I lost my "Over the Kitchen Sink" picture, so just imagine it here :)
I picked up one of my old albums the other day, sat down on a comfy chair and took a journey back in time. I was transported from my lofty almost 38 years back to the era when I was around 19. Long journey. Yet, not so long. Still so....familiar...if that's the right word.
Human pyramid on the white sands of Wasaga Beach. The yp's still go there - do they know of the fun we had there well before their beach adventures? I look at the young faces in the picture and feelings rush back - fun friendships, budding love, confidences shared, dreams dreamed. And under it all was a common love for the Lord. All in different stages of maturity, yet all on the same narrow road.
Part of that journey was discovering Tamarack. I believe it was Wilf who found it and then the yp's board went to visit. I think Wilf and I were activity committee, Trish was the secretary and Ralph and Rich B. were president and vice (can't remember who was what). I only remember the fun of that visit - I think the others must have been doing all the work :) But think what the Lord has brought out of that one visit!!!! Years and years of blessing as it has become home base for the URC summer Camp Tamarack - a place where so many have been challenged in their faith, some have come to faith for the first time, some have seen a vision of a better way of walking with their God. Not to mention the marriages that have resulted for many of us :)
After our first Camp T., our yps went to Vroom's pond - a favourite spot where we skated, had bonfires, played capture the flag, scared each other silly in that old, dark cabin...... And Rich and I promised to continue the fledgling relationship that we'd begun.
Another memory - another old friend. Me and "Jula" in the photo booth at Rexdale Mall - she liked the photo so much she enlarged it and gave me a copy. We had so many long, deep talks, the 2 of us.
And then there was the Mexico missions trip! 2 families from our church were driving up and 4 of us yps flew there and joined them. It was a trip full of fun and laughter. So many memories made - I'm chuckling as I write, thinking about us all playing the Animal Game, Pastor B. and Mr. S. being the secret sopranos in the alto section of the choir, the fake spider on Mark's shoulder (courtesy of Rachel, I think.....), the hazardous drive up the mountain for the view, hanging off the back of Carlos's truck as we lurched through the city, Sharon and I teaching an English class to one young man who kept showing up in a pair of long underwear (why he was in a class all of his own, I'm not sure......I think he was thrilled...), and so many more treasures tucked away in my memory.
Not sure if I should even comment on this picture :) But, it's a humble reminder to me that yp's will do crazy things - things that adults may look severely upon, but that come simply from a lack of "thinking things through" and a very active sense of fun.......not a heart gone bad.
Why this picture? I'm not really sure except that I laugh whenever I see it :) Something about Ralph looking grim and determined, me looking expectant and kinda spacey and Rich looking like he doesn't have much on his mind at all....... :)
Kara's graduation from RBC - another neat family event. We headed there and stayed in a hotel as a fam and thoroughly enjoyed watching Kara graduate. Kara's time at RBC was also a time of growth for me. I missed her very much as we'd become very close shortly before she left. She also grew in her love for the Lord there and in her desire to be a light for Christ - and that made a huge impact on me, her younger sis. As for Mark, well, the less said about him in this pic, the better.......;) Actually, Mark was one of my best friends and the Lord used him so much in my life, too - pushing me to live right for Him - always challenging (still challenging now) and daring to rebuke me when I needed it.
Sleepovers at the S.s Evenings of skits, dressing up, playing games, listening to music in the dark (what was that creepy song we listened to that night? Was it about spiritual warfare?) and chatting long into the night. This particular evening was special to me as it was my last before getting married. My single days were coming to an end but I only felt excitement. I knew my friends would still be there and we'd continue our friendships, even though things were changing for all of us. Many of these gals followed in our footsteps and got married within a coupla years themselves.
My dear family. This picture is amazing - it's before Joel, so we're missing him here, but I love looking at us all! Many years have passed since those days and we've all gone on to walk the path the Lord has put before us.
Time marches on. What you are right now is not what you'll be in the future. Yet, what you do and learn and how you use your time now will surely affect who you are in the future. Redeem the time - run to win the prize. Keep the Lord always before you and seek to serve Him in everything - in your fun and in your serious endeavors. Let love for Him and others guide your conduct. It's not about you. It's much bigger. And yet you're an integral part of the whole. Your faithfulness to the Lord WILL make a difference for good and in the doing you'll know such joy. Joy you don't want to miss out on.
......to Sunday afternoon, just before or just after the evening service. You take your pick. Those crazy ponytails looked just as messy before the 2nd service as they did after. To tell you the truth, I kind of like the crazy version better. It suits her personality :) 
......to Sunday afternoon, just before or just after the evening service. You take your pick. Those crazy ponytails looked just as messy before the 2nd service as they did after. To tell you the truth, I kind of like the crazy version better. It suits her personality :) 
