THE GARDENERS

                                      My helpers take over and do a great job! Sat. morning.

Earlier in the morning.

First morning it is warm enough to have breakfast outside.
Hey dad you had better put your glasses on!




 
                             Dad moves to a sunnier spot that was set for tea.
        


Then when it really warms up the shade deck provides a cool place with a slight breeze.  Sunday is feeling very warm already.

Fun and delightful things take place in the garden.  Some times it is weeds that are hidden but sometimes little flowers.  Some times a strawberry plant!

My spiritual thought is that Jesus came to reveal to us the hiddenness of God to a world that was to be a beautiful place for us all! 

"Something that  God has been up to all along (since the beginning of time) that is now and has been made known."

BEHAVIOR

The cats turn away disgusted as the water is not running.
  .
Dad adds some birds to the front water fall.

Time to put our Canada flag out.
Waiting to hear if Jesse was able to get his passport.  Mathew and Jasmine have theirs
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Visiting Eileen at the hospital I am aware that it is the future that is important.  Dad does his best to see that she is cared for and helps make decisions because he has been asked.
She needs proper care and sadly the hospital does not always provide for her.  She needs help eating etc.  Dad does that when he is there.  At times like this it really needs the whole family to become involved and we are hopeful when her two other sons arrive they will be helpful.

It is a long walk to and in the hospital and not easy for dad’s hurting feet.
 We try to live out our faith by our behavior and caring for family is the first priority
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We also have to allow others to help us because we cannot do what we once could.  I was pleases to have Carol and Panteli give me help in the side garden.  It has been neglected.  It is hot and tiring work and those rose bushes give nasty scratches.  Thank you it was a big help.

 I came home after visiting, had  a bite to eat and a rest and did some more work in the yard.  Dad's shade deck lots better after he washed and scrubbed it..  I am turning into a lazy day gardener.  I am good with hugs and story reading and playing snakes and ladders and short walks to the park.

"The Great Spirit placed me here
to take good care of the ground
and to do each other no harm."  -\ native Indian

Belief should be lived out in our behavior to be believable. 
Plans to day are church, visiting, maybe see Sandra and Randy at some point.

GOOD NEWS

Everyone likes to hear good news.  Dad's blood work looks good but one test omitted but still goog news.

I am pleased that this Friday  morning is sunny.  I wake up to the sound of crows squawking in our back yard.  I was pretty sure it was not Good News but the raccoon messing up our pond.  I opened the door and they flew away and I could see the pond had been pulled apart.  The hose was not attached to the motor. Dad fixed it later in the day.

Dad had  a busy day trying to help his cousin Eileen's son get his car windows fixed.  Mark arrived at the window shop with water pouring out of his car as the water hose was broken, so it meant he had to go to the garage to get that attended to first.  It is good the places where close together.  Dad and Mark had breakfast together and learned a little more about the family. 

Dad and I will visit at the hospital to-morrow.  I am writing Friday night after we had supper out with Carol and Panteli at the Green Lettuce.  They will be moving back to there own place on Sat. and I believe Sandra and Randy return home at midnight.  Tired but happy new grand parents.

Talked to Ken on Viper as he was on his way to work.  Melina is enjoying her training so that is good

Dad watched football and tennis.  Said the Lions were terrible.

Working out in the yard I yearn for the good old days when I could not tell a weed from a flower.  I look now and keep seeing more and more weeds.  The gardener who does the neighbor's yard compliments me again on my front garden and so does the mailman or mail person who is a lady.

Theresa is in a cricket tournament in West Van on Sat. and Sunday.  Theresa is picking her up and they will go together.   Dad and I will not be up to going.  Carol and Panteli are playing baseball again but not this week-end.  Carol and a group of friends are going for a walk at the bird sanctuary at Ladner on Sun.

What good is philosophy?  It does seem to contradict itself (hmm so does the Bible) but that does not make it all bad.  Contradictions add to the mystery of truth and can even be celebrated according to author Parker J. Palmer.  I guess I should add reading to my hobbies.

I think that philosophy seems to be wanting us to pursue happiness.  Not just happiness as understood as pleasure and the absence of pain.  Then again we each find happiness in difference ways, some in sports, some in entertainment, some in a good book or others like to party and be with a group.  We flourish as we engage with the world and achieve certain goals.

Respect seems to be a important value as well as liberty giving us all the chance to flourish.  Conformity may offer happiness but does it offer self-realization; which is not good when it harms others.  Philosophers differ on many things especially on what is happiness.

"The church is now in the process of moving beyond past traditions, seeking new answers that rejuvenate theology with a quest, not just for answers not just for happiness but finding beauty in new truth"  from The Church on the Other Side.

Jesus said that putting new wine in old wine skins will never work.  I cannot remember ever hearing a sermon on these verses.  Certainly old ways of communicating are past history and the church as some catching up to do.

It is not always easy to know what is the good and right thing to do but I do my best.

Saturday morning and it is going to be warm today.  This is good news for some people but I hope it does not get too hot.  This morning the ground is wet and no sign of the bright sun so far,  Off for breakfast, quiet prayer time. writing in my journal and then for a walk.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Starting out good for me Carol and Panteli are volunteering to do some work in the garden. 

After visiting Eileen, a long hot walk, to go from the parking lot next door to the hospital we both rested and then dad cleaned out to shade deck.  I have no energy to do things late in the day.

So here I go pressing publish again.

SURVIVAL

Here is a page from my journal.

The paper reports that the art of writing long hand is no longer required teaching in more and more schools.  Hard to believe because I also think that thoughts in long hand are good for the brain.

Here is the computer where I transfer some of my thoughts from my hand written journal.  Yes, Rick I am still doing them.

Evidently, we survive being ourselves as long as we carry within our souls memories of our past.  The self is “a bundle of perceptions” of experiences, thoughts, memories and intentions.
When I went into the hospital in what appeared to be a confused and helpless state I was asked over and over again if I knew who I was and where I was.  I do not remember the first few times being asked but was told I answered correctly.  To survive it is important to believe in yourself and to remember your story.

Cousin Eileen is being asked the same questions and more to see if she is capable of making her own decision about refusing treatment.  This is why a living will is so important.

'The focus on survival is likely to cause wonderment at survival's end.  We (maybe controversially) assume here that death is complete annihilation.  Now if we see our temporal continuation as a sequence of selves with varying degrees of similarity and connectedness, we are undergoing little deaths, so to speak much of the time."  -Paul Snowden

The question is can the soul continue to exist after death?   Some would say this is just superstition or a desperate attempt to grab more in this life.  Death will come to us all.  Can we be harmed before our birth or after our death?  "Death may still be required to give life meaning, to provide structure and substance to life, conditions necessary for engendering a good life, a flourishing life-a life that leads to a topic of reflection."  -Paul Snowden

Dad panicked today when he went to pay for a  new mirror for the car and had no wallet.  He had taken it out when he sat down in the big chair upstairs.  I looked and looked and it was the last place I looked.  He was at the glass place and mentioned Craig’s name and then they trusted him.
It can also be who you know.
 
Philosophy can say I survive by remembering Who I Am. 


Jesus did not survive a betrayal, a cruel and unjust society that was both political and religious.

Today I feel the benefit of a restful day yesterday.  Dad will be helping Mark. cousin Eileen's son get his car window fixed as it was broken into while his mom was in hospital and a garden tool stolen.  I think dad and I will go to the hospital again' maybe stop in and see Carol and Panteli at Sandra's home.

FATALISM

On top of my desk are many pictures of my life and other pictures are in other areas.
My big question this morning does fate control my life?
How can someone like dad;  who has had several near-death experiences and has his life saved by a young nurse or being freed from underwater when his lines got tangled (just to name a few) not believe that he was saved because his life had purpose but also there was a divine presence that was at work?

My fate may be written in the stars but I will always have choices
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Free will is a puzzle.  Circumstances in my life have changed the direction of my journey and often looking back I see that my past has prepared me for my future.
It appears from my reading now that not only religion but philosophy deals with this idea of fate.  Science also deals with it as we learn more about the human body, our genes and family history.
With my pictures is one of Ben with a big happy face.  Today is Ben’s birthday.  I am so grateful for healthy grandchildren although some like Leah have had many health issues.  My grand daughter Theresa and her daughter are also celiac like me.

Dad took the car to the doctor today and then visited Eileen and then took Mark out to lunch.  I was free to spend the day at home and catch up on house-work and my messy garden.
But first I do my reading and do my blog.  This has been good for me for many reasons in that I am still looking for answers to many questions and so keep reading and searching.  It also keeps me in touch.
 
As a mother I was always busy just doing daily chores.  Now there are choices and new hobbies like my garden as well as my blog.

In the past I have been a lay chaplain but now I do most of my visiting close to home, like dropping in to see Mrs. G. or our neighbors across the street.  We have become friendly with their daughter who does most of the care-giving.
I will keep visiting at the Senior’s home when I can and as long as I can.

Raining again today, off for a walk and yes did two blogs.

REASON

“Using reason alone to find a way to the divine would be a bit like using guidebooks to discover a new country without ever rising from your seat.  The discourse of reason are never going to produce momentous myths like the burning bush, the right journey to Jerusalem or the empty tomb.  These are meaningful stories, not arguments, and they, rather than philosophical algebra, are the basic stuff of spiritual search and practice.”
Mark Vernon – from the Big Questions.

This is my new book that I stopped to buy  at Chapters.  I will add it to the pile on a desk similar to this.

How can God, the unknown, be clearly presence to me and still be perplexing?  Seems reasonable to me.

After reading the first chapter on want is a human, without the appeal to ancient or religious authority but purely in mathematical terms, the conclusion seems to be the mind and  soul are
 distinct from the body.  Reading this from Rene Descartes one gets the feeling we are all mechanical beings.  Reason seems to be built on certainties and experiences and yet doubt seems to still be true.

Again today I learned it is good to have a plan B, because instead of sitting in a quiet booth we ended up at a happy, slightly noisy group of golfers.  We had a good visit, nevertheless getting to know Daniel a little better.  Time went by very fast.

We carried on to visit cousin Eileen and talking to her and the social worker enabled her to make a decision.  It sounds very harsh when one is told you will be making a decision to have no further treatment but to be in a place where you will be well taken care of. 

I was hoping to do some work in the garden when I got home but I was exhausted.

Dad did not finish his hospice course because you are not allowed to miss a session and he was ill so could not attend.  He will now be doing his hospice visiting with his very own cousin.

"If for any reason whatsoever, moral standards are conspicuously and unprecedentedly breached in one area of society, such as political, it will follow as night the day, that those standards will start collapsing all down the line- in sports, entertainment, education, the armed forces, business and government."   - Margret Haley

PHILOSOPHY

Dad and I went up to visit his cousin Eileen at the hospital. The decision will be treatment or palliative care. I was impressed with her honesty, her courage and dignity. Dad is a big support to her son, Mark, who has been her care-giver. Tough times ahead and she knows the end is coming, It is hard to say good-bye to those we love.

Love lives on in memories.


Can religion instead of trying to make us more religious give us a new philosophy of what a Christian or a spiritual seeker looks like.  I ma not sure what philosophy is but I do believe it is a process of radical self-assessment that grows out of past roots and out of family values and greater knowledge about everything.

Or are people just too disillusioned with “religion” as presented by the media etc. 

I know I need wonder and delight and surprise in my life and this is where my faith has given me surprises of joy, beauty and hope.

"To be prepared against surprise is to be trained.
 To be prepared for surprise is to be educated."   -James P. Carse.
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When I wander deeper into the mess of trees I am surprised to fine this little flower.

I need an anchor that will hold me in the storms of life.  I have found that even old age has been a surprise to me as health can change so quickly and you just are not as strong as you once were.  For me it means people coming over, bringing food and helping themselves.  That is the way I like it for people just to help themselves.

My philosophy is that life has meaning and that faith is learned through teaching and reading and through experiences.  A full range of experiences!  Life and death.  Joy and sorrow.  We are here to help one another.

"Philosophy, the love of wisdom, is the product of our endless fascination and curiosity about the world-the child of wonder.  Through it we seek to answer the most fundamental of questions:
How do we know what we know?
Does God exist?
What is beauty?
How should we live our lives,
Who am I?
Can a robot be human?"
--Paul Snowdon-Grote Professor of mind and logic.

Dad and U are taking the minister out to lunch today.  His wife is away.

I hope dad's hip is not so painful today.

SHATTERED

Dad and I were enjoying watching the hockey game with Carol and Panteli when the phone rang to give us bad news from Mark, about his mom.

We were expecting that dad’s cousin Eileen to take a turn for the worse after dad’s last visit with her, but still the time has come quicker than expected.   Help had been offered but refused but she had appreciated dad's last visits with her although she was very weak and on oxygen. 

Still we were shattered to hear that she was in hospital dying with cancer all through her body.

Eileen has not had an easy life and part of it has been the estrangement within her own family.  She was a tough lady very independent and hard working.  Our best visit with her had been when she came to our fiftieth anniversary and she met some of our family.  She stayed and had a long visit and really enjoyed herself.

Our saddest memories where when we visited with her and her aging parents and especially the last visits with her mom.  We shared her grief and her loss, knowing that her dreams had been unfulfilled and I sense that her soul was also empty and as she became more fragile she could do less and less and was home bound in her trailer with an unemployed son to help care for her.   Her old dog just died recently and she was very sadden by this.

Martin Luther wrote that without great anguish and trials we will never understand the grace and compassion that God has for those who have had miserable lives.  We know that there are lessons to be learned during painful times, but still we would rather they did not come.  They shake our security and rob us of the joy of life.  Our lesson is to learn to adapt to the different circumstances we will all face,

It will be a sad day visiting her in hospital and saying good-bye.  I believe that the presence of God will be with us and that He never leaves us in life or in death even when grief fills our hearts.  Jesus prayed for all to come to know God and Jesus Christ the one who came to tell us of the possibility of a relationship with God through it all.

I brought home a broken beer bottle only to drop it from my wet hands and it shattered all over our kitchen floor.  Time to go and clean up and then off to the hospital.

SEEKER DRIVEN

 
                                 We often take our happiness and our safety for granted..

"Change itself has changed, thereby changing the rules by which we live.  Our theology, our ways of doing ministry, (the clergy say) don't seem to work or fit anymore.  We need hope they say."  Don't we all. What is needed is to see past frustration and stagnation  glimpse a new future it would give us all hope.
 from The Church On The Other Side by Brian McLaren

What is being discovered and painted as a vivid and inspiring picture is a church that is seeker driven.  I feel that our church is aiming to do just this by having continuous study groups and discussions and also time for the children to ask the minister any and all the questions they can think of. 

 

In all my years of going to church with different health problems ranging from depression to cancer I have never had a minister come to visit me at my home and offer to pray for me.  Actually dad had a visit many years ago.  My home group leader and his wife did and the group brought us many meals and also visited.  I am amazed at how available and willing our minster Daniel is to do this.  I feel he really cares.

 

We are living in a different age than any before us and yet we face the same problems with health and family and financial needs. I appreciated the message Sunday that reminded us to be who we are, just be yourself, which I try to do on my blog and do not concern myself about what others may think.  Yes we all have our quirks and quarks!

 

I also like the message about Jesus and the way he broke through the taboos of his day travelling to a Gentile country and also praying for a man with many demons.  He would then be accepted back in the community and it is important that we feel a part of a community.  Well, it is for me.

 

I accept my limitations and also my differences and try to be open to my need to change. 

 

The question the book asks is if a spiritual seeker entered our church would they feel like God was out dated and out of touch.  in fact they have entered a tine-warp?  The important thing is would God or Jesus feel at home there?

Monday morning and it is raining.  Good day to finish my library book by Anne   Perry.

 

OUR PAST

The boys across the street are very interested in our Audi car and want to know if we are going to sell it, and are wanting to know if we will adopt them so they can be one of our lucky grandchildren!

 The evidence of the heavy rainfall still rests on the flowers and many of them are dropping but the color is still vibrant and alive.  Saturday morning is looking good  but the fragrance from the flowers is wonderful..  I hope dad will help me do some digging in the garden as I just cannot find the strength to do it. He has to finish his John Grisham's novel I do not know if that is called a trashy novel by Panteli?  I am going to need some advice from Sandra when she gets home and rested up.

So nobody figured out there were two Thursday blogs by mistake.

 

In the past I have sometimes press publish when I have not finished and it has then appeared as the wrong date.  This annoys Sandra but I think she has now figured it out, but now from her comment I see she has not.  So it publishes and then in the morning I update it but it still says the same day as it first was published.  I need to go back to draft if I notice it.  I guess.

Exciting news about Ken and Melina and family arriving on the 14 of August.  I will call a family meeting here to make plans late in July.  Shawna that would be wonderful if you two can come here!

Is now Sunday so yes Saturday has passed and this morning is looking good. The sun beat me up but I did catch a bit of the sun rise!


We all are a part of our past even though there is much we may not know about our family history.  Why do we want to continue to search and find out more about our past and also past world history?  Amazing stories that we want to hear and retell.  We are looking for our own story.

In the Bible there are many stories that express what the people in those days believed.  They thought God spoke in the thunder and lightning, in the rain and the storm, in the fire and in the water, earthquakes and floods. 

There are stories like the one about the rascal Jacob who had cheated his brother and then left home  Human nature does not change as there are still cheaters and greedy people among us. .  He has a dream and wakes up to declare "'Surely God was in this place  and I, I was not aware of it."
He experienced the holy presence of God even as a deceiver and cheater. 

The past is made up of stories that paint  pictures of dysfunctional people and unhealthy people who we see as controversial and undeserving.  We want to forget the selfish and ugly things we have done so that we can believe in our future.

In the past there have been times when I have had nightmares that have frightened me. and made me realize things where not quite right with my life;  but there also have been times when in my dream  my soul has felt like it had wings and I could fly.  I felt a peace and contentment.  I could let go of the past.

I have also dreamt a person came from behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and prayed for me..  So God shows up in unexpected ways, in our dreams and in real life.  Right now He is showing up as people work together to help those facing disasters like the flood in Alberta.

Today dad and I will be going to Doug Graves' church for his final service.  The little white church on No. 10 where Michael John and Mary were married.  Our study group  are all going.  We will miss Doug as he had a lot of knowledge to add to our discussions; but we plan to carry on because we have become such good friends.  Plans have changed we are going to Colebrook.  Oliver's friend John is stopping by about 3.

We are learning that sometimes past theories do not fit the newest data but are still important.  There are exciting new discoveries ahead for us all.


                                           Rain expected for later today.

TEA TIME

Wed. afternoon tea time at Colebrook Church

The church looked lovely and colorful and a cozy warm  feeling filled the room.
It is amazing what a lot of willing volunteers can do, learning to work together to bring beauty and a welcome feeling into the hall.  I laughed one year as the napkins were put on one way and then someone came and rearranged them all.  It is important to see the humour in all things!

Many cups of tea and lots of laughter and chatter and even the minister seemed to have a fun time.

The only helping I do is to sit behind the table and sell books.  I know that I would spill the tea if I was pouring or just get in the way in the kitchen so the best place is sitting out of the busy traffic.

What I am try to say is that we are just an ordinary group of people with eccentric ways, and strong opinions and yes a stubborn humanness,  A Christian is not a perfectly mature person but one that has faults and also experienced difficulties in their lives.

We all  need to grow in our trust of others and in our trust of God.
 Learning to work together and use our individual gifts is important.

 Everyone who performs an act of goodness, wisdom, justice and beauty is doing the will of God and being empowered by the spirit even if they do not recognize it. The scripture says all good gifts flow from heaven which I think of is a good place somewhere that is touching all our lives.

 

We have been to some crazy churches, in the past, but what made them seem crazy was their openness to admit that they were vulnerable and broken people.  They have come from unstable backgrounds and realize their need for the mercy and grace of God. 

  In many ways it was unstructured but a lively place to be.  We made some dear friends who if I met today I would give them a big hug!

The church is called to be a place where questions can be asked and doubts expressed.  There will be differences in what each one of us believes and the important thing is the willingness to keep on learning.  Do it all prayerfully and with grace.

People from the community come and join us in our tea time because they feel comfortable.  It would be good if we could create this atmosphere on Sunday morning.  Coming  together to be drawn into the mystery of God can be scary until we just relax and be ourselves.

On Sunday as we gather to pray and to listen to what we call the Word of God  I like it when there are times of silence and quiet meditation.  Time to enjoy the music and the creative artwork. Time to admit that within us our spiritual needs that are very real and have life and purpose of their own.

 Many, many years ago people did not own their own Bibles so they gathered together in community to hear it read aloud. 

A simple verse like the one from Leviticus (yes that Old Testament full of angry prophets and fighting and killing) says "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your  people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord."

We all have to begin simply learning to love those in our family and then in our church and then in our community and then in our country.

One definition of love would include a sharing of purpose and common interests.
 
 What could be complicated about loving your neighbor? 
What can be complicated about setting a table for tea; well it is when people have different ideas.

Who decides what is loving and what is not?  Kind words are important and being aware that some people's feelings may be hurt more easily helps us to try and guard our tongues.
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There is a continuous  invitation from Jesus to follow his words,  even when we do not understand even with all our doubts and questions.  I have found our church to be a very loving and caring place.

Here I sit after a frustration time with my computer.  I wanted to correct errors from the day before. Nothing is working but dad helps and the problem is mysteriously fixed.  I think it is mysterious anyway.

Today when the sun finally came out dad went for a bike ride, I had a visit with the neighbors over the way and then both dad and I did some work in the front yard.  Then we took our books and read in the sunny back garden.  Before we knew it was time for tea!

I rewrite my words early this morning and the day is looking clear and ideal for my walk.

RAINFALL

An update on Karl and Mark your cousins in Alberta. Mark had to be airlifted out of the Lafarge Cement plant when it was surrounded by water due to the heavy rainfall and flooding in the area. There was 5 of them that had to keep the water out from the plant and then be taken out by helicopter.
 Karl is fine and the cattle are on high ground. Pat is away in China and Korea and will be home in 10 days.  Uncle Brian is still have lung problems and Auntie Traudl goes on July 5 to see the specialist about the blood clot.  They appreciate prayers. 

It rained and poured hard here all day.  On the news it showed flooding in Calgary and Canmore area. and Chilliwack and area had heavy rainfall too.  In Canmore people have to leave their homes and seek shelter in recreation buildings.  Roads have been washed out and conditions are bad and will probably have worsened over night.

I go out for my walk knowing I will get drenched even with rain gear on.  Later we drove to White Rock to pick up a few things for recipes I have written down from the Gourmet   Goddess.  Then carried on to do visiting.  Jim was not expecting me on such a miserable day so was half asleep and I startled him awake.  I met another fellow named Jim he told me how much he liked the banana split from the Dairy Queen.  Maybe I will be taking orders soon.

There is a line in the song "Bitter Sweet Symphony" that says: I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me.".  It must be very painful to have to leave your home knowing it will be damaged by the rain.  This is not the way life should be.  Others will join them as they seek shelter and they will share their experiences but I would imagine it would all feel so unreal.  What ever differences people may have, some will be rich and some poor, they will have a bond that transcends their differences.

Suffering helps us to discover courage and strength we did not know we had.  I know that I would want to gather my loved ones close to me as possible because they are what counts.

I do this by praying for you one by one.

Sometimes when life gets difficult there is the possibility that we become open to the mercy and grace and gratitude and gift of appreciation and joy that is with us in the small moments.  Times can be tough for us in many different ways and there is no theory that can explain but there are lessons to be learnt.

"The Franciscan priest points out that native Americans have a tradition of leaving a blemish in one corner of a rug they are weaving because that's where the spirit enters."    -Drops  like Stars

One final note  I do not believe that floods, or earthquakes or sickness are God's punishment for sin!

HOPE

Every night we look out to see our little lights glowing.  Glowing in the darkness.  I glance at the newspaper and again there is a story of chaos and disaster.  I hope that the change that is desperately needed and that people are willing to die for,  will happen.  It is hard to be hopeful when the news seems so negative. I am hopeful that the Taliban and \the\\U.S. will find a peaceful political solution to end 12 years of war.




The morning is wet and dull. The news says it is windy and rainy in Edmonton but I do not know about back east,  I go for my walk in the wet steady rainfall.  The fire truck passes me and I want to jump up and wave and say "hey look at me now!"


I am hopeful the sun will shine and we will be able to sit outside again for lunch..  Although today is visiting day so I plan my day around this.  In  the morning I visit Mrs. G. as we have discontinued our walking especially now she works in her garden and gets out once a day and that is enough.
Then over to the Home with the milkshahe.
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Yesterday dad and I had fun helping people pick out books at the strawberry Tea. The best part is visiting with some dear old friends.  We came home with a small box full and spent our last penny.  There are two books on China for Carol and two Swedish mysteries for Sandra.  I bought Jane Goodall's book "Reason For Hope"  Also bought dad's one donation back with a dollar.  He has only had it for a year so I hope he will finish it.

We crabbed a quick bite when we got home and skyped Mary and Michael-John, Sandra and Simone.  She sure looks adorable and surrounded by lots of love..  Grama Sandra will be busy trying all her new little outfits on her.  I can just see it now.  On with one outfit and then Oh time for a change and on goes another!

It is wonderful that Sandra can be there and also Michael's mom Jean. 
I thought Gama Jean looked well and very happy too.

Simone was moving around a lot and of course cannot hold her head up so a little hard to get a picture.  I put some on last night from Skype.

Today Jane is having cataracts removed so I hope and pray all goes well.

"There is reason to hope if we continue to value human compassion,:  address evil and work for change and maybe then we can overcome anger and the need to conquer others with our beliefs or our superiority.


Every Sunday morning when the scriptures are read we are reminded to discover the hopefulness, in the words we are listening to, they are a gift, that through study and discussion we can learn to live. lAt the end of the service the minster declares go out and live what you believe.

WISHES

Mary and baby Simone.  by Skype


 Daddy is home too


One very, very happy but tired family.  Wishing I could hold her.
I sure do miss them all and love them lots too.

FAITH

 

I am having trouble with my computer but was amazed that this picture went on

Let us know when you have planned to come..

The picture is of Jesse holding Mathew and Melina with Jasmine, the Aussie Bennett's

 

All nature communicates truth to us all the time
we just need to pay attention.

 Sitting on the front porch I see a spider weaving it’s web in perfect symmetry, I feel the gentle presence of the wind, the brightness and warmth of the sun, and a little caterpillar slowly crawling across the path. 

All reminds me of the importance of faith in a world beyond what I am experiencing.  There is a power that transcends my understanding that has designed all that I am reflecting on.

The funniest thing happened Tuesday morning.  There was a lady on the C.B.C talking about the possibilities of future earth quakes and I think the cats must have been listening.  There have been no cats today at all.  No black and white cat by the pond, no orange cat strolling by the front door, no gray cat climbing on the fence, no black cat hiding under the car across the street.  Animals can sense changes in nature evidently before we do. 

It is late afternoon and still not a cat in sight.  Strange.

Dad and I were sitting outside when Carol walked in the gate and joined us for a visit.  Another perfect day that had started out threatening to rain but the sun chased the clouds away.  We are listening to easy listening music on our T.V. speakers and enjoying the quietness of the songs,

I had messed up the kitchen making banana muffins but the annoying thing was I did not have the right mixture of flours.  I went ahead anyway hoping they would turn out okay anyway.  Well, they were pretty good almost as good as dad made last year.  He was smart and made sure he had all the ingredients before he started.

I have faith in sacred traditions that have taught us human beings to be generous, kind, forgiving, compassionate and open-minded. 

Why then has faith become so passionate-and so dangerous?

Wed. morning cool and no sign of the sun but it looks promising.  Today is the Strawberry Tea at Colebrook Church.  A very busy day for a energetic few.  That is not me.  I will help at the books but wish I could do more but we do what we can.  I am doing so much better but am being very careful as I know your health can be a fragile thing.  I feel for others who are forced to withdraw from actives and I know that often their talents are not being used as they could be.

MORNING MAGIC

Two little humming birds came for a visit.  I think they were humming birds with their wings going so fast and furious.  Then I realize they are not humming birds but still amazing.
One actually rested on my hand for a moment.  They are drinking in our little water rockery.

Earlier the black and white cat came before I had turned the pump on and had sat and waited patiently until I did and then she had a drink because they like the running water.

The sun was now up and shining brightly so I started out for my walk. Took a picture of the front garden before I left.

Came home and made some soup and did some cleaning up before heading out to the back yard and sit and read.  What a perfect day warm but not too warm.

Dad was busy taking some old paint cans to the disposal and then took the car over to have the brakes fixed.  Came home in time for soup and the hockey game.  Left the car.

A peaceful day that began with a sense of the magical.  There was a sense of the mysterious and magical and unfathomable in my experiences during my day.  A Sabbath that was not the Sabbath.

When I write about God I realize that this may be a spiritual inadequacy trying to name all that name includes which has been many names over the centuries.  I like the name "Ancient of Days" too.

There is a story about Moses who  cried out to God to show him His  glory.   All Moses saw was His back as God told him to hide behind a rock and He would pass by. All Moses saw was His back.  A story that   ancient rabbis thought  meant was a euphemism for "where I just was."

Looking back on my day I realize that I could not capture the little bird nor could I remain in that peaceful place where I was reading but somehow God's presence,  that is beyond my understanding and beyond my words,  was with me. 

Woven into our lives are these moments of sheer delight and shining grace of the spirit that we may see at the time or we may see looking back.  A new baby is one of these miracles!

Laughter and friendship too!

This picture is for Rick.

This is the new step dad made that should be safer coming out from the house.

DELIGHT CONT.

I am fooling around with the pictures on my computer.
I am having a slow day after being with all those energetic young people.
I did go for my walk first..

DELIGHT

I am delighted to look at the sky with the powerful message that ended the day on Saturday.  The minister reminded us that God calls to us through scripture to listen to His offer of forgiveness, comfort and joy.  I believe he also calls to us through nature that is all around us.

His love is expressed through each one in our family as we gather to celebrate father's day and be reminded of the important role of a father.

Sunday we decided to have the picnic lunch at Carol and Panteli’s new home.
 Lot of work getting it all set up and it is looking great.


Ben had just finished his lacrosse game and had his best game ever, scoring 6 goals
 and no penalties.  Good work Ben
      

Our delightful grand daughters Theresa and Kim!

 

This is the card that Morgan created for great grandpa with the help of Pentali.

I know I had a delightful time and was spoilt by everyone waiting and serving me,

Dad and I came home but Carol and \Kim and the dog went to the beach.  The dog would have a great run there.  Mikie and Theresa had to pick up food to take to Chuck's house to celebrate with him and his brother here for a visit.

Good we got home in time to have a chat with Melina and Ken and the children.  This has been a bad time for colds because of an extra amount of rain there.  They did enjoy the hockey game with Canada playing Russia in a full around game.

While on a walk around our yard I am reminded that God's love is so richly displayed in these roses.

This knowing deepens within me as I contemplate the wonder of nature and how these roses have grown and unfolded over time and we too can grow and bloom right where we are planted.  Our delight is to pause and wonder and find wholeness and hope for our future.

We take great delight in all our family and are happy Simone and Mary are doing well!  Sandra phoned dad on the way to the hospital for a visit.  We would like to know how much she weighs and more about them all! 

Rick just remembered it was father's day and called dad from work this morning.  Short but informative conversation.