What a wonderful feeling it is to finally have the end of winter arrive! Whether you are a new arrival to Calgary or, like me, you’ve been around for 50+ years, very few of us LIKE winter. My wife and I do a lot of mountain hiking in the winter as well as a few other activities such as skating and tobogganing which helps us to avoid gaining weight, but we both would prefer spring. Not too hot, not too cold, it allows us to be outdoors without putting on several layers of clothing.

The cool thing about Calgary is that in March, April and May, just when you think it’s over, we get a few days of snow. Then back to warm again! Here’s a trick I learned over many years: watch the trees and bushes and Mother Nature will not allow the leaves to open until she is done with winter. She knows that besides lilacs and a few other plants, most of the leaves cannot survive if they come out and then it gets really cold again.

Another great thing about April is that everybody’s birthday is in April. Well, almost everybody’s! It must be the most popular month for having babies. We have trouble keeping up with sending greetings and every weekend is packed with Birthday celebrations. So, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the April celebrants a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Now I don’t have to worry about missing anyone. However, I would like to wish a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful, young and dear wife Ludy. I hope you enjoy your special day and have many, many more Birthdays, hopefully with your favorite husband (me!)

Coming up later this month, on Saturday April 27, is a great Concert presented by the Word of Life Christian Church of Alberta. Taking place at Prominence Way S.W., you have the choice of a 2 pm Concert or a 7 pm Concert. With tickets available in advance or at the door for only $15 this is a chance to see many of Calgary’s top performers as well as some new stars on the horizon, while supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ. Food will be available (it is Filipino!) and they will be having an auction, among other activities taking place that night. iLive for Christ is an event you won’t want to miss!

Tickets and information can be obtained from Calgary’s Beauty Queen Ms. Mariedelle Velasco by email at: [email protected] ^[1] or by phone at: (403)612-9131 or (403)399-0695. Even better, you can Message the Organizing Committee on their Facebook Page: “iLive for Christ.”

See you there!

Steve