I stood barefoot on my blanket as a First Nations person. We were a gregarious people who moved around, visited other groups, traded, conversed, shared stories and listened to new ideas and techniques. While I did that, my blanket was taken away. As I watched that happen, I lost my identity. I no longer belonged. [...]
I spent the last four days of Christmas break visiting my mom. She is 91 years old and still lives in her own house on the farm where I grew up. There are some things she won’t do anymore, but I am impressed and very thankful for her health and strength. For example: Last summer, [...]
About an hour drive outside of Guatemala City, we arrived at Bethel school in Patzicia. As usual, we were welcomed warmly into the school by the administrators, but also by the children as they were having their break. We exchanged many handshakes, high fives and fist bumps. During my trip to Guatemala at the end [...]
It became a bit of a joke in administration meetings, board meetings, even society meetings. I was tired of hearing that the increase in enrolment was a good problem to have, and I'll admit that there were times when it did get a little annoying. I always knew that the decisions made when enrolment was [...]
Even though our garden has been the subject of an earlier blog (remember the squash growing through the fence?), truth be told I have never been what you would call an avid gardener. I do most of the planting of the seeds and make the frames for our pole beans to grow on. I will [...]
When the temperature is in the mid to high 30s, the tinkle of the ice cream cart is a great sound. We were able to enjoy an ice cream sandwich or a fudge bar when the ice cream man showed up at an opportune time during our trip to Nicaragua. Mostly it was the leaders [...]
The weather we’ve had in the last few weeks is certainly unusual for us here in the lush Fraser Valley. It is fairly common, but not certain, to get at least one snow event in December or January, but to have snow for six or more weeks is nothing like I have experienced in my [...]
I can’t remember exactly when I first met Mike Ouwerkerk. I know it was early on in my time here at ACS, 22 years ago. Mike initiated our Grandparent Crossing Patrol. Back then, there were no houses around our school property and looking out the front of the school you mostly saw a large, sandy [...]
When it was time to buy a new car a couple of years ago, I said to Jane that whatever we get it won't be silver or gray. She added white and black to the list. I am sure it is obvious to most of you that silver or gray do seem to be the [...]
It was Monday morning. Our Nicaraguan guests had departed on Saturday, and Sunday had been busy with Run for Water. I was getting ready for school and found myself looking for the light under the bathroom door, listening for movement from the guest bedrooms, and wondering if it was time to put the coffee on. It’s [...]
