PAIN

Yes no pain no gain is certainly true
when it comes to moving.  I am sure there was a sigh of relief when the last box was unloaded.
Time for a good soak in the tub.

All the help certainly was appreciated by
Leah and Craig.  Now the exciting time
will come when they can set up the baby
room.

Sandra and Carol went the next day to help unpack and organize  They now have room to walk and a few dishes. 

We were pleased that Rick came to church with us and had time to visit over lunch.  I thought of lots of questions later.  He was very proud of the hard work that Chris did and it was a long day for them both.

The church looked very beautiful with the sun streaming in the stained glass windows.  It was a guest minister who talked about visiting Christians in China.  A nice young man but I found him hard to hear.  They certainly have gone through painful times but it has drawn them closer to each other.

To be honest I felt a little empty as it was very intellectual and informal but lacking in emotion that stirs the heart and soul.

I am reminded of the importance of bringing the spiritual into every day living.

"To greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains,
even in the doing of little things
with the ultimate purpose of enjoying laughter with friends,
love in my heart, to be gentler and kinder in all things,
to approach the night with a well earned weariness
and new hope for the dawn of the new day"
-  Thomas Deeker

DON'T

Dad has a list of things he does not want me to do.

Don't lift heavy stones.

Don't walk to far and get over tired.

Don't climb on ladders.

Don't carry to many books up and down the stairs.

Don't even think about helping the movers because you will just be in the way,

Etc.  etc.

I think it is too bad religion seems to concentrate on the don'ts.

Take the Sabbath which was meant to be a time of being restful.
I time of beauty with candles and a special meal with the family.
A  time to make an effort for the soul to relate to God
Read a devotional or a hymn or a Bible verse.

"On Friday nights we echo God who looked at His creations and said it was good.
We gather around the table to give thanks and share our week."
--David Gregory

Yes there are things that I may choose not to do so I can be refreshed .

For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Lord, of all to Thee we raise\This our hymn of grateful praise!

Happy Sunday!

MEMORIES

We met Jane and Geof in Cloverdale always a  
fun time visiting with them and also remembering a close
friend who passed away the night before.
Pearle lived an amazing life being a teacher
a nurse and also in the army.  She live next
to Jane for many years and it is always sad
even though she was 95.  She was always
thinking of others and visited as a lay chaplain
and used her listening and caring skills so well.

Just being there brought back a lot of memories
There was a little café where they made fresh cinnamon buns which were delicious.  One of the things I missed after I was diagnosed with Celiac.  We looked for homes to move into and drove around a lot.  We also looked in antique stores and bought a few things for ourselves and the children.

Now there are about five or more places to eat.  We ate at the Vault which was built around an old bank vault.  You could actually go and sit around a table inside it.  Not my idea of fun.  We sat in the front by a window with lots of sunshine.

Jane and I continue to have lots in common even though our lives are changing.  Our men looked very handsome indeed!  So many memories!  Also catching up on their move to West. Van.  Nice for them to be closer to family.

We have been blessed to experience the love of a good man, wonderful children and grand and great grandchildren.  It has also been a challenge at times because we are all so very human.  Knowing the healing love of God has also been helpful.

"I believe that all of us
have the capacity for one good adventure inside us,but great adventure is facing responsibility \
day after day.
-William Gordon

SEARCHING

Sandra called to invite us to come to

River Road and have lunch with her.

We took a picture to check our heights,
I cannot believe that we are the same now.

Good picture of her and no I have not started dying my hair red.

Good to have a one on one visit.

When she phones I started searching for my wallet that I had removed out of my purse.

My search started in my purse and then in my pockets, then the laundry hamper, the close closet, under the bed and on top of it and in every room in the house.  My searching was fruitless and my anxiety rising.  I have been losing things all my life so you would think I would be used to it.

I took a breath and stopped and then remembered I had picked up some D.V.D's to take back
to the library after lunch and sure enough my wallet had been in my hand and was safe in the middle of them.  I had been considering visiting but had a rest instead and dad rode his bike over.

An article I was reading said most of us are in awe and wonder that Jesus calmed the storm after the disciples woke him up sleeping in the boat.  The amazing thing is that Jesus was able to sleep through the rough waves and frightening wind.

Worry is useless.  Worry saps our strength and confuses our mind.

Sometimes answers come to us after we stop searching and let Jesus still our storms!

EBB AND FLOW

A busy morning.

Ben arrived very early looking very sleepy.

He went back to bed.  His dad had completed the first part of his journey to another soccer try out game.  Kim would then take him to the soccer field.  He is very happy and excited but I have a few mixed feelings about him leaving home next Sept. if he is chosen.  He will be living with another family and it will be a disciplined way of life that includes education as well as physical and mental abilities.  My friend Cathy asked me when we were having tea what my prayer for him and I just wish for the best for him

People coming and going.

Kim's friend Brittany has stayed over night and first Kim has to drive her to the ferry.

They spent the weekend in the States at Edmonds with mutual friends. 

After they all went their separate ways dad drove me to church to join our Bible study group.  Then he went for a bike ride.

We discussed the voice of God and how important it was to be a listener to receive divine inspiration that some call intuition.

Each one of us feel a desire to fulfill the purpose that God has for us as we try to do our best to do what is right.

Life will always be like a puzzle with it's ebb and flow and we will never figure it out until the last piece has been added!

DISAPPEARING

Raindrops on beautiful dark tulips.

Today was windy and cold when dad drove me to have my halter removed.  Not a minute to soon.  I gave it a good work out with a long walk, gardening and even vacuuming. Dad was furious and I do not blame him but my heart is strong and did it's best to keep beating.  It is not everyday my heart can show off!

I rested up in the afternoon having tea and watching half a D.V.D. with Joanne.  I petered out and she drove me home.  She is a good friend and laughs a lot. 

Dad was invited too but wanted to do things in the yard.

Ben is arriving Wed. morning at about 6 and Kim will take him to his soccer practice in Richmond at noon.

I have my Bible study friends meeting at 12 and then meeting Cathy for tea at the little tea shop next door.  Tavia and her husband and baby have moved into the basement so I will hear all about their family.  Hard to believe how things have changed.

Meeting Jane and Geof on Friday when they come out this way.  They seem busy and happy settling in to their new apartment.

My blog disappeared on me which is very discouraging.  It was a much better than this one.

Some things disappear and then may or may not return but our memories are our greatest treasure
and retelling stories helps us to remember too.

"Inner peace and love are the greatest gifts."  - T Sioux

Gifts we can give to each other no matter what age.
-  Tenton Sioux

CLOAK AND DAGGER

I looked like some one out of a spy novel.

Actually I was much dirtier than this shows with my bum and shoes covered in dirt

.

I went to the laundry room to get out of all my dirty things.

I was just about to run up the stairs when there was a knock on the front door which meant my escape route was blocked.  I waited for a while and could hear dad talking to some girl and finally got curious.  I put on a black trench coat and marched to the front door.  My nose and face all black too.

It was our closest neighbor and she did not recognize me at first.  I felt like a spy ready to go out spying on the rest of the neighborhood.

Yesterday I met my first miserable dog walker a boy about 11 with a huge massive bull dog on a leash.  I walk quickly by and away afraid of Haiti's reaction.  One minute later the dog pulling the boy came up from behind us wanting to sniff Haiti.  I could see that she was very unhappy and ready to bite.  I tried to separate them and some how got the young boy trapped in our leash.  He then gave me a nasty angry look and I thought how like his dog he looked.  His dog was one mean looking animal.

Good I did not have my halter on yet that was put on at twelve thirty.  It feels like I can hardly breath but I will tough it out.  I have to write down all I am doing and wish I could make it more interesting.

I had a big rest waiting for dad to come home after his long bike ride through the water shed, where coming around the corner on his path a big tree had fallen and blocked his way.  He had to find a new route.  I was pleased to see him riding his bike because it has been about 6 days.  Some where wet and cold.

I really must go to the store or else it will be breakfast out again in the morning.

I was thinking on my walk how the first part of life is discovering our strengths and weaknesses and our true selves with all our passions and dreams for life. 

Our last half of life is reliving our lives through our stories.  Even with the tall tales of yesterday no one really knows what it is like to be me.  My beliefs are a part of what makes me Me.  No one knows how it feels to live in this body of mine.

"I would be a sad man if it were not got the hope I see in my grandfather's eyes."

-  Dan George.

"Our children are us in the to-morrow of life

          In them we remain here,

and so it will be with their children's children

          If the world survives."

-  Crow