HUMOUR

                                          Ladies fun night at the church.

Enjoy life there is plenty of time to be dead!

I would say one of the best things about going to church is the laughter we share.

Fun night is a time to get dressed up and act crazy!

Several churches are invited to come and each one puts a skit, or reads something humorous or do a fun dance.   At the end we are all invited  to join in.

The lady that got the most applause was the one who walked across the stage area with a big sign which said  Time passes meaning a new scene was coming on.

There is always lots of good food to tempt the dieters.  We have fabulous cooks who all admit they are tired of making meals at home.  Several who are famous for their pies.  Dad loves to shop at the bake table.

We have fun no matter what we are doing,  preparing meals or organizing events.

 I think we are all a bunch of clowns with very different personalities!

Wed. is the afternoon of the strawberry tea.  Dad will go with me if I can drag him away from all his projects.  I am baking a cake and selling tickets.

Be a good listener your ears will never get you in trouble

-Frank  

MILESTONES

Oliver opens presents with Kim and Jonathon watching.

It is so good to share precious time together with family and their friends of many years,  So many people who have made a difference in my life.

Each birthday is a milestone to celebrate joys of the pass and to look with expectation for the future. 

We are here to continue to learn things especially how to enjoy life.

Each decision we make, each problem we have solve, each disappointment we have faced have made us stronger and more compassionate of others.

I admire my children and grand children for the way they strive valiantly and  enthusiastically

to continue to study and learn and care about others.

C.LOWNING AROUND

Clowning around,

A great birthday cake,

Candle blowers

Susan and Carol

Happy cooks and helpers

Theresa brightens up the party!

Leah and myself and Sandra telling funny stories.

Just chilling!

Our two lovely daughters! !

HOT

A hot day for the party for Kim and Oliver.  I think it
will be cool at Carol and Panteli's.

I am up early to water the garden and the new grass.  I  take time to read from the book "Jesus Calling."
I am reminded that prayer is often a dialogue in which I express my needs to God.
 and forget not only to be thankful but to listen to what He is saying to help me cope
and find strength for the day.
Haiti and I walk over to the park and it feels hot already soon it will be 33 degrees.

I miss church and especially miss hearing scripture and the meaning it has for our daily lives.

Dad does more laying of sod but soon realizes it is far too hot.

Off to the shade deck.

I spend some time on my knees not praying but cleaning up all the dirt that is delighted to come in and mess up the floor.  I believe there are two things that never happen

the kitchen free of dishes

the floor clean of dirt.

Time to rest and rest for the party at 5.  First I take some snacks out to dad.

ARRIVAL

Early Sat. morning a motor bike comes roaring to a stop at out house.  Haiti recognized the sound right away and raced to the door.

He is looking very healthy and happy.  He has started a new course in Victoria learning the Morse Code.

He has several goals in mind and will be able to work on other Coast Guard boats etc.

He is thinking it is time to sell his motor bike after having a few close calls.  He loves speeding and driving dangerously but that is better done on a race track.

It is going to be a warm day today so a great day for the party at Theresa and Mikie's. 

A celebration for both Kim and Oliver born in June.  Hard to believe both in their 30's now.

Friday night will be a gathering of young friends.

Ben and Morgan are happy coming home from soccer to sleep over at Carol and Panteli's.

A busy morning for dad and I as we joined Sandra and Kim for a shopping trip to Value Village.

Dad did excellent filling his buggy up by racing up and down the aisles.  He waited for us out in the car as the girls took time to try on some clothes.

Great fun!

Haiti has been patiently waiting for a walk.

Kim is getting things ready to take to the party after climbing our cherry tree for a dish full of cherries.

 

I am sure Ben and Morgan will be enthusiastic helpers at Carol's house. 

Theresa  was stuck in traffic on her way back for Alder grove after Ben's game. 

The new grass has survived the night without being disturbed by the raccoons. 

I am not surprised  that dad has a sore back today  He worked hard lifting a lot of heavy dirt

etc.  Sometimes he forgets he is not a young 70 tear old any more!

"Let your thoughts and spoken words be richly favoured with trust and thankfulness.

Regardless of the day's problems" 

-   Jesus Calling.

CONTROL

Have you ever wondered just who is in control
of this crazy world?

Nothing went right yesterday.  I kept telling
myself that I am fortunate that most of my problems are fixable not like those with no homes and no jobs and an uncertain future.

Why is it that when you are extra tired everything seems to take an extra effort.

Haiti has decided she would like to run around our neighbor hood and twice has escaped and yesterday dad and Kim were out looking for her because I did not close the gate tight.

Dad has started work putting down some rolled up grass and filling in holes.  Haiti is in the other corner of the yard digging as fast as she can.

The racoons are getting drunk on the cherries and messing up my flowers.

It was worse again this morning.

I find that not only physically my spirits are low but also spiritually.

Maybe I need to attend an A.A. meeting to strengthen my connection to a higher power.

Right now my lower power is in control and I need all the help I can get.

I find myself questioning a lot of things.

I know that each one of us carries our own questions for which there seems no answer.

Lord when I panic, whether it is looking for a lost dog, or just the feeling I am losing it remind me that all problems cannot be fixed but there are always lessons to be learned.
Be with me Lord is my prayer for today.

ONE BY ONE

One by one these lovely roses are bursting out in bloom.  This year has been an amazing time of growth.  These smell lovely as well as look beautiful.

One by one the three of us came home yesterday.  I was the first one to crawl in exhausted by happy after a very full day.  Then dad arrived home from shopping at Home Depot with the car full of rolls of grass.  He looked even more tired than I did.  He had washed off the back patio which is now full of half ripe cherries.  A baby racoon is having  a great time eating the top ones under the watchful eye of Haiti.  I think she would stay out there all night.

I had had a rest and dad was still resting when Kim came home looking tired and hungry and ready for a short nap before soccer.  Kim is working at an Art Center in Richmond teaching children arts and crafts I believe.

I cannot keep up on this family as they come and go.  Oliver arrives on Sat. and now I have it straight the party is Sunday.  Then Sandra and Randy will be away again.

One by one I have built my faith on many happy experiences at church with all my dearest friends.
They have helped me look at my life more honestly so that I can say my faith is not a fact but a hope upon which my life is built.

"Christians live by faith,  not by sight." 

Every ounce of faith has the potential to be a great faith when I am trusting and believing in the goodness of the love of God as expressed by Jesus.