fall reflections

can you see the beauty in this picture?

the trees are barren ... the sky is threatening ... the road is deserted ...

i took this picture on my way home from the city today ... it looked so awesome, with the storm clouds hovering overhead ... yet the SON was still brightening the road i traveled on ...

i hope HE brightened your path today too ...

fall contemplation

i love the waterfront in our little town ... there is a town dock, a small beach with play structures, and benches to rest your weary bones on ... a place to contemplate, to pray, or to just watch the sunbeams skip across the water ...

i took this picture a few days ago ... as i strolled along the river walk ...

the leaves made a crunchy sound under my feet ... the poor trees stood there with all their covering spread along the pathway ... completely bare ... they had to let go of their foliage in order to grow stronger and taller come the spring ...

which makes me think about the inner "me" ... those times of seeing the ugly side of my character and actions - maybe those times occur so that God can strip me of all pretense ... to ready my heart for the next growth spurt in Christ ...

there is never a springtime without a fall and winter ...

even in our hearts and lives ...

real courage ...

The real tests of courage are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking . . . like enduring pain when the room is empty . . . like serving others though no one says thank you . . . like standing alone when you're misunderstood ...
Charles R. Swindoll

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Lord, give me courage like this ...

One Year Anniversary!

eventually, if we last ... we all blog about it ...

now it’s my turn ...

the ONE year anniversary of entering blogosphere ... at first, i was a little nervous about being "out there" ... not quite sure if this was a good idea, or not ...

well the verdict is in, it’s been the BEST of experiences ... i am so glad i took the plunge ...

i started by reading blogs, then commenting on blogs, before i muddled into my own blog ...

and why have a blog? well, i wanted to meet other folks who either had chronic pain or lived with someone who did ... to get to know believers online (since we don’t go to church, they would be my web-church) ... and lastly, i felt isolated during the fall/winter and wanted to have "friends" close by ...

it seemed like only days and the Lord brought YOU wonderful blog buds into my life!

on my sidebar, you’ll see my first blog buds, then more blog buds, then even more blog friends (the list needs to be expanded again ... ) ... my cup truly has run over because of YOU ...

over the year there has been shared joys and sorrows ... a marriage, which i got to see via the CD i was so graciously sent ... also the sadness of a blog bud's death (his son was kind enough to e-mail me the news) ... there have been shared experiences of moves, graduations, weather stories, techno help and even shared sorrow of saying a last farewell to a loved one ... others have gone through financial hardships, even marriage break-up ... all of us have experienced highs and lows over the past year ... and after getting to know you, they have become my highs and lows too ... to complete the circle of life, a blog bud is expecting her first baby soon ...

through it all, you have made me laugh, "wiped" my tears if i am sad, encouraged me on the difficult days ... pointed me to the Lord ... just blessed my heart ...

you have become like a second family ...

i don' t have high speed, so time prevents me from visiting more ... sometimes i can’t comment because of the wait for the comment box to open - so i leave a prayer behind ...

this has just been an amazing experience and i thank you so much for making me your blog bud too ... Lording willing there will be more joys than sorrows to share over the next year ...

may the Lord bless you, as you have blessed me!

anything is possible

Our refuge and our strength

i've been reading through the bible this year ... i am now in the New Testament ...

i am using a New Living Testament translation, with notes by Greg Laurie in it ... it helps to see verses that i have read in a certain translation, written another way ... and Greg's comments give me things to think on ...

"Victory is not obtained through evacuation" Winston Churchill said ... to which Greg Laurie added, "Don't retreat from your problems, but ask God to help you face and overcome them ... "

Jesus said, "Anything is possible, if a person believes." Mark 9:23b

maybe i've set my bar too low? i have been settling for just finishing the race! to hang in there on the dark days ... hmmmm... i am giving myself something to think on ... even as i type this ...

i want to OBEY Him ... and it may mean stepping out of the boat!

He WILL pull me out of the depths, if i have bitten off more than i can chew!

Brad Pitt front page news?

well you knew i had to up-date the "movie star" story, right? *chuckling* ...

filming is going on in Winnipeg, Brad Pitt did arrive last night ... and our local papers had front page coverage ...

the only sad part is, the weather is a tad cool for filming the "summer scenes" ... a real Manitoba howdy dooh! ... with 40F type weather ...

so far it seems that there aren't hordes of folks hanging out in front of the hotel or filming areas ... just some young girls who received a friendly little wave from him ... which was sweet ...

haloscan woes

if you use haloscan ... you might notice it isn't allowing any comments ... it seems to have checked out last night ... sigh ...

i will have to ask some of my computer guru friends out there, how i can host both haloscan and the blogger comments, side by side ...
if you e-mail me the template command ... that would be super!

hope your Monday is glitch free!

sunday afternoon at our house

while leo watches his football on sunday afternoons, i like to read ... my imagination needs to take a walk ... and i have been truly blessed with more good books than time to read them! today i have been living in the world of David Lewis', Coming Home ...

the story has kept me turning pages ... i try not to "cheat" and jump ahead (one of my sins that i now confess to you - sneaking a peek, maybe even taking a very quick look at the end ... i am so bad, eh!)

it is a gloomy day outside, but inside - the house is warm ... there is a good book ... comfy chair ... what more could a girl ask for!

blessings on your week!

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it is now Sunday evening and i've finished the book ... a surprisingly good read ... and a satisfying one as well ...

Hollywood North

Winnipeg is getting to be a real Hollywood North! there is a lot of "celebrity" traffic in and around the city on a regular basis ... i was reminded of this when i met a sleek black stretch, on a quiet residential street, i was driving on ... it could have been just a local ... or it could have been Robert Duval ... one never knows here!


the movie industry loves the varied scenery and the turn of the century buildings which abound in this prairie city ... at the moment the local media is a buzz about Brad Pitt coming to town ... they will use the Exchange District (downtown Winnipeg) in the movie "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" ... they are scheduled to shoot for 5 days, starting on Monday ... most of this movie was filmed in Alberta, but the Exchange District was deemed perfect for some pivotal scenes ...

the movie "Shall we Dance" (Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandan) was filmed in Winnipeg (substituting for Chicago) ... they were here for almost 2 months ... and it happened to be at the height of the media frenzy regarding Lopez and Ben Affleck - so Affleck was in town too ... driving a motorcycle and gambling in the local casinos ... out of town paparazzi hounded them, but i do think they still had some quiet moments ... at least i hope ... what a way to live - in a goldfish bowl with everyone wanting pictures of you!

Harrison Ford was in Gimli for a submarine scene, one cold January ... Russell Crowe filmed a movie in Brandon (just before he became super famous) ... the latest Category 7 disaster movie (to be aired on tv in November) was filmed in and around Winnipeg ...

one morning on my way to work, i noticed dozens of large media type vehicles (there have to be dozens for me to notice anything in the mornings!) parked across from a beautiful picnic area which contained rapids and a fast moving river, all to be showcased in a Shannon Doherty flick ...

now that i’m sitting here writing about Hollywood North, i realize how extensive the list of big name actors are (Robin Williams, Keanu Reeves, Jane Seymour, James Brolan ... to name only a few) ... the likelihood is that you have seen Manitoba scenery or Winnipeg’s skyline, without realizing it! ... it’s also great for the economy ...

all the hard working movie stars are just folks, making a living, with the talent God gave them ... we can enjoy their craft (well if they would only keep their clothes on and not be so potty mouthed! editorial note) ... but i remind myself not to worship at their shrine ... you know, the "celebrity shrine" ... God sees our hearts ... and the quiet, unassuming, lady who puts on the make-up for a million dollar beauty, may actually be the one with the more beautiful heart ...

yup ... Man looks on the outward appearance, but God KNOWS our heart ...

problem solving

"God is not in the business of eradicating our problems, but He is definitely the One who supplies our needs in the middle of those problems." Elizabeth Skoglund

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i'm playing "catch-up" these days ... mostly for good reasons and pleasureable activities, but catch-up, none the less ... just wanted to start your weekend with a smile and a word of encouragement ...

no cat naps!

i bet you guys thought i was just taking a day off to cat nap ...

nope ...

i went into the city ... did some shopping ... a little visiting ... spent the night at my cousin's and came back home to enjoy the quiet of cottage country ...

it was quite refreshing ...

now i need some sleep - all that "refreshing" can make a gal tired ... *smile*

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"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find, keep on knocking, and the door will be opened ... " Jesus, from Matthew 7:7

the joy of the Lord is my strength

there should be a certain amount of relief, when we have done all that we can in any given situation - then truly say "thy will be done" ...

i cannot see God wanting us to be glum ... or sad ... as we wait for His will ...

on the contrary, we are told to "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

and if we seek God's will ... here is God's will for us all ... "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus ... " 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ...

and who am i quoting these wonderful verses to? why ME of course! ... thought i would just take you along for the ride ... 'cause i like your company ... *grin* ...

may the Lord strengthen us all with His JOY ...

my Anchor holds

i have many conflicting thoughts stirring within me .... thoughts about the sale of our cottage, which in turn create tiny fragments of guilt - after all, it was the Lord's hand that led us here ... then bits of fear grip my heart because winter is coming and life continues to be more difficult for Leo because of his chronic pain ...

i pray, "please Lord, please ... " ... but i don't quite know how to finish that prayer ... should i ask that our house sells this fall? or should i ask that it doesn't sell and we stay here another winter? .... hmmmm .... all i do know is - i want to be in HIS will concerning the WHERE we live ... HE will help deal with the HOW we will manage ...

so this morning, despite the fact that my earthly vessel moves around in these different thought patterns ... i have an Anchor in Jesus ... though perplexed, i can still feel secure ... because my Anchor holds ...

blogaholics

are you a blogaholic? check out this site, Me? I'm A Blogoholic? to see ... i actually nodded my head to some of the symptoms! made me chuckle ...

God's care

my sister snapped this photo last week ... lovely, isn't it? i thought that Jesus words in Matthew 6:28 made it picture perfect ...

why worry about tomorrow? if God clothes the flowers so beautifully, surely He will take care of us as well ...

God's canvas

Sunset in my world

i was doing the dishes, enjoying the view of the river as the sun was setting ... tonight's sunset was so lovely that i wanted to try and capture the beauty ... even braving a possible meeting with our neighbourhood black bear! so i grabbed my camera and ran to the backyard ... i snapped away ... this is one of the scenes that i was blessed to view ... of course, i had to share it with you all ... *smile* ... God's canvas and art is the best! dontcha think?

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Over the sunset mountains, Some day i'll softly go,

Into the arms of Jesus - He who has love me so.

Over the sunset mountains, Heaven awaits for me;

Over the sunset mountains, Jesus my Savior I'll see.

Toiling will all be ended, Shadows will flee away;

Sorrow will be forgotten - O what a wonderful day!

John W. Peterson

got gum?

can anyone relate?

my week has been SO intense, that when i saw this little ditty making fun of our shared flaws, i just had to post it ... the girl is obviously ME trying to cut out some imperfections in leo!! *chuckling* ...

God whispers in the storm

sometimes God whispers His answers to me, but i'm too busy shouting to hear ...

that is the thought that came to me after the unrest that i felt on monday ... i feel peaceful today ... really at rest within ... i humbly thank you for your concern and prayers ... i find it difficult to share my turmoil, but i think it is needful at times ... so thank you ...

i have resolved to change my morning routine, bible reading FIRST ... this was something that God was quietly asking me to do ... so for 2 mornings, that's the way it has been ...

"... thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness ... " Nehemiah 9:17b

strengthen my hands ...

pathway in my world

some days are rough ... then there are the really bad days ... days so dark that the sun seems to have left altogether ...

i don’t have many of the really horrible days ... but i did have one yesterday ... i didn’t even recognize the weeping, angry woman that i was ... even after praying for hours i still managed to unleash a fury that must have lay dormant for many years ...

the details concerning my blow-up aren’t important when looked through the light of eternity ... suffice it to say, though i am weary today, some peace has returned to my heart ...

i was reading in Nehemiah this morning ... and i wondered what in the world would come out of this old book that could be of relevance to me - today? but without even searching, the words jumped off the page and gave me courage ... not only for today, but the days ahead ...

Nehemiah asked God for strength to perform an impossible task, he said "... For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it is not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands ... " Neh 6:9

"... this work was wrought by our God ... " v 16

" ... for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh 8:10b

i’m not a preacher ... what i am, is a woman who is stumbling under the weight of her burden ... i fail, fall flat on my face, and in the process i am a horrible witness to my husband ... yet, God is merciful and forgives ... not only does He forgive, He dusts me off - reminds me that He will strengthen my hands for the task ahead ...

i share this because i don't want anyone thinking that i am so sweet and saintly that i never ever do or say anything that isn't wickedly wrong ... i am a struggling soldier of Christ ... i have battle scars ... i sometimes lose a battle, and must be reminded that eventually the Lord will win the war!

my faith may waiver for a moment, but God is still holding onto my hand ... i’m so glad He doesn’t let go ...

You Are Safe in God

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,

O Lord, make me dwell in safety"

Psalm 4:8 NIV

Thanksgiving in Canada

this is our Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada ... i just got back from my aunt's place where she had a terrific spread laid out for us to enjoy ... mmmmmm ... i love her cooking ... she is almost 80 and spry as can be ... she can literally run circles around me ... she IS a gem ... and definitely one of my blessings to thank God for ... i took my appetite along and thoroughly enjoyed the food and family gathering!

leo stayed at home ... going to these family doohs is tough on folks with disabilities ... there are no comfortable spots when your body is in pain ... he could lie down of course, but as he always says "why go visit somewhere to just lie in a bedroom?" ... good point ... so he watched sports in the comfort of his own recliner ... he always seems content to be left behind ... yet i feel a touch of guilt when i fly off to do my visiting ... a little tug of war in my heart ...

"in everything give thanks" ... that is what the Word says ... so that is what i will do ... i'll give thanks for the good things i love ... and thanks for the knowledge that i don't have to walk through any of the difficult times alone ...

counting blessings is a wonderful way to never take a moment for granted ...

set your mind on these things ...

what is that old saying? a person shouldn't be so heavenly minded, that he is of no earthly good ...

i agree with that ... but i also think that a person shouldn't be fretting about earthly things 24/7, without giving thought to our heavenly destination ... this earthly pilgrimage will one day come to an end ...

i confess, i have been down this past week and i'm also guilty of fretting ... with our house up for sale and then the early winter storm that blew threw - well my spirits went into a nose dive ...

i love the Fall, yet the Fall is the one season that can totally depress me ... i don't like the dark dampness, the thought of a cold winter looming just around the corner or the elevated pain that leo is in ... trying to stay positive in the Fall has been a life long battle ... this past week has been a struggle ...

then i was gently reminded by Elizabeth's comment, that we will never be totally comfortable here on earth, because after all, heaven is our destination ...

my insides are still frowning, but i will try to set my mind on things above, things that are eternal ... rather than things that are here below, where moth and rust destroy ...

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness ..." Matthew 6:33a
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also ..." Matthew 6:21

October 6th in my world 

it's snowing!

yes, that is our front deck that is filling up with snow ... the picture was taken this evening ...

... sigh ...

can you believe it? of course it will melt, the ground isn’t cold enough for the snow to last - but yikes! already? my flowers have wilted ... and the snow is still falling ...

even though this is rather depressing, i will dwell on the positive ... a wood stove chug chug chugging away, keeping us warm ... and we don’t have to go out driving in this yucky stuff ... and? well 2 positive thoughts are pretty good ...

moving right along, and staying with the snow (for Christmas) & shoe (for shoe boxes!) theme ...

i have been getting our Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes ready to go ... it blesses my heart to fill the boxes with toys, school supplies, toiletries and goodies ... i trust Samaritan's Purse to get them into the hands of children who truly don’t have much ... and the gospel goes out with each one ...

now i must go look for some cheerful things to read or to listen to ... i mean, honestly now, snow on October 5th???? sheesh!

do you remember ...

just out of the blue, leo asked me ... "do you remember your first pair of high heels?" ... without hesitation i said, "yes!" ... i wore a pink pair of low heels at my cousin's wedding ... when i was 12 ... and i waddled like a duck!

apparently that is something that all women remember... their first heels ... he had just heard it on tv, and thought he would test it out on me ...


so now i'm asking you (and guys, if you answer - that will be o.k. - maybe a tad weird, but ok!) ... do you remember your first pair of heels?

Autumn in my backyard

we are starting to get to the end of the fall colours ... yup ... already! so of course i've been walking around the neighbourhood, trying to capture memories ... i love my digi camera for that ... storing up visuals for the days ahead ...

as i look at the loveliness all around, i think a person needs MORE faith to believe that this wonderful creation happened by chance ... like a box of matchsticks thrown into the air ... and the expectation that a 3 bedroom bungalow would be the end result, once they hit the ground ...

nature is God's signature for us to see ... and to think that we live in a fallen world ... i cannot even imagine the beauty of what is yet to be!

just my sunday evening thoughts ...

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God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.
~Martin Luther

photo by Stefan, design by God