THOUGHTFUL

Thoughtful morning in quiet prayer..

Then a short but fast walk enjoying the beauty of nature.

A thoughtful sermon  by our minister Daniel.  God has many names much like we have nick names that may be thoughtful but some times aare actually thoughtless.  The names for God came out of an oral tradition and are revealed in the stories in scripture and especially in the parables of Jesus.  The truth of the matter is that God is beyond any language and yet can beexperienced even in the face of a stranger.  The wonder of imagination and mystery.

Panteli thoughtfully volunteered  to do some pruning of the one tree whose branches had been damaged and killed by the snow and the other tree was overgrown and tangled  with the broken branches.  Lots of hard work on a warm sunny afternoon.  Even cleaned it up and put it in the brown bags.

It was very thoughtful of Carol to phone and  let us know she plans to come at the end of May.  It will be an exciting month with the Star Wars party coming up next Sat.  Randy and Sandra will deserve a reward for all the effort they  are putting in to make it a fun and festive time with costumes and all.

Dad had not been feeling good enough to attend church and was having doubts about going to Sandra and Randy's.  Sandra had been thoughtful in inviting us and making dad's favorite meat loaf.  And even apple pie!

Missy the cat likes to play games with us.  If you go to pet her she runs away and then later wants to climb on your lap.  Peanut is always happy to see us and likes lots of pats.

We are back home again and dad is watching his hockey game.  Sounds like some one has scored.

My day began with a thoughtful time of prayer and now ends with a prayer of thankfulness.

OVER -DONE April 29

How quickly it can happen.

It can happen so easily especially when I am cooking and I end up with a burnt mess.

If I walk too far I end up tired and cranky.

Too much coffee, or juice, or sugar, or bread is unhealthy.

Too much over-eating or dieting

Staying up too late or getting up too early

Feeling too negative about myself

especially when I cannot find things

like my favorite top and my gold cross.

Did I give it away?

Too much noise

Too much talking

Too much religion?

Each day brings the promise of hope and joy and love and friendship.

Knowledge that I can start again with healing words of faith.

Some things I need to just let go of, to release and to get over.

Move on.

God never gives up on me so I should not give up on myself. 

Dad had a bad night with asthma again.  Not good.

WALK ON April 28

I walk by my garden in the morning and am tempted to stop and pull those nasty weeds.  

This is my neighbor's garden and I am also tempted to pull their weeds as I walk on by.

I have been making a lot of mistakes so please walk by them.

Dad woke up with a coughing asthma attack on Friday but courageously traveled out to see Tavia.

She phoned to see if we were really coming because we have forgotten or come on the wrong day.

Her and Shawn have a new basement suite in Langley  It was a tricky way to get there so of course we drove by where we were suppose to turn off.  We drove on by.

Computer not working.

Oliver is very small ans closes his eyes every time I point the camera at him.

We looked after Tavia when she was this age.  Very active and stubborn but very lovable.

REWARDS April 27

                                                   A very rewarding day!

                                 Kim looking beautiful at the Kwantlan Awards night.

Her award says it all.  

"Kim is currently completing her fine arts degree to pursue a teaching career.

When she is not studying or working she keeps busy by planning events for Kwantlen Art Collective. and organizing drop in soccer.  She feels it is important to be connected to the community by getting involved and giving."

She looked radiant in her lovely dress.

Mathew one of Kim's admirers who shared our table at the awards banquet.

A very brave young man who has had two operations on his head for a brain tumor.  He had radiation and kemo and was able to keep a positive attitude.  It was the mental health issues that hit when he returned to school was the most depressing and discouraging re-action.

Now he is raising money for cancer by going on bike trips. 

We had a very rewarding day.  First picking up Kim from the airport which she may it easy for us to do by standing out front and waving.  The traffic coming home was a bit of a disaster as there was an accident at the tunnel and of course all the traffic was coming over to the Alex Fraser bridge.

We arrived home in time to have a 10 minute nap and then it was off to College.

We have been reward in many ways by sharing our lives with our children and grandchildren and of course great grandchildren.  Each one of them is special in their own way and we wish them to continue to contribute to the lives of others who are touched by their caring and compassionate ways. 

Dad and I are being rewarded with many happy memories of fun time with our loving family.

"We have to recognize that there cannot be real true relationships unless there is commitment, 

unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience and persistence."  -C.  Wist

Some rewards build over time.  We are so thankful.

Today we are visiting Tavia in Langley for lunch.  She is so kind and caring.

TODAY APRIL 27

Today we pick up Kim from the airport and attend the awards banquet at her college.

Today dad will continue to put together the shelf for my bathroom.  The instructions are all wrong
and there are packets of lots of different screws and if he is lucky the right ones will be there.

Today the sun is shining shyly so the day can go any way.  The pedals are flying off the trees  with the slightest breeze.  The air is fresh and smells of mowed grass.  I cut grass yesterday and it is tough going.  I need a self driving mower.  The trick is not to let it grow too long.

Today I hope Jane is back in her own home.  She had one of her painful bowel attacks and her daughter Susan took her to Lions Gate Hospital.  She was tired but cheerful.  Geof is doing better and the children all visiting.  Jane looks forward to taking Geof for walks along the sea wall.

"Just for today I will strive to recognize the beauty within myself.
I will escape discouragement and replace it with virtue.
I will offer compassion and forgive my faults.
I will bury self doubts and plant seeds of optimism
I will caste out bitterness and treasure purity
Today . . . . .
I will embrace every good thing and surrender my heart to God."
(who holds it in loving hands)
-Leslie A. Neilson

PUZZLES APRIL 26

Life is a puzzle and I wonder if I will ever really figure it out.

Dad has bought a new shelve for my bathroom and is puzzled in try to fit it together.

His tools are safe in our bedroom.

The weather is a bit of a puzzle as it is cold in the morning but then warms up and spring is here.

Dad did not know where the lemon squares are or he would have come to grab them before they disappear.  I wonder if comments also seem to disappear.

Computers are still a puzzle for me.

Our Bible study was all about helping people in difficult circumstances and answering the questions seemed simple but putting the answers to work in real life is not so easy.

Several friends are facing tragic and difficult situations.

It is a puzzle to know what to say or do to be helpful.  

Some people are willing to be supportive of our minister while others gossip and criticize.

Years ago we had a minister who would remind us that we were to love the unlovable which is not always easy.

Prayer is a puzzle and I believe every prayer is heard but not always answered in the way we hoped.

This can be prayer for ourselves or prayers for others.

The bottom line is that we are called to help one another.

We listen to their questions knowing that there are no easy answers.

God believes in us even if we do not believe in Him.

There is a spiritual strength within each one of us that is real and unique.

The answer that Paul received  was that the grace of God would be his strength.

Let Me be your strength.

Courage will come.

It is okay to question if we are willing to trust the answers.

Faith has healing, comforting power.

Living prayerfully is a challenge!

ANTIQUE

Somethings become more valuable as they age.

Visiting the elderly and learning a bit about their lives has been a good experience for me.

Dad drove me again today and we stopped at the M and M's store on the way home.  It is so handy to have a few meals in the frizzier.  

Our old wood end table with one wobbly leg was greeted with enthusiasm when we took it to the yard sale.

My mom had no use for antiques, she wanted modern furniture.

Our furniture has been up graded from the boards and cement blocks which made into book selves and our bedroom furniture we painted ourselves.  Later we chose maple furniture but we fell in love with this antique when we started going through antique stores.  Soon it will be time to down grade our furniture if and when we move to a new place.  I will look forward to that as our furniture may not be antique but it is looking shabby.

It was fun to have Haiti visit and go for a walk with me.  She loves going to the park and having a run around.

Our church services have not changed very much over the years.  There has been an effort to encourage participation  but the antique practices of Bible reading, prayer hymns and sermon are the foundation of spirituality that seems ageless.  

Today Ev will be picking me up for Jetlag Bible study where we discuss the meaning and purpose of our faith in our every day lives.

MUMBO JUMBO APRIL 24

The garden at the church.

The sermon title was called "Mumbo Jumbo".

The minister, Daniel, had a man who lived across from the church who calls religion by this name.

I was thinking about this that it makes religion sound like fun.

It feels good to have Daniel back and I hope and pray for his return to be successful.  It is not easy for him I am sure and he is slowly just doing the sermons for now.

Yes, dad and I have been watching hockey and cheering on Edmonton.  Dad took time out to go to the mechanic whose friend was buying the car.  I went for a walk and did not feel like doing anything on the computer.

Monday Cathy dropped by on her motor bike,

She looks like she would fit in at the Star Wars Convention.

They are very happy in their new home out in the country in Langley.

We will go for a visit soon.

In the afternoon we picked up Vera a friend from church to take her for x-rays.  She is not doing well after having a fall.  She took an ambulance to the hospital where they found she had a broken pelvis but insisted she return to her Senior's Home.  She had to pay for nursing care as she could not move out of bed or even dress herself.  The hospital was over crowed but that was disgraceful  She is in her 90's.

Dad is now driving Panteli back home as the car has been sold.

We should have gone shopping today but will do that to-morrow.  Tavia has asked us over for lunch or supper but this is a busy week.  To-morrow I was planning to go visiting the dear old ladies I now visited as often as I can.  Wed. is Bible study day and Thursday we pick up Kim from the airport and go to a rewards banquet at night.

I like the words from the bulletin.

"You O Holy One awaken us to wonder.

You renew our dreams and visions

Your light shines deep into the shadows of our minds

You teach us to respect all life and all creation 

You call us to be seekers of the truth."

You free us from dogma and doctrine to discover the freedom to dance at the miracle of all life, freeof doubt and despair.

A MAZE APRIL 22 EARTH DAY

Our back yard is a maze of flowers

that spread into one another.

The thing I like better with a maze is that you can keep trying by going back and starting over again.

I do not like maps.

The world seems to be a maze of ideas!

Like I phones to monitor your pets/1

Sandra drove me to the church but I found I was not needed anywhere so after picking up a few items we left to go shopping.  It is nice to go shopping with your daughter although we each did our own thing.  We went to Value Village and you can get several outfits for a back or two.

I had a short walk and pulled some weeds before the day got cold, windy and rainy.  Dad waited too long to go for a bike ride.

I learnt two things today.  If your name is not in the obituary column you are doing okay.

If you have some one who disagrees with you it is a good thing.

Dad and I decided to put or feet up and ease the pain by watching a Net flicks series.  We found one with humor and action so that was good.

Trying to find a new way of faith that may be called spirituality and not religion may seem like a maze at times.  Learners are willing to discover new opportunities that deepen the work of the Holy Spirit.

DEPARTURES

Kim was here in very good time so we actually stopped for lunch at the River Inn on the way.

A beautiful summer day.  Everything would go well with her departure I am sure.  Not like the time we have taken the Aussies and when they were on stand bye they did not always get on.  Tyler was here in the winter and we made several trips to the airport.  Always good to see people come and then there are happy and sad departures.  This was a happy occasion. 

ARRIVALS

Dad and I were so pleased to have a visit from Oliver and catch up on his news.  We are very proud of his hard work and that he is continuing his education to be a navigator.  He will have lots of fun at the hockey tournament with his friends from Victoria.   

Our neighbors trying to cut branches down.  We were all laughing.

My lens is a little fuzzy again.

We had a busy day for the two of us.  First thing in the morning we took a couple of things over to the church sale.  They were having morning coffee with all the work done.  A good way to make friends and be a friend.  

I will go over and help with the books and dad can have lunch there if he wants.  The women out number the men but a fun group who work well together.  It has been like a second home to us!

A house becomes a home as it is more and more lived in with special treasures in every corner.

A home is a place where we welcome all the arrivals!

STRANGE

A very strange day.

Now we are all used to dad telling strange stories like when he went up north to prospect for gold.

He and Ron had staked a claim but I think this time he had gone alone.  He found a little stream and was panning for gold when the water stop flowing.  He looked up stream and there was a bear in the water looking at him.  They looked at each other for a while then day went back to his panning.  When he looked again his friend had gone.  He laughs when he tells this story.

We go to take our things to the yard sale and end up bring home two little table.  We do not need more things.  If something new is added I have to change everything around.  Dad and I do not agree on where they should go.  That is strange because he usually is not fussy about furniture.

I tried to help at the yard sale but put things in the wrong places.  Everything seem strange as they are doing it a bit different this year,  Very organized.  We have a room full of just books.

We drive down to the beach for fish and chips but when he finds his favorite place is closed he leaves the beach and we drive to Milestones.  That is my favorite restraint but I was looking forward to being at the beach and taking a few pictures.  At least I had a couple as we drove down the main street.

We get home and dad goes for a bike ride which is good not strange.

I lift my cup of coffee up stairs by the computer and he volunteers to go up and get it.  So I wait and wait and finally go up to find him asleep on the bed.  We do get tired easily but this was a little strange.

I have to admit we are both a little strange but I blame old age.

Maybe strange is the new normal!

Today we drive Kim to the airport about 11 to visit Hamlet of course.

Oliver phoned to say he has a hockey tournament  and will drop in about 6.

We are looking forward to having a visit.

The young people are always coming and going.

They keep love and faith and hope alive.

"People see God everyday

they just do not recognize Him"

Pearl  Bailey

RESILIENCE APRIL 20

My prayer for this morning.

It is cold and windy out for working in the garden.

The blossoms are already getting blown off the trees.

I talked to the man who bought Gundy's home.  He is fixing it up to rent but plans to tear it down in the future and build a home for his family.  He likes it because it is on the corner lot.  I am thinking they just may tear down our house so I should not worry too much about fixing it up.

Dad and I are taking some boxes over to the church for the yard sale this Sat.  It will be good for us to chat with some friends.  I will help a little.  People come to help that do not come to church which is appreciated.

Kim dropped by at supper time last night to do her taxes on our computer.  She did wonders with the last bit of the salmon and cheered us both up.

I am  trusting  that God has better plans ahead for us.

Until then I will be thankful and be resilient!

Good bye to negative energy!

One shoe (one day) can change your life!

--Cinderella 

LEFT - OVERS

The girls were so helpful cleaning up and putting away and giving us left-overs they forgot to 

leave Sandra any.  That was a shame as she was looking forward to tasting what had been made and she was too busy to enjoy it, I think.

The birds are singing and the sun, is weak but I expect it to get stronger.

There is a race in my garden between the new growth and the weeds.

I try to keep up but mine is a slow process.

I was one of the lucky ones that the iron infusion worked for me.  I think we all have to learn to pace ourselves especially when in your head you can plan to do it all.  The inside the outside.

No walk this morning or I will not have enough energy to clean up the yard.

I keep in touch with Jane by phone she is not on the computer at all.  She will need all the help her family can give her to regain her confidence and reassurance that she is doing the right thing.

I would like to believe that doubters are welcomed in our church.  They are needed to keep us thinking and growing.  This is why I like our Bible Study as we all have different opinions about a lot of things.

Even Mother Teresa expressed feelings of emptiness but she continued to do her work!

Our interim minister has now left and our old minister will be returning.

I hope that people will not allow left-over feelings to prevent new growth.

Forgiveness and mercy and grace are needed in our church with a good dose of compassion.

Right now workers older and grayer will be organizing the yard sale.  We get a lot of people giving left-overs that they cannot use but maybe others can.  Kim is coming over today so I may not help today but there is Thursday, Friday and Saturday is the big day.  

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.

But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

Mother Teresa

DOUBTERS

Yes I doubter that there was such a thing as a short blend of Sunflower.

The answer lay in this

little fascinating seed store in Ladner.

The happiest gals work there and are so helpful.

Doubt is a part of faith.  We will never know all the answers.

Both Peter and Thomas doubted in different ways.  Peter doubted that he would lose faith by denying Jesus and Thomas would not believe until he touched the side of Jesus.

We can believe in God and yet be doubtful of his role in this life of cruelty and suffering.

I had no doubt that lunch would be a huge success at Sandra's even without Randy's helpfulness.

Sometimes I doubt my own memory of things especially when dad and I remember things differently.

Life is full of surprises as I write about friendship in the morning Pat and John drop by in the afternoon. She calls me her partner in crime!  I have no doubts about their friendship for us both.

The Van. Sun writes "Christianity has made peace with its doubters."

"Faith is a virtue" that needs no proof but when there is doubt it can be a "stepping stone to faith".

Faith continues to grow stronger in me even when I feel the ground under me shake.

Faith has shaped my life and taught me what to value what is good in life!

FRIENDS

Friends are a very important part of my life.

Becoming good friens takes time and effort.

There is a willingness to want to share all your thoughts and feelings.

The thing is we enjoy their company.

We enjoy getting to know them as real people willing to be honest and kind.

"Teach this simple truth to all.  A generous heart, kind speech, and a 

life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity."  Budda

Growing old with good friends give meanings to our lives of ongoing heath issues and loss of strength and ability.

We have learnt to over look each other's faults and laugh at our mistakes.

I was thinking about the disciples and the crushing feelings they must have felt seeing Jesus put to death.  He had become a great friend with whom they did everything together.  Suddenly they feel abandoned and their lives have lost their purpose and meaning,

He was their hero.  He made them feel alive and worthy of great deeds.  He was a true friend!

"I think a hero  is really any person who is intent on making this world a better place for all".\Maya Angelou

Their friendship one of intimacy and empowering love!

Jesus has been to me a good friend whose love and understanding have shaped me in all ways.

CHARACTERS

Everyone loves the new kitchen. 

Doing dishes is fun!

Hamlet enjoys the fun

                                               Warm enough to sit outdoors

Ophelia dozes off for a few minutes

The men chat in the other room

Getting ready to leave.

Justice and Ben take a break from playing basketball

to pose with Morgan.

Lots of food, lots of fun, lots of noise.

We even brought some food home,

Dad has had too many fish and chips

so it is great to have some healthy food.

I did miss going to church as it is always 

wonderful to share the good news with good friends.

SYMBOLS

The angel announces Jesus is Risen!

The Easter egg Kim paintedd

Prayers for my family.

The Easter story

The cross Ron Ateah made for me.

The cross on which Jesus was crucified 2,000 years ago has become the universal symbol of the Christian faith.  The very essence of God is that He is Love.  His essential and unchangeable nature.

The cross is not about God's anger or about our need for punishment.  Instead it was His way of absorbing our sin and pain that caused Him anguish,

Ben is very knowable and is a great energy giver for his team.

At the soccer game

It turned out to be a warm lovely day.

We leftt the field to go join family at Sandra's.