Happy Hallowe'en!

So we had a pretty upset scarecrow the night before Hallowe'en but I managed to get a couple of smiles out of him on the actual night. Hope you like them!

Reading Week

It's reading week, which is a week of classes at the Sem designed to allow students to catch up on reading and other schoolwork and to complete large projects. During my undergrad, this time was called 'ski week' or something along those lines. I'm one of those annoyingly conscientious students that usually has my work done, so reading week is usually time for me to relax. I had big plans -- to indulge in some non school-related reading, to fill a couple more shifts at the hospital, and generally to just take it easy.

I should have known that wouldn't work. It started last Saturday evening with a burr in my throat. By 1 Sunday morning I had a fever pushing 40 Celsius and I could not keep warm, except for the burning sensation in my throat. I have a really bad case of tonsilitis/laryngitis. Those who know me well know it for a stress reaction -- I work pretty hard with high stress for an extended period of time, and then I get sidelined out of the blue with some virulent plague. The only saving grace is that I'm not usually contagious.

So I've been home for this week with the Boy. I get a short nap in the morning, then try to push through the rest of the day without passing out on the couch (we made arrangements last week to keep the Boy out of daycare this week). I hope I feel good enough (and sound alive enough) to get back to my clinicals on monday.

Meanwhile, I've posted some pictures from the last couple of weeks. I've been promising updates for a while, so sorry about the delay.

I'm headed in the right direction...

Eucharistic theology created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Luther You are Martin Luther. You'll stick with the words of Scripture, and defend this with earthy expressions. You believe this is a necessary consequence of an orthodox Christology. You believe that the bread and wine are the Body and Blood of Christ, but aren't too sure about where he goes after the meal, and so you don't accept reservation of the Blessed Sacrament or Eucharistic devotions. Luther 100% Orthodox 75% Calvin 50% Catholic 31% Zwingli 25% Unitarian 0% thanks to Kevin for this one, who gave thanks to Erin on his blog.

A Full Rich Day

We had a really good day around the Macintyre house today. There was a youth worship band at church today that was quite talented -- 'Watermark Denmark', a group from Youth Encounter that is training to go to, you guessed it, Denmark to do some outreach ministry there. One downside is a definite dearth of theological reflection in some of the songs -- two they sang back-to-back had conflicting theologies and no one seemed to notice. I doesn't really detract from the enjoyment, just causes a little disconnect in my head when I'm singing.
This autumn is beautiful in Saskatoon, so we went for a walk this afternoon with the Boy to enjoy the leaves and get him a little exercise (Ana too, because she's a little tired of sitting all the time at work). The Boy was alseep after about ten minutes of walking, so the adults enjoyed a nice time together.
Speaking of Ana, she had her ultrasound this past Tuesday. If I could figure out how to scan the photplate they gave us of the new baby I would post it here, but I can't. Needless to say, I am once again the proud father of an amorphous blob. One slight problem -- the baby is sitting breach right now, and Ana's placenta is a little low so we have to go back in a couple months for a re-assessment. Prayers are appreciated...
So more about the day. We came back from our walk to a phone message from a friend of mine from Lethbridge who does a lot of supply ministry in the area around my hometown. I gave her a call back, and wound up with two services over the Christmas holidays when we're back home! Two Christmas Eve services 5:00 and 7:00 in two lovely little villages, Milo and Lomond, and I get to do them both. I feel tremendously blessed and happy that such wonderful people support me in this journey towards ordination, and also that they trust me and my abilities enough to recommend me for such a wonderful occasion! Anybody who's remotely in the area is welcome to attend -- hope to see you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
We stayed here in Saskatoon and enjoyed some really beautiful weather. pictures to come soon.
Take care, all of you!

Asking God

I asked God for strength, that I may achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I may enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for --
but everything that I hoped for.
Almost despite myself,
my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men,
most richly blessed.

-- attributed to an anonymous confederate soldier--

really into fall

so happy October to everyone...
The weather's getting colder, the leaves are falling off the trees, and the wind creates that dry rustle that (if you listen carefully) can make all of us remember walking to school when we were very young.
Ana's ultrasound is Tuesday the 9th -- more reasons to love this fall :)