December 23rd, 2007

It's still Christmas time.

I am deeply moved with the beautiful gift expression our children sent us this Christmas. They are responding in a vital way to the people of the earth.

"This gift buys, vaccinates and provides shelter for one goat, while also training farmers on how to raise healthy and productive animals".
"This gift helps communities plant 100 trees".
"This gift provides one month of meals for an orphaned child".
"Please don't give us any gifts this year...we are going to give to a worthy cause instead. We will not go into debt, we will give what we can afford".

It's amazing what happens when we step out of the norm for our society, recognizing that the extravagance of Christmas giving and recieving is ...say it...
I am humbled. I am very proud of them. I am delighted with them.
There is so much we can do to help others.

As Christians, we are representative of Christ, as people of God's Kingdom. Jesus' mission was to preach good news to the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, freedom from oppression for the downtrodden.. the time of the Lord's favour has come... from Luke 4:18,19.
If we say, "What kind of a God would allow suffering on the earth?", we are asking the wrong question. "What kind of a person am I, that I allow suffering to go on right before my eyes and do nothing about it?"
Imagine the kind of world we would have if all North American Christians would help the poor of our world in some way, imagine...

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' Matthew 25:37-40

Lord keep our eyes and hearts open to the needs around us. There is so much work to do. Let us encourage each other in this task.

Thank you so much, my dear children.

'Some people work hard, some people work smart'

Someone said this to me many years ago. At the time, this meant the one speaking was working smart and I was working hard and not accomplishing much because I wasn't working smart. All these years, I have felt that I haven't quite measured up in this person's estimation. It's amazing how one comment can stay in the heart, influencing life and thoughts. It confirms the idea that one should be careful with what one says. Our words have power to uplift and encourage or to keep someone at mediocre for a very long time. It's more than twenty years since this was said to me.

I have finally learnt something better about this idea of working smart.
Working smart is doing the things that really make a difference in life, like spending time, encouraging or helping someone. We are all made in the image of God and precious to Him, therefore we should respect and foster relationship with even those we think a bit strange.
Working smart is remembering that we are responsible for the well being of the earth as well and not be wasteful or overindulgent.
Working smart is spending time studying God's Word, making it foundational to life not just a handy emergency life preserver. We need a prayful relationship with our Creator.
Working smart is loving those who are hard to love and forgiving those who have hurt you. Gather treasure in heaven which is forever, instead of gathering treasure here on earth where things turn to dust.
Working smart is sharing what the Creator has given you so others can be blessed. That's why He gave it to us in the first place.

All these years, I have thought that I wasn't accomplishing much because I work hard and not smart. But now I realize that working smart is not what I thought it to mean. It does not mean you know how to accomplish what's on the list and more. It means rather that you have learnt something about real living and you are trying to live that way. That's what it is...to be a blessing to others and to love the Lord your God with all your heart.

and may the Lord God bless you

Happiness is...

My last post was november 13th! That's a while ago!

I've been going to class, taking notes, reading, taking notes, summarizing, taking notes,responding, taking notes... I figured out that my assignments totalled 6300+ finished words. Amazing. It's a good thing these words didn't all have to be said at the same time, or else myself would have been even more bleary and foggy brained than I am presently. I'm almost done though...only to remember that the exam is in two weeks.Yikes, woman.

My dear little grandson phoned me today. We had a lovely long conversation. We talked about cars and trucks and air planes and breakfast and outside and play and we sang silly songs and did our alphabet. The darling boy made my day! I miss those children so very much and I really shouldn't say this but I cry about them often and think myself very unfortunate that they are so very far away.Then this happens and I'm all better...for a while.

Another wonderful thing happened this week. I received mail from my darling granddaughter. She is doing a project in school. It has to do with a little paper boy called flat Stanley. Well he arrived this week. He is our visitor and we are to treat him as such. He has become a representative of the princess I miss so much! I suppose he is her ambassador. I'm keeping a journal for him and I stick him in my purse smiley face out, or in the seat elastic of my car so he can see out the window. He goes where I go. I introduce him where ever appropriate and people smile and laugh. Ah, imagination is still alive!!

That's it for today. I want to feed my silly dog and do what ever yet...maybe nothing...

Happy December 1st!
It's first Advent; light a candle and remember Jesus.

...there should be no poor among you...

'That's where we need to be generous!' I said to myself.

I just did a paper on the book of Ruth in my studies. I think the research I did will be going through my head for a very long time to come.

God provided for the poor, the orphans, the widows and the foreigners.(Leviticus 19:9,10) Farmers were not to reap to the very edges of their fields or gather the gleanings of their harvest. "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God." Wow. 'I am the Lord your God'....we would do well to listen. So,the care of the poor depends on our generosity, doesn't it? It bothers me a lot that we live in such a wealthy society and the poor remain in the world, here on our doorstep and far away where we can't see them.

My daughter, bless her soul, challenged me just today. She and her husband are not giving gifts this Christmas and they wish not to receive any either.They have decided to give what they can to an organization that does effective work in Africa in lieu of gifts. Most people will go into debt to buy nice things for others who don't need anything, while so many on this planet don't have the basics to live properly. Time to shake some sense into our heads. I'm one to talk, I know. What am I going to do about this? A serious kick in the pants is needed! Get creative woman! I wrote a cheque for our little girl in Africa and said to myself, 'that's where we need to be generous.'
How do we leave the edges of our fields and the missed and fallen grapes of our bounty for those who really need them? We will have to answer for this some day.

"However, there should be no poor among you"...(Deut. 15:4)... No...kidding.

And...what's with this 'we' business? I...me...that's who's business!

'A'

I think I must have spent a thousand hours on the essay I just handed in today! Footnoting is cruel and unusual punishment. I was starting to cackle and mutter and shout,becoming slowly insane, until finally by about 1:30 in the middle of the night, I finished the confounded footnoting for my essay. There were spots before my eyes already and my stomach was hurting so I drank all the wine that was left in the bottle... and went to sleep. This morning I completed the bibliography, downed some 'breaky', rushed to school and had a great class. My prof is a wonderful teacher. She is so passionate about what she teaches and makes such good sense. I would love to take another course with her next semester instead of doing the next intro course with another professor. I'm going to talk to her about that since she is also my adviser. Good idea.
I got an 'A' on my first three summaries/response assignments! I started to cry. It was a touching moment. I can hardly believe it because all I have right now is a brain ache from all this thinking and studying and writing and footnoting. I'm going to have a restful time this afternoon. I'm not 'hit tin' the books today! My brain is going to think happy thoughts only. So there.

I'm all studied out. I'm all shook up. My head hurts and I had to rest my eyes before. A snore woke me. Is it possible to over study?
I think it may be, because my thoughts are empty right now.

Wednesday, November 7th

Just got back from girl's club. I thought I was done with that, but I can't seem to keep away from it. This year I'm teaching grade 5 girls. They are so much fun! They are so smart and so clever. I'm going to have to pull my socks to make sure they have a challenge or two. Next week is a special night when we can do what ever we want to.
I have to finish my 2500 word essay for school before then. Come Wednesday I'll be all done that so girl's club will be 'happy time' for me. We'll eat of course, play some games, make a graham wafer candy house, they were talking about a talent show...so I've got a few ideas to go on. Google has been very helpful. I found good jokes, tongue twisters and word games which were well received. I plan to look for some more stuff.
They are sweet girls.
Gotta go, I have to send that letter to my darling granddaughter!
It's Wednesday after all!

Don't give up

'I understand that an obedient dog is a joy to have,' I told my dog as he was doing the 'get the leash on' dance. He loves his leash and so does all he can to get a good grip on it before I attach it to him. He dumped the bean juice laden compose, and found it quite tasty. I had to get the tap on and wash the deck down. That done, I resumed the fight to get the darn leash on,finally wrestling him down, knee on chest and loping it on the clasp. Once that was on, he did the 'okay, let's go' dance, got the attached leash in his mouth and commenced taking me for my walk. We headed into the wind. I was surprised at the sudden burst and cold of the wind. A good amount of sleet was suddenly upon us so I abandoned my idea to go into the field behind the railway. Once around the block would suffice,I thought. Next time I will have to dress a little warmer, I thought. Now I'm sitting here dry and warm and wondering why I wasn't a little braver. I smell like dog. I'll have to change my clothes. He did walk nicely once we got to the less windy side of the bay. So if he would consider being good right from the start maybe I would have braved the weather and we should still be cavorting in that lovely field, sleet in our eyes, fur being shaken, but happy...he anyways.

fog horn

I'm getting alarmed at how long it takes me to do my assignments! At this rate, I may have to get up at 4 a.m. each night to study. I really need help to get this studying time thing down!
My son-in-law suggested that having a lot of time available isn't always that great because you tend to fill the time that you have. This is very true isn't it? A time crunch may be good. How do I accomplish that? Maybe I could designate times of no homework or maybe I'll have to get a part time job to force myself not to study. I do sit in perplexity a lot. (That is the far away land of confusion.) Someone, clear the air! Where are the concise thoughts I need?
I feel like a sailor on a big ship. I'm in charge and I don't know how to sail this ship. Maybe if someone would sound a fog horn, I could get my bearing. Where's my sailboard? I'm quite comfortable on that.

fragment sentence

It's November!!
Time is speeding by at an alarming rate!
Today I learned a bit about sentence fragments, run on sentences and misuse of commas. Interesting stuff! There's a fragment! And another! We write the way we talk and it will require effort on my part to make sure that my sentences are complete and proper. Now tell me, oh other scholarly peoples, was that a proper sentence? I'm starting to worry.
School is comfortably wonderful! I may never quit! Last night I figured out how to cut the time I take to summarize 30 pages in half, from 10 hours to 5 hours! I may be on to something! I also discovered that I will have to rewrite the first 2 advent Sunday skits and make them simple scripture readings instead. My sister has spoiled the people who plan Advent! I'm hoping it won't take too long to complete.

'Spell checker, spell checker, take you a seat,
won't it be neat, when you can see,
half of the words that you tell me to write,
don't even come close to ...good.
I'm trying so hard to say
the things that
are hard to say
and mean what
I want someone to
un..der..stand.
so please think harder and come up
with some better suggestions
then I will have
a better chance..at..it.
Spell checker spell checker
sing me a song.....don't let it be long...as this...is.

'that Shunammite'

Whenever I read Prov. 31, I feel inadequate. The list of the perfect woman is exhausting and impossible. My Bible has a footnote listing women of the Bible who were noteworthy like Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Huldah, Hannah, Esther, that Shunammite. (That's what Elijah calls her!). The story is in II Kings 4. Read it for yourself. There are many more women who are worthy of mention, living their lives as devotedly to God as they could. Wholehearted I would say. That's all I can do. ...'a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised.' last verse.
That's what I'll try to remember for today.

I have lots to do again...Lord help me do what's important in Your eyes.
It's barely light outside or seems barely. I'll probably be surprised at what time it is when I go into the kitchen. Chow.

that Mennonite

october 30th

What do you do when your hubby can't keep a secret? It's suppose to be me that can't hold it in. He let the cat out of the bag when we had agreed to not say anything at all. And now it isn't even true any more! Those few who were told will start to think we are a couple of kooks. Maybe they think that already. I think I'll have to gag him or something.
By now I may have to say. But I won't. I just want to know how to get him to be quiet.
On another topic...I had class today. I asked one of the girls, who is able to take notes, listen and tex message at the same time how she thought the midterm went for her. She said fine. I've been shaking my head and studying how to improve on say-it-quick essay writing ever since last Thursday, and she's not worried. Well, tonight I managed to do the outline for my 1200 word essay in only 3 hours, maybe 4. My hope is that I'll learn.
Another new topic...It would be nice to work in a library. I'm studying literature, so....it fits. Will I do it?
My dog is barking, so I have to go.
Til next day..

october 29

Wow, the last post was July! I'm really behind. I've been studying, crazy things have been going on and I've hardly had time to write here. My daughter encouraged me to write as a journal entry, so I will try that approach. Isn't it great to have daughters who are such a delight and encouragement!
To my studying then. Will catch up later.

Well, this is later...
I've studied quite a bit. I really hope that I can learn to study more effectually soon. I meant efficiently but the other word will do. Funny what the spell checker comes up with. I'm still amused by that.
I got Advent #3 done, thank God. Now to brood on the last one.
On the whole I'm pleased with today. Schmooky and I went out in the field and we had a rosy cheeked time. He listened well and I ran now and again and that makes me feel like a kid again.
I talked to Oma. I need to keep checking up on her. We are told to take care of our parents. They took care of us after all.
I think I'll get my books together for tomorrow school time. I also have to get something ready for princess..Odette. I've decided to send her a letter once a week. It's my job as grandmother to keep in touch.
So, God bless and good night...

Ideas

I really should be getting all the ingredients for supper ready, but...
when I have an idea on the brain it just doesn't wait.
The Writer's Club
Fall is coming, even though I shouldn't be saying that. It's not nice since we all want summer to last as long as possible.
A note to all those who may be interested.
We need to pick a date for our first meeting.
I need to compile a list of those to invite. This is only a starter list, because I'm hoping others will want to join us.
Ideas of what to talk about and share is next.
An appropriate Bible section to think about.... Proverbs perhaps.
Sorry , my husband is hungry, so I have to attend to those needs.. :)

Now to continue...
The sun has just set. It was a beautiful day today. Not too hot and not too cool. I feel regenerated.
My sister has done work on Proverbs, so that might be a good thing to study. I'll look at the book as soon as I'm done here.
Assignments would also be a good idea. I'll talk to TG about that.
OR has offered her home, so I need to talk to her to set up a first time.
TG would be a good person to ask to make up a poster for the library.
A collection of e-mail addresses needs to be compiled.
People could participate from a distance then. That would be neat.
I'll ask OR, EF and IK to say something about the stuff they have published. Maybe one person each time. Also IE could provide some ideas for small writing activities each time.
An activity could be...'a day in the life...' for an introducing of each other.
Tomorrow we go to the lake, so it'll be a few days before I can get started on this.
Now it's time to look at that Proverbs book for ideas.
Good night.

Darling

This day I went along on one of my husband's gigs. We traveled on a old old train, slowly,at 30 kms an hour, stopping at a few towns along the way. His brass quintet played old schmoosy tunes, bagpipers added colour and sound, people came to hear and see, venders sold homemade items and I ate icecream and hotdog with sourkraut... and enjoyed.
I couldn't resist taking a photo of these sweet little girls who were watching. Aren't they darling?
A happy little history experiance.

Biking

I have discovered something new in something old.
I've started going for bike rides with my friends.
I feel like a kid again ,calling on friends and heading out somewhere.
Yesterday, my friend and I went to the Forks and back.
While there, we indulged in frozen yogurt, which I must say was better than the chocolate ice cream I usually have. We were entertained by a group of bag pipers as we happily slurped our treat. Watching people mill about enjoying themselves is happy all by itself!
Next week, we go again, with new destination, good exercise and new fun!
Til next time!

Thoughts to remember

'Never look for justice in this world,
but never cease to give it.'
Oswald Chambers
My utmost for His highest
June 27

rain, rain stay a while...

My friend and I went for a bike ride in the rain the other day.We spent a lot of time under the roof waiting in the downpours. The rain would let up and out we went.Didn't we have fun though! Why do we stay indoors when it rains? It's a one of a kind of thing, to play in the rain. I sometimes garden in the rain. It's not fun to dig then, but there are other things to do.
I decide today that I will purposefully go out in the rain this summer. There's so much fun in it! The ordinary takes on wonderful memory.

rain, rain stay awhile...
my glasses don't have wipers, but
weeds need pulling,
earthworms crawl,
trees are growing,
look at them all!

dog needs walking,
tail is mopping,
bike needs riding,
friend, I'm sopping!
laughing, laughing...

clouds are low,
mist is slow,
birds are chirping loud, I know,
capture childhood one more time,
before the life is older.

rain, rain stay awhile,
come again and bring your smile.

May 29, 2007

I've had an awesome day!
I've never really experienced the calm and refreshment of fasting and prayer. Until today. Today has become a holy day. I think I understand better now what it might mean to keep the Sabbath holy. It's a sweet time with God. Just reading His word and talking about things with Him. I feel so peaceful and so confident in Him.
There were others fasting and praying as well. A whole community of them. It felt like a smooth stream of water, the oars slipping in, water dripping off the end, and moving us forward. Today we saw our prayers answered. We are all in God's care. We are all very concerned and worried about the same thing. There is Strength. Almost palatable.
Why don't I do this more often? Do I really think that I can solve the most of life without actually stepping out and taking this kind of time with God? I loved it. I cherish it. He has given me great joy.
The Lord is good. His love is always there for us. His friendship is ultimately the most beloved treasure a person can experiance.
I've had an awesome day!

friends forever!

I'm delighted that you have accepted my invitation!
Welcome Ellen Rev, Summer and mamaluv! Delightful, well chosen names.
I look forward to visiting with you here!

'There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from its flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

shel silverstein

friends forever

Ladies Luncheon

I was helping my sister serve luncheon to a nice group of our mother's friends. The food was happily consumed. We had cleared the dishes from the tables and they were stacked neatly waiting to be washed. Mother was with her friends.
I took to washing the things that didn't fit into the dishwasher and our father and my sister were operating the commercial dishwasher. It was a humming time. (meaning...the same two songs were being hummed at the same time...repeatedly)
(Not by me, by the way.) Everyone was busy at work.
There came a racket in the assembly line.
The two at the dishwasher stopped the machine, opened the side door and found a stuck plate. Sister said, 'Hum'. Father removed the plate. Sister said, 'We should close the door before we begin again'. Father didn't hear and didn't think of it himself. Sister thought, 'Surely he knows what he's doing.' On went the dishwasher.
All I saw was a vast amount of water, spraying joyously at my Father. Time stood still for that moment and sprayed him full force...stopped him in his tracks as it were. Happily, he was wearing a large plastic apron. Sister calmly said, 'We should shut the valve.' and leaned over and shut the water off. Water dripped in the air...
I couldn't help myself and laughed until I cried.
The two of them stood there looking at me. I think they were in shock. I'm sure if I had been the soaked one, or the calm one, I would still be standing there too.
Their 'numb' wore off and slowly they started to laugh. Quite slowly, I mean.
'We've got a puddle here.' said sister, 'I'll get the mop.'
Father mopped for a long time.
Now, when our Mother came into the kitchen after her lovely lunch, I could only hold it in so long, before the whole story spurted out. I couldn't help it. I'm sorry.
She was nonplussed. Is that the right word? That's the right expression anyway.
Too bad I don't have a picture.

Wisdom

" Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
She raises her voice in the markets;
She cries at the head of the noisy intersections
[ in the chief gathering places ];
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks."
proverbs 1:20,21
When I drive down certain streets, like McPhillips or Nairne Avenue,
my existence is filled with fumes, roarings of engines, squealings of brakes,...
I can hardly stand it.
Summer mornings, the first thing I hear from my window is the sound of rushing traffic on # 9 Hwy. It's a terrible morning greeting for me. I'd much rather hear the woods, or the water...
I'm a country girl at heart. Traffic noises tire and irritate me.
There's the hum of the city, which I first noticed sitting at my daughter and son-in-law's 29th floor view window. That was different. It was the song of the city. The song of living.
When I read these verses, I see the Wisdom of God standing at my street corners,
hair flying, clothes whipped about by the wind of racket.
The Wisdom of God calling for my attention.
Listen to Me!
You can drive, drink your coffee, put your make up on, talk on your cell phone and near miss the car in front of you.
But can you hear Me?
Raise your head.
Do you see Me standing at your street corners?
It's another dimension, isn't it?
The noise of this world, trying to blare out the voice of God.
It takes the effort of quiet with Him...
" If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver
and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as
for hidden treasures,..." proverbs 2:4
We tune into what is most important to us.
We take joy and delight in these things.
" Lean on, trust in, and be confident
in the Lord with all your heart and mind
and do not rely on your own insight
or understanding." proverbs 3:5
I write these words as encouragement for my niece, for it is her 20th birthday today.
'I still see you, running down the lane, hair flying behind, little dog
keeping up at your side. It's been imprinted in my memory.
Today,I pray for you at this threshold of 20 years. This beautiful place.
Your life is before you, your potential is magnificent.
The Lord bless you.
Always.'

Everybody pray now!

We all have worries, serious worries about our children, relationships, day to day living, our health, the future... Life is hard.
Use the worry, I say, (which is connected to the intuition), to pray. If the worry indicator is high, up the prayers. If its lower, up the praise.
Bringing our worry before the Almighty God, is the only way I know to down it. Worry, pray, wait, trust. Short, simple, words. Difficult, short,simple,words.
Impossible. No.
Everything is possible with God. He takes the unbearable and makes it bearable. He takes the worry and fashions something beautiful out of it. He takes our prayer and sends a helping Hand.

Everybody pray now...
Everybody pray now!
Come on, sing with me!

" Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank Him for all He has done.
If you do this, you will experiance God's peace,
which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus."

philippians 4: 6,7

(p.s. tell your mother, too)

Now what's my job?

I feel energized today! It's been a long time since I have written here. Attention, my girls! I would like to invite some of my friends to participate on here. What do I do? How do I invite them? How do I change this into an invite only blog so that they can feel comfortable to come here. How's this for an idea? My friends and my family. It would be fun! Just writing my own thoughts is a little like talking to myself. End of this topic.
I'm reading this fabulous book called Three Cups of Tea - One man's mission to promote peace... one school at a time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Sister lent me the book. Won't say much about it except... the place he is building schools is Afghanistan. He's one man making a big, good difference. There have been many 'men' making a difference, and many times to the world's detriment. This guy is up there with Mother Theresa...( How can that be? you say ) Makes me wonder what I could do... One quote here, describing the man...' And like her daughter, she had come to the conclusion that the large, gentle man living two blocks away was cut from unusual cloth. "One snowy night we were barbecuing, and I asked Greg to go out and turn the salmon,..I looked out the patio door a moment later and saw Greg, standing barefoot in the snow, scooping up the fish with a shovel, and flipping it, like that was the most normal thing in the world. And I guess, to him, it was. That's when I realized he's not just one of us. He's his own species." You read the book and you understand what is meant here. He has a passion to improve the lives of the people in dangerous, mountainous Afghanistan and he crosses dangerous tribal, political war torn borders to build his schools, provide fresh water or build bridges...inspiring.
Now what's my job?
I'm a Christian. How am I going to make a difference in my world?

Teach your children well

My daughter has frequently challenged me to realize that it is not good to shelter your children.I have always been at a loss as to how to answer her.
My childhood was storybook. I grew up with parents who love me and still love each other. My family of origin is still intact and good. The biggest thing that happened to me were neighborhood kid squabbles and teenage friendship and boy troubles. That was my only legitimate pain. Small now. When I was 18, my Grandfather died. This was my first encounter with death. I got married at 19, because it was my dream to marry and raise a family. Life was good. No serious challenges except those that belong with adjustment to marriage and motherhood.
Then life started teaching me some hard lessons.
After 19 years of marriage, my husband took up with another woman and divorced me as quickly as possible.
What did I learn from this?
I learned that nice people get walked all over by not nice people. I learned that it does no good to bend yourself over backwards, hoping it will help,...and humiliate yourself, loosing your self respect and esteem even further, if someone is bent on hurting and getting rid of you. There is nothing you can do to change his mind. I began to learn to stick up for myself. I began. I was 39. It would have been much better if I could have learned to stand up for myself in my youth. But shucks, life happens. You don't get to write the script. You can't possibly know what the future holds for you.
Am I ready to say thank you to life for the curve ball it threw me? I think so.
Am I ready to say thank you to life for spoiling my children's familial security and throwing a lot of pain their way?
Only in the sense that it made them into stronger young people and more ready to face their own life.
Time and again I have agonized on their behalf. They were robbed of their innocence and forced to face life without a secure family unit.
I look at them now and I am so proud of them. They are caring, thinking, wanting to make a difference in their world kind of people. They have been forced to look at life from a sad perspective and this has refined their souls.
Indeed, the Refiner of our souls, the Author of life has stirred His rod among us.He has been with us in all this process and He has seen to it to draw our attention to forgiveness and to the rising above, when we could have chosen to become bitter.
This is how I will answer my daughter next time.
We have not stayed in the protection zone of life. We have been thrown into the mainstream. We have almost drowned, but not. The lessons which we each personally learned through this ordeal, we must now pass on to those around and coming after us.
This has made us authentic and genuine. It has begun to.
I truly do not know what else lies ahead, but we can go it with a confidence chip. A program that will direct us and help us.
Life is the best teacher, the Author of life our best source of strength.
What awaits, may come.

tootin' your horn

'Everyone has a horn to toot'
as my youngest daughter so wisely told me
oldest daughter toots about recycling
second daughter toots about self-esteem
I toot about faith in Jesus
we get irritated at each other sometimes
over the things we toot to each other about
because 'it hits a nerve'
wise words, young woman!
the things you have said to me, girls
have made a difference in the way I do life
we shouldn't stop talking about the things that are important to us
for these things will help shape us all
(trumpet sounds in the distance)

Cleaning the mirror

'Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.'
1 Corinthians 13:12

How overwhelming it is to me
to try to understand that God fully and clearly knows me.
He understands me.
That is why, when He answers a prayer of mine,
He answers in such a surprising way.
A knowing way.
A way that tells me He knows my soul.
He knows what I truly long for.
He knows and I don't know....
For now we look in a mirror that gives only a blurred reflection and
no matter how often we try to clean our life mirror,
there will always be too many unanswered questions...
until perfection comes.
That, to me, is Jesus.
Jesus is perfection.
When He comes, we shall see clearly,
and face to face.
His Face to our face...
it is too much,too wondrous,too big for us now...
He, in all wisdom, knows this too.
Trust Him
there's no better place
to place your hand
than in His
trust Him.

Your Divine Valentine

"A valentine may play a love song for you, but God sings you the sweetest love song in the universe...'The Lord your God...will rejoice over you with gladness, He will keep you quiet with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.' Zephaniah 3:17...a valentine may give you flowers, but God sent you the most beautiful rose of all. Jesus....'I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.' Song of Solomon 2:1... A valentine may take you out to dinner, but God has invited you to the most amazing feast ever given....'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' Revelation 19:9...A valentine may bring you chocolate, but God provides you with something even sweeter. His Word...'How sweet are Your Words to my taste. Sweeter than honey to my mouth!' Psalm 119:103...A valentine may be far away, but God is always with you...'I am with you always.' Matthew 28:20... A valentine may give you something, but God has given you everything. 'God gives us richly all things to enjoy.' 1 Timothy 6:17...A valentine may love you for a lifetime, but God loved you before you were born and will love you for all eternity! 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love... with loving kindness I have drawn you.' Jeremiah 31:3" ... This is something I received at the women's Bible study I go to. A blessed valentine's day to you!

How odd was that ..... really?

You know how sometimes when you go out in the winter, and you're wearing a knitted hat,you come back in and you realize that your hat has ridden up and you look like an elf? Well, I was out for lunch with my parents today. There's a little Bake Oven place so very close to where I grew up and they like to go there for a sandwich. There was a lady there, sitting by herself. Her hat, it was a white woolly hat, her hat was riding up just like my orange woolly hat does when I'm outside playing with my dog. To say the least, she caught my attention. To catch even more of my attention, she was talking to herself about the lady at the other end of the caffe who said the coffee wasn't fresh. I stopped. She caught my eye and began all over again. 'The lady over there doesn't like her coffee. She says it isn't fresh. I don't know why she's complaining because I like the coffee. She's complaining that it's not fresh...and I really like my computer. I like the way the keys feel and I like the features it has.. I can send e-mail.. and my brother has a sore shoulder and he can't play pool anymore. He tries but it just hurts too much... The waitress brought her sandwich and she forgot I was there listening. At first I thought, this lady is odd. How many of us have the courage to ramble on at a stranger, whether we are odd or not? How many of us do exactly what this lady did in public, only we save our ramblings for when we are doing the dishes or vacuuming, for when we are alone? She actually made my day extra special. I think if we try to be too much like everyone else, we become too ordinary. It's the 'odd' people in life that add the extra spice. I do think she was lonely, so that makes me sad. The caffe at least has people coming and going. I'll be on the lookout for other 'odd' people from now on and I hope I have the courage to offer some company. God loves us all and it's my job to follow His example. Have a great day!

Sweet, sweet Saviour

This past week has been very difficult. Monday, I found out that my cousin has breast cancer- the more aggressive kind. This morning, when we came to church, we heard first thing that someone we knew, a young woman, died suddenly this past Friday. She was a beautiful woman, soft spoken, gentle, with a kind spirit. They said it was either a heart attack or an aneurysm. I saw the sadness in every face there... Sorrow fills my heart... 'tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word, ... precious Jesus , Savior, Friend... and I know that Thou art with me , will be with me to the end'...I was walking my dog today. Such a buddy he is! It was cold, darkening, snowing.. we went behind the railway, our favorite spot. It's beautiful there. Quiet and open fields for running or shouting or singing. I felt the cold on my face, the sky was graying, the sun had just set. My friend doesn't feel the cold. She is flying on the wind. She is being carried by the wind. It's taking her to the place where God is. She doesn't see the gray of the sky. She doesn't see dark. She sees the glory of heaven. The sweet, sweet face of Jesus. She smells the aroma of heaven. I smelt that aroma today. In the truck, as we were driving. And I thought, could it be, did she see my tears today? Did her angel leave this scent for me to smell?... I saw my cousin leading the singing today. I am not that brave. I would be crying at home. But she sang with joy on her face. The whole church sang with strength and conviction. It was beautiful! I think the roof lifted a bit. I think our Saviour had His arms wrapped around us. We have such a sweet faith. We have a faith that gives us strength and joy in the midst of death and sickness... 'precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend... will be with me to the end'...