Of Heros and Homing Devices (catching up with our blog part 1)

Since our last blog entry, we have crossed 2 provinces and time zones and are now hunkered down for the night with our warm pj's and extra blankets in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Before leaving Ontario we stopped for breakfast at The Hoito. This fascinating 100 year old dining institution serves up Finnish style pancakes along with down-home hospitality and years of interesting Hoito history on the walls.

The kids were excited to find a little pop up community library just outside of the Hoito where they donated some of their books to make room for new ones we will go "thrifting" for.

An absolute highlight for all of us was our final stop in Thunder Bay; The Terry Fox Monument. We had been reading about this unassuming national hero on our way to where his Marathon of Hope sadly ended. This young man was a tremendous example of what can be done when we step out with courage to try to make a difference right where we are with what we have. It reminds me of Helen Keller who said "I can not do everything, but still I can do something...I will not refuse to do the something that I can." This stop was powerful for all of us, kids and adults alike. Pondering how Terry Fox lived out his answer to one of life's big questions; "How will I spend this one life I'm given?" was another wonder-filled moment.

Leaving Thunder Bay, we grabbed a six pack of the Famous Persian Man donuts and headed for Kakabeka Falls. The donuts and the view were equally sweet in their own right.

Crossing the Ontario border we were headed for "Ben's choice:" the Narcisse Snake Dens. Here is where the red-sided garter snake migrates for the winter.

On a sunny day in the early fall at the Dens, you can see hundreds of snakes outside of their dens sunning themselves.

Its a risky and uncertain time of year to go off the beaten path in hope of seeing this phenomenon because migration usually ends by early October, but if you know my littlest guy, you know that although he has a feisty streak, he also has one of the sweetest and purest hearts around, and a genuine faith in the goodness of God and things working out. I don't think it was coincidence that on this October day which was sandwiched between rainy and cold weather, it just happened to be filled with sunny skies and a high of +18C, a reminder to me that although things don't always work out in a way we would think is best, God is personal and cares about the details. Ben got his wish and the ground in the dens was alive with slithery snake life. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but for this guy, one for the memory books, and an answer to his hearts desire.

Not a lot is known about what leads these snakes back "home" from a 20 km radius to overwinter here, but I was thinking about how we are all kind of wired with a "homing device," and I think this may explain some of our personal unrest. When we don't commit unreservedly to our convictions or True North, we always feel a little bit lost or far from home. This longing to live for what we were made for keeps us either heading in the direction of, or longing for, "home."

The sun was setting as we pulled up beside Winnipeg beach and pulled out the portable bbq our friends back home lent to us. The beach was full of multi-coloured rocks and treasures waiting to be discovered. Another one of those unplanned moments of wonder, as we viewed the artistry of our Creator within the detailed colour of the millions of rocks washed up on the shore.