GOOFY

It turned out to be a goofy day.
I will look up the poem "The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock"  after I finish writing this.

Dad and I enjoyed going to the pancake breakfast where I had special pancakes prepared for me.

I was a little comic relief when I fell getting out of my chair.  That was the first goofy thing I did.

Much later I was taken completely by surprise when Carol and Panteli walked in the door and I was turning the oven on to cook the roast.  Dad and I had gone to the store, he waits in the car, while I shop.  I like to pick things out myself if possible but getting a little larger order is to hard to carry.  We are on the look out for a little buggy I can push and carry things in.

I had looked at the clock and for some reason though it said 3 when it was really 4.

I felt stupid and weird.  Fortunately Kim arrived right after them and saved the day by cooking a marvellous dinner for us all.

Yes God's love does carry us over our goofy times until we feel okay again.

A powerful wind is pounding against our windows so I am off to bed before the power goes out.

Yes, we are reminded not to be afraid but to know that there is a power greater than we realize with us always.!

THE GANG

It rained most of the day.
It also got colder as the day progressed.

Not even a crack of sunlight got through.
A dull wet day.

I had a quick walk first thing before the down pour started.

Dad went over to the Post Office for me to get some stamps.  They are already busy.  We will do a few cards to Australia and to cousins.  Maybe I can find a funny poem about growing old on-line.

I  had a busy day cleaning the living room.  The mouse has escaped into there and is eating wall-paper.  I had to clean all the furniture etc. really thoroughly.  This creature is annoying me so I think its days are numbered.  I know Kim wants to catch it (and she is good at that) and let it go some where far away.  I do not like mice. 

The last few days our group has been trying to have a time to get together.  We hope to catch up as we do not meet regularly any more.  The last gathering both dad and I did not feel well.  It is very hard to get a gang of people together who although they are retired they are still very active.  We will not be able to get us all to come to our place. 

"I think that the most significant work we every do,
in our world, in our life,
is done within the four walls of our own home.
All mothers and fathers can make the most
significant of contributions
imprinting the spirit of service
on the souls of their children so that the children
grow up committed to make a difference.
-  Stephen Covey

TRADITIONS

A lot of what our families do at Christmas is because of traditions.  I am very slow at decorating this year.  I like it when the children or the grandchildren would help decorate the tree.

I like getting out some of the crafts they have made so I will pout them out first.  I dig out the Christmas cookie jar that Oliver came me to put all the cookies I made into it.  I am glad I did what I did and am thankful others are taking on the task.

I think it is too early to be playing Christmas music but I am hearing more and more of it.
Music is certainly a big part of this time of year and I still love to sing.

Another thing is the smells.  Certainly the smell of cookies and candles burning and the scent of Christmas trees or maybe just branches for us.  I pass some holly on my walk and would like to snip off a few branches.

I will also put out the Christmas Creche next week to commemorate the nativity.  St. Francis was the first to prepare a manager scene but he did it with real animals outside in the forest.  This devote man had given up a life of luxury to help the poor and also he had a great love of animals.  He lived his message and his love and devotion to Jesus shone from his face.

I am very pleased with our new washing machine and was busy washing and putting the clothes away most of the day after it arrived.

Christmas was foretold centuries before the birth of Christ.  Is it any wonder that the Christmas season is filled with anticipation?  It is a time to be hopeful!  It is a time to bring light into our lives and into our spirits.

Dad is not pain free from the moment he steps out of bed and starts walking.  Fortunately he is sitting the pain goes away so we look for things to enjoy like   sports on T.V.    a drive in the country and family visits and looking up family ancestors.  We feel thankful for what he can do!

He is not alone many others live with pain.  I know Nancy you know what it is like!

TIME TRAVELLERS

Yes I am travelling back in time over many years.  Even back when I was in the nativity play at school.  First I was an angel whose halo went crooked and I was afraid to move.

Later I would be in the choir and not suppose to sing but I sang my heart out in my excitement.

Then years later I would be find bathrobes for my children to wear as shepherds and long robes for the angels.  I wonder if any of the kids remember.  No one could eat any supper when the special night came.

We are going to Morgan's concert on the 9th.  She will do a wonderful job singing in the choir and we will be proud as punch!

Over the last few days we have been talking with old friends.  Dad's friend Don phones from Saskatoon and before you knew it they were talking about the fun they had as kids growing up together.  Dad and I went on double days together and I can remember being very afraid in the back seat of his car because he drove so fast and took the corners even faster.

Dad drove me to the Home and after we drove into Tsawwassen to visit Carol.  She already has a tree up and the kitchen is still a mess until the cupboards go up but the living room is looking festive.

There are many values that are timeless.  None of us know what our future is going to be but we can do our best to find the courage to face it!

CLUES

 First thing in the morning I am looking for clues to see if our mouse paid  us a visit.  He is not in our nice humane traps but Kim is sure she can catch it, like many others she has caught and given new life to.
I was just thinking I hope it is not a pregnant mouse cause that would be real trouble.

Dad's visit at the skin dr. was short and he was a little concerned about his lip but dad does not need to be clued in as to what to do as he knows.  We went shopping looking for a blanket and found one at Home Sense.


I loved this picture on a magazine and was wondering how Mary and Joseph coped with being new parents.  If they were like dad and I we were pretty clueless along with their joy and amazement at this tiny little son.

They had no clue to just what this special baby would bring to a hurting world so deep down there would also be some fear.

Fear is often, for some of us, a stumbling block in our spiritual life.  "Do not be afraid" Jesus would say time and time again. 

Joseph and Mary did three essential things, they listened, they trusted, they loved.

Very important in any relationship!

STARKNESS

There times in life when reality seems to hit us with a starkness that threatens our existence.  The pain in dad's feet was worse again and is very debilitating.  and depressing.  There is not much one can say to encourage him.  He talked to Ken last night and Ken suggested acupuncture. 

It is hard to face the problems in our life and to know what decision to make.  People can demand too much of us by asking the impossible.

Not much is said in the gospels about Joseph except that he was a righteous man and also a dreamer.  He found himself in a very confusing and frightening situation that is beyond his understanding.  Does he listen to the advisors that come and tell him to have nothing to do with Mary.  He was an honest working man probably a craftsman.  He may have been a lot older than Mary.

He had a message from heaven that he was to marry Mary and be her protector and faithful husband.  She would need his help at the birth and during the years that followed to bring Jesus up.  Both fathers and mothers are important in all our lives.

It would be great if we could go through life avoiding pain and weakness and stress.  Sometimes it is a matter of fighting a battle against the starkness that threatens to overwhelm us.  Being deeply loved by someone gives us strength that comes from within.

I cannot imagine a day without dad's love and patience to encourage me.
We may feel old and feeble but we are needed.

Off to see the skin Cancer dr. this morning.  Dad has a spot on his lip but seems to doing okay!
Thankful for this!

SECRETS

"To have a purpose that is worthwhile,
that is steadily being accomplished,
that is one of the secrets of life
that is worth living."
-Herbert Casson

My purpose seems to be one of trying to be cheerful and to be a good encourager of others
I am thankful for friends and family who encourage me frequently.

We all have our secret thoughts and dreams, some positive and some negative.  Even at this time of year the thought of Christmas can be over-whelming and exhausting.

How many cards should I write and how about a Christmas letter.
It has been a difficult year and dad is facing an uncertain future with more pain ahead.  We keep looking for answers and may have to be prepare to change our life-style.

Yesterday Dad purchased a new washing machine after trying to fix ours.  Kim chased the mouse around the kitchen and discovered it eating oranges.  Hungry and too smart so far!
A Christmas mouse that likes Christmas oranges and not cheese or peanut butter.

For me I like to take time to read the story of the Nativity .  This is to travel to another time and place and enter a world of mysticism and wonder.  A symbolic picture of the birth of Kesus.

Mary becoming pregnant is a holy  sacred secret that will never be fully known and explained.
It happened and all of heaven rejoiced in wonder while the hearts and minds of the simple and the high and mighty were touched.

Go is called the Cloud of the Unknown because He is far beyond our knowledge.

According to the story Mary said yes and later she would face rejection and shame.

Our voices speaking from experiences are worth their weight in gold!