NORMAL

Not quite sure what normal is.

Woke up looking at myself in the mirror wondering where  all the wrinkles came from.  The worst part is feeling old and tired. I guess this is my new normal so I had better get used to it. 

I like to have a good appearance but not become obsessed with weight or fashion.

No walk but a trip to the store to look at baby things but it was unsuccessful but dad did get a new mouse for his computer as it quit working.  We both seem lost without our computers.

Dad and I now have to become more aware of our diet and make an effort to eat healthy.

I could make more of an effort to shop and cook healthy food and some days are better than others.



Later in the afternoon I and Haiti went for a delightful walk at the Boundary Park, the baby ducks will soon be arriving and they are so cute, 

Meanwhile dad went to the store to find some new potions to put in his blender,  I say we need to get some tips from Kim and Randy. 

Today I have some fish to prepare so that is good.

Loved the pictures of Mary and her little family.  What a great time of life!    

UNFORGETABLE EASTER

A beautiful sunny morning.

News of the new birth of Sebastien to share at church.


The children singing!
The story told by our new minister about the women visiting the tomb not knowing how they will be able to roll away the stone.  Not wanting to see Jesus wrapped in burial cloth but out of their deep love for him wanting to anoint him with oil.
The messenger who is guarding the tomb tells them Jesus is risen and has gone on ahead of them.  They will follow as they reach out with compassion with his love burning as a light within,
They would be facing a new world with a new reality that lives on and on!  Sometimes we are afraid to believe the truth and instead cling to our pain and loneliness because we do not understand resurrection.
The power that was nailed to the cross is now free and we live in the confidence of His unfailing mercy and grace.


A delicious supper at Carol and Panteli’s home.
We miss Sandra and Randy and Susan and Keith.  Susan has a painful disk problem which is very painful.  Prayers that she will know the right treatment.  Also just learned Rick is not well either   trying to reach him by phone.

I am surrounded by a loving family.

Morgan and Ben and Justice have fun swimming in the pool and eating candy!  They are all getting so grown up.  What a blessing!

Our beautiful church was full with families and even two Easter bonnets.

HAPPY EASTER

WELCOME BABY SEBASTIEN!  !  !



Easter is the art of love and new beginnings!  The joy of new birth!
Easter reminds us of how truly human we are and how we are also truly awesome!
Congratulations to Mary and Michael. John.

Did Randy say "O here comes trouble or does he just say that about me.

his is Morgan and Kim at the soccer field.

The family was out in full force to watch our favorite goalie.

 

Life is full of moments when you just feel a wonder at it all.

I will look around at church and see many gray hairs just like mine.

There may be an Easter Bonnet or two.

I see a sense of reverence on these dear special faces that come with an age of experience.

 

Spirituality begins when we have learned to surrender to the mystery of the good and the bad in life.

Only faith, in my opinion can answer the why of suffering and find some new meaning in the struggle of life.  There is goodness and light that surrounds us all.

I plan to take in every moment of this day with gratitude and thanksgiving.

Enjoy! ! !

 



Our Easter Blessing!

THE FENCE

This part of the fence does not look too bad but it is falling apart.  A year earlier I had been talking to another neighbor named T.J. and he had remembered and came over to check if we needed some help.  This was a nice surprise because we have been talking about it but the quotes we were getting were very high.

Next I talked to the neighbor on the other side of the fence and they agreed they wanted it fixed too.  So I guess we cannot sit on the fence any longer it is time to accept some help and make it happen.

Also talked to Sandra and Mary and Simone on the phone and they all sounded happy.

Today dad and I are going to Ben's soccer game which is in Delta but first I will walk down and have a visit with Gundy.

Sunday there will be church then lunch at Carol and Panteli's.


  Saturday,  before the joy of  Easter,  can be experienced as a day of questioning.

 Why is there so much suffering in the world?

Why do people who do not go to church still believe in prayer and find it a comfort when you say you are praying for them?

Why do we choose spirituality over religion when both require an openness and a spirit of awe and gratitude?  They are actually woven into each other.  For me one is not complete.

Stories help us find truth.  Stories of faith and love and forgiveness

"How can I find God"?  a disciple asks his master.  "What is the secret.

There is no secret.  The truth you seek is not hidden from you-you are hiding from it
. -Rabi Yerachmiel

The disciples went into hiding not wanting to face the hard truth of suffering and afraid of persecution.  Huddles in the secrecy of darkness hearts full of fear and forgetting all they had learned from the voice of Jesus.  "Do not be afraid for I am with you."

We can put a fence around our yard but not around our hearts.

SOLITUDE

I did not go to church on Good Friday as I usually do but used the quiet time in the morning to read the scriptures.
I was amazed at seeing in  John's  gospel the quote by Jesus about what would happen in the future. 

"A time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God."

This is a day to remember the suffering of others.  We know we live in a world of pain and grief especially when we hear about the attack on a  University in Kenya where both Muslims and Christians attend but only the Christians were shot.

Good Friday now and back in the days of the cruel arrest and death of Jesus was a day of grieving and disappointment.  "facing up to loss and death is the central theme of Easter but the good news is that as a Christian death is not the final curtain."  We try to live each day with love and compassion and creativity know that one day each of us will face a time of dying in solitude.

Process theology says we are all held in the memory of God (even as human beings we also remember our loved ones).  All of creation and every moment where we make daily choices is known and remembered with love by a Divine Being.

My day progress with a short walk and a visit with my neighbor Mary, who is coping well with the sudden death of her husband.  We had a nice long visit.

Then Kim suggested we go out as she was turning up her music to sing along with as she vacuums and cleans.  Dad and I leave her and have a light lunch and do a bit of shopping.  What a treat to come home to a clean house!

TIMING

Sometimes It is all about the timing.  When I was driving Joyce home from our meeting we were stopped by about six police cars and heard more on the way.   Found out later there had been a drive by shouting.  No one was hurt and no one was caught.

Just had time for a quietand quick  morning  prayer for a close friend and her family going through a time of great distress.  It is just one thing after another.

No time for a walk as dad had taken a message yesterday about some test I am to take at Jim Patterson on the third floor at 7 this morning.  I have to have clean hair that is all I know.  He does not know the name of it.  I am glad we both make mistakes.

Dad is happy we will go out for breakfast after,  his favorite meal to have out.  Yes we went to the White Spot!

I cannot believe it is Easter this week-end time has just flown by.  Of course Morgan can hardly wait.  I forgot to send cards I think!  No family plans yet.

Off visiting Jim and the ladies.  Feeling a little stressed after my E. C. on my head.  Just had to lie still but I am easily stressed and I am trying to over come that.

Time is drawing nearer for baby Sebastian to arrive.   A Easter blessing!

.

PRODUCTIVE

Dad had a very productive day yesterday.  He cleaned up around the little running stream in the back yard and put some new little rocks around.  He is lifting weights and even wearing weights on his feet to get stronger.

We tackled putting pictures on face book together.

Then I continued trying to remove the virus which he had started to do.  I believe prayer and patience helped, plus the fact I do not want to spend a lot of money either having it done or buying a new computer.

He also started our income tax.  He finished it on Tues.



I am working on meditation and relaxation which is hard work to.  It has been recently demonstrated that just fourteen days of mental and physical exercise and stress reduction and a healthy diet improves cognition and brain function.  This was for people between 35 - 69. 

I believe the next generation will conquer Alzheimer's using these methods.  If you improve the dendrites on the end of the neurons in your brain your mental health and memory can improve.

Wed.
Dad had now fixed the computer this morning.  Spent a lot of time yesterday on it.

I picked up Joyce from the Senior's home and took her to our U.C.W. meeting.  She used to be a part of it and was so pleased to see old friends again.  It was a sunny day so that was good.

Dad has an eye appointment in the afternoon.

Yesterday we dropped a little parcel off for him.