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)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gratitude produces more positive emotional energy

than any other attitude in life.

~ Hans Sely, father of stress studies.

Count your blessings, by Johnson Oatman Jr., pub. 1897

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
   
   • Refrain:
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
     [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
   Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
   Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
   And you will keep singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
   Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
   Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
   Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
4. So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
   Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
   Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
   Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 -  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

we listened to People's Church in Toronto ... Pastor Charles Price had a terrific message on being thankful ... www.livingtruth.ca ... blessings on you all!

fall colours

the fall colours in our area are muted ones ... no splashy reds or deep orange  ... but still, they are lovely to look at -  they appear for only a brief moment ... so on wednesday a friend and i took a drive to check them out ...

 this was a road we had travelled as kids ... on the way to the cottage ... it relaxes me just to look at it!

 we found a lone daisy, who was smiling at the world - not caring that winter was coming ... it just gloried in the day!

 taken from the car window ... a peek-a-boo view of what was waiting us ...

 we even stopped at an old friends place and visited a spell ...

what a beautiful day it was ... it cheered my heart, and was just what i needed ... fall is a rough time for chronic pain sufferers, and sometimes the only thing i can do for leo (not counting prayer - which  is a constant) is to let him be by himself ... and let God restore my own heart and renew a right spirit within me ... the day was definitely a gift from God ...

blessings on you!

that little blue dot

see the little blue dot in the lower right hand corner?  compare it to the sun ...  that's where we live!!!!  this NASA graphic really captures the smallness of earth, compared to almost anything else out there !!! 

it reminds me of the Psalm that says:

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

i pray that you rest easy in the knowledge that God is way way bigger than any problem you may face today ...

even so Lord Jesus ... come ...

laser surgery completed ...

another laser surgery done ... the doc said it looked good, but the next day, when he tested my eye pressure, it was still "borderline high" ... so i'll go back to see him in november ... hopefully the pressure will get to a more normal place ... thank you for praying for me ... it is nice to be home again ... though i did have a super visit with my childhood friend, who once again opened up her home to me and was my nursemaid for the evening ...

yesterday was my west coast sister's 45th birthday ... amazing how 45 seems so young now ... here is a pic i found of her and maria ... taken on a birthday (who's i don't remember) ... they are only 18 months apart in age and sometimes were mistaken for twins (as you can see in this pic!) ... maria died at age 45 ... my westcoast sister remains very healthy, even though she is a diabetic too (from age 2 she has been taking needles) ....

fall is in the air ... and God's blessings are evident everywhere, if eyes will only see ... blessings on ya!

Psalms 84:11-12  ... For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. {12} O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

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 ...

after the darkness ...

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and those the LORD has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

~ Isaiah  

just to make you smile

with so much negative and sad happening in our weary world  ... i thought i would try and make you smile with 2 pictures i was playing with ... it's our buddy (who we are growing to love more daily - he is a fun little guy!) ... blessings on ya!

prayers

i just read this quote (attributed to anon) ... and just had to make a little poster ...

wishing you guys a wonderful and God filled long weekend!!!!  blessings on ya!

this is the way ...

have you ever "bumped" into the same bible verse again and again, in a short period of time? ...  you meet the verse in a devotional ... then again in a bible reading ... it seems to cross your path every where you turn  ...

that's been happening to me with Isaiah 30:21 ...



it's a great verse ... a good reminder that our walk is different from those who aren't looking to Jesus ... even if they are good people -  our compass should be set on the bible's true north ... after all, the compass we follow is leading us toward our eternal home ...

just thought i'd share the verse, since it has been giving me comfort ... as well as encouragement this past week or two ...

blessings on ya!

and a note to my blog sister at the⋆silver⋆of⋆His⋆fining  ... your blog admin won't allow me to comment - others may be having this problem too ... since you said your traffic has slowed down ... i like it when there is an email on the comment (which is only seen by me - not when the comment is posted) - that way communication is open ...

blessings on all my blog buds this sunday morning - the day the Lord has made!  yay!

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

happy birthday mom ...

it's my mom's birthday today ... and i find it amazing that every birthday she has, she gets younger - rather than older ... maybe because there is only 18 years separating us! ...

i wish i had more of the older pics of mom's early years ... here is one of the more carefree photos ... taken in finland, before the canadian adventure began ... while mom was still a young woman with her young woman dreams ... some dreams i know she has fulfilled ... some dreams she keeps on working towards ... she keeps on keeping on - i do admire that in her ...

here's the birthday lady in all her youthful glory! 

i'm so glad that God doesn't call us to walk alone ... or do things with our own strength ... He's the One who is faithful - always ... and will work things out, at the appointed time  ...

taking time for grace ...

i was going to take a picture of a wren perched on my hanging planter, i had the camera all zoomed in and set to go ... then this beautiful hummingbird flew in for a drink ... he stayed only 5 seconds ... but i was ready ... here i thought i would take a pic of my usual wren visitor - when all of a sudden, an unexpected and certainly lovelier bird of another variety zipped in and zipped out!  i thanked the Lord for being ready ...

it's good to be focused on the everyday - to be ready ... because we never know if we might by chance meet up with something out of the ordinary ... it made me smile at the unexpected ...

a very sad day for Norway ... and all people of peace ...

my heart goes out to the folks in Norway today ... how truly sad ... what heart break for a whole nation ...

felisol wrote  straight from her Norwegian heart, as she described her initial reactions ... you can read it here, http://felisol.blogspot.com/ ... may  God give them peace ...

thankful heart ...

thank you so much for praying and encouraging us ... that just humbles us to be on the receiving end of such care & prayer!!!

it was all good!!!   the ride in was perfect, even through traffic ... we found the underground parking (first time) which was so close to cancer care (an easy elevator ride!) ... we were put in a examining room right away, by the sweet cheerful receptionist – so that leo could lie down and the doctor was even early!!!! he was such a nice man – and he gave us good news ... he found leo’s prostate to be perfectly normal and in good shape for a guy his age ... yay!!!!!!!!! we are so thankful ... our family doctor sent us to the specialist because he felt something abnormal - so as far as we are concerned we wouldn't be surprised if a healing happened ... 

since we were in the city, leo came to costco with me ... for a quick tour around (those big carts make for great walkers!!!!) ... all in all – it was an uplifting experience for a hospital/city visit !!!!

thanx again for your prayers ... they were truly appreciated! (hugs) 

He cares ... always ...

i saw this little guy singing outside my window ... and of course i thought of that song ... God always reminds me that He cares ... always ...

maria has been home in heaven for a year now click here ... my that time has gone by quickly ... though i miss her MORE today - than i did the weeks following her death ... maybe it's a missing of heaven and all those dear ones who are already there ...

of course the aging thing continues ... on tuesday i have to take leo to the big city hospital (UGH! that will be a real chore for us both - since leo has such trouble walking and isn't comfortable outside our home) ... they want to check for prostate cancer ... so if you think of us on tuesday, i covet your prayers ... leo isn't nervous about any of it, he is just dreading having to go to the city ...  it'll be during morning rush hour too - and the hospital is right smack in the middle of the city ... ! ! !  all i have to say is "sheesh" ...

blessings on you guys!  hope July has sweet moments in it for you ...

sunday morning ....

i was just visiting some of my blog buds ... it's been a while ... again!  and as always, you cheered my heart (though i didn't leave any comments) ... and i am so grateful for each of you ...

i've blogged in my head - but i haven't gotten anything down on "paper" ... so i thought i would leave a note this morning ... i just wanted you to know that i am fine ... going through a time of quietness and possibly residing in a "winter season"  - though it is definitely spring time in our world ...

blessings on this day that the Lord has made ...

outside my window

portion from my morning devotional:

"If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17.  It will explain exactly why you are where you are - because Jesus has prayed that you "may be one" with the Father as He is. ... God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn't ask, "Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?"  No, He allows these things for His own purpose.  The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way."  My Utmost for His Highest ~ Oswald Chambers

a promise ...

just saying hi ...

the robins are hopping around everywhere, here in our little town ... they don't know how much i've missed them!  and how happy i am to finally see them back and nesting ...

so what have i been up to since my arizona adventure?  well, here's a list of some things from my world:

• doctors appointments!!!  it's the age, isn't it?  leo's new doctor has been seeing him monthly ... then lab work ... yup ... that takes time ... and i always go with leo ...
• my glaucoma doc still hasn't decided how best to help me out ... i saw him last month and will see him again in the summer ...
• family visits and get togethers - those are sweet times, i appreciate them more and more as i mature ...
• my walks ... and now bike rides are back ... yay!
• a bit of yard work - though things are still slow ...

nothing too exciting, yet it seems that the days pass by so quickly ... and every day i count the many blessings in my life - God is good ...

hope you all are having a blessed springtime too!

He Arose!

after the sadness of good friday ... the pain, tears and disbelief ... i can only imagine the heart racing excitement of that first Easter morning ... the women were the first to find out that Jesus was Alive ... He had conquered death - what a miracle!!!  and what a gift to us ...

He's Alive!!!!  and we're forgiven - heaven's gates are open wide - He's Alive!!!!!

thank you Lord ...

on that first good friday ...

there were three crosses ... one held the sinless Lamb of God and the other two held convicted criminals ... sinners ... commandment breakers ... just like me ... just like you ...


their lives will be over in a matter of hours ... there were no more life choices left, except one  ...  it is a free will choice ... yes to Jesus ... or ... no to Him ...


it is so clearly illustrated by the crosses ... two thieves, in the same physical agony as Jesus - except that Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb ... hanging there, dieing for them ... dieing for us ... for our sins ... 

we know the story ... one ridiculed Jesus and said NO - who are you anyway?! ... the other said YES ... "remember me Lord, when you come into your kingdom" ...


choices ... our choice ...


for the two condemned prisoners, there was no room for further negotiation ... no sitting on the fence, no waiting until retirement ... it came down to a simple yes or no that MUST be made ...  the time was at hand ... and for us all - it is at hand too ... tomorrow is never guaranteed ...


what answer we give to Jesus, is where we will be spending eternity ...


with Jesus ... or separated from God ... forever ...


 on that first good Friday ... there were 3 crosses ...

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel ...  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4: 8-12

God is on your side ...

The Lord will fight for you." Exodus 14:14



I read these words and draw in a deep breath. I need them right now. Don't we all? Oh, we may not go to war.
But we fight...
for relationships
for dreams
We battle...
against illness
against discouragement
I think of you staring at the screen, perhaps feeling your strength is small. Oh, yes, I know what that's like.
But victory isn't up to us.
And those words you sometimes hear?
"You're not worth fighting for."
They're a lie. Nothing more.
This is the truth from the heart of One who calls you His own:
You are loved.
You are worth fighting for.
You are even worth dying for.
So go into your day, strong friend, knowing that nothing can defeat you.
You've already won.


by Holley Gerth, DaySpring Writer

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!

sometimes it's not what you think

the vacation i went on wasn't really for me ... i mean, sure it was good for me to get out of the "care giver" mode ... but this time - i think i was sent away for leo's sake ... so he could have 2 weeks of uninterrupted time with the Lord ... to really have some prayer time and study time ... which is what he did ... it also gave him time to pray for our friend, who was given 2 weeks to live ...

sigh ... this was the first of our very close friends to die ... we've had family members die, who were also friends ... but this was a friend - who also felt like family ... i included them in a blog post back in 2006 (are we there yet?) ... it seems there have been so many earthly goodbyes lately ...

if there is anything you want to ask about this season in my life - put your email address (if i don't have  already) in your comment - and i'll answer you directly and not publish the comment ... i just felt a need to say that ...

ok - now for some vacation photo's ... because i was still able to be refreshed while away  - i just prayed when i could - believing that God had everything under control ...

 it was peaceful - relaxing - and stress free in Arizona ... i just left my cares at home and lived in the moment ... with no plans  ... *smile* ...

 this is a greek chicken dish ... i tried so many different types of foods!  i'm glad there was a pool at my cousins' place - definitely needed to swim and try and keep the  calories in check!

 here i am with my 2 cousins ... we're off to church ... since leo and i have "church" at home, it was such a blessing to be able to worship with a group of believers ... leo told me he prayed that the message would be clear, that salvation would be presented - and that i would hear old hymns that i loved ... well the service opened with a baptism (no clearer presentation of the gospel there!) AND the first hymns that were sung - count your blessings and blessed assurance  ... well, tears began streaming down my face and into my shirt!  the Lord answered leo's prayers very clearly ... i wanted to take that church home with me, the message was so uplifting!!!  the pastor's dad had died a week prior, so you could tell his heart was tender, the way he shared his message with the congregation ...

 after church -  snowbirds know where to flock for good food ... there was a group of my cousin's friends who we had good fellowship with ...

 oh, on the side trip we took - look what we encountered in the high country!  

 lake havasu city and london bridge was another stop ... it is the most lovely of places ... and it's grown SO much in the 20 years since leo and i had last been there ...

 arizona and the road runner go hand in hand ... i was happy to see one!

and those sunsets every night!  wow ... i loved taking picture after picture of them ... it seemed that a person could not take a bad picture of a sunset there ... God's handiwork was everywhere on display ... my trip encouraged me ... no matter where i am - i know that God is there too ... but i was happy to get back to our own little condo and my husband who loves the Lord and tries to be the man God has designed him to be ... i am thankful ...

home ...

i'm home ... safe and sound with my sweetie - who i missed ... the trip was really good - except during the 2 weeks that i was away, one of our good friends was dieing ... i didn't know this until day two in AZ ... he passed away yesterday ... needless to say, that added a meloncholy tinge to everything ...

and my goodness, what travail in our world these days!!

did you know that the bible tells us not to be afraid 365 times - once for every day of the year ... for folks outside of Jesus, what a scary place planet earth must be ... thankfully we know that all ends well for those found in Christ ... i'm so glad to be sheltered in His everlasting arms ...

another amazing AZ sunset

last week

i can't believe that we are in our last week in AZ ... i have talked to leo twice daily, usually, so i feel connected - i know he is well ... which allows me to enjoy my time here ...

the weather was "cool" (boy is that term relative!) our first days here, but that was ok - since we took a side trip right away ... and since last wednesday, it has been mid 70's and up ... not too hot, but quite comfortable ...

just saying hi ... maybe the next note will be from home with more pics?  blessings on you guys!

sunshine and greenery

life is good in arizona ... we have been enjoying the stores ... *smile* ... and swimming ... it has been such a blessed break from the bitterly cold at home ...

just saying HI from AZ!!!!

blizzards and plans

i'm not in arizona - yet ... Lord willing this time next week i will be ... *smile* ...

but before the vacation - there was a bit of a mini-blizzard that blew in, just before my birthday - it found me shovelling on the day of my birthday ... which was fine, it was a good opportunity to thank the Lord for strength to lift that shovel and clear our deck!!!  

thank you blog buds for the birthday greetings ... also thank you "annah" for your kind words - which encouraged me ...

i am starting to get butterflies in my stomach re the travel ... i get this nervous energy and tension before trips ... especially when leo stays behind ... we used to be good travelling companions ... he would drive and i would be the map reader and planner ... but that was a very long time ago already, time truly does go by quickly ... yet it seems that our lives can change in the blink of an eye ... one day - soon? - it will be in the "twinkling of an eye" that lasting, forever change will occur ... and the term 'saved' will mean something everlastingly wonderful ...

just wanted to post a little note here ... in case life gets hectic before i leave home on wednesday ... thank you for your prayers on my behalf - 'cause i know i have great praying buds who i've met through blogging!

whimsy in mid week ...

May you always have work for your hands to do

May your pockets hold always a coin or two

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain

May the hand of a friend always be near you

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you

- Irish Blessing

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 ...

winter vacation

On the sixth day God turned to the Archangel Gabriel and said, "Today I am going to create a land called Canada . It will be a land of outstanding natural beauty. It shall have tall majestic mountains full of mountain goats and eagles, beautiful sparkling lakes bountiful with bass and trout, forests full of elk and moose, high cliffs over-looking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life, and rivers stocked with salmon."


God continued, "I shall make the land rich in resources so as to make the inhabitants prosper, I shall call these inhabitants Canadians, and they shall be known as the most friendly people on the earth."


"But Lord," asked Gabriel, "don't you think you are being too generous to these Canadians??"


"Not really," replied God. "Just wait and see the winters I am going to give them!




this is an old joke, but it makes me smile ... canadian winters can indeed be brutal ... so, with leo's blessing, i will be going to arizona ... you know, to a desert place - to rest awhile ... i'll be travelling with a cousin - staying with another cousin plus i'll visit my AZ buds ... leo said he can manage for 2 weeks (i will have things in place to make him as comfortable as possible) ... Lord willing, i'll be jetting away at the end of the month ...

just thought i'd share my excitement of the day!!!  i can't believe that this will be winter #2 that i will get to escape to my favourite desert spot ...