mom's yard

my mom just e-mailed me a pic of her yard ... taken yesterday ... isn't it lovely? i love the various shades of light and dark ... and the brilliant colour mixed with muted ones ...

just sharing ...

i'm still sniffling and coughing with my cold ... atleast i didn't succumb to it on my little trip!

~ ~~~~~~~~~~

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
~Stanley Horowitz

new friends

here is a pic of a new friend ... she had already been over to visit leo when i was gone ... this was taken on tuesday morning ... mrs deer saw me snapping away ... she didn't seem to mind ... though when i ventured outside for a closer photo-op, she left in a hurry!

it seems that mrs deer had teenagers with her ... can you see them in the photo below? quite camoflaged by the fall colours!

i loved being in the big city ... but photos like these would be rare ... whereas in the country, they are almost common place!

nature is a gift from God ... it's everyday beauty and wonder - matchless ...

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

by Fol­li­ot Pier­point (this hymn was used in the 1994 movie "Little Women")

1 Corinthians 10:23

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"- but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"- but not everything is beneficial. Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them."

in "knowing Jesus personally" Greg Laurie writes:

This verse tackles the issue of whether certain activities will be spiritually constructive in your life - even if it falls into a so-called "gray"area. A more literal translation of that verse is "All things are permissible, but not all things promote growth in Christian character." The next time you question whether you should be seeing a certain movie, participating in a specific activity, or engaging in a certain habit, ask yourself the following questions:

- Will this activity make the things of this world more appealing than the things of God?
- Will it keep me from prayer?
- Will it diminish my hunger for God's Word?
- Will it spiritually tear me down by pulling me away from other Christian believers?

You do not have time for anything that would make this world more attractive, dull your desire for prayer, take away your appetite for bible study, or keep you from Christian fellowship. Instead, look for things that will benefit and build your Christian character."

~ end of quote ~

i was thinking this morning about my vacation ... it was a vacation away from my normal routine, but a believer should never take a vacation away from God ... i thoroughly enjoyed myself - and i believe God wants believers to ENJOY the life He has given us ... yet i hope that my conduct at all times was of one who loves the Lord ... and when i felt that my attitude was slipping, i tried to immediately pray about it and then walk the line for Jesus ... i'm so far from perfect - yet IN Christ i am accepted by God ... *big huge grin* ...

vacation snippets

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm 34: 8

home again

it was a wonderful trip ... thank you Lord!

the 40th anniversary celebration for my aunt and her husband was so sweet and joy-filled ... absolutely a delightful party to attend!

the pic below goes as follows ... the "bride" is in the middle, the "maid of honour" is on the left and of course, you do know yours truly - who was a "junior bridesmaid" back then!! the dress i am wearing was the actual dress worn by the maid of honour, 40 years ago at the wedding ... the flower girl from the wedding was there as well, but unfortunately she wasn't around when this pic was taken ...

we have some old friends dropping by tomorrow ... so i best scoot off to bed ... i think life has gotten busier now that work is finished for a season ...

and there is still so much to share ... and blog buds to visit ... but it will have to wait ...

blessings sent your way!

niagara falls

yesterday i finally saw niagara falls! it was a really good road trip!!! (pic copied off the 'net) ... the Lord gave us a day without rain - until we were packed back in the car, sight-seeing finished for the day ... isn't that great? *smile* ...

today is the BIG 40th anniversary celebration ... since i was a "junior bridesmaid" at the wedding, i get the honour of saying grace, reading greetings and acknowledging out of town guests ...

my camera is working VERY WELL now - the new re-chargeable batteries are doing the job ... i guess the other new re-chargeables i had bought were duds ... so it goes!

well we finished cutting fruits and different things ... back to visiting ...

an up-date for those of you who are wondering how things are going ...

amish

today we were in amish country ... it was lovely ... peaceful ... with quaint shops in the village ...

but guess what ... my camera seems to be eating batteries???? i don't know if it IS the camera or the rechargeables ... i bought some new rechargeables - i'm hoping that will work ...

just a quick note ... to let you guys know i am enjoying myself ... *smile* ... and leo and the fearless feline are fine too!!!

packed and ready ...

i am now officially packed for my trip ...

as i closed the suitcase - leo, who was reading the obits - called out that Rev Reinheimer had died ...

what!?

Rev Reinheimer's was the first church that i attended as a believer ... i learned much truth under his peaceful preaching manner ... and observed his obvious love of God and care for the folks in his church ...

now this dear man has taken his final journey ... no packing of suitcases ... no worries about having everything in order ... or being on time for a flight ... nope ... he just walked through the portals between mortality and heaven ...

how sweet for him ... he was 84 ... though his family will be sad, they know that their husband/dad has just gone on ahead ... he'll be in the welcoming committee when they arrive ...

O Beulah Land! sweet Beulah land! Upon thy heights I long to stand, And view the radiant, jasper sea, And mansions fair, prepared for me, And find on that eternal shore My heaven, my home, forever-more.

fall colours ...

yes, there are light coloured leaves all over our front yard (pic taken minutes ago) and even more in the back ... it looks lovely ... and signifies that a dramatic change in seasons will soon occur here in middle canada ... one from wearing t-shirts, to wearing sweaters, to being booted up and mummified with scarfs, mitts and warm coats ...

i love to watch the fall colours ... this year i may get to see some brilliant reds and golds ... why is that? you ask ... the answer being: on wednesday my aunts and i are jetting away to the largest city in Canada - to celebrate another aunt's 40th wedding anniversary ... it will be a mini vacation (leo and our fearless feline will be home alone for 5 days) ... i am looking forward to it, yet one part of me is dreading the travel ... and time away from home ...

speaking of "A" home ... i so miss all my books surrounding my computer area ... they are still packed in boxes, waiting for the day when i can unpack in our new home - date unknown ... still waiting and praying about that one ...

well i am procrastinating re getting things organized for my trip ... i hope to blog before - and during the trip ...

blessings on the start of your week!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

"Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear. Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:14-15

blessings on your Sunday ... and for those who dropped by earlier - sorry for the picture that didn't "take" ... it seemed to "x" out all the time ... i love library photo's, so thought i would share this one ...

40?

happy 40th birthday to my westcoast sister!!!!

she's a sweet funny soul, who cheers my heart with cute e-mails and pictures ...

i remember babysitting her, laughing at the way she would walk on her tiptoes - like a spritely little fairy - her hair all matted at the back because it was so fine ...

i remember encouraging her to pray as we were walking to church, and her 4 year old self only knew to shut her eyes, steeple her hands as she walked alongside me like that ... *fond smile* ...

i remember the tough teen years and early adult ones ... yet she came out at the other end with more steel in her back and faith in her heart ...

i remember the joy in my heart when her boyfriend became a believer before they married ... together they have lived their lives with faith and hope ... encouragers ...

i'm sad that she lives so far away ... yet i am grateful for e-mails, phonecalls, webcam visits ... and the occasional real live visits too ...

i miss you, my sweet sisko ... may God bless you with a wonderful birthday and a new decade filled with His Joy ...

A sister smiles when one tells one's stories -

for she knows where the decoration has been added.

~Chris Montaigne

i bought a camera ...

here is the Canon A530 that i bought today!!! it fit all my requirements ... and hopefully i will be able to learn all that needs learning before my mini-vacation next week ...


here is my first photo - just waving at my blog buds ... next i ran to the bedroom and took a pic of leo ... i also shot a little video of him ... the video is so much clearer than what my old toshiba took!! i did buy a larger memory card (1GB) so there should be room for the various imagery ...

oohhhh time for some fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You miss 100% of the shots you never take."
- Wayne Gretzky

SONshine ...

i didn't want to leave my 9/11 post up for long ... because "this is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it ... " plus "the joy of the Lord is my strength" ...

we may be sad as we remember the things that have happened, yet we can go on ... wiser ... more mature ... less naive ... but still joyful, IN the Lord ...

remembering ...

9/11 ... in 2001 ... i was on a road trip to see my dad, who was dieing of inoperable throat cancer ... it was a long 8 hour drive ... leo stayed at home ... my cousin, however, was with me ... we first heard about it on the radio ... then the stories got worse and worse ... my first thought was to turn around and be with leo ... but after hearing his reassuring voice on the phone ... i continued on, for what was to be my last visit with dad ... he died a month later ...

i remember the sickening feeling that was in the pit of my stomach ... the fear that gripped my heart ... my eyes searched the heavens as i prayed, "please come back SOON! ... " ....

5 years ... and the sadness over man's inhumanity to man remains - and continues in other forms ... how can hate so rule the heart? - to do something so horrific to another?

to me, the signature of sin was so evident ... an event like this makes me cling to Christ my Redeemer ... and to yearn for His Kingdom even more ... i find Hope in Him alone ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus said: And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled ... (read the rest of His words in Matthew 24) ...

scripture reassures us that: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~ Lamentations 3:22-23 ...

family, homes and heaven

last thursday my aunt and i did the 4 hour plus drive to see my mom ... it was a most pleasureable day ... i love to listen to the stories about the old days ... i like to see how these 2 sisters interact ... and it was great to be in a household of just women where everyone had their job ... i was the computer girl and dishwasher ... my aunt and mom did their thing in the garden ... when we left at the end of the day, my trunk was loaded down with produce! and we all agreed, the time was too short ...

isn't pleasureable time always too short? why is that? ...

the things we don't enjoy ... the painful times ... they seem to last forever ...

yet joyful times are too short ...

i'm glad heaven is an eternal place, where our cup will continually overflow ...

* * * * * * * *

now that work is done, my time has been filled with visiting, bike rides, reading, cleaning the house ... and the continued search for that elusive condo for us ... i know that it is in God's time ... yet, i keep looking ... and praying ... i want to be ready!!!

i was thinking about how important homes are to us all ... when Jesus left 2000 years ago - He said he was going to prepare a place for us ... a heavenly home ... and it must be lovely beyond description since He hasn't returned for us - yet ... yup, homes are important ...

just some rambling from my corner of the world ....

* * * * * * * * *

"Heaven is a permanent residence … a place where we unpack our bags and stay forever. … What a glorious thought to wake up in Heaven and realize it is home!----C.L. Allen

Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquillity. ~James Thurber

say cheese

the fall is coming ... the leaves will be changing colour ... and i'm going on a mini-vacation in 2 weeks (with my aunt) ... all sounds good ... EXCEPT my 5 year old digi camera is not cooperating ... yup! can you believe it?

i've been checking out cameras on the 'net - pricing them, seeing what is out there, etc etc ... sigh ... i'm a very poor shopper - in that i don't enjoy shopping ... and i have a hard time spending a larger sum on myself ...

soooooooo ... it would be a help to me if you told me what kind of digi cameras you have? i will be using the camera to take pics of my surroundings, friends, family - just documenting the life that daily swirls around me ...

thanks ... *smile*

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.
~Elizabeth Lawrence

all done ...

another season at the park is done ...
i thank the Lord for my job ...
and i thank the Lord for down time with leo ...

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11 ...

the commute

the early morning mist kissed the golden wheat fields with a shimmery haze as i drove to work today … a most relaxing time of day … i have my morning chat with the Lord as i navigate the familiar stretch of highway that leads to the park … however, i best be awake while i drive … i share the roadway with many critters! this morning it was a mama deer with her 2 teenagers … they all scampered across the road as if theirs was the only right of way … i slowed and watched their effortless gait … happy that i saw them in time …

i enjoy my 25 minute commute … the traffic is light and the scenery relaxing and serene …

this year i have seen wildlife galore! the deer that i encountered this morning – well that’s a usual occurrence … on the more unusual side is the timber wolf, a few weeks back … it was within a mile of the office, standing majestically by the side of the road … i slowed down and looked at him – he looked at me … eyes clear, displaying some interest and curiosity … he stood his ground and i drove past ...

bears are another regular sighting …they pop up wherever there is something to munch on ...

foxes, beavers, canada geese ... all seemed to be plentiful this summer ... and regulars on my morning route ...

shortly a new season begins and my daily drives will cease ... i will miss the morning solitude of the road ... but i do look forward to another routine beginning ... fall and winter ...

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson