It's Christmas Eve

I pity the fool who hasn't been good this year.

World Junior Hockey

So the World Junior Hockey Championships are in Buffalo just after Christmas. Most of America doesn't know it's even happening. All of Canada does....because we beat them last year and they want revenge.

ANYWAY....the rink I play at 1/2 hour away is hosting a pre-camp for several national teams and that will include 3 exhibition games. So instead of driving 2 hours to Buffalo and paying tons more money for tickets, I get to stay close to home and get AWESOME hockey for less.

Last night was the first of the 3 games. Two more games tonight. I'm amped. This is the best hockey I've seen....and that includes NHL. These players are all top level draft picks. IN the NHL you always have 4th liners that are just OK. Not here. These guys all have skills and can skate. So dang fast.

Norway's goalie last night was out of this world. He's the only reason that game didn't become a massacre. Norways forwards and defense are pretty weak compared to Slovakia....but their goal was sick. He must've stopped close to 50 shots. He was always in position. It looked effortless. I can't wait for tonight.

Hockey and Gatorade don't mix

I've never understood how guys can drink anything but water while playing hockey. I think I would puke. This is further reason. He is now a sticky mess. Add to it the fact that he had a goal disallowed just moments before this happened.

Things I Liked About our Canada Trip

This is a list (in no particular order) of things I liked or noticed about our trip to Canada to celebrate Canada with Mari's family.

-My in-laws got internet! I think I posted somewhere before that I have felt like Canada was the dark ages. I couldn't find a wifi signal anywhere. I finally found a Chinese restaurant that had a signal. But NOT ANYMORE!!!! I should probably say that I don't NEED internet.....but man is it nice!

-On a similar note: It's awesome to see my mother-in-law and neice both working on the Macbooks on the dining room table!

-Tim Hortons

-Family. Marjorie has a huge family. It's a little crazy when we all get together, but I love it. I really enjoy conversation with some awesome people. I love laughing with these people. I love joking with her younger brother about how bad the Maple Leafs are (does that ever get old?). [missed you Bea and fam.]

-I love that when you watch SportsCenter in Canada the lead stories are hockey highlights. They go through all the hockey games and give you the breakdown. Then toward the end of SC, they fit in football and basketball. This is a country that has their sports priorities mostly right. (however I think they're the only country that puts so much value on the World Junior Championship.....most of the US doesn't even know that we're hosting it this year!)

-Tim Hortons again......In the US....you're discouraged to bring a beverage into a store. While Mari and I were shopping we saw several people with a Tim Horton's cup in their hands and no one flinched at the sight.

-WIZARD

-My mother-in-laws raisin bread. I know this sounds like an exaggeration, but I'm pretty sure I could eat a whole loaf myself.


EDIT: Holy cow I just re-read this and somehow forgot the fact that my awesome brother-in-law helped work out a paintball deal for me and I got another new (to me) marker. The bonus for this deal was this insanely old mask that is in mint condition. YES!

Silent Monks

Thanks Andrea.

Free Crowder Christmas

David Crowder has a free O Holy Night mp3 for you to download. Recorded live at their church UBC.

GET IT HERE

Area of Refuge

Backstory: Our church put on an addition in the past year or so. We're still doing small updates. My office used to be the old cry room behind the sanctuary. It had a weird bathroom in it that everyone would use thus walking through my office. So in the remodel, my office got ripped apart. No more bathroom. New carpet. New paint. Better heat. New door. AND an emergency door (I call it the escape hatch should someone come in that I don't want to talk to.....never used it yet). HOWEVER....my office is suppose to be the safe area. They like double insulated and drywalled it. There is an emergency phone and the exit door. Fine whatever.

So last weekend I was away on a retreat with teens. I show up at worship team on Wednesday night and find a GIANT sign outside my office. Here it is.There's so much I find funny about this. The size of the sign is ridiculous.

The fact that MY OFFICE is considered a Area of Refuge. NEVER would you consider any office I've ever inhabited an area of refuge. My office in North Warren was more of an area of disaster or area of would breed small plagues....refuge? No. To be fare, because of the way I do youth group outside of the church building, my office doesn't get a ton of use and thus is relatively neat compared to past offices......but refuge? HA

Pitter Patter Contest

Long time no post.

A good while ago I told you about Pitter Patter Art and the plates we ordered for our boys. She does AWESOME stuff. They are adopting again and she's doing tons of giveaways and selling rad shirts to raise money.

Currently she's doing an awesome giveaway. Someone who bought some of her artwork sent her some free ornaments and she's giving some of them away again.

HERE'S THE LINK.

You should no only check out this giveaway, but really buy some of her art. We love our plates and will probably be ordering more from her in the not too distant future.