One wrong turn in Love and you end up in Manitoba

Erin and I are Visiting Shawn in Prince Albert and he asked us if we want to go to Love. Sure it's only an hour away and who doesn't want to be in love. So off we go and see alot of this.

After going through some Podunk towns we ended up here:

Well it was only 6:40pm and we were up for an adventure and Erin or Shawn had never been to Manitoba so off we went.

After some wrong turns we made it!!

Then it was back to:

So on the way home we saw a HUGE moose and a deer. Erin also saw her first Northern Lights. They were not great but there was no mistaking what they were.

For more of our adventure check out Shawn's blog here

Happy Holidays from Blue and Sully

I know it's been like forever since I have blogged so here is the letter I sent out this year.


Dear Two legged Friends,
Hello from the cold west! Outside right now it’s -41 with the wind-chill. Since our human is trying to find some way to keep warm, and we have fur, we have decided to write our human’s Christmas letter. Our human has continued to be very busy but still finds time to love us. Most days we get supper on time and when we don’t all she has to do is give us a scratch under the chin and all is forgiven.
Life with our human is good. This year was full of changes for us all. After some restructuring at the church our human ministered in we found ourselves on an adventure to the Wild West. Our human started a new ministry at St. Leonard’s on the Hill in Red Deer, Alberta. Her new position as Assistant Minister for Youth and Young Families is a long title and a big job. This is a new position for the church and they are very excited about all the ideas our human has. We know that she is busy with the Church and the youth that she works with. We hear that the kids might be coming over soon and we are preparing to meet them for the first time. For Sully it’s under the bed from start to finish, and Blue, well, you all know how she prides herself on being a socialite.
Our move west was an adventure. For our human she had a busy on her month off in the summer. After going to visit her nieces who are the joys in her life for 2 weeks she came back for the Church Army’s National Conference. This was a good time for her before the craziness of the next 2 weeks. She came back home, we were worried with all the boxes that she had forgotten us! 2 days later a loud truck came and took every thing in the house. Sully was upset that all her hiding places were gone. Even Blue was concerned about the open concept that was going on. We learned after that having nothing to hide in was the least of our concerns. We both flew in the plane and ended up in North Bay for 2 weeks. We still haven’t agreed which was worse flying or driving.

In North Bay we got to meet our newest cousin Rebecca or Becca as the humans call her. Becca had just mastered the walking thing. Blue was very excited to be with the girls. Sully did the normal under the bed thing. Kimmie is a very active little girl and being almost 4 she is a going concern and Becca is trying her hardest to keep up!

As many of you know our human’s familyhas had their challenges this year. Our human's father had some medical issues that resulted in a 3 week hospital stay. This was difficult time for our humans mother and she suffered from her own medical issues. As a result our human's mother has moved south to Orrilla to live with our humans's sister. Our human's brother has moved home to help out and ist still working at the resturant he was last year and enjoying it.
Like our Human reminds us often, we are very Blessed. We wish you all the Blessings of love, Joy and Peace that Jesus brings, now and for the year to come.
MERRY Christmas,
Blue & Sully

A Year in Review

So this is the last day of my 35th year. As I look back on the past year it has been on full of joy and pain. I am always very reflective at this time of year. This year has been one full of joy in that I have found some really good friends and have had some great adventures to places far and wide. But in the same note, of sadness in having to leave them all when I accepted a new call to ministry in Alberta.

Life this spring has been very challenging in both ministry and family life. As most of you know my position was cut at the church I worked at. I have to say it breaks my heart to know that kids that I poured myself into for 5 years are struggleing to keep it going. I know that they are working hard but my prayer is that a currate will be found soon to help and support them. There were also some other crisis situations that came up in the youth ministry that I was dealing with.

At the same time this was happening my family went into crisis mode. My father they found out has had a sersis of mini strokes over the last year. He had one in March that landed him in the hospital. This was a hard time for my family and hard for me being so far away. One good friend would tell me how impressed he was in how I was able to still be functioning with all this going on in my life. My father spent 3 weeks in the hospital and then was sent home with no support for 3 months. Apparently he slipped through the cracks. So my mother had to be caregiver and all that went with that. Some time in the early summer she started to become ill. To the point that one time when she went to the hospital they put anerioxa if her file. She has since moved out of my parents house and is now with my sister in another city. Thankfully they have found out what is wrong and are working on getting her healthy again. My father after 3 months has finally figured out that she is not coming back. It has not been easy.

Now I am not telling you all this for pity or anything but it come up in looking back. It's in looking back that I can see the times that God strongly had me in His hand, even though I thought He was a million miles away.

Thank God that year 35 is over.

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 01

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 04

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 03

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 02

Oh Where Oh Where Has our Bonnie Gone???

So I know its been a while since I last posted so here goes.

You know the song I've been everywhere? That describes the last month. I have been to see the sights of downtown Calgary.

Oylmpic Park with the old and new city hall in the back ground.

What can I say we are in cowboy country so there is horses everywhere!

Even ones made from scrape metal!

After Calgary it was off to Drumheller and the Badlands. It is like you have stepped off the earth and onto another planet. This is a cool area and if your in the area you need to take the time to see this area. It's the region where the Dinosaurs were found and it's used in the film industry.

This is Horse theif canyon. Used in many movies. I have been here twice and it never gets old!

This is part of the Hoo Doos. They are rock formations created by wind erosions. They are very cool.

Me on a supension bridge. Last time I was here I couldn't make it across. This time it was a breeze.

This is a display in the Royal Terral Museum. It was very cool in there. I could have watch them clean bones forever. I am still struggling with the whole where do the dinosaurs fit in with the creation story... But I am working it out.

So that has been part one of Oh Where Oh Where has our Bonnie Gone, stay tuned for Part two and see what happens when Liz comes to join the adventures!

The Eighth Bishop of Calgary

The Rt. Rev. Derek B. E. Hoskin
Eighth Bishop of Calgary

This was the rector of St. Leanord's when I was hired. On Friday he was ordain and installed as the Bishop of Calgary. It was a cool service where God's name was lifted up and praised. It was alot of fun. After the service the reception was like a picnic lunch and was very informal. Our Parish had a photo taken with the new Bishop.

You will notice that I am not in the picture. My friend Jenny and I had left by this time to do some sightseeing before we had to meet the bus. Those photos will be coming soon. Please keep us all in your prayers. The new Interm minister started today. I think that we will have our work cut out for us in the next few months as we pray and discern where we feel God is calling us as a parish and then seek the leader to take us there. I am impressed in the process they have set up for this to include 2 days with a person who helps churches in this process. Just pray for God will to be done!

Can it be 2 months already??

Can you believe that I have been here for 2 months already. I can't!

Sunday school is going well. After Thanksgiving I am going to split the one class into 2. The class now is from kindergarten to Grade 9 so I am going to take the kids in grades 6-9 and do a Youth class with them. Youth group will be starting soon. I am excited about that happening, the kids are too.

The Wardens (for you non anglicans; the elders, the ones in charge, the one who hired me) keep telling me what good job I am doing, and how impressed they are in what I have been able to accomplish in the short time I have been here. I just tell them I am just doing my job! I know that I am still in the "honeymoon" but it feels good to have so much support.

The peace the God gives is reigning true and strong even in the midst of family crisis.

Fall is just not the same without maples

So I was walking to Church this morning and was kicking my feet in the leaves. )one of my fav. things in the whole world to do!) They were preatty and all but it just not the same. Because there are very few maples in this part of the country there are lots of yellow and brown leaves but no bright reds and oranges. When I moved here I knew I would be giving up the ocean but the mountains are making up for it but now fall without bright leaves makes Bonnie a sad girl.

This is what I grew up with. This is why fall is my favourite season.





Greg McGuinty is a friend of mine fom way back. He is also my Uncle's brother in law if that makes any sense.

Alone but not Lonely

So I was walking to work last Friday thinking about life in Red Deer. I was thanking God that even though I only know about 10 people who I can get there name right on the first try I am not Lonely. I know in Fredericton even though I had people I knew and people I hung out with I still often would have times of feeling very alone. I was praising God for not allowing me to feel alone even though I spend much of my time by myself. It has been good.

That all changed Friday night when I got some news from home and I needed to talk to someone but there was no one I felt I could call in the city. How do you start a conversation with my parent's have separated after 36 years. There is a lot of history that has happened over even just the last 8 months that I really didn't want to have to go into. I do thank God for the telephone and that I have great friends who took the time out of being with friends to talk to me that night when I phoned and took them by surprise with this news.

Work has been going well. I am getting to know the people and the needs of the youth. I keep praying for people to come along side me in the ministry. The people have been great in calling to welcome me and seeing if there was anything they could do to help. On sat we had a going away for Rector Derek and his wife Pauline. For those of you who don't know Derek was elected Bishop of Calgary and will be ordained on Sept 29th. It was a nice evening but there were some tears. I was thinking about my own goodbye only 2 months ago. Saying goodbye is always hard.

So that has been the excitement in my life. This weekend could prove to be yet another fun time! My mom is going back to the house, she thinks to spend the weekend with my brother. So I will keep you posted.

Reasons 567 & 209 I like living in an Apt!

# 567- you can do 3 loads of laundry all at the same time!

# 209- you never run out of hot water!

Reasons 456 & 897 I like living in an apartment

456--- NO MORE CUTTING THE GRASS


897--- YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY TO THROW OUT STINKY GARBAGE

All things new

Well here I am sitting in my new office on my new laptop wondering what have I got myself into??? Starting a new ministry is exciting and great. Only having one month with the Pastor here well that is not so great. But the people here are wonderful. I have had more people just call to see if I was making out ok. They call at work they call at home, they really want me to feel welcomed.... and it's working. I really feel like they are excited for this new position. Which also puts the pressure on. But they have said over and over again that they know that building a youth ministry takes time so that's good. Now if I can only take the pressure off of myself we will be fine.

The Adventures of Bonnie in the Juddmoblie.

The adventure began at 7:20am on Canada Day, We loaded my stuff 3 Judds and one Colpitts into their van and set off for Kingston. We ate, listened to great music, had a picnic at a roadside park, took the scenic route through Montreal, and then it happened. The dreaded thump thump thump. We limped into Kingston and found our hotel and checked in. We thought at first it was the brakes.... oh to be that lucky.

We found out that Canadian Tire was open on Sundays and it had a mechanic on duty. So at 9:30am on Sunday we found our self sitting in their parking lot waiting for it to open. When it was opened at 10:00am we were 3rd in line. 2 others were leftover from sat. So we waited for them to tell us 2.5 hours later that they think it is the transmission. They advised them because it was under warranty to wait for the dealership to do it. The catch being that the dealership would not open until Tuesday at 8:00am. Also that it was not highway worthy!!! So the mad scramble begins. What to do??? We need to decide if we are staying another night or not. We still had to drop Alyson off at Queens for Shad Valley.

We decide to check out of the hotel and then get a rental car and continue on the adventure. So we clear out the room and wait for Susan and Peter to get the rental car.

here we are waiting with our stuff




So we continue on and drop Alyson off at Queen's What a dorm room. It was nice. I could handle living there for a year it was by far the nicest dorm room I have ever seen, and I have seen my fair share of dorm rooms!!!


After we leave Queens we go back to the van to get our stuff and then hit the road for Whitby and all points west. We arrive at the meeting place for my sister to pick me up and wait for them to arrive. It was nice to be at the end of the journey and the Judds get to meet the girls.

Then we went our separate ways. I wonder what happened with the poor van???? Another travelling adventure I will never forget!!!

The Journey Continues

Well I am down to 2 weeks left in my minstry at CCPC. On Thursday I had the 5 grade 11 girls over for a sleepover. It was fun, We had a blast, a time just to hang out and have some fun.



I was talking to some Youth Pastor friends the other day, some of us are at a crossraods in our ministry. Some of us feel like we have been through the fire and others are just struggling to know where God is calling them. We were talking about when we feel like we are in exile and how in Jeremiah when the chosen were in exile God gives them a promise from Jermiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He doesn't say that it's going to be easy or short but we know that God has a plan in it all. We talked about how we never like going through the exile but that is the time when we can draw close to the Lord and learn what those plans are. For some the exile is short and for others it's long. We can learn a lot from Jeremiah and hope that our exile isn't 70 years!!

A stroll along memory lane

Sat and Monday have been an interesting time strolling down memory lane. I have been going through boxes that I haven't unpacked since I moved here 5 years ago. A word to the wise no matter how tempting it might be never never just put mail in boxes thinking you will get to it some time. Sometime only comes when you have to move those boxes again.

It really has been more of a treasure hunt. I have found things I have been looking for for 7 years. Like I found one of my favourite Gospel Illusions tricks. I can't wait to use it again. I also found my divorce degree. I didn't think I ever got a copy of that but all I had to do is look for it! I have found mail from 4 adresses ago. It has not been pretty. I have been through about 13 boxes that were hiding under the bed in the spare room. I am glad that I only have one box left. I have stopped looked at the cards and mail it was getting sappy.

So my word for anyone don't let mail stack up. I have 3 recyle bins full of paper and 2 bags full of stuff that has been shredded. You don't want that to happen to you!

Another Week Done

Today I had a weird experience while at Kings Place. Something like this has happened in the past but the events of the last few months have just made things more real. As some of you know another part of the chaos in my life this spring has been my father's medical issues. On March 9 he had a mini stroke which was alochoal induced. They figure this was the final one that really did some damage. Over the last year he had slowly been going down hill. Small things like paper work changes and moods swings and even personal hygine went downhill. He was very confused for a few days and spent 3 weeks in the hospital detoxing and getting some weight on. So right now the main part of his problem is short term memory and confusion at times.

Back to Kings place. So I got off the bus and was walking down the hall and I saw many men my dad age just wandering around not knowing where they were or why they were there. Hopeless, lost and confused. I felt such compassion for them, I was in tears right there in the mall. All I could think of was if my Dad didn't have my Mom that is what he would be like.

It seems like with all these things I am trying to keep together my emotions are on my sleeve. I have a good friend who has said just again on Monday that he is amazed at how I am keeping myself together with all these MAJOR life crisis happening all at once. One of these things is hard but to have 4 all at the same time.... Man without God and the support of a few really good friends I would be sunk!

So that is part of the chaos in my life.

It's out! Praise God!!!!

So, on Sunday they read the follwing letter in the church I serve in.

May 16, 2006

To the Rector and Wardens,

It has been an enormous privilege to serve and worship with the people of Christ Church Parish Church. I have gained far more than I have given, and the impact will be a lasting one.

Recently I have been given an opportunity to embark upon a new area of ministry in Red Deer Alberta. The timing seems to have the Lord's finger-prints on it, as my time officially comes to a close in this parish. Knowing I am leaving the parish is difficult, but having a sense of direction is truly helpful.

This afternoon, I received official confirmation of an offer to begin work as of August 1, 2006 as the Assistant Minister for youth and young families in the parish of St Leonards on the Hill, Red Deer, in the Diocese of Calgary. Not all the i's are dotted or t's crossed concerning fine details,but in consultation with my regional and national director with Church Army, I am accepting this as God's open door. This will mean that I will leave the parish at the end of June and take my vacation in July.

Please know that as I prepare to conclude this chapter in my life at Christ Church Parish Church,I do so with a heart of thanksgiving. It will always be 'home' to me, and I hope and plan to return for visits with every opportunity.

Knowing of your prayerful support with this transition will be an enormous help.
Once again, my deepest thanks for the privilege of serving and worshiping with you.
Yours in Christ,

Capt. Bonnie Hunt

Man I have to say that I am glad that is out. That is part of the reason I haven't really been blogging much. I haven't been really able to tell anyone what was happening in that area of my life and that was a HUGE part of the chaos going on in my life.

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Long time no blog.... ok very long time

Hey all,

I don't even know if anyone reads this anymore but here goes. There has been so much chaos ion my life and alot of it I couldn't talk about on here so I decided to walk away. The chaos isn't as bad now so i think it's safe to come back. That is if there is anyone left here to read.

sounds about right

discover what candy you are @ quiz me

A new year

So here I am doing the thing I get frustrated with on other blogs. Not posting very often. I would be impressed if anyone is still looking at this.

I cooked my first turkey on my own. Yes I called my mom at every step but when your feeding 15 youth group kids you want to do it right. Our Christmas Party went really well. We had about 19 there and there was enough food for them all. It was a good time and even Blue enjoyed herself. Christmas came and went. Many people I talked to this year agreed that it just didn't feel like Christmas this year. The strange thing is we couldn't really pinpoint it to one reason. I don't know what it was.

There is more to come I promise and now that I have discovered how to put pictures on this thing there will be more of those to.