Will Work for Beer

Robin and I were married young and for some reason we were in a hurry to get it done.  I actually know the reason but that is another blog for another time.  Needless to say that in our selfishness we did not really give family a chance to attend any wedding.  I regret that now more than anything, but regret doesn't change anything.

So when the time came for Robin to actually meet some family, she took it very seriously.  I just didn't see what all the fuss was about.

You see we were going to meet the Kramer's.  My aunt Peggy, my Dad's older sister, had arranged a little back yard BBQ for the occasion.

You have to understand that the Kramer's are a great bunch to have as Family.  Always great to be around, never feeling judged, just glad to be family.  Well that's the way I see it. We have had a few reunions over the years and it doesn't matter how long its been we just pick up the conversation as if it were yesterday.

 Robin was stessing about the situation I was trying my best to put her at ease.  To no avail.

She tried on several outfits and demanded she look her absolute best for the occasion.  She was very nervous as we drove out to my Aunt's.  Fussing over every detail.

we arrived and got out of the car, you could hear the laughfter in the back yard and see Robin physically tense in the anticipation.

We enter the yard and this is what we are confronted with.

 

 

 

My Aunt Peggy is wearing a t-shirt that says "Will Work for Beer".

you could see the tension instantly fade from Robin.

You see these were Robin's kind of people. Apparently her Dad's side of the family is very simular.

so needless to say the meeting went well.  Robin was instantly accepted as family and we have never looked back.  We look forward to the Kramer get togethes, knowing they will always be fun and welcoming.

Still Growing Up

Growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints (Mormon) was not an easy task. 

There are a lot of reasons why this was for me.  My Parents did not share the same religious views among other varying outside influences.  When you are a child you do what your parents want and you accept it as being right.  As you grow you begin to want to know those things for yourself.  This journey of self discovery has been, for me, difficult.  There are a lot of different reasons why and maybe I will tell those stories another time, but for now I will tell you where I am now.

I am grateful for my experiences in life.  I wish at times I had the fore thought to learn from other's mistakes.  Instead I chose to make a whole lot of my own.  These experiences have made me who I am today. 

I have found out that This is my religious belief.  Not my Mother's or anyone Else's but my own.  I would not want to be anywhere else in my life but here.  In a lot of ways it has saved my life.

I am still growing.

Manfred Berger, Bishop Andreas Weckesser, Me

I have had the Wonderful opportunity to serve in our Church as a member of our Bishopric.  I have served as a councilor to our Bishop.  It has been a treasured experience to learn from two of the finest men.  This opportunity to grow and strengthen my Testimony of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ has been monumental for Me.

The interesting thing about this opportunity is that I am still Me. I have all the same weaknesses as ever before, but my strengths are beginning to out weigh them.

Ether 12:27

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

For this I will forever be grateful.

Home Away From Home

Growing up out Beaver Creek in Port Alberni was a great time in my life.  I loved being out in the country.  I was born in Southern Alberta and I remember being young and living on a Farm.  The outdoors, the freedom to roam, the animals and everything.  It was great.  We moved to White Rock from there and lived in the city for a while.  I think we drove my Mother mental.  Since then I am sure my parents endeavored to live in the country so my Mom could stay sane.  I loved our house, but I had a Home away from Home.

Brad and Donna Reynolds home down the way was that home away form Home.  I think my mom started babysitting their kids after school and then when she went back to work I was 14 and I started babysitting for them.  I think that is how it started.  They were on my paper route as well so I was by there everyday.  I am sure I drove them crazy as well.

Travis Reynolds

I spent sooo much time there.  It was great.  I felt like family.  I babysat for them and came over nearly every day.  Riding horses with the Kids was the best time.  I actually really miss it.

This pond is Molcasters Pond.  It is out beyond the Old McLean's Mill.

This was our favorite spot to go on summer evenings for a quick ride.  It was about an hour from the house back through some good trails.

Molcaster's pond

Travis

Amanda with Holly(6 months)

I thought it was great when we moved back to the Island when Holly was a baby and things came full circle.  Amanda did some babysitting for us and even gave Holly her first horseback ride.  Those kids are all grown up now and having kids of their own.  We keep in touch on occasion, but I miss those days.  I am grateful to the Reynolds family for including me in their lives.  These are treasured memories.

I have to put out a shout to Mark their youngest.  Sorry Mark I didn't have a pick of you in my collection.

Many Faces Of Robin

Robin and I out on a date waaay back when.  We were so young!!!

I Love these pictures of Robin.

Someone could say we were just babies when we got married. 

Our anniversary came and went in April. 

18 years! 

I think most people thought we wouldn't get through the year.  Robin is what I always wanted.  Not just her but the idea of her.  I remember kids growing up saying they wanted to be this or that.  I remember growing up and wanting to be married and a Dad.  Robin has given me the greatest gift.  I truly do owe everything that I m today to her.  She has always been the constant in our marriage.  I have definitely challenged her patients over the years and put all the vows to the ultimate test.  She has stood by me and at times has drug me in the right direction.   Robin is most of all irreverent, inappropriate, funny, sarcastic, strong willed, and most of all everything I need her to be when I just can't.  I love you honey. 

Thanks for being you!

Uncle Nolan Will Always Be the Cool One

My Little Brother is getting Married this summer.  Something we were never really sure would happen.  Don't get me wrong I couldn't be happier for him.  He has always been a free spirit.  Nolan is beholden to no one but himself.  I have always admired this in him and it has also been a most frustrating thing at times.  He is incredibly outgoing and friendly.

Nolan and the Beard

OOHHH your Nolan's Brother!!!  I went through MY senior year in High School being recognized in this way.  This may be the curse of the Middle Child.  I started the 10th grade being known as Clint's younger brother and all the girls I liked just wanted to talk to me so I could introduce them to Clint.  (Apparently he was HOT)  I had one good year in grade 11 of total obscurity.  My Senior year was supposed to be mine, but to no avail.  Nolan was still in Junior High and already I was beginning to become the Kramer that was Nolan's brother.  Worse yet was there were girls I liked again that knew of Nolan more than me. WOW!

Even his Nieces and Nephew Love him more!

Cool Dude!

One of many Hair Changes.

Waterton Park in Alberta

On the phone!  Remember those days.

Don't get me wrong, I am not bitter.  Any more!  I love my Brother.  He is the highlight of my kids life.  Everyone loves him because he is genuinely friendly.  He treated everyone with care and attention regardless of which click you were with in school.  Nolan was and is your friend.

Congratulations on the engagement Nolan and Maggie.  ( I just hope she doesn't become known as Nolan's wife)

BMX bikes and jumping people

If you were a teenage boy in the late 80's early 90's you probably had pictures like this on the wall of your bedroom.  I had these and others ( but we won't go into the details of those).  Motorcycles and fast cars were every adolescent boys fantasy.  But until you could drive or got any good job you had to settle for that mode of transportation called a bike.  At least you could make it a good bike.  Back them the mountain bike was just barley in the market.  Just the same the coveted bike of choice for us was the BMX.  The Mongoose BMX was the proche of bikes, and everyone wanted it.

We were head over heals in love with this bike.  It was expensive too.  I had a paper route and hard working parents and it was a little out of our reach.  I remember a neighbor kid did get one and it was the envy of every kid for miles around.  The best thing about the BMX was the ability to do tricks.  You had to be fearless.  Remember safety equipment was non existent in my era.  Nothing like a good smack in the head by the pavement to remind you that you were still alive.  The best stunts were the home made jumps.  A good sturdy piece of plywood and some logs from the firewood pile and you had a good jump.  The higher the better.  And then there was the things you could jump.  PEOPLE!

This is not an actual picture of us.  I found it on the net.  It is a good rendition of exactly what we were up to.  And it is kind of comforting to know that we were not the only idiots around.

I remember one particular incident involving the above stupidity.

My parents were watching the neighbor boy while his parents were away for the weekend and we introduced him to our favorite past time.  He was too scared to lie with his face up so he layed down on his belly.  My older brother, Clint, was up and came roaring down the hill and around the corner.  We were all laying on the ground tense with anticipation.  He`s done it a hundred times what`s to worry about! Right!  well just as he is about to hit the jump his chain skips off and he loses desperately needed speed.  Hits the jump and comes off right in the back of the kids head.  Smashes his face into the gravel and infuses a gash between his eyes that needed stitches.  Needless to say my parents were not impressed at having to send this kid home after the parents got home with stitches between his eyes.  I don`t believe they were too impressed either.  I feel like I need to build a jump!

Ninjas And The Snake Pit

My Mother was terrified of snakes and all things creepy crawly. At least I think she was until she had three boys. You know those shows where they make you face your fears in order to overcome them. We took it to the extreme. Nolan was the worst offender. I don't believe he was ever intentionally mean about it, he just had a natural fascination with these things. If it was slimy or slithery, Nolan would inevitably spot it before the rest of us and had no fear, but to pick it up. Maybe even stick it in his pocket for laundry day. Mom loved laundry day.

For awhile we were also fascinated by the 80's movies about ninjas. What boy wasn't back then. We wanted to learn everything Ninja. We all had secret dreams of getting lost in Japan and being raised by a Ninja Master. My Dad's shop was commandeered and we set to making wooden swords, nun chucks, and the all important throwing stars. Nolan was the only one that got the all coveted Ninja suit. His friend down the street, Mike was able to buy one. My mom was able to then take it and copy it to sew one for Nolan. I don't think he ever took it off that summer. He and Mike were constantly skulking through the bushes in the dark looking for their next victim. You may be asking yourself why I would put these two stories together. Well I wasn't the first. Nolan and Mike seemed to have no end to their creativity. It is interesting to note that when ever there was work to be done in the yard, Nolan seemed to instantly have the need to go to the bathroom. Never knew anyone that could spend hours in the bathroom like him. I say this because it was shocking to me that Nolan and Mike would take the initiative to dig a large pit in the bush on a hot summer afternoon. But they did. They set out then to collect as many guarder snakes as they could to fill that pit. I have to give them credit for their perseverance. They set out with one of those large green rubber maid garbage cans and patiently filled it with as many snakes as they could find. I am sure they found every guarder snake they could find with in a mile radius of the house. The pit truly was a sight to behold. I am not sure what happened to all the snakes in the end, but knowing Nolan they were probably set on their way.

I am more overly impressed that when he truly set his mind to something Nolan could accomplish it. I am sure had my parents told him to do it it would have just resulted in another long stay in the bathroom.