This year at Big Valley Jamboree we saw some amazing artists and musicians! On Friday night we saw Bailey Zimmerman and Tyler Hubbard, on Saturday night we saw Ashley McBryde , James Barker Band and Blake Shelton. On Sunday night we saw Clint Black and Nate Smith. Unfortunately, we were in some rain that night so we didn’t see Jason Aldean. We enjoyed the Saturday night the best, Blake Shelton was the best artist and the best performance.

On Friday night we went to summer bingo and had a blast. Unfortunately, we had some more bad weather, so instead of having a roast we went to a game night with Rose Club and we played Despicable Me themed Trouble game and a match game. We had a great time playing games with friends from Rose Club. Centra Cam had their summer BBQ and wind up party with home made games and a Photo Booth with face masks and glasses. We got a book, a pen and a certificate for how many years we have been in service. I have been in Centra Cam for 11 years. I had some delicious blueberry cheesecake!

My friend Tyler and Becca had a baby girl named Magdalena Monica so my mom and I got an outfit and a baby rattle. On Tuesday night, I went to the new Freakier Friday movie with my sister-in-law Ashley and mom and we were disappointed because we thought the first movie was better because there was too many characters changing bodies that we were confused. So on Friday night we watched the original Freaky Friday which was way better than the second one.

My mom is crazy about her flowers and made me take a picture of her with her beautiful flowers. Guess how many flowers she has in her yard?! On the holiday Monday, my uncle Wayne and auntie Gail came from Lloydminster to visit us. Thanks for the word searches, the bath bombs, sweaters and lip balm, and the birthday card, and the winners gift card, from auntie Gail and uncle Wayne! We made those wind chimes and went to visit grandpa and Sandy!

On Friday evening We had a rose club meeting planning October activities and then we were dancing like under the moonlight. After, we had donuts and I had strawberry cheesecake and ice tea, We were able to look at the moon rising! On Saturday afternoon we went to the big block party downtown Camrose where I got a rose tattoo on my arm and got a mermaid tail face painted on my forehead. There were games, face painting and tattoos, some people selling stuff, and I bought a keychain. On Friday evening we decorated paper trees for the centre pieces for the Christmas party in November!

Miss Shannon was the youth pastor when we went to the community church. She was my aide in grade eight when I was going to Charlie Killam school. She was great friend, pastor and a wonderful aide. I was able to do a great interview with her about her experience being a pastor. I have learned a lot from Shannon and have become friends. I remember singing with my friend Amy and my friend Alesha at the church picnic! Shannon is a great friend, great youth pastor who has a great experience and great spirit in her faith.

Q: Where did you go for your schooling?
A: The Name of the College I went to was “Living Faith Bible College”. It has since changed its name to “Clearwater Bible College”.

Q: What did you take in university?
A: I graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Christians Ministries.

Q: Where do you currently work?
A. I am the Lead Pastor at Camrose Community Church here in Camrose.

Q. What do you do for your job?
A. My main focus is to provided spiritual leadership and guidance to the congregation here a Camrose Community Church. I do this by sharing God’s word through sermons shared Sunday Mornings, Teaching and Discipleship in the word of God through Bible studies and one on one discipling.

I try to provide counselling, guidance and support to individuals facing personal challenges by offering comfort, encouragement, and spiritual wisdom. Along with this, there is visiting the sick and those who are unable to leave their homes. I spend times encouraging them, praying with them and for them.

Other area that are a part of what I do as a pastor is baptisms, weddings, and funerals. I help oversee staff and volunteers who are serving in various ministries with the church as well as encourage and participate in organizing outreach initiatives to share the gospel and serve the wider community of Camrose and beyond.

Q: What are your hours?
A: My position often requires me to work beyond a normal 8 hour day schedule. There are meetings and gatherings after regular office hours. There are evenings spent on the phone at home connecting with people who need to pray or counseling. I do try to make sure I take one day off a week to just spend time resting and focusing on Jesus/God. But my weeks are often very full.

Q. What other jobs did you have?
A: My first job was babysitting when I was a teen. After high school I worked in the shipping receiving of an engineering firm as their mail girl. After that I was a graphic artist. Following Bible college I was the associate/youth pastor here at the church as well as working as a janitor, then an Educational Assistant at the Junior High School here in town (were I was your aid when you were in grade 8; before you headed to the high school).

Q: What was your childhood like?
A: There were 5 children in my family. My older sister and brother were quite a bit older than me and my two younger brothers. So, most of the time it was me and my younger brother hanging out with friends. My childhood was full of lots of adventures with neighborhood friends. We’d play games in the street in front of our houses like, Wide World, Hopscotch, Hide and Seek. We’d go swimming at the local outdoor pool in the summers. But, one of my favorite things to do was “gopher hunting”! A couple of friends and I would head out to the field that was behind the crescent we lived on taking with us our family dog, “Pierre”. He’d sniff out a gopher hole and try to dig it up. Soon a little gopher would pop up some where close and we’d try a catch it. Not to kill it or hurt just catch. I think we thought we’d keep it for a pet. We were never fast enough.
Winter’s were full of building tunnels in the snow, tobogganing, skating, and spending time at a friend’s house or at our house playing board games or just creating our own fun. And of course school filled that time as well. I was not one who enjoyed school, but I made it through. 😊

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I call St. Albert my home town. Though I did live in a few other places. My family moved to St. Albert when I was four years old and I lived there until I went to college.
Q: Tell us about your family!
A: I am one of five children. Though there is an age gap between me and my older siblings, we had the same parents. My older sister passed away when I was six years old and my father passed away when I was nine. My mother raised me and my two-younger brothers by herself and never did remarry. My older brother had moved out on his own at that time.
I have never been married and no children but I do have a dog. I also have five wonderful nieces and a great niece and a great nephew now, all of whom I love and adore.