ACQUAINTANCES

This is a zinnia I believe.

They do not like to grow in my garden.

 

I was doing my walk-a-bout the other when saw two acquaintances with their dogs and gave a cheery wave.  They ignored me as I did not have Haiti with me.

 

I did better at Chapters when the clerk, with the same name as me, remarked she had missed me.  It has been a while since I had been in.  I was there to spend my birthday money and also look at children's books.  I love children's books and I am wondering if I could go and read to children at the school.  I do not know anybody at the school nearest us.  I could look on line I am sure.  I will have to be feeling a bit better which I will be.

 

At Chapters dad met an old friend from work who came to sit down beside him.  They had a good chat catching up.

 

I bought another book about how dysfunctional the church as been and how it needs to change,

It is called "Interrupted" when Jesus wrecks your comfortable Christianity.

 

When I finish "An Unwilling Accomplice" by Charles Too a book from the library I will start it.

SCHEDULES

Most of our lives we fill up with busy schedules.

Most of us do not like interruptions that our inconveniences.

Most of us do not take time to smell the flowers and notice the beauty that surrounds us.

Most of us are like Martha carrying a heavy load of things that have to do done and done just right.  No wonder we have felt stressed and overworked.

Most of us have had times when we have to slow down because of illness or unexpected turn of events.

I am finding that I need even more rest now than before.

I am finding I break more dishes with a broken shoulder because I am not adjusting to doing things in a more careful manner.

I am going to do a lot of reading as my goal right now.
I find if I have a book to read life is not so boring even when forced to slow done.

Maybe find a new purpose and meaning for my life.

Doctor appointments are not my idea of fun but at least they are an outing.
Dad was off to Dr. Tam the eye doctor in White Rock in the morning.
The pressure in his eyes are good and he had a thorough check-up.

Home to enjoy a sandwich in his shade deck.  Thankful for a little breeze as it is 30 again today.

I was amazed Theresa was able to drive Morgan to swimming lessons.  Young people recover quicker that is for sure.  Dad and I are driving out Friday to see her.

In the Old Testament peace was what came by keeping the law but out peace now comes from our relationship with Jesus.  This is the gift of grace.

FORGETFUL

Dad and I enjoyed the drive into Carol and Panteli's  on a sunny Sunday.
A nice day for a leisurely drive through the country side.  Workers are busy harvesting some of the very plentiful crops this year.
The sad thing is to see so many glass green houses built on the fertile soil.
we got into the house very well and went to search for the plant in need of water, found it, but then realized the water has been turned off.
Haiti was happy to be there and run up and down the stairs.  Yes we are getting forgetful.
She was happy at our house and enjoys the back yard especially when a squirrel runs by in the trees or on top of the fence.  She runs after them and I wonder what she would do if she caught one.

Hope Carol and Panteli are now enjoying Scotland!



We drove over to Sandra and Randy's house to walk around their beautiful flowers.  Yes I see some from my garden waiting to be planted.  My garden is very overgrown and plants seem to like to reproduce through out the garden.


We had fresh blueberries from their back yard and a delicious supper with lots of time to catch up on their news and see the new dining room light fixture.  They have a radar that seems to guide them to the right second hand store to just what they were looking for.

Haiti gets her sore tooth attended to.  When we go to leave she looks like she thinks maybe we have forgotten her.  She wants to go with who ever is going.

Monday and I need to get the dates straight for dad's eye appointment and also the neurology visit to Abbotsford.  It takes two of us because one usually forgets or gets it mixed up.

Often what we really want does not materialize until we do what we do not feel like doing.
I have to try doing my shoulder exercises more often. 

IF

If I hadn't been sick to my stomach in the night   

If I hadn't woke up with a nasty headache
If dad had wanted to go
If Sandra and Haiti had not come for a visit
If I hadn't felt like I should oversee what Sandra was doing in my garden
I would have made it to church!

I would have loved to slip in quietly at the back and just take in the friendship and love that is always there for me.

The good thing is that other than my two aspirins in the morning I have needed no pain pills and I am not nauseated.

I know now that our security and our lifestyle can be altered in a moment.  Even though I feel frail and weak I know that the strength of God is my hope.
I know that looking back on these last few months when time has seen slow and healing even slower it will seem to have gone by so quickly.

In this life we see each other's weaknesses but somehow God understands.

"In an insecure world, we are secure in his love.  We can trust him."  Judah Smith

We had Haiti for the day and then took him home and enjoyed supper with Sandra and Randy.

Hot and cold

Hot and cold all day,
broke down and took a pill.

Dad has had several very worried days with his eye.  Skin is growing in the corner and that does not seem good.  We both want to keep our eye sight.  It is up to us if we are not happy with the help we have been getting.

I am so happy dad makes an appointment with the eye doctor at the Clinic just at the corner.  They are called FYI Doctors.  Everyone remembers him from a past visit exactly a year ago.  They do a complete exam and then freeze his eye and cut a bit of over grown skin.

I have been miserable and having pain all morning so dad talks me into taking a pill.  Then after doing some laundry I am able to settle down and read.  We did get to the library and have many books to choose from right now.

I am thankful dad made both breakfast and lunch with some of the fresh vegetables from the store I managed to pick up while he was at the clinic.  I do not feel we are ready for a retirement place just yet as we help each other.

I met an old friend at the store who immediately commented I did not look so good.  There is a time to be polite and their are other times we just spill the beans.  She then told me her daughter had also had a fall and broken a hip in her garage,

We both listened with thoughtful attentiveness to our stories so I felt very encouraged hearing her story.

It had been a day full of small annoyances for me but when I stopped and took time to think about the suffering of others and also to look beyond my circumstances and trust that the future holds better things.  I would like to pray for a miraculous healing, which does happen for a few, but for courage and strength and love to carry me through darker days.

Yes I am thankful for medication that helps my pain.  I have many reasons to want to live!

Sunday a day to attend a worship service that challenges my faith and brings many questions to think about.

GOOD NEWS

No second cup of coffee for dad and I Friday morning.      

We join a stream of cars heading for work to keep our
appointment at the cancer clinic for dad.  The young
doctor seemed pleased with his test results so he does not
 have to have another hormone shot and his next appointment
is in six months.  Good news!

After we return some of the home help items to the Red Cross; which dad said he had a hard time finding and he drove by the place again this morning, I was dropped off at the blood clinic to have final tests done.  We have the results and all look great accept for the hemoglobin still low.
Good news.

I must be doing something right and hope I continue to improve.

I have a lot to live for with all my wonderful children and grand children and even great ones.  I love to see pictures and hear of all they are doing.  One of the great joys of my life.

We hold each other in hearts full of love!

We will go to the health food store to get some liquid iron in the morning and dad will see an eye doctor first.  His shingles are improving slowly!

Dad went for a long bike ride in the Water Shed Park and after we drove to Sharkie's in Ladner and enjoy a fishy lunch outside,  A perfect day just to relax and enjoy.

I still have goals I hope to reach with better health, less nausea and renewed strength to bless others.

SATISFACTION

I am so thankful every morning I wake up not to be in the hospital.
There is no place like home
even when we have strange visitors.
I would not know what to do with a chicken
maybe it was looking for a place to lay an egg!

I find I get tired very easily but there is a difference between getting tired and the tired satisfaction knowing that every day is a slight improvement.

I was thankful day was willing to drive me to the Seniors Home yesterday as it was Jim's birthday and I was thankful I had a milkshake for him.  He also had been in hospital so he must had gotten a lot worse.  He was waiting for his daughter to come and I really hope she did.

I am reminded how important our relationships are and hope important it is to resolve misunderstandings.  It often can just be a little thing that can be hurtful.

Our lives can be change in a moment with external or internal adversity and each one faces it in their own time and own way.  I am amazed at how well many friends I know have cope with loss and pain.

Every affliction is unique and the path that helps me walk through it is prayer.  There is an assurance that renews my hope and faith and brings satisfaction at the end of each day.  I may not have done all I wanted to do but I try to do what is important.

A word, or a poem, or a verse of scripture or a song or a memory lighten moments of feeling down; which I think realistically we all have.  Most of us are doing the best we can!