Pause and Reflect

been thinking about this word and it's many implications...

reflect;

send something back: to redirect something that strikes a surface, especially light, sound, or heat, usually back toward its point of origin

connects with my word of the year  which I had semi forgotten....

                                   playing.........

thinking on this challenging quote.....

      You cannot impart something which you do not possess.......
                                        (Dr David Jeremiah)

thank-you...

breakfast outside,

crazy, happy, kids.
watching Oliver Twist,

back to school shopping,

getting ready for one last hurrah.....

at one of my favorite places.

                      ~one.day.at.a.time.~

The Gift We Give Ourselves

 

   

                                                         please listen to the beautiful song...

I watch from afar and admit it would be easy to reach up to that branch of judgement dangling it's accusations in my face.

How tempting it would be to hurl questions about motives, character and all the things that are a measure of the heart.

I wish you could be here to see;I wonder what you'd say.
I think about actions; and how they drown out all the noisy clamour of shallow words.
I breathe a prayer to release my feeble feelings... 

Grace and forgiveness that gift for us; to then release to others the way it's given to us.
I hold it close here and ponder it's glorious meaning.
 For when it is the most difficult thing in the world to do...it is the most needful.
Then and only then can true peace be acquired.

Sometimes it's easy to read into the subtleties  of a relationship, that can at times be discouraging.

Then I remember my word response,no one but myself is responsible for my response; but I. How freeing and exhilarating to know my response is my right and privilege.
I am grateful.

                                        


these thoughts came in part from reading this book recently...
a modern take on the story of Joseph.


416; March break week...happy times,417;for hubby who made the coffee on Saturday and Sunday and poured me a cup,418-listening as he talked about his first of the season motorcycle ride,419-cross country skiing on Saturday morning,420-riding my bike in the afternoon,421-daughter making breakfast for all of us,
422-good time with two oldest girls while the other three were at my sister, 423-sisters,424-a hubby who listens while I share my heart,425-praying,4-hope for a week that is a mix of spontaneity with clarity.....

All That Remains

After the roses have been dried, after our song has been sung,
After we've kissed and made up,
After the race has been won.

One thing will remain after we're dust,
The memories we've made,
With the people we've loved.

After we've proved,
All that we know,
One thing will remain....
The LOVE that we've shown.....L.M.




Now these three remain; FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.
But the GREATEST of these is LOVE.......I Corinthians 13:13



387-family day memories,388-canvassing for Heart and Stroke, 389-talking with my country neighbours390-,turkey soup, and homemade bread,391-teaching Sunday School,392-talking to that little girl afterwards about what it means to 'ask Jesus into your heart,'393-invitations and brisk walks,394-lots of chances to cross country ski now with the snow.

Never This Again

please listen to the song...

                                       

I realise I am probably more sentimental than I should be....
but when it dawned on me that today is 12-12-2012, that after midnight tonight this day will be history and there will never be another repetitive day like 12-12-12, something in me wanted to hold on. I wanted to stop time for a few more precious moments, because in life's circle, moments and days seem to pass by and I don't want to miss them  because I was too busy to notice the glistening promise.

It's like when I hold a newborn baby and I know that in a blink this child will grow, stretch and fly.
 I want to hold, hold and hold this time.
My youngest offered her condolences "in eighty-nine years will be the next one she said 01-01-01. I'll be ninety-nine she announced'.

Innocent words that play on my subconscious feelings.

"This day is a gift," I say to myself with firm resolve. 
I will cherish this day, because truth be told their are no second chances on any given day.
All I can do with a gift is open it with awe and full awareness of the Giver's intent. A gift should be cherished and remembered with fondness and love.

Exactly what I want to do with this day.

                         (photo credits to my daughter here)

221-Christmas shopping,222-realising simplicity is beautiful,223- knowing some traditions must be kept,224-daughter liking her job,225-packing lunches each morning,226-that red sun setting outside my window,227-baking cookies for the prison ministry,228-delicious soup made by a friend,229-attending that spectacular Christmas music production,230-supper after with good ,old friends,231-seeing the affection as my mother-in-law says good-bye to her sister-in-law she was visiting,232-knowing all people need and are capable of giving and receiving love,233-the journey of mother/daughter relationship, 234- feeling so blessed but sometimes inept to raise them,235-knowing God will provide wisdom,236-TRUST,237- GRACE -238-HOPE always,239-girls making gifts,240-the ahhh moment when a truth sinks in, 241, that red sun rising outside my window, 242-the ability to help needy people,243,liking the way the railing looks decorated,244-a brisk walk with a friend, 245- a listening ear, 246-sympathies of friendship,247-finishing knitting hat,248-daughter making card for a friend,249-living day by day in His presence,250-on line shopping,251-the beauty of symmetry .

Life ; A Perpetual Learning

             



Came across this today and thought it was worth sharing....
Hope you enjoy!

 101 Timeless Lessons Life Teaches

smiles and thanks for these:
181- daughter praying;" be with all the boys and girls who get the shoe boxes and those who don't!"
182-beautiful covering of snow out there
183-thoughtful friends
184-attending craft fair
185-my clothes drier
186-cleaning my mother-in-laws house(every year her daughter and we six daughter-in-laws plan a day to clean for her. She's eighty two and lives alone, still in reasonable health but it is always great to lay aside our agendas and clean: which includes a certain degree of gabbing,laughing and general silliness.oh and....
187-pizza. (tis a tradition!)
188-courage to say 'NO' sometimes
189-discovering how freeing 'YES' was this year
190-squash; love this vegetable!


 

A Balanced Philosophy

Never be so observant you can't focus,
Or so focused, you can't observe. L.M.

Ha, how appropriate that this is what is in my head as daughters goof off in kitchen while making Sunday supper of nachos...." Mom how long?( in the microwave she asks?)

A fulfilled life is a steady walk of balance.

Reminds me of this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LSR7Rx0W34
 we watched it on live television a few months ago.I remember watching in awe as this man, a 7th generation stunt walker made history.
http://www.squidoo.com/flying-wallendas

Balance brings us harmony, and also creates a sense of order in an often rushed and chaotic world.

"There is a ditch on both sides of the road,"this is how  my husband will often sum up a discussion about things that just can't be solved with pat answers. He says it , his Mom said it, and it was a phrase passed on, for it's  simple but real reminder to keep our lives balanced and in order.

Are you like me sometimes finding it hard to know just where that balance is?
 I like to be busy, but not so busy that I feel overwhelmed in the moment!
 I like holidays and down time but too much, can make me long for the rhythm of routine.
 I love being around people but too long, and too many people, make me crave quiet.

Thankfully we serve a gracious God. He holds the tightrope we are on and balances each step.

May your week ahead bring you a beautiful bouquet of balance!

                                                                                      

 To everything there is a season......

and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3 :1

 so much gratitude here tonight....
91.a wonderful week with eldest daughter home, 92. that the little 'fender bender' she was in tonight on the way back in torrential rains  wasn't worse.THANK_YOU LORD!93.that these things help us become who we are,94.that I felt compelled to pray as she left,even more than usual for some reason,95.Mom and sister day fun, a few days ago,96.a free night in a hotel with sweet friend and four little girls with us 97. helping Carroll with a wedding she was catering and how weary can mean a job well done. 98.impromptu date at a local cafe I had never visited...sooooooo up my alley; filled with unique, one of a kind things...99.me:)100.Quiet Sunday afternoons,101. Scrabble with youngest when everyone else was away,102.second daughter cleaning bedroom without my prompting!103.everyday miracles like tidy dresser drawers,104.for kids who play practical jokes,eg: I was away for one night, and I have often said that whenever I'm away and come home, it doesn't take long for me to look around and sum up the order of their days.This time my son decided he'd hang bathing suits out on the clothes line to see if I would ask what they were up to.Didn't work so well this time, I saw them and thought 'that's funny my daughter hasn't worn that one in a while:) but it sure made me smile that he went to this trouble for me...:)





 

Gathering Gratitude

Please listen to the beautiful song...

in lieu of Thanksgiving here in Canada.

                

 

 

To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”
― Thomas Merton

 

 

 so many times I've thought of writing a gratitude list , and been a bit embarrassed that I haven't started one. Well here goes; beginning late may be better than never beginning.

1.The four seasons,2.my four daughters,3.one faithful husband,4.one terrific son who makes me smile,5.a husband who can fix most things 6.hearing a great song on the radio when I'm driving alone and I can turn up the volume:)7.piano teacher who comes to my house 8.waiting ,and the blessing it can be. 9.supper in the oven 10.flowers and hydrangea,11.laughter& it's healing properties,12.a bible study on the book of Esther 13.grace beyond comprehension,14.consignment stores, 15.light for my bike so I can ride at dusk,16..health more valuable than any wealth...



           I would like to cultivate more gratitude in my life, so I will try and add
                                                                                              to the list with each post.






 

 

 

Weekend Wrapup

The weekend wraps up....I am grateful for..
.time spent with friends, time spent with family. Is there a difference ?

Time on the water, boating, tubing.

A LITTLE rain shower,to water this parched land.

A gift from niece and her hubby who are visiting here from Germany. We will enjoy!

Garden produce. Lettuce, beans, potatoes.

Happy children, sitting on swing to take ends off beans while they listen to " Adventures in Odyssey"


For a hubby who works hard to provide, but also enjoys time with his family. We are blessed . 
 I pray a blessing on you and your week ahead. May you feel loved .

                          Here we are....outstanding in our field!