Do you ever feel like time just flows, sometimes slow and lazy, sometimes standing completely still?
When Caylea was first diagnosed with melanoma almost 18 months ago, it felt like the world stopped.  The sun stood in one place and life was freeze-framed. 
Waiting.  Tests.  More waiting.  Surgeries.  Recovery. 
We stepped back from our normal routines and others stepped in to fill our empty spaces.
Camp.  Conferences.  We took a trip to Cuba.
In the midst of this, suddenly time picked up speed and we found ourselves on a river rapids.
Caylea's treatments became part of the current; our commuting to Prince Albert also part of the rushing waters.  Soon for our daughter, at least, the stream of her life will grow wider and smoother, hopefully where she can navigate the future without the weight of cancer on her shoulders!
Sometimes I'm not sure if we are in a raft, a canoe or a speedboat.
This journey seems to take me along and I don't always know if I need a paddle or if I should just hang on for the ride!
I am so thankful that Jesus is my lifeline - cheesy analogy and all - and I trust in Him.

I gazed out over the congregation as I adjusted the shoulder strap on my guitar.  Feeling nervous and mentally scattered, I strummed the strings to make sure the sound man had turned up the volume.  How would I introduce the song?  Was this the right song for this service?
This weekend, Walter and I had two missions conferences to participate in - 'tis the season for fall mission emphasis weekends!  Friday evening, we joined the Parliament Community Church family as they had invited several of the missionaries they support to give reports and set up displays representing their ministries. How blessed we are to have caring folk ask how we are doing, how is your daughter, how is the ministry?  Sitting in small groups, we prayed for others and they prayed for us in our various ministries.
Saturday morning we drove out to Weyburn to the Silver Heights Bible Church's missions conference.  Walter was the keynote speaker and their planning committee had asked me to share some music.  Just a glitch - I had left my guitar up at the chapel at the NCEM headquarters in Prince Albert.  And my music binder.
So that's why I felt more nervous and unprepared as I used my secondary guitar and borrowed my daughter's music binder.  But somehow, only one song seemed to come to mind and I couldn't sing it for all three services in the conference!  I felt so inadequate.
I made it through the morning and evening services. But I prayed for wisdom to know what to share and the heart preparation to minister for the Lord on Sunday morning.
Hosea 6:6 was a verse I had read in a devotional book a day or two ago.  I came back to it this morning before we again jumped in our car to drive back to Weyburn.  Walter had his message prepared and was running some of his main points by me.  I kept praying for his sermon and my music to be from our hearts.  The verse says: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
Walter suggested I use the same song from Saturday morning's service and have the words projected for the others in the congregation to join in.  I liked that idea!
I felt less nervous to lead a song than to "perform" a special number.  The song was "By Faith" by the Gettys and I found the words to be especially suited for a missions focus.  All that we do as believers is by faith and our ministry efforts can only be fruitful if done by faith. 
So I gazed out on congregation - with more in the pews than the night before, but I felt the Lord giving me peace and confidence as I led the song. 
It was a blessed weekend. Ministering to our support team is an offering that the Lord will accept as we know it is done in deep gratitude for their prayers and sacrificial giving.

The day was unseasonably warm as we started the engine and pulled away from the NCEM headquarters parking lot.  With only a hoodie and light windbreaker, I felt toasty.  I basked in the heat from the sun and looked forward to the drive...
Walter revved the engine and got the feel for the open road.  The new-to-us vehicle rode well and handled the bumps and unexpected turns with ease.  A grin brightened his face as the powerful four-wheel drive picked up speed and he veered for the sand trail.
THE SAND TRAIL?
"Adventures with Walter" continue as we went off-road on our newly acquired Honda Quad ATV! 
Just before noon today, a friend delivered his used quad to us and we made the transaction.  No sooner had our friend pulled away from the lot, than Walter said, "Let's go!"  I ran into our suite and put on an extra layer before climbing up on the passenger seat.  Walter straddled the machine, turned the key and pressed the ignition button.  It growled to life and we wheeled - okay, maybe we just accelerated  gradually - as Walter got the feel for it!  I gripped the handles and rested my arms on the padded armrest.  As the wind blew my hair back, I pulled up the hood of my bunnyhug and raised my face to enjoy the fresh breeze.  What a glorious day!
The trails north of the headquarters compound outside of Prince Albert lead into a maze in the forest.  We have walked along various trails and have met folks on ATV or dune buggy contraptions back there over the summer.  A brown and gold sign at the beginning of the main trail informs adventurers that it is "Wildlife Management" land.  We have seen a deer or two but that's about all.  Today we followed the familiar trails until we came to the farthest point we have made on foot...but would we  "boldly go where no Selke has gone before?"
For sure!  We followed the trail around a curve and found ourselves winding through some trees to a sudden descent.  Walter hesitated before slowly manoeuvering the rutted path down to the river.  I think it is the Shell River that winds through forest, golf course, under a bridge and towards the North Saskatchewan River towards Prince Albert. 

Tracks took us along the shoreline a ways, then abruptly stopped at the water.  With only four to six inches flowing in the river this fall, Walter steered into the lazy current and we went across to the other side, where more sandy shoreline wound. Soon we came to where beavers had attempted to dam the flow and decided to turn back the way we had come.
Up and away we flew, finding new paths and following the basic direction of the river.  Certain areas had washed out at some point this year and new side trails could be seen that we opted to take.  Up, down, around and northwest we drove.  We stopped at a scenic to take pictures.

Although the quad ran well and handled fine, we didn't take too much risk, but stayed on well worn trails and kept the sun's location in mind.  We spooked a deer ahead of us.  We heard a raven call.  Otherwise it was a quiet and beautiful ride alone among the birch and pines. 
Just when I began to wonder if we knew where we were and if we would meet up with that main sandy trail again, we did!
I felt a little guilty as we entered the parking lot.  It is a Monday afternoon and the office staff and printshop guys and Tribal Trails crew were all diligently tending to their work.  Walter and I were taking a day off!  The sense of guilt turned into thanksgiving as we looked at each other's wind-reddened and smiling faces!  God has provided an ideal opportunity and a modest machine for us to enjoy the amazing autumn day. 
THANK YOU, LORD!