An Amazing Day!

 Feb 14, 2025 was a VERY BIG day for me!  It marked the day I married the love of my life - Christy Anne Strike - in her church - St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church on Grand Blvd in NDG - and in front of a good number of her and our friends.  Chrsity's and my path was a brisk one - when people ask us how long we have known each other for we have a great story!  I say 'we met at the NDG Food Depot in late November 2024.'  She says ' we met at the NDG YMCA when she was 19 and I was 21 - and we played doubles badminton against each other!  But that is not the story.

It was God who brought us together very powerfully - on that cool November day in 2024.  I knew i liked her from the first words which came out of her mouth which were; 'I Love Brussels sprouts' - which I countered with 'so do I!'  We shared a wonderful conversation on a myriad of topics which gave me some insight into the depth of her personna.  I left The Depot that day wanting much more of her - and came back Wednesday and Thursday hoping to see her - with no luck.

The following Tuesday I was back - and Christy materialized!  My first words to her were; 'You didn't call me!'  She replied; 'You didn't give me your number!'

To say it was love at first sight is to understate the case.  We are both long time travellers on this earth.  Both with huge tales of woe.  As I write this - and I am writing it from the cafeteria on the 4th floor (psych ward) at the Montreal General hospital - at 4:30am - tears cover the page.

We had a wonderful wedding - in the presence of God - overseen by a wonderful man of God - Peter Rombeek - Minister at Kensington Presbyterian Church - and because of the snowstorm that weekend - it was only witnessed by lessthan half of the anticipated 80-100 guests - but the most important people were all there!

I want to thank Dr. Adrian Foster for his role in playing beautiful organ music for our service, Susan King Kabu, for filling in for Pastor Samuel who was in Ghana and walking Christy down the aisle, to Marleen and Maureen Lattimore - who while Marleen was Christy's maid of honour, Maureen, her twin and confined to a wheelchair stood firmly with her - smiling widely all the while!  And a big thank you to my great friend Chris March - for being there for me.  And to my/our great new friends from the food bank - Justin, Gary Rueben, Safia and Ayat - I don't only speak for myself when I say you make everyone's lives you touch much better.

And finally a thank you to St. Ansgar's Church - who came in at the 24th hour and saved the day!  We feel truly blessed!

Wishing you peace, love and joy always,















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