Sorry

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written anything. What a ride it's been here. I'm loving the communal life here at Flatlanders. My housemates are awesome and there is never a dull moment in this area of the city. We've been super crazy busy. It's a rare and welcome day when there is nothing on the schedule.
I have started my own painting company, aptly named Dvorak Painting, so spread the word!! Other than that we have taken some time to enjoy our city. We are close to most things here, really close to the Forks, to which we've visited on several occasions. We also took some time to visit the zoo with Kenny (he lives here), who hadn't been to the zoo in 25 years. It was a great time.
My eyes have truly been opened to things they had never seen, but I'll leave that for another post. (sorry for the short uninteresting post, but there is a worship night going on in the next room and I think somebody might soon notice I snuck out)

To Winnipeg We Go

It was an early morning on Monday. We were mostly ready, but we still needed to pack our beds and things which we had used the night before. The truck and camper were both very full, my truck hitch almost dragging on the ground. It was time, what we had spent the last few months building towards, we were on our way to Winnipeg.
Tunes going, cruise set, we only had seven hours to go when I looked out my side mirror and saw a sight that I'm sure I never wanted to see. A trail of wood metal and insulation flying in all directions behind us. I braked hard, over to the shoulder, and hopped out to see what was going on. At first glance I could see that there was only one tire on the drivers side, meaning one had imploded somewhere along the line. As well as having no tire, it seemed that as the tire flew off it took out a hunk of the floor and the entire fresh water fill line. The second tire on that side was also disabled by the metal tire well lining balling up on top of it. This was bad. I knew there that we were in for a long day.
We headed back towards Davidson (some 20 km's) to find a UHAUL. Unfortunately we found that if we wanted a UHAUL we needed to either travel to Regina, Saskatoon or Moose Jaw. We chose Moose Jaw as it was the closest, a mere 80 km's away. I will spare the details of the rest of our trip, only to say that it took us an extra 5 hours to get to Winnipeg. Our camper, which now sits at an RV dealer in Davidson, is now waiting for an insurance adjuster to more than likely write it off. In the mean time our planned 2 week camping trip is not happening, leaving us in limbo for the next 2 weeks.
Through all this I've learned 2 really important things. That even though a situation is not what you would call ideal, make the most of it, turn it into an adventure and always check your trailer tires before taking a trip! (pictures to follow)

Hoard of the Flies

I find sitting in bed reading to be quite relaxing, there aren't too many activities that match it. Sometimes the peace is broken by the phone, the kids or various other things, but generally in our house you can put together a good stretch of reading without interruption. Last night was no exception. Late night, good book, happy Brendan. Well maybe not. There was something off last night and while at first it seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary, it proved to be a distraction none the less. Losing focus on my book, I decide that maybe a cup of coffee would be a good idea.

There are not many things that shock and surprise me anymore, but as I rounded the corner into the kitchen I saw a sight that just about floored me. I can say that there is nothing that can prepare you for the sight of a swarm of houseflies invading your home. When I say swarm I don't mean 20 or 30, I mean more in the 100 range. Swooping, buzzing, landing on every surface. I panicked, it was a fight or flight moment, and it was fight for this guy. I grabbed the first weapon I could find, an empty cereal box, and started swinging. My first few swings were ones of desperation, I swung without prejudice, thus sending the fluorescent light cover crashing to the ground in pieces. The noise of battle brought me a comrade, as Kelly came out to take up arms to fight the good fight. Her calming influence shifted the balance of power from fly to the human as she grabbed the mighty fly swatter and started in on the invaders. The battle was hard fought and there were many casualties, but in the end the humans prevailed.

As we lay on the living-room floor, gasping for breath, I saw it, the Trojan Horse which was used in the invasion. There on the floor of the living-room lay a stack of boxes which I had earlier brought in from the shed. I stealthily made my move towards the boxes to examine the situation. There my suspicions would be confirmed, I had been duped into brining the fly army into my own house, man they are crafty little things. Upon this realization, I grabbed their vessel of deceit and hurled it with all my might out the back door.

The battle had taken its toll, I was in no shape for any kind of clean-up. I fell back to my home base, my good book and peace reigned once again.

No Better Way

For the most part life is good, food on the table, roof over our heads and needs met as well as many wants. I don't have a lot of room to complain, although as some may know, I can sometimes be a bit of a complainer.

Today, I am going to do the opposite.

In our household, the first week of July represents a little break from the world as we know it, an escape from the reality of work and responsibility. For the past five years we have packed up the family and spent a week at Otter Falls Resort in Whiteshell Provincial Park with Kelly's sisters and their families. It is a tradition we all hold dear, one that has brought many great memories and moments of bliss and laughter.

This year was no exception. From sitting in the hot tub, fishing, and bike riding to the amazing meals we share, I can't think of anywhere else I'd want to spend a week - or anyone else I'd want to spend it with. I would be lying if I was to say it was all roses; being in tight quarters with 16 other people sometimes becomes a little much. That being said, I know for sure that it would never be enough to spoil the week.

With all the wonderful things available because of the location of our holiday, I can't help but think that still, the best part is just being with those whom are most important to me.

Living away from family has been a huge challenge for me. Family birthdays, celebrations, watching nieces and nephews growing up, I have missed how much of life we share.

I'm grateful for the chance to have a yearly holiday, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be together next year.

Tennis Anyone

Most of us perceive ourselves in a way which only kind of resembles who we are. I like bicycles. I like to collect them, read magazines about them and I really like to think about riding them. I also like tennis, at least in my mind. I enjoy the memories of playing tennis, I enjoy thinking about playing tennis, but if someone were to ask me to go play tennis, I would more than likely find that I had something pressing to do. In my mind there have always been things that I've wanted to be and things that I've wanted to accomplish. Some of these were outlandish and were unattainable. But what of the things which are realistic, where have they gone? Why is it so much easier to dream of things than it is to actually do them? I think that I'm now at a point in life where I've done enough dreaming and wishing and it's now time to start doing. It has been much to easy to sit on the couch and live through those who are actually doing the things I wish I was. I will admit that it is a scary prospect for me, there is comfort in living in the shell I have created for myself. Life is short, and it's time to live it to the fullest.

What the...

Just took a walk with my wife. It was nice just to walk and to talk, holding hands. Our walks here are usually pretty leisurely, wave at the passing cars, at the people in their yards, say hi to people passing by. It's a good life, a nice quiet town. Tomorrow I'll go to work. Can't say I have the most strenuous job. My work is ten houses from home, I get paid fairly well and I have a cool title. The kids are happy, they enjoy the freedom of wandering the streets without any real fear of harm. Everybody knows everyone else, we all watch out for one another. What more could you ask for?

Well, I guess that depends on who you are. As some know, most of what is described above is going to change, or at least the location will. As of July 27, we will no longer be residents of Hepburn (although we will still be land owners). On July 27 the Dvorak family will climb into their truck and set off for Winnipeg. For the next year of our lives we will be experiencing life differently. Our family will be residents of Flatlanders Inn. Flatlanders is an intentional community in the North End of Winnipeg, bringing together people from all kinds of different socio-economic groups. People from all backgrounds and those who just want to love.

Why? Why trade a carefree life on the open prairie for life in the inner city. The answer is both easy and complex at the same time. My simple response would be to ask why not? What makes one lifestyle superior to another? Are we all meant to live the same homogenous white bread lifestyle? I once heard a preacher describe the North American lifestyle as "get all you can, can all you get and sit on the can". Is that how life was meant to live? Where in all that is community, in just watching out for one another, no matter what your background is or what your resources are. ( i realize that I am as guilty of the N.A. lifestyle as anyone)

Jesus looked beyond all appearances and into the heart. I want to be more like Jesus.

Scared... yes, crazy... a little bit.