CARRY ON

I like to think that the sunrise brings not only light into my day but also the light of God’s love shining upon us all.  Yes saint or sinner the sun shines to bless each one of us.  I have closed the curtains for the night and as I pull them open the sunshine lights up the room

“Life is a quest to find an unfindable thing.".

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This is Haiti, Kim’s dog, looking for the squirrel that has disappeared  up the tree.  Once on a walk he even tried climbing up a tree to try and catch the little creature.  He keeps looking all through the day.  He loves it at our house cause he can go out and come in and keep watch for cats or squirrels.


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I open my frig. door to reach out and grab the second half of my sandwich.  Guess what I must have  done is eaten it already because it is not there.  I will carry on and find something else.  Unless it was some one else?

Have to admit that dad and I both woke up feeling a little weary and bleary, especially dad with his feet extra painful.  We were glad we carried on to have our birthday lunch with Jane and Geof. always good fun.  Had lunch out on the patio at a place in Cloverdale very peaceful and   very uplifting and beautiful with lots of flowers.     Early to bed last night so we would be ready to carry on today!

HUMANITY

.We are all so very human.  We have our good days and are miserable days.  We are caught up in situations we do not understand and yet try to  believe there is a purpose behind it all.

I have been in a place where I took a rigid stance on certain issues.  Now I try more and more to see the other’s point of view.  I try to find the light that is there all the time if I only look for it.  Like the light in the clouds.

In this new humanity I am wrestling with I try to see the colors not what is black and white.  Yes, it was a good experience for me to belong to a church that was known for being hip, cool, and trendy.  For me it was exciting and a growing experience.

Now It is easier to be with those I share so much in common with, like age  and  cultural references that I am familiar with.  As a believer I share many goals with others as I am committed to take a certain path every day!

Haiti and I meet Joanna on our walk early Sunday morning and we walk  together for awhile.  She is going too far so we head back.  Being the smart person I am  I  decide to take a short cut  and wind up at two not one dead ends.  I feel quite lost but eventually I find the park and know where I am.

It comes into my thoughts to  say to myself why am I here? 
Then I start thinking why am I here on this earth? 
What purpose do I contribute to the great sea of humanity which surrounds me? 
Yes, the world can go on without  me or you,  that I realize.

So tell me Why am I still here?

WE all make mistakes because we are all human and we to be supported and encouraged.

Monday I will be celebrating my up coming birthday with Jane and Geof dining out and doing some shopping.  Jane is a real character and I know we will have great fun..

UNARMED

We come into this world unarmed and sensitive to our surrounds.  I  believe that our souls are fragile and need to feel loved.  We have neither wings to fly  or walls to protect us.  When I have felt afraid and alone I am seeing the world through the eyes of my childhood.
Hiding from the truth causes unique unhappiness.  I think that the most unhappy people are those who see their own lives through the eyes of a victim and they see the lives of others as perfect and complete.
The truth is that all families have problems and experience difficult times.  I share by writing, others share by music or by art, or by cultivating  a beautiful garden or volunteering to help others.

My garden is a work in progress as are the lives of each one in our family

I found the ministry and the philosophy at the Vineyard church very helpful when we attended there  as I was troubled by our own family problems and shaken up in what I believed in with my own church.  I was a little burnt out with doing and needed time to be healed. 

From the first I experienced music as prayer.  Not singing about God but to Him expressing my need of more of His love and spirit in my life.  It was intense, emotional and personal.  The sermon was based on the Bible and was very inclusive and not judgemental.

The faith and believe of the community filled the air with energy and the sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit was alive.  Healing was available through prayer and the laying on of hands.  At times people were overcome with emotion that had been built up in them for years.

People were free to respond in their own way and in their own time.  Yes, some stayed frozen and critical so never made the choice to face their fears and come forward for prayer.  I am glad that I did.
The gifts of the Spirit of Jesus were put into action and I felt affirmed and happy.

Heart and soul healing help the body relax and to even fall down this is not the doing of the person praying but the body responding to unconditional and amazing love.  Heart and soul healing may not heal me physically but gives me the courage and strength to cope.  Coping is so important.  If we can cope we are armed.

Part of the process is education.

 Come as you are and leave as you came
the choice is yours
 or experience a deeper relationship with Jesus!

"I have found that these widening circles of family, friends community; accepting myself (most days) my husband, my parents (still in my thoughts) my community and my faith (and Jesus) were the only later of protection I needed.  Sharing life's brutiful (not always beautiful is what makes us feel less alone and afraid.  And I reached out to God-the One who holds us all together."   -G. Melton

NOW

Now is the time for a little rain.  Just a 10 minute shower on Thursday really freshened up the morning.

Now was the time for dad to have his letter printed in the Peace Arch News newspaper.
Now is the time to find a new bike route.

Now happens to be a bad day so pleased to-morrow will be a new day.  Thankful Sandra took  me to Costco to get the folding mattress pads for the children.  Happy to go to Carol and Panteli's for supper
.because I find cooking stressful now.  Thankful when others do the cooking at my house or theirs.

Now I mistake the ice-cream man’s music for a cell phone.
Now I am giving away daisy roots to my neighbors.
Now my favorite saying is I don’t know because I do not know about a lot of things.
Now is the time when pesky mosquitoes buzz in our ears at night.
Now is the time for spiders are quietly sneak in and create a masterpiece of webs in strange places.

Now is the time to appreciate the ordinary things of everyday that are sacred.
Now is the time to sit on the front porch and read a good book.
Now is also the time to find time for others, a visit by phone or with our two legs.
Now is the time to enjoy the wonderful fresh fruit!

Now is the time to move some furniture.  Room by room I want to make them child proof.

Now is the time to see life with all its mystical and magical beauty.

WE feel badly that we will not be attending Daniel's birthday party at his brother's home.  Dad just cannot walk far or stand very long, too painful.  Also his thorat gets sore with talking.

NOW is the time to be thankful to the Man (Woman or Spirit) that we call the Man Upstairs who is closer than we think or can even imagine.  Now is the time to celebrate our lives by walking and living in love!

UNKNOWABLE.

A frantic call from Randy to Sandra at work. One of the dogs is missing and there has been a hole dug under the fence. Sandra rushed home feeling anxious all the way. What did she find but  Peanut sitting at the feet of the very old man across the street and they both looked so happy together. Sandra thinks his wife may have died. Animals are amazing!.

What a great story to tell as I visited at the Seniors Home.
Helen, who has her little dog with her, then remembered many dogs that she has had.  The last one before she moved in was a black lab.  She knows he has a good home but has not had any news of him since she left.

She has no prejudice against the Korean people who now make up the majority of the residents.  We are all in the same boat she says and when God decides it is her time to go she is ready.  She walks to the door with me and then out into the heat to wave me good-bye.

Dad took his bike down to Scottsdale because I was using the car.  \he managed to get his phone fixed after a bit of a run around, actually to King George Highway and back to Scottsdale mall, where a new employee had arrived and was able to fix it for him.

Riding the bike is much easier on his feet and he felt really good.  After a rest for us both we drove in to take Eileen  some things.

I found today as I was driving that people behind you do not know what is going on ahead.  If they did they would be a little more patient.  Two lanes become one.

 What a nice surprise to see the beautiful message and music on face book that Nancy-Lou put on for us.  A very peaceful ending for our day.

Our future may be unknown but each day by itself can be precious and remind us of the simple joys of life.  Our lives have meaning beyond our know

Hope we all enjoy our New Day!   I am off to the library with a clear conscience!

HURTING

As we walked into the Hospice Center we see a couple leaving carrying a box of treasures and tears in their eyes.  They put on a little brave smile.  Our hearts are touched by their pain.

Many fans are grieving the death of Cory  Monteith, an all Canadian kid who turned superstar on the T.V. show Glee.  One young man who turned to drugs and alcohol maybe because life was just too painful for him.
 
Many other parents have had to faced tragic news about their own dear children.
I pray that God’s love for my children will protect them when they are hurting and when they are afraid.  God love them when they are not strong enough to love themselves.  I ask for your loving light and healing presence to be with them.  Help them when temptation comes to take a way that may seem easy but can lead to death.

I know that I have been through painful times when I was hurting and I know I need forgiveness for the times I have hurt others.

No one can be what other people may want them to be but discover what you are meant to be and live it fully.  I hope that I can see the goodness and potential in others even when I feel undeserving myself.

A hurting world needs prayer!

Thank you Dear Lord for blessing us with our children,  grandchildren and great grandchildren!
And each other

"Even the dark days on the journey of faith are pregnant with hope."  -Leslie F. Brandt

Everyday a new day and every morning a time to enjoy the sunrise!

RISKY

Yeah the Bennetts are coming in August.  I can hardly wait.



I can hear the flowers whispering to each other: “This is a risky garden to be in, either we will get dug out or be moved.”
I see Mary, across the road watching me as I stumble moving around the rocks in my garden.  I can also image what she is thinking.  She worries about me.  I wave at her and say I am okay!

Too hot for us yesterday.  A little rain this morning is excellent.    That is very exciting news about Ken and family!  This trip is a little bit risky travelling with a young family but they are used to traveling and Ken is an expert at taking charge.  Now I need to start to organize.  Any Volunteers?

We live in a world where even love is a risk.  Loving others can bring us joy but also uncertainty, inconvenience and discomfort.  We can easily be misunderstood or misunderstand.  It some times seems that there are those who seem incapable of understanding, accepting or returning love.

We see God taking a risk by sending Jesus to bring his love into this world of chaos and suffering.  The Old Testament has reveal the worst of human nature and is upsetting to read. From Cain on we have seen violence escalate until all of civilization is in trouble

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Jesus comes to reveal God’s love into a world of religious piety who did not want to hear his message.  Jesus now enters creation knowing the risk of trying to redeem the lost souls who desperately need to be loved.


Mom and grandmother Carol are looking for Ben

I certainly admire these two young mothers, yes one is a grandmother, so creative and active and spiritually attuned to helping others.  Good job you two!

Our daughter Sandra, too not in this picture busy helping  Shawna plan the new baby Lincoln's room in Edmonton.

                                                                 Yes Ben likes to be risky climbing trees.

I know that it is risky trying to hear what God may be trying to say to me.  I have to interpret and pick out Godly wisdom among the jumbled thoughts in my head.  I have the help of the wisdom that comes from scripture and from reading and studying and learning from others

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I listen for the whisper of love and forgiveness.