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!