Yes -- really. I had this visitor today. We studied each other....through the window.
I have to admit it - the deer is a close friend....
Smiley
When you see a deer what do you say?
Oh Deer!
The story continues.... and this is all about friends.....
********
As the posters, 'Have you seen Candace? circulated, the question of 'Who was Candace?" also grew in importance.
She was in her absence becoming a little bit of a celebrity. She would have loved it. Candace was all about people which is one of the reasons she loved Camp Arnes so much - a camp full of people was heaven for her!
During the summer we as a family lived in a place called, "The Hole" right in the centre of the camp grounds! Candace and her best friend Heidi's schedule were always together.
One week they would join a cabin group, both pretending their parents were not around. For the rest of the summer, they would sign up for any classes that had openings, especially horsemanship classes. Candace loved those horses. If there were no openings they became assistants at the Tuck Shop and/or crafts area sometimes taking on odd jobs they were assigned to do! As you can imagine, they simply became 'camp brats' often showing up at an activity and making up their own fun!
We all remember the day, they were assigned, with another male friend, to stain the main barn building at the corrals! How much trouble can three teens get into in one day? Well this was one of those days! At the end of the day the building was unfinished with a verity of designs on it, and they themselves were covered with paint, clothing and skin of various designs, ready for the board walk!
It had been a day of hilarity and fun, eventually it was finished, took a lot longer than anyone thought it should - but who cared.
About a year and a half earlier, when I had been put in charge of music for Camp Arnes' roller-skating night for the young people, I had haunted the Christian music stores, bringing home all sorts of demonstration tapes. Candace helped picking out songs that kids her age liked.
Then she found it - her song! She was so excited as she described it to me. "It's by Michael W. Smith." The name didn't mean anything to me.
"It's a song that's just mine. I like the words and the music."
"What's it about?" I asked.
"Friends."
I had to smile. Then she played it. It was about the value of friends.
When the last note faded, she sat smiling smugly, "It's me, isn't it?"
I nodded. It was a lovely song, and I was thrilled with her taste.
Candace incorporated that song into a theme song for her life. A year and a half later she was still playing the song as often as when she had first discovered it. We heard it EVERY NIGHT before she went to bed!
When the familiar beat begins, it's as if Candace has walked into the room, swaying slightly to the music, the hint of a dreamy smile on her lips, and a faraway, peaceful look in her eyes — totally absorbed in her music. The words float into the room.
"Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong"
It was a good-bye song! She had chosen a good-bye song! Had she known? Had she in some way chosen this song for us because she knew she was going?
Then the chorus:
"And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "never"
'Cause the welcome will not end"
She not only loved that song - she lived it.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, we had lived in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, for almost five years, and Candace had developed a very special relationship with Tracy Vickers, who lived across the street, two houses down. The two had been inseparable. They were the same size and had the same interests. Even their differences— Tracy was more reserved, Candace more outgoing— were complementary. They could entertain themselves together for hours.
When we moved to Manitoba, it was heartbreaking to watch Candace mourn her best friend. As a going-away present, Tracy had bought Candace a gold-tone locket. Candace treasured that locket and wore it all the time. Even after it began to tarnish, she still wore it.
She was wearing that necklace the day she disappeared.
Our grief deepened....
The search intensified as her story grew....
I have to admit it - the deer is a close friend....
Smiley
When you see a deer what do you say?
Oh Deer!
The story continues.... and this is all about friends.....
********
As the posters, 'Have you seen Candace? circulated, the question of 'Who was Candace?" also grew in importance.
She was in her absence becoming a little bit of a celebrity. She would have loved it. Candace was all about people which is one of the reasons she loved Camp Arnes so much - a camp full of people was heaven for her!
During the summer we as a family lived in a place called, "The Hole" right in the centre of the camp grounds! Candace and her best friend Heidi's schedule were always together.
One week they would join a cabin group, both pretending their parents were not around. For the rest of the summer, they would sign up for any classes that had openings, especially horsemanship classes. Candace loved those horses. If there were no openings they became assistants at the Tuck Shop and/or crafts area sometimes taking on odd jobs they were assigned to do! As you can imagine, they simply became 'camp brats' often showing up at an activity and making up their own fun!
We all remember the day, they were assigned, with another male friend, to stain the main barn building at the corrals! How much trouble can three teens get into in one day? Well this was one of those days! At the end of the day the building was unfinished with a verity of designs on it, and they themselves were covered with paint, clothing and skin of various designs, ready for the board walk!
It had been a day of hilarity and fun, eventually it was finished, took a lot longer than anyone thought it should - but who cared.
About a year and a half earlier, when I had been put in charge of music for Camp Arnes' roller-skating night for the young people, I had haunted the Christian music stores, bringing home all sorts of demonstration tapes. Candace helped picking out songs that kids her age liked.
Then she found it - her song! She was so excited as she described it to me. "It's by Michael W. Smith." The name didn't mean anything to me.
"It's a song that's just mine. I like the words and the music."
"What's it about?" I asked.
"Friends."
I had to smile. Then she played it. It was about the value of friends.
When the last note faded, she sat smiling smugly, "It's me, isn't it?"
I nodded. It was a lovely song, and I was thrilled with her taste.
Candace incorporated that song into a theme song for her life. A year and a half later she was still playing the song as often as when she had first discovered it. We heard it EVERY NIGHT before she went to bed!
When the familiar beat begins, it's as if Candace has walked into the room, swaying slightly to the music, the hint of a dreamy smile on her lips, and a faraway, peaceful look in her eyes — totally absorbed in her music. The words float into the room.
"Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong"
It was a good-bye song! She had chosen a good-bye song! Had she known? Had she in some way chosen this song for us because she knew she was going?
Then the chorus:
"And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "never"
'Cause the welcome will not end"
She not only loved that song - she lived it.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, we had lived in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, for almost five years, and Candace had developed a very special relationship with Tracy Vickers, who lived across the street, two houses down. The two had been inseparable. They were the same size and had the same interests. Even their differences— Tracy was more reserved, Candace more outgoing— were complementary. They could entertain themselves together for hours.
When we moved to Manitoba, it was heartbreaking to watch Candace mourn her best friend. As a going-away present, Tracy had bought Candace a gold-tone locket. Candace treasured that locket and wore it all the time. Even after it began to tarnish, she still wore it.
She was wearing that necklace the day she disappeared.
Our grief deepened....
The search intensified as her story grew....
"When we honestly ask ourselves
which person in our lives means the most to us,
we often find that it is those who,
instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather
to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand."
-Henri Nouwen
which person in our lives means the most to us,
we often find that it is those who,
instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather
to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand."
-Henri Nouwen
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