pennerj's Xanga

How to Make a Cake

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:49:58 GMT

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? =)

Get me to the church on time!!

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:39:19 GMT

I'm excited to go to Christ Church for the first time today!! Myron has been there for a month now already! Can't wait....

OH DEAR

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:12:40 GMT

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

New School

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:16:44 GMT

Here is the kids' new school:

Oliver School was modernized in 2000, resulting in a beautiful older building filled with history and all the modern amenities of a new school. Oliver School facilities include a beautiful learning resource centre, two computer labs a gymnasium, art studio, fitness studio, music studio, classroom computers, outdoor basketball court, soccer field, creative playground, an inner courtyard and a School Store. Oliver School is within walking distance of a skating arena and swimming pool.

In one of Edmonton’s oldest school buildings, located just off Jasper Avenue and 117^th Street, only a short distance from the river valley and downtown, a very exciting and unusual cohabitation can be found. In Oliver School, the stately, three storey, red brick school built in 1910, three widely diverse and remarkable programs live and work—the Nellie McClung Girls’ Junior High Program, the Oliver Elementary Program and the Oliver School Centre for Children (day care, out-of-school care, and Head Start).

So, there you have it!! We all start school next Wed. Sept. 2!!

More change ahead...

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:36:03 GMT

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.

CHILL OUT!!

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:14:57 GMT

This is an exercise for me. I'm not used to having so much solitude and dead time on my hands. It's so good to be forced to do nothing. Yesterday, it rained all day and I watched 3 movies and finished a book I'd been reading. I also invited some people over for a "potlucky" sort of dinner and a nice visit. It's like I've been transported back in time to before I got married and I'm now living the single life that I never experienced. (I got married at 20-right out of the dorms) I've slept in past 10 am almost every day!!

So, although I miss Myron and the girls like CRAZY it's a good exercise of quiet living to be away from them for this time. I'm looking forward to the end of July when we will all be here together.

I'm looking forward to Myron becoming active in his role as a minister. I'm not surprised by this new turn in our life. I've felt strongly that Myron has the gifts of ministry and we together seem to have been on this path for awhile now. I'm aching to serve God and love people that are our new friends in Edmonton. The details of which parish and where we are going to live have not be confirmed yet, but I'm praying that we will know in the next few weeks. I'm pretty sure we are moving again. Unfortunately, our current rent situation is not affordable after they raise the rent in Oct. and don't let us rent-to-own like they said they would last year. This has made me quite anxious and is another reason why it's so good for me to have this solitude here in Rosebud. God is so omniscient to foresee this. I will rest in his providence and love....

Juxtaposing

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:40:31 GMT

My days now are very interesting. They go from manic housework for 2 days/week to almost nothing to do except for the show. I'm really feeling blessed-this solitude in Rosebud is something my soul needs. I'm really relishing each walk; each conversation; each moment of quiet. Our life has changed so much in the last year and it continues to change almost in spite of our weariness. But God has been faithful in so many ways. Our questions and prayers are slowly being answered. It's strange that Myron would now be ordained as a full-fledged priest and I'm playing a prostitute all summer!

I'm blown away at how many parallels there are in La Mancha to the gospel. There is the "defense" of Cervantes basically giving his whole life into the hands of the Inquisition. Judgement is imminent. Everyone is guilty. Then there are the characters in the story of his defense. Sancho: the squire-his faithful friend and servant. Kind of like John the Baptist or Peter. Aldonza: the bar-maid/wench/prostitute/trollop who has a hard outer shell, but really wants love and acceptance for who she really is. (this is my character) Don Quixote calls her Dulcinea for some odd reason and she struggles with this for the entire show until the very end when she finally accepts the name after his death. Ring a bell for any Mary Magdalenes out there? I'm personally moved every show by this. It's true for everyone who accepts God's call on their life. Regardless of behaviour, class, education, God wants to name us as His children. He sees past our sin and sees the purity, beauty and the person we were meant to be.

This rambles and I fear it's not very coherant at the late hour I'm writing, but I want to encourage whoever may stumble across this to keep up the fight. Dream the Impossible Dream. Live the Impossible Life. Because life after all, is not a dress rehearsal. We only get one chance to run where the brave dare not go....

Cool Poems

Sat, 23 May 2009 04:37:25 GMT

Relationship Booster

Here is a relationship booster
that is guaranteed to work:

Every time your spouse or lover says something stupid
make your eyes light up as if you
just heard something
brilliant.

RUMI

The Sacraments

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the Sacraments--
he got so excited

and ran into a hollow in his tree and came
back holding some acorns, an owl feather,
and a ribbon he had found.

And I just smiled and said, "Yes, dear,
you understand:

everything imparts
His grace."

RABIA of BASRA

Home!

Sun, 10 May 2009 05:01:34 GMT

This was a long week! I started rehearsals in Rosebud 9-6 Tuesday-Saturday. We blocked the whole show, had time to run thru everything Sat afternoon (I forgot a few things we had done a few days ago!) and drove home afterwards! I'm so happy to be home in time for church tomorrow and Mother's Day! I'm trying not to be worried about logistics-but I need to trust God and trust Myron that the kids will be taken care of while I'm away. That's the hardest part for me. Most people think-how glamorous to be getting paid for being in a professional theatre show! Well folks, it's actually really hard work! I was so challenged this week. Not so much from the show itself, but from the separation from Myron and the kids, the long hours, the lonely (quiet) nights. (I can remember quiet nights that used to happen regularly before I got married and especially before I had kids) I knew it was going to be hard when I agreed to it, so these feelings are not a surprise, but it doesn't make it any easier. My motto for the next 4 months: Buckle your seatbelts, keep your arms and legs inside the moving car, and enjoy the ride!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:14:31 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
When I see something beautiful, I weep.