BE PREPARED

We were warned that the rain was coming but the wind blew the clouds away.
But now for sure the rain is coming. Yesterday and today it has been very windy and rainy but I still managed to do a good walk.

We can expect bad weather now that we are in the month of November. We have to be prepared with warmer clothes and candles if the power goes out.

Even when things are going well we wonder when something unforseen will happen. It is important that we are strong spiritually as well as physically.

And then there are the coincidences of life; for example some one in the family asks about the family tree and there is a workshop coming at the library about that subject

So much is changing in our world but human nature seems just the same. That is why we can learn from the past and allow it to prepare us for the future.

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THE MAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Who know that taking pictures can be so much fun. I didn't. And now that I have started there is no stopping me. This really happened by accident when dad decided to get a new camera and I took pity on the old faithful camera; maybe 3 or 4 years old, and decided to try. I am amazed at how you start looking at things differently and you see more because you are looking to see what you can see.

I have always loved the pictures of Norman Rockwell. The family pictures so full of character and full of life.

And I do know that all religions have virtues even as they all have fundamentalists. We are taught, no I was taught, at a very early age what to believe. I was fortunate because what my faith taught me was happiness. Life makes us grow. I have had to unravel somethings but others are wraped in memories that are for me unshakable experiences.

The virtues I was quoting are from my Jewish book. "Each of us is assigned to master something in our lives. Issues that continually challenge us." Yes, I am searching and finding a deeper faith; probably questioning more, but finding the hidden promises and blessings that come with joyful moments of awareness.

"Start where you are." Pema Chodron - A Buddist

"Like every other form of hunan knowledge, religous psychology is built upon experience. It needs facts. It needs reasoning. I in no way believe that I am better or more important than any other man." Teihard De Chardin -A Christian mystic

We all have a story and that story has significance not only in shaping us but in giving us something to give away!

WISDOM

One by one my beautiful flowers are fading from my garden. Now is the time for nature to rest while there may be growing that I cannot see.

Wisdom is searching for the deeper meaning in the words that keep marching before us on the printing page or the words that our minds are continually dwelling upon. I keep wondering if all the words that need to be said have already been said and all we need to do is remember.

Can I trust my own response? Can I trust what is written because everything is from a certain perspective that wants me to follow on the path laid down word by word. Life should be simple and yet it is not. It is like a maze where we try to find our way and often come to a dead end and we have to retrace our steps and find what is the right way. It is the practice of everyday kindness, goodness, caring, compassion that creates and stirs up within us a sense of our purpose and an awareness of the worth of every loving being. You can choose the word that fits what you are being taught in your own life experiences.

Christian virtues [an old fashioned word] are the character traits we value like humility, patience, gratitude, compassion, unconditional love, simplicity, enthusiasum, joy, generosity, moderation, responsibility and trust. Faith is believing that our strong traits have the potential to become blended with our weaker ones to create "balance."

We each have stumbling blocks because we have blind spots and we struggle to over-come the judgment of others and our own innate selfishness. When I am listening at church I will be energized when something touches my heart and I want to respond. No I have never had an "Eureka!" moment where I was blinded by the light of truth but sometimes it is just a glimmer'
a glimmer of hope and healing.

Today I got up not know what time it was because our clock was unplugged. I awoke thinking of these things that I am now writing and I want to remember. Why do I wake up at 5:30 when dad sleeps happily to 8:30? We have our own alarm clocks within us that keep us on time with what we are to do and to be.

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH

Jesus spoke to the hearts of those willing to become childlike, full of questions and interest in all of life.

Many of the Bible stories begin with a journey. Faith that is built on the scriptures take us on a journey back in time. Spiritual discipline helps us to understand the questions that we often are faced with in trying to understand the story within the story. The path we are each on is unique and yet the question is the same. What am I here for?

This is an inward journey that is lived out in what we do and say based on a belief. The lessons are as simple as knowing that in giving we are receiving. It is with an open childlike heart that we come to sit and learn the wisdom from the past. Only then can we have a vision of the future with eyes that see light in the darkness.

We started out driving to White Rock on an empty tank of gas, dad nearly feel into the container set out for donations for the Children's Hospital. We did get everything done so that is good. Dad cleaned out the frig. again so hoping it will not quit on us.

MY FELLOW TRAVELLERS

This flower could not wait until spring.

These are books that I am reading about the spiritual journey.

There are many ways to search for faith and there are many questions

we will never have answered.

There are many ways to practice and to live out your faith.

There are also ways to keep your faith alive!

"An Everyday Holiness" by Alan Morinis, a professor at U.B.C., who explored

Hinduism and Buddhism before returning to his Jewish roots. "Our feet touch

the earth because we are undeniably human and should have no illusions that our spirituality will separate us from all the beauty and suffering our humanity brings. Each of us is endowed with the gift of the spirit, so that we can climb the ladder [Jacob's ladder] of the soul to reach its heavenly heights."

"Speaking of Faith" by Krista Tippett. She is a talk show hosts who is illustrating a way to speal about faith that defuses the many conflicts surrounding religion.

"The Seekers Guide" by Elizabeth Lesser A book that challenges us to read their own spiritual story more clearly and find the inner compass that can lead them home. Elizabeth has founded the Omega Institute a place of wellness and spirituality.

These authors share their experiences of trial and error, confusion and doubt, that leads to a

strong and firm foundation of faith.

Again in the headlines of the paper we are reading about the spread of the flu virus H1N1. We want to do all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones..A simple cold starts one wondering if it is the flu and how sick am I going to be. I myself do not like to be near anyone who is coughing a lot. No, I will not be getting vaccinated and i do not think the fear of what might happen is healthy for anyone.

LIFE CHANGES

Our grand daughter Kim is off to the Grand Cayman Island but she will be back. My prayers go with her and we miss her already!

The little birds are coming back to our little back yard now that it is getting colder. Every spring a new family is birthed in our bird house but then they fly away. We do hear their cheerful chirping in the trees. We take for granted a lot of things in nature like the songs of the birds.

On the prairies we were always so excited to see the first robin in the spring.

Then in the fall we would watch in amazment as the honking geese flew over head to migrate south. "One squadron after another."

The leaves that were so colourful are now falling off the trees. It will be time to rake all those leaves next thing we know. I like the changing seasons because we know that spring will bring back new leaves again.

So many things in our world is changing around us and Maybe that is why dad and I seem to like the sameness of our routine. We even enjoy watching the same programs on T.V. wondering if we have seen them or not. We wonder if we will be able to do some travelling because there are places we would love to go. Now the Grand Chayman is added to Melbourne Australia.

Right now Carol is at a conference in Harrison and she has invited us to visit. First dad has to go see Kay about his painful shoulders. She always seems to make him feel better. We get rid of one worry and pain and another just comes along to remind us we are still very much alive! !

TRAGEDY

Rain was perdicted but it turned into a lively Halloween evenning!

Many houses were decorated and waited with anticapation for the happy treaters.

We are watching D.V.D's of Doctor Finlay where the good doctor battles distrust, apprehension and ignorance in post war Scotland. Every episode ends in tragedy and leaves one longing for hope and healing instead of sickness and death. We have so much to be thankful for and no matter what little aches and pains we learn to live with, we know that we are truely blessed.

Last night our quiet little street was full of running children dressed in all sorts of costunes, laughing and bublling over with excitment. Happy Halloween they say as they leave our doorstep with bags filling up with candy. Each group, no matter how big or small, young or old, is watched by caring parents on the side walk, always reminding them to say thank you!

The lights are all out and it is now very late and dark about 2 o'clock; when we wake up to the bright lights of the firetruck shining off and on in front of our house. Next come two police cars and the ambulence. My heart is pounding as I look at the house where the two 20 year old boys live and see the firemen, the police men and the ambulence driver with the stretcher disappear into the home.

We go back to bed cold and shaking fearfully not knowing what has happened. This morning I see the mom taking down the decorations and my eyes fill with tears for her family.

I read in the paper about the revellers in Port au Prince celebrating joyfully the grim reality of death. It is for them a time to celebrate, with joy and laughter, the act of being alive! !

I am slow this morning but Yes I did turn my clocks back, which always leaves me confused about what time it really is. Yes, I will go for a walk. Then off to Gracepoint Church and later over to wish Pearle Happy 90th birthday!

I think All is well I see the young boy arriving home this morning! It is cold here 8 degrees but the air is fresh and helps me to wake up.