family music 184

I was 20. I never played a Hammond organ until we were married and living on Dominion Street.

Our friend, Neil drove a bakery truck, but he got into selling Hammond organs. He worked part-time selling Hammond organs up on Mountain Road. Once in a while, he would pick me up and take me there. Maybe after the place was closed. Anyway, that's where I started playing. 

Then Neil got me a key and I started practicing at the Wesleyan Church. I would walk down to the church. Maybe on a Saturday morning. 

I didn't know what I was practicing for. I just loved the organ and wanted to learn how to play it.

When the organist, Annette, had a baby, I was asked to be the organist.

I was always into music and I seemed to be around someone who could sing. I sang with Bethany and then I was in a quartet in Moncton. We would drive all the way down to Beulah to sing and drive back the same night.

One night I felt the Lord talking to me. Maybe you should do that more.

I came to Beulah and I went to the altar and decided I needed to do it. 

I talked to Marina about it. 

It was 1959.

We moved home to the farm. We sold our things, like the television and fridge.

I was on the road full-time for ten years. 

We still travelled after that when on vacation from work.

- Dad 

(as we chatted about it at the cottage last summer)

family music 183 | River Flows in You

 

Ethan

Counting Blessings

to be Canadian

to live in Canada

Stories from Home

I was at Bethany.

I walked to the doctor's office and he said, "I'm taking your appendix out in the morning." 

I think someone drove me to the hospital. 

I can remember snow blowing in around the windows of the old Yarmouth hospital.

Dad and Mom drove all night to see me before surgery. 

It was a 12 hour drive back then with having to drive through all the villages.

I woke up when Dad placed his hand on my head.

After surgery, they headed back to the farm.

I developed pneumonia and Dad and Mom flew me home to recover.

I didn't return to school until the next year.

- Mom

something I watched | Young Woman and the Sea

 

A movie based on the life of Gertrude Ederle, it is a wonderful story about family, courage, resiliency and persistence.

In 1926, Ederle proved that female athletes could compete in physically demanding sports and were not inferior to men. She was the first woman to swim the English Channel and she did it two hours faster than the men who had made the swim. Two million people welcomed her back in New York City.

"The challenge wasn't just to swim the English Channel, it was also to prove that it could be done by a woman." - Gertrude Ederle

You will find a documentary of her life with interviews here and here.

Counting Blessings

Being at home

in my pajamas

with Pearl

puttering around the house

with a cozy nap in there somewhere

makes for a happy day

Song | Be Okay

 

Lauren Daigle and Ellie Holcomb

Quote | Slowing Down

 

So much joy can be found

in slowing down.

- Emily Ley

Little House on the Prairie

Counting Blessings

 

We've been married for 31 years.

akr inspired | 719

After being in Scotland for the fall semester, Eliza accepted an intern position with Michael Green Architecture, a firm in Vancouver. In January, she moved there for eight months. For my birthday, Jim surprised me with a trip to go see her in July. I have put off writing about it, because I don't really know how to capture it all in sentences. I made two reels that can be seen here and here, but maybe a list of words will help.

flying again after many years 

the window view flying into Vancouver

text from Lisa who was visiting Pearl

seeing Eliza at the airport

resting on the beach with the large logs

driving through Stanley Park

driving on the Sea to Sky Highway

the drive to Fergi's Cafe

going up on the gondola

the view at the top

going down on the gondola

visiting Whistler

the Olympic rings

waiting for the concert

hearing The Sheepdogs

what about the rules

visiting UBC 

the farmer's market challenge

the walks amongst the tallest trees

the flower shops

the shops along the streets

the evening concerts Jim and Eliza went to

how active the city is

the greenery everywhere

the walk to the lighthouse

visiting Granville Island

seeing Eliza's workplace

the way Eliza figured out places to live

the precious friends she made

the big and small adventures she went on

how God is with her wherever she goes 

Textbook | Geography