Just gotta..

How many usernames and passwords and other access information do you carry around in your head?
Count with me:
- Username for email addresses, blogspots, websites, access to various sites
- Passwords for everything under the sun, gosh even for access to the library computer,
- combination locks for the gym lockers,
- accout numbers for bank cards, credit cards,
- SIN # 'cause you have to know it,
- what else is locked away in my tiny little head, oh yah - combinations for alarm systems
- I'm sure you can add to the list.
All this to say, that for some time I had lost my username and password for my BLOG, hence, the reason for no updates. My apologies to you all out there who have been dying for some updates.



Anywhoo, here's the lowdown of this quandry of craziness and adventure that we call life:
1. ROOTS youth retreat in Cochrane. Awesome time to hang with my old youth in Calgary. Lives were touched - Deen lead a young girl, Evelyn, to the LORD. A very special time as we were preparing ourselves for another ministry challenge at AGAPE Chinese Baptist Church.
2. Installation service of Nate, as the First ever English Pastor of Agape Chinese Baptist Church (www.agapecbc.org). We actually left the retreat in Cochrane (family in tow) Sunday morning and made it just in time for a quick shower, iron the suit, shine the shoes, and grab some lunch before heading to church. The whole event was actually a very memorable and honourable event. I had the privilege of preaching before the whole church, Deen sang a song - funny sideline - the sound tech guys didn't have a tape player hooked to the main system, so instead we put a mic to a tape player speaker - you guessed it disaster. The accompaniment kept on cutting in and out, but Deen weathered the abuse and came out shining. Someone commented afterwards "i've never heard anyone keep your composure the way you did.."
I was initiated into the fellowship of AGAPE after passing one final obstacle - the youth initiation rites. They made me rap, sing and play piano, and the dance, not just dance but "hip to the hop and I wanted to stop." Needless to say I passed with flying colors.
3. Birthdays - Christelle, Mom, other family and church members
4. Charis' 3rd Birthday was small but special. We ended up having a small group of her closest friends join her for lunch and enjoyment at the WEM Galaxy kids Land. Charis had a great time!
5. Mother's Day - Words cannot express what an awesome wife and extraordinary mother Deen is. Everyday should be a Mother's Day.
6. Malachi's 1st year b-day. Okay, so this being Kai's first birthday we had to go full out right. Food, decorations, food, games, food, location, food, lots of people, and of course more food. We had planned and hoped for this wonderful sunny day so that we could celebrate at the park. We wanted the perfect location and thought by reserving it we would be garaunteed this perfect spot. We were told that the park had not been booked and that it would be about $150 for 5 hours. If we didn't want to reserve then it would be based on a first come first serve basis. If "cheap" isn't our middle name, then "stubborn" probably is. Deen and I had this crazy idea to wake up early and be the first to grab our perfect spot, after all it was the long weekend, and the park was bound to be packed ... right? Wrong!!!!!! I arrived with a van full of food, toys, bbq stuff, blankets, etc. and began setting up our spot around 9:30 (the party was to begin at 2p.m.) Much to our delight I had secured us a spot. As I started unloading the van, the winds started to pick up, and the clouds began rolling in. But I was so sure that the wind would blow away all the clouds and that by 2 o'clock things would be perfect after all the days leading up to Saturday were all scorchers so why would this be different? As each second ticked on by my optimism was slowly beginning to dissipitate, but remember my middle is "stubborn." There was no way I was going to cancel our park bday 'cause of a a couple of clouds. So I stuck to my guns, we were going to have Kai's bday at the park and that was final, people just need to dress up for the weather. At around 10 a.m. a dog had wandered into my picnic site. I let the dog continue to sniff around, I was sure that the owner wasn't too far behind and he would certainly shoo the dog away, but nooooooo. The dog found a nice cuddly pink blanket and then took off. Close on the dogs heels (like 20 m behind), I pursued the dog until I could no longer run (about 2 minutes maybe even 1 min) I found the owner, an old cane wielding senior. I explained to her the situation and she replies "humpf, dogs that's just the way they are." I was stunned! "What? your dog took my babies blanket and that's all you can say?" The lady looked up and said "well I guess I'll bring it over when he's tired....." "ooookay, I guess" was all I could say. Long story short, blanket was returned all goobery and slobbery like.
Around 11:00 Deen and Daichi (Japanese exchange student) found me at the park, flying one of our dollar store kytes, to pass the time. Deen and I talked about changing locations and having at it the church, but I wouldn't hear it. I told her to wait an hour and then we'll decide. Until then let's just go the bathroom ('cause I had been waiting for like an hour to go). One reason this location was perfect was because it was near the washroom. After patiently waiting an hour, I finally had somenone to relieve me so that I could relieve myself. I was greatful that the bathrooms were nearby. Arriving at the restroom, I reached to pull the handle, only to discover that the bathrooms were locked. Pinned on the front of the bathroom door was a notice "water main cracked. bathrooms closed until repairs can be finished" ahhhhhhhhhhhh. That did it, In frustration I held it all in, I mean everything. I called Deen and had everything moved to the church. In the end we didn't have our lovely anticipated park birthday bash, but we did have a terrific 1 year birthday celebration for our beautiful baby boy.

Well I think that's enough to munch on for now. I'll keep you posted. Until next time.

W.I.F.E or is WWE?

"Hip hop hooray, ho ..." Momma and the kids getting down and jiggy wit' it!! This morning Deen was kinda sulking about not having as many pics on this blog, so I "gently" encouraged her to "get at it then!" Of course, I was just kidding. So BABY GURL this blogs for you....

Adele like the bell that wakes us in the morning,
you are the "ring-ting-ting-ting" that disturbs my snorin'

You work, you cook, you clean, and you feed,
All this and then some, you have no greed!

If we don't say it enough, "we love you mommy!"
so we raise our hands and and we suck in our tummy?

W- is for all your WAYS, without them you wouldn't be you, and we'd be incomplete
I - is for your INTENSITY you never do anything half-heartedly
F - FUN, FOOLISH, FREE, FORGIVING, FANTASTIC, FRESH, FUNKY, ....
E - you are my/our EVERYTHING!

Baby, not one moment passes that I don't think of you, and your sacrifice for this family.
And I thank God ... 'cause you're all mine!

Mom's (I mean) Mr. M.o.m's Time

M.o.m's time has a different connotation now!!!

Mom's (I mean) Mr. M.o.m's Time has a different connotation now!! Deen started work about three weeks, the first question people often ask her is "who's taking care of the kids?" Deen would say, "my Husband!" which would then trigger the next question "what?"

What can I say, it's all good. I'm actually liking this Mr. M.o.m's time. Wake up like at 10:30 a.m. grab a little something to eat, kids wake up, they feed themselves, then they go back to sleep, check my email, pop in a movie, go back to sleep for a couple of hours, the maid comes into clean up, kids wake up, Deen gets home, and ... YAH RIGHT!!!! If life were like that!

All I have to say is props to all you mommas in the house. I tell you Mother' s Day should be like everyday 'cause it ain't an easy job, and to all you pappas out there doing what I'm doing ... what were thinking?

M.o.m's time does have another connotation ... MAN OH MAN!!!

I Am Human ... darnit!

"pass the bucket please!!!! Not only did i just realise that I am human (jk) but golly does it hurt. After ducking and manouevering the gods of sickness, I was hit pretty hard today. Throat hurts (oh yeah there's a funny story behind that too) my brain feels like it's squishing, and I'm retaining a lot of water, and my pants feel tight.

Tnite we sat together with our team of spiritual artists, who endeavored to construct a framework upon which we would build our spiritual environment. Wayne Hoover (lead mang) commented as we were leaving, that we don't so much hear God as we feel His presence. The density and weightiness of God (shekinah glory ... Yes Seminary has finally paid for itself!). The aroma of God filling a place to the point of it being intoxicating - in a good way of course.

Lots to think about, lots to pray for. As the good ole' Shepherd David said "my cup over flows," and I might add, "so does my nose"

Be blessed!!

Hurricane Sickness strikes!

So I was supposed to take off for the week. Not that I was running away from any responsibilites or anything like that, but the seminary in Cochrane was offering a 1 week intensive that I needed to graduate. But as fate would have it, Deen came down with the stomach flu Sunday. It was quite comical and yet poetic to be honest. As Deen made her way to the porcelain god's throne, offering every being of her goodness, I was there packing away thinking to myself "ah she'll get over it, she's tough." Within minutes of me even thinking those thoughts, Charis started going at, (I mean all over the place) that did it, I dropped my bags, contacted the Seminary and said "there's no way I'm leaving." Long story short, my ever-so-close chance of finishing up Seminary has once again eluded me. So here I am in our Apartment-House, getting over my frustration and dissapointment. Boy, I can cook!!!

Transitions

2006 !??! Was 2005 even here? Well Kai (Malachi) is definitely a sure sign of 2005. This year, to say the least was a whirlwind. Coming towards the end of 2004, we had moved all our earthly belongings into our parents garage and basement. Actually Deen, who was 4 mths pregnant at the time, and Charis had gone to Mexico around the end of November to spend more time with her parents. I, on the other hand had the sweet responsibility of bringing closure to our life in Cochrane (Seminary - final exams, papers, and projects, Ministry - we held a youth retreat, enough said, Work - the 'Dub (A&W) 'twas a good ride, and of course the whole moving thing. Well, you can imagine that when I had that last exam written, our old apartment cleaned out, my last paper handed in, my last message preached, and my last burger served ... I was out baby!!!!

2005 held great expectations but in retrospect I see how much I have learned about myself through the lens of God's Word. Having moved our things into parents house for temporary storage, my parents offered what little space they had to my familia, You see, at the time there were a number of people leaving in the basement, not to mention all the "artifacts" and Christian "paraphenelia" my parents had accumulated over the years. So, with a very pregnant wife a darling rambunctious baby girl, and a depleting bank account we said "yes!" and took whatever room was left in the stable.

May 12, 2005 Malachi Justin Ignacio Vedoya came into the world at a whopping 9 + pounds. He is our Malachi, God's messenger to us of His undying and unrelenting love for His children. Charis ended up sharing her 2nd year b-day with Malachi's baby dedication, and that in and of itself was an experience.

By the way, did I mention, why we moved back to Edmonton of all places? I was going to take nursing! Ask me about sometime... Anywhoo we came back to Edmonton to plant a church as part of our Nehemiah program (a seminary church planting program). This, of course is still in the process.

Needless to say, there have been so many transitions. It seems, like we have been doing a lot of good things, but have not fully tapped into what God is desiring to do through our lives. I've done the "business proposal" and have done my research but I find myself lacking. Would you continue to pray with us? Pray that we would be totally consumed by God's love and purpose for our lives. That we would sees a church planted for His glory and Splendor? We are all in a period of transition, some call this a process, or a season in life, I choose to see through the eyes of John 15:5 "I am the vine and you are the branch. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Father, as 2006 rolls around I don't want to make hollow promises, or speak in vain. I choose to be wholly devoted to you and to your will in our lives...

Christmas 2005

Christmas was celebrated differently this year but the meaning stayed the same! Although 2005 ended with several challenges, there is still much to be thankful for. It was Malachi's first Christmas and Charis' third! We stayed in Edmonton this time. Wished everyone was here....maybe next year?:)