gift giving

now that i’m back to work for a season (all for a reason, only for a season), Leo has tried to take over some of the necessary shopping ... but he has discovered that after a little bit of walking, his legs don’t want to hold him up anymore ... he needs to lean on counters or stoop ... not much fun ...

the topic of a cane has come up ... he does have my grandmother’s cane to use on bad days, but he needed one that was appropriate for his height ... we talked about a walking stick too ... they don’t look quite as "disabling" as a cane ...

when i got back to work i shared this with my gal pals ...

well ... a week later, i got to work and lo' and behold, there were 2 walking sticks in my work area ... a 4 footer and a staff that can be cut down to whatever length Leo wants ... compliments of one gal pal’s husband, who works with wood as a hobby ...

needless to say, we felt blessed by such a wonderful and personal gift ... i feel like i am being blessed beyond measure and i don’t know how to "repay" the generosity and kindness of folks ...


then to top it all off ... one of the guys brought in real homemade cheesecake for coffee on Friday ... mmmmm, i love cheesecake ... i actually walk around the office saying "mmmm, i love cheesecake" which makes everyone laugh - but it seems to bring in the cheesecake too!

SO now it is Saturday evening ... Leo and i have visited, i’ve had phone visits with the family and quiet time in the recliner with a book ... i think my batteries have charged up a bit ...

i feel rested ... and just happy ... how ‘bout you?

Friday night

i wasn't sure if i was going to post anything tonight ... but here i am ... tap tapping away ... :o)

i just finished reading blogs and i never realized how much a part of my life you all have become ... i truly have missed my "reads" ... i can't get to all the blogs i read daily, like i used to in the winter ... so for the past 2 weeks i have tried to do a 3 times a week read ...

i have become such a computer geek ... and i don't think that is a bad thing ... loving the computer ... the internet ... starting to blog has only blessed my life ...

i have composed posts on the 30 minute (highway time) drive to work ... posts that will never see the light of day, but it keeps me focused ... and i like that ...

unfortunately my eyes are crossing (and burning too) ... a sure sign that maybe i should just go creep into bed now ... y-a-w-n ... but i couldn't do that until i posted a little "thank you Lord, for blogging buds" ... so before my head hits the keyboards, i guess i will close for the night ...

the Lord gives His servants rest ... and that's a good thing!

running behind

life has been different in our household ... i feel like i'm running behind ... i guess i shouldn't make all these schedules for myself ... not that i'm feeling down or harrassed, just "behind" !!!!

even our loyal feline is missing me not being around ... he constantly sits on my lap when i'm reading my bible, the paper or trying to write notes ... Leo says he starts to meow and walk around the house if i'm not home by 5 ...

BUT soon i switch over to working weekends and then my schedule will be 4 days on, 3 days off ... that will be more manageable ... my men folk (leo and the cat!) will be happier ... me too ...

off to hit the sack ... i've discovered that mornings seem to come earlier when there is an alarm clock involved ... *laughing* ...

good thought 

just a thought

"Worry is an old man with bended head, carrying a load of feathers which he thinks are lead."
. . . Corrie ten Boom

If i could be ...

i was tagged by Gayla to answer five out of this list of "if's". so, here goes ...

The "questions": If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...If I could be married to any current famous political figure...

IF i could be a scientist ... i would have hair standing straight up, wear wrinkled clothes and mismatched socks ... i’d be speaking english, but no one would understand because all the words would be atleast the 75 cent variety ... and i’d discover cures for all known and unknown diseases .... Leo would be pain free ... my sisters wouldn’t be diabetics ... name it, and i’d discover the cure for it! ...... AND i would be quite happy to stop here with my "If i could be ..." !!!!!

IF i could be a librarian ... the library i work in, would have gleaming floors, with scatter rugs, comfy chairs and a cat for each lap ... the books would only uplift and edify ... the light coming through the windows would sooth tired eyes ... hmmmm, maybe it’s the library of heaven?

IF i could be a painter ... i could finally capture all of nature’s beauty with bold colours and imagination ... i would, of course, be covered in paint from head to toe, but wouldn’t notice because my eye would be on the next master piece that would bring comfort and joy to all those that beheld it ...

IF i could be a musician ... i would be able to jam with my brother and really understand his love for creating music ...

IF I could be a llama rider ... after i got over my fear of llama’s that can spit at me and try to bite ... i would ride off into the sunset at the end of a day filled with "what ifs" ... bouncy bouncy bouncy ... :o)

i won’t tag anyone for this ... BUT if you like, post on your blog and let me know ... it’s a fun mental exercise ... thanx Gayla...

to number our days

No bliss I seek, but to fulfill

In life, in death, Thy lovely will;

No succour in my woes I want,

Except what Thou art pleased to grant.

Our days are numbered - let us spare

Our anxious hearts a needless care;

'Tis Thine to number out our days,

And ours to give them to Thy praise.

-Mme Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717)

sunday morning ... where'd the weekend go?

tomorrow is Monday again ... a work Monday ... and i was just drinking coffee and thinking about what i gleaned from my first week back at the "salt mines in the park" and away from leo ... blogging helps me sort out my own thoughts, so here goes:

- i slipped back into my job, like slipping into comfy old slippers ...
- i definitely like my work buds ... and thank the Lord for their many kindnesses ...
- leo misses me, and seems a bit lost and overwhelmed at times ... the simple tasks seem monumental to him, because his body is still on a faster downhill spiral ...
- i need to read my bible in the evenings, rather than mornings ... must be flexible! ...
- i love my house and it's comforts ... yet ... ? ... to be prayed about ...
- i miss my daily blog reads ... now where is that high speed when a person needs it!!!! *smiling*

those are the thoughts that come easily to the forefront ... i still have a peace that surrounds me and a sure knowledge that i need to put into practise what i've learned over the winter ... can't just talk the talk ... must walk the walk too ...

sending blessings out into the blogworld and to those of you who stopped by ... may your Monday and your whole week, have a sense of the Lord's sweet Spirit in it ...

a day in the park

my first week at the park is now behind me ... and i am almost back into that work mindset ... it was a good week ... a busy week ...

now i am tired and ready to sleep in until atleast 8 a.m. tomorrow ... that is, if the pepster will let me ... our big old black cat likes to get me moving in the morning ... he doesn't like "his people" to lie about too long ... not when there are morning treats to feed him ... *smile* ...

i wanted to leave you with a few scenes from my work day ...

some Canadian Shield poking through the rugged scenery .... which really will be absolutely lovely in another month!



a mama bear with her 2 cubs ... the mama actually stood up on her hind legs to look at our vehicle, but my digi camera didn't come on quickly enough to capture that ... the cubs look like they are second summer cubs ...

God's handiwork is all around me on a daily basis ... i breath it in and out with gladness ... thankful for what my eyes behold ...

Every Moment of the Day

Every moment of the day -

My Father cares for me,

Ev'ry moment of the day -

My heart from fear is free;

He who sees the sparrow fall -

Will hear my call;

Ev'ry moment of the day

God watches over me.

Harry Dixon Loes

thankfulness

this morning's reading out of Elisabeth Elliot's "God's Guidance" was encouraging ... i try to keep a spirit of thankfulness throughout the day (with differing degrees of success!) ... so i wanted to share this little quote out of her book on that subject ... she said it so well ...

"It is even possible to be thankful for the valley of the shadow, not because we like it or find anything to enjoy in that fearsome ravine but because we have been told ahead of time that it is not the end of the journey. It is on the way to the Lord's house, and when we get there we'll know it was worth enduring any trouble along the way.

The chances are, however, that while we happen to be in the middle of the trouble it doesn't look like anything but trouble. It doesn't occur to us to compare it with the biblical illustrations, and if someone suggested we do this, we might laugh. "You want me to think spiritually about this? Why, it's got nothing to do with the will of God or the path of righteousness or any of that. It's nothing but bad luck."

The Scriptures have a way of covering all the possibilities. Our bad luck can be transformed if we do one simple thing: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ... The circumstances may not look even remotely like the will of God, but to give thanks in (not necessarily for) them is the will of God. That much we can do." quoted from page 75-76 - God's Guidance

back to the salt mines in the park

well it was back to the salt mines in the park ... yes, i smile when i say that!

and every season i wonder, will the snow be off the lake? as you can see by the picture above, yes in-dee-dee ... it was! this is my regular, every day view, at the office ... i know, how can i stand it?

it was a very good first day back ... the office was teaming with my work buds ... i brought some blueberry pie for morning coffee - and that was the only coffee break of the day ... it was so busy that i was rather surprised when 4:30 rolled around ... and poor Leo was even more surprised because he had forgotten that i was heading into the city, rather than coming home ... voi voi ...

this first week always tends to be hectic and busy ... we have to set up new routines and prioritize ... but a change is a good thing ... over the winter, i tend to be like the old hibernating bear and usually need a good boot before i leave my cave!

my time in the city was a little more hectic ... i've become such a country girl that the faster pace and crowded areas tend to feel confining ... i was quite happy at the end of the day, to come home to my men (Leo and the cat, that is!) ...

and it's mid-week tomorrow .... already?????

"I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize. ..." Philipians 3:14

dispositions

"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." —Martha Washington

Sunday morning thoughts

i'm drinking my coffee ... thinking about how quickly the winter has gone by ... how much i've learned over this season ... how there are NO coincidences with God ... and how thankful i am for all of you, my blogging buds, who He has put in my path ... the patterns of our lives that the Master Weaver creates are unique to each of us ... and how lovely it is when our patterns are interwoven through different times of our lives ...

today we are having a late Easter Sunday dinner at my aunts ... much of the family will be there ... then tomorrow is my first day of work for the Season ... i drive into the city right after work because of appointments for Tuesday ... my life changes ... i will miss my daily blog read ... i will have to catch up as i can ...

Leo's life changes too ... his wife won't be around ... but his pain will still be his 24/7 companion ... one of my constant prayers for him is "Lord help him to be comfortable, to feel better" ... i've tried so many variations of prayer for him ... of course there is always "Thy will be done" ... some summers have been quite pleasant for him ... but we do miss each other (even after ALL these years) when we aren't hanging out together ...

this is just a little ramble ... taking advantage of it ... while i can ...

my prayer for this season is "Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness ... make Thy way straight before my face ... " Psalm 5:8 ...

over the winter season, He has "put gladness in my heart" ... and part of the reason is you ... Lord bless your Sunday and your week ...

dream big

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened up a new heaven to the human spirit. - Helen Keller

tuckered out

i’ve been using different muscles these past few days ... not the shoveling snow, carrying wood muscles ... but the squatting, while trimming the round sidewalk stone muscles ... now i am all stiff, walking around like the middle aged woman i actually am ... groan ... i’m supposed to be going to work on Monday!!! but will i make it out the door ... ? ... *smiling*

this got me to thinking about my spiritual muscles ... this winter there has been a learning spurt, a desire to walk more in the way that Jesus taught ... i feel a growth of my faith muscles ... but i’ve only tested them here at home and definitely only a few of the muscle groups! ... NOW that i will be venturing out into the world again, there will be new areas to work those faith biceps ... leaving my comfort zone and known victories ... stretching and venturing into a larger arena ...

my desire is to be a believer who is using my ALL ... that is my prayer ...

i’ll keep you posted on how it goes ... but for tonight, i think i will just go to bed early!

Before her time

Ruth Bell Graham was blogging before her time ... many of her books read like the most interesting and popular of blogs ... one of my favourites, Legacy of a Pack Rat, i posted about in December ...


in it she recounts stories from her journal, shares poems and quotes others who's words have spoken to her heart ... it is such an uplifting book, that i had to mention it again ... if you are a blogger, then this is a wonderful find, a woman "posting" before her time!

from page 59 of Legacy ... "Interruptions never distracted Jesus. He accepted them as opportunities of a richer service. Interruptions were the occasion of some of His most gracious deeds and revealing words." - G.H. Morling, Quest for Serenity.

Another book of Ruth's, Prodigals and Those who Love Them, is written in the same manner ... great little stories, funny quips & quotes, as well as her own wise thoughts, such as this from page 44 ... "A weary Christian lay awake one night trying to hold the world together by his worrying. Then he heard the Lord gently say to him, "Now you go to sleep, Jim; I'll sit up."


i hear that Ruth Bell Graham's health is quite poor at the moment ... she suffers from chronic back pain (plus other things) like leo ... the Lord knows our frame and what we can endure, so i won't question ... i would just ask that He bless this precious lady ... her many many books that i've read, have sure lifted my heart and spirit on numerous occasions ... if you are wondering about a book, and it has her name on it as author ... wonder no more - buy it - it will be a GOOD uplifting read and GOOD for you too!

sharing another season

i started blogging in the Fall ... i shared pictures of that season ... then came our bitter, cold winter ... more sharing of photo's ...

now "spring has sprung, the grass is riz, but i wonders where the flowers is?" *smile* . . . here is our backyard as of a few hours ago ... you can see the grass is trying it's best to turn green, there is only a hint of ice at the mouth of the channel ... but alas ... no flowers yet ...

i had a busy day of "tieing up loose ends" before work starts on Monday ... tho' it was busy, it felt great to have a warm sun to gently embrace me at every turn ... i could smell the "good earth" as it sucked in huge gulps of springtime, starving for more with each breath ... mmmm, it was a good day ...

"Thou has put gladness in my heart" ... Psalm 4:7 ... may He put gladness into your heart as well!

Life in my "fast lane" is already starting ... i'm drinking coffee, making mental lists ... BUT before the list making, is the "thank you for the day" prayer ... *smile* ... looking forward to reading blogs tonight ... blessings on YOUR day! 

human knowledge

Human knowledge seems impressive -
awesome. But when it comes to tomorrow,
our knowlege plunges to zero. Tomorrow
lies hidden in the depths of God's
unfathomable, intricately interwoven plan.
He has not been pleased to unveil it until this
old earth spins sufficiently to see the dawn.
Is your trust in God, your attitude of
dependence sufficiently stable to
sustain you regardless?

Charles Swindoll

reflections of the day

today was a doctor day for Leo ... it went as smoothly as doctor days go ... the landscape had certainly changed from his January visit ... everything along our wooded route was shades of brown ... and the shades of brown looked lovely to my winter weary eyes ... it also blessed my heart that Leo's spirits were much better this trip compared to the January one ... at the end of the day he thanked me for coming with him and for being the driver, so that he could recline in the passenger seat and rest ... what a dear ...

this week is filled with last minute activity for me before i start my seasonal job on the 18th ... with all the animal pictures i’ve posted, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that i work in a park! yup ... *smile* ... this will be my 12th summer there ... i enjoy the change of pace and the Lord has really blessed me with wonderful work buds ...

the office i work out of is situated on a beautiful lake and deer, bears, squirrels, rabbits among other critters visit on a regular basis ...

one of our visitors ... he had a headache after hitting the window!

blogging has been SO GOOD for me over the winter, my heart and soul have been blessed, so i am praying that my rejuvenated spirit might overflow at work ...

hope you all had a blessed Monday ...

* * * * * * *

check out pilgrim scribblings to see what a major league Chaplain's day looked like ... a little bit busier than mine!

ready for a new week?

ok ... i'm ready to tackle the new week ... my last 7 days off before i start work and the busy season of my life ... but i'll tell you about that later ... i just can't bear to have a blog that might sound sad being the last one you see Sunday - or the first one you see Monday ... so here is a smiley one for ya!

Peace amidst a storm

peace within is an awesome experience ... peace that is earned by listening to the Lord ... then obeying Him ... it’s the type i want on an every day basis ...

i posted about my down time yesterday ... tho’ my pride didn’t want to share it with you ... but i posted anyway ...

today the peace within my heart has affirmed that God is in control again ... even the scriptures we read this morning were in tune with my heart, as was our daily devotional, which echoed the same message ...

"What has the Lord been for you throughout your life? Your peace in a chaotic time? Your comforter amid loss? Your forgiver of a sinful choice? Your strength in a difficult task?" my RBC devotional asked ... my answer is a humble yes to all ...

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom i take refuge; ... I call upon the Lord ... and I am saved from my enemies ... " 2 Samuel 22

And from Elisabeth Elliot’s "God’s Guidance" we read this morning that:
"There is a cross that is meant for each individual. It is peculiar to him, something that no one else could take up for him even if he wanted to."

i cannot carry Leo’s pain and my own load at the same time ... i was not meant to carry Leo’s pain ... i was meant to pray for him, be his wife and to love him ... but the pain is still his cross to bear ...

of course - in my head - i knew that ... but now i am trying to live that truth ...

i think i may have to come back and read my own words again ... but at this moment as i tap tap away ... i have peace ...

and what is our life, but a moment by moment walk ... and trust ... in our Heavenly Father ... amen ...

reflections on bad days

i had a "boo hoo" type of day yesterday ... it snuck up on me unexpectantly ... i thought i had been fortifying my spirit with all the right ingredients ... reading, praying, singing songs in my heart ... hear that buzzer?? ... naaauuurrrrr ... sometimes the emotional tide comes along and tries to smash me to smithereens on the rocks of care ...

sure leo has had a super bad week, but we've been through these times before ... many times ...

i think a proud spirit invades my heart ... what it tells me is: "i can do this, i will be the rock (wrong right there, Jesus is the rock) ... i will, i will, i will ... well it turned into an "i won't and didn't and couldn't" ... sigh ... splat ...

more prayer and confession ... then the Lord opens His arms of comfort ...

on pilgrim scribblings i found this song:

It's Just Another Red Sea
Gold City (Southern Gospel)

Well let me tell you 'bout a story, the prophet Daniel told
How three Hebrew boys wouldn't bow to the king's image of gold;
Well he threw them in the fire, but the Lord was there too
And he delivered them the same way
He'll deliver you.

Chorus:
It's just another Red Sea
That the Lord will walk you through;
It's just another giant
Like the one that David slew.
Well it's just another battle
An opportunity, for you to claim the victory;
Don't worry when the water looks deep
It's just another red sea.

So you say you've got a problem,feelin' helpless and afraid
Another dead-end situation, with no hope for your escape;
Just remember when it looks like you have faced your final hour
God sees it as another chance to move and prove His power.

* * * * * * * * *

my flesh might fail, my spirits may droop ... and i face a Red Sea before me ...
i've discovered that i can't get across on my own strength or even Godly efforts ...
that job belongs to the Lord ...
so maybe i will just let Him be my Father, and me be the Child ...
i will rest in His strength ... my own is not enough.

Camouflage!

i received this picture and post a while back, but just came across it again tonight ... soooo, i just had to share with you guys ... isn't it incredible how the Lord thinks of every little detail!

A family in Oregon found this fawn on their front steps and took this photo. The white spots on the steps are apple blossom petals. Isn't this an amazing photograph! A great job of camouflage! The fawn stayed there all morning, (they live in Bend, OR), and the mama came to get it after 4-5 hours. Gold star for the people to leave the fawn alone, knowing mom would be back.

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord ... after i have made a mess of things, mountains out of molehills and totally gotten pooped out in the process ... i give you my ball of yarn ... can you untangle it please ... ?

that is my prayer on "some days" ... and the astonishing, bless my heart, wonderful part is - God hears and responds to my feeblest cry ...

doesn't He love us so very very much!

shouldn't we just REST in Him ...

so, if we should ... then why don't we?

make fun memories

We're missing God's best if the fun memories
are being eclipsed by the fierce ones.
The world outside the family circle is dark enough.
When the light goes out within the circle . . .
how great is the darkness!
Charles Swindoll

the attic apartment

i was just thinking about places we’ve called home ... i guess my mind travels back to ways God has lead us in the past ... maybe to reasure myself of His continued leading in our future ...

during the early years of our marriage, we lived in a little attic apartment ... it was so small that our couch couldn’t fit in the living room and half our "stuff" went into storage! we just wanted some place cheap, as we saved for our building project - a home of our own! ...

i remember our first impression of this "cozy little cubbyhole" ... the creaky wooden steps leading to the second floor were STEEP and NARROW, and definitely built for short people - as Leo discovered when he banged his head on the doorframe (he gave me that "i hate it already" look!) ... the 3 rooms were tiny tiny, with old windows and slanted walls all around ... the bathroom had a sink and toilet ... the shower was in the basement ... the little old Finnish lady that owned the house did keep it spic and span ... and the best feature - LOW rent ...

leo saw all the valid things that were wrong with the place ... i saw the romantic side of living in this attic apartment ... the wonderfully low rent was the only item we agreed on!

we froze in the winter and sweltered in the summer! we argued, loved and saved a bunch of $$ during the time we made this itty bitty place our home ... we entertained friends and family and made lovely memories ... our best memory was Leo accepting Christ as his Saviour ... this happened halfway through our "life in the attic" experience ...

yup, what memories ...

the picture i posted today is actually a plaque i bought during this period ... it represented us ... it represented the fact that the how, why, what of our living conditions meant nothing, compared to the love we had for each other and the love we both ended up sharing for Jesus ... the same Jesus who we look to for guidance at this stage ... and every stage ... of our life.

Our Anchor

"We who have fled to [God] for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to His promise with confidence. This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls." - HEBREWS 6:18-19, NLT

Give me an anchor firm and strong

On which to rely my whole life long.

Give me but one anchor to hold me in

From sweeping tides of death and sin.

In this world filled with troubles rife

Give me but Jesus - the Anchor of Life!

- Gregory M. LaBrake

Decision Magazine, April 2005

got cookies?

Got Cookies ... this one made me smile ... Leo drinks so much milk (usualy chocolate milk), that we could have easily had a herd of brown cows to keep him supplied ... nice to see the tables turned!

you never know what a day holds

my motto has always been "you never know what a day holds" ...

today started out great, with that pesky haloscan problem solved ... i assumed that my day would progress along just as nicely ... can anyone hear the buzzer going - eeuurrrr - wrong ... BUT, let me assure you, even tho’ i didn’t get the "why" of my wasted day ... i thanked the Lord anyway ...

here’s what happened ... i had resolved to get into town early, so that i could come home and do chores, etc ... i was on the road before 10 a.m. ... all of a sudden, i heard a bang bang sound from the rear of the vehicle (sounded like someone was in the trunk knocking!) ... the gauges didn't indicate a problem, but i stopped and walked around the car ... i didn't see anything ... so i thought maybe a rock was stuck under the wheel well and needed to get loose ... the noise stopped, only to start again once i had crossed the narrow bridge ... this time i saw the problem immediately, another flat ...

i called GM roadside ... who sent a service guy to change my tire (15 minute wait, not bad) ... drove to Good Year to get it fixed ... bought a set of 4 tires (they should be in this week) ... talked to leo numerous times on the cell ... then came home to do a bit of outdoor stuff ... sigh ...

poor Leo is still recovering from the Friday night outing ... slow going there ... and of course, spring brings with it more pain for him ... i felt so badly for Leo, which can make me sad ... so my day wasn’t as productive or happy, as i had hoped ...

THEN just as i was going to get really whiney about it ... i read David’s post ... it cheered and encouraged me to keep on ignoring these little problems that try to get me down ... to continue in my spirit of thankfulness to the Lord for the MANY blessings in my life ...

my blogging friends have become a major part of the blessings i thank God for ...

so ... you never know what a day holds, eh? how was your day?

the case of HaloScan is cracked!

YAY!!!!

Rodney just now cracked the mysterious "Haloscan Refuses to Open for Poor Canadian Girl" case ... all the way from Australia too ... so i will share his solution, in case any of you have the same problem with Haloscan not responding to your clicking ... here is what you do:

Once you've opened the blog, try super-reloading. To do this, hold down"Ctrl" "Alt" and "Shift" and then click the refresh icon on your browser. After that, try to click on the comments.

and it works!!!! yay ... so click on by Rodney's place and tell him how smart he is!!!

Let the Little things in Life tickle you

A Frenchman became a naturalized British Citizen. "Yesterday," he remarked, "Waterloo was a defeat but today it is a victory." When one becomes a Christian, defeat changes to victory.
A Treasury of Vance Havner

it's monday

it's monday ... looks like rain here ... and i still don't know why the 3 blogs listed below won't let me open the haloscan to comment on ... hmmmm ... but whatever it is, i didn't do it!

HaloScan Woes

Help!

for the past 2-3 weeks, i have had trouble commenting on Operation for a Soldier and The Journey ... and then today the HaloScan on Tales of a Farmwife wouldn't click open, even though i had commented there yesterday? have any of you encountered that before? i know they haven't black listed me ... so? .... things that make me go hmmm ... in a grumpy way!!!

Operation for a Soldier has his blogger comments available ... and i use that ... but it is kind of annoying to wonder what happened to the HaloScan since i had used it on these 3 blogs previously ...

any ideas out there? THANX

just reading ...

after enjoying an evening out ... sending lots of e-mail to family and friends ... blogging a longer than usual post ... chatting on the phone ... well i think it's time to go bury my nose in a book for the rest of the afternoon ...

do you get like that too? a need for quiet time, after a whirlwind of activity? i do ...

i think it is a matter of re-charging my personal batteries ...

Lord bless your Sunday ... i must go find out "who done it" in my mystery novel ...

Juno Cup 2005 ... the view through my eyes

How was the Juno Cup you ask? it was awesome ... so much fun! i had a great time ... *big smile*

... and for those of you who prayed for Leo ... thank you so much ... i was able to let go of the "fretting" over my husband, and just enjoy the moment ... Leo is "paying for it" today (when we got home last night, he was white, sweating profusely and bent over - but still smiling as he asked "did you have a good time honey?") ... regardless, we resolved to enjoy ourselves and the moment and we did ...

the weather was perfect as we left our cottage ... i’m the driver - so picture a little person behind the wheel and a big bear of a guy sitting next to her! ... the arena where the Juno Cup was played is an hours drive, and it was great to see the snow receding, water in the ditches and signs of spring everywhere ...



me and Leo at the arena

we had supper at Macdonald’s ... which was a treat for us (i picked a healthy meal) ... it is quick, with minimal sitting time for Leo ... perfect ...

we met up with our friends ... headed to the arena ... and the excitement of the Juno Cup!

our seats couldn’t have been better ... even though it was the second row, there was no first row in front ... only a space and the arena boards ... during the game - Leo was able to stand, squat, and reposition himself as much as he wanted ... to me, something like that shows the kindness of God - arranging for the best spot possible.

we were given these cute pom poms and Juno Cup toques .... and i had a chance to win tickets for the awards on Sunday night ... alas, my name wasn’t drawn ... i felt a little stab of disappointment at first - but then my next thought was, that’s ok - the Lord gave me a sweet little present with the hockey tickets, i wasn’t going to grumble! and i felt at peace with it ... content in the moment and in what i did have!

it was fun watching the players warm up ... as they skated by their faces were easily recognizable ... and i must be a real Canadian girl at heart, because i recognized many of the NHL old timers, but only 2 of the "Juno Stars"!!! go figure, eh!

we cheered, did the wave, laughed .... AND ... after the game i got to go on the ice with the other winners and get autographs or pictures or just chat with the stars ... well, how cool was that?!!

initially i thought that it had been a long enough night for Leo and i didn’t want to make him wait for me ... but he insisted that he would be fine ... so off i trooped with the other winners (we got these impressive passes that we hung around our necks), through a bunch of security gates with burly guys guarding doors ... and onto the ice! so there is short (i’m 5’2") me, on the ice with these guys who look larger than life (the skates must add 5 inches more to their stature!) ... feeling kind of dwarfed by it all!! Leo was waving at me from the stands ... *smile* ...


Ron MacLean and me - on the ice!

i didn’t ask for autographs (tho’ they gave me a sharpie pen and another program) but i did snap some pictures and it was fun to just be out there ... i wonder if all celebs are as polite as our Canadian ones? i mean, i would ask "may i take your picture?" ... they would respond, "my pleasure" ... we’d smile, nod ... and i’d repeat the process ... or they would stop, pose and be so sweet about it all ... i took pictures of "celebs", who’s identity i hadn’t a clue of! ... i didn’t want to make them feel bad and left out!!! ??

it was a low key, wonderful evening ... i’m glad Leo came along, i’m glad i was able to leave his health in God’s hands ... i’m just thankful this morning ... thankful and a bit tired!

and if anyone wants to see any more pictures ... well click this link! oh, NHL Stars won ... surprised?

as i end, i’m humming Johnny Appleseeds song " The Lord is good to me, and so i thank the Lord ..... hum hum hum ".

Courage ... is the ability to make a leap beyond the familiar. 

paying my respects to Terri

Christ opens the door of heaven
to those who open their heart to Him.

RBC devotional

though i read current event blogs and am a news junky ... my own blog has been my little haven of confessions, chuckles and chit chat ... however, i do need to pay my respects to a lady who left us yesterday ... who's last days we all followed ...

Joe had a wonderful drawing posted yesterday; The Black Kettle and Rita's blog kept the flame burning almost daily on Terri's fight for life; David has a most appropriate "Schindler's List" printed ...

i hope that somehow, those who never thought of the sanctity of even one life - may do so now - or our world will become even more chaotic ... may Terri rest in peace ...