Grandma

My grandma passed away last Sunday (Sept. 27th). We featured the poem below in her funeral. She loved to write.

Old Houses
by Peggy (Marguerite) Loftus

Old houses lean into sunset
Faded women before magic vanities
Fingers from Heaven heal weathered wounds
Brush rosy balm on sallow roofs
Trace smoky chimney tops with wisps of gold
Highlight in silver pencil the porch rails
Posts warped, eaves gilded, run ruler straight
Flaws flow and meld
Faceless windows, palettes of frenzied colour, wink and glow
Blinded in self-radiance.

While old homes preen
Night steals and seals the spell
Until dawn’s cold light
Mirrors the truth.

Prenatal Class Ctd...

Upon greeting us at our second prenatal class last night, our public health nurse referred to us as "Giggle One and Giggle Two".

Mary

Fits of laughter

Maryann and I had our first prenatal class this past Tuesday. We were prepared for some potentially awkward moments, perhaps a little unnecesary giggling, and I have certainly not been eager for the videos we will have to watch on the big screen, but I am delighted to let you know what happened in our first session.

In the middle of an admittedly awkward suggestion from a unknowing, naive and overly-optimistic father to be, Maryann burst out laughing. Her face went bright red, and she tried to stiffle her laughter with all her strength, but it just kept on coming. She was hunched over the table, visibly shaking. After a few minutes of being unable to regain control, she simply ran out of the room!!!

Haha!!! I love prenatal class!!

Ben

School of the Word Canada

Tomorrow the first class of School of the Word Canada begins the school year. I am so excited for the year ahead for my friends who are participating, remembering the wonderful year Ben and I had at School of the Word in Cardiff. Some advice people gave us was super valuable in making the year such a great experience. I think this is good advice for approaching just about anything in life:

• Open yourself wide and vulnerable to catch all the seed sown into your heart, so it can form deep roots and grow as it is meant to grow
• Ask lots of questions - not to be cynical but to learn
• Always be open to learning something new - if you think you've heard it all before, you won't be able to receive new revelation
• Honour your teachers
• Make your focus not on being philosophical or theological, but on knowing Jesus more and more
• You get out what you put in

- Mary

Last Days of Summer

This weekend we went camping for a night at "Root Camp" with the Roebucks. It was a nice way to bid farewell to summer.

The kids caught frogs and tadpoles and minnows all day long.

Delyth was passed from one cuddle to the next.

Frisbee didn't sit still for very long. In this picture, the contents of her tummy are:
- sticks and dirt
- a bar of soap
- a rock
- bits of dead fish
- remains of a plastic toy dog

A night in Japan

Maryann and I have been in Japan this past week, where I am attending an academic conference. I thought I would write a brief note about my two faviourite moments from yesterday:

1) Maryann throwing up in Starbucks during a run through of my presentation for the conference.

2) The sign posted in the washroom asking that any suspicious packages be reported to the staff immediately.

On another note... here are some photos of our trip:

Ben.

A good quote for a PhD student!

"The only way around is through"
~ Robert Frost

Frisbee

Frisbee is the newest addition to our wee Roebuck household. She's part great dane and part chocolate lab and she's 14 months old. She came from a french family living near Montreal - they have four kids, including one year old twins. They only speak french, so right now Frisbee only understands french commands.

She's playful like a lab and calms down like a great dane. She sheds like a lab and has a big great dane head. She's got a sweet personality and is very obedient but she's still testing the limits. She likes to run around and around in circles and she has a bit of a smile.

We decided not to re-name her, but we're certainly having fun with Frisbee nicknames: Frizzy, Frizzberly, Fizz, the F-Bomb, the Frizzbinator... and so on.