GOOD NEWS

No second cup of coffee for dad and I Friday morning.      

We join a stream of cars heading for work to keep our
appointment at the cancer clinic for dad.  The young
doctor seemed pleased with his test results so he does not
 have to have another hormone shot and his next appointment
is in six months.  Good news!

After we return some of the home help items to the Red Cross; which dad said he had a hard time finding and he drove by the place again this morning, I was dropped off at the blood clinic to have final tests done.  We have the results and all look great accept for the hemoglobin still low.
Good news.

I must be doing something right and hope I continue to improve.

I have a lot to live for with all my wonderful children and grand children and even great ones.  I love to see pictures and hear of all they are doing.  One of the great joys of my life.

We hold each other in hearts full of love!

We will go to the health food store to get some liquid iron in the morning and dad will see an eye doctor first.  His shingles are improving slowly!

Dad went for a long bike ride in the Water Shed Park and after we drove to Sharkie's in Ladner and enjoy a fishy lunch outside,  A perfect day just to relax and enjoy.

I still have goals I hope to reach with better health, less nausea and renewed strength to bless others.

SATISFACTION

I am so thankful every morning I wake up not to be in the hospital.
There is no place like home
even when we have strange visitors.
I would not know what to do with a chicken
maybe it was looking for a place to lay an egg!

I find I get tired very easily but there is a difference between getting tired and the tired satisfaction knowing that every day is a slight improvement.

I was thankful day was willing to drive me to the Seniors Home yesterday as it was Jim's birthday and I was thankful I had a milkshake for him.  He also had been in hospital so he must had gotten a lot worse.  He was waiting for his daughter to come and I really hope she did.

I am reminded how important our relationships are and hope important it is to resolve misunderstandings.  It often can just be a little thing that can be hurtful.

Our lives can be change in a moment with external or internal adversity and each one faces it in their own time and own way.  I am amazed at how well many friends I know have cope with loss and pain.

Every affliction is unique and the path that helps me walk through it is prayer.  There is an assurance that renews my hope and faith and brings satisfaction at the end of each day.  I may not have done all I wanted to do but I try to do what is important.

A word, or a poem, or a verse of scripture or a song or a memory lighten moments of feeling down; which I think realistically we all have.  Most of us are doing the best we can!

HABITS

This is the only window that was open when we had a visit by the black and white cat.  Hard to believe it came in this way and left this way. This is one tough cat.

I have seen cats climb up into windows as well as trees.

We are not ready to get a cat but the thought crossed my mind.

We all develop habits that become like Henry Thoreau
says become ruts of tradition and conformity as we make a beaten track for ourselves.

Dad and I are free of a lot of tasks that formed patterns in our lives.  Most days now we wake up and see how we feel and discuss plans for the day.

I know that I am thankful to be free of a lot of things that demanded my time and energy in the past.  We do not miss the alarm clock at all!  I do not miss those feelings of I "should" do something.  Aging does bring changes in our abilities and in our habits and to be honest it is not always easy to adjust to these.

I went for my walk after the rain stopped but it was cold.  What a change.

We were going to go to the library but have several books we picked up at Sandra's house that we are enjoying reading.  We also turned the fire place on to take away the chill.



Dad has put some new inserts into his shoes and the pain lessoned for awhile.

I try to make prayer a habit but I admit some days it is difficult.  Prayer is the way I hang on to my faith in God who is doing much more than I can see or know.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Carol and Panteli will be stopping off at Toronto due to his dad's failing health.

 

A real cat and Mouse tail

Our neighbor saw a mouse climb up our wall into our house.  Into the room where Ken was sleeping. told us he heard mouse noises. We were looking around for traces of the presence of this critter.  Then, as we were sitting, as usual on our chesterfield we saw a big black mouse run in the door and behind the T.V.  Dad shooed it out but then it ran away and we looked but could see no sign of it.

 

I was keeping a watchful eye and we were both miserable at this home invasion.

 

I closed the door to the kitchen and we went to bed and both of us wanting to just forget about what we saw and new was still in our house..  I was awake at 10 and quietly when down to the kitchen to get some ice to put on my shoulder.  Standing at the door into the kitchen was the black and white cat meowing.  I went and grabbed my ice and turned to let her out the door but the cat had disappeared.

 

In the morning I walked into the kitchen to see the mouse dead on the floor.

No sign of the cat and the only window open was the tiny one up high in our front room.

I hope there are no more but our problem for the moment was solved.

 

Dad went on a bike ride and I went for a walk and a visit to Gundy.  She is very proud of the flowers that add a lot of color to her yard.

 

Then I had a family doctor's appointment and dad had his eye exam appointment both in White Rock.

 

Dad will get his eye results in a week.

I have to eat more,

I have pills to help with nausea and restless legs.

 

"Accept that

 living in the present moment, with your present desires,

is the best and highest thing you can do."

 

 

WARNING

Dad had warned me continually to be careful and not fall going doing the stairs; but who would have thought a little step off our front parch would cause such a bad fall.  Yes, it has changed our lives and we need to be patient and understanding with each other.

I know the road back is very difficult and not easy for anyone of us, but I also thing that good can come out of misfortune and if nothing else we are aware of how bad dad's dad has become.

 

I slept in and dad made porridge  dropping the  bowl  on the floor on the way to the dinning room.

 

It would be fair to say we were both in bad mood as our moods effect one another and pain and frustration does that.

 

Larry Olsson found their is a peripheral  Neuropathy   clinic in Abbotford.

 so that is great news.  Thee time has come for dad to get some relieve.

 

I was pleased when dad decided to ride his bike as he has not done that for ages.

 

Carol has a few things gone wrong in her house which has caused water leaking but the good thing is it happened now and they will turn the water off while they are away.  They leave by bus for the airport at 6 to-morrow and it will be morning when they arrive in Scotland.  Very exciting for both her and Panteli.

 

Carol put some things in my frig. and we drove off to drop Haiti at Sandra's house.  We couldn't look at her when we left she looked so sad.  She has stayed there before.

 

I heard some snipers going clip clip on my garden and our neighbor Colleen, the energetic one with three dogs she walks every morning was hard at work cleaning out some of the dead plants etc.

"The struggles and chaos are a part of life; but they can help us grow if we accept them with courage and grace.  They have their own gifts too." - Demi Lovato

I was praying for serenity, the peace that passes understanding.  And it came!

Also for safe journey and wonderful holiday for Carol and Panteli!

MORNING MUSE

 

I fell like the Tin Man in somewhere over the rainbow as my joints are out of joint and it is an effort to wake up and get dressed.  I have a funny way of dressing but it works most time.

 

Yes, I am determine to get back to my early morning walk.  I head out the door and welcome the fresh air and quiet morning breeze.  I take in a few deep breathes and look at all the flowers and trees which surround me.

 

I am still hopeful of going to church but am not really feeling good enough and dad has his Sunday morning stomach ache.  Ha ha  I have tp push away the fearful thoughts which make recovery possible.

 

Dear Lord

Please heal my fear based thoughts.

Sometimes these thoughts are more like complaining than anything else.

 

Recovery is a slow process for most of us.  We all have our own pace.  We all have to conquer negativity.  There are mornings when I feel like giving up.  I congratulate myself on my short walk happy I did not need to turn around and head back home halfway.  Now give myself time to continue to improve and regain my energy and my appetite.

 

I am thankful for peanut butter which still tastes good.

 

I am thankful for friends like Jane who never forgets my birthday and comes by to drop in  a lovely card.  Jane I have not forgot that you had a birthday too  and I have a card for you  and look forward to celebrating one day soon.

 

Some how I am trying to be grateful for difficult things, even the sad times,  that have helped me to  mature with a compassionate heart.

 But this is not always doable sometimes I am just grumpy.

 

Spent the day on the chesterfield watching golf and baseball. 

 

I am thankful for dad's good care knowing it is an effort for him because he is not well himself.

 

 Supper was in the shade deck again.

THE ONE ARMED BANDIT

"Whatever situation you find yourself in, a very important question to ask yourself is "What is my intention here?"  Eckhart Tolle

"The intention underlying your actions and thoughts is energy.  Any action you expend comes back to you so you want to act mindfully from the heart, with love and right intention."  Maya Angelou

I  am learning to do more and more with my one hand always aware that when I intent to do something I do not do any harm to my good or my weaker arm.  I certainly am getting stronger and more capable.

Dad and I were pleased to have a visit with Carol and Haiti.  She was so very happy to see us but definitely wanted to leave with Carol.  Carol went shopping with me to buy a present at Winners and that was helpful.

When they left Sandra dropped by with Shandel and Cameron.  Shandel was very impressed with the pottery  that Kim has created and took some she wants to buy.

Carol came back with supper which we ate in dad's shade deck.

We were invited to Sandra's but no one felt like driving or doing very much at all.

 

My one arm is getting very strong and hopefully the other will improve.

I am trying to walk in the morning and again in the evening. 

 

Our plan is to go to church.

 

Cameron and Shandel will be heading home to Edmonton.  We enjoyed their visits and pray for a safe journey home!