sunday greetings!

here is our little indie ... he is a real cuddle cat ... i was chatting on the phone today, and look who had to come creeping up on me!! leo snapped this pic ... of course, indie is an equal opportunity cuddler, he's purring on top of leo at the moment - watching football! *smile*

our balmy weather continues ... we had a wee bit of snow last night - but it just melted away when the sun came out ... here are two pics from my walk today ... doesn't it just make a heart say "thank you Lord!" ... the beauty all around us ...

thank you for praying for maria ... her surgery went well ... but it's always the healing that seems to give her the trouble ... she has been in the hospital for 3 months this time ... and in 2009, she has spent more time in the hospital than home ...

which brings to mind a good little story from Streams in the Desert (i highly highly recommend this devotional - it would make a wonderful present!):

quoting: This summer someone gave me some beautiful pink flowers, and as I took them, I asked, "What kind are they?" My friend answered, "They are rock flowers. They grow and bloom only on rocks where you can see no soil." Then I thought of God's flowers growing in desperate times and hard places, and I somehow feel that He may have a certain tenderness for His "rock flowers" that He may not have for his lilies and roses. ~Margaret Bottome

The trials of life are sent to make us, not to break us.

a month has gone by!!!!

a month without blogging ... how'd that happen? i have visited many of you - a few times - tho' i may not have left a "hello" ... but i DID want to know how you were doing ... and some of you are like me, just a bit quieter on the blogging front!
we have been enjoying an exceptionally beautiful fall ... nicer than our october ... and no snow!!! ya! the temps have been around the 50F mark on many days ... that is a down right heatwave in the prairies, in november!!! even the canada geese have decided to hang around for a bit longer ...

i've taken advantage with bike rides, walks every day ... just enjoying our little town ...

i've also gone to see maria as often as i can ... when i go to the city, it's an all day thing ... she remains in the hospital ... tho' they have thought of releasing her twice now - but each time they reassess her condition they change their mind before she can head out the door! her spirits have mostly been up ... but her body is another story ... at the moment, they are working on her foot ... it has a "tunnel" in it and they just discovered another area of infection in the ankle ... amputation is the dreaded word we've spoken a few times ... a scary thought - we all pray that they get that infection under control and that healing starts to happen ... i pray that her faith grows in the face of these obstacles ...

leo has been "well" ... he has gone for 2 little walks in the past while ... but even though he doesn't get out often, he remains engaged in the life around him ... which is important ...

i didn't go back to the library this fall ... leo and i decided that with family demands, maybe it was best that i remain available to whatever comes our way ... so far i haven't missed going in to work ...

just thought i would chat a bit with you guys ... i didn't want you to think that i've totally abandoned blogging ... just taking a little break! blessings on you!

"Never doubt God! Never say that He has forsaken or forgotten you or think that He is unsympathetic. He "will restore [your] life again." No matter how many twists and turns the road may have, there is always one smooth, straight portion. Even the longest day has a sunset, and the winter snow may stay quite some time, but it will finally melt.

Be steadfast, "because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58). He will turn to you again and comfort you. And when He does, your heart that has forgotten how to sing will break forth in thankful and jubilant song, just like the psalmist who sang, "My tongue will sing of your righteousness" (Ps. 51:14)."

~ Streams in the Desert