Saturday, September 26, 2009

exciting bike ride!


i was just sharing this little story with leo - i went for a bike ride today ... close to home i was delayed for about 20 seconds because a truck with a loaded trailer was completely blocking the road ... i had to stop my bike and wait for him to back into his driveway -then i continued merrily along ... and because of that little delay- i missed meeting up with a bear! yup ... there were people yelling & clapping at this 300 pound, very healthy, adult bear who was running across the road!!! i told leo about the bear as soon as i got home, after cutting my bike ride short (wouldn't you??) ... but i had forgotten the part about being delayed those few seconds!! if not for those few seconds, i would have been right where the bear was running across the road!!! i wonder if the bear would have run over me? hmmmm? after leo heard the rest of the story, he started singing "angels watching over me" ... indeed!!

yesterday i was able to go into the city and see maria again ... her spirits are good - her body, not so good ... they are now telling her that she will probably be in the hospital for another month ... thank you guys again for praying for her ... she has so many things that are failing in her body - but if her spirits remain up - that is half the battle won!

the Lord is faithful ... in all things ... whether it's a road trip to the big city and inner city hospital ... or a bike ride in our little town, where a bear could have easily side swiped me!

just sharing ... blessings on ya!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

His mercies are new every morning!


i'm ashamed to say that today was the FIRST morning that i got up to take some sunrise pictures!!! when i saw how calm the river was, well i just had to go out to the beach and see the sunrise ... the picture doesn't show how lovely it really was - but you get the idea ... very calming ... very quiet ... a wonderful morning to thank the Lord for everything He has blessed me with ... *huge smile* ...

an update on maria: i was able to visit with her on tuesday ... i got a ride into the city and didn't have to worry about parking in that inner city core area (yay for God's provision in that!)... she had been transferred to a private room, with a beautiful view of the city ... lots of sunshine streamed into her room, making it very cheery ... she said the lights at night were something to see ... she is receiving good care there ... and it was her shoulder area that had a fracture (i had received some wrong info previously), thankfully it doesn't need surgery!!! i don't know how long they will keep her in, her poor body is really suffering with the complications of diabetes ... she wanted me to thank you for your prayers!!!

Friday, September 11, 2009

a week has passed!

again, time has gone by so quickly ... i have composed at least 4 posts - but only in my head - they didn't get on the "printed page" ... what is up with that, eh???

the weather has been just beautiful here in our little corner of the world ... leo has even gotten out for 2 walks ... i was so happy about that ... and i've been bike riding around town ...


but then i had a little "mishap" ... last saturday, the side door to our garage slammed hard on my finger!!! can anyone say owie? ... i was going to go visit family, and maybe have a sauna - but instead i was dripping blood and wondering if i needed stitches ... poor leo, i had just left the house, only to re-enter with my bashed up finger! i wrapped it with paper towels and decided to walk across the street to the ambulance bay (we have the paramedics close by - if needed!) ... the young EMT (that is what they are called here - emergency medical technicians) - took a look at my finger, and said that he didn't think it would need stitching - and he bandaged it up for me ... but since it was my right hand, i was so limited in my activities for 2 full days ... no saunas or bike rides ... i also couldn't do much typing - just some one finger pecking!! thankfully, it is healing nicely ...
but my little mishap is nothing compared to maria's latest medical challenges ...

maria at 4

she had been doing quite well over the summer ... they had really gotten into a rhythm with her dialysis, home care people, doctors appointments, etc. ... her husband had even taken her on some outings (he gets his work out pushing that wheelchair!) ... but then on tuesday she was admitted to hospital again ... multiple problems ... her rheumatoid arthritis was taking a toll on her ankle, really infecting it - that was the initial reason for being admitted ... but just an hour ago, i found out that she has a compound fracture of her left arm!!! she had fallen on tuesday and broken her arm - but they didn't diagnose that until just today ... poor thing was talking about a jarring pain in that arm, no wonder! there are other problems too (that is usual with chronically ill folks), so if you think of her - could you ask the Lord to just strengthen her and give wisdom to those who are taking care of her ...

i'll close on a sweet note ... maria's best gal pal became a grandmother for the first time ... this gal pal's daughter named her brand new daughter "sofia maria", in honour of maria ... maria doesn't know yet - but she will be just tickled when she finds out ...

blessings on your weekend ...

* * * * *
Trusting even when it appears you have been forsaken; praying when it seems your words are simply entering a vast expanse where no one hears and no voice answers; believing that God's love is complete and that He is aware of your circumstances, even when your world seems to grind on as if setting its own direction and not caring for life or moving one inch in response to your petitions; desiring only what God's hands have planned for you; waiting patiently while seemingly starving to death, with your only fear being that your faith might fail - "this is the victory that has overcome the world"; this is genuine faith indeed.
~George MacDonald

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

a river runs through it ...

our town sits on the banks of a very wide and fast moving river ... it is also a watery highway for all kinds of crafts ... like this float plane ...


the condos we live in, aren't the only ones that have sprung up in recent years ... the ones in the pic above were the first built in our little town .... they were almost home to us after we sold our cottage ... but with no elevator and 10 steep steps to the second floor unit we were thinking of buying, we passed on it ... the view was spectacular but the steps would have really been difficult for leo ... i'm glad we prayed much and didn't buy it just because we had no where else to move!!! the Lord was teaching us that old "patience" lesson - which i find most difficult to learn ... you would think i would have no troubles with patiently waiting since the condo He picked out for us has absolutely suited us to a T ... we even have a garage which the spiffy waterfront ones don't ... yay Lord!!!

i love the long boardwalk/dock that anchors our town beach ... most days there are fishermen at the end of the dock ... trying their luck - or just shooting the breeze ... folks from across the river use the berths to dock their boats and walk into town to do their shopping ... we did that too when we lived on the other side, took the boat into town to shop or just pick up our mail ...


our town beach is small ... but much appreciated !!! leo and i walked there yesterday (yes, leo finally got out for another walk - he had a bit of a set back over the summer, but we hope to get out more again) ... there are usually young moms sitting on the beach, picnic lunches stored in coolers on their blankets - all the while they keep their eyes on little munchkins who busy themselves with sandcastle construction - or wading in the water ... such inexpensive, wholesome entertainment for families ... if you had that type of a childhood - then you are indeed blessed!

yup ... that is the river that runs through our life here ... it's the river i ride my bike beside ... and it's the river the Lord uses to still my heart on the sad days when life seems to be only filled with much sighing and soul searching prayers - it's on those days He opens my eyes and lets me see the dancing diamonds on the water - the everyday blessings all around me ... those everyday blessings have eased my burdens and God has caressed my face, with His Fatherly hand ... i am eternally thankful to be His child ...