NEWS

                                      We were expecting a call from dad's doctor. 

                                      Sandra drove over from work to find us out in the yard.

                                      It is junk day to-morrow and I wanted dad to help pick out what we can put out.

                                      I feel we have a lot of junk but dad disagrees.

                                      Since the doctor was going to be phoning  

                                    any minute we hurried into the house, 

                                  dad was the last one in..

                                  I was very relieved to hear good news.

                                 The tumor had grown a bit but not cancer.

                                  it  is  not the cause of his back aches.

                                 Unless there are signs like more discomfort

                                 he can wait till Sept. to have another talk.

                                                   Good News!

I am not doing well at typing but I want to share this good news.

This family certainly needs lots of good news.

Dad is having a lot of coughing at night because of asthma.

We are both tired.

We went over to Boundary Park where a lady stopped me to tell me

what a great couple we were coming to walk Spenser around the loop.

I am encouraged by the answer to our prayers and knowing we walk in the grace of God.

                                               

                            

BELIEF

                   WHAT WE BELIEVE SHAPES OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR ACTIONS.

Carol comes for a visit on Monday.  I have a hard time hearing her.  She does speck softly and I am sitting across the room.  I could also blame the furniture arrangements,  I wonder if I made a wise decision to stop going to the hearing doctor.  I did not want to make a decision that I may regret.  I will begin again some where closer to home.  I did not realize there would be so many visits.

Kim phoned today and we had a good chat.  I could hear her just fine and also I could hear Alba too. 

Sandra says she has phoned several times and we never answer.  It seems maybe I do not always hear the phone.

Yes I worry about our children.  I do believe that they have the strength and courage to work things out in their lives.

I will be happier when I hear the results of dad's scan.  Waiting has been hard.

"Success can come out of failure if we believe it can."

When the road gets tough then we get tougher.

Our destiny is being shaped .

We have choices to make and we learn from the good and the not so good.

To-morrow is a new day!  

EMOTIONS

                                             Ken phoned to ask why I had not written in my blog.

It was good to talk to him/.  He is making plans for his future.  

On  Saturday I was fee ling over-help when I listen to what dad is feeling.  I was thankful Sandra came over to share her knowledge with us.  I had to process it for myself.  Carol is also making plans for her future.

Sunday I rested and read scripture and talked to Jesus., with prayer asking for his help.

His words to me are always life giving.

"Do not be afraid , just believe"  .  Success can come out of failure and disappointment.

How can I learn from this experience?  

How can I feel happy?

What gives my life meaning and purpose.

Somehow our destiny is being shaped and molded  by a divine hand who loves and cares for us all.

It is important to move on.  To control our emotions by choosing to be thankful and kind.

MISSED

Saturday Sandra and dad did some banking.

After dad and I went to the White Spot.

We planned on going to church this morning

but we both slept in.

We are very slow getting ready.

 

I think we both miss going to church.

We had a quiet day today.

I read scripture and my worries have eased.

Throw the whole weight of your anxieties  upon him (Jesus)

for you are his personal concern. 1Peter;5

Unload all your worries on to him since he is looking after you.

God's solution is only a prayer away.

We miss Laura not coming she always brightens our morning. 

Our neighbors are putting junk out

so I started doing a little.

I seem to miss it every year.

Both days I missed a walk with Spenser at Boundary Park.

SUCCESS

 

                                                    No one can see into the future.

                                                    We all want to win the race.

                                                     We want everyone to like us.

                                                       "The race is not to the swift

                                                       or the battle to the strong'.......

                                                      but time and chance can happen to them all.

                                                     Ecclesiastes 9;1 1

I have friends tell me how successful they are.  They have a perfect husband and perfect children so they have no problems.  I cannot relate.

Yesterday I met a friend at the park and told her I was worried about my family.  For the first time she admitted her daughter was going blind.  The doctors did not help her. I could relate to her in a deeper way because she was being honest.

Yesterday was a miserable day.  I broke a tooth.  That sucks.  I hate going to the dentist.  It is so expensive.

I planed  to cut the lawn and but the lawn mower did not work.

I know everything will get fixed and that these are little problems compared to others.

Failure can be a step into something better.  We do need a better lawn mower.

We may not see what that is in the moment.

Today is sunny and Spenser and I will again walk to the park.

I never know who I will meet but that keeps life interesting.

STRESSED

                                             That was a very stressful trip home Sandra.

Mommy cat must have been waiting for you to come home.

Dad has been stressed out about my hearing aids since day one.  He was adamant that I keep the ones I had.  I was thinking of going back to the newer ones and giving them another  try. until dad ranted about that.  He can be very loving but he will bring up stuff that needs to be dealt with and forgotten.

I am very stressed out about Ken and Melina going different ways.  

I just felt I could not handle anything else.  

We are worried about Carol too.  Stage 4 is not good.

I am taking a walk with Spenser.  Dad had a long appointment at the dentist, very expensive too.

I am taking his car keys as I do not want him driving to look for me. 

I can go back to any ear doctor closer to home when I am ready.

I will be attending our ladies bible study to-morrow.

We know each other well and we have shared many difficulties and most important we laugh a lot.

Looking forward to going out.

 

PROMISES

                                               The morning held a promise of a sunny day.

To see the promise of spring in the flowering plants lifts my spirits.

Dad and I feel worried about the health and well being of our children. We know that we cannot heal them or help them through difficult days.  Each one deals in their own way.  I offer my prayers and my presence in any way I can to share and to care.  That is all I can do at this time.

I decided to get my money back for my hearing aids.  I feel too tired to deal with the energy it takes to adjust to them.  There was no problem at the hearing place.  They kept their promise to refund my money. He was very cheerful and under standing.  

The sun was shining as I left and dad and I drove over to see Carol and Panteli.  We shared a healthy lunch with them before we carried on home.  The cookies I took home where still warm from being freshly baked.

I am so thankful for a loving family.

Scripture is full of promises.

Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.     -Isaiah  ;26

scripture

M0VEMENT

                                                   Movement helps depression and worry.

                                                    It was cold and miserable in the morning

                                                    but I was glad I made an effort.

Dad came to pick me up at the park.  He asked some girls if they had seen me. " O you mean the old lady who walks funny."  

I was late getting there because a friend wanted me to come to her house to pick up some dog food.

Beliefs.

What we believe is important as it shapes the way we think and act.

Beliefs create a sense of certainty.  

Positive beliefs can affect our immune system.

I cannot believe I forgot to put dad's pills out this morning.

I cannot believe I wrote birthday cards and forgot to mail them.

They are now mailed.

I believe that our lives have purpose and meaning even when things do not turn out as we expected.

 

Sirra Sirra

                                                Sirra Sirra the future is not for us to see.

                                                    More rain shower or will the sun come out?

I am still learning to trust God to take care of me and my loved ones.  There are always some troubles.

No matter how well we have done in the past there will be challenges in our futures.

Nice to have a visit from Carol the other day.  

She is looking forward to visiting Kim and Hamlet and baby Alba.

Randy and Sandra plan to visit Edmonton to see the new baby Ella in April.

Ken I am glad you sold your house and now will move on with your life to a better place.  May be hard to find the right place but you will.

Believe in yourself.  "As he thinketh in his heart, so he is."  We believe in you.

Whatever is happening in our life our past has been preparing us for it.

Our love for each other is so important.

Our love flows out to every one.  Everyone!

WRITERS

                                             Why do writers write?

I write because I have a story to tell.

I write to share my life with family and friends.

Maybe it will help someone else to deal with experiences  in their lives.

I choose to believe it is a worthwhile thing to do especially if it touches the heart of a reader.

Every word we think or read or say matters.

I am reading "The Frontal Lobe" a book about a brain surgeon who exposes life on the inside.

I am learning that there is a redundancy and resilience to brain functions called plasticity.

Damage on one side of the brain can be well tolerated whereas damage to both sides is often irreversibly devastating.  The brain is surrounded by a cerebrospinal fluid which is also very important.  Too much or too little is not good.

A swollen brain leads to elevated pressure which is very bad.

Decisions have to be made about how to treat the patient.  His or her  age and  over all health.

My mom had a very nasty stroke which paralyze her whole body.  The amazing thing was her will to live but even that did not allow her to walk again.  Lot do recover over time

 Finding happiness can cajole your bein to lean to the left.-  Daniel Goleman

Interesting.

WELL D0NE

                                                     

                                    Well done I say to myself after we get the scan finished.

                                         Drinking the right amount of water at the right time.

                                              Arriving at our appointment right on time.

                                                 It was done very quickly,

                                                    No results until next week.

It seemed like a long day.  Raining hard so short walks with Spenser.  We watched a crazy movie about a girl trying to find out who her dad was and why her mom would never tell her anything about her life.  It was because she was in a witness protection  program.  It got our attention for the afternoon.

I was thinking of how proud dad and I are of our children.

Well done!  Kid!

YOU HAVE DONE WELL with studying and continuing to learn.  You are doing well coping with changes in your life.  You are helpful and kind and caring.  You have big hearts.  We appreciate all you have done for us.  We find we do need more help and we our thankful for it.

"We find many things on this strange journey called life but mostly we are finding out who we are"

-unknown

Well done Jasmine and Mathew.

Well done Ken and Melina selling your home.

I am a firm believer that even when we suffer there is an opportunity for deeper growth especially spiritually.  I call it soul growth.

I do not know why it printed like that.  I will leave it maybe the spirit is working.

 

CERTAINTY

How do we find certainty in a time of uncertainty.

Our family is facing a uncertain future.

Even the world around us is facing the uncertainty of war.

I can remember ever time we moved how uncertain I felt.

Especially moving away from friends.

And yet I have made new friends each time.

Yesterday I met Jan riding her scooter.

What an inspiration she is.

I walked by Hilary's and she ran in the house to give me more jam.

Laura did not come yesterday

but I am certain she will come on Friday.

She has become a good friend.

I am certain that love will be with us

in our love for each other

and God's love for us.

 

PRECIOUS

                                             Carol was thinking of coming over or having us over

                                             We decided to meet at the Silvia and spent some preciou.

I remember when the doctors told me my illness was hopeless.

I  decided to let God tell me what to do.  He did. I prayed and felt loved.

I am reminded how precious we all are to each other.

I am glad that Carol realizes how precious life is and that she will do what she can to stay healthy.

This may mean going to treatment in the States.

Driving in we could see the sun shining where she had left.

It was a cold rainy day here.

Not a  heavy rain like the last few days.

I have a strong sense that every day is precious

and our lives are precious in ways we may not know. 

.

                                                                             Precious

CORRECTIONS

/                                                     A quiet moment.

                                                Astrid  poses for the camera.

                                                             We go for a walk but they run ahead,

                                                                 Ophelia stops to wait for me. 

How many rocks can we take home?

I deleted the wrong blog.

Thankful Laura was here to walk Spenser in the morning.

We left early to get my shot.

Actually arrived early and went right in.

I was looking at the wrong form for dad.

I know his appointment is on Thursday.

He has it on his phone.

We have been waiting a long time.

I hope it will give us some answers.

Dad seems very tired,

Ricks form arrived here by mistake and mixed me up.

Thankful Laura had lunch all ready when we got home.

It was cold and rainy so my afternoon walk was miserable.

Both Spenser and I were glad to get home from the park.

To-morrow we have shopping to do.

We need to go out a least once a day.

I burnt the rice we were going to have for lunch

so it is good dad likes cleaning pots.

Every day is a chance to be kind and loving.

A time to turn off the T.V. and listen to dad telling his stories.

He has done many brave things and even saved a life.

I am thankful that  her and dad have a good chat every morning.

It is good for both of them.

I am off walking Spenser.

Rick I am hoping and praying one day you will have some improvement.

REMINDERS

                                             Sunday is a day to remind myself that God loves us all.

I must admit I am finding it hard to admit that I am having a hard time making peace with uncertainty.

As a mom I want my children to be happy and healthy.  I talked to Tasha today and she is well and still driving her big bus. Justice has mono. but is getting better.  She was annoyed at the way doctors treat people.  He went to the doctor with a sore throat and was told to wait in the car for a phone call.  ....they did not diagnose the problem correctly.  He had to go back and have a throat swab.  

Dad was not feeling too good today but he has good and bad days.  He drove me to Boundary Park where I go in the afternoon to walk Spenser.  He waited in the car.  We missed a call from Carol and Panteli inviting us for supper.  We love getting invitations but we had to say no.

I am thankful we get reminders for appointments.

I am getting my shot for calcium replacement Monday.

Wed. Spenser is getting a wash and a trim.

Thursday dad is having his scan with dye like Sandra just had.

I am reminded that we are all fellow travelers  on this tricky road called life and we need to help and support each other.  We need to be hopeful and have the courage of our convictions.

We are loved!

WONDERFUL

 

                                    What a wonderful surprise to open the door to see Craig and the girls.

                                      They are adorable and so active.

                                      Leah dropped in to join us on the way home from work.

                                      It was so good to visit with Craig and Leah.

                                      They have a busy days and Leah looked especially tired.

                                      I have more pictures to down load in the morning.

                                        

                                              Boy am I tired but very happy.

NORMAL

                                              Signs of spring give us hope.

                                           What is normal?  Am I normal for my age?

                                               Things to do seem to pile up on me.

                                          People I need to phone.  Appointments need to be made.

                                                Sometimes it feels like cobwebs are filling my brain.

                                          Life itself is just not normal any more.

                                          On Monday we went to the bank with Sandra.

                                          We needed to get things caught up and simple.

                                            We sure appreciate her help.

                                          I always feel stupid when he asks do you have any questions.

                                          Should I have questions?

                                           I know at any age life can be a struggle.

                                         The journey is about being true to your self.

                                         I am as normal as every one else, I think.

                                          We all make mistakes but do we learn from them?

                                          Sometimes I do but sometimes I make the same mistakes again and again.

                                           I keep burning things I cook I turn up the stove too high.

                                          I want all my prayers answered right away.

HOW

How do I live my best life?

What can I do to improve it?

Keep moving

Use my walker.

Eat heathier.

Oatmeal cookies?

Be thankful.

Enjoy nature.

Be appreciative.  

Today doing a little work in the yard.

Rest and pray.

Read. 

Learn and Listen and Laugh  

Stories told  and memories shared.

Shopping for presents for Sandra and Carol to deliver.

DAUGHTERS

 

                                                           Two lovely daughters.

                                            Dad felt bad he could not attend Carol's birthday party at Sandra's.

                                            He invited her out to the River House for breakfast on Sunday morning.

It was a beautiful very sunny day.

                                               A very happy occasion.

 I am doing my best to remember things.

I forgot my walker on my walk this morning.

I forgot to put my hearing aids in today,

I continue to make mistakes daily

I can make a perfect fool out of myself

but everyone has to e perfect at something.

We all have a destiny that waits to be fulfilled.

.this will take courage and wisdom and faith.

I am always looking for words to live by.

I have known some dark moments when my faith was tested.

"Optimism is like a muscle that gets stronger when used.".

Carol has a plane ticket to see Hamlet and Kim in 

April .

She is a very optimistic daughter.

Jesus said if we have faith we can move mountains

I will keep praying for everyone.

We all need prayers for divine help and guidance.

       

 

                                   

SHARING

                                               Cathy S. came and picked us up and took us to White Spot on Friday.

                                               Another good friend whose life really matters to us.

                                              She has a warm  heart and soul.  We are making plans to keep more in                                                     touch.

                                             It is so sad to hear the news about Trish's parents.

                                             We enjoyed meeting them when we visited Australia.

                                             It was warm enough to sit out on our front porch and talk to neighbors.

                                            Gordon our neighbor from across the street was washing his car and                                                         volunteered to wash ours too.  I gave him the keys and he drove it

                                          over to his drive way and did a great job.

                                         We are so fortunate to live in this neighborhood.

"We all strengthen the lives of others around us in ways that are deeply our own."  

They tell me seeing me walking every day encourages them to do the same."  

My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachael Naomi Remen, M.D.

When we care about others the life in us may touch the life in them.

Sending healing prayers to Carol and Rick and all our family.

                                  

                                                 

FREEDOM

                                             Tavia is a wonderful blessing working so hard in our garden.

                                             She knows what she is doing and she is a hard worker.

                                            She has a bright future ahead of her still attending school.

                                            Shawn her husband works for the Canucks as a chef.

                                            He loves his job.  He loves hockey.

                                            After a beautiful day feeling to thankful.

                                           I have a prescription for my calcium shot.

                                             After the hockey game to turned on to see more disturbing pictures of the devastation of Ukraine by .Russia.  Shocking news about a fire at the Nuclear Power Plant.  Freedom is priceless.  We have sent soldiers to war to fight against evil and corruption.   We have never had to see our homes and buildings destroyed and burnt to the ground.  We have never had to flee our country.

Evil controls in it's drive for power and profit.   Lives are lost but they fight on for their country and freedom.  Evil can easily seep into a nation that has lost it's soul.

What will the future bring/?  

  When will we become human beings that live with compassion not hatred and not violence?

APP0INTMENTS

                                                       No appointments today.

                                                           Dad was at the blood clinic right on time

                                                           We now have results.  All good

Yesterday we were just finishing lunch when jumped up to say we were late for his appointment in White Rock.  I rushed to the bathroom and told him to check the writing pad.  NO TME.   I jumped in the car and we took off.

The girl. was not happy.  No one was in the office.  Yes we were the first.

.Pull up your mask and sit down and wait was her advice to us.

                                
 Yes this was the second time we were too early.  

I am reading out things we are doing Friday.  Spenser gets his shot.   Cathty S is taking us out to lunch.

 Tavia may come to work in the garden.

I will check every morning to make sure we get the time right.

PROGRESS

..Suffering is just part of life.

Our progress is slow.

Dad finally made an appointment to get his blood work done.

Yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile dad needs to make changes in his diet.

Gone are the days when you went to the doctor and got a magic pill.

We have to figure things out for ourselves.

What are our greatest strengths?

What are our weaknesses?

beside spelling.

Grateful to be alive!