The World's Most Beautiful Coffee Table

Tragedy struck our tiny communities when Jamie Harden passed away suddenly on February 4 while on a trip to Arizona.

The community rallied, as our community always does. Jamie's friends started an online auction to benefit the family she left behind.

I was so fortunate to be the successful bidder of a coffee table, to be built at the Byemoor School by its CTF woodworking class under the guidance of Mrs Buchwitz.

I love the Byemoor School. It's tiny, yet mighty in the ways that count: persevering, loyal, caring, fun, athletic, community minded, passionate about rural living, artistic, creative, disciplined, courageous, resourceful. Always willing to pitch in. Oh, and with ENORMOUS heart.

Somewhere in there they manage to fit in reading, writing and arithmetic too ...

So when I saw that this bunch was going to create a coffee table in honour of the Hardens, I knew that I wanted it. It would be a belated gift for the Good Rancher's birthday.

Fast forward to a couple of days after the GR's birthday. I got a message from Mrs Buchwitz that there was to be a personal delivery on Thursday afternoon. Due to my having to be in Brooks, I wasn't able to be present; but the GR said he would be there to receive the delivery.

The transport pictures are what Mrs Buchwitz thoughtfully took; the videos are what Kurt recorded; and the table pictures at the end were taken by me.

Carefully bringing in

the coffee table

Happy birthday, and 

Mrs Buchwitz presents

the booklet about the table

The coffee table has been 

placed in its new home;

the GR offers Timbits and thanks!

Introducing the talented artisans

Here is the story of the table:

I pondered all the things that came together to create this masterpiece from such humble beginnings:

• The wood is taken from pallets

• The nails used are old

• The builders were rookies

BUT ...

• The grain of the wood was carefully chosen and meticulously placed - look at the first picture to see what I mean

• The nails were selected specifically to bring character and history to the piece

• The builders were eager to learn, diligent, cooperative and professional

• The stain choice was thoughtfully considered with the goal of bringing out the hidden depth and beauty of the wood

And they had a Secret Weapon: 

MRS BUCHWITZ!

This picture, taken by Principal Jewitt, gives us a glimpse of what Bobbi Buchwitz means to this school:

I will confess that I cried when I read the booklet about the table - it means almost as much to me as the table itself. Every picture contains love. Mrs Buchwitz was right again!

Some afternoons when the guys have headed back to work after lunch, I linger in the man cave. 

The sunlight shimmers golden all over this little table, and it fills my heart with gratitude that out of something so tragic has come something so beautiful.

And I am reminded of what Jamie's friend Paige put on her Facebook page in the hours following the news:

Good advice for all of us.

"Love never fails."

This exquisite table is evidence of it.

Shrove Tuesday

The Church at Endiang wanted to do something for our community this winter. Specifically, we wanted an event that would support a good cause and that would bring the community together. 

What better than a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper at our Endiang Hall? And as for the good cause, we turned to our extraordinary principal of the Byemoor School, Gwen Keith. 

After consulting with her fellow staff members, Principal Keith reported back that the school's gym and phys ed equipment was in a bit of a sorry state; maybe we could raise funds for that? 

The Church at Endiang put up some posts and posters; the announcement was added into the school newsletter; our Councillor, Les Stulberg, wrote about it in his weekly newspaper column; and people spread the word. Joyce — the proprietor of the Byemoor restaurant and bar, our favourite place for chicken strips and pizza — even set aside her plans for a Shrove supper to help out the kids' cause! 

I was worried, of course: what if we didn't have enough food? Enough help? What if this razor-thin economy meant people couldn't support the school? 

WHAT IF NO ONE SHOWED UP? 

Of course, we had lots of volunteers... And the sausages, eggs, fruit salad, strawberries and cream were bountiful... And ELEVEN kids (and three moms, plus a couple more and Principal Keith) from our tiny school signed up to help... And the grill was primed and ready to go just before 5 o'clock, just as Brittiany and her gang came in, the first guests of a wonderful evening... 

They say that one picture is worth a thousand words, so I will shut up and let the pictures do the talking:

(I am so sorry to report that while I was trying to transfer kid pictures, I managed to delete them entirely... But Cash, Kord, Jos, Ryder, Bronc, Colter, Dustee, Abbi, Felix, Ava, Briar, Charlee and the other students who served — you were EXCELLENT, and you were GREAT ambassadors for your school!) 

Now for the part we were all waiting for. The greeters tallied how many people came for supper, and the money counters counted the money. 

Drum roll, please... 

124 people! And I am not sure if that included kitchen staff or not!! 

Then Stephen, whose own dad used to be a pastor at the old Endiang church way back, called over Principal Keith to present her with the offering for the school gym equipment fund. 

Can you read her face? ... 

Can you believe $2,798???!!! 

Someone threw in a toonie to bring it up to an even

$2,800

THANK YOU EVERYONE who came, who worked, who ate, who cleaned up, who gave. Some of our friends from Hanna Alliance Church who couldn't even attend gave. People from Endiang, Byemoor, Hanna, Scappa, Big Valley, Craigmyle, Delia, Red Deer (!!) gave. Someone who wanted to honour his son, who had attended the school back in the day, gave $20 per kid who worked. People who don't even have kids in school, or in this school, gave. Grammas and Grampas gave. Mums and Dads and Uncles and Aunties and friends and neighbours gave. 

Principal Keith summed it up the best, in words that went something like this: "Thank you to the Church at Endiang for sponsoring this event. I am overwhelmed by the size of the donation, and by the people who turned out, and I am so proud of the kids who worked. But the best part of all was the community spirit in here tonight — everyone talking and laughing and coming together..." 

We are all so proud of you, Principal Keith and staff, and the 33+ kids who comprise our small but great school. 

And we LOVE our community! Thank you, God, for giving us each other. 

The worst job of the night, but look at that smile...