MY 3 SONS!
Sunday, May 27, 2007 Broken Hearts - Buster Brown Gamble: Feb 1999 - May 2007  Today, Sunday, May 27, 2007, our family suffered from a shattered heart as we awoke to find our beloved dog, Buster (age 8), stiff, and without life. Yesterday, he was full of life and now he is no longer with us. At 5:00am, Steve & I awoke to Buster howling a few times, and instantly thinking he was dreaming, Steve reached down over the bed and petted him, assuring him ‘It’s ok, Buster. It’s only a dream’. Almost immediately, Buster went quiet, seemingly calmed down from Steve’s touch. We went back to sleep, waking up for the day at 8:00am. As I got the boys breakfast ready, and the boys played on our bed, Steve suddenly yelled at me ‘Buster’s stiff, he’s not moving’. Buster howls were likely his last breaths of life. We immediately called the 24-hour veterinary clinic line to find out what we needed to do. We wrapped Buster in a blanket, placed him in the van and drove him to the clinic. The nurse came out with a gurney, Steve placed Buster on it and we said our good byes. Even the boys knew that something was different about Buster because they kept repeating ‘Bubber, nigh nigh’. While I waited with the boys, Steve filled out the paperwork to process the order of an autopsy and cremation. We have decided on an autopsy because we want to know what killed our active, healthy, 8-year old dog so suddenly. Steve came out and told me that Buster was in Room 7 and if I wanted to say my final farewell, I could. I did. I scratched Buster behind the ears, lay my head on him and I told him that I loved him very much. Neither Steve nor I held back a single tear. Buster’s body will be sent to BC for the autopsy, of which we will receive the results in about 6 weeks. After the cremation is done, we will put his ashes in an urn made in his likeness and place it somewhere in the house where the boys can grow up knowing he was their first dog. Buster joined our family in April 1999, when Steve & I adopted him at 6-weeks old, from the Winnipeg Humane Society. We had had Max for 2 years at that point and felt Max needed a ‘buddy’ around the house. In the 8 years Buster was with us, he gave us so many great memories to hang on to. I know Steve will always remember the time at Family Camp, just outside of Calgary, when Buster ran away from him as he was going down to meet some others by the river. Steve looked for Buster for over an hour, then came back to camp to tell me what had happened. There, at our camp-site was Buster. He had found his way back without a problem. One of my favourite memories of Buster was when he was a little puppy and Steve’s Aunt Dianne came over to visit. Buster was so excited to see new people in the house that he jumped up on her lap and peed on her. It was the funniest thing, and he was so cute, even Dianne had to laugh. There are far too many memories of Buster to share in this blog, but every single one of those memories will live in us and with us through video and pictures, for the rest of our lives. And we will make sure Keegan, Josh & Connolly remember him as much as possible as well. We have told them that Buster is in the sky, in Doggy Heaven, so when we ask ‘where is Buster?’ they point to the sky. Max is also aware that his buddy Buster is no longer around, though he does look around for him when Buster’s collar/license jingle as it hangs in his memory on the back door. We love you Buster and we will miss you forever… Rest in Peace!             
Monday, April 09, 2007 YEAH BABY!! 2006-07 Playoffs, here come the Calgary Flames!!!!!!  
Friday, January 12, 2007 Willingly obliging, Aisling and I pulled out an old CD from around 2000, made by YTV. (Best of Dance Hits or something like that). One of the "hits" was an oldie, but a goodie....title above, U-G-L-Y......I am sure most of you have heard it. Now, without trying to encourage our boys to sing & dance along, they seemed to love that song more than the others. If you have heard it, you know it's basically a bunch of kids making fun of each other, chanting "You're Ugly, You're Ugly". While it seems to be in a fun spirit, some of the stuff they said could be taken to heart and become, perhaps, mean spirited. Which made me think outloud to my wife and kids, "No matter what happens, no matter what they say to you, no matter how bad and 'U-G-L-Y' some of them may indeed be, NEVER be this mean to an Oiler or their fans"!! ................................o0o............................................... WOW!! Seems the previously "inept" Calgary Flames offense has quietly become the 6th highest scoring team in the league. All this whilst the defence and Kipper continue amongst the top performers as well. (Hamrlik is over a +20 as a defenceman.....one of the top 5 in the league in that category). Also, the Flames are back in top-spot with still games at hand on everyone. Can't wait till tommorow!! What do you think, my sons Keegan, Joshua, and Connolly, about them Oilers??????  
Sunday, December 17, 2006  Keegan, "I can't wait to hit the surf and sand!!"  Don't I mean 8 more sleeps?? No, not until Christmas, but until my family of five hop on a plane and head to Mexico!! Yea, 6 sleeps!! I am sorry if I offend you, but I am praying for bitterly COLD weather here in Calgary starting Thursday or Friday. (Just so I can feel it before we leave and bask in the glory of the Mexican Sun)! The boys have their first life-jackets packed and ready to go. I can't wait for the clicking of the digital camera, and rolling of the video-camera to commence! What memories will be built as the boys take their first trip away from Canada?! We shall see..... I fully expect the Flames to be in first place by the time we return. Merry Xmas to all, and to all a good (and cold) night!! Adios......
Sunday, December 10, 2006  As some of you may already know, I lost my Grandpa Gamble this week-end. In a nutshell, he pretty much went on his own terms and demands following a stroke a few weeks earlier. It only took him about 2 months to meet up with his wife again; Grandma Gamble passed away on the 8th of October, while he passed on December 8th. He was very blessed to have excellent health all the way until his unfortunate stroke. The picture above is a reminder of his most favorite hobby, roller skating. Not just any old roller skating......in their day, Grandma and Grandpa were competitive dancers on 8 wheels (16 total), and performed various breath-taking stunts and dance moves. I know that they are now partners again after many years hiatis. (Years of it down here on Earth took quite the toll on Grandma's bones). They are probably entertaining the friends they lost years ago, and the friends they have met in their new home. We'll miss them both! Grandpa's Son (My dad) with his 3 grandsons  The sad event of saying goodbye to my Grandpa spun an intersting perspective on another event that took place today. At first it seemed liked a tedious, plug-your-ears as I attempt not to swear while I get my tools out, necessary, but annoying task. What task you ask? Well, seems the boys are now too tall for the cribs. (During their afternoon nap......or shall we say 2-hour session of talking, laughing and climbing out of the crib, falling under my brother's crib.....Connolly?!.....we decided it was time to lower the platforms). That means the next and final lowering will be due to transforming the cribs into toddler beds. My initial thoughts as I struggled doing this were, "Didn't I just do this a few weeks ago"?! and "I sure hope Connolly doesn't have a concussion". After realizing it's actually been about 6 months since I last made an adjustment, and that Connolly didn't suffer even a bump, I thought about this miniscual event in a much broader context; STOP GROWING UP SO FAST!! As well as, what will my boys become, will their faith be truly their own, will their faith be stronger than mine, will the church they attend remain strong in the teaching of Christ or just want to be "trendy, accepting and modern-day cool", and finally, will they attend church at all or will that be "no longer necessary"? I also thought about how much I hope and pray they WILL be faithful and make true connections with brothers and sisters, find faithful spouses, and make first-team all-stars with the NHL's defending Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames............OK, as long as it ain't the Oilers. Anyway, pretty deep thoughts all from removing 12 screws and drilling them back in 3 inches lower! Good news though; no cuts or bruises on Daddy!
Sunday, December 03, 2006    So, 3 weeks until Christmas 2006 and I have ALL my shopping done! (Yeah right)?! Actually, Aisling and I avoided the malls and went Internet shopping for everyone with the exception of our boys' gifts. (Come on Steve, get in the Spirit of the season). Well, even I....., being the pro-business, pro-Conservative, pro non-government interference with a guy trying to make a buck....., am a little tired of the over-crowded, over-commercialized "Spirit" of Christmas. (Not to mention I detest shopping for anything other than cool electronic gadgets that I probably can't afford or don't really need). No, I guess you might even mistaken me for Mr. Scrooge himself; no xmas tree, no xmas lights, not even a Xmas wreath on the front door. But HOLD ON! I have legitimate excuses for this season......and my understanding and ever-loving wife will back me up on it! 1) The boys are too young to understand what all the comotion is about at 19 months, and they'll just be upset with this indoor tree that cuts down on their play-space, or worse becomes a hit-and-run target while on their cars. 2) I am afraid of heights and do not want to venture out to put the lights up via an icy roof, and the white "icicle" lights over the front porch just don't cut it on our street of elaborate displays. And finally, 3) We will not be home as we will be enjoying the fun & sun of Mexico with my parents and sister's family. All legitimate reasons, except MAYBE for #2 as I am conqueoring my fear of heights by going on a Canopy Tour while in Mexico. (Basically, you're tethered for safety, and fly across the tops of trees in the Mexican forest while hanging on for dear life to a wheel on a cable from juncture to juncture). Those girlish screams on the soon-to-be-released video courtesy of my mother will NOT be me?! Anyway, tonight we realized we will be buying ToyStory and ToyStory 2 dvd's for our boys who were captured by the last half of the latter on CBC. We also plan on buying them their first remote-control model cars. (You get 2 in a box for $39.99, so the fourth will come in handy when they break one of the first 3)! On a more serious note, we decided, as a family, to buy and donate two hens and a rooster to a needy family via World Vision's new Xmas Catalog. It will mean the world to them, and costs us so little. Our church presented this program to everyone during the services this morning. Rick Scruggs is a joy to listen to. We have met two other families with the "multiple experience". (One with a set of older twins, the other with younger triplets). I even met another Gamble family with a son and daughter.....unfortunately no relation, so we can't ask them to babysit, lol. However, Aisling spoke to an older lady who lives in Coventry that really wants to come to help out as soon as possible. She's here now and we'll let her go home soon......kidding! Until my next blog, whenever that is, I want our friends to know that we miss them despite the joys and undiscovered as-of-yet joys with our new church family. It was so GREAT to see many of you this past Saturday at Scott & Mel's get-together. We continue to pray and hope for renewal. Have a wonderful Holiday Season!!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006  WOW! For some reason, this past Sunday really helped to refresh and energize me (and Aisling). The sermon was the second of a series entitled, "The Language of Apology". Very personal, very. One thing I learned is that apologies have no "buts". I have used a lot of "buts" lately. I just need to learn that things will always work out as they are supposed to. Which is why, as I stated initially, I feel refreshed and energized that my family is where they are supposed to be in our faith. We are in a place where there is no resentment, a place where things can start fresh, where we will not be judged. It's also a great place for our boys. We were approached the first week almost immediately about the nursery class available to them. They have attended from the second week there on, without issues about who is teaching, is there or isn't there a class? The services are at 9 and 11am, and the 9am jives perfectly with NAP time. (The boys nap, not mine). What we have really enjoyed is the music; instrumental but not over-whelming. Watching the boys, especially Connolly, dance in the pews was so cool and emotionally touching! I just thought I'd let anyone who still reads this blog know, (sorry I post so sporadically), that we are happy and more than accepting of our circumstances! There are also other exciting things that SOME of you know about..........cross your fingers and ya-hoo for Howie! There will come a time when we connect with new friends and a new small group, and those are precisely the terms that are agreeable to us for truly connecting further and opening up to new brothers and sisters in Christ to help us continue our journey. We certainly hope to continue with the genuine friendships we have established with you already out there. We also hope to re-kindle ones that have been broken when the time is right. Sincere thanks to those out there who have emailed or called to see how we are doing! We love you........ALL of you! Above is a picture of our sons new LA-Z-BOYS........they will suffice for now, lol. Steve and Aisling
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