EMERGENCY

A beatiful sunny day, with a bit of a wind, but a day meant for enjoyment but. . . . . .

 

Just another trip to the emergency for dad and I.  First he went to the doctor who sent him to the Delta Emergency which both dad and he thought was less busy.  Dad had started feeling worse again Thrusday morning and by noon was in a lot of stomach and back pain.  I was releaved because I had got annoyed with him on Tuesday and said he should go.

The wait was unbelieveable and was going to take another maybe three hours.  Dad just wanted to go home and lie down.  He did and had a sleep and I gave him a little chicken soup and some milk and a hot pad for his back.

I was so thankful Kim had kindly made us supper so it was all ready for me to eat. We had shopped together and then took Haiti down to the meadow at the Water-Shed Park.  Boy she had fun and a great run all around!  I could get use to this being spoilt and having supper made!

 I was feeling very tired too.  I drove dad in the bigger car and I was nervous and so was he.

Friday morning dad still sleeping.   I will update later after next trip to Emergency. 

Dad  phoned the doctor and he was going to phone the White Rock Hospital and it made things go much better.  A little scary as they were concerned about his heart at first but after he had an E.K.G. and was hook up to a heart monitor he was told his vital signs looked good and he was to come back Sat. for an Ultra sound to check stomack etc.

Carol came and we went out to lunch together so it was a better day for both of us.  I feel better knowing that he is getting tests.  Thank goodness Sandra came over as dad's pain had lessoned and he was talking of waiting to see how he was on Monday.  We both told him no way.

What a great family.  Lots of volunteers to drive us but I think we are okay and if Dad is not in pain he will want to drive.

ENERGY

Kim has arrived today and brought her energy and cooking skills to make us well looked after.
She is a good cook and can use up all the left-overs which is really a great skill.  We have had a wonderful day although dad does not look too happy in this picture.

Kim and I took Haiti for a energetic walk down to the creek.  Dad was at home trying to fix our toilet and it appears to be a harder job than he bargained for. 

The power was off when we got back home so I could not do anything on the computer.  It came on in time for supper and it was fun to have Carol stop by again.  I think the plan is for Kim to take my car and drive to Chilliwack  to-day Thursday and she may drive back Sunday or Monday.  We will decide when she is up this morning.

Haiti runs around in circles when Carol comes, full of energy and happy to see her.  She did the same when she first saw Kim after she recognized her. 

I am sure she would like to have more energetic company.  She cooks and talks and laughs on the phone all at the same time.  Amazing.  So good to have her here.  Dad is in bed now at 8 o'clock watching the hockey game.

Energy is so important for us to enjoy life! 

HUMMING

                             I love the phrase "Reverence humming in me."  by  -Jane Fonda

When Jane Fonda was asked why becoming a Christian was so transformational!  She replied, " I felt drawn to faith because I could feel reverence humming in me."  Another way of saying God is within me.

 

Soon the bees will be humming in my garden going about their work of renewing life as they spread pollen from place to place.

It is cool in the morning and in the quiet I hear the refrigerator humming away doing its job.
I wait for the heat to come on and I am reminded again of much I have to be thankful for.

I get up in the dark and with a flick of the switch the light is on.

 

I think about the scripture "In Him we move and have our being."  Acts 17:18

The work of the Holy Spirit is like this power that is lying dormant until I give it life!
 

I hum as I go of the door into the dull morning light; "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray." 

I am thankful for morning energy that fuels my walks.

Haiti will be arriving soon.  The rest of the day will hum right along.
And it does.  I have a walk with Haiti and then head to the store to get some food for supper.
 
Arriving home the tune changes.

Ava is not coming over and dad has a very painful back ache and soon is back in bed fast asleep.  What a worry.  I do not know if he needs to see a doctor.  He gets up and then goes back to bed again for another two hours.  He thinks it is his old spinal injury but I am not so sure.  It is very up setting to see him in so much pain.

I must admitt I am not handling stress well; but then it has never been my strong point.

Thankfully he recovers and is able to enjoy the girls hockey.  Canada is playing U.S.A. for the gold medal.  The score was 3 to 2 for the U.S and sadly we lost.

It was a long day.  It was even longer for Kim flying home stopping at Huston and then here.  A long day for Carol too having to pick her up at 12.

BUT Today will be exciting with Carol bringing Kim over about noon.  I can hardly wait!

Pouring rain this morning.  A sea of umbremla's bob along ahead of me.  I am later this morning so the school children are ahead of me. 

GATEWAY

This picture will not come any clearer.

 

Yes, dad watched the tennis and happy the Canadian won.  Dad and I were late getting bed after having company and I did not sleep too well.  Very annoyed with myself!  I do not know how one can manage all the shift changes you do Ken.

 

Had a great surprise when Carol brought Haiti for a day visit.  She really is a lovely dog.  I took her for a walk to the park but still not sure how she will re-act with other dogs and people.  She came in the car with us to visit Desire and her dark-haired baby girl so different from her blond curly cousins.  She has darker skin too so it is funny how different genes are passes on in a family.  There is nothing likr holding a wee newborn!

 

Grandpa Shanan was from Trinidad. 

 

 

Our personalities are the gateway into our spirituality.  The Enneagram is a powerful and dynamic system that describes nine personality profiles - nine distinct and fundamentally different ways of thinking, feeling and acting.  Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern psychological categories it offers incredibly useful insights.

 

The Perfectionist is responsible, independent and hard working.  They can come across as critical and nit-picky.   Also critical of themselves.

 

The Helper -  spends their life helping others.  Usually cheerful.  Can fail to acknowledge their own needs.

 

The Achiever - ambitious and successful.  Boundless energy to pursue goals and motivated to be a winner.  Can come across as unfeeling.

 

The Romantic - dramatic, emotional, melancholic but can be wonderfully empathetic.

 

The Observer - very private and like their own space.  Can seem detached.  Thinkers and analysts, and can be creative intellectuals.

 

The Loyal Sceptic - their attention goes to the negative and will find negative ulterior motives in others.  Instinctively suspicious of authority figures.  Can be deep;y loyal once you gain their trust.

 

The Epicure - live for pleasure and are very optimistic.  Charming upbeat and adventurous.  Need to be kept interested.  Great lateral thinkers.

 

The Protector - most assertive and aggressive personality with an all-or-nothing approach to life.  Fiercely independent.  A great sense of justice and very protective of loved ones.

 

The Mediator - Peace and harmony is their goal.  Easily can feel pressured.

 

We are have some or a combination of these traits but the important thing is the motives, spiritual energies and world views that are a part of who we are and help us to grow in new ways.  It has now been proven that repetitive prayer set up neutral pathways in our brains.  This is one way that prayer can transform our thoughts and lives.  This is helpful for me as I am a worrier.

 

Today Haiti comes again and the three of us will have a walk in the forest.  Later Ava and Jeff are bring Uhri for a visit.

 

 

"The chief thing that separates us from God is the thought that we are separated from God."

-Father Thomas Keating.

 

DELUSION

                    

 

It is so easy to become delusioned about life and its meaning and purpose.

 

Am I just listening to the voice of my own imagination in the morning silence?  Am I deluded by thinking that if I read and meditate upon scripture I will find God's will for me?  I know some one has said "first do no harm".  How can I know if my feelings and insights are leading me in the right direction?

 

The door was open, the coffee made, the goodies prepared, the living room dusted and the bathrooms   clean and we were ready to welcome our friends,  in from the rain, to discuss a serious and difficult book by Henri, a speaker and a writer and a spiritual guide to many. 

 

Dad and I are fortunate to have a minister who is open to discussion and who I believe has a spiritual sensitivity.

 

Our study at our house Sunday asked if we really want to live a life of prayer and meditation and what is prayer that is from the heart?  Each of us has different gifts and personalities and hearing what others think and have discovered is so very helpful to me.

 

Henri can be difficult to understand because he writes from an honesty about his own difficulties and sees the spiritual life as a journey.  He writes about a pilgrim who is filled with immense joy in his experiences of the presence of joy.  Where ever he goes he cannot resist speaking about God who dwells within him; not to convert anyone but to share his happiness. 

 

I feel the same that to just write a blog that does not include some spiritual insight that I am discovering would not be worth the effort. 

 

We had a lively discussion that did not always stay on topic but decided one of the messages was to be authentic, with ourselves and with others and with God.

THUMBS UP

Thumbs up for Roger Ebert famous film critic with great sense of humor and honesty who passed away and is now out of pain.


Thumbs up for all the lovely cheery blossoms.

Thumbs up for the early morning birds; only one stayed to have his picture taken!


Thumbs up for the bright and colorful spring flowers.

Thumbs up for the Canucks owner Aquilini who grew up just a few blocks from the Pacific Colosseum and is now part of a network dedicated to helping at-risk youth in his old neighborhood.

Thumbs down to the people who are influencing young people to become terrorists.  Lorne Dawson, a sociology professor and expert on radicalization suggests the path likely involves an influential figure who would give them a sense of purpose and appeal to the teenage longing for rebellion.

Thumbs up for a slightly irreverent, unpredictable church community

Thumbs down for formal strict churches who judge others and demand conformity.

Thumbs up for former Microsoft executive finding joy by boasting literacy among children instead of profits.  He is building libraries through a charity called Room to Read.

Today the sun did shine which was good.  Too bad Panteli got news his dad is not doing so well.

HUMANITY

Yes we are in for a rainy week-end but it does freshen the air.

Windy wind kept me awake all night and blew our papers all over the street.

 

 

Dad off to his all day course for Hospice this morning.  I;m at home doing house work as our meeting is here to-morrow night.

 

 

       “Humanity’s problems should be solved by people not by some invisible being.”
            Interesting comment by Stefano in "The Gospel According To Everyone".

I feel I need to be more practical.  Maybe we could learn to embrace our humanity before wanting more.  As believers and as atheists we are all so very human.  We make mistakes, take the wrong road, fall down and have to pick ourselves up and keep going.  We cry and we laugh on this journey of life.  We can learn hopefully from our failures if we consider it an opportunity to grow, expand, evolve and learn.

 

I went on two short walks today instead of one long and one short.  Came home and dad was talking to his best childhood friend Larry Olson who is now in Mexico.  He has free long distance calling so they had a long talk.  They are staying in a penthouse and even invited us down.  lol

 

Dad and I are thinking of going to Kamloops for Leah's graduation on April 17 at 7 o'clock.  Dad and I are very proud of her, this has not been an easy road for her. ( I hope we get better pictures than at Rick's.)

People who are facing tragedy hopefully learn to appreciate the simple things of life with grace and gratitude.

The Franciscan priest Richard Rohr points out that in the Native American tradition of leaving a blemish in one corner of the rug they are weaving.  Why?  They believe that's where the spirit enters.

Our humanity can save us if we are concerned about others more than ourselves and work and hope and pray for a better world.