Happy Thanksgiving!

it's our thanksgiving weekend here in Canada ... and what a beauty it has been ... we have been the Canadian hotspot for days now ... last year we must have been the coldest place in Canada (with 10 cm of snow!) and this year it is t-shirt weather ... guess who's not complaining????  *smile* ...

i'm at a loss as to what to share in this post ... it seems that leo and i have turned into this retired couple, whose days are filled with a sweet routine ... i get up first to have my coffee and quiet time ... then when leo is up and about - we have our devotions together ... after that, i go for my walk and leo has his quiet time ... then there are the chores, shopping, visits ... and before i know it - it's evening and time to read the paper, read a book or watch a favourite show or two on tv!!! 

i am also still struggling with "a sadness" ... maria's death?  leo's continued chronic pain and health decline?  i don't know ... just a sadness ... i am riding that tide, talking to my Heavenly Father who knows my  heart ... and maybe there can be some sharing of lessons learned - but that would be in the future ... for today - i am just thankful that there is a real place called heaven ... and there, a place is being prepared for me by Jesus - my Saviour ... the sadness i feel today will be left behind ... joy will be the order of everyday ... BUT don't get me wrong, i know God gives us joy in this life too ... and i DO feel His love and joy - even though i am in this other type of season ...

i know - this too shall pass!!!

so on this thanksgiving weekend - i count my many many blessings (blog buds counted!) and share some photo's i took this weekend!

morning view

canada geese practising for their long trip south

out for my walk

Lift up your eyes ...

i once read that it takes more faith to believe that there is no God ... than to believe that there is One ... God's handiwork, displayed in nature, is just so awesome!  it speaks in CAPITOL letters of it's Creator God ... somedays i could weep for all the wonder i see ... just in my own backyard ... only a fool would think that this "just happened by chance" ...


last week, i took a picture at our town beach ... just a teenie little patch of sand, with a very ordinary river lapping at its edges ... yet the everyday beauty of it, was just breathtaking to me ... see if you agree when you look at that pic i've posted below ...


for you who read this post - may our amazing Creator God give you a day full of bounty and joy in all you see and do!

expectantly waiting ...

our little beach was so busy this year ... always full of young families ... but this week it has gotten much quieter ... the weather has cooled and school starts next week ... folks are busy ...

which made me think of my life ... i hope i never get so caught up in the everyday, that i forget Jesus promise to return ... one day ... at a time when we least expect ... and the time i least expect is the one i am taking this breath in ... so it could be before i press the publish post button ... !  we don't know ...  but we are told to watch for it ... and to be ready ...

even so Lord Jesus ... come ...

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!

the little red car ...

guess who pulled up into our driveway today?  terry (Canadian Blogger) and her hubby bernie, in their little red car!!!!  she said that they would stop in for coffee this year ... and yes indeedy - they did!

it was wonderful to meet them in person ... terry is as sweet in real life as she appears to be in her blog ... and bernie was her perfect partner - they completed each others sentences ...

terry is also the first blog bud that i meet - face to face ... and it was like we had known each other for years ... and i guess we sort of have - we've been reading each others blogs for 5 years now ...

it was great to chitchat and just share stories about people who we know in blogland ... really a very positive experience ... *smile*

they are on their way home now - terry took lots of pics, so it will be fun to see the visit through her eyes ...

blessings on your week!

a month today

it is a month today since Maria left this world - and opened her eyes and saw her new eternal home ... it seems like so much longer ... yet - like only yesterday ...

thought i would share a very uplifting e-mail that i received from dayspring this morning - it blessed my heart - hope it blesses yours too!

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Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19 KJV

 Today is your best day because you can grow a little more in your faith, a little more in your maturity, and a little more in your intimacy with Jesus. Today you can take another step higher as He takes you from glory to glory.

 Corrie Ten Boom once said, "God doesn't have problems; He only has plans." God doesn't make bad days for you and good days for you. God makes each day fit perfectly into His plans for you.

 There are two ways that we can walk through a day. One is to walk by sight, and the other it walk by faith. To walk by faith means to walk in the truth of God's word and the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives in you.

 Excerpt from Today is Your Best Day by Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer.

maria's in heaven ... and i'm on holidays ...

i didn't even realize how burdened i was for maria ... until she slept away ... it seemed that she was always on my mind - heavy on my heart ... it was a continual praying for her comfort and the Lord's mercy ... then she got to heaven first ... and though there is that earthly grieving - my burden is gone ... i know that all her suffering has ended ... in that regard, my heart doesn't feel the weight anymore ...


and i don't have to think of her as " my poor little maria"  anymore ... for that, i am so thankful ...


this past 3 weeks has been filled with the ordinary things of summer ... walks, swims, visits ... celebrating birthdays ... but i have also wanted to just be cocooned and quiet too ... my emotions are near the surface - but the peace remains ...


hoping you all are having a really blessed and sweet summer experience ...

Here She Comes

I am standing upon the seashore;

a ship at my side spreads

her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength

and I stand and watch her until at length

she hangs like a speck of white cloud

just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, "There! She's gone."

Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar

as when she left my side,

and just as able to bear her load of living freight

to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,

"There! She's gone."

there are other eyes watching her coming

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,

"Here she comes!"

... and that is dying.

~ anon ~

in recovery

maria was always in a hurry to get somewhere ...

we found out today that the surgeon thought  maria would not survive the operation ... and if she survived the operation - he did not think she would recover ...

this evening mom and my younger sister were at ICU helping maria eat her supper ... my sister combed maria's hair and they were thankful that AGAIN maria was defying the odds ... when they asked her a question, she was able to answer them ... and she definitely didn't want mom to leave, she wanted her to stay ... i take all those as positive signs ...

i just want to thank you guys for keeping maria in your prayers ... our times are in God's hands ... we all leave this world at some point ... yet - everything in God's time ... and for God's purpose ...

update on maria ...

just updating you on maria ... things had been going well ... she was doing "good"... then - her blood pressure started to drop low, for no apparent reason ... and she had a serious fall on sunday, causing a spiral fracture of her L elbow ... she was rushed to the hospital, where they discovered a major infection in that foot of hers (which they had declared free of infection and healing slowly, just a week ago) ... the end result was amputation of her leg beneath the knee ... that happened yesterday (tuesday) ... the surgery was a success (if one can call losing a limb successful) ... they are keeping her asleep until some time tonight ... maria will need prayer to accept this latest event in her life - she had been so happy with the good news of last week ... after she heals from the amputation, they will still need to put pins in that elbow fracture of hers ...

sad news is never fun to share ... but we KNOW that in ALL things, God is with those who trust in Him - and He comforts His children ... after all, didn't He send His Son, Jesus, so that we could be saved through Him ... i guess we need to view all of this through eternity's eyes - rather than our mortal ones which focus on earthly things ...

trusting in God's grace! 

the goodness of the Lord ...

this morning i was reading Psalm 33 and a  notation i had made during one of my previous readings of it, made me smile ... verse 5 says:  "He loveth reghteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." ... after which i saw my note - "Look for it!" ... most of the time God's goodness is soooo obvious that a blind man can see it ... but sometimes we are focusing within - so we miss all the blessings around  ... i'm glad today is one of those days when His goodness is easy to see!!  but i STILL always LOOK FOR IT!

the flowers appear on the earth ...

"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land..."
Song of Solomon 2:10-12


i like this verse ... the flowers are indeed appearing in my little flower garden ... i was so anxious to see those green shoots sprouting and tulips blooming ... God's promise of better things to come ...

the verse also speaks of the birds singing ... which makes me think of maria ... her happy little voice as she called me from home after being sprung from the hospital!  the 3 hour angioplasty which she endured, opened up 3 blocked arteries and they were successfully fitted with stents... now she has more pep and zip then i've seen in years ... that makes me thankful ...

lately it seems that there are joy stealers in and around me - floating in the very air i breath, wanting to land in my life ... but i will try to read scripture which keeps things in the proper prospective ... amen?  amen!

blessings on  your sunday!!!!

odds and ends

the week has just flown by ... it seems i get up and it's already time to go to bed!!!  i've meant to post a few times, but then leo and i get chatting or something else happens that my poor blog gets neglected!  though you, my blog friends, are in my thoughts quite often ... i guess cause you are dear to my heart ... *big smile* ...


another dear to my heart person - maria - is in the hospital again ... she had a mild heart attack last tuesday and so they have kept her in for observation and to try and figure out what is causing her woes this time ... i thank you guys for praying for her - as the Lord brings her to your mind ...


on the lighter side of my life ... here are some pics that i took ...

can you see the sign of the fish in this one?  i thought it was cool ... it was one of the first things i saw one morning ...  it made me smile ...

we opened the front door (with the screen door closed to keep indie in!) ... and indie just stretched out, all content to finally have some real warmth hitting him ... he was twirling and purring for quite some time ... he made me smile ...

my mom gave me this little tapestry recently ... it was one of my parents' wedding presents - way back when ... it reminds me of the family unit that once was and simpler times in the finland of my childhood ... i put it up in the hallway the other day and when i see it - it makes me smile ...

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If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. ~Andy Rooney

chitchat saturday ...

it's a quiet saturday evening, here in our little town ... i'm sitting in leo's big recliner, working on the laptop ... it's so nice to look outside and see the free flowing water - rather than a frozen river - and to anticipate new buds appearing on the bushes and trees - soon ... there are some buds sprouting in the flower garden ... i am always happy to see GREEN ... my favourite colour!


leo's doctors appt. went so very well on tuesday ... again, like the others, this doctor was kind and friendly ... he did go one step further than our other doctors - he suggested that maybe leo might like to see a neurosurgeon again ... leo doesn't think it'll help, but is ok with the idea ... we'll see what develops as we continue to trust God in ALL things ... i love the Lord so much ... :o)


it was a busy week ... i took our car in for an annual check up on thursday ... it was a good 50 minute drive from our place (everything is far, 'cause we live in a little town!) ... unfortunately, i came home with a rental ... :o( ... our car needed some repairs that took time ... i was sort of expecting something ... not because the car was acting up, but because we did some extra giving (by faith), and you know that old saying about no good deed going unpunished ... however - our joy of giving wasn't taken away by something unpleasant happening right after, and we even had to smile because the amount of the car repair was exactly the same as the amount that we had given!!!  well there was a 42 cent difference - but what are the odds?   the timing of it all was suspect!   this has happened to us a number of times, in different areas of our life ... ever happen to you too?


last night we had some company ... they came bearing fish!!!  pickerel ... yum ... my favourite ... leo used to catch me a fresh panful whenever i wanted it ... those were our "good cottage years" ... then his health began declining - and the fishing became less and less ... so whenever someone thinks to bring me fish - i am so so thankful ... 

just thought i'd chitchat a bit ... and also wish you guys a most blessed sunday .... and week to come!!! 

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It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

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!

so glad Jesus came ... understatement, eh!!!!

yesterday was passover (according to the calendar) ... so leo and i decided to have communion ... it was good to read the account of Jesus celebrating passover ... and His words, as He broke the bread and blessed the wine ... it was a sweet moment in our morning devotions ... thanking Jesus for all He has done for us ... INDEED - What a Saviour!!! 

blessings on your Good Friday and Easter celebrations ...

Voices of the Faithful

i've been reading "Voices of the Faithful", compiled by Kim P. Davis  ... inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world ... and the story i'm about to share  has stayed with me through the past couple of days ... here it is:

One smart donkey


"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whtever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."  1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)


It was harvest time when Mrs. Tendai's (ten-DIES) donkey went missing.  She searched everywhere and even reported the missing animal to the local police.  When it was evident that her donkey had simply disappeared, she began praying that it would return.


Due to lack of good seed, fertilizer and sufficient rain, Mrs. Tendai's harvest that year was small, and she had little money to buy food for her family.  Several months later, her prayers were more about God providing "daily bread" than finding the donkey.  The family's maize meal supply was depleted.  Would God answer her prayers for food?


The next morning, when Mrs. Tendai walked out of her hut, she was amazed to see her donkey standing there with a 100-pound bag of maize meal on its back!  She was happy to see the donkey but afraid to use the maize meal since it wasn't hers.


Eventually a story was pieced together that a man had stolen her donkey and used it to do his labor.  One night after grinding his corn, he went to the beer hall to drink, leaving the donkey burdened down with the maize meal outside.  The donkey realized that he was not far from home and decided to return to where he would be taken care of and fed.  The thief, wishing to remain anonymous, did not claim his maize meal, so Mrs. Tendai was able to use it to feed her family.  God had answered both of her prayers in a very unusual manner!  - Donna, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa


this story really hit home with me because God already knew that mrs. tendai would be praying for the family's daily sustenance in the very near future -  He had the answer to her prayers prepared ahead of time ... even though the story started out with a bad experience, the stolen donkey ...  ... it reminded me of our condo search ... i really did cry a river one night when the condo i thought was perfect for us, was taken off the market!  i thought "why, Lord??"  that was the one i wanted!! ... but we needed to journey along, pray earnestly and live in a rental- experience some things before God opened up the condo we are now in - which is quite perfect in all ways  ... thank you Lord!


patience,  prayer, perseverance ...

ice fishing weekend

we have had the most amazing week ... weatherwise, it was way above seasonal with a rapid melt happening ... today it was 13C or 55F here!  WOW!!!  leo and i have literally been watching the snow disappear!!!


the annual ice fishing derby was on this weekend ...  about 1000 or so fishermen took advantage of the great weather and still solid ice conditions!   we have front row seats from the condo to watch the coming and going ... even indie was by the window for an hour or so, wondering where all these people came from!


spiritually, we have been refreshed and blessed and growing ... God's word is something we share and discuss ... and there has been a sweetness around the house, that i would like to keep around forever ... life and chronic pain can sometimes chase away the gentle moments - so when they stay for longer periods of time i feel so blessed ...

here are pics taken of all those ice fishing folks!  and also a little scene taken during my walk - the snow should be gone the next time i venture on the trail  ... blessings on your week that is yet to be!

i know Who holds my hand

I know Who Holds Tomorrow

words and music by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from it's sunshine,

For it's skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,

As the golden stairs I climb;

Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;

Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eyes,

At the ending of the rainbow,

Where the mountains touch the sky.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,

It may bring me poverty;

But the One Who feeds the sparrow,

Is the One Who stands by me.

And the path that be my portion,

May be through the flame or flood,

But His presence goes before me,

And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.