home...

23rd.... well this Christmas break has been interesting so far. My family has caught a flu, I had it worst so far (figures as my immune system was down coming from college and a release of stress) was sick one night got about 2 hours of sleep and was babysitting at the neighbors the next day, not the greatest idea by nightfall I was running a fever and had bad chills. After a good sleep I was feeling great again and worked at the neighbors again yesterday. This day is my last for this week, and next week I might have two maybe three days here. Wonderful ways God provides. :-)
25th is Martha's birthday.... 26th or 27th Naomi and Jesse come up for a visit, should be interesting to meet Jesse with the knowledge that he is Naomi's boyfriend.... 28th I go for my written test Lord willing... 29th I get my top braces off.... 31st is my 23rd birthday. And somehow I should work in two days of working here.... I go back to college on the 2nd.... :-)
Could you pray for a few things for my family? Please and thanks.... first our well has decided to quit working again, so please pray that it will start working and that we don't run out of water. Ellie is in major pain from her shoulder going out of socket, she most likely needs surgery but Dad and Mom don't have the money to take her to a specialists to get it looked at, she (Ellie) hasn't been able to sleep very well at nights and last night was really bad, so please pray for her. Also the fridge and stove need to be replaced.... they work but badly and a new stove and fridge are needed. So if you could please pray about these things.... I hope to help pay for part of my orthodontists visit from the money I'm earning here, and that will spare Dad and Mom a bit this month but they have no extra to spare for things. So please pray. :-) And don't tell them that I asked for prayer, they'll crash on me for asking for others to intercede with God. :-/ Thanks lots though and I know that they will appreciate the extra prayers. :-)
Talk to you later....
Hannah

youtube movie

That Naomi posted of our family singing and playing. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5FwEOUK8xk

College is going well, and I'm learning more to let God have control over things. :-) He has stepped into so many ways in my life that I feel as if he were carrying me all along to get me here and set me on my feet for a bit.
Hannah

Family picture

So here we are again.... Older maybe wiser, hopefully not worse looking. LOL!
Well maybe worse looking... You can see our "crazy" pic.


If you want updates of the college you'll need to ask me for an e-mail update. I don't intend to put it on here... since it's not of my family, only me. :-)
Hannah

From the heart and a blog post

The songs Over and Over & If This is What God Wants.... mean so much to me. Each of them reminds me that God is always there, always faithful and that I need to take Him at His leading and follow without question. Too many times I've heard God and accepted but on my terms only. I wish now of course that I had accepted and obeyed on God's terms and plans for my life but somethings I have to learn over again. :-) After fighting with God for the past 10 months I finally gave up and the peace that flooded my heart and head. Yes I cried some, me who never sheds tears. :-) God has patiently waited, never giving me rest till I gave up everything to Him. :-) Yet through all my closed ears and no attention paid to Him, God was always there, He never left me to stand on my own, He always gave me the help that I needed for each trial I faced but at the same time He refused to grant me the peace that I wanted. So I tried to compromise... I don't know if any of you have tried to make an unconscious deal with God... it doesn't work by the way, just so you know. :-P I waited till it seemed like nothing could be done I'd just have to wait and pass the opportunity on by till next year. But God has always had other plans... LOL! I gave up everything to God, told Him that I was going to quit fighting His will and go where He wanted me to go... So down on my knees I watched things happen. He flung doors open so wide they flew off their hinges, people started talking about me, God had everyone set up.... and the love that had poured out has filled my soul to over flowing. I still don't know how everything came or will come into place... I know that God has a plan and that I simply need to trust. I apologize to you all for doubting God. I don't know if it's come across to anyone through what I've said but please forgive me for leading you astray if I have done so. Thank you so much for praying for me. :-) I love you all.
Hannah



2nd..... So 31st Dad and I went over to Covlins and helped process chickens... we ended up doing 200. Not bad for only a few people. :-) Got home showered and relaxed for a bit then went down to Brad and Carrol S. to talk about college. 1st went to Preeceville with Mom, Sara and Lydia. On the way we ran over a spike and flattened our right rear tire. (How it missed the front one I'm not sure) so we're trying to figure out how to change the tire (having never done anything off the sort before, not good position to be in) and along comes a Esso fuel truck. Thank God for friendly farmers. :-) He even couldn't figure out how to get everything in place or the spare tire down from under the van. It took him almost an hour to get the spare tire on. I'm so thankful God had him stop. Might never meet that guy again but I've been praying for him. :-)
In town I did a few things on the net while Mom and Lydia did some errands. Got home filled out the rest of my college application. Then I went through all my tubs (that I could find, I know I'm missing a couple that I need but I can't find them, I'll have to look again later) and started packing up what I need for college. I've got all but a few things packed and made a list of what I need so I can pick up the things when we go to Swan River on the 4th. :-) Went down to B. & C. S.'s place again , this time to send a fax of my application to the college and two other papers to some other people. Come Sunday early morning we leave for College. We have to be there in time for the 10:30 am college morning service. I actually am supposed to be there on the 4th but since I have an orthodontic visit they said as long as I got there for the morning service that would be fine. :-)
Only one Sunday with my home church. I miss them so much. But at the same time God wants me to move on so I have to accept that and miss them... I will have to make new friends. And Yes Jo, I will completely “CLAM” as you are so fond of saying. LOL! Thanks for sitting me down that last night for a talk. :-) You and Courtney are rocks in my world holding me down and hopefully sensible. Thanks so much for both of you being there. And for the rest of you being left out... what can I say... grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, close friends, acquaintances.... You all play a part in my life, maybe through music, maybe through being a relation but everyone of you through prayer and encouragement. So Thank You all so much. :-) I love you guys and wish that I could visit most of you. LOL! Some of you really should come visit me. :-) Well our family I guess, they'd love it if you'd drop by. You might want to give them a day's notice though, Mom would have my head if she knew that I told you to just drop by. :-) Take Care and God bless y'all.
Hannah

Busy at home

So I hope you all haven't totally written us off. :-) We've been super busy. Made applesauce on the 25th.... 26th we went over to Covlins and processed chickens till 3:30 came home and helped with the last of the applesauce and then had movie night. 27th.... Mom and I picked all the beans (about 8 gallons) cleaned house and cleaned house and cleaned more house. Every time we turned around there was something more to do. :-) I went in with Mom to Endeavour around 3:45 and sent about 35 letters along with a few packages to the kids I was counsellor of during July. We got groceries and Mom got water while I was at the post office. :-) 27th I mixed up two batches of raised doughnuts before and during breakfast. I didn't get a chance to eat as Dad had Ellie and I go run and get our horses to take them down to the neighbours place to get bred. Since they'd supposed to be bred last year but the older stud wasn't any good we're getting a free breeding to a younger stud and hopefully they'll foal in 2011. :-) We also had borrowed a half Holstein cow (and her calf) for the milk and she was slacking off so we brought her back as well. We trailered them down, talked a few minutes then went a picked up a swing set from an older couple. Took the scenic route home... taking us through some very beautiful country. I love the country near the river. :-) Maybe because it's kind of like the mountains. :-) Got home around 10:30 and I had to started making doughnuts immediately. I had a glass of milk at 11:00... so I was super happy when Dinner rolled around. :-) I made doughnuts through dinner and stopped frying them around 2:30. coated lots of them with regular sugar and more with powdered sugar others I iced with chocolate icing I made some I left plain and some I tried to fill with jam... which didn't work out that well. :-) I think I made around 6 Dozen doughnuts. My feet were plenty tired when I was done. :-) I had time to practice banjo for 1/2 an hour for the first time since we got home. :-) Then we had to get ready for the corn fest. Which went fairly well. We made a few fumbles but the kids stole the show so they weren't to worried about us older ones doing the singing. Sara is such a clown. LOL! I love my siblings. :-) Sunday we had almost all our church family over for a welcome home party and also a B-day party for our pastor. :-) God decided to see how damp He could make our spirits by sending rain down so we had to move inside fairly quickly. :-) We played some volleyball in-spite of the rain and I reminded everyone again of how badly I play. LOL! At least I can have fun. :-) It was so great being back in church. Brad's sermon hit me in between the eyes I really needed it. :-) I'm so thankful for people who follow God and are willing to tell others of follow. :-) Lindsey S. took Naomi and I home for the night since we hadn't seen her new place. So that's where we are now. :-) Thank you so much for everything, we've felt your prayers. :-) I'll try to keep you up-dated about the happenings here. :-)
Hannah

moving around

24th Well what can I say. We're home for a time. Lydia is should be leaving within two weeks to go train two race horses for John Arcand up in Saskatoon. Naomi will be leaving to live with Will and Michele for the winter at least, teaching piano and helping Michele with different things. :-) As for me.... I hoping to move to Regina for a time, and am planning to go to Bible college in Jan. up in Nipawin. I can only ask that you please pray for us as we set out on our new ventures. We each feel the need to leave home, and God has dropped something into each or of our laps and we hope to take those things and run with them for His glory. :-) Thank you so very much for praying for us. Your support is so wonderful. :-) Thanks again for standing by us.
We have applesauce to make, chickens to butcher and a multitude of other things to work out. LOL! Busy busy.
Hannah

back in Kennosee

15th We're sitting outside the Inn of the Seven Sisters in Forget while Shamma and Michele are visiting with some people. :-) We went back to the festival for part of the day. Left around 3:30 stopped by Long and McQuade (music store for those not in Canada) and a bank then we went for supper at Jim M. met his wife and one of his daughters. They were very sweet... and Jim had toned down some from his camp profile. :-) Still a crazy Irish man but sweeter around his family. :-) Had a good visit got back to Frans' place at 9:30.... Gillian took Naomi and Lydia over to Nathan's house for a video and I took a little time on the net then crashed into bed around 10:30. They didn't get home till 1:00 but I was zonked so they didn't disturb me at all. :-) Michele went back to the festival right after supper at Jim's so Gillian drove us home. Come morning Michele picked up Shamma and then stopped by Frans' place to pick us up and we left for Kenosee. Stopped in Davidson for fuel, and then in Regina at Costco to do some shopping. And here we sit listening to music, Naomi's reading a book, Lydia's on her Ipod and I'm finishing up typing. :-) Have a great week... I might get a chance to send this out before we go home.
Hannah
16th we're all moved to Cabin/bunkhouse #2 and somewhat settled in for another week of camp. We'll have two cabin mates. Both of which we need to buddy up to. :-) They're in their teens but need a little over looking as well. :-) I need to practice for an hour at least today, hopefully more. I really don't feel quite yet ready for another week of camp/learning more banjo. My brain has enough for a week at least. LOL! But Hey, I ain't complainin'. :-) I have to work out the chords for that Texas Turnaround that was that Ben K. gave me the chords for at the festival. With my new chord chart I should be able to figure it out a little better. :-) I'm going to try for a few minutes of sit down time with Daniel K. to help me with some technique on the banjo, scales, more chords and so on. :-) I gotta run now. Take care. :-)
Hannah

Music and more

5th The kids left evening of the 3rd. 4th we sat around a talked till 2:30 then 7 of us headed to town, Lydia and I were payed for working here in June (Naomi had been paid before) so we were able to deposit those. F. Banga will pay us for July later. We did some shopping and then got a few minutes of net time at Michelle's house. That was an answer to prayer, I'd been really hoping that I'd be able to get the last month's doings off before starting on this one. :-) I don't know how much time I'll have to type in the next 2 ½ weeks but hopefully I'll get a few minutes. :-) Today we cleaned up, did/are doing laundry, put together all the campfire packs, the popcorn and the memo books for each week into the new bags for this year. That took us a couple hours to get everything in order. It's now 3:20 and I have two more loads of laundry to finish up then we'll be caught up on things. All our things have been moved to bunkhouse/cabin 4 ½ where we'll be staying for this week along with some young native girls who need some “moms” to be around. :-) Second week we'll have some other girls who come from broken homes that will need some mothering. :-) Anyhow I'll be talking to y'all later. :-)
Hannah
It's the 8th here.... my left hand fingers are all sore and the tips are red from all the playing. The last month of not playing took out my callouses seems almost totally. LOL! I've learned 4 songs and some harmonies to one that Daniel K. taught me last year. I have 3 class mates.... Garnet, who is just learning (he's in his late 40s or early 50s I'm guessing, but he catches on pretty quickly), Rob, has taken three finger bluegrass style for 6 months before this camp but old-timey/clawhammer styles are new to him. He's around 30, and his familiarity with the banjo makes his learning quicker. Elaine, was here last year and Daniel K. taught her several songs. But she wasn't able to record them or have them written out so she forget major parts of some of them. (She's in her late 50s to 60s , I think.) So that's my class. :-)
The concerts have been phenomenal as usual. The talent some people have... :-) I could listen to them for hours on end. Wow, and how they can work around so many different styles. :-) I love being around the music all day. :-) I'm having to type in sporadic moments.... LOL! And I need to close now. Maybe I'll get a chance later on. :-)
Hannah
13th..... it's 11:30 pm. The Johnny Arcand Fiddle festival has been very very wet/rainy, cold and rough. But I have learned some amazing things. For one how cold I can get when I don't bring leggings or a heavy sweater along. LOL! Two that one of my class mates from camp last year is a fantastic guitar and banjo player (which of course makes me “sick” since I have no such talent and he's only 13 :-) He also plays 5 other instruments. That is simply not fair at all..... some people like myself can play a bit but advanced in all areas is not possible for myself it would seem. :-) Maybe someday I'll be able to rock my world. LOL!
Michele had us in the tent and you can imagine how that was working out with the wind and rain. So tonight we're in Saskatoon as Michelle's Mom's place for a dry, warm place to sleep, and also to get some showers. :-) And on our way back out to the festival we're going to stop by Long and McQuade so I can pick up a banjo capo and maybe a chord sheet. :-) I have a basic chord sheet but I really want to learn some fancier chords like diminished and augmented chords, they sound so sweet in certain styles of music. I'm kind of pumped and happy right now, besides being tired. So if my giddiness gets to you I'm sorry. :-) Lydia and Naomi were practically jumping up and down after their workshops today... they had so much fun, learned new things and were with the most amazing teachers that they loved it tons. :-) I sat in on Lydia's workshops, so I ended up getting the know in on a really cool chord progression, that sounds incredible on the guitars and I really wanted to learn it for the banjo. Asked a few people to help me work it out and ended up Gordon took myself and the banjo along with the paper and pen and figured out all the chords and so on for the first three strings so it was easy. I practiced for 45 mins or so going over them but then we had to leave for coming into town. And I need to go shower now and hit the hay. :-) Soft warm bed tonight... AHHHHHHHHH LOL! ZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!
Hannah
14th... morning. So I'm back. The shower was wonderfully warm. :-) So anyhow.... I need to post this... go up and eat breakfast. Thank Fran (Michelle's Mom) for having us here. Ask Michelle if I can go with her and Shamma shopping. And I also need to do my hair up, it's still pretty wet from the shower last night. :-) But I'm not complaining. :-) I'm listening to You Raise Me Up.... it's such a beautiful song, and so so true about our gracious God we serve. God is amazing, he raises up to more than we could ever be on our own. :-)
Hannah

The month of July....

26th... Peter and Gabrielle W. picked us up a little past 8:00 am and took us to Regina for the weekend. :-) We shopped for a few hours with Gabrielle then had supper, which was a dish of pasta and chicken, along with olives and tomatoes. Peter made it and it was very very good. :-) He kept saying that he wasn't a good cook... if you want a semi-fancy dish that looks Italian/Greece then ask him how he made the pasta and chicken. :-) After supper while Peter picked up two movies us ladies walked part of the way to Ray B. house which was about 8 blocks away from where P. and G. live. Naomi knocks on the door and Ray (who had no clue that we were in Regina) opened it... his eyes widened and his mouth dropped. It was so much fun talking and kind of catching up on things. We talked for 45 min. or so and then he had us listen to a song that he had recorded with a computer program. Upon returning home we watched Inkheart. We got to bed a little past 12:00 am... a bit later than any of us expected I think. :-)
27th.... Germany played England in the world cup soccer that morning at 8:00 so we watched it. Germany won by the way, 4 goals to England's 1. I'm not a great sport person... therefore I only ended up watching about half the game. I suppose I could get excited about games but it's just not something I feel I need to get involved in. :-) We walked to church at 9:50. It was good to have a sermon again.... something more familiar than what we've had in F. Banga's church. The catholic church has more singing, which I enjoy but I like a good sermon as well. :-) So I prefer something like our church in Endeavour or the one that we attended in Regina. No offense to those of you who are catholics. :-) Peter's brother and son had come to watch the soccer game and they came back for dinner as well. We had fully dressed hamburgers and then a store bought cheese cake for dessert. (which was very good, I haven't tasted a non-homemade cheese cake that tasted that well since... I don't think ever) :-) Gabrielle took her dog and us girls (LOL! That sounds funny) for a walk 20 min. after dinner. It was good to have a bit of exercise. After we got back we loaded very relaxed, and then headed for Kenosee. We listened to bluegrass on the way back since Peter and Gabrielle have satellite radio, so that was lots fun. :-) We also stopped in Arcola for fuel and Peter insisted that we get ourselves a frozen treat, it's been a while since we've had any treats like that. :-) We showed Peter and Gabrielle around the camp and then talked for 45 min. in the Kome 'n' See. The weekend was so much fun.... so here's another THANK YOU for P. & G. 's hospitality and friendship. It was lots and lots of fun. Thanks so much. :-)
Hannah
28th I painted the showers up at the pool. That took about 3 hours, mostly being tedious since it's not plain boards.... it's sheet metal, and all those grooves take time to cover with the green paint. :-) I have some problems with oil-based paint. For some reason, my eyes burn pretty bad and for 2-3 days after I have the feeling of the paint in my lungs. :-/ Though I am glad that it's me not Lydia or Naomi doing the oil-based painting, they've both had problems with their lungs (Lydia has had a cold hang on for a long time) so I shouldn't complain. :-) We ate lunch early since we didn't have a 10:00 am snack. :-) Loretta H. was here.... she drives bus for Carlyle and the kids had a day at the water slides. She wasn't needed for a few hours so she spent it at the camp. :-) Naomi and Lydia cleaned chairs, pressure washed the cement of the outdoor chapel and set up the chairs and benches while I was painting. I cleaned the painting stuff... then F. Banga had me mow around the evergreens. Places where the tractor mower can't get. :-) We hauled old boards to the old board pile behind cabin 4 ½ , sledge hammered in some boards near the outdoor chapel. Hauled one more bench up to the pool, took down some long handled broom/brushes for cleaning the pool. Then F. Banga told us to take the rest of the day off. Lydia and Naomi went to the Kome 'n' See, and I took a canoe out for ½ an hour. First time I've paddled a canoe, I've kayaked before. :-) It was fun, other than the canoe leaked some so by the time I got back to the dock my shoes, socks and part of my dress were wet. :-)
Hannah
29th.... moved to the MTC room #2 that morning. F. Banga told us to use the van to bring the loads over so I made two trips with that. It certainly helped. :-) F. Banga had gone into Carlyle that morning, returning about an hour after lunch. I started working on the flower arrangements, and Naomi took over wiring them to the frame. While I got more willow for another frame and for filler. We worked on them till supper. Lydia pressure washed the pool walk way. It was very windy, but I went out on the lake any way.... found myself going backwards half the time. LOL! Got in, showered watched a DVD on my lap-top. Then finished up watching a soccer match of the world cup with Lydia.
30th.... cleaned the Kome 'n' See cedar cabins in the bush with Naomi. That wasn't exactly fun. It would have been fine, but I haven't seen mosquitoes that thick for a long time. They were in big clouds hovering and diving. Yikes. Definitely not something I enjoyed doing. :-/ Finished the flower arrangements. They turned out okay.... I'm no hand at that artistic stuff. After lunch we were off.... Naomi and Lydia went to the MTC or for a walk and I took the canoe out. Got back around 2:30 walked over with the girls to F. Banga's shack/cabin. Met Tylene.... who did music at the camp for several years. She taught us three songs for teaching the kids. F. Banga made Hungarian noddles for supper. :-)
1st.... Happy Canada Day! :-) Cleaned up more things. Seems there's always something little that needs doing. F. Banga needs to take a walk through this tomorrow and see if we've missed anything. After lunch we were given till 4:00 off (which is where I am now.) Naomi and Lydia settled for different movies. I took the canoe out again. Did kind of a round circuit of the camp part of the lake. It's really hot today. But I don't think I got too sunburned. :-) Watched a movie when I got in. We're going to see a partial pow-wow and also the fire works this evening. :-) Should be fun.
Hannah...... later. The pow-wow isn't till the evening of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The fire works were great. But the mosquitoes were really rotten. LOL! It was worse than usual, since the day had been very muggy and humid. We didn't get to bed till mid-night. Myself some later as I had to wait for the shower since F. Banga told us we should use the main girls washroom shower instead of the ones in the MTC. Around 2:00 am I awoke to being splashed on. A terrific thunder storm had blown in and our window was open. :-) So I shut that one and two others that were open. Not much sleep with all the lightening and thunder playing over head.
2nd.... we all slept in this morning. Bad girls that we are we didn't get up till almost 8:00 am. :-/ Oh well. :-) Gordon Food Services rolled in early that morning. So we a bit of time putting everything away. Then some staff started arriving some in time for lunch others not. AL and Loretta H. came for lunch and also loaded up the last hide-a-beds. Good to have them gone. :-) After lunch Naomi and Lydia went for a short walk and I took the canoe out. Now I'm going to try to get some GED prep reading in. I want to take the tests after camp so I can say that I legally graduated. :-)
Several more staff had arrived by supper time and a couple more came in just as we were leaving for the Pow-wow in White Bear. The Pow-wow was interesting. And very neat. :-) The costumes were pretty incredible. We stayed there for about 1 ½ hours then the mosquitoes were getting bad so we went back to camp. Some of the staff/counselors watched a movie till 10:30 or so but we and several others headed for bed when we got back.
Hannah
3rd... we cleaned up the cabins again, did a wash with bleach water. I fixed part of the screen door of the music room. Tala (15 year old native counselor) helped us set up the sound system in the outdoor chapel. Other staff cleaned the pool, visited in the MTC and some ran to town. It was a lazy day. :-) I read/studied more in the GED book as well. Had a campfire, we don't know most of the songs that they sing around campfire but we will be learning them in the next month. :-)
4th.... got up at 6:52 and took a canoe out for an early (Yeah right) jaunt. So quiet on the lake in the morning, no power boats at the other end. Just me, God and the water. Well I guess the canoe and paddle help as well. :-) Church in Carlyle at F. Banga's. We sang as we did last time. :-) Got back around 12:30 pm had lunch and then talked some, read some till 2:00. Went and stood by the cabins that we're counselors of. I'm counselor of cabin 4 along with Tala, Jenna and Austyn (Austyn's 15 and Jenna's 18) Ours is one of the loudest cabins. They're all 10-12 and wow crazy. LOL! Tons of energy, and the things they come up with.... :-) But they're all really good kids, and although it takes a bit till they hush when you want them to, they all listen pretty well. :-) They had two times of swimming in the pool (with the instructors who can swim). Then we played three games of capture the flag. Lots of fun, I'm kind of known as the slow one. LOL! I've always had a bad time as sports. :-) Then we had snack and campfire till 9:30. The kids have to be in bed and lights out around 10:00 pm. In three of the cabins the male counselors slept in the cabin as well. The kids in the older cabins don't need a counselor with them at night. The rest of the staff had prayer time and hit the hay. The first bit is always on the rough side. Speaking about rough.... There's are some plastic rack things that the people put their shoes on outside the pool. They measure about 1 ½ in. tall, 1 foot wide and 4 feet long. Any how I ended up stubbing my left foot into the end of one of them and sliced two of my toes. :-/ I am such a klutz. LOL! 5th.... well it's late afternoon here the first day is almost gone by. We have about 4 ½ hours left before they go to bed. :-) Music actually went a lot better than we had expected it to. Which was a real big answer to prayer. :-) I was praying so hard last night, feeling very unconfidant as I lay in bed. :-) So, breakfast 8:00-9:00 am then three, 1 hour long sessions in the morning... different groups of people. And two sessions in the afternoon. :-) They all went pretty good, some better than others, but for the most part it was really really good. Naomi led us in prayer before each session, and we teach them 6 or 7 songs. Then comes the fun part, they all get a chance to play the instruments. Piano, fiddle, banjo and guitar. They all really enjoy that. It's then that we get to know them a bit more. :-) Do you know how hard it is to learn 35+ names in a few hours? LOL! I think I might have half of them down, but it's hit and miss for the main part. We have two rules/stipulations in the music room. First each group will be judged throughout the week as the best singers, doing all the motions, and the most obedient. The group who wins gets a prize at the end of the week. So that has helped with the incentive to be good for most of the groups. :-) The other rule is that they have to stand while singing.... so in between songs they can sit down while we girls get our act together then we/I give the stand up order, they have up to 3 (counted slowly) to stand up or they get tickled to death. LOL! Almost all of them stood up upon command but some needed a little extra incentive to get to their feet. Second or third time around the other campers can join in the tickling to get the stubborn one out of the chair. We end up pulling them out while tickling them and they usually stand pretty well for the song. :-) So now... I need to practice banjo. I did a couple sections of GED English and arts before this but I need to get in a few things before supper rolls around. :-) So see you later.
Hannah
6th.... after supper there was mass, and because it was cool we didn't do campfire. Instead we gathered them all into the MTC living-room area to watch part of a movie. They then had a snack and went to bed. Naomi and I led prayer, and then we had some B-day cake, as one of the counselors mother's had brought some. :-)
Morning dawned, prayer held, breakfast eaten, and sessions began. :-) Today it was a little tougher, the kids were more relaxed and were starting to push their limits. So we had a few times of crazy.... :-/ The worst was the last session from 2:30 to 3:30pm.... the couldn't seem to quit screaming, or singing the wrong song at the top of their lungs. LOL! Canteen, then most of the kids left for waterslides, mini golf or horse back riding. The few kids who stayed here took a survival walk with Daniel. :-) We three girls talked with Jesse (who's 15 almost 16) for 1 ½ hours, it was good to get to know him better. :-) The kids got back and we ate around 6:00pm. Talked with my cabin kids about doing the 5 min. skit on Friday evening for the presentation. I really don't have a clue about what to do and the other three counselors who are with that cabin, one (Tala who really hasn't a clue anymore than I do) will help the best she can but Austyn and Jenna who know more about the skits haven't done a whole lot with the cabin these past two days. Hopefully they'll come to our rescue later on. :-)
Anyhow mass at 7:00, I played the banjo there. Not great, interestingly the mic I was trying to play into wasn't working. LOL! So I wasn't to worried. :-) Then water polo... fun to watch. :-) I need to run... so talk later. :-)
Hannah
7th no extra curricular things today (horse back riding, water slides or mini golfing) so there were two free swims. And mass was at 5:00, supper at 6:00. Cabin cleanup 3:00 – 3:30 and inspection before canteen. No extra time for studying GED or writing here. (today's the 10th and I can't remember things properly)
8th people started getting sick, flu and cold. Two kids threw up... and several sound really rough. One from our cabin threw up, and another one was feeling really rotten so they slept all morning. But after lunch they were up around. Not doing much, but at least on their feet. Two of the boys in my cabin were asking questions about the bible... and stories of different things. So I ended up reading/explaining two bible stories to my whole cabin after canteen time. I had been really praying that at sometime God would open a way for me to be able to talk about God to them. And although I was reading/explaining to “only two” of them, all the others were listening. So that was a really big answer to prayer. :-)
9th.... last day. One camper was still sick and I had to clean up a couple times. LOL! Reminded me of being at home again. I have one of the strongest stomachs for cleanup duty, so I end up getting it a lot. :-) We only practiced two songs, since there was no mass that night. And then we chilled and I took the kids to the trampoline to play a ball game. Did a run through of the skit, handed out shirts. Signed shirts... I got my staff shirt signed by all but 4 people at camp. F. Banga, Clinton (the nurse, he says that since he might be famous one day he doesn't give out autographs.... LOL!) and my two sisters. So as Lydia said to me.... “is your shirt black or orange?” :-) the evening concert, skits and music went very well. The gift for the best group in music was a DVD of the first week of camp, pictures set to music. Naomi, Lydia and I took the pics, Naomi made the DVD and I copied it since my computer works quicker than hers. They were very happy to receive the gift. :-) Good byes were said hugs, hugs and more hugs were given. The camp emptied and grew quieter. By 9:00 only 7 people were left at the camp... :-) So quiet. And we're all like, we miss the kids. LOL! :-) But at the same time it's so nice to have peace and quiet. Watched part of the last Pirates of the Caribbean with the rest of the counselors but I went and showered and crashed into bed about half way through.
10th.... lazed in bed for a while, talking to the two other girl counselors and my sisters. Had breakfast, then cleaned out a cabin. And sat around. LOL! We're being lazy today. I've going to go clean bathrooms now though. :-) And the mess hall floor needs to be mopped but we might leave that for the other two maintenance guys who'll be back either tonight or tomorrow morning. :-) Naomi and Lydia are making cookies, and we're going to make pizza later on today. I also need to practice banjo. :-) So till later... or in a few days. :-)
Hannah
11th.... cleaned bathrooms, ate supper, watched Alice in Wonderland (the new one) then went out to the music room and watched The Beverly Hillbillies while the others watched a different movie in the MTC. Showered and hit the hay. Naomi has a cold so she didn't go to church with us. We sang with Brian and Tim today. Okay. :-) F. Banga took us to DQ for lunch then we got some things for the kids this week and also for us and B-day presents for some of the counselors. I'm in cabin 2 with Jesse and Stirling.... boys ages 10-12. So this should be fun. :-) The first free swim is just over.... so we'll have rules, supper, another free swim and then campfire. :-) I need to run.
Hannah
evening... played capture the flag again. Lots of fun. Campfire time was short, only a few songs.
12th every thing went well in music. Of course that's what happened last week as well, they were good the first day and then they lightened up and were trouble the next days. :-) With 85 kids here, they've been divided into 6 groups, and we're only doing 45 min. sessions so we can do 4 groups in the morning and 2 after dinner. While horse back riding, mini golf and water sliding is going on the others left here were put into three groups and taken on different excursions around the place, like 'rock wall' climbing, building a fort, or a nature walk. They've put survival in as a regular session with so many groups of kids. Mass went well, Sam A. and Stirling W. came and sang with us up front so that was fun. :-) played capture the counselor afterwards as is was nearly 10:00 so all the kids went to bed.
13th..... kids were tired and kind of on edge today just like last week. :-) Music went OK, but not great. Naomi has a pretty bad cough and she can't always sing. Praying hard for her and also for my voice since Lydia can't sing very well either. So really praying that God will make my voice hold out. Thankfully it's held out so far. :-) Played Red-Rover with lots of the kids and other counselors during the afternoon while the extra curricular things were going on. Had supper, mass and then free swim. Two girls from cabin 4 ½ were really home sick so I sat with them for a while, took them to the pool side and sat there for ½ an hour then brought them back to their cabin where they wanted to just snuggle in their sleeping bags so I left them to snuggle. :-) Snack and then bed.
14th.... music didn't go as well today, they were really pushing boundaries. The group (can't remember the #) that had been good the first two days really wrecked their chances of winning the prize with their behavior. Two of other groups were a lot better than them. It rained off and on today.... cabins were judged today as well, so that was interesting. :-) Going to try to play/sing If My Nose Was Running Money for Friday night. So I really hope that works. :-) Dance tonight..... so things were a little different, we had mass, supper and then cleaned up the mess hall somewhat. Put away all the chairs and tables. :-) I need to run, talk later. :-)
Hannah
July 31th..... what can I say? I have a very good excuse though. My computer cord disappeared.... it was there on the table in the afternoon but when I went to get it to charge my battery in the evening it was gone. So I was wasn't able to type anything about the last two weeks. After searching through all the rooms (thinking that maybe someone took my cord for a prank) and finding nothing I/we were looking through a variety of cords laying on a table that had been placed there a little time before(the last few days of week 4) and we found a cord... not mine but another computer cord, so I tried it on my computer and it works fine. We figure someone miss placed their cord and took mine home with them instead of looking for their own cord. I'm not complaining. :-) I'm just glad to have a live computer again. :-)
The two last weeks went well.... I had a good cabin both weeks. Started getting sick last day(s) of the third week and was sick with a cold the 4th week. It's cleared up pretty good. And my throat doesn't hurt anymore except in the mornings. I sound terrible, and am still coughing, but I was able to sing and take care of my cabin so I'm doing good. :-) Dad, Mom and family brought Jesse down yesterday (the last day of kids camp) and he along with Jason (who's 15) will be doing maintenance for the fiddling camp. We'll be staying here till the 23rd.... and on the 24th we have to go to Swan River for an orthodontic appointment. :-) The kids for kids fiddle camp are coming at 4:00 pm today..... they stay till Tuesday afternoon/evening and then we have two days of rest before starting the regular camp. There's only going to be 12 kids in the kids fiddling.... there were going to be around 25 but the Indian reservation at the last minute decided to pull all the native kids out so, it should be a fairly easy week. I and Naomi will just be around. Lydia will be helping teach guitar and we'll all go to sessions on how to teach music. :-) I need to go check the laundry.... I'm doing a lot of the sheets and also some towels from the MTC, and I need to get our laundry done as well.... then I'm going to take a dip in the pool. :-) I can do my back flutter and I'm working on my front flutter but it's a little harder keeping afloat. I also need to figure out how to actually “swim” :-) I'm better about my fear of water over my head, my stomach still clenches up nicely but I'm learning to relax and take deep breaths. :-) I played water Polo several times, and had lots of fun with the kids during free swims (where every one gets in the pool and chills or plays games, or talks, or swims... just generally having fun.) :-)
One last thing.... we have two support posts/ 2x6's in the music room and we allowed the kids to sign them this year. One of the kids who has ADD is a real handful during camp but he loves music and sings his heart out (he's 10, but looks about 7), everyone else seems to think that he's got little horns but we were looking over the signatures and we found that he wrote this.... “It's all about Music, Jesus and God.” WOW! :-) Even though he was pretty good in music class we hadn't realized how much he had been touched by what was being said, played and sang. If I were the crying type (LOL!) I would be sniffling right now. :-) What Mason wrote sums up everything I prayed for the whole last year, that we would overflow with music, love and be examples of God the whole way through. I know we failed in so many ways (humans do, it's not something we can cure) but I also see the lives that God has touched through us. And I say again and again Thank you Lord. :-) You'd have to know Mason (and understand what his background is... it's not pretty) to see the whole meaning and specialness of what he wrote. :-)
Okay I really have to run..... :-) Maybe sometime we'll get a chance to get to have some net time. :-) You'll be so bored reading about the last month you'll not know what to do with me. LOL! Praying for y'all. :-)
Hannah
1st.... It's hard to believe that it's August already. It poured about an hour after I typed the last post.... and then settled for raining off and on into the evening so we didn't have a campfire. I was really tired so I showered and went to bed by 10:30. Naomi and I helped in the kitchen today.... right at Dinner Naomi, Gordon, Shamma and Michelle went to play a gig at Cannington Manor. They called during supper saying that all had gone well with the music but on the way back Michelle's car blew a tire so Will had to go pick them up. During my free time from the kitchen 1:15 – 2:45 I hit the pool. Worked on my flutters and my dog paddle. :-) It was nice to have the pool to myself for a time. :-) Went back to the kitchen by 3:00 and began working on getting supper on.
I need to run now.
Hannah

Music, rain and more

17th Joretta K. picked us girls up this morning a little past 9:00 to go play at the old folks home in Carlyle. It went well in-spite of the fact that we hadn't practiced the whole program in one shot before. :-) We did some town things and then she took us for dinner at A&W. We got home around 1:00 changed and went for orders from F. Banga, Naomi cleaned up a few odds and ends, vacuuming and removing leaves from the chapel, Lydia helped F. Banga building something and I put together several 'legs' for the couches, F. Banga had all the wood cut out so all I have to do was screw the plywood to the 2x6s. It poured really hard for a good 45 min. while we were working. F. Banga after we were done told us to stop for the day... stop for the day? LOL! We haven't even gotten started. But none of us complained that he wasn't working us hard. :-) We go out again tonight for a supper at the Knights of Columbus... should be interesting. :-)
Hannah
Later... ate, played music and got back. :-) It's raining again... supposed to rain 2 inches tonight. Like really really muddy out tomorrow if that happens. :-) Since we have mostly outside things to do F. Banga said that we'll have to see what it's like tomorrow before he gives out the day's schedule. We might take the morning off. :-) I need to go shower. :-)
Hannah
18th was totally lazy. :-) It rained off and on till late afternoon rolled around, and F. Banga gave us the day off. Some school kids had come for Thursday night to mid Friday and they left the bunk houses a real mess so I cleaned up those a bit before supper in-spite of the 'no work' day. :-) Adelaide and her husband Wayne (cousins of F. Banga's) are here for a couple days. They're lots of fun. :-) We watched the news about all the flooding in SK and parts of AB... rather rough going in a lot of places. Here it all runs off to the lake, so we aren't in super bad trouble, the pumps run pretty well almost constantly when it's raining though.
19th.... we worked hard. :-) Making up for taking the 18th off I guess. LOL! Naomi painted the 'boxes' for under the couches since we take all the legs off and F. Banga puts these boxes under them. The ones I screwed together afternoon of the 17th. :-) I can't remember what Lydia was doing but I swept some. parts and painted more of the floor dark gray. A place near the door for the three stoves for camp cooking, and also a square for the deep freeze. Then Lydia and I cleaned up the tables and chairs that were left. I was pounding the lid on the can of gray paint and ended up taking a patch of skin off my little finger of my right hand which promptly began bleeding,and Lydia was looking for the first aid kit in the mess hall and totally forgetting she took two steps onto the fresh paint. LOL! So there'll be a few repairs once it dries totally. :-) While I dressed my finger and swept the floor Lydia washed down some chairs. Some people showed up with an easy chair and couch and another person brought an office chair and it's foot rest so we unloaded those. Stopped for a break, Naomi went back to painting (there were 20 boxes she had to do) while Lydia and I began mopping/scrubbing the mess hall floor. We scrubbed it twice over with hot water and soap, changing the water 6-8 times a round. Then while it dried some after the second wash we cleaned up the storage room in music room #2 came back and did two rinsing go overs. Changing our water frequently. Once done with that Naomi had started cleaning the bathrooms. I ran up and checked the bathrooms at the MTC, they didn't need cleaning thankfully. And then did the floors in the bathrooms. That took a few mop buckets as well. And then we went in and worked on making supper..... very cheesy pasta. :-) It was extremely good. If I may say so myself. :-) We then moved a couch and chair out of the Kome 'n' See over to piano room #2 in exchange for a nicer set. And then Wayne and Adelaide took me into Kenosee to do our laundry. Read while it dried. :-)
20th Sunday... went to F. Banga's church. Helped lead the singing. All but two of the songs we had never heard off but we were able to practice before service so that was nice. :-) F. Banga left us at Michele and Will's place while he went to some other place for dinner, so we ate there, then while Will worked on Naomi's computer Michele called Emily K. (Who's around 14) over and we all jammed for 45 min. or so. Then we talked, looked over movies and books. F. Banga came and picked us up (can't remember the time) and we also picked up S. Lucille, on our way to Arcola for supper at Al and Lorreta H.'s place. We played some music, talked and relaxed. Ate, talked and headed for home.
21st.... painted the mess hall floor in the morning. Finishing up the last bit just before we left for Moosemin for our dental appointments. We had a few different things done than what's been done in Swan River. And they want to see us again in a month so we'll have to work that out somehow. Put the pump in the lake that evening. The mosquitoes are out with a vengeance thanks to all the rain we've had.
22nd Naomi and I painted the mess hall floor again, Lydia cleaned the eaves on the Kome 'n' See and then worked more on the mural. Afternoon I helped F. Banga screw the boxes (that I made and Naomi painted) unto the couches instead of the regular legs. That took most of the afternoon and into the evening as well. We ate at the Kome 'n' See since we weren't sure if the floor would have dried by that time. It rained that night.
23rd.... took trash to the blue bin. Helped move another couch this one from the nurses' station to Piano room #2. Naomi worked on painting the finishing black on the mural. Lydia and I loaded the hide -a- bed mattresses into John's truck. Then Lydia mopped the bunk houses and I mowed parts of the lawn. Fixed two benches... put up the curtains for the dressing stalls in the pool building. Early afternoon Lydia and I moved the chairs and tables, (with F. Banga overseeing and also helping some) setting some up for the staff and the first week of kids, then I swept the corner and painted it, also painted the other screen door. It's a little on the thin side (the paint on the screen door) but we have no more dark gray so it's as done as it can be. Oh Lydia and I also helped F. Banga clean up some things in the MTC. I also moved all the pop from F. Banga's shack to the mess hall. And that's all for now. I need to hit the hay. :-) Thanks for listening.
Hannah
24th just odds and ends today. Cleaned the filters for the pool. Not a real fun job... dead frogs, mice and shrews beside all the beetles and live frogs, it made for interesting working. :-) So many little things I don't remember them all. LOL! We had part of the afternoon off since F. Banga couldn't think of things for us to do while his mind was occupied with helping the man who was working on the pool heater. We moved some benches from the outdoor chapel to the porch of the mess hall and some more to the area around the pool. We had three ladies come for supper. They're all from Wawota... All of them worked in the kitchen here as cooks in the past years. The one lady is making curtains for the mess hall to match with the color theme, the grays and so on. :-)
25th I woke up at 2:00 am to a mosquito buzzing my head and for an hour and a half I tried to find it turning my lamp off and on, seeing it then not seeing it. Finally smashed it when it landed on my face in the dark. I wasn't too happy. :-/ So today I'm a little on the tired side. I absolutely despise having a mosquito in my room at night. (I guess at any time, night or day.) It was a hot day at Kenosee. And lots of mosquitoes as well. We try to avoid the regular repellents and in turn end up getting bit pretty well. We're hoping to get some natural bug off spray tomorrow when Peter and Gabrielle pick us up for an over night stay at their place in Regina. We'll be going to church with them, so that will be good as well. Then they'll bring us back Sunday night. Once again just odds and ends... the little things as F. Banga says. Moved the extra chairs and tables back to the corner. In the morning I put together a stand for the water spout just outside the mess hall... it's like a drink spout and had rotted away the old stand which Lydia had taken apart a couple weeks back. Any how I ended up holding the hammer wrong (typical me, I have never been able to hold it properly) so I have a decent size blister on the out edge of my right hand. Serves me right for not being able to hold the hammer right. :-) I vacuumed part of Piano room #2, and we removed the last hide-a-bed since another nicer couch is coming in a few days. Lydia rolled the cover back from the pool. Naomi vacuumed the MTC again. I had a lesson on how to run a skill saw. (I could probably cut something now... but I'd much rather have F. Banga do all the cutting. :-) I also was handed a weed eater machine and told to go run it. Never handled one, but this one was very light and easy so I cut the weeds the lawn mower couldn't get. Right now it's almost three o'clock and one of the ladies from the supper last night (actually the lady who making the curtains) is going to pick us up in a bit and take us to Wawota to their church thrift shop and also for supper with the other two ladies as well. :-) So I will close for now... I might be able to send this tomorrow but that's all iffy right now. :-)
Hannah
Okay I'm back.... We got a lot of stuff at the thrift store. Several boxes and bags. :-) Lots of books and several movies as well... besides all the clothes and other non-wear able or readable or watchable things... well I guess you could watch those other things. :-) Supper was great, we sat and talked for a few min. after we were done and then we had to come back to camp... At 7:30 we left camp for Club 19... the Kenosee golf club house/restaurant to participate in a jam. That was lots of fun. We played for almost 2 hours. :-) I love playing in a jam... when I know most of the chords of course. :-) And now we're back here... taking our turns at the shower. :-) See you later.
Hannah

More work

10th so town was a success. :-) I'm sure you got the e-mail so you know what's up. Our lap-tops wouldn't connect to the net so I had to put what I had typed on my USB and use one of the library computers to send it off. We stopped by S. Lucille's place for coffee before heading home to a dinner of left overs. :-) Naomi, Lydia and I did the dishes then went up to the Mother Teresa Center and watched 2 vids... the first totally sucked. So we did a lot of fast forwarding. LOL! It wasn't 'Bad' but the acting quality made us groan. The other we really enjoyed and also learned a few things from. :-) We got to bed at 9:30... we try to keep it close to that time, if we can hit the sack before then all the better. :-)
11th This morning dawned rainy... seems that's the usual. LOL! Maybe God will send some warmth this weekend though. :-) We worked on cleaning up the mess hall some more then Lydia and I worked on taking apart the rest of the door/divider things. (by the way there were 17 total I apparently wasn't seeing properly.) Measurements.... around 8 feet tall, by 4 ft, one sheet of plywood from Dawson Creek, B.C. To be precise. :-) and one sheet of a softer board (I can't remember for the life of me what it's called... you use it for pinning thing to with thumb tacks like for a Sunday school lesson.) any how those are screwed together with 4 ft x 3 in x 5/8th in and 7 ft 4 in x 3 in x 5/8th in boards on either side of the sheets of wood around the edges. (I'm doing a lousy job explaining this.) They're quite heavy, and of course rather awkward. This afternoon F. Banga decided that it was taking Lydia and I too long with only the cordless drill so he sent over an electric one and Lydia ran that one. And with that working we finished the rest in half the time it was taking us before. Mainly because the electric drill takes the screws out ½ a time as fast as the cordless. Which Lydia was so very kind to point out. LOL! :-) Once done we were very happy... :-) and went over for more orders. :-) He had me mow in front of the bathrooms so it wouldn't look so ratty. Ever mowed in the pouring rain? :-) Well not super bad rain, misting to harder rain it shifts upon occasion so it's not really bad all the time. :-) The mower tends to not throw the grass out the side (like it's supposed to) when it's really wet, rather the grass builds up on the frame and tries to stop the blade from running. Kind of a pain but what ever, just needs cleaning from time to time. Any how it looks better now. :-) Then we did some dishes, and F. Banga told us to rest till an early supper was to be had around 4:30. And now we're being lazy... well not lazy, relaxing after our days work. :-) I'm gonna crash the banjo and get some practicing in. My hands are sore, they hurt from working with the drill in the cold and wet but I'm hoping they'll not hurt to bad playing. :-) Some girl scouts are here for the weekend... and they're tenting. I don't envy them in the least. It's supposed to warm up late Sat. and Sun. so I hope they have an okay time and not stay too cold. :-) F. Banga told us to go though the old T-shirts from the last couple years of Boys and Girls camp and pick out as many as we wanted. So we grabbed one a piece for us and some for the kids as well. They'll enjoy them when we get home. :-)
Many thanks for bearing with my ramblings and the many mistakes I make. Most of the time I type right before bed and I'm pretty knackered... :-) So take all the crazy sentences with the knowledge that I'm tired when I'm typing them and I don't get much time to correct or read through them before sending them out. Thanks. :-)
See y'all.
Hannah
12th that day was pretty lazy. We had the morning off and then when 1:30 rolled around S. Lucille came by and we girls along with her and F. Banga went to a B-day party in Wawota. Julia was turning 80 years old, she had worked several years ago at the camp in the kitchen as head cook for over 15 years. We brought our instruments along and played for 45 min. or so, just as back ground music.
13th... was really lazy. We sat around and read books, watched movies or stepped outside for a few minutes to enjoy the sun that peeped out most of the day.
14th was busy. :-) John showed up to help F. Banga get the little tractor mower running. We girls hauled out hide-a-bed mattresses and cleaned up piano room 2 again since all but 4 or 5 of the couches have been removed to be replaced with couches not so worn out. We painted parts of the mural, and I did the second coat on the green cupboard. F. Banga had forgotten to get more paint rollers so we weren't able to paint all the pool-side cabins but Lydia and Naomi were able to get one side painted with hand brushes. I mowed more lawn while they did so. When I stopped and looked at the time it was 4:20 and F. Banga hadn't returned from town (he left after our early lunch to attend a meeting) so I mixed up some things and put the herbs on the ribs and did potatoes, Naomi and Lydia came in and had a sandwich to tide them over. F. Banga arrived about half way through the cook time, so we sat. talked and relaxed waiting for supper to get done. The ribs were a little tough mainly because they were cooked a little hasty due to the fact that I wasn't watching the time and F. Banga hadn't returned to do them. But it was all okay and we were hungry. :-) While taking the mattresses out of the couches, I was putting back the springs/frame for the mattress and was pushing the couch back against the wall when the frame work bounced back for some reason and slammed into my lower lip/jaw. So it swelled up fairly big, and the inside of my lip are nice black and purple imprints of my braces. :-) So for one moment imagine what it felt like.... have some one take a 1 inch pipe and smack your lower lip/jaw area, then imagine having braces, wire brackets stopping your lip from coming against your teeth... and you get the idea of the bruising and swelling I have right now. :-) Rather interesting drinking water and eating, with a swelled, bruised lip/jaw. It's not super bad (now that I've complained enough) and I wasn't thinking it was to bad but then I hadn't seen myself in a mirror all day till this evening... LOL! I showed Naomi and Lydia the inside of my lip.... they both winced and had various ways of saying owwww. :-) So I try not to smile much because it hurts, and also take care of how my lip is positioned over my braces. It should heal up soon since the bruising is inside my mouth. :-) Any how I'm tired and need to hit the hay.... it's late... well 10:00 any way. Late for me and I need to be getting up around 7:00 tomorrow. (which by the way is not early, if I have to I can pull myself up at 6:00 but we don't need to be at the mess hall receiving orders till around 8:00 or a little past so I have some lee-way. :-) (or maybe I'm just lazy. :-)
Hannah
15th Naomi washed the windows in the mess hall while F. Banga took Lydia and I into Kenosee to pick up two couches and one love-seat, once back we unloaded them, then helped F. Banga and John with a few little things. Lydia and I cleaned up around the camp fire area. I mowed grass and Lydia pulled the weeds from under the benches. That took most of the morning. Afternoon came and Al H. brought another couch and one chair. With those out of his trailer we hauled all the canoes down to the lake side, and then Jerome (he's an older man from Kenosee) showed up with his small tractor and we loaded all the hide-a-bed couches into Al's trailer. They both left about an hour before supper. Naomi washed the outsides off all the windows at the MTC, which took her around 5 hours to do. We put away what we'd been doing and had sat down to a movie before supper. F. Banga dropped by the MTC and asked us to unload some lumber that Alvin had brought before supper. So we unloaded it and stacked it in the storage of the outdoor chapel. We all had supper, Alvin staying as well. He was caulking the cracks in the floor where they had replaced the rotten places. After supper we finished the movie. My mouth was doing okay till evening came on and then it began bothering me again, so I quieted down. :-)
16th Lydia and I unwrapped a pump down by the lake... it's sitting in a frame that chicken wire and netting had been put on, screwed and stapled. Naomi started helping F. Banga cook things since the deanery meeting is here this month. After we were done taking down the netting and wire, Lydia went back to taking apart some wood platform near the pool building and I mowed lawn again. Finished mowing, and was sent to help Lydia (who had finished taking apart and was working on painting more of the mural) and painted two 'people' a nice bright blue. :-) There's interesting colors on the mural this time around. :-) F. Banga told us to quit about 45 min. before dinner was ready and we knocked off for the day. The meal went well, there were 7 others besides S. Lucille, F. Banga and us girls, they had their own table and us girls sat in the background (which we didn't mind at all) :-) We left to brush our teeth and then came back to clean up all the dishes. :-) We practiced some music since we've been asked to play tomorrow at the old folks home. And we're going to go for supper (some people who work at the camp mostly in the kitchen) and on the way back from there F. Banga said that we'll stop by a rodeo and watch for a bit. Should be interesting. :-)
Hannah

Hey

Hey y'all,
29th F. Banga gave us the day off, it rained like it had been for the past few days. And in the afternoon we were taken into town for a a bit of time at the library while F. Banga did some running errands. Back home nothing exciting happened. :-)
30th Sunday. We stayed here.... Naomi took a walk that morning and Lydia and I walked that afternoon and took some pics of little bits and pieces around us. :-)
31st, Naomi's 24th birthday. I had tried to get in contact with some friends around this area but they all were to busy or were away so F. Banga called two ladies up to come and have a surprise evening meal for N. We painted, cleaned and kept ourselves busy doing odd things that day. :-) The meal went really good. :-) Naomi had no idea we were planning anything for her so she was happily surprised. We played some music afterwards and then Naomi showed them (F. Banga and the two ladies) pictures of our horse trip and a few others of the family.
1st..... we painted, and painted, and painted... LOL! Evey time we turn around it seems there's just another door or something else that needs some paint. I think we've almost come to the end of it now though. We have another coat to put on some cupboard doors and some regular doors and then we'll be pretty much done except for the floor which will be done later this month. Tonight F. Banga is going to drop me off to do the laundry while he, Naomi and Lydia will be putting together some music books. and getting more things figured out for camp. I've been trying to practice music but the past two days I failed to practice. Hopefully I can get in a few minutes this evening in between getting the laundry done, showering and getting ready for bed. :-)
So talk to y'all later.
Hannah
2nd while Naomi and Lydia washed the windows at F. Banga's 'Shack' (Not.... it's a very beautiful little mansion... very very nice, rock and beams, I'll try to get a picture to y'all someday.) I worked on painting the second coat on cupboard doors, trim and two other sets of doors. F. Banga had gone to town earlier that morning to get a few things, when he returned he put me work painting all the tables a sunshiney yellow. :-) So I painted them for the little bit of morning left and all afternoon. Lydia helped me for partial of the afternoon once they were done with the windows (F. Banga says that his windows have NEVER been as clean in all the 6 years he's had the shack as when Naomi and Lydia cleaned them. They're pretty happy. :-) Naomi worked on the Mother Teresa Center just a little cleaning. Then F. Banga told us to rest for ½ an hour while he fixed supper for us and for Al and Loretta H. we were happy to see them again. Al brought along his fiddle so we had some music and generally enjoyed ourselves. :-) After they left we relaxed for about 45 min. and then F. Banga took us for 1 ½ hours to a wake for a native man who had died a few days before. It was definitely interesting. :-) I have to admit that I enjoyed hearing the drums and it was really incredible how they men could hold that high pitched cry/chant for so long... the talent they have. :-) Any how it was pretty neat over all. Of course your heart aches for the fact that they have no hope of salvation and you pray that they will come to the light. :-)
3rd.... we cleaned the Mother Teresa Center, moved all the beds away from the walls and vacuumed, swept and made sure it was nice and clean. Then while F. Banga went to a funeral we relaxed in the afternoon for a bit. Read and listened to music. :-)
4th F. Banga had a trip to Regina for a Dr. appointment so he told us to clean the nurses place (kitchen, bathroom, living room and three bedrooms.) also 4 or 5 ( I can't remember now) living places that hadn't been cleaned for a while. The nurses' place was pretty clean, I washed and swept, Lydia did the windows. (it was all linoleum flooring), Lydia also cleaned the windows of the other rooms. Naomi vacuumed and knocked down cobwebs. When I was done with the nurses' station I knocked the cobwebs out of two of the rooms Naomi was vacuuming and also beat 2 smaller floor rugs that didn't want to clean up with the vacuum cleaner for some reason. After an earlier lunch Naomi and I weeded F. Banga's flower beds while Lydia screwed the handles back onto the cupboard doors we painted. And then we sat and were lazy. LOL! Mid afternoon I was going for a walk when I noticed that the people renting the MTC were there so I dropped in and asked them if they needed anything and also laid a fire for them. (F. Banga had asked one of us to do so before he left for Regina) once that was done I took a short jaunt one a trail by the lake and ended up being chased out by wood ticks. I have never had so many ticks on me. Ugghh, I didn't walk very far down the trail before I opted to return for a supper of pizza and then we splurged and made ourselves ice cream floats. :-)
5th dawned a beautiful day, partly cloudy but warm. F. Banga showed up and says “hey lets all go out to the farm.” so we hurried to brush our teeth and get our instruments. It's about an hour or a little more the farm that F. Banga and his brother own. On the way there we stopped at two churches... the first was a Lutheran church that not only was close to 140 years old and in it's original shape, but the stained glass! Wow oh Wow! It was so so cool. So incredible I've never seen stained glass so well done. It was really really neat. I got lots of pictures, Naomi did as well. :-) We wandered the grave yard for 15 min. or so headed for another church which is where F. Banga's family attends and also has the grave yard that he and his family will be/are buried in. It also had some stained glass but it wasn't as well done as the Lutheran church. We got to the farm just in time for a dinner of hamburgers. :-) After doing the dishes we tromped outside for some horse working. Lydia was given an offer of an Norwegian Fjord if she wanted him so while she worked with him, Naomi and I took pictures, and petted the others. F. Banga and his brother planted some trees F. Banga had been given, when a short shower sent us inside for about ½ hour or so. While we were inside, Naomi called the family for a chat. And we learned that Dad had sold Coyote, and then Delmar (F. Banga's brother) said that since Lydia was willing to take the Norwegian Fjord that she should also take a grade bay yearling filly. Ended up Lydia said yes to both, and the arrangements were made that Dad, Mom and a few of the kids would come down and pick up the horses that afternoon since the farm was only about 2 ½ hours away from Endeavour. The rain blew over and we went out to have a wagon ride behind F. Banga's team of Norwegian Fjords. Any how we enjoyed the ride, Lydia and I were given a chance to drive the horses. We got home about the time to start supper. Dad, Mom and the kids arrived around 6:1 we loaded the horses and went to eat supper. Afterwards we played a bit of music (Ellie had come along, yes a fiddler. You have no idea how much we miss her playing. And she admitted to missing the back up as well. :-) They left, we cleaned the dishes, and left ourselves. :-) It was an interesting day to say the least. The trip to the farm wasn't planned at all nor was getting the two horses or having part of the family come down and pick them up. :-) It was a good day though. And I hope that over all God had the preeminence in what we said and did. :-)
So we'll talk to you later. :-)
Hannah
6th we went to Regina with F. Banga that Sunday.
7th... Naomi scrapped peeling paint off a mural for an hour or so. Then she joined Lydia and I painting the pool area... boys and girls change rooms as well as the life guard area in the blue building. I finished up after lunch and Naomi and Lydia painted one corner of the mess hall with dark gray. F. Banga wanted the corner done so we can move most of the tables down there and stack them out of the way. It had dried out some and I was able to get the lawn mower going, mowed a bit but then the rain rolled in and started pouring so I had to make a run for it. :-) Lydia and Naomi were vacuuming and washing the windows of Piano room #2 so I joined them for the last bit. F. Banga came home from a doctors appointment just as we were finishing up and he said that supper wouldn't be for an hour so we went and watched part of Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang and finished it after supper. :-)
8th I washed a cupboard preparing it for painting later on. Then helped put away and clean up the mess hall for a bit, before F. Banga asked me to clean up the tuck-shop. :-) It needed a good go over and that took about an hour. I ended up filling a trash can, and F. Banga gave me another Kenosee bag and two T-shirts to take home to the kids. :-) They'll enjoy them, I'm sure. I also made Jello. After that was done I went and painted the cupboard I had washed a dark green. It looks pretty nice. :-) F. Banga says we'll use it in the mess hall, near the phone I think, but I'm not sure yet till we move it. After Lunch we helped get supper prep, and then swept and moped the kitchen area and also a 12-14 foot strip of the very muddy mess hall floor near the kitchen. F. Banga told us to take a couple hours off when we were done with that, then we're going to a birthday party somewhere at 3:45, and coming home in time for supper. We're having 4 ladies over for supper, three of whom we haven't met as of yet. :-) It should be fun. I'm sure we'll have some music afterwards as well. The last few days have been really busy, making practicing hard to get in... well I suppose I could have skipped Chitty, Chitty Bang-Bang, but hey I wanted to relax not wear out my fingers. LOL! :-) So anyhow, till later. :-)
Hannah
8th only S. Lucille and one other lady came over for supper. We girls made pizza which they all enjoyed greatly. There wasn't really music just talking after supper.
9th.... Pool cleaning day. F. Banga and Al H. were hard at work when we arrived on the scene after breakfast. We scrubbed, mopped, and struggled to straighten out the pool lining for 5 hours. :-) Acid water for the mopping.... well not really mopping more scrubbing with the mop. Have you ever bent hours on end scrubbing with a mop, making sure you don't flip or splat any acid water on yourself for several hours? LOL! Our backs definitely told us that we had been working hard. :-) I think the worst part(s) were accidentally getting acid water on my skin upon occasion (burns anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on where you get it, not fun.) and struggling to straighten out the wrinkles in the pool liner. Water has gotten underneath the liner seeping in from the ground and has created wrinkles, that seal themselves to themselves to the bottom when you're trying to move them. The suction was crazy, we pulled, pushed and groaned for a while then suddenly it started moving, and in a little while we had it straightened out as much as F. Banga wanted. It's most likely that with all our pulling and pushing on the wrinkles that we broke the suction from it being damp under the liner making it easier to move into place. :-) But we all said that the fighting with the liner was the worst. LOL! But hey it's done and we're all very glad that we were able to finish it in one day. F. Banga said that the pool cleaned up easier this year than the last several years so we're also thankful for that. :-)
10th we swept and mopped the mess hall this morning. One sweeping three times over with the mops. Soap water, rinse of plain water and then Pinesol for a last go over. All of us girls love the smell of Pinesol... :-) Then while Naomi cleaned the fans and set up tables and chairs Lydia and I sorted through the recyclable pop cans, beer bottles and water/juice plastic bottles. The water/juice bottles had the lids taken off and put into garbage sacks, beer bottles the dark brown ones set aside for recycling the others put in a garbage bag, and the pop and beer cans put through a smasher for recycling. Lydia and I were working both on the plastic bottles, me doing the glass beer bottles then F. Banga fixed the pop/beer can smasher so I ran that. What a racket... LOL! It's an homemade hulk of a thing and I was really wishing I have earmuffs it was so loud. But it's all done now, and we shouldn't have to do that till after camp again. :-) Once we were done with that F. Banga had us start taking from home made door/separation things apart. There's 8 or 10 of them and we got two done before lunch. I was handling the electric drill, Lydia helping me turn the things over and so on. We're going into Carlyle (Lord willing, if you get this then you'll know we did. :-) in about ½ an hour. So I'm not sure if we'll be doing anything after we get back or not. I hope y'all have a great day. Hey if I'm boring you then tell me to cut it out and I drop you off the e-mail. If you want info about the family at home you'll have to call them or drop by for a visit I'm sure they'd love to have you. If they've been getting as much rain as we have here then they'll need the encouragement. :-) J/K. LOL!
TTYL.
Hannah

Kenosee Boys and Girls camp

26th.... so we're at camp now. We left around 7:00 am drove to Canora where Ellie had an chiropractor appointment. Her shoulder blade was raised out of place and her bicep out as well on her right arm. So she's not in to much pain now thank God for chiropractors. :-) Yorkton was banking for Lydia, us three girls being dropped off at Staples so Naomi could copy the kids songs that we will be teaching in July. Lydia and I grabbed a few things and helped her. Then we walked to Superstore, where we picked up the last neccesities for camp. Lydia and Dad went to the music store before we went to Wal-mart.... and then we were on our way. We ate just a little as F. Banga said that he was cooking dinner for us. And it was on the table when we arrived at 2:00 pm. Michele Amy was here to great us as well and we were happy to see her. :-) After eating, and unloading Dad, Mom, Ellie and Sara left for home. We talked over what needed to be done with F. Banga for a bit then set to work. Naomi and I are cleaning cupboards and washing all the dishes. (think hundreds and hundreds of dishes and you get the idea. :-) Lydia's painting the cooler, well today she only got a bit done of the primer. We have finish the hall, for those of you who know how large a room it takes to seat 130 or so people at tables you'll get the idea about cleaning up, once the dishes are done we move all the various things away from the walls and begin painting them.... So that's going to be a bit of a job. We also have to paint the floor. :-) Thankfully the ceiling was painted last year so we don't have to do that. :-) If today was a look into what we'll be doing, I'll be glad to crawl in bed by the end of each day. :-) I had no idea about getting net but.... I'll keep this going and hope to post of sometime. :-)
Hannah
27th.... today was busy. We started with breakfast at 7:45..... :-) Back in the mess hall, Lydia worked on finishing the primer in the cooler, Naomi cleaned up a range, swept and mopped most of the kitchen area. The two flat surfaced range tops had been let to rust so I was given a large rectangle thingy that I had to scrub the stove top with. I worked on those for an hour or so, then moved on to washing dishes again. All the cups and some plates before lunch, after lunch Lydia was done with the primer in the cooler and she and Naomi began helping me on the dishes, they dried and put them away while I washed as many plates again and bowls and more plates and more bowls. :-) I think I was over the sink for close to 5 hours today. And yes my back is telling. :-) I was finishing up the last 4 drainers of bowls and plates when F. Banga asked us to work on getting ready so paint. So we moved the tables, chairs, more tables and loads of other stuff away from the walls. Lydia and Naomi took turns sweeping 10-12 feet away from the walls. Then while Lydia taped over the outlets I moved the rest of the chairs and Naomi finished up the sweeping and we began painting. And painted almost the whole thing. We are so happy to have the walls almost done. We need to do some touching up and a bit of it will be ladder work (which I'm not really looking forward to, ladders always seem to 'wiggle' under me. :-) And Naomi will probably touch up the last window trims. And we'll wash and dry and put away loads more dishes tomorrow. :-) But hey we're all happy and very glad that things are moving along as quickly as they are. (I'll keep that in mind when I start complaining again. :-) Oh and by the way it's raining here.... :-)
I forgot to say yesterday... Naomi somehow forgot all her dresses at home. I have no idea how, but she somehow managed to get all the way down here without remembering them. LOL! She was getting stressed out (which she shouldn't do because it makes her really tired and that means she could get sick easier) but then she read a quote on the wall where we're staying while we were unloading saying not to worry because God is in control, and she calmed down. :-) She's wearing one of my skirts for now (And more if she can fit into them) Mom and Dad will be sending her dresses down in a couple days. It was kind of funny but a little crazy at the same time. I was reading in Matthew this morning and it says in 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. LOL! I hadn't planned on having to offer Naomi the use of some of my clothing.... but I didn't mind doing so even before I read that verse. Just thought it was neat how I read it after Naomi needing some of my clothes. :-)
Hey if y'all haven't heard the song Praise His Name, sung by Sheri Easter.... that's a good song. I got it on MP3 so if any of y'all want it I could try sending it to you. :-) TTYL.
Hannah
28th so today we went over to the mess hall and F. Banga send us back with some milk and bread (there were a few things in th Kome 'n' See fridge already) and told us to come back at 11:00 when the hall had warmed up. We ate, read and relaxed some. Then while Naomi was reading, Lydia wanted me to do something with her hair so I played around with it. While that was going on F. Banga stopped by and talked for 45 min. or so. After which we headed over to the hall and started working. Naomi and Lydia finishing up the edging and also doing the tuck shop in gray while I began painting the cooler with oil based paint for a final coating. We stopped for lunch and then went back to work leaving the dishes till after supper for washing. :-) Around 2:00 pm John (a friend of F. Banga) came over to help F. Banga cut up tables to be used for shelves for the cooler. If I had to describe John in a few words.... LOL! Would be one of the first. He has a heart of gold though and in spite of his hilarious comments and flippant tendencies.... he was so, so funny to be around. He and F. Banga were going back and forth all afternoon. And us girls almost choked at times not knowing if we should laugh or not. I could never describe him well enough but such a nice man to be around and yet he reminded me so much of Zeke in a full grown body it kept us girls in stitches. :-) We ate, washed dishes and then hopped back to our place here. F. Banga said that tomorrow we relax and in the afternoon we'll go to town. He seems pretty happy about the rate we're moving through the work so far. We have to still clean lots and lots of dishes but that will work out soon.
I showered and was relaxing on the couch (Not laying down mind you, I don't like laying down unless it's in bed sleeping) when F. Banga came over with a couple bags of pop-corn (which unfortunately we can't eat with braces) a jar of juice and playing cards with a score sheet. Lydia went and showered while Naomi, I and F. Banga played 10 rounds of Wizard. Naomi and I had never played of course so it was rough for the first few rounds. Till we got somewhat of a hold. Naomi won with some 200 points to her score. (I can't remember her complete score) I found the game to be a lot of fun once I got kind of the hang of it. Once finished and Lydia was out of the shower we all had some juice, and us girls sang 3 songs for F. Banga. :-) And now I'm tired and so I'll be off to bed in a few. It's still raining, and the water is running like crazy around here. It's supposed to snow on Sunday. LOL! June 'eh? :-) You know I think God does this just to remind us that He is always in control and never should we worry about what's going on. :-) Speaking of which thanks for the prayers. :-)
Hannah

Kenosee Boys and Girls camp

26th.... so we're at camp now. We left around 7:00 am drove to Canora where Ellie had an chiropractor appointment. Her shoulder blade was raised out of place and her bicep out as well on her right arm. So she's not in to much pain now thank God for chiropractors. :-) Yorkton was banking for Lydia, us three girls being dropped off at Staples so Naomi could copy the kids songs that we will be teaching in July. Lydia and I grabbed a few things and helped her. Then we walked to Superstore, where we picked up the last neccesities for camp. Lydia and Dad went to the music store before we went to Wal-mart.... and then we were on our way. We ate just a little as F. Banga said that he was cooking dinner for us. And it was on the table when we arrived at 2:00 pm. Michele Amy was here to great us as well and we were happy to see her. :-) After eating, and unloading Dad, Mom, Ellie and Sara left for home. We talked over what needed to be done with F. Banga for a bit then set to work. Naomi and I are cleaning cupboards and washing all the dishes. (think hundreds and hundreds of dishes and you get the idea. :-) Lydia's painting the cooler, well today she only got a bit done of the primer. We have finish the hall, for those of you who know how large a room it takes to seat 130 or so people at tables you'll get the idea about cleaning up, once the dishes are done we move all the various things away from the walls and begin painting them.... So that's going to be a bit of a job. We also have to paint the floor. :-) Thankfully the ceiling was painted last year so we don't have to do that. :-) If today was a look into what we'll be doing, I'll be glad to crawl in bed by the end of each day. :-) I had no idea about getting net but.... I'll keep this going and hope to post of sometime. :-)
Hannah
27th.... today was busy. We started with breakfast at 7:45..... :-) Back in the mess hall, Lydia worked on finishing the primer in the cooler, Naomi cleaned up a range, swept and mopped most of the kitchen area. The two flat surfaced range tops had been let to rust so I was given a large rectangle thingy that I had to scrub the stove top with. I worked on those for an hour or so, then moved on to washing dishes again. All the cups and some plates before lunch, after lunch Lydia was done with the primer in the cooler and she and Naomi began helping me on the dishes, they dried and put them away while I washed as many plates again and bowls and more plates and more bowls. :-) I think I was over the sink for close to 5 hours today. And yes my back is telling. :-) I was finishing up the last 4 drainers of bowls and plates when F. Banga asked us to work on getting ready so paint. So we moved the tables, chairs, more tables and loads of other stuff away from the walls. Lydia and Naomi took turns sweeping 10-12 feet away from the walls. Then while Lydia taped over the outlets I moved the rest of the chairs and Naomi finished up the sweeping and we began painting. And painted almost the whole thing. We are so happy to have the walls almost done. We need to do some touching up and a bit of it will be ladder work (which I'm not really looking forward to, ladders always seem to 'wiggle' under me. :-) And Naomi will probably touch up the last window trims. And we'll wash and dry and put away loads more dishes tomorrow. :-) But hey we're all happy and very glad that things are moving along as quickly as they are. (I'll keep that in mind when I start complaining again. :-) Oh and by the way it's raining here.... :-)
I forgot to say yesterday... Naomi somehow forgot all her dresses at home. I have no idea how, but she somehow managed to get all the way down here without remembering them. LOL! She was getting stressed out (which she shouldn't do because it makes her really tired and that means she could get sick easier) but then she read a quote on the wall where we're staying while we were unloading saying not to worry because God is in control, and she calmed down. :-) She's wearing one of my skirts for now (And more if she can fit into them) Mom and Dad will be sending her dresses down in a couple days. It was kind of funny but a little crazy at the same time. I was reading in Matthew this morning and it says in 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. LOL! I hadn't planned on having to offer Naomi the use of some of my clothing.... but I didn't mind doing so even before I read that verse. Just thought it was neat how I read it after Naomi needing some of my clothes. :-)
Hey if y'all haven't heard the song Praise His Name, sung by Sheri Easter.... that's a good song. I got it on MP3 so if any of y'all want it I could try sending it to you. :-) TTYL.
Hannah
28th so today we went over to the mess hall and F. Banga send us back with some milk and bread (there were a few things in th Kome 'n' See fridge already) and told us to come back at 11:00 when the hall had warmed up. We ate, read and relaxed some. Then while Naomi was reading, Lydia wanted me to do something with her hair so I played around with it. While that was going on F. Banga stopped by and talked for 45 min. or so. After which we headed over to the hall and started working. Naomi and Lydia finishing up the edging and also doing the tuck shop in gray while I began painting the cooler with oil based paint for a final coating. We stopped for lunch and then went back to work leaving the dishes till after supper for washing. :-) Around 2:00 pm John (a friend of F. Banga) came over to help F. Banga cut up tables to be used for shelves for the cooler. If I had to describe John in a few words.... LOL! Would be one of the first. He has a heart of gold though and in spite of his hilarious comments and flippant tendencies.... he was so, so funny to be around. He and F. Banga were going back and forth all afternoon. And us girls almost choked at times not knowing if we should laugh or not. I could never describe him well enough but such a nice man to be around and yet he reminded me so much of Zeke in a full grown body it kept us girls in stitches. :-) We ate, washed dishes and then hopped back to our place here. F. Banga said that tomorrow we relax and in the afternoon we'll go to town. He seems pretty happy about the rate we're moving through the work so far. We have to still clean lots and lots of dishes but that will work out soon.
I showered and was relaxing on the couch (Not laying down mind you, I don't like laying down unless it's in bed sleeping) when F. Banga came over with a couple bags of pop-corn (which unfortunately we can't eat with braces) a jar of juice and playing cards with a score sheet. Lydia went and showered while Naomi, I and F. Banga played 10 rounds of Wizard. Naomi and I had never played of course so it was rough for the first few rounds. Till we got somewhat of a hold. Naomi won with some 200 points to her score. (I can't remember her complete score) I found the game to be a lot of fun once I got kind of the hang of it. Once finished and Lydia was out of the shower we all had some juice, and us girls sang 3 songs for F. Banga. :-) And now I'm tired and so I'll be off to bed in a few. It's still raining, and the water is running like crazy around here. It's supposed to snow on Sunday. LOL! June 'eh? :-) You know I think God does this just to remind us that He is always in control and never should we worry about what's going on. :-) Speaking of which thanks for the prayers. :-)
Hannah

Leaving and getting ready

24th.... well only one more day at home. :-) funny how time passes so quickly. Before we know it we'll be back home again and wondering what we should be doing for winter. :-)
21st was good... we got our teeth adjusted, Lydia got another expander this one only for her back molars since they didn't move quite enough with her original one. I got my last two brackets put on and Naomi ended up getting springs on the wires to make her teeth move apart faster. :-) After that lovely work was done we headed for shopping. Ever tried to make a decision when your mouths aches so bad you can't think straight enough to walk properly? LOL! But we managed to get mostly what we need the rest we'll have to pick up in Yorkton on our way to Kenosee. :-) So when (or if) you think of us please please pray that we will be a light for God. It's a catholic camp, yes and we'll be facing unsaved people outside of that every day. Pray that God will always make us strong to be true witnesses for him. :-) Thank you.
Dad and several of the kids headed down to Ketchen Lake Bible camp to help clean up Sat. morning, I, Naomi and Mom mixed up and cared for all the preparations for Sun. meal. :-) It began raining in the afternoon so they came home early and we ended up watching a few movies. After the little guys were in bed we watched The Patriot. Wow! That's a neat period film. I would only recommend watching it if you don't mind a lot of battle scenes. I know that Naomi will be doing a review someday on it so I wont give anything away. I enjoyed a fair bit of it but after watching about half of it I was really glad that they had a lot of breathers and humor giving you a chance to recuporate for the next battle scene. :-) Extremely well acted, Mel Gibson plays that main character.
Sunday.... Fun, laughter, good food, fellowship, windy, rainy, volley ball (I didn't play), Uno, Spoons, and good byes. And all that after 2:00 pm... LOL! We had three families from church over and Eugene from Yorkton as well. There was Pizza, Jello, Veggies, dip.... ice cream, cheese cake and sherbet for dessert. :-) The sermon was a wonderful encouragement, especially right before we leave. I've been doing some soul searching and God gave me a reminder that he not only is there but as I wait patiently for him to come he will come and take me up out of where I am. The text was Psalm 40:1-5. I'm going to miss church. :-)
That's all for now... I have no idea if I'll get net time while we're gone or not. So.... until later. I'll keep praying for you all and hope that you are blessed beyond measure while following God in this life. And if I do get net time I'll keep bothering you with what He's blessed me with. :-)
Hannah
I've had many responses back from the apology that I sent out. I thank you for your concerns and for the advise that many of you responded with. I do intend to watch my step more, reminding myself that there are other people reading my posts. Sometimes it's easy to forget that. :-) Thank you and God bless.

Shiloh selling and quotes

15th.... Y2J went well. The lesson was on the10 plagues in Egypt... we're almost finished with the craft which is a wind thing (I can't remember the name. But it twirls in the wind) I think we'll be finishing it this next week. And then Y2J might be over for the summer but I'm not totally sure. Youth was out at the camp. :-) We cleaned up the riflery area for ½ hour then played soccer and moved onto one game of capture the flag. We had snack and lesson around the fire. :-) Afterwards several of the kids stood around while Brad was talking to some parents and told creepy, scary stories.... about perfectly preserved people, the wax works that aren't really wax and how the one guy found his wife fainted on the basement steps and a mountain lion below her... the lion had entered through the basement window. It was one of the better Youth nights. :-) Mosquitoes aren't super bad yet so we didn't get eaten alive. After dark they pretty much went away so sitting around the camp fire was fairly comfortable other than being a little chilly. :-) I think around 25 kids came to Youth this time... normally we have around 12-15 that attend regularly. :-)
Today the people who looked at Shiloh are supposed to be coming and picking her up... I'm really praying that they will come through. :-) I'll probably will drop by later to finish this post out. :-)
They came... :-) She was well behaved and loaded nicely, I'm so thankful that I can pay off the rest of camp now. :-)
I thought I'd drop y'all a couple quotes...

Always go to people's funerals, or they wont go to yours.
What happens when you get scared to death twice?
It said “Insert disk #3” but only 2 will fit.
Maintenance Free: When it breaks, it can't be fixed.
Why isn't there mouse flavored cat food?
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of it.
A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
If a stealth bomber crashes in a forest, will it make a sound?
If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

TTYL.
Hannah

Just the regular....

10th So, How's it goin' folks? :-) So far we're managing here... not great but not rotten either. :-) Thursday (6th) Y2J... “Uncle Harold” did the lesson. He's a ventriloquist and has a puppet named Willie... it was a good lesson about Elisha and the soldiers of Assyria who came to capture him. :-) Friday I worked with Shiloh on her feet, the people who are buying her asked if I'd work with her a bit more on her feet and trailer loading. They're planning on coming up on the 15th or so. :-) Youth that evening was in Yorkton for Raise the Roof music. It was OK, but not my favorite. We went to McDonalds afterwards for a snack.... I have a extra thick strawberry milk shake. :-) I spent the night at a family's from church since I was staying there all Sat. to baby sit/watch over 5 kids from 3 different families so the parents could go quadding. It was a pretty good day. :-) They took me home around 8:00 pm or so.
Sunday was very good as usual. :-) God shook me a few times for not trusting in Him to provide what I'm praying for. So I trying to remember that God can work miracles and that He does answer prayer, all the while I'm also trying to keep myself from doubting that He will move. :-) I'm glad I have God to lean on. :-) Eugene came over for dinner/lunch and stayed till around 8:30 pm. Grandpa and Grandma left at 4:00 am this morning. Scared me when they started the truck, they were parked right under our window. :-) It was a good visit for all of us. :-) Could you pray for their safe travel?
Tomorrow Lydia has an orthodontist appointment in Swan river.... Lord willing Naomi and I will also be going along. I need to get some things before we go to camp and Naomi needs to do a lot of net things. Hey y'all should check out her review blog.... Ponderings it's pretty cool. :-) I think more people need to visit and see a Christian view on a lot of movies and books. Yeah I know a lot of them y'all might not watch... and there's been times when Naomi's said “ugh... that one's not coming close to being on the blog” so y'all know what she says on her ratings you can trust. :-) Unless y'all don't like what/who we watch then you wont like any of them. LOL! Check it out anyways.... and I know that she'd love it if you left a comment or visited one of the ads. :-)
Lord willing the three of us girls leave for camp on May 31st.... thanks for the prayers and please keep praying for wisdom and peace as we face a new way of life for a few months. :-) Thanks.
Hannah