A Rickey Bobble-Head (Maybe)

I got a package in the mail last night from Long Beach, home to both the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League, and some good friends who are serious about baseball. I went to see the Armada play the San Diago Surf Dawgs with Joe last year.

If you remember, I met Rickey Henderson and had him sign a baseball that day.

Now Joe has been hinting about a bobble-head of that formerly great MLB player and future hall-of-famer. But he is also known to tell "stories," having convinced me last year of a Little Winnipeg in Long Beach, settled by Canadian migrants in the early part of the 20th century whose descendants now sell tiny Canadian flags and perogies to tourists. (I'm kind of embarrassed to say I'm that gullible.) Could Joe have sent me another piece of Rickey Henderson's post-MLB career in the majorly-minor leagues? Or is he pulling my leg?

(Sweet Spices and a) Red Egg

At the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene, in the Diocese of Rupert's Land, they read a letter from the bishop this morning.

The bishop announced that the parish officially has a new rector, beginning September 1st.

His name is Preston Parsons.

That's me!

I am very excited to go back home, to be heading into a position suitable to my vocation, and to be near family and good friends.

Thanks be to God!

Still a Baby Priest

There we are – Ernie, deacon at St. Martin's, me, and Rick, lay assistant. So why did Rick bring me a cupcake with a single candle? Because I was chief celebrant this morning in celebration of my first year as a priest (as Rick called it, "Father's Day"), even wearing again the first chasuble I ever wore as a celebrant. It was just a year ago I was ordained and that I began to share this experience of (relatively) ordered ministry with my first post.

It has been a year of celebrations and lamentations, sometimes with both celebrations and lamentations mixed together. St. Martin's has been a great place of support and prayer, and where I have been able to get steady as celebrant – though it hasn't been without some unsteady moments! Outside St. Martin's, it has been a hard year, as many of you know. It's just plain difficult to discover what you don't want to be doing with your life long before you're finished doing it.

As for my big announcement, I haven't received the word yet about broadcasting the news. Stay tuned!

My High School

We were way smarter when I went there.

Thanks, Paul.

Feeling A Little Less Insane

Why a little less insane? Let's see . . .

In the past two weeks Karen and I have had a great visit from my sister-in-law and her husband Dylan, and my mum-in-law Joyce. They were here to visit California, to hear Karen's premiere of her composition "And Then I Crow," and to see my ultra-smart wife get a teaching award from UCDavis. Before Joyce left for Winnipeg I got a surprise call, and had to head home to Winnipeg almost immediately (for good reasons, thankfully). I left for Winnipeg at the end of the first week of my fourth unit of CPE. I was in Winnipeg for four days, arrived home in time to present a case at work, nominally recognize Karen and my 10th wedding anniversary, while getting ready to preach this past weekend. On Saturday a good friend was here overnight, then I preached on Sunday morning. This was followed by on-call on Monday. A string of mostly good things, to be sure - but unrelenting good things!

But why a little less insane? I'm still working too hard, so that insanity doesn't relent. but I got some great news over the weekend. It was really great to hear that a Rickey Henderson bobble-head will arrive soon with another good friend. But the best news? That will have to wait until this next Sunday, after a more official announcement.

One hint. The only kind of baby this invovles is a Baby Priest.

Another Reason to Love Baseball

"'When I found out that her ring had been stolen, my heart dropped,' Woehl said. 'That's just horrible. [Kelly] keeping that box must have been a thorn in her side for years. I felt strongly that it should go back to its rightful owner. It was a wonderful feeling to give it back.'

In addition to the ceremony before Sunday's game, the A's also donated $4,000 to Habitat for Humanity under Rob Woehl's name. The money will go towards a home that is being built about two miles from the Coliseum.

Woehl decided to give the ring back for a few reasons. One was his wife, Natalie, wasn't too happy about him spending $3,500 on eBay.

'I didn't tell her [right away,]' Woehl said. 'The wife was none too pleased about me spending that kind of money. It was a long week.'

Kelly added, 'His wife made him feel really guilty about it.'

Another reason, perhaps more important, was to be an example to his two sons: Hayden and Nathan.

'My wife and I wanted to show our two boys that even though the ring was lawfully mine that morally and ethically it was not right to keep it,' Woehl said. 'If they were able to grasp the meaning of giving and doing what's right, that's all we can hope for.'"

Read the rest here.

I've grown to love the game of baseball during my time in the U.S. It is this kind of side-story that might help you understand why.