It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Today I returned from visiting the family in Ottawa. Since they will be in Winnipeg for Christmas, we decided to have a little pre- Christmas celebration just for Gramma and the girls . The pictures of the girls decorating the tree are my favorites.













Anneka was singing Noel, Noel, Noel , Noel,
Born is the King of Israel



Anneka asked me if I was going to wrap the presents in paper and put a bow on it and I told her I was just going to use a gift bag. She then offered to help me promising to close her eyes as we put her gift in the bag. Too Funny !



The joy and excitement is lovely and a sweet reminder of what Christmas has always meant to me.



This last photo is not Christmas related, but I was surprised at how quickly these Winnipeg children have adapted and become Senator hockey fans, especially Anneka.She is going to a game with her daddy soon.

Once again thanks for having me guys, I love you very much.

SHE LIVED IN SOLITUDE
AND NOW IN SOLITUDE HAS BUILT HER NEST
AND IN SOLITUDE HE GUIDES HER
HE ALONE
WHO ALSO BEARS IN SOLITUDE
THE WOUND OF LOVE

Trenton

Today I took a drive to Trenton to visit my friend Lillian. We had a small lunch and I smuggled in some home made tapiocca as a treat.
Nancy must not offend the help:)

All in all today went well, peaceful actually, as the opposition were not present to make us nervous.....don't ask....Thank you Lord Jesus!

I continue to read to Lil and make sure she is being properly cared for. She just celebrated her 87th. birthday . Happy Birthday Lil. Please pray.

This Old House

For we know that if our earthly body , this tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building (body) from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

The other evening while walking B. to her place on the couch with M. her hip joints were creaking away like crazy.
She does not have an artificial hip, but a few years ago when she suffered a broken hip they pinned it. Now as she struggles along that hip creaks like an old barn door. We joke about it and try to make light of it.

On Tuesday evening I remembered a really old song from my childhood made famous by Tennessee Ernie Ford, called 'This Old House'.

I had heard the late George Younce of the Cathedral Quartet sing it so beautifully, so I went to Limewire and now it is in my music file.
If I could find a way to put it in my blog here I would, but for now I am going to just give the lyrics,and anyone of a certain age will know the tune.



This old house once knew my children, this old house once knew my wife,
This old house was home and comfort as we fought the storms of life.
This old house once rang with laughter, this old house heard many shouts,
Now she trembles in the darkness when the night wind walks about.

Chorus:
Ain't gonna need this house no longer , ain't gonna need this house no more,
Ain't got time to fix the shingles, ain't got time to fix the floor,
Ain't got time to oil the hinges nor to mend my window pane,
Ain't gonna need this house no longer, I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints.

This old house is gettin shaky, this old house is gettin' old,
This old house lets in the rain, this old house lets in the cold.
On my knees I'm gettin' chilly, but I feel no fear or pain,
Cause I see an angel peekin' through a broken window pane.

Chorus: Ain't gonna need this house no longer....

Now my ol' hound dog lies a sleepin' He don't know I'm gonna leave,
Else he'd wake up by the fireplace , and sit there and howl and grieve,
But my huntin' days are over, for I ain't gonna hunt for 'coon no more,
Gabriel done brought in the chariot when the wind blew down the door.

Ain't gonna need this house no longer.....

In the arrogance of our youth, we think and feel that we are invincible. For many years it is all about us, raising our children as best we can, making the best of what life sends our way.

I remember giving little thought to the fact that my parents were actual people with hopes and dreams of their own. I remembered their struggles and their fights, but really had no idea how their broken dreams had cast a shadow over all of us. I didn't care much back then either but just wanted to get away .

With maturity and Jesus , I eventually came to a deep understanding and appreciation of my mom and dad as people like me. My dad died when he was two years younger than I am now, and I was 32 then.

I understood but I did not really ever get to know them the way I now wished I had. It just wasn't done in those days, at least not in our house.

I am so glad times have changed. I love getting to know and enjoy my children as the wonderful adults they have all become. I am so proud of each and every one of them and all they have accomplished in their lives so far. I remember being their age.

Still, it never occurred to me that someday, I would be the age my parents were when I though them old and so uninformed. Now I have some of the same wrinkles some of the same aches and pains in my joints, and maybe just maybe, my hips will creak like the barn door as well.

I pray that I will always remember my children, my grandchildren, what I have just eaten, what day it is , how to dress, how to lay down, and most especially I pray fervently that I never forget my God.

Funny the memories that and old song can trigger .

Random Thoughts

He said to me, ' You are my servant,' but I said , I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Is.49:4

There are many days when this is exactly how I feel, more than I would like to admit actually. The other evening as I was trying to comfort myself with His Word, I came across this scripture and saw myself admitting to God just these thoughts , wondering if He noticed or cared.

Isaiah experienced this, and so did Jesus , just to mention a couple. I am in good company. The enemy of my soul would have me accuse the Lord and challenge His government of my life , which sometimes I am tempted to talk to Him about. Most particularly His timing and memory concerning promises made.

'Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.'

When I gaze into the night heavens and behold the stars blazing with brilliance , when I consider the Big Dipper, my very favorite since childhood ,I am brought once again to peace and trust in the One Who Created all of these.

Recently though this little guy caught my attention. Just look at how God is into detail.



Then He placed this guy and his family in Antarctica, where for many years only God knew they were there and took pleasure in His Majestic King Penguin. Maybe they really do have 'happy feet'.

And Joseph remained in prison but the Lord was with him.

Yawn....

There is a time to rest and that time is 'now' for me.... at least for a couple of hours. Last night or rather early this a.m. around 3:30 or so, M. was up and wandering the house. He did eventually go back to bed, but unfortunately I could not get back to sleep myself. The poor guy.... when he did get up he had on one sock, and didn't know when he had put it on.

I think I am getting too old for this ... loosing sleep that is, though I do feel like I cannot do this care giving for much longer either. It is very tiring most of the time.
The drive home is lovely.


The day is grey and foggy, but when I crest the hill at a certain point the simple view is so refreshing. I live in a beautiful area of the province,and even though the leaves are nearly finshed there is still considerable beauty everywhere.

It is a good sign that I am even aware of this.

I pull into the drive way , bleary eyed, the mucical sound that greets me is so uplifting. The Starlings have come to feast on the berries in the trees in the back yard. Now yes, they then leave their blue droppings everywhere but I am in a forgiving frame of mind today, since their song always lifts my heart.
Our God is such an amazing Creator!

A Great Weekend !

Meet my little friend Mini....she is now five months old and so very cute and very very affectionate! Kinza you are doing a great job with your puppy!

It was so wonderful to be with friends and family for a couple of days. Makes returning a little sad, but the days were warm and beautiful so I remain very grateful for everything, especially my loving children. Thanks for a nice visit...I love you very much.

On the road to Toronto in the morning to visit with my kids....and to see my friends the Allens and their little puppy Mini.

Yesterday I drove to Trenton to spend a few hours with my friend Lillian.

My one weekend off in the month so I must take advantage of the opportunities to visit as often as I am able. I am looking forward to some relaxation and of course lots of hugs...... people and pet hugs that is.....

Well here they are again...still cute and growing a bit. They are beginning to clean themselves and are eating from a bowl...last night I 'baby sat' while Ann went out. I am no 'Mother Nature' let me tell you...but one little guy fell asleep purring in my hand.


The little black one likes to climb inside the pant leg.




Time is passing, but there are some days when I really miss my little Sam. Call that day today.

Colors

On my way to work last night.


This morning out the back door in Lakefield.


And then suddenly there was a rainbow.

Promises remembered.

Intersection leading to the causeway that crosses Chemong Lake.


The colors where I pitch my tent.


The shed where we found the kittens.

This morning this little fellow shared my toast.

The changing of the seasons doesn't feel as beautiful as it looks, but it is good to stop and enjoy the moment along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank you Jesus!

Kittens

Today, I helped Ann feed the little 'Smelly Cats'. They are very cute. One even started to purr softly.






Here Ann is helping this little one 'express' his pee pee. Aparently this needs to be done until they can do it themselves. Now that they have had some food, they are getting much more active.
Tonight , they will sleep in the basement....where they will be warm and where we cannot hear them wail for their mother. We don't know what has become of her.

Surprise Box

There has been nothing much to blog about lately, except my sore back, and nobody really wants to hear about that.
This afternoon, the lady where I live found this surprise in her garden shed.





Now I am not really a cat person, but these little guys are pretty cute.If it had been a box of little white puppies, that would be a different story.

This summer there was a large cat prowling the neighborhood, and I actually saw this feline kill a squirrel right in front of me. Maybe these are her offspring.
For now we put the kittens back in the shed to see if the mother comes back.If they are still there in the morning I imagine Ann will take them to the rescue shelter.

This made an otherwise boring day a little more interesting. I do hope the mother returns though and perhaps all cats can be rescued.

I had a lovely weekend with my family. The best thing is now they are much closer. A four hour drive compared with the expense of a flight.


Aila is a delightful munchkin.Thanks for letting me use your bed Aila.




Teamwork in the kitchen.

Thanks for a fun weekend guys. Yvonne you are a genius on the computer ! Thank you !

The lesson I learned ? Grandma should not have taken the 'Tigger' bounce on the trampoline the evening before I left. Ohhhhh my aching back.

Bounce.. bounce.. bounce.. Where did I put the heating pad ?

Oh Yeah !

This is the reason I am here. To see these smiles. Here is the reason we are laughing.


I had the camera on the wrong setting, so I will try again tomorrow.These are blurry but they are evidence of the fun.


This is the most fun I have had since I went skydiving. An exhillarating sense of freedom in this jumping , laughing , feeling welcomed and loved.



This Grandma is no wimp.....


No injuries just a lot of laughing.



The only question remaining is 'will Grandma be able to move in the morning ?' What a fun time!

Ottawa

I am heading east to visit the family for a few days. My first time driving to Ottawa. If I can conquer the 401, then I should be able to do this with ease I am told. We will see.

I am looking forward to seeing the family in their new home.
I might even take a turn on the trampoline.(It's o.k I have hospital coverage !)


Jason and Yvonne

Grandma and her lovely ladies

The last week or so I have noticed subtle changes happening with my clients at work. I know the Lord has me there for a reason, though exactly what that reason is eludes me, except to enable Him to work His character into me.

Naturally I pray a lot while there, for my couple, and for the Presence of Lord to rest upon us . I do not know the spiritual situation of my people there, though they have always attended a church.

At this stage of their life, both with dementia and profound dementia, much of the time they are like children in really old bodies.....and I mean that in a kind way. Actually they are in amazing physical condition for their ages...92 and 90.

When I first started there, at meal time M. would say the blessing and then the two of them would sing a little 'grace'.It goes like this.

"For health and strength and daily food we praise Thy Name O Lord."

As time has passed I have noticed some meal times pass with the traditional blessing being forgotten.....with the exception of supper when I join them for the meal.
Anyway, it seems that they just forget to say it....and I am the only one who has noticed.

Last night I put a tape in the video player of a special 'Precious Memories' with the folks from the old Lawrence Welk show. Mostly hymns....and from time to time the Presence of the Lord was tangible to me.

B. sang along to a few of the songs, it was so cute. A good night and a nice note to tuck them into their beds on.

At about 6:15 this morning I was called to help my lady to the commode, and later we all went back to bed for another hour or so. I have a monitor in my room so that I can quickly get to them if I am needed, and I sometimes hear little things ,intimate things that are spoken between them.

B. said " I feel so discouraged, I am so helpless and can do so little for myself". M. surprised me with his gentle response.
'Just be thankful that we get such good care and don't think about those things.'
B. did not want to let it go, and this is so unusual for her. She is normally the one who is so 'up'. I have never heard her complain or voice any discouragement.

Then M. began to sing this little song.

"For health and strength and daily food we praise Thy Name O Lord."

Several times he repeated this until B. began to sing with him. In a few minutes all was quiet and rest came to both of these children of the Lord. I smiled to Jesus and said thank you for the glimpse , I guess you really are taking care of everything.

In that immense love
proceeding from the two
the Father spoke words
of great affection to the Son

Words of such profound delight
that no one understood them;
they were meant for the Son,
and he alone rejoiced in them.

What he heard was this:

"My Son, only your
company contents me,
and when something pleases me
I love that thing in you;

Whoever resembles you most
satisfies me most,
and whoever is like you in nothing
will find nothing in me.
I am pleased with you alone

O life of my life!
You are the light of my light,
you are my wisdom,
the image of my substance
in whom I am well pleased.

My Son, I will give myself
to him who loves you
and I will love him
with the same love I have for you,
because he has loved
you whom I love so."

On the communication among the Three Persons.
St. John of the Cross

God wants you to move through this day with a quiet heart
An inward assurance that He is in control
A peaceful certainty that your life is in His hands
A deep trust in His plan and purposes
And a thankful disposition toward all that He allows.

He wants you to put your faith in Him not in a timetable.
He wants you to wait on Him and wait for Him.
In His perfect way He will put everything together
See to every detail
Arrange every circumstance
And order every step to bring to pass what He has for you.

Roy Lessin....co founder of Dayspring

I found this encouragement one day in my inbox. Now all I have to do is believe this and take it to heart, and rest in just Who is trying to get through to me.

Makes Me Wonder

One of the things I get to do when I work at my Care Giving job is to take my Lady for a walk in her wheelchair after supper. Her favorite place to go , though it is new for her everytime is to the Marina in Lakefield.



We sit on the wharf and watch the boats and the activity all around and B. likes to see how many people wave to her.

One of the things that I appreciate about her is her joy in the little things. She lives in the moment,not because she chooses to but because her brain does not allow much else.
The little blue flowers along the path, the same things she sees day after day, yet says to me, 'I've never been down here before', when she is there nearly every day.

Anyway, sometimes in the midst of this swirl of confusion and forgetfullness, I am reminded once again to take a deep breath and notice those little things with her. That's a good thing.

It all sounds so innocent..... well ... the other night B. surprised me .

First of all remember that my Lady has short term memory loss,and considerable dementia. She easily forgets what she ate for her meal by the time I serve dessert, and actually the conversation and questions repeat themselves continually over and over and over and over..at least for the last year I have been there.

The other night I got B.ready for bed so she could watch/listen to the news, a nightly routine.
Her husband went to bed early so when it was time for B. to retire, I said , 'would you like to go and join M. now ?'

'That's a good idea was her reply....but I kind of wanted to see a program that is coming on at 11pm.'
'What program is that B?' I inquired.
It's kind of risque she replies..... RISQUE !!!!!! says I with shock registering on my face ... only a little exagerated.

'What would your mother say if she knew I let her 90 year old daughter watch something like that? That gets a giggle from B. but she persists. I was just curious to see what it was about... something about some LADIES....

No way ! says I once again....

Then B. back peddles and says 'Well I don't even know what risque really means.

UH-HUH says I.

'Try and tell me what you think it means B.'

'Naked or nudity ???'says B.

There you go ! says I . You do not need to see anything like that, besides, I thought being a lady of your years you would already know everything you needed to know about that kind of stuff. Another hilarious giggle from B. as I lotion and powder her feet and help her into bed.

Sometimes her mind gets kind of stuck on things, and other times everything just gets forgotten in seconds. I am amazed at the funny and strange kinds of things that want to stick . Too funny, but I am glad we can laugh and she can giggle through this time of her life . Then she lays her little white head down on her pillow, and counts her blessings.

O.K. maybe not finished forever..... that is why I did not delete my blog, because I knew that I just might change my mind when the Light filled my eyes once again.

It has been six weeks today since Sam died, and looking back I wonder how I made it through those early days and weeks. Grace really is Amazing actually, and I am thankful for all the prayers and understanding I have received.

Lately I have been running around looking for new accomodations and finding out how it feels to be among the working poor. I have been approved for Assisted Housing and am on the waiting list....#336 . That is too funny since they placed 49 last year.

The affordable housing situation here is very bad, but I was also approved for a housing subsidy. That means that a portion of my rent will be paid and I pay the rest for up to 5 years. So the government has been doing a little bit. The challenge is to find a landlord who will be interested and qualify at the same time. I will be so glad to get out of this little room!

Anyway, all this has been a good diversion if not an exhausting and frustrating experience. This is a university town and some landlords are asking outrageous rents for terrible living conditions, knowing students will live in almost any place. Very sad.

On another topic I borrowed a book from my daughter in law Katherine recently.

Marley and Me, by John Grogan. It has had me in sqealing with hysterical laughter and tears. I highly recommend it for any dog lovers out there. I know I will come to the sad parts at the end but this journey with Marley and his family will be worth it.