Where did it go?

I can't believe it...it is July already!  Today celebrations are going on all over the country because of Canada Day. It is one of the busiest traffic weekends.  Even here in our area, we notice it.  Yesterday, due to an accident the highway was closed for about 5 hours and traffic was diverted.  We had a steady stream of cars going both ways on our otherwise quiet road.  


Where did June go?  How can it pass so quickly with no blog entry the entire month?  I guess we have been busy.  Busy with life, ministry, work around the house.  Howard has been felling trees and cutting and splitting the wood for our winter fuel.  And we are making plans for our furlough, or better called business trip in the fall.  June is also the month when school ends and graduations take place.  


We were part of a grad celebration on the reserve.  We were asked to do some traditional sports.  So we brought out the archery equipment and the atlatl spears.  We arrived a bit earlier to set things up, but it was overcast and threatened to rain, so we held off.  There were a couple of ladies cooking hamburgers and hot dogs on the bbq.  The night before we helped our friend peel and cook 50 lbs. of potatoes, cut up bunches of celery, carrots, peppers and onions for the potato salad for this graduation supper.  People were pouring in by the time supper was ready.  The prayer was said by our elder language teacher in Secwepmectsin.  There was more than enough food for everyone.  Towards the end of the meal the high school graduates were honoured with a certificate and a gift.  Then all the kids who were there were called forward, one by one, to receive a couple of gift certificates and tickets to a waterpark here in town.  

The weather was still a bit unpredictable, but one boy in particular kept asking Howard if they could play the two-ball game. It's an ancient game that uses a double ball made from two sacs of deerskin stuffed with deer hair, joined by a leather thong. The players each have a curved stick and the playing area is an open field with goals placed on either end.  (in ancient times the goals could be several kilometers apart) The object of the game is to be the first team to throw the ball over your opponent's goal line and between the markers.  They came up with enough players for the two teams and Howard ended up being the referee.  After the game, the weather was more stable and we were able to do some archery.  Everyone enjoyed trying to shoot at the targets we had set up.  From bunnies and cougar to a big moose target.  In spite of the weather, it turned out to be a good day for all who were there.


We had lots of birthdays in June as well.  I was blessed to be celebrating my special day too.  I thank God for the many blessings in my life and for His faithfulness to me over the many years.  I also celebrate the fact that I have survived my cancer that was diagnosed two years ago.  Each new day is truly a gift from God who knows each one of us. 


"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12