I found a funny recipe in an old cook-book from a school fundraiser in Jr. High. Goes like this:

1. Light oven; get out utensils and ingredients. Remove blocks and toy autos from table. Grease pan, crack nuts.
2. Measure 2 cups flour; remove Johnny's hands from flour; wash flour off him. Remeasure flour.
3. Put flour, baking powder, and salt in sifter. Get dustpan and brush up pieces of bowl Johnny knocked on floor. Get another bowl. Answer doorbell.
4. Return to kitchen. Remove Johnny's hands from bowl. Wash Johnny. Answer phone. Return. Remove 1/4" salt from greased pan. Look for Johnny. Grease another pan. Answer phone.
5. Return to kitchen and find Johnny. Remove his hands from bowl. Take up greased pan and find layer of nutshells in it. Head for Johnny, who flees, knocking bowl off table. Wash kitchen floor, table, walls, dishes. Call baker. Lie down.

I would also add point 6. Send Johnny to his room indefinitely! 

Does any of this sound familiar? =)

 Got this in an email today.  Thought most of the few of you who may see this would like to pray too.

Dear Friends,
There will be a very important meeting at the Oasis regarding Prairie's future this coming wednesday night (sept 2) @ 6:30. We would ask that you join us in praying for this meeting and it's outcome. Prairie's board members have been invited to attend, and PBI staff and faculty are strongly urged to come! Chairman of the board Mark Maxwell will be present, and Phil Callaway will be chairing this meeting. Phil asks for specific prayer, he'd rather be in South Korea.
Please also pray that the staff will not stay away in fear, but that there would be freedom to address very real concerns. 
Praying with you for God's best for Prairie,
Tim and Ruth MacKenzie

I've neglected to blog lately and it's high time to update anyone who still happens to check my blog!  Sorry for the delinquency...

I know Myron hasn't updated his blog for quite sometime, so I will update for him too.  Myron's  ordination to the priesthood was June 7th. With that momentous occasion came an overwhelming sense of God's call to serve in a different way. The Water School position was requiring more "salesmanship" qualities and M was having a difficult time buying into that view.  We are still promoting the Water School whenever and wherever we can, just not on their salary anymore.   So, Myron is now a full-fledged priest and will be serving the Diocese of Edmonton.  In September, the Penner family will move into a rectory right next to Christ Church close to downtown Edmonton.  The church is a beautiful Tudor style 100 yr. old building and the rectory, not quite as old, is also in that style.  See pic below...



I'm not particularly looking forward to the move, as it seems we just got unpacked from moving this time last fall!  However, once we are there, I believe our new life in Edmonton will take on more satisfaction.  One thing for sure is that the area where we will live has so much character and soul, unlike outer suberbia vinyl flat-screen purgatory where we live now. Don't get me wrong, there are things I will miss in our neighborhood like the quiet street and the walking paths and such, but honestly, we have only met 2 of our neighbors in the whole year we've been here! That stinks.

We are still trying to figure out the girls' school situation. If they stay at their current school, which we really like, they will have to take the bus and that costs quite a bit of $$ for the year as well as the extra travel time every day.  Alternately, there is a good school 3 blocks down the street and they have an all girls Jr. High, so they wouldn't have to change schools again for quite some time.  Lots to think about. 

If you happen to think about us, please pray for this transition.  It seems we've had one huge event after another the past 2 years.  It's been stressful, but we do see God leading and feel blessed to know that even in the adjustments God provides and gives peace.