AMAZING PICTURES

OUR LITTLE GNOME WAS SAD AND LONELY - I GAVE HIM SOME COLOR

Kenny those where great pictures of Melina and Jessie on her birthday. I am glad Matthew woke up to give us a toothy grin. Have you got Matthew doing more crawling? Most be hard because you do not have much room.

Dad's cough has gotten much worse so he may go back to the doctor. Yesterday I took our friend Shirley [90] to have some x-rays and then we had lunch out so that was good. Then I went to visit at the Nursing Home and my back started to complain.

Sandra may stop by to give me some advice on my garden it looks pretty sad. I am going out to plant primroses before she comes; also Friday is my long walk day with Janet. I had better go make the bed quick or I will be tempted to crawl back in; sleeping was restless with dad's coughing.

Jane and I may drive to Langley to visit a lady from the church who has moved into a nice nursing home but finding it lonely.

Life is good even when we do not always have good feelings. I laughed when my dear little old lady friend Shirley questioned the waitress, "where was our food?" Good for her!

GOOD MORNING

It is hard to believe what a difference one little pill makes. After two days of constant coughing Larry had a much better sleep last night and I did not need to escape to the spare room. We are so fortunate to have doctors and medicine while others in poorer conditions have to live with this suffering. Larry has gotten very weak and has no appetite. He will get the results from the x-ray on Monday and we hope the news will be good. The concern at his age is pneumonia but even that is so cure able now.

Ben has to have new shunts put into his eyes as he has bad infections. He has a difficult time after he wakes up from the anethetic so we hope this time will be easier. Very difficult on Theresa as it is especially hard to see your children suffer.

Looking after children is truly exhausting and I remember the days of being numb with tiredness. The blessing is that they bring so much joy into our lives and energy will return as we cope with added responsibilities.

We all have our hopes and dreams for our children; yet they must find their own dreams and fulfill them.

There is a lovely legend about the angels objecting to God placing a Divine Spark in humans. They agreed that this divine spark would be hidden and human beings would have to search for it. The angels think and search for the perfect hidding place and finally agree to place it inside the human heart.

It is this divinity within us that creates our uniqueness and the courage to love one another. We only truly love someone else when we know not only what makes them happy but what causes them pain. It is in sharing both that we grow closer in our love for each other.

ON SICK LEAVE

NOW SHE IS GETTING DOWN TO WORK

GRAMA GETS INTO THE PRE-YOGA POSE.

I am trying to take care of Grandpa who is feeling very ill, short of breath and coughing a lot. We have a doctor's appointment today at 1.

Did my yoga and here is my pictures.

We have missed hearing from you. Happy Birthday to Melina and so sorry she is exhausted so will really pray for hwe. It is a stressful time. These little ones have such strong will very early and know what they want. What I did with you guys when you where in your own bed was rub your back until you went back to sleep. It was very tiring but it pays off in the end. I do realize you are both busy.

We left Sandra's because dad's throat was sore and my stomach was upset. I was sick all night and now dad is coughing all night. Finally I moved to the spare room. He should have gone to the doctor yesterday.

We are also worried about an elderly friend that we visit Shirley Fowler who was having hip pain but now there is no answer. I will try again. I wonder if they have put her in hospital. I took some flowers and sandwiches over on Sunday and she did not look good but her daughter was coming and spent the night. She will be 90 on Feb. 20.

I am still feeling week but much better. I am cutting down on Pain pills and I am sure the yoga helps and all the prayers.

What an exhausting time for you both, I wish you could get some help.

Dad is going to live down so I will go for a short walk.

Love you and will be praying. Love mom and dad

One comment is better than none.

Sandra, I answered on the comment sheet. Dad is very sick with a bad cold.

I went for a walk but did not do yoga I have to figure out when to schedule this.

I am off to the library now

P. S. I sniped a bit of a rose bush so you had better come and help me pretty soon. Maybe good therapy after seeing Dr. Nolte!

FORTUNATELY

We have been so lucky escaping all the nasty bugs that have been making others ill. Just when life seemed to be going well and it was some nasty germs upset my stomach and attacked Larry's throat and now he has a bad cough.

I wasn't at all happy about this when the plans had been made for Theresa, Ben and Morgan to come over, meeting Carol and Kim and Oliver here. I couldn't get hold of Theresa to change the day and when we finally connected they were all packed and the children all excited about coming. They had already been sick so they were not concerned about catching anything.

I enjoyed the children you just never know what they are going to say. or do! Grandpa Larry was on his computer going back in time to his days in Nicaragua. He had found some old pictures and it brought all the memories back. Especially the truck ride where he was quashed in with a hundred or was it two hundred people; and they just kept climbing on board to get to the festival in the city. It was unbelievable.

Our lives here are so different than so many others who live in such poverty and with so much sickness. What is the most important to all of us is our families. Even when we make plans and they do not always work out. Who would think I would walk out on a Sunday dinner at the Wise's. Unbelieveable. Who would think dad would have too sore a throat not to be able to talk.

All our experiences help us to feel a little of what others may be feeling.

I am reminded that faith is such a beautiful gift that allows us to appreciatte the good days and accept the difficult ones with some effort at grace. I am sure a little grumbling is good for the soul!

The main goal is to keep your heart open.

We are so blessed to have a grand daughter that drives all the way from Chilliwack to see us.
Kim came for a short visit but the others didn't. When Theresa and I got tired we lay on the chesterfields and turned on cartoons. This gave us a little break.

MISERABLE

I think I have some stomach flu and dad has the reflux acid problem so we were pretty miserable last night.

The football game was great and we had fun over at Sandra and Randy's.

We felt very stupid leaving but sometimes life does not give you choices.
Yesterday, the whole day seemed like an effort.
Today we will just take it easy.

TOO CHICKEN

It is raining almost snowing so I will not go for a quick Sunday walk. I am a bit stiff from Yoga so that means something is feeling new life.

Church at Colebrook this morning, then maybe over to Kim's and Mike's. Sandra and Randy have also invited us over and it would be good to see Mary and Michael John again.

I am reminded that I am embraced with the love of God and know His presence is with me.