Barb's Trip

Barb has returned from a sensational holiday away with family in Canada. She even sun-baked. Her first destination was her brother's family in Alberta. It was good to catch up with them after nearly three years. Michelle was there too and one day took Barb to Pigeon Lake, such a tranquil place and very beautiful.

Barb's daughter Bec arrived the following day with both Piper and Jasper. Jasper warmed to Barb pretty fast even though the last time he had seen her was when he was eight months old last December. And Piper wanted to sit on Barb's lap at the meal table, which was very nice. The little ones also enjoyed Michelle and Melissa and all the animals there on Chris and Kym's farm. Kym was very impressed with Jasper. She thought he was just sooooo cooperative.

While she was there, Barb made loads of buns for all to eat. They also had "bannick" which is dough wrapped round a stick and cooked over an open fire. Then while still hot and after being screwed of the branch bannicks are plastered with butter and honey or jam. Even Barb's nephew Bryan made the three hour trip to see her, and Barb made buns for him to take on his return journey.

Barb saw a yellow oriel bird and plenty of hummingbirds around the feeder. She spent time with Bec, even visiting an op shop and a fabric shop with her. Piper had a number of horse rides with Chris "Binky", Barb's brother. Binky was so sweet with her. Barb even joined them on a horse ride.

Barb was there for Canada Day (29 June). That is a time of parades and festival events and she enjoyed being a part of it.

At the end of that week, Barb was off flying to Winnipeg, Manitoba, two provinces further along. In fact, Manitoba is the central state of Canada from both the Atlantic and the Pacific directions. Bec had got back there earlier with Piper and Jasper. She and Gord made Barb feel very welcome. There were roses her room and Piper and Jasper included Barb in their play.

That weekend saw them take Barb camping with Gord's family at Moose Lake in tents. That was a particularly fun time for Piper and Jasper and all their young cousins.

By now Barb knew that she was having an extraordinary time, enriched by God's goodness through Bec and Gord and all the Funk family. Gord gave Barb time at the wheel of the car and guided her on a "safe" course through their town Steinbach. Barb really appreciated that. It was such a tonic being there. There were shops and a cafe near by. Barb bought ingredient to make buns and jam, which were enjoyed for one afternoon tea. And at Gord's sister's place she had the best strawberry milkshake she had ever had.

They did a shopping excursion to Winnipeg and Barb had so much fun doing the consumer thing. It was there where she finally got some postcards. She was so late with her postcards that she beat them back to Australia.

Bec and Gord took Barb to the annual Folk Festival. This event went into the late twilight of the Canadian Summer (towards 11pm). Later they took her to the Mennonite Heritage Village. They had the most delicious homely and tasty meals there surrounded by families enjoying the time too. The old buildings and barns gave a lot of insight into times past, but also insight too about the wholesome pace of life and how it was occupied. Barb longed for more of that sense of not being so hurried. Maybe there is a way of achieving that. The village flour is ground by the onsite windmill, and the bread tasted delicious. That night they had a lovely bike ride with Piper and Jasper in the chariot on the back of Gord's bike. They toured the town on a beautiful mild balmy evening.

Gord's parents introduced Barb to their neighbours who raise and sell miniature horses. The couple who breed the horses love Piper and think she is four going on twenty-four. Piper loves them too and loves the little horses. They suit her size and she got to have a ride on one. Gord said that going to these horses may have just increased their financial outlay for Piper!

To conclude Barb's time in Manitoba, they stayed in Winnipeg for two nights at a nice hotel. While there they visited the Winnipeg zoo and generally had a relaxing time. Barb took Jasper on early morning walks to a nearby cafe to give Bec a bit of a sleep-in. Jasper loved these walks with Barb and would even be first to the door after hearing the suggestion. He was a hit at the early morning cafe.

Barb then flew back to Edmonton and spent quality time with Chris, Kym, Michelle and Melissa in the hours before her flight through to Vancouver and on to Australia. They took her to a Chinese restaurant and then to Wal-Mart and a few other places to help Barb find a few last minute things to take back. That little "window" with the Alberta family was a blessing and she felt so cared for.

So after three and a half weeks gallivanting in Canada, Barb arrived back in Melbourne, via Sydney. Melbourne weather organised a chilly reception, to which she responded by layering herself with her recently purchased Canadian woollies, beanie, scarf and mittens. She was ready for a blizzard if there was one. It had been a trip well spent – a God event.