RESTING IN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

One of life’s most precious gifts.
Nature is painting for us
day after day
Pictures of infinite beauty if only we had eyes to see.
If only we took time to sit and rest and enjoy!

A little chipmunk busy eating but so far away.

Sometimes I even have time to sit on the bench and think and meditate and pray.

I cannot begin to express or explain the presence of the force that continues to strengthen and guide me.  For me it is relaxing into unconditional love that wraps around and helps me let go of fear and uncertainty.

Rest is healing and so our the words:I love you, I hear you, I miss you.  Can I help you?  Thank you Theresa, and Ben, and Morgan for coming to help me sort through things and get a little organize.  What a wonderful help a few extra hands can be.

 There are many words in the Bible that are healing words.
"The Lord appeared of old unto me, saying,  Yes I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

'I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."  Psalm 121

"For I will restore health unto thee and I will heal thee of all thy wounds: saith the Lord.  Jeremiah 30
Today I need to receive healing emotionally and physically, so I trust that the Lord will keep his word.
Melina receive a blessing when she read in the Bible that her dad would be healed and he was.



“Always hold fast to the present.  Every situation, indeed every moment is of infinite value."

In the bustle of life.  In the pressure of decisions, peace has become a luxury
Take it when it comes, cherish it.  It gives you time to breath.
It gives you rest and hope and life.
-Pam Brown

Good news the Bennett's have arrived home safely! !

Sandra and Randy have purchased their new home.

Sorry about Jesse's suitcase.  Let us know how his health is and if he is still having pain.

Today Saturday we go to an open house for Cathy's 50 birthday.  The family will all be there.
Later go to the art show where Morgan has a picture on display.
Had a short slow walk missing my company but it is a lovely day here,

EMOTIONAL GOOD-BYES

Yes the time has flown by and it was time to be off to the airport to catch their first flight to L.A. on West Jet.
Ken a experienced flyer but the stress of flying stand-bye is very high. I am hopeful they can catch a flight out of L.A. towards home.

Jasmine is a typical 3 year old who is full of mischief .  She is also very curious and loves to climb so that nothing is too high for her to reach.  Hopefully we will find a few things she may have hidden!  Or we may have replaced!


Matthew  loves to color with great intensity and does a good job and he knows all about dinosaurs and loves animals.

One of many hugs good-bye


Our last good-bye at the airport.

I left in tears!
Our journeys continue!

VISITERS

                                       Rick arrives on Monday for a short but enjoyable visit.



Morning became the time when we did our best visiting.  Myself, Ken and Melina were the first ones up sitting  around chatting over coffee.  Precious moments.  Then the sleepy heads Jasmine and Matthew and dad would appear.  The children would like to sneak down and surprise us all.
Jesse being the teen-needed extra sleep especially with the way he is growing.

At first I would have my walk alone but enjoyed it when Melina and Ken joined me.


Ken and Rick pose for a picture.  Such joy for a mother's heart

Other visitors also dropped by.

THE WEB

I have found that my emotions can be like a web that seems to hold you in it's grip ofsadness or happiness.
The whirlwind of energy and emotion that the Bennett’s  have contributed to our days has been fun but now we will feel empty sad and alone as they prepare to leave.

Sandra and Randy have mixed emotions leaving their home where we have had so many gatherings and so much happiness.  Now they have to create a new home!  Sad to leave the old one too.  They put so much work into it.


I peak in with Sandra at their living room window.



This is the view  from their house.

I grew up with different views than the young people of today and I believed what I was taught.  I have since learned a lot more about life and about human nature and also about sex. 
And actually sex was never talked about when I was growing up.

But what I believe is that different people come into our lives to teach us and this is a gift of God.  I try to think positively about others and not to judge them in any way.  I feel very sad about stories where I read about where people are teased about their weight, about their nationality, about their looks or brains and about their feelings about relationships.

I have learned a lot from my grandchildren and I hope that I love each one just as they are.  My heart aches for anyone who is teased and made fun of.  I respect the young people of today and know they have much to give to a world that needs healing.

Within each one of us is a beautiful soul!

It is so very important for us to have a good positive attitude for every moment of our lives, even when there does not seem to be a reason for doing it,  at the time.

Thursday morning and bags are being packed.  Feeling very sad but happy everything went so well.  Great fun to have a family get together last night.  There will be many changes in their lives before we see them again.  We wish Melina well in her new undertaking working at the school.  Praying for good health in the upcoming season and Happy Father's Day for a great dad  our son Ken.

Good parenting you too it is not easy with such bright and active children.  We love you all more than words can express.  Thank you for everything.  We enjoyed your visit even though a little over whelming at times.  Great fun!

Praying for a safe flight and that they are able to make all their connections.

A TAPESTRY OF LOVE

                                                There was the beauty of the lake.

                                                   The sun shining on us all.

What a gift every one's presence was for us all and yes dad was missed.


Ben with his metal after winning his tournament.  He loves being a goalie and had two shut outs.  Good job Ben.






What will our future hold?  A tapestry of loving memories!


We now have a treasury of wonderful moments of the visit of Melina and Ken.  Our home has come alive with noisy excitement and lots of “why” questions.  Oh to be 10 years younger and to be able to travel on the sky train and the sea bus and visit Gas Town  with them.  What fun it would be.
We have fun hearing all about as they come in the door.

It has meant for dad and I to just relax into the way things are and float with the current instead of trying to organize or change.  Each day has been colorful with some scratches and accidents but it just adds to the tapestry.

Dad and I are so blessed and so happy to have Ken and Melina and Jessie and Matthew and Jasmine come on such a long journey to be with us all.  We feel so very loved!

Wed. morning I wake up to the sound of heavy rain.  We do need it after so many lovely warm days.
Our prayers will go with them when they leave on Thursday.  The time has flown by!

THE PARTY IN THE PARK

We finally got most of the family together  at the park at Cultus Lake for Theresa’s 30th!  I can hardly believe it!  Wow!  What a celebration!

The birthday girl arrives and we all sing “Happy Birthday as she approaches!

Morgan goes for a swim under water while Matthew and Jasmine wade out.

Even Sandra tests the water.  A bit cold but not too cold.

Carol and Ben have a swim and so do Ken and James.                Jesse and his mom below here.



Soon to be married Leah and Craig

Oliver arrives by motor-bike joining the busy crew putting out food etc.
Being at the lake is great fun but also a calming experience and also makes me feel thankful to see the beauty and magic of it all.

“She gives most who gives with joy!  -Mother Theresa
I believe Theresa was named because of her influence on us all.

Each one in our family gives so much by what they bring and especially being present!  A long way for some to come especially Oliver from the Island.

HUMILITY AND CONFIDENCE Monday Morning.

We had a wonderful time at Cultus lake on Sunday with most of the family.  I was so happy to see Oliver and Lea and Craig, and each one of the others.  It was a celebration of Theresa's birthday and I will put pictures on later or to-morrow.

 Dad published this last night by mistake.


It is very important to try and become balanced so that at times our confidence shines while at other times it is our humility.  Our goal for our children was to treat others fairly, expect that life is unfair and even hard at times, and to be honest and kind.

There are times when our greatest strength is to be confident and I often find that comes when I feel I am in the right place doing the right thing.  Like taking Jim his milkshake.
The only problem was dad wanted to change the slow leaking tire at the same time.  The only problem was that a key was needed to take the tires off.  It is always the same story we try to lock things up and often it is us that our locked up and unable to get in.  That seems to be the case with me.

Every morning I want to live the day with a caring and a peaceful heart But there seems to be strong, very strong-willed forces working against me.

Keeping children active helps everyone to have fun.

Years ago my first reaction would be to freak out, to feel anger and frustration and even annoyance.  Being with children is a test of our character and both of us have growing pains.

Children also remind us not to take life too seriously.  Most of us can handle filling one pail at a time!   or taking one  day a\t a time!

I have lost confidence in my own strength and ability to do things I would like, in fact I can even get dizzy standing on a chair, but it is both humbling and yet joyful as I appreciate life even more.

Trying to be like some one else does not make me better but accepting my own uniqueness is loving myself as I am and loving others as they are!

SEEING LIFE WITH NEW EYES

There is a time to enjoy the wonder of being alive!  Here I am caught on camera at the Sylvia!

Like most people my time and experiences are valuable to me.  Each morning I wake up wanting to explore my walking with new eyes to see all that is so beautiful.  I look forward to meeting the person I am meant to meet on my walk.  Yesterday I met Joanna and I love hearing her funny stories.  She met a man who she thought was Larry and was asking how the family from Australia were.  He looked at her strangely and said she had the wrong person.

Also she suggested a blind date with her daughter and Jesse, but I was not surprised when Jesse was not interested.  She would take them to the P.N.E. and that would have made his visit a little more interesting, although he seems to enjoy going with the younger ones on their travels.

They were all going with Carol to feed the birds at the bird sanctuary and have a picnic there with Morgan and I sure it was a real party time.  Carol is a lot of time and enjoys the children whole-heartedly.  Yes, being a grandma is a great joy!


“To love is to risk not being loved in return
To hope is to risk disappointment
but risks must be taken because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, sees nothing, and is nothing,
He cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love and live.|”
author unknown
I

I try to be honest with my writing acknowledging I make mistakes,  I get miserable at times, but I try to think positive and to be open to learning.  I try not to get drawn  into the drama of other people's  lives because I do not want to judge them or even correct them.  It is so easy to see the faults and mistakes of others and yet not to see our own.

I admit that I am trying, especially to see the life of others from their perspective.

I could not feel restful last evening thinking that Ken and Melina were driving around looking for the park  trying to connect with Carol and the children and thinking I had given them the wrong phone number.  I try to not worry and just be peaceful but sometimes I just need a little reassurance.

Not sure if we will make it to the Lake family outing it depends on dad's feet which were very painful yesterday,  I do not know about church but will try and go.

 

Cherishing one's self and loving and accepting who you are

has the potential to make you a joy to be around.

SATURDAY UPDATE

Yesterday I posted two blogs and most of the news is on that.
Dad and I drove into Vancouver.

Over the bridge and through the town to the beach.


Destination the Sylvia and good memories.

Kindness is more important than wisdom and the recognition of this is the beginning of Wisdom!

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

We are waiting with excitement for the arrival of the Bennett family from Kelowna where they had a grand time.  Jasmine is feeling a little home sick and I understand that feeling.  The Bennett's  arrived back home here about 7 o'clock the children looking very sleepy as they tumbled from the car after a long drive.  They stopped at Manning Park and had their pictures taken under the huge black bear.  Pizza was the order of the day.

Saturday they will be joining other first time golfers from Sandra's work for an afternoon of golfing and dinner with prizes.  I hope it is not raining. Carol with the help of Morgan will be taking care of the children.

I went for a quick morning walk,  the day was dull and unpromising on Friday.


We took fresh flowers in to the Hospice only to find with relief and with sadness Eileen had departed for  a better place.

Feeling unsettled dad and I drove to the Sylvia where we met our familiar waitress and enjoyed the view and a light lunch with heavy hearts.  The amazing thing was she brought her three boys all together and they had not seen or spoken for years.  Always sad even when expected and you know it was time.

Back home I am graving sweets and fortunately Theresa had brought me lots of gluten-free cookies from the States.  Tried to start a mystery novel. 

Reminded again that life and death is the greatest mystery.