KINDNESS

Thanks Randy for lighting up your house so that we could find it.  You and Sandra sure have the Christmas spirit.  Dad took these pictures as my camera battery was dead.

You both are also very kind hearted folks that have given to us much happiness.  We look forward to having Christmas dinner at your place.

Have fun at your Christmas party.  Sandra will dance the night away that we know for sure.

Kim and Theresa are going to a Christmas party in Chilliwack and it will good for them to have fun in the midst of their studying.

Gunty has come home from hospital and I will go and see her to-morrow. 

I am experiencing some side effects, nausea and aching all over from the meds.  I know I just have to bear with it for 10 days.  I am not sure about going to church it will depend on what to-morrow brings.

Kim has made us a soup for supper so we have asked Carol and Panteli over to keep us company.

I find that people seem extra kind at Christmas time as we remember the message that God is With us!  A time to remember with love those who are hurting or ill with kind and gentle thoughts.

IN THE MOMENT

I think I am living too much in the moment.

I end up with things I should have done yesterday piling on top of what I have to do today.  Whatever it all turns out for the best.
I was actually ready for the gang when they arrived right on time.

Everything went well until it was time to decide what kind of tea we should have.  A couple very adventurous ones wanted Egyptian Licorice (which I did not even realize we had) instead of the Red Rose brand.  I left the kitchen to let them decide and yes I know we could have just made it a cup not a pot full.

No one seemed to want to leave so I think we all  had a fun time.

Dad and I were a little anxious to be on our way to Sandra's house.  The kittens certainly were center stage as they are so cute and curious.  Justice had a great time playing with them.  It was good to have a short visit with Justice and Tasha as we do not get to see them often.  This Christmas they will be coming to join the family at Sandra and Randy's house.

We enjoyed a home cooked meal at Sandra's.  We left before Randy arrived home from work fighting traffic all the way.

"The secret of making something work in your life is:
First of all the deep desire to make it work
then the faith and belief that it can work
then to hold that clear definite vision in your consciousness
and see it working out step by step
without one thought of doubt or disbelief."  -  E. Caddy

I was very tired by the time we arrived home but very content that every moment had been worth the effort.

UNEXPECTED

It is great when unexpected things happen and make our lives more enjoyable.

We had two unexpected phone calls.  One from Sandra to invite us over Friday to have a visit with her and Tasha and Justice.

Thursday Carol phone to say she was dropping by.  We all realized we were getting hungry so Carol droves us over to Apple wood Tea Shop.

A cozy little place where there are just a few tables and the young girls are so very pleasant
A good place to go with daughters or grand- daughters.

To-morrow will be a busy day again.  Today it was doing my visiting at the Senior's place.

The "gang" of two couples will be coming over for afternoon tea.  It is often nicer to have a small group where we can hear each other and have conversations that are meaningful!

The unexpected happened for Michael Chase when he stopped traffic on the freeway to help a slow moving turtle across.  "Helping this turtle felt so darn good" and proved to be life changing for him. 
Later he wrote in his journal that kindness creates happiness.  He then wrote a book about kindness.

How unexpected that the long awaited Savior would be a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  How strange for the swaddling clothes and the manger to be a sign of segregation, poverty, oppression and need.

The unexpected of the unconditional love of a heavenly father revealed is mysterious ways beyond our human understanding!

SUNSET

This is the choir that Morgan sang in.  She really puts her heart into her singing it is a joy to watch.  She was the only little red head so pretty easy to spot.  We were so proud of her!
The play was about the Partridge in a pear tree that needed help to come down.  The grades 1 to 3 acted in the play while the older ones were the choir.
The little ones are so adorable and this year like every year we think it is the best play ever.
Ben is at another school and he was taking part in a jazz band and plays the trombone.  Dad and I would have loved to be at his performance too but it was just two much all in one day.
It turned out to be a bright and sunny day although the wind was strong and wanted to push our car off the road.


Ben  and Morgan enjoyed pizza's with us at a trendy coffee shop.  They are getting so grown up!

We  probably passed Carol and Paneli coming as we were driving into the setting sun.  The drive home seemed long to me but what a surprise to come home to the house all clean and tidy by Kim.

All in all a fantastic day full of laughter and happy chatter! 

What a sunset!

DELIGHTFUL

Windy and wet walking so good dad can ride his indoor bike
.

Dad and I are off to Morgan's Christmas Concert in Chilliwack/  After we pick up Ben and take them for a bite to eat and then home.  Should be delightful.
Theresa is writing a three hour exam and we wish her lots of luck.
Carol and Paneli are going for Ben's evening concert which we would love to attend but darkness and our batteries running down will send us on our way home.

HARMONY

"One way to achieve beauty in life is through harmony.  Be in harmony with all things, but most important be in harmony with yourself."  -Molly  Larkin

Dad and I were very much in harmony as we drove to the hospital (picked up the results of M.R,I.) and then to see Dr. Nolte.  He was in a good mood too!

The good news is my brain has not changed in the last few years. 

However a neurological consultation is advised.  I will be getting an appointment with Dr. Teal at the Van. Hospital which is suppose to be the best place to go.  It will take years I imagine.

For now a bladder infection like I had when I came out of hospital may be the cause of my annoying incontinence.  Having that checked out but it will take several days as it is a more in-depth test.

Dad's stationary bike has arrives so he can go for miles no matter what the weather. 

Very windy again last night.  I will walk Haiti now.  Kim has gone off to work.  Shawna phoned about pictures from our blog that she wants to put on her work of art, the family calendar.  We loved them so much with all the beautiful memories the pictures bring back and the birthday dates I need so much.  Thinking of her as she has a M.R,I. on Sunday!  Praying for good results!

Harmony does make life beautiful!

THE JESSE TREE.

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot.  This is a word from    Isaiah 11. A story about a  broken family because they deceived and lied

 and grew apart.

The stump was all that was left.

As time past and the long expected savior did not appear it felt like their dreams  had   been shattered and they were losing hope.  But the God, whose name they were afraid to say, had not forgotten them.  There was a plan that would unfold in secret when the time was right and the long-awaited one would come.

But it happened the wondrous impossible. A shoot grew out of that dead old stump.

Love never stops dreaming.

Love grows unseen until the light reveals it.

Love grows   as  we draw closer  to  our loving family and friends
Sometimes there needs to be forgiveness,
Sometimes healing
sometimes broken hearts need mending.

I anticipate good things happening this Christmas.

We are thankful not to be driving home in the darkness and pouring rain with lots of traffic jams.  The wind also increased.

Glen came over to watch the hockey game and we quickly put Haiti to bed.

Tuesday I see my family doctor but am not expecting any news good.  The M.R.I. results I hope will be there.


"Come Radiant One, fill our world with your promise
Come Shining Presence, fill your would with your purpose and divine peace."

-Bruce Harding     -Church Bulletin  Our Jesse Tree