ADJUSTMENTS

An old picture found.

We have had to make many adjustments over the years.

Drove to beach on our way to visit Kim and Hamlet.

So many wonderful memories of the children and us at this beach.

Kim and Hamlet provide an excellent meal for us with barbecue salmon. done just right.

Carol is keeping busy doing volunteer work and Panteli working at the college.

Both are taking lawn bowling and golf lessons and busy gardening.

Ben has the good news that he has made the final cut for the soccer team.

He has worked hard and put his heat and soul into it.

Morgan will be performing at a dance competition.  She loves to dance.

Theresa enjoying freedom from her studies. 

Kim will be at the open house on Sat. with the children she has been volunteering with.

Back to class on Monday.

Hamlet has been learning to drive a gear shift.

Sandra and Randy still feeding kittens.

Tasha will be spending mother's day watching Justice in his basketball tourament in Surrey.

We are finding that as we grow older there are many new adjustments to be made.  We have slowed down.

My emotions have been up and down over the last few months but I have now adjusted and am coming into a period of grace!  I was mad at God and the whole world that but  this prevented God.s healing presence from filling me with peace and security.

I am thankful that my angry feelings are done.

Some memories are best forgotten.

"Conscience (the inner voice with us) is the deepest secret of our vitality."

Jean Vanier

Thank you for the mother's day card Rick with all the kind words!

FRIENDSHIP

Our friendships are so important to us.  Aneta came and walked with me today and she has not been doing that much since she moved into her apartment.  Later this evening Jane gave me a call and we shared some humorous stories just like he old days.

Often when I find an author I really like they become like friends.  I have been reading a book by Jean Vanier who writes books that you can ready time and time again.  Sadly he passed away yesterday but he was 90 years old.  He gave his life to the handicapped people who he lived with and he rescued them from the mental hospital where they were often put in years past. 

I believe that God intervenes in our lives often through our friendships.  Often a friend will come or drop by just when you need someone to talk to.

Dad phoned up Hamlet to see if he would like to go to the driving range to hit golf balls.  He and Carol met him at the little gold course over by us and then they came here for a bite to eat and have a visit.  It was so good they did as dad was feeling very bad as he cannot swing a golf club any more without losing his balance.  He was looking forward to maybe do some golfing with our neighbor Gordon.

   "Praying means transforming our own heats."  -Jean Vanier.

"No one should suffer feelings of insignificance inferiority." - J Vanier

My journal is full of his quotes but I am making a lot of mistakes so it is time to stop writing.

DELIGHTFUL

Carol leaves after bring us all dinner.  Great job Carol!  Thanks Kim and Hamlet for the wine.

We arrive and find everyone upstairs feeding kittens.  Great job Sandra and Randy and Kim.

This is the cat's room,

This is mummy cat who has taken care and fed her own little ones and feeds the new little ones.

Sandra looking happy and relaxed.

Hamlet helps preparing the Mangoes.

Randy looking happy.

I was reminded once again how much we need one another
and how delightful to be together..

Sorry to hear that Rick has been so sick with a chest cold.

I have found in life that healing takes time
and we all have our good days and our bad days.

What a delightful and inspiring group.  Music has the power to transform and heal us.

JAZZY

              "How can I live this life in a way that suffering becomes a source of life". Jean Vanier

The only way is through learning and growing and seeing the love that is always with us when we love and care for each other.  Discovering hope when all seemed hopeless.

Our sermon was about the conversion of St.Paul.

There are many ways we experience conversion in our lives.  It can be as simple as finally learning to like vegetables.  We may convert to a different religious group or denomination..  Or it may be like the spiritual conversion that St. Paul had when we fell off his horse, blinded by a bright light and a voice that would change his goal from persecution Christians to becoming one of them.

Dad missed a good sermon because he was not up to going to church,

He felt better so that in the afternoon we went back to church to a Jazz concert.  Four very talented musicians, a beautil singer with am amazzingvoicel that sang accompanied by a base guitar, a drum and a guitar.  Every one was extremely talented and the music was inspiring and soul stirring.

We were both thrilled and honored to be part of the audience.

It ended up as a jazzy day after all.

TOO EARLY

What a beautiful old heritage house on Arthur drive !  Beautiful grounds with lots of flowers.

The trouble was we may have been at the wrong place but when we phoned Kim we found it was the wrong Sat.  Next week the place where she works will be having an open house.  We will not be square we will be there!

We wet around to a big barn in the back and walked in and joined a funeral service.  We were welcomed and invited to stay but we left after making apologies.

The day before we had driven to White Rock to visit my elderly friend in the Nursing Home.  She glows with happiness when she seems me.  She did not have a good week as she had two teeth pulled and I was so glad I had taken the time to come. She was very interested in the story of Sandra's kittens.  She loves cats too. She also appreciates that dad had driven me.

We left there and went to the White Spot where I left my purse behind but thankfully did not drive all the way before I noticed it.

Friday night neither dad or I had a good sleep.  I was having scary dreams and dad was worried about me so he could not sleep.  This has been difficult for him.

I wake up to a new day pleased to be up and make coffee and set off for a walk.  A bit brisk.  The day continued with making meals and cleaning up messes, doing some vacuuming, and walking over to the store before we left for a pleasant drive to Ladner.

Dad had been busy sand papering and varnishing the logs in the back yard.  We should have taken a before and after picture.

Church in the morning a safe place to feel the healing presence of God's grace.

We all need touches of healing at time because we can all be wounded by life.

Rick did you watch Heartbeat?  very sad.

COMMENTS

                                            Yes it is no fun for me if no one comments
                                                    It says 14 have read it but not one comment..

I know Sandra is busy feeding her kittens so that is a good excuse.

Dad and I watch the hockey game together and we are cheering for Columbus.  It is more exciting if you have a favorite team.  I always wonder if Ken is watching the game.

A colder day to day but you just have to put an extra sweater on.

I am running out of ideas.

'Ideas come when we dare to live courageously.
Idea come when we are willing to take risks.
Ideas come with humility and honesty.
Ideas come from reality."   Jean Vanier.

Just a short comment about how you are doing would be great!

ANCESTRY

Kim reveals the results of our ancestry,  Tuesday.

Dad had already had his so it was Carol and myself.

English was my most dominate gene and lots of other surprises.

I will have to write them down.

We had some new dishes Carol and Panteli had created for supper.  I am glad my daughters are such good cooks as well as their husbands!

Today, Wed., dad drove over to Vera's place to pick her up for our end of the year luncheon.  We tried to pick a new place but ended up at the White Spot.  He was early coming back to pick us up but  because we were having birthday cake for two of the ladies who were having birthdays the lunch went on extra long.  Vera and I sure appreciated him taking time to escort us around.

I value the friendship of each girl there.  Each one of them has contributed  a lot into my life.

We will have to decide in October what to do when our church will have it's final service.

I will carry the kindness I have experienced over the years with me.