Just some photos from the trip. Needless to say, it was a nice trip!

Today was a fun day. We got the call yesterday saying 16 skids of books were coming in tomorrow morning (today) and that got me thinking that I needed to take a truck-load of materials up to Canada.
So, the semi came in, we unloaded it (by hand, I might add). See, we have 2 forklifts, but only 1 pallet jack. We needed the pallet jack to get the skids to the back of the truck, as well as get the skids in place in the warehouse (we have a small warehouse, and need to place the skids by hand.) Since the truck came with a lift gate, we were able to put 2 skids on the gate, then run them into the warehouse. So, I got some exercise that morning.
Loaded up the truck (1100 Lamb books, and 1248 English ATP) and headed north.
The trip was fine, no problems, drove through Crowsnest, and arrived at around 9:30 MST.

Just wanted to make record of a new forklift that was donated to us today. It’s electric (which means we can keep it indoors, and we don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to get it running, as well as trying to keep it running!) Sure is a blessing. This is what we were looking for way back when, but couldn’t find / afford one like it.

After church today, we piled in the mini-van and headed to the lake. The eagles are back in town!
After walking around a bit, we went to the resort on the lake for a ‘Guey’ (sp?) - basically a huge goblet of ice cream and stuff to go with it. Sorry, no photos of that here…

This week has been another busy one. I’ve looked at several places to rent, but nothing really fits what I’m needing. I’m continuing to look / seek / pray where I should go.

My main project this week has been The Lamb PowerPoint. This has been a long overdue project, and is not a small matter. I am working on the booklet that will go with the PPT DVD,  so the operator will know when to advance to the next slide. Rachel roughed it in, but it was handed to me to finish so she can work on other projects.
This project also includes a ‘slide show’ DVD of The Lamb, as well as the PowerPoint files,  and handouts in PDF format. Both in the 10 lesson and 5 lesson formats! (The DVD also includes a ‘play all’ which is still a full length version yet again. One other things, we are designing this so that it can be easily formatted into other languages. This means adding extra space all over the place so the other languages will fit (German I think is the longest.) So I’ll probably rough in the German to see how things fit before going too far w/ it.

So, as you can see, it’s bigger than what it started out as! I don’t have an ETA on it yet. I generally know the ETA when the product arrives at the doorstep. Being a small organization means that projects take a side track from time to time to do other things.

And now I must go home for the annual Christmas office party.

Yes, time gets away, especially when there is a lot to do!
Our time in Radium was profitable, and it was good that we all were able to get together. We nailed down several loose ends - several projects that were just waiting to get finished.
The trip home on Sunday was a normal 4 hour drive with slushy roads. Not a problem…
And Monday / Tuesday got me back to the office chair driving my computers amap (as much as possible). Lots of little ends to do - from shooting photos for a friend’s website to looking up UPC barcode information, from looking for a house to rent or buy to updating the GS website for the latest and greatest information. And from shoveling snow to making coffee.
Oh, and don’t forget the laundry.
All in all, it’s been a busy few days, with no end of toil insight (well, you know what I mean.) 

Left Butte (after saying good bye to Roger and Renee) at around 9:00. It was -12°F when I left. Might need a new battery for the little car! We’ll see how it holds up throughout the winter.
I drove a new route to BC, and it was very nice. We had a little snow on the ground, enough to cover everything, but not too much to where it was a real problem. Drove around Flathead Lake in MT, which, in my opinion, was one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve seen. Crossed the border just fine, and made it to Radium to meet with the GoodSeed Design team for a couple days.
452 miles, 8:45 hours.

Anohter driving day. It was an interesting trip - as we started out (at 6:00) while it was still dark, lightning, and a slight mist. A little after we got on the road, it rained cats and dogs. Gully washer, so it was. It was so hard that I could only see about 20 feet in front of me at times. I had difficulty doing the speed limit! Good thing there wasn’t too much traffic at that time in the morning in that part of the world. Also - it was around 55°F.
The drive after that was pretty un-eventful (the next 15 hours, that is.) We did have a very strong head wind, because there was a cold front coming in behind. So much so, that I think I got the worst gas mileage my little car has ever seen (packed full, running 75 mph, strong head wind.) But all in all I think it did just fine.
In getting through the mountains in Montana, we started picking up snow and packed snow on the roads. I did take it easy, and made it just fine. Sleep came easy tonight.

I left Browns at around 9:00 if I remember right. The drive today was grand—no real trouble or anything of significance. Other than the fact that I stopped to see Lincoln’s Farm. The silly thing is that I drove around it on the way down and didn’t even see it! So I thought I better get up and stop, since I was going to be driving right by anyway.
I pulled in Emmetsburg, IA at around 8:00, and pretty tired from the trip. 8 hours of driving, with 2 extra hours of fooling around in different places.

Didn’t go church this morning - as Grandma doesn’t go anymore. I did listen to Charles Stanley at the electric church (TV) and got an hour’s worth of Charlie too. My folks came over and we went to Bob Evans for lunch, where I had breakfast again.
On the way home, we stopped at the gravesite of my Grandpa - Mom’s dad. Then we drove by where my Mom was born, an yet another place where she lived till she was 5 (after that she moved to where my Grandma is living still.)
We hung around the farm for a bit, then my folks headed home (to Doug’s.) I headed over to have stuffed cabbage (Bob made it) and see everybody off, for tomorrow I leave.

I had breakfast before leaving yet again. Went to Bob’s, and when I pulled in the drive, Mom was calling, letting me know that we all were supposed to eat breakfast on the square. So I turned around and headed that way. Everybody finally showed up - after a good while. This basically took the most of the morning, after which some of us headed to Doug’s. Doug, Bill, Danny and I moved Doug’s fridge to the new hose from the cabin - which entailed taking the doors off and all to fit it out of the cabin and in the new shack.
After that, I headed to Terry and Karleen’s for lunch. Russ and kids, as well as my folks were over for dinner (which was Subway.) We hung out and played video games and just visited.
I was going to go to Dwight’s for a Dwight Burger, when Teresa called asking for help in moving their piano. So I went there for supper.
I didn’t shoot any photos here, though I probably should have. There were a total of us 4 to move the piano, but Josh and I moved it (from one room to another) pretty easily (it was just a small unit.) So, we had supper, and I hung around till about 8:30 just shooting the breeze. We played with the girls - Paige and Sally, but not Ian, as he was only 2 months (though I did have to hold him for a bit…)

Again, up and had some biscuits again! Headed to Bob’s to see what was happening, to find Rich and Bob making breakfast there. Oh well, so much for my planning.
Just about everyone was there - except Bill and his clan. We hung around, chewed the fat and just did what we could to help get ready. I took a trip to Walmart with Doug, as he needed some things for his new house to get some of the things liveable (to hook up a toilet, shower curtain, and TP!)
Bill and Shirley finally came (along with Danny and Mindy.) It was perfect timing, because we were just ready to eat. Buffet style, and I waited till everyone was seated to get my picture.
After, we gathered a group shot outside - which was difficult as it was full sunshine and a huge group of people. So we tried 3 different places / positions.
The rest of the day was again, sitting around, eating pie and the like. I got the photos ready and distributed them around, and eventually headed back to Grandma’s.

Got up, grabbed a shower. Grandma baked some biscuits, so I felt obliged to eat a few!
I went over to Dwight’s for dinner - Josh, Teresa and the kids were over. I went over early, and we waited for Josh / Teresa to arrive (with 3 kids in car seats, such an endeavor does take some time.) Finally Renita called, and they were just 1 mile away. Dwight asked me to ask Russ, Matty and Anna over for dinner, which I did. They hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, and they made it just 10 minutes late (11:10).
So we ate.
After, I took off to pick up Mom / Dad at the airport. I drove down through Grayville, and made it to the airport with very little traffic. Evansville airport has a 15 minute parking just before the Arrivals section, so you can drop your car and walk in np. I did, and my folks were looking to rent a car - but it was only $75 a day, so they opted to opt out.
We drove to West Salem through Mt. Carmel and Friendsville - a route I’ve never taken before (the GPS w/ maps helped out!)
I dropped them off at Doug’s - and hung around a little as we decided what to do (as far as where to have Thanksgiving dinner and all that.) Doug’s house had no tables, or chairs, or fridge, or plates or a lot of other things! I think all in all it was decided to have it over at Bob’s.
So I left, to head back to Browns - and another supper at Dwight’s. This time with Josh, Chris and Elliot. This time my folks came over with the help of Bob’s truck.

Yesterday got up late and hung around in my room for the morning. Most of the Essex clan went to Moody’s church in downtown IL, but being as tired as I was, I opted out and rested (good choice!) They came back and we had lunch, hung around a bit, then I took off.
I drove about 4.5 hours and was tired enough to stop and sleep.

Today drove the rest of the way down to Southern Illinois, and it was a great day for that! Hung out w/ Grandma and Dwight, got a new Milwaukee catalogue and headed to Karleen’s for some internet action, and here I am.

Just a quick update - as I’m currently in Chicago (but only for a day.) Below are some images of the trip so far.
First I drove to Butte, MT, where I spent the night and picked up 2 riders (Roger and Renee). Friday I dropped them off in Northern Iowa, and spent the night. Then on Saturday (today) I drove the rest of the way to Chicago, were Andy and Marie are staying (w/ extended family) for a couple days.

Thats all for now - as I’m out of juice.