new year's a coming ...

greetings on a crisp, post Christmas day ... it went down to -29C last night, but warmed up to a more comfortable -22C ... though it could go up 10 more degrees and i wouldn't complain ... ha!  i had to put my whole winter garb on for my walk ... 

just getting dressed took me almost 10 minutes ... long johns, ski pants, columbia turtleneck, lace-up boots, hat, mitts ... then to take a picture meant i had to remove my warm mitts ... but it was all fun and manageable ... i counted my many blessings as i walked, ready to greet a new year soon ... 

so for those who may pop by this poor neglected blog, may God find you in 2015 ... and may you grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ... 

january in middle canada ...

our big heavy saturday paper didn't quite make it to our door, it had snowed last night!!!  so i swept my way to it ... notice the orange bag ... so it's not lost in the whiteness!!!

 

and as i was out there, enjoying the sparkling world - i noticed how the bushes at either side of the steps looked like unpicked cotton!  i guess i'm having arizona thoughts, since i won't be going there this winter ...

 

the cold makes sun mirages ... or sun dogs ... sometimes they look like ice rainbows ...

 

all that pristeen beauty - yet with a bitter cold edge ... a typical january day on the prairies ...

remembering ...

 

i put some lights up the other day ... to keep the dark days at bay ... next task - some Christmas decorations ...

today marks 6 years since we got the keys to our condo ... the full story i shared 6 years ago on this post: http://saija.blogspot.ca/2006/11/imagine-only-one-more-sleep.html ... 

 we were so thankful for God's grace in providing this particular condo for us ... we are still daily thankful for it ... home is important - we've lived in teenie tiny attic type places - and larger, open airy ones too - it seems that each place was perfect for that particular time in our lives ...

one day - our heavenly home welcome us, our "forever home" that we long for ... in the meantime, we thank GOD for daily blessings on this little blue planet - and the GRACE found in JESUS ...

blessings on your 1st of december 2012!!!!

canada day pics

today we are 145 years old as a nation ... happy canada day to us!!!  here are a few pics of life over the past few days!!!    and happy upcoming 4th of july to my american buds ...

here's my cousin's puppy ... we were trying to get her to go swimming, but it seems she just didn't want to - no matter how we enticed her!

my lilies ... there are 6 different varieties of them in my garden ... they are something that the previous owners planted, and i've enjoyed ... thank you Lord!!!

this is my front deck hanging plant, the one i see as i sit here typing ... i love these colours ... they make me smile ...

last night leo and i enjoyed the town fireworks ... we can see them very well from our deck ... the town is just hopping with summer people and visitors from all over ...

today the canada day parade walked by our door ... i love small towns for the simple sweetness of occasions like this!!

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That every man may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God.

 ~ Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

first post of the new year

well look at that ... it's the 11th already and all my thinking of posting haven't made it onto my blog ... i guess i better just tap tap away to remedy that ...

it's been a wonderfully mild start to the year ... today is the actual first wintery day ... it's blowing 'n snowing and just plain COLD out there ... we were due!!! 

yesterday when leo and i went to his doctor's appointment, i was wearing a light fall jacket and just so thankful that leo didn't have to venture out in below zero temps ... then to top off our 'good feelings' - when we walked into our small town clinic, the doctor was already there waiting for us - early - with leo's chart under his arm ... can you get any better than that???  i think not!

i hope that the new year has had a good start in your world too ... blessings on ya!!!

time of the year

this smiley snowman has a little bell on it's hat ... i love the way it makes a merry sound when i go out or come in ... very welcoming  ...

 i have this little reminder on my computer desk ... i look at it and smile ...

in the mornings, bits of light that i've hung around the windows give such a nice glow ... i drink my coffee and start the day with joyful (well usually!) anticipation ... i do like christmas time ... especially now that we have really simplified it ...

this year we plan on ordering chinese food for our celebration meal ... we used to go to my aunts but it's gotten too difficult for leo to do that and the smell of different foods cooking, really nauseates him - soooo we have changed our tradition to suit our current situation ...

besides, it's usually the little things in life that make a person glad ... example:  i washed the flannel sheets today and now i'm looking forwarding to crawling in between them ... these are sheets that i bought from costco recently - they were a good price and are soooo warm and comfy ...

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. ~Augusta E. Rundel

pics of the past week ...

this was yesterdays' sunrise ... i always marvel at God's handiwork - His mercies are indeed new every morning ... if you look closer at the picture, you might notice the canada geese in the water ... they have been practising for their long trip south ... it has indeed gotten cooler - fall has arrived and snowbirds are flocking south ... my heart always says "take me, take me ... " ... winter is my least favourite month of the four ...

i made a new friend on thanksgiving ... this is my cousin's latest family member ... a cross between a brindle boxer and a lab ... she is only 7 weeks old, and mostly slept the day away while we all ohh'd and awwww'd over her!

more evidence of the arrival of fall ... our town beach, which had been full of kids and moms all summer, now stands empty ... it always looks so lonesome at this time of year ...

blessings on your sunday!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
²² He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

Daniel 2:21-22 (NKJV)

last of the roses

my roses keep blooming ... even though it was such a dry summer ... and i neglected them (except for watering) ... they still flower with a smile ...

though would you believe it is supposed to go down to freezing on wednesday/thursday night? ... after 90 plus temps just days before?  that's the prairie weather for you ... drastic ...

on wednesday i go in for laser surgery number two ... i can only pray for as good a day as i had 3 weeks ago ...

blessings on ya ...

lazer all done

i'm  home again after my lazer surgery ... which went well ... thank you for praying ... *smile* ... i'm booked for the second one september 14th ...

one of my childhood friends was my chauffeur ...  and she also opened up her home to me ... it was super to stay in her lofty apartment ...

i told her that it felt more like a vacation - well except for the hours spent at the clinic and all those eye drops!!!  we chatted until late - and i'm booked in at her place again in 3 weeks - if all goes as well, it will be another "daily miracle" in my life ...

leo and buddy were very happy to see me ...  i really am glad to be home ... now leo has to be the one to put drops in my eye !   it's nice to have a  nursemaid every now and then ...

All that we behold is full of blessings. ~William Wordsworth

april 1st

ok, this is not what i pictured april 1st looking like!!!!  yikes!!!

yet this is the scene i saw this morning as i opened the curtains ... i just thanked the Lord for my winter get-a-way ... it seems like this season has been particularly long and cold ... YET, there is always hope when the sun shines ... and that is forecast for tomorrow ...

hoping your april 1st has the sun shining already!  blessings on ya!

doctor update

just an fyi re leo's newest doc ... we like him ... *smile* ... and all indications point to him staying in our little town ... yay!!!!  can't believe the day has finally arrived ... a doctor who has settled here ...  with his family ... by choice!

this was the 3rd time we visited with him since december ... he is trying some new things with leo, hoping to give him some relief from the day to day chronic pain ... 

after the past 4 years of revolving door doctors - we have some hope ... thank you Lord!

"if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  John 15:4

i like the word ABIDE ... i want to alway ABIDE in Him who has redeemed me ...

tis the season ...

tis the season for hurrying ... for fretting ... for being tired and cranky ... ?

no no no ... !

tis the season for magnifying and thanking Jesus ... i always have to make a conscious attitude adjustment around the early stages of Christmastime ... to remind myself that i am not super woman ... that it's not a competition between who has the nicest decorations or who gives the best gifts ... rather, it's a time of thanksgiving to the ONE who gave up everything to live among us - us, who don't deserve the lavish love of a forgiving God ... yet it is His free gift to us through Jesus, the One and Only ...

above is a pic of our condo central, taken yesterday ... we do have snow, don't we?  ... and again this year - leo and i gave thanx for this condo that God made available to us, 4 years ago ... living in town has been such a huge blessing!!  especially during those stormy periods, when the highways have been slippery - i just lace up my boots and walk!!!

well, i walk in town ... but going to the city is another matter ... i was nervous about my first time out on the highways, on wintery roads, last week - thankfully i regained some winter driving confidence - and it went well ... i had to go to the city because of my appointment with the eye specialist ... remember that glaucoma thing i shared about?  well, the doc said i don't need lazer surgery - but i may need drops for the rest of my life ... he wants a few more tests done (in march), then we'll see ...

and have i shared that leo will be getting ANOTHER new doctor?  i think this will be the 5th new gp for him in 4 years!  we hope that this doc is good - and that he decides to make our little town his home ... hope hope hope ...

well, time to unwrap more of this new day that God has given to me ... blessings on all who stop by here!

the scarf sisters ...

mrs. mac has invited me to join the scarf sisters (http://travelingscarf.blogspot.com/)  ... i know that i have been quiet on the blogging front lately, but ?  i wrote my intro post on that blog today (if you want to check it out) ... maybe my blogging routine needs to have a little shake up! 

this week has had some more summertime R&R  moments ... which to me means sauna & swimming & visiting ...

i did get some bad news last week ... i have glacoma starting up in my right eye ... the doc seems to think that a little lazer surgery will help that situation ... so being canadian - i will wait for a few months before i get in for that (since the doctor didn't seem to think it was an urgent case) ... i am glad she spotted the narrowing of the particular area that creates glacoma ...

i have been missing maria lately ... i think that is the way grieving goes ... you miss your loved one more as the weeks go on - until you get used to the fact that they aren't here anymore ...

this pic was taken in april ... during one of her hospital stays ... see her smile - she was always smiling ... her joy despite circumstances - was something everyone who knew her talked about ...

just a little chitchat ... blessings on your new week ...

chitchat ....

it is a quiet sunday morning, here in our town ... and also, here at condo central! it seems that i don't get an opportunity to concentrate on posts these days, partly because this open living concept takes away from my solitude and time for writing ... but this morning - my sweetie is still snoozing - so i'm a tap tapping away!  *smile*

what a warm summer it has been!  i am thankful for the swims i've had ... above is the proof - my wet footprints on the dock ... i don't like to swim alone, and all my swim buds have been growing up!  they don't have time to have a sauna and swim in the summer ... sometimes i feel like the only "kid" left!!!  then someone will surprise me with a phone call, saying "we're out here, come over and swim with us!"  ... that makes my day ... *smile*

we celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary last week ... i picked up some chinese food for us and we enjoyed a quiet time at home ... leo wasn't feeling that great (because the humidity was high) but he didn't complain and we thanked the Lord for our many many blessings! ... would you believe that the balloon in the picture was an anniversary gift from maria - some 19 years ago!!!!  it has kept it's shape and we take it out on our anniversary every year ... this year we just thought of her - enjoying heaven's sweetness and waiting for the rest of us to get there too!

a milestone - my sweet mom has just turned 75!!!!  this pic was taken at the end of June ... doesn't she look great for that age???  or any age ... *smile* ... she lives up north now ... about an 8 hour drive from our place ... i know our visits will be few and far between - but i am glad we are able to chat daily through e-mail or on the phone ... makes the distance seem shorter ...

just some moments from my life this past while ... i think all of the family have been dealing with maria's death in different ways ... i've just been quieter - reflecting on life and my own mortality ... thankful that Jesus is my Saviour and Lord ... that He gives me that assurance of a home in heaven ... and with the apostle paul i can say "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  (1 Cor. 15: 55,57) ... YAY for a risen Lord -  one day, we too will rise with Him!

Easter Monday

hope you all had a really good Easter weekend ...  enjoying the many blessings God has surrounded us with ... i shake my head in wonderment when i  stop to count my own blessings!  wow!

i was able to sit down for a meal at my aunt's place on sunday ... surrounded by cousins, and their in-laws/out-laws  ... was really great ... leo and indie stayed at home ... i'm glad little indie is good company for leo!

the pic i've posted  was taken at my aunt's ... we got this great wind/rain storm while i was there - marvellous cloud formations passed through ... i loved it ... made me think of the song "the days of Elijah" ... i was humming it to myself ... smiling ...

well tomorrow is another doctor's appt. for leo ... and would you believe that we will be seeing yet another new doc ... yup ... we're not sure if the fellow we saw for a year will be coming back or not ... we have really liked all the new doctors, but i am praying for some stability in that area ... i find it stressful to meet someone who is a stranger to us, and doesn't know leo's case ... but in all this, God knows, so i either have faith ... or i don't have faith ... right?

and if you are wondering about maria ... she is doing well ... some bumps in the road, but her spirits remain good ... they changed her cast on that ankle, so far they have not mentioned amputation again ... we are thankful along with her ...

just saying hello on this day the Lord has made ... may you be blessed in it!

a new look

well i finally updated my blog!!!  i like the new features ... they make fixing things up so much easier ... and fun! 

the picture that i used in my header was taken at our cottage home ... it was our "backyard" which bordered on to a channel leading to the river ... lots of opportunities for scenic photos! ...

we are still in the deep freeze here - hopefully next week it'll lift ... tho'even this bitter cold has a purpose - the ice fishing enthusiast are hoping for a quick freeze of the river, so they can drag their huts out there and fish ... awww, i remember those days ... not that i would go out, but leo would ... he would load up his ice auger and fishing gear on his little sled with a few pieces of wood to burn (in the pot belly stove in his ice shack),  then he would trudge out and spend a couple of hours trying to bring home supper ... which he usually did ... seems like a life time ago ...

just checking out the new posting method ...

blessings on  you guys as you prepare for your Christmas celebrations ...

chilly temps

the snow fell and so did the temperatures!!! it is officially a mind numbing -22C as i type this ... and tonight it will probably be -30C ... since it was so chilly - i made some chili ... yum ... it turned out great and helped to warm us up ...

my blues have lifted ... it seems they strike, make me sad - then they evaporate as i read the solid, real, Word of God ... "Thou has enlarged me when i was in distress ... the Lord will hear when i call unto Him ... put your trust in the Lord ... Thou has put gladness in my heart ... for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." Psalm 4 verses ...

blessings on your tuesday ...

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

doctor's appointment

today was leo's doctor's appointment ... if everything goes along "normally" for him, we go in every 3 months ... and today was the day ... this is leo's 4th doctor in as many years ... in fact, if you type in "doctor" in the search browser at the top left of my blog, you'll see how many times i've actually written about that topic! it is so important for everyone to have a family doctor they can trust ... but this is especially so for folks with any chronic problems ...

i have to testify to how God has been good to us in this regard ... it seems every doctor in the past 4 years has added something positive to leo's well being ... they have been really good guys ...

i always go in with leo - and my standard joke is that they get 2 for the price of one! i get to know the doctors as well as leo does ...

today was an extra special visit because we walked to the clinic! it is only 2 blocks away and leo has been doing so well with his little walks ... his doctor was impressed with how good leo looked and how his walking has improved ... *smile* ... i thought how wonderful it is to have the clinic so close! we used to drive 45 minutes to another town for these appointments - and then the wait was l-o-n-g ... the doctor was usually 45 minutes late! it was a horrible time for me ... i must admit that i prayed MUCH before and after those trips ... and poor leo - it was so uncomfortable for him ... he can't sit for long periods (like 5 minutes) without a lot of discomfort ... i used to dread dread dread the appointments ... plus i've been doing all the driving for the past 5 years ... the winters were just the worst ... what a blessing it now is to be able to walk to our appointments ... i've shared in past posts how the Lord wonderfully worked it out for good - when leo's long time doctor left his practise and forced us to step out in faith to find another doctor - which lead us to a town closer to us - which eventually led us back to our own small town clinic ...

so many things recently have seemed like misadventures ... especially the family doctor issue - i have to confess to being fearful of the future at times ... worried (though i like to use the word "concerned", when in reality it is that sin of worry that plagues me) - then the Lord takes pity on me, hears my prayer, and once again delivers me out of that anxiety pit and plants my clay feet on the Rock ... He opens my eyes to a better way through the change that so scared me at first ...

i'm just praising my Saviour, Who is so patient with me ... and answers my prayers in the way that is BEST for me ... which may or may not be what i asked for!

blessed be His name!

chitchat ...

sunday morning greetings!

just thought i'd chitchat a bit ... as we wait for an old friend to stop by ... one who we haven't seen in over a year ... those unexpected times of fellowship can be so sweet ...

it's been a nice week here at condo central ... the weather hasn't been so pleasant, but the activities have made up for it ...

i had a nice little trip into the city with my cousin on monday ... we bought our flowers from costco - but mine are still sitting on the kitchen island - waiting for the nights not to dip below that 32F mark! tonight may be the coolest night ... then maybe there will be hope of putting them outside!

i've talked with maria almost every day ... and the news continues to be good ... though there are always some $$ issues - but what is life without struggles? and faith to over come those struggles!

on the home front ... leo and i have watched some movies and had some quiet mid week time ...

then yesterday, my brother and i took a road trip to visit my mom (about 4 hour return trip) ... we had a nice visit while driving there and back, he's such good company ... and it was good to see our mom and step-dad ... all in all a delightful day ...

as you can see, life seems to be normal (yay!!!) ... in a sweet way ... as we remember that our real life is in heaven with Christ ... we look forward to when He comes back again!!

"May blessings and peace of heart be your rich gifts from God our Father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord."

1Thessalonians 1:1