I almost had to drag my wife and sons to 80/35. They all were glad afterwards. I’d have to say the high points were they balloons, streamers and confetti. Sounds cheesy, but it’s an overwhelmingly spectacular sight to behold. At one point I really liked what Wayne said about Love not being an abstract thing were you feel good about sending money to a starving kid across the world, but helping someone down the street who needs it, aka your neighbor, that is real tangible love and living. I think that is what out forefathers meant when they proclaimed the Pursuit of Happiness, it makes you happy helping, and they see you happy so they help with their gift and the pursuit spreads. Speaking of spreading happiness the FLips sure did on the 4th, and without gun powder.

It also ended up being the absolute easiest festival to park at and the fastest exit with no traffic at all, a surreal experience if you have been to any other festivals or concerts for that matter. Kudos to the DMMC for organising it and I pray that the pappa john art sculpture gets moved to the river front. The gateway is a stunning venue to see music and events. I think bands would want to play it just for the view.

Every summer we would visit Grandma Kuepfer who lived with my Uncle Irwin and Aunt Freda. The best part of this is that they were Anabaptist Mennonites which meant no radio or tv. Dad and I could usually polish off a couple of books each while all the others were getting chores done. Then the food, which was a foodie’s idea of a paradise, was as fresh as could be.

One year my Dad or Uncle Fred to all my cousins decided to give all of Freda’s children a couple of big bubble makers. I think they went through the 2 bottles of joy we included in a couple of days. When we came back the next year Freda was excited to tell us they’re experiments to find the best Canadian dish soap for bubbles. You wouldn’t think it, but there are a lot of differences in the same product names b/w Canadian products and products from the States.

The big bubble fun is one of the stronger memories of my Dad having Joy watching the Joy of children making huge bubbles with Joy dish soap (sorry I couldn’t resist).

I do miss going up to Canada every year and setting up home base at Irwin and Freda’s, then traveling to Trollbridge, Caimbridge, London, Wingham, Listowell, and pretty much everywhere in central Ontario. We would save one day to go to Lake Huron or Toronto.

btw its my birthday and a thankyou goes out to my cousin Myron a true Canadian Patriot, go Candiens.

Psalm 68:4-5

		Psalm 68:4-5
				“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds – his name is the Lord – and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”

Amen.

I have never known kites to be a symbol of fathers day. The only thing I can think of that ties into kites is the month of March.

I was also thinking of including a giant bubble maker in the kits in honor of my dad, Fred to pass time when there is no wind or to take a break from making kites.

     I played my heart out on the drums for the service. I was extra limber from playing a jazz gig the night before. The gig was a 55 yr HS reunion which was ironic because my 20 yr was happening at the same time. I learned by attending my Wife’s 20 yr, that it wasn’t worth the money spent to attend my own. At church I was a little emotional and there was a Fathers day video about our Heavenly Father. In the video there were multiple pictures of a dad with his child flying Kite that is specific kind of kite. I had seen it in a story about an organization that provides kites and kits to make kites to refugees in camps who are low on hope and bored out of their minds. I have loved this idea ever since I have heard this story, because it piques the interest of young, old, boys, girls, soldiers, and pretty much everyone and anyone. This year our VBS is providing soccer balls with a message. The problem I see with the soccer balls is the places that they’re sending them, girls and women are not allowed to play. Seeing these Kite pictures with the message of Hope and Joy I felt like God was poking me with large plank. A message appeared to me plain as day, “Hope and joy raised by His Spirit”, the hebrew meaning of spirit meaning breath or wind.

     Nothing can make you forget your troubles like flying a Kite. They attract curious people. It’s like a poor man’s sailing where people can walk on water up to you and ask ‘what ya doin’?’

Blessings to everyone on this Father’s day.