is to share some thoughts and ideas about my journey. I am an avid reader and run across a lot of good ideas that are worth sharing and this blog concept might be the best way to exchange ideas as we are all on a journey together.
For a considerable period of time I have been aware of the constant need to keep God in the picture on a regular basis and when I get distracted or falter I really try to consciously try to make sure I am seeking God and looking for him to show up in my life and the lives of those around me. I think we all need to be paying attention and looking for God as a key part of the journey. We need to be reminded that we don't have to journey alone. He (God) promised to be with us, we have to do our part and access him. It is however easy to fall into the habit of trying to do it on our own, rely on our own abilities and not realize how much better it is when God is our partner and has the lead role if we let him.
We also have a broader family that are on the journey and we can benefit by expanding our relationships and agreeing to be part of a joint journey. I find it very encouraging when interacting with others and finding out about their journey. Our lives are all part of a grand story but the people I connect with each week have interesting stories and encouraging stories which I will share with permission as a way of encouraging all of us. I will never break a confidence or share anything that might embarrass anyone, but I think there are stories that should be shared to encourage and challenge us. Some of the journey includes challenges which can be learned from and when overcome there needs to be a celebration of large portion.
Some days I hope to just share a devotional thought and may just share thoughts from published work and simply acknowledge the source.
So join me if you like and engage in some conversation and discussion that will help each of us as we continue on the journey on life's pathway and become better friends!
Before posting my initial blog let me share with you how rich my life is with my partner and best friend my dear wife Gerri. You have made life come alive and you complete me. Watching you grow your faith has been a great blessing and you have impact on many people, you have a compassionate heart and have made our part of the journey together richer!
What I hope to do over the days and weeks ahead is to share some thoughts and ideas about my journey. I am an avid reader and run across a lot of good ideas that are worth sharing and this blog concept might be the best way to exchange ideas as we are all on a journey together.
For a considerable period of time I have been aware of the constant need to keep God in the picture on a regular basis and when I get distracted or falter I really try to consciously try to make sure I am seeking God and looking for him to show up in my life and the lives of those around me. I think we all need to be paying attention and looking for God as a key part of the journey. We need to be reminded that we don't have to journey alone. He (God) promised to be with us, we have to do our part and access him. It is however easy to fall into the habit of trying to do it on our own, rely on our own abilities and not realize how much better it is when God is our partner and has the lead role if we let him.
We also have a broader family that are on the journey and we can benefit by expanding our relationships and agreeing to be part of a joint journey. I find it very encouraging when interacting with others and finding out about their journey. Our lives are all part of a grand story but the people I connect with each week have interesting stories and encouraging stories which I will share with permission as a way of encouraging all of us. I will never break a confidence or share anything that might embarrass anyone, but I think there are stories that should be shared to encourage and challenge us. Some of the journey includes challenges which can be learned from and when overcome there needs to be a celebration of large portion.
Some days I hope to just share a devotional thought and may just share thoughts from published work and simply acknowledge the source.
So join me if you like and engage in some conversation and discussion that will help each of us as we continue on the journey on life's pathway and become better friends!
Before posting my initial blog let me share with you how rich my life is with my partner and best friend my dear wife Gerri. You have made life come alive and you complete me. Watching you grow your faith has been a great blessing and you have impact on many people, you have a compassionate heart and have made our part of the journey together richer!
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