Canoe Trip

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it a risk, unless you consider having three generations of Groff males trapped together in a 12 foot aluminum tube for four-and-a-half hours on a moderately wide and flowing river a risk, but today was certainly an adventure new to me, and I think that is definitely in keeping with the theme of this blog.



Bethel Baptist Church offered its men the opportunity to do some paddling today on Rainy River. In all there were 5 canoes and a kayak that pushed off from a boat launch in Fort Frances at 9:30 this morning and traveled for approximately 15 miles (about 24 kilometers) down river. It took roughly 4.5 hours. The weather was beautiful--sunny with a bit of wind to keep us cool and to keep the bugs away. Unfortunately the wind was blowing against us most of the time, and when it picked up it created some pretty good waves for us to cut through. But the trip was great. We even saw some bald eagles, about 12 or so, as well as a pelican take flight from a large rock in the middle of the river when we passed, and 5 pelicans flying together overhead.



Dad, Knox, and I had one canoe which was fun. As soon as we pushed off, Knox started screaming about the tippiness of the canoe and how he wanted to go back. I figured his hysterical fit was tipping us more than anything so I took us to the dock and as soon as we were stopped he jumped out and ran. We coaxed him back and prayed with him about his fear (He had just learned at VBS that God has the power to help us be brave) and he was really good for the rest of the trip. Isn't God good! He did have a bit of a fit when he thought we were lost (which we weren't), but calmed down and rested in the bottom of the boat.



I have never canoed that long at one time before and was unsure how I would feel afterward. I am doing pretty good right now, aside from a bit of a sunburn on my quads where I forgot to put sunscreen, and I am fairly exhausted (still headed out to the States for a while tonight thought). I suspect that DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) will set in tomorrow, and be even worse on Monday, but I will deal with that when it arises.




In all it was a great day, with a nice BBQ after, and something that I have never done, but am happy to say that now I have. Get out there and try something new over the next couple days and leave a comment to share your success.

Vacation Update

Today it is raining, and I am feeling a little bit like the kids in Dr. Seuss' "Cat in the Hat" waiting for the rain to stop. So I thought I would pass the time with a bit of an update. I won't bore you with all the details that at least half of my readers already know, but I will give a short update for anyone who might care.



Today is Thursday and it is raining. The kids are making crafts and seem quite content. I am blogging and am also content. I'm not sure what the plan for the day is.



Yesterday was Wednesday. We got up, had breakfast, took a tour of my dad's church, had lunch, went out and looked around Fort Frances and had a nap. There was a boat parade last evening for the Fort Frances Annual Bass Fishing Competition that we went and watched. Bethel Baptist Church (the church my dad pastor's) was handing out free water and Coke to anyone who wanted it. It was gone by the time the parade started and we got a prime spot near the end of the route. The kids loved it. Basically the parade consisted of A Lot of speed boats each being pulled by a pick-up truck and manned by men, women, and a number of children. A lot of the boaters wore matching outfits and had decked out boats. Most of the boats were tossing candy and/or souvenirs and the kids got almost as much candy as they did on Halloween.

After the parade (which was surprising long) we journeyed across the country line into the States where we had supper. It was a fabulous meal and quite cheap. And they took Canadian money on par and gave American for change.



The day before yesterday was Tuesday. We arrived in Fort Frances around 5:30 had supper chatted with my parents and went to Wal-mart to pick up some things we needed to get. We were exhausted by the end of the day; it is amazing how tiring it can be to sit on your butt for ten and a half hours of driving.


The day before the day before yesterday was Monday. We left St. Albert Alberta at 4:25am and arrived in Yorkton Saskatchewan at 2:40pm. We checked into our hotel room, had Pizza Hut for supper, did some swimming and were all asleep by 7:00pm.


In all we drove in 4 provinces and 1 United State. The weather was wonderfully cooperative and so were the kids. We are happy to be done traveling for a little while (Monday we are taking a 4 hour trip to Minneapolis for a few days of camping and sight seeing).

WooHoo Vacation

I am currently resting after leg two of our Vacation Driving. I am sitting at my sister-in-law's in St. Albert after the two hour drive this afternoon from Edson. We left Grande Prairie Friday after Vacation Bible School (which the kids loved and learned a lot from). We arrived in Edson Friday late afternoon after driving 3.5 hours. We stayed at the in-law's for Saturday, then after church left for St. Albert. Tomorrow we leave at 5am for the long drive to Fort Frances Ontario where we will spent 3 weeks with my parents and sister (being a teacher sure does have its perks). The drive is about 20 hours from Edmonton and will take us 2 days. We are looking forward to the break as this is my our first real vacation since we have been married (nearly 11 years). So, while I will try to find some topics and time to blog, the consistency will not be great.

All-Star Game Follow Up

Well, if you missed the home run derby, you missed what is being hailed as the best single performance ever at a home run derby. In his first round, Josh Hamilton hit 28 home runs, the best first round ever. He was the favorite going into the competition (for the fans, the announcers, and even the other competitors). He was under the 3-round total of 41 homers, hitting only 35, but was still very impressive considering he only took 4 outs in the second round then quit. He went up against the only Canadian in the competition for the final round; Justin Morneau. They were both American Leaguers so either way I was happy. Luckily for Morneau, only the first two rounds are accumulative, so they went into round three tied at zero. After hitting only 5 home runs Morneau left the plate feeling a bit depressed, and the announcers were confident Hamilton had it in the bag. But they were wrong. Hamilton hit only 3 homers, but is still being called a hero. There had been concern that Hamilton would be too tired after his first round, and at the end of the second round (he hit a couple to keep himself and his 71 year old pitcher warm) he was shanking the ball quite nastily. It seems the concern was justified. Congratulations to Morneau, a Canadian from BC on his underdog win. Josh's comments after the competition were full of praise for Hamilton, saying that Hamilton deserved the win, and that he (Morneau) simply got lucky that Hamilton got tired.

I also think it is neat that they have a "gold ball" for charity. After the ninth out (a swing that is not a home run) they use a gold ball and every home run was paying $17,000 for the Variety Boys and Girls Club. Altogether they gave away $170,000. Way to go State Farm and MLB.

Well I think Hamilton put to rest the steroids question, and I guess time will tell if the competition has ruined his swing. Either way it was a competition that will not soon be forgotten.

All-Star Game

Any baseball fans out there? I've been cheering for the Blue Jays since I was born, and still love watching the games. Especially now that I get my summers off--I've missed few games since the start of the season and even fewer since the end of June.

Tonight is the Home Run Derby and tomorrow is the All-Star Game. I'm typing this as I watch the pre-game show. Being a Blue Jay fan makes me an American League fan and for the next two days I get to cheer for many players who I normally dis.

As I sit here listening to the broadcasters talk it's amazing to listen to all the politics, issues, and concerns that come up in professional baseball (and all professional sports I'm sure). I especially like the concern that participating in the home run derby will wreck a hitter's swing. the announcers seem to disagree, but there are players and coaches who dislike the competition. Even Rios' poor hitting is being blamed in part to his participation in the competition last year. The crackdown on steroid use is also being discussed and how the contestants this year are not as "bulky" as in past years. Will this affect the total number of home runs that are hit? I guess we'll find out.

So if you need to get a hold of me the next night or two you better flip on Sports Net first and make sure it's a commercial break.

Cell Phones and Driving

I came across an article in a local newspaper about banning hand-held cell phones while driving. I will post more about this article and my opinions about it later, BUT, for the moment, why don't you go ahead and leave your comments here for everyone to read. Try to be nice!

There is a poll in the right column for you to leave your opinion in an easy to gauge format. Please feel free to explain your answer/s in a comment. And check back often to see how your opinion compares to others'. You can mark multiple answers on the poll so mark all that apply to you.

Reflecting on Kids

I love my kids and I’m so glad they’re mine,
I cherish their innocence, and their faces shine.



Kadence, my eldest, was a beauty I’ll say,
And now she’s with Jesus where I’ll meet her one day.
She taught me a lot about patience and peace,
And helped my faith and love to increase.



Knox, my boy, my only son,
Is a blast and a bomb; a torpedo of fun.
He’s scared of TV, but plays monsters with me,
And his laugh is so cute when he’s cram packed with glee.



Declan is five and is always alive
With laugher or tantrums her emotions thrive.
She’s brave and she’s bright and quick with a hug,
And brushes off troubles with a smile and shrug.




Oakley is cute and cuddly, and sweet,
With a laugh you know no one can beat.
Such a sweet baby, a bundle of love,
She fits in my heart like a hand in a glove.



My kids can make my heart and soul soar,
But after Tuesday I’ll be having no more.




After four kids my wife and I finally called it quits. After Oakley was born we hummed and hawed for a while on whether or not we should have one more so we didn't have a middle child. We decided we were done. (Feel free to leave a comment on what you think about having three kids or if you think you should have another to avoid the middle child syndrome. (For us it's too late, but you might help someone else out.))

I went in Tuesday for the operation at the hospital in Grande Prairie. After waiting for forty minutes past the appointment time the operation took all of 15 minutes. For all those of you feeling upset by my last post you can rest a bit easier knowing that for the two days after I was in a bit of pain. Things are going better now, just a bit of discomfort from time to time and stitches I have to remember are there. I was told it will take a week or so before things are back to normal.

So while I love my kids, and wouldn't do anything different, these are all there will be--barring any accidents in the next 2-3 months.

Morgentaler's Order of Canada

It was my intention to ignore this area of politics as I generally attempt to ignore most political issues, and perhaps one day I will try to explain my reasons for this more in depth than I intend to now, but I am getting annoyed and frustrated by people telling me that as a Christian I should be outraged by this event, and I am feeling the need to express my opinion. After having this issue brought up briefly in a church service, and seeing the posting by my father-in-law, I did some checking into this issue and was appalled, not only by the number of people attacking Morgentaler and the honour bestowed upon him, but also by the explicit and implicit statements that anyone who is a Christian or against abortion is, or should be doing the same. I will try to explain my position as coherently as possible in order to minimize the backlash that I may incur for my opinion. I will also do my best to stick to the Morgentaler case specifically.

I disagree wholeheartedly with the abuse that Christians choose to heap upon an individual's sin simply because their actions make the news or relate to politics. As Christians, I believe that we ought to show love, and compassion, and understanding toward individuals--to show the love and mercy that God has shown us. Judging Morgentaler's actions as an abortion activist does not seem to be the business of the church or of me as a Christian. And using Christian values to determine that a man does not deserve the Order of Canada seems equally absurd. The criteria used to decide who receives this honour is not based upon the Word of God (as much as many of us may wish it was), but upon an individual's contributions to Canadians as a whole. While I may disagree with Morgentaler's actions and beliefs, it is extremely pretentious to claim that within the values of Canadian society he has not "desired a better country". Canadian law allowed abortion and Morgentaler sacrificed a lot in order to stand up for his beliefs and make the laws of our country fair to all women. He did desire a better Canada so far as he envisioned the way that Canada should be--and in the end "Canada" agreed with his vision.

I do not agree with Morgentaler's, or the Supreme Court's vision for Canada as far as abortion is concerned. I believe that abortion is a sin; that it is murder. But I also do not agree with religious groups trying to push their morals on others. If you want to lobby the government's laws on abortion then that is your right; however, in light of comments I made on my father's blog on Canada Day, one great thing about this nation is that we are all entitled to our belief's . . . that must be extended to the Morgentaler's in society. And if we all really stopped to consider the issue here, I think we would agree that we have a problem with abortion, not specifically with Morgentaler--he is simply receiving the brunt of our anger at the way our country has chosen to move away from Godly values.

I would like to reference this passage from John chapter 8 as support for my position. The passage has been take from: http://www.nasb.scripturetext.com/john/8.htm

John 8
New American Standard Bible ©
The Adulterous Woman

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

In this passage we have the Pharisees, a religious group, attempting to trick Jesus. They have decided to target one specific woman for her sin and have Jesus rule on whether or not they should kill her as the Old Testament requires. However, Jesus refuses to play their games and says that any of them who have not sinned may go ahead and stone the woman. None of them are able to fulfill this prerequisite, and they all leave. From this example it seems clear to me that targeting and attacking one person for their sin is not Biblical. The question is not whether the woman has sinned but whether or not her sin should be judged by us. Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more, recognizing, yet forgiving her sin. I believe that as Christians we should do the same. Has Morgentaler sinned? Yes he has. Should we be the ones to condemn him? No we shouldn't. Had the Pharisees come to Jesus asking what they ought to do with individuals who commit adultery, rather than bringing this one specific woman, it would have been interesting to hear his answer; but they did not.

If you, as a Christian, want to lobby our government with your beliefs then go ahead (I may one day try to explain why I don't care to waste my time with doing this, but I certainly will not discourage you from doing so); however, I do not feel we should be attacking individuals whom God loves, and please stop telling me that if I am a Christian I should feel bad if I don't.

Big Business

I have been complaining about this issue for years to my wife, and anyone else who will listen, which usually isn't very many people, but now that I have the "blog outlet" I can vent all I like and if you choose to leave half way through I will never know the difference.

Big Business . . . I wish I could say with certainty that business is not like it used to be when you made your purchases from the locally owned store where you knew Jim or Beth who owned the place and knew that he or she would do their best to look after your needs at a fair price. Jim or Beth were likely the only supplier of what you needed, and logically could gouge you on the price, but Jim or Beth also realized your situation and knew you personally. Jim or Beth, as the owner, also would take pride in their business and run it with honour. At least this is how I picture the "good old days" and some of you may be able to tell some stories to correct me (and feel free to do so). At the very least this is my view on how businesses should operate; whether they ever have or will is beside the point.

All I know is that very few if any business operate this way now. In today's society we get to deal with Big Businesses who employ folks with little or no interest in anything except making some money. Unlike business owners, regular employees rarely care about the customer, or service, or the honour of doing a job well. And while I admit that it is difficult to feel personally committed to a grocery store, second-hand shop, or tree removal company (all jobs I have had and have tried to do my best work for) it is ultimately the customer who suffers from employees with no passion for the company they work for.

For example, today I was talking to the wonderful (I still have not found an acceptable manner of showing sarcasm on the internet--so by "wonderful" I do indeed mean not-so-helpful-contradicting-idiots. Sarcasm is all but lost when chatting online.) phone support workers for Dell Computers. I was trying to purchase a new computer but had some questions. I talked to three different individuals, three different times I called, and got three different answers. The first time I was gaining general information I could use to make a decision. The fellow was helpful enough and one valuable piece of info was that shipping takes about 15 business days but can be rushed if necessary--and for me it was necessary because in 10 business days I leave for vacation in Ontario. The second time I called was after I decided to make the purchase and I was wondering how to put a rush-delivery on my order because the website did not offer that option. At this time I was told that no such option existed and that I should wait until I got home to order the system OR better yet order a more expensive system that had a shorter delivery time. I hung up the phone astounded by such idiocy and annoyed that if I waited I would have to pay an extra $350 for the same computer as the coupon I had would be expired. After deciding upon a viable alternative I called back to ensure that I could ship the computer to my in-laws but still have the billing applied to my name. I talked with another representative and explained the situation and was told by her that the system I wanted to order would take only about 5 business days to reach my home and my viable option was not necessary. I explained what the others had said and she was adamant that I would have my new computer by the end of next week. This made me happy, and after getting her name and employee number, I ordered the computer. NOW WHY COULDN'T THE FIRST GUY HAVE TOLD ME THAT?!?

I know I am rambling now, but I have many other stories I could relate along the same lines (but I'll save them for another day) as I am sure you do (feel free to share some). I do want to say that while I blame individual employees for a lack of concern about providing me with good service I also recognize that often times it is a lack of training or care about them by the employer that leads to their poor service. THAT being said, I also have had experience with Big Business Owners/Managers who do care about their company and customers and are willing to help in any way they can.

All this leads me to believe that somehow there has been/needs to be a shift in thinking when it comes to businesses, their employees, and their customers. Employers need to do their best to ensure their employees represent the company's views on customer service and train them to be able to fulfill those expectations. Employees need to work for companies with which they can internalize those expectations and do their best to uphold the employer's standards. As customers we need to realize that employees are sometimes not to blame for all our complaints against a business. But as I mentioned in a previous post I have high expectations for perfection from others and businesses often take the brunt of my abuse. And now I have a brand new outlet to complain about them.

Canada Day

We started off Canada Day celebrating with fire works and we ended it the same way. This year we had the privilege of seeing two sets of fireworks in two different cities. In Grande Prairie, because it is so far north and there are traces of light still after midnight, they hold their fireworks at midnight, as June 30th just turns into July 1st. For those of you (like my wife) who don't count the turning of one day into the next until after you go to bed and sleep then it would still be June 30th for you. We had a great time as a family watching the display of colour and the surround sound booms of the firecrackers. Because of where they choose to set of the fireworks there is an echo of the sound from several different places behind you as you watch--it was actually a very interesting experience. Also, it was Oakley's first firecracker experience and she handled it quite well for a one year old. She sat on my lap and watched the brilliant colours explode and dance across the sky with little more than some scared whimpers from time to time.

Later that day, after we slept and it was "officially" Canada Day, we drove to Edson to visit my in-laws. That night we went to see the fireworks in Edson. Both nights were spectacular with perfect weather and good crowds of people out to celebrate Canada's Birthday. Overall, I would say that the display put on by Edson was the better show, particularly because of their finale, which was sorely lacking from the show in Grande Prairie. However, I must applaud the city of Grande Prairie for taking in the needs of their citizens. They had RCMP there keeping things in check (who also proved helpful in letting us know where the fireworks would be taking place and the best place for a family to sit, they gave a 10 minute and 5 minute warning before the event, and they began exactly on time (unlike Edson who was a good 15 minutes behind schedule and provided no indication that they were even going to begin sometime soon.)

The day was a fun one and I am glad that municipalities around our province and country take the time and money to provide this celebration.