THE OTHER DAY I REMEMBERED THAT A FRIEND HAD RECOMMENDED A SHORT ROAD TRIP TO A BEAUTIFUL WETLAND AREA IN THE CITY OF ST. ALBERT. WE HAVE LIVED NEARBY FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THIS WAS THE FIRST WE HAD HEARD OF IT!
THIS GORGEOUS, NATURAL HABITAT IS HOME TO MANY BEAUTIFUL SPECIES OF BIRDS/DUCKS, BEAVERS, MUSKRATS, FISH, INSECTS, AND PRETTY REEDS AND TREES TOO.
WE PULLED UP INTO THE PARKING LOT ON A RATHER OVERCAST DAY, SPRINKLES OF RAIN THREATENING TO SHORTEN THE VISIT, AND HOT COFFEES IN HAND. BUT THE RAIN STOPPED BEFORE IT REALLY STARTED AND FROM THE MOMENT I STEPPED FOOT ON THE STURDY BOARDWALK…I WAS HOOKED.
THIS ENTRANCING PLACE HAS GOT TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER’S PARADISE AND I WAS SO HAPPY I ACTUALLY BROUGHT MY ‘GOOD’ CAMERA INSTEAD OF JUST MY GOOGLE PHONE FOR PHOTOS.
THAT DAY WE GOT TO SEE A FEW DUCKS AND A FEW MUSKRATS TOO. I DON’T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN ONE PREVIOUSLY. NOT MANY BIRDS ABOUT BUT THE PEACE I FELT AS WE WALKED ALONG WAS WONDERFUL.
WHAT A NICE OUTING AND EASY WALK. WE TOOK OUR TIME , TOOK LOTS OF PHOTOS, AND SAT FOR A REST AT THE END OF THE BOARDWALK AND BEGINNING OF THE LARGER WETLANDS RESERVE TO ENJOY THE VIEW AND A SOFT, FRESHLY BAKED COOKIE THAT TERRY SURPRISED ME WITH!
P.S. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO USE MY ACTUAL CAMERA FOR YEARS AND IT TOOK ME 2 HOURS TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. WHEN I GOT HOME I FOUND THAT ALL OF MY PHOTOS WERE OVER EXPOSED SO ALL THE PHOTOS YOU SEE WERE ACTUALLY FROM MY PHONE.
(I GUESS I BETTER READ UP ON MANUAL SETTINGS AGAIN…HA HA)
I TOOK A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE THIS MORNING. ONCE UPON A TIME I WAS A PROFESSIONAL ACTRESS AND YES, IT SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO.
I STILL HAVE THE BEST MEMORIES FROM THOSE DAYS THOUGH .I ACTUALLY MET MY HUSBAND, TERRY, ON STAGE IN THE WINDSOR LIGHT OPERA!
4 CHILDREN, SOON TO BE 6 GRANDCHILDREN LATER THIS MUM AND ‘NONNY’ IS VERY HAPPY TO BE OUT OF THE THEATRE BUSINESS BUT MISSES THE MUSIC PERFORMANCE BUSINESS QUITE A LOT. COVID HAS MADE IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MOST PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO PEOPLE LIKE MY DAUGHTER , EMILY, AND HER PARTNER, GEOFF, WHO LONG TO PERFORM LIVE THE TUNES FROM THEIR VERY FIRST AND BRAND NEW ALBUM (BAD BUDDY) !
SO TODAY I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME OLD PHOTO ALBUMS AND FOUND SOME FUN REVIEWS OF A COUPLE OF THEATRE SHOWS I DID IN THE ‘OLD DAYS’.
IN ‘SPINOFF’ I HAD THE JOY OF PLAYING VACUOUS ‘VICKI WICKEY’,A TRUE ‘AIR HEAD’ WHO BROUGHT OUT THE LAUGHS IN THIS ABSOLUTELY SILLY PLAY. THE STAGE WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LARGE TABLE…HA HA…AND THE DIRECTOR CRAMMED THIS FAIRLY LARGE CAST ONTO THAT THING EVERY NIGHT. AT ONE POINT,ONE OF MY FELLOW LEADS ACTUALLY FELL OFF STAGE RIGHT …RIGHT INTO THE TABLES AT THIS DINNER THEATRE. OH MAN. I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY NOT TO LOSE IT AND IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE ONE ‘SERIOUS’ MOMENT IN THE SHOW.
WHEN I LOOKED OVER AND SAW T.LAWRENCE CLIMBING BACK ON STAGE I ACTUALLY HAD TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY CHEEKS FROM LAUGHTER (HE WAS NOT HURT…JUST HIS PRIDE) AND THE WHOLE CAST JUST HAPPENED TO BE ON A COUCH FACING THE AUDIENCE …SO THEY DIDN’T MISS A THING AND LAUGHED ALONG WITH US!
I DID QUITE A FEW PLAYS AT THE PLEIADES THEATRE AS WELL. WE DID SERIOUS MURDER MYSTERIES THERE SO MY CHARACTER IN ’10 LITTLE INDIANS’ WAS THE OPPOSITE OF VACUOUS. I WAS THE CLASSIC CO-PROPRIETOR OF AN ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE INN WITH ALL THE ENSUING MURDER AND MAYHEM THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE IN THIS CLASSIC SHOW.
ON THE WEEKENDS WE DID A MATINEE PERFORMANCE…. I WOULD BUZZ HOME TO SEE TERRY AND THE FOUR WEE ONES, HAVE LUNCH, AND THEN BACK TO THE THEATRE FOR THE EVENING PERFORMANCE.
MY FAVOURITE SHOWS TO DO WERE THE MUSICALS BECAUSE THEN I GOT TO DO IT ALL : SING, DANCE ,AND ACT. THEATRE BROUGHT ME MY HUSBAND AND SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD TO THIS DAY I MET ON STAGE. I KNEW I WANTED TO BE AN ACTRESS FROM THE TIME I GOT MY FIRST LEAD ROLE…IN GRADE SCHOOL !!! IT WAS CALLED ‘SHIRLEY HOLMES AND THE F.B.I.’.
I MET TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS THROUGH THE DRAMA CLUB IN HIGH SCHOOL(BARB AND MARY)AND WE STILL GET TOGETHER EVERY WEEK ON ZOOM(WITH ROSEMARY…WHO LET US ACT OUT IN GODSPELL GARB ONCE UPON A TIME)
ANOTHER SUPER CLOSE FRIEND, MARIE, I MET WHEN WE MOVED TO CALGARY. THIS IS WHERE I DID MOST OF MY ACTING WORK. MARIE, A FELLOW PERFORMER IN MANY ‘M & M’ FOR KIDS SHOWS ENDED UP TAKING CARE OF ME WHILE I HAD ONE OF MY HIP REPLACEMENTS. WE STAY CLOSE FRIENDS TO THIS DAY AS WELL.
SOME OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SHOWS IN WHICH TO PERFORM ARE (THE CANADIAN PREMIER) OF CHICAGO AS ‘ROXIE HART’ ,ONE OF THE KIT KAT GIRLS IN CABARET , AND AS A ‘LUCY’ IN RAT RACE.
I’VE DONE MANY LIVE STAGE PERFORMANCES, COMMERCIALS, JINGLES, MOVIES, AND MURDER MYSTERIES TOO. I’M SO GLAD I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ‘TREAD THE BOARDS’ WHILE I COULD. AND I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE TO HAVE ANOTHER CAREER WITH SPIRITLINE, WRITING ORIGINAL MUSIC, RECORDING IT(WORKING ON MY 4TH ALBUM NOW), AND TOURING ACROSS CANADA A FEW TIMES.
2020 IS A CRAZY, SCARY YEAR. BUT AS ALWAYS, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE BLESSINGS THAT CONTINUE TO FLOW IN LIFE…YES, EVEN DURING A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC WE CAN FIND GOODNESS AND INCREDIBLE HAPPINESS.
HE WALKED FAST. IT WAS SMOOTH SAILING AT FIRST . HE RARELY GOT TRIPPED UP.
HE WALKED…. HEAD UP, SHOULDERS BACK,SURE OF HIMSELF,RARELY MISSED A STEP.
THE FASTER HE WALKED THE FASTER HE FELT HE HAD TO WALK.
HE WAS GETTING TIRED.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL ALL AROUND HIM BUT HE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO SEE IT.HE HAD TO KEEP ON WALKING.
ONE DAY THE MAN FELT A WEIGHT WAS ON HIS SHOULDERS AND AS HE WALKED HE LOOKED DOWN. CRACKS! WHY DIDN’T HE EVER NOTICE THESE BEFORE?
HE TRIED TO LOOK UP AND AROUND AT ALL THE COLOUR HE HAD MISSED BUT NOW ALL HE COULD SEE WAS CRACKS.HIS STEPS STARTED TO FEEL LABOURED BUT HE WALKED AS FAST AS HE COULD TRYING TO AVOID EACH CRACK.
HE STARTED TO REALIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS WALKING QUICKLY AMOUNG OTHER WALKERS MOST DAYS, HE WAS WALKING ALONE. EVERYONE SEEMED TO LOOK LIKE HIM : WALKING FAST, LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD OR HEAD DOWN TRYING TO AVOID THE CRACKS.
FINALLY HE HAD TO STOP. OTHERS STARTED TO BUMP INTO HIM BUT HE HAD TO CATCH HIS BREATH.THAT’S WHEN HE NOTICED THAT SOMEONE HAD CARVED A SENTENCE INTO THE SIDEWALK CEMENT. ‘WALK WITH GOD’ IT SAID.
HE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND A TIME WHEN HE ACTUALLY USED TO DO THAT VERY THING.HE WALKED A BIT SLOWER BACK THEN AND HE NOW REMEMBERED THAT THERE WERE STILL CRACKS VISIBLE ALL AROUND. BUT HE HAD A LIGHTER STEP AND KNEW HE WASN’T WALKING ALONE.
HE REMEMBERED THE BEAUTY. HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH.AND HE SMILED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE.
A WHILE BACK TERRY AND I DECIDED TO CONTINUE OUR CORNY QUEST OF LOOKING FOR ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST’ STATUES.
BUT THIS TIME WE DECIDED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY STATUES IN OUR OWN CITY. IMAGINE OUR SURPRISE WHEN WE DISCOVERED SEVEN!
YOU KNOW THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO EXPLORE THE CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE. WE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND DISCOVERED SOME AREAS THAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE. PART OF THE REASON WE WANTED TO DO THIS WAS BECAUSE OF OUR SHORT AUTUMN SEASON. THIS JUST GIVES US ANOTHER EXCUSE TO GET OUT INTO THE DAY AND ENJOY EACH OTHER’S COMPANY TOO.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY THAT WE DON’T HAVE A BIG FAN CLUB FOR BASEBALL ….BUT WE HAVE A HUGE BASEBALL BAT….NOT NEAR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SPORT..HA HA.
IT WAS QUITE THE HIKE FOR ME TO MAKE IT UP THE HILL TO VISIT THE PEACE DOVE. I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW MASSIVE THIS STATUE IS AND….#Landmarks: The Dove of Peace stands as reminder of Pope John Paul II’s 1984 visit. One of Edmonton’s most picturesque vantage points is the sloping perch of Gallagher Park, tucked into the heart of the Cloverdale community.
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST COWBOY BOOT IS RIGHT NEAR OUR HOME. WHY IS THIS NOT IN CALGARY? HA HA .WE WERE NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THE HUGE BEER CAN, KLONDIKE MIKE, OR THE STANLEY CUP. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE KLONDIKE DAYS AND WAYNE GRETZKY PUT US ON THE MAP WITH THE OILERS. THE GIANT MILK BOTTLE IS ALSO IN THE KLONDIKE DAYS PROPERTY BUT WE COULD NOT GET CLOSE TO THE LOCKED GROUNDS. IT IS A LOT LARGER THAN IT LOOKED IN THE PHOTO.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY WE HAD. WE ENJOYED ANOTHER OUTDOOR PICNIC AT THE GROUNDS OF THE MUTTART WHICH ARE JUST BELOW THE PEACE DOVE STATUE.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU LOOKING FOR UNIQUE THINGS IN YOUR OWN TOWNS TO GET YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AT HOW MANY ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST’ STATUES ARE IN YOUR CITY!
Don’t prioritise your looks my friend, they won’t last the journey. Your sense of humour though, will only get better. Your intuition will grow and expand like a majestic cloak of wisdom. Your ability to choose your battles, will be fine-tuned to perfection. Your capacity for stillness, for living in the moment, will blossom. And your desire to live each and every moment will transcend all other wants. Your instinct for knowing what (and who) is worth your time, will grow and flourish like ivy on a castle wall. Don’t prioritise your looks my friend, they will change forevermore, that pursuit is one of much sadness and disappointment. Prioritise the uniqueness that make you you, and the invisible magnet that draws in other like-minded souls to dance in your orbit. These are the things which will only get better.
THIS REALLY SPOKE TO ME TODAY.
IF I’M EVER FEELING DOWN ABOUT THE AGING PROCESS I WILL TRY AND REMEMBER THIS POEM. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WILL ONLY GET BETTER. ‘LOOKS’ ARE FLEETING BUT UNIQUENESS OF CHARACTER WITH A DASH OF ALL THE ‘FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT’ : LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL WILL DRAW OTHERS TO US AND DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD!
I THOUGHT I WOULD HEAD OVER AND CHECK OUT THE WEE DINOSAUR VIGNETTES THAT MY NEW FRIEND, LAURA, SETS UP IN ANOTHER NEIGHBOURHOOD.
SHE EXPANDED HER WEDDING THEME AND ADDED NEW CHARACTERS TO THE GROWING SCENE. I REALLY LIKE THE HEAD TABLE AND CHEF WITH LARGE DINO EGGS SMORGASBORD HA HA HA.
I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT SHE DOES THIS PURELY FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE PASSERSBY. IT’S NICE TO HAVE ANOTHER REASON TO BE UPLIFTED AND TO SMILE. AS I WAS DRIVING AROUND THE OTHER DAY I ALSO ENJOYED THE EARLY HALLOWE’EN DECOR ALL OVER THE PLACE. PUMPKINS ARE IN PLACE FOR THANKSGIVING AND THE TREES ARE SHOWING OFF THEIR COATS OF MANY COLOURS.
FUNNILY ENOUGH, JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM LAURA, ANOTHER NEIGHBOUR STILL HAS HER DUCKIES ON FULL DISPLAY AS WELL. I DON’T KNOW WHICH CAME FIRST : THE DUCKIES OR THE DINOS ? EITHER WAY , THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE US SMILE AND I THINK THAT’S JUST ‘DUCKIE’! ( OR…’DINO-MITE’!)
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THESE DAYS …DESPITE THE CONSTANT BAD NEWS ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER PERSONAL ISSUES WE ALL HAVE.
I LOVE TO BRING MY CAMERA WITH ME EVERYWHERE (AKA MY PHONE)AND AM ENJOYING OUR AUTUMN SCENERY SOOOO MUCH. IT IS AMAZING HOW BEING GRATEFUL CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE. I AM STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO GET MY CHRONIC PAIN UNDER CONTROL AND YET THERE IS SO MUCH TO SMILE ABOUT THAT I CAN ALMOST FORGET ABOUT IT . I MIGHT NOT FEEL I CAN GET OUT OF A CHAIR IN THE HOUSE SOMEDAYS BUT PUT ME IN A FIELD OF INCREDIBLE SCENERY AND I WILL MOTOR OVER THERE AND BEND OVER TO GET THAT PERFECT SHOT.
I’M TRYING TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT MY LIFE . I’M SO GRATEFUL FOR TIME WITH MY BEST FRIEND AND HUSBAND, TERRY. HE CAN MAKE ME LAUGH IN ANY SITUATION AND WE ARE TRYING TO HAVE AS MANY OUTDOOR DAYS AS WE CAN BEFORE THE SNOW LOCKS US INTO THE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. WE LOVE EXPLORING OUR CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS , HAVING PICNICS, AND PLAYING TILE RUMMY…. SIMPLE THINGS THAT TAKE OUR MIND OFF WORRIES AND ‘NEGATIVES’ THAT CAN WEIGH A PERSON DOWN.
A SUNDAY ‘ZOOM’ CALL WITH MY BEST FRIENDS EVERY WEEK IS A GREAT REASON TO STAY INDOORS AND FILLS ME WITH UPLIFTING GRATITUDE .
RECEIVING A WEE VIDEO FROM OUR CUTE GRANDCHILDREN KEEPS ME SMILING ALL DAY LONG. STAYING CONNECTED TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY NEAR AND FAR IS A LIFELINE TO GRATITUDE.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE WEEKEND. IF YOU CAN GET OUT THERE ENJOY THE SUNSHINE… OR THE RAIN! BRING YOUR CAMERA…AND CAPTURE THE GOOD TIMES. DON’T HAVE A CAMERA? SAVE THE MEMORIES IN YOUR HEART. THAT WORKS TOO!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO AN OUTDOOR MARKET? THE SEASON IS WINDING DOWN WITH THE COOLER WEATHER BUT MY FAVOURITE TIME TO ATTEND IS IN THE FALL.
OUR WEEKENDS ARE PRETTY BUSY BUT WE ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THERE WAS A MARKET ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM OUR HOME! WE HAVE BEEN GENERALLY STEERING CLEAR OF ANY PLACES THAT HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS BUT OUR CITY SEEMS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE COVID PROTOCOLS AND THERE WERE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE LIKE SOCIAL DISTANCING MARKERS AND MOST PEOPLE WEARING MASKS.
SO ON THIS BLUSTERY, AUTUMN SUNDAY LATE MORNING WE HEADED OUT TO SEE IF WE COULD SCORE SOME BEAUTIFUL FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ….AND WE DID!
WE DISCOVERED THE ONLY BOOK TRUCK (IN ALBERTA I THINK SHE SAID?) AND I LEARNED WHAT BRUSSEL SPROUTS ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY ARE ON ‘THE VINE’. I NEVER KNEW THAT!
IN FACT WE DID NOT FIND ALL THE VEGETABLES AND FRUIT WE WERE HOPING FOR SO WE EVENTUALLY LEFT AND ENDED UP AT YET ANOTHER MARKET, AN INDOOR ONE DOWNTOWN.
HERE WE FOUND THE FRESH LETTUCE WE WANTED , PEACHES, AND THIS PLACE ALSO OFFERED YUMMY DINNER OPTIONS LIKE HOMEMADE GARLIC PASTA AND FRESHLY MADE PESTO SAUCES.
IT FELT GREAT TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS/BUSINESSES TOO . I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A MARKET DAY THIS WEEKEND INSTEAD OF THE MANY BOX STORES ON OFFER. GET SOME EXERCISE, FEEL THE SUN ON YOUR FACE , AND BRING YOUR BAGS! YOU WILL LOVE IT AND BE REWARDED WITH THE TASTIER FOODS !
When God wants to drill a man, And thrill a man, And skill a man When God wants to mold a man To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart To create so great and bold a man That all the world shall be amazed, Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects Whom He royally elects! How He hammers him and hurts him, And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which Only God understands; While his tortured heart is crying And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks When his good He undertakes; How He uses whom He chooses, And which every purpose fuses him; By every act induces him To try His splendor out- God knows what He’s about.
– Anonymous
THIS POEM REALLY SPOKE TO ME WHEN I HEARD IT REFERENCED BY JONI EARECKSON TADA IN A RECENT YOUTUBE (‘TED TALK’ ?). I READ HER VERY FIRST BOOK “JONI” AS A TEEN I THINK AND SHE HAS OVER 100 WRITTEN WORKS SINCE THEN. SHE HAS 8 HONORARY DEGREES AND 22 AWARDS FOR HER INCREDIBLE COURAGE AND INSPIRATION IN MANY MANY FIELDS. WIKIPEDIA WRITES :
Tada lived a very active life all through her growing up years. She enjoyed riding horses, hiking, tennis, and swimming. On July 30, 1967, she dove into the Chesapeake Bay after misjudging the shallowness of the water. She suffered a fracture between the fourth and fifth cervical levels and became a quadriplegic (or tetraplegic), paralyzed from the shoulders down.[1]
During Tada’s two years of rehabilitation, according to her autobiography Joni, she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts. However, during occupational therapy, she learned to paint with a brush between her teeth and began selling her artwork. She also writes this way, although for most writing tasks she relies on voice recognition software…… Tada founded Joni and Friends in 1979, an organization to “accelerate Christian ministry in the disability community”[5] throughout the world. In 2007 the Joni and Friends International Disability Center in Agoura Hills, California, was established.
JONI (PRONOUNCED ” JOHNNY” …NAMED AFTER HER FATHER) SPENDS HER LIFE ENRICHING THE FAITH OF MANY LIKE MYSELF WHO SUFFER FROM ANY SORT OF DISABILITY AND PAIN.
JONI’S LIFE HAS ALSO INCLUDED TWO BOUTS OF CANCER OF WHICH SHE IS CURRENTLY FREE BUT HER SUFFERING CONTINUES WITH CHRONIC PAIN AND OF COURSE BEING COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON OTHERS TO MOVE. BUT SHE IS MOST DEPENDENT ON GOD AND GIVES All OF US THE REMINDER THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR PAIN.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE IN PAIN AND STILL BE HAPPY? WHAT IF WE LOSE A LOVED ONE TO DEATH, DIVORCE? WHAT IF WE SUFFER FROM CHRONIC PAIN ? DEPRESSION? CAN WE STILL SMILE EVERY DAY? JONI SAYS THAT THERE IS A POWER IN SUFFERING AND THAT THE PROMISES OF JESUS RENEW HER LIFE. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE.
THESE CROSSES CAN BRING US THE JOY OF BEING CLOSE TO THE ONE WHO HAS HIMSELF BEEN THROUGH HELL AND DIED TO GIVE US THE HOPE OF HEAVEN. HE SENDS HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US FIND PEACE DESPITE THE PAIN AND THROUGH OUR PAIN WE CAN ‘DIE TO THE SINS THAT HE DIED FOR’.
INSPIRED BY JONI, I’LL ALSO LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS OF HELEN ROSEVEARE ….
“Could I see that God wanted to transform my life from a somewhat ugly, useless branch to an arrow, a tool usable in His hands, for the furtherance of His purposes?….To be thus transformed, was I willing – am I till willing – for the whittling, sandpapering, stripping, processes necessary in my Christian life? The ruthless pulling off of leaves and flowers might include doing without a television set or washing machine, remaining single in order to see a job done, re-evaluating the worthiness of the ambition to be a “good” doctor (according to my terms and values). The snapping of thorns might include drastic dealing with hidden jealousies and unknown prides, giving up prized rights in leadership and administration. The final stripping of the bark might include lessons to be learned regarding death to self – self-defence,self-pity, self-justification, self-vinidication, self-sufficiency, all the mechanisms of preventing the hurt of too deep involvment. Am I prepared for the pain, which may at times seem like sacrifice, in order to be made a tool in His service? My willingness will be a measure of the sincerity of my desire to express my heartfelt gratitude to Him for his so-great salvation. Can I see such minor “sacrifices” in light of the great sacrifice of Calvary, where Christ gave all for me?” ― Helen Roseveare, Living Sacrifice: Willing to Be Whittled as an Arrow
I LOVE MY SISTER. (I LOVE MY SISTERS! I LOVE MY ‘SISTERS OF THE HEART’). BUT YESTERDAY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPENDING THE AFTERNOON WITH MY SISTER, PAULA.
PAULA IS AN INCREDIBLE PERSON. WE CALL HER ‘THE MIRACLE GIRL’. AFTER A PRETTY DEVASTATING, ABUSIVE 24 YEAR MARRIAGE TO HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED PAULA FOUND THE COURAGE TO START A NEW LIFE ELSEWHERE. ELSEWHERE HAPPENED TO BE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NEAR HER BIG SISTER….ME.
SHE FOUND SOLACE IN THE FRIENDSHIP OF MY FRIEND AND PIANO PLAYER, ALBERT, AND THE BLESSING OF A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE. YEARS OF STRESS MIGHT HAVE LED TO THE 4TH STAGE BREAST CANCER THAT COULD HAVE ENDED HER LIFE. BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR OUR PAULA. IT IS A LONG, BEAUTIFUL STORY BUT JUMPING TO THE END ….PAULA RECEIVED A REAL MIRACLE AND A SERIES OF EVENTS HAPPENED THAT LED TO ALL OF HER TUMOURS DISAPPEARING. (CHECK OUT THE WORK OF DR. S. PANDEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR AND HIS ASTONISHING WORK WITH CANCER TREATMENTS INVOLVING DANDELION ROOT)
PAULA HAS SINCE FACED MANY MORE TRIALS BUT HER FAITH IS INCREDIBLE, HER ATTITUDE AMAZING, AND HER LAUGHTER AND HUMOUR A HEALING BALM FOR ONE’S SOUL. SHE IS SUCH FUN!
WE ARE BOTH GOING THROUGH SOME STRESSFUL STUFF RIGHT NOW (SOME OF IT RELATED TO COVID WORRIES, SOME RELATED TO PAIN, OTHER THINGS GOING SIDEWAYS WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SMOOTH SAILING).
SO FINDING OURSELVES TOGETHER ON A SUNNY, FALL DAY WITH THE WHOLE AFTERNOON AHEAD OF US WAS SUCH A BLESSING WITH A WONDERFUL LUNCH, ICE COFFEES FOR THE ROAD, AND PHOTO OPS AROUND EVERY BEND. WE LAUGHED AT THE SILLIEST THINGS AS SISTERS DO AND FORGOT ABOUT EVERY WORRY AS WE BREATHED IN THE FRESH AIR AND WALKED THROUGH THE CRISP, COLOURFUL LEAVES.
SOON ENOUGH THE DAYS WILL DARKEN EARLIER AND EARLIER AND THE SNOW WILL WEIGH DOWN UPON THE LAND FOR MONTHS TO COME. THERE WILL BE BEAUTY THERE TOO BUT FOR NOW I AM LIKE A CHILD NEAR A PILE OF RAKED LEAVES. I WANT TO JUMP IN AND THROW THEM UP IN THE AIR!
I AM SO HAPPY I HAVE ONE OF MY SISTERS NEARBY AND I MISS MY OTHER SISTERS TERRIBLY. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOU SO WELL…AND STILL LOVES YOU..HA HA.
