Visiting Grandpa and Grandma

In 1962 my Grandpa and Grandma Hingston moved to North Battleford where we lived.  They had a small one bedroom semi-detached  unit at a senior's lodge.  I remember them moving very well since I was 9 years old when they came to NB.   They lived there until Grandpa died in 1975.

The pictures are in Grandpa and Grandma's  unit  in 1962 soon after they came.   Note how well dressed our family is for visiting which was traditional for us.  Visiting was a "dress up" occasion.  I was looking sharp with bow tie and sweater.

I have many memories of visiting Grandpa and Grandma over the 13 years they were there.   Grandpa was very deaf so made up for it by doing most of the talking.  My Mom had a strong voice and could still carry on a conversation with him.  But mostly I remember Grandpa telling stories, and Grandma's high pitched laugh at all his jokes. 

Grandma would sing for us children.   She sang "The Ninety and Nine"  and "Dare to Be a Daniel."     Visiting my Grandparents and seeing their strong faith in God, and in particular Grandma's singing for us had a strong effect on my life and my own faith.  
   

Green Explosion

We watched the Riders beat the Stampeders in the western final on TV.  It was a pretty exciting game to say the least. The sign that says "Sky of Blue. Sea of Green" was certainly true.  At game time it was 4C with sunny blue sky and there was a sea of green in the stands.   We could almost hear the crowd from our house.    And when the game was over we could hear the fireworks from the stadium loud and clear.

Since there were lot of people in the city for the football game at the same time as the start of Agribition, the newspaper had a "Species Identification Guide."

Big hat, with cow          -  Agribition exhibitor
Big hat, no cow            -  Stampeder fan
Watermelon, no cow    -  Rider fan
Watermelon, with cow  -  Avoid

Now it is on to the Grey Cup for the Riders!

Choir Christmas Concert

Last night Janice and I attended the Christmas program for Elaine's choir.   Actually the picture above was from three years ago but the program was in the same place.   I think the choir is larger than this now with more singers off to each side.   Last night the choir was accompanied on the pipe organ with an organist from Toronto, as well as the timpani and brass section from the Symphony.

I enjoyed the program as usual.  In the first half there was beautiful pipe organ solo by the guest organist. Another number in the first half was different than they have had before.  Brother Heinrich's Christmas by John Rutter was a story told by a narrator, with the trombone playing the part of the donkey  who helped with Brother Heinrich finish off a new carol for the choir.    Then the audience joined the choir in singing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.   This was wonderful with over 100 in the choir and over 600 in the audience singing accompanied by the pipe organ, timpani and brass instruments.  The sound is tremendous in the large church building 

The second half started with the audience and choir singing The First Nowell.  Then the choir had one of their longer pieces Lux Aeterna (Eternal Light) by Morten Lauridsen sung in Latin.   I was surprised to see this music was a recent composition in 1997.     Then the choir sang O Holy Night with a young woman soloist.   This is one of my favourite carols, and the soloist and choir were tremendous along with the instruments last night.    They had sung a version of Hodie Christus Natus Est (Today Christ is Born) in the first half, and ended the program with a second musical composition of this.     This gave the choir opportunity to end the program with full volume accompanied by  the pipe organ and other instruments.   This was a very enjoyable evening.

Now we have Handel's Messiah to look forward to December 16.
 

Beautiful Fall Weather

We have been having wonderful fall weather in November.  By this time of year the normal daily high temperatures are about -1C but we had a record of 17.6 C yesterday and we were up to 12 C today. The chart shows how far above normal we have been this month.   We know this can't last forever but we are enjoying it while it lasts.    

H1N1 Flu Shot

I went and got my H1N1 flu shot today.   I posted some information about the H1N1 vaccine last month when I got my seasonal flu shot.   The H1N1 flu shots were being made available in stages  to groups the health department considered higher risk, starting with children and pregnant women.  This week it opened up for people under 65 with chronic health conditions.  

The health department had taken over a building which was a former high school for the H1N1 vaccinations. Since I saw on the news that there had been long line ups at that location I was planning to wait until later in the month when flu shots may be given at the building where I work.   Then this afternoon a woman that I work with phoned me on her cell that she had just gotten her flu shot and there was no line up.  So I went straight down there.  Sure enough there were enough people on duty to handle hundreds of people and I was able to walk right in and get my flu shot with no line up.        

New Windows

The last section of our new windows was installed today. We got new sealed units for the windows in the living room, dining room and one bedroom.   The seals had failed in the old units and moisture got in between the panes of glass.  We were able to get new low-e argon triple-glazed sealed units installed in the existing window frames.   The low-e (low emissivity) coating reflects radiant heat to keep more of the heat in.  The argon gas between the glass has better insulating value than air.  Hopefully we will be able to see out in cool weather without the windows fogging up and also be warmer.   The new sealed units were manufactured to dimensions to fit into the existing frames which is much more economical than replacing the whole window.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Words & Music: Hal­dor Lil­le­nas, 1918

Sign of the Times

I saw this sign in front of a downtown hotel while driving home:

Don't Put Off To Tomorrow 

What You Can Do The Day After