SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED

I was feeling better as we drove out to Chilliwack first 

and then on to the sports clinic.

Theresa is also having difficulty eating in the morning so I guess these operations upset our bodies.

I am trying to figure out which picture is better.

Dad and I had a fun visit.  ben and Morgan made pancakes and we had fruit salad.  It is good to see the children being helpful although sometimes they tease one another and have to be reminded.

We drove into Abbotsford and tried to get in the back way but it did not work.

A very, very busy clinic.

Sad to hear that just as dad thought his feet are too bad they cannot help him although they could try with a group of treatments.  Very sad news.  The fellow was excellent in his examination and it lasted about an hour.  We stepped out of the clinic into the rain.  We drove to Langley on the Freeway.  The traffic coming out of Van. was very heavy.  The rain is needed and we could still use more.

 

This was sad news but what dad was expecting.  He has a few exercises he may use and riding the bike is very important.  Glad to be home where it is warm the waiting room had been very cold.  A very warm group of people so that helped.  We both felt down but will have to plan to do what we can enjoy doing.

 

I also am aware that every church has its problems and their is no ideal church.

The kingdom that Jesus welcomed was subversive, countercultural, radical and often hidden.

God is doing a new thing as He has done in every generation.

"We stand in a tiny spot of history in which it is our turn to experience God's fresh redemption in a new wave of believers willing to be transformed.  He is but a breath away,"

Jen Hatmaker

 

 

THE SONG OF THE UNIVERSE

My morning started with awful nausea which takes away my appetite

and my ability to pray.  I also am unable to go for a walk and early morning is the only time to go as it gets so hot.

It takes courage to try: to eat and to pray.  Emotionally I feel unresponsive and my attention drifts.  Later in the day when I improve I will try again.

I may not see what difference my prayers make but often it is the only thing I can do for others.  Reading the prayers of others is helpful to put into words what I am hoping an wishing for.

There are many things in life that I have learned and wondered what the purpose was in my learning.  I believe that the purpose will come later and even the power of prayer will be revealed in time.

Whenever you laugh, gladness spreads like the ripples in the pond, and when one prays sadness is lifted off the shoulders
of those whose burdens are heavy.

This is one reason I try to have positive thoughts about others and like prayer these thoughts carry energy and love in ways beyond our understanding.  Prayer a natural human instinct. 

If we could hear with spiritual ears I believe we would hear the music that is singing all around us and in some way the words of our prayer become part of the song.

I am thankful I start to improve and have some lunch.  Our friends Pat and John drop in for a visit which is an answer to prayer.

Friday we drive to Abbotsford to a clinic for dad's neurophy and my prayer is that we will find some help and this may mean some changes and may mean trial and error.

ACQUAINTANCES

This is a zinnia I believe.

They do not like to grow in my garden.

 

I was doing my walk-a-bout the other when saw two acquaintances with their dogs and gave a cheery wave.  They ignored me as I did not have Haiti with me.

 

I did better at Chapters when the clerk, with the same name as me, remarked she had missed me.  It has been a while since I had been in.  I was there to spend my birthday money and also look at children's books.  I love children's books and I am wondering if I could go and read to children at the school.  I do not know anybody at the school nearest us.  I could look on line I am sure.  I will have to be feeling a bit better which I will be.

 

At Chapters dad met an old friend from work who came to sit down beside him.  They had a good chat catching up.

 

I bought another book about how dysfunctional the church as been and how it needs to change,

It is called "Interrupted" when Jesus wrecks your comfortable Christianity.

 

When I finish "An Unwilling Accomplice" by Charles Too a book from the library I will start it.

SCHEDULES

Most of our lives we fill up with busy schedules.

Most of us do not like interruptions that our inconveniences.

Most of us do not take time to smell the flowers and notice the beauty that surrounds us.

Most of us are like Martha carrying a heavy load of things that have to do done and done just right.  No wonder we have felt stressed and overworked.

Most of us have had times when we have to slow down because of illness or unexpected turn of events.

I am finding that I need even more rest now than before.

I am finding I break more dishes with a broken shoulder because I am not adjusting to doing things in a more careful manner.

I am going to do a lot of reading as my goal right now.
I find if I have a book to read life is not so boring even when forced to slow done.

Maybe find a new purpose and meaning for my life.

Doctor appointments are not my idea of fun but at least they are an outing.
Dad was off to Dr. Tam the eye doctor in White Rock in the morning.
The pressure in his eyes are good and he had a thorough check-up.

Home to enjoy a sandwich in his shade deck.  Thankful for a little breeze as it is 30 again today.

I was amazed Theresa was able to drive Morgan to swimming lessons.  Young people recover quicker that is for sure.  Dad and I are driving out Friday to see her.

In the Old Testament peace was what came by keeping the law but out peace now comes from our relationship with Jesus.  This is the gift of grace.

FORGETFUL

Dad and I enjoyed the drive into Carol and Panteli's  on a sunny Sunday.
A nice day for a leisurely drive through the country side.  Workers are busy harvesting some of the very plentiful crops this year.
The sad thing is to see so many glass green houses built on the fertile soil.
we got into the house very well and went to search for the plant in need of water, found it, but then realized the water has been turned off.
Haiti was happy to be there and run up and down the stairs.  Yes we are getting forgetful.
She was happy at our house and enjoys the back yard especially when a squirrel runs by in the trees or on top of the fence.  She runs after them and I wonder what she would do if she caught one.

Hope Carol and Panteli are now enjoying Scotland!



We drove over to Sandra and Randy's house to walk around their beautiful flowers.  Yes I see some from my garden waiting to be planted.  My garden is very overgrown and plants seem to like to reproduce through out the garden.


We had fresh blueberries from their back yard and a delicious supper with lots of time to catch up on their news and see the new dining room light fixture.  They have a radar that seems to guide them to the right second hand store to just what they were looking for.

Haiti gets her sore tooth attended to.  When we go to leave she looks like she thinks maybe we have forgotten her.  She wants to go with who ever is going.

Monday and I need to get the dates straight for dad's eye appointment and also the neurology visit to Abbotsford.  It takes two of us because one usually forgets or gets it mixed up.

Often what we really want does not materialize until we do what we do not feel like doing.
I have to try doing my shoulder exercises more often. 

IF

If I hadn't been sick to my stomach in the night   

If I hadn't woke up with a nasty headache
If dad had wanted to go
If Sandra and Haiti had not come for a visit
If I hadn't felt like I should oversee what Sandra was doing in my garden
I would have made it to church!

I would have loved to slip in quietly at the back and just take in the friendship and love that is always there for me.

The good thing is that other than my two aspirins in the morning I have needed no pain pills and I am not nauseated.

I know now that our security and our lifestyle can be altered in a moment.  Even though I feel frail and weak I know that the strength of God is my hope.
I know that looking back on these last few months when time has seen slow and healing even slower it will seem to have gone by so quickly.

In this life we see each other's weaknesses but somehow God understands.

"In an insecure world, we are secure in his love.  We can trust him."  Judah Smith

We had Haiti for the day and then took him home and enjoyed supper with Sandra and Randy.

Hot and cold

Hot and cold all day,
broke down and took a pill.

Dad has had several very worried days with his eye.  Skin is growing in the corner and that does not seem good.  We both want to keep our eye sight.  It is up to us if we are not happy with the help we have been getting.

I am so happy dad makes an appointment with the eye doctor at the Clinic just at the corner.  They are called FYI Doctors.  Everyone remembers him from a past visit exactly a year ago.  They do a complete exam and then freeze his eye and cut a bit of over grown skin.

I have been miserable and having pain all morning so dad talks me into taking a pill.  Then after doing some laundry I am able to settle down and read.  We did get to the library and have many books to choose from right now.

I am thankful dad made both breakfast and lunch with some of the fresh vegetables from the store I managed to pick up while he was at the clinic.  I do not feel we are ready for a retirement place just yet as we help each other.

I met an old friend at the store who immediately commented I did not look so good.  There is a time to be polite and their are other times we just spill the beans.  She then told me her daughter had also had a fall and broken a hip in her garage,

We both listened with thoughtful attentiveness to our stories so I felt very encouraged hearing her story.

It had been a day full of small annoyances for me but when I stopped and took time to think about the suffering of others and also to look beyond my circumstances and trust that the future holds better things.  I would like to pray for a miraculous healing, which does happen for a few, but for courage and strength and love to carry me through darker days.

Yes I am thankful for medication that helps my pain.  I have many reasons to want to live!

Sunday a day to attend a worship service that challenges my faith and brings many questions to think about.