Kayla Grace Bay

We did it. Kayla Grace arrived on Friday December 11th at 4:58pm, weighing 7lb 1oz.
We have set up a blog for Kayla at www.kaylagracebay.typepad.com
However, because of all the strange people out there, and because photos on the internet live forever, we have put a password on the blog. If you want to follow the life and times of the KGB (Kayla Grace Bay), send us an e-mail and we will give you the password!
If you don't have our e-mail address, then there is a good chance you are one of the strange people!

Let the Games Begin...

Seeing as life is beginning to slow down a little for Ally and I, we decided that we needed to add a little excitement to our lives. So, in early December we are adding to the family. Ally is just over 12 weeks pregnant and her and the bump are doing great.
We'll keep you posted on the journey and let you know once we have a baby sitting schedule ready for you to sign up on!

Three years and counting...

It is almost three years since Ally and I arrived in Canada (May 6, 2006) and since I started my first class (May 8, 2006). I now only have 7 classes left in the three years of cohort based in-ministry learning (June 11 is the last class), and then I just have 6 electives left which I will do over part-time the next couple of years.

This past Tuesday was the Graduation Chapel at which graduating students were recognised and awards given to returning students (that's me!). The interesting piece was that I won 2 awards:
The first was the Dr. Stewart Boehmer Scholarship for a student with leadership potential for pastoral ministry
The second was the Yorkminster award for Homiletics, a preaching award for the integration of scripture and culture.

So, that's my highlight of the week. Now back to writing sermons and assignments!

Another Month Begins

It seems weird that we are already 2 months down in 2009 - I'm sure it only began a few days ago! But at the same time it is good that it is moving quickly as there are 2 dates I am looking forward to. May 1st is when Trevor gets back from sabbatical and hopefully life gets a little more manageable, then June 11th is the last day of my 'class every Thursday for 3 years' journey. I will still have 6 electives to complete, but I can do those at a more manageable pace.

So, the real reason for this post... I just found 2 fantastic websites:
www.globalrichlist.com
and
www.worldometers.info

Happy March to you all!

The Beautiful Finished Product

So the last time you saw the deck, there was a lovely dirt patch. We now have a nice square of grass (literally, it's a sqaure) and a great deck with some cool patio furniture. About the patio furniture...so I bought it the day before Jamie flew out to New Zealand and I was a bit disappointed that he wasn't going to see the finished product with the patio set. We didn't think anything of it and went to bed. Well, low and behold the next morning, the patio set was set up and ready for use on our deck. Sneaky Ross had gone out IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT and put the whole thing together for us! Talk about spoiled.

Which Leads Us to the Summer...

The first week of July was a great one for us! My aunty Joan and uncle Barry gave us a wonderful gift; they gave us their cottage for a week of fun in the sun. It was a great holiday and super relaxing. Jamie was stoked to find out that they had a little sailboat and he took it out for a run. It was an awesome time and we hope that we can go back again next summer, hint hint. :)

Hey, it's been a while...

So Jamie and I constantly forget to update this blog, it's kind of funny! We're just so busy that this seems to slide, even though I love getting updates from other peoples' blogs (I am a blog hypocrite)! So here are some photos to update people that check this "just in case". (I am thinking of you Dorothy! ha ha)





Okay, so wayyy back in May 2008, Jamie and I were lucky enough to book a contractor to build us a fabulous deck. He was a live in contractor and the bonus was his lovely wife came too. Okay, it was Jamie's dad, who seems to be able to do anything, and he built us the most amazing deck ever! It was also finished in May, but I have to get a more recent photo of the finished product.
Here is the beginning...

9 Months... no Post

If you have not given up on our incredible lack of blog posts, then thanks for sticking around. Life has been busy, although we are still finding time to enjoy ourselves. We are back into the school year, both working full-time, and both doing courses as well.

We will try and keep letting you know what going on, but here's some reading if you're up for it. I'm going on a retreat tomorrow with some pastors and we are spending the morning looking at an article by Henri Nouwen. The article is posted here and is well worth the read if you have the time.

peace.

Sir Ed.

I'd always thought that the death of Sir Edmund Hillary would be one of those things that you would always remember where you were when you heard... and so for me it was on the way back from school, sitting in the back of a van when I got a text message!
It's sad we won't be in New Zealand to watch the funeral live, but if you are in New Zealand then I think I have found a way for you to get in if you are interested!

stuff.co.nz quotes The Dominion Post as saying:
"The Anglican Dean of Auckland, the Very Rev Ross Bay, said he would be one of several clergy involved in the service.

"We're working really hard and closely with the family to ensure the service is a fitting tribute to Sir Edmund and also allows the family to grieve as a family."

Because it was a state funeral there would be several protocols to adhere to, but "in other respects it's a funeral service in the normal way".

Mr Bay spent hours with Lady Hillary and family members during the weekend and said the family "wanted the wider New Zealand community to have the opportunity to play a part of his farewell".

The intense public interest and huge numbers expected at the funeral were just a few of the issues to be worked through, he said.

His family had requested the service be held in the historic church, which holds up to 600 people. "The cathedral is a modern building, so architecturally, I think their request was for St Mary's."

Details, including which guests will be seated inside St Mary's, are yet to be worked out, but mourners in the neighbouring cathedral will be able to watch the service on a live screen.

Though Sir Ed did not attend St Mary's, the church was a gathering place for the Auckland community, and it was honoured to host the service, Mr Bay said.

Sir Ed was probably the greatest New Zealander the country could lay claim to: "It's a huge honour to be part of that in such a big way."

Feel free to give him a call if you want to attend. He might even be looking for people to give eulogies if you're interested?