I'm taking my car in to have the air conditioning checked out. Hopefully, it will be something 'small' they can take care of without much work. Of course, that is hopeful thinking, right?! I have to drop it off and they will call me. I never like those scenarios. I like to be 'standing by' when they see a problem so I can 'see for myself'.
However, I guess today I will have to make the decision over the phone. I have no clue as to how much a new system would cost me or how much 'repairs' would be instead. 2 years ago I simply had freon added and they told me I must have a leak and that I would likely have to add more at some point in the future. Perhaps it will be cheaper to just do that every year as opposed to fixing or replacing? Well, that is what I want to know...the cost for each.
In the old days, we used to drive without air conditioning. I remember travelling across Canada with the windows wide open to get some fresh air. It would be hot and the sound of the wind would muffle our conversation. We used to stick our hands out the window and pretend our hand could fly and move it up and down and up and down! In those days, I wasn't worrying about my hair being blown all over the place with the window open. It was a necessity to get fresh air! Oh yeah, those were the days I used to crawl over the front seat to visit mom and dad and then crawl back over again to play in the back seat! I don't envy the kids today sitting quietly and restrained in car seats. I think life was better back then! My dad made a bench that would fit over the bump on the floor and was the same height as the seat so that we could put a blanket over it and we had the whole back seat, door to door, to play on. We could do sommersaults if we wanted! That's another story.
Anyway, back to waiting to hear about my car.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
And the Rain Came Down
It's pouring outside and cool inside too. The weather turned nasty on us so it is a good day to lounge around and read or watch tv. I really should be ironing as I did a wash yesterday but instead I will spend a few minutes on the computer. I love sitting at my computer at the kitchen counter and looking out my full glass garden door onto the back deck and yard. The rain is coming down hard and the grass is loving it!
It is supposed to rain all this week and I am sure by the end of it, we will be so happy to see sunshine again. However, we do need the rain so I will just enjoy the lushness that it is bringing to our lawns and trees for now.
We had an interesting sermon this morning. It was titled "When Life Gives You Lemons". I am sure many people know the expression that when lives gives you lemons, make lemonade but that is NOT the message of this sermon. The theme of this one is that the teaching that is least attractive to you is often the one you need most. Reading from the old testament book of Nehemiah 1:1-2:5 we discern that lemons can be inherited (meaning it wasn't his fault but rather, the actions of his ancestors which resulted in him being born into slavery). Our reality is often unfair. The big mistake we often make is to get bitter over it. In many circumstances, life could be easier if you didn't care - but if you do...eg. if you care enough to get involved, you may find yourself cultivating lemons for yourself. Sometimes our consumerism attitude in North America causes us to believe in some sort of entitlement - "not in my backyard".
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Granted, some things and people are beyond our control. Some people won't like you for who you are or what you stand for or for no good reason at all. However, don't be like them.
You can catch the whole sermon at http://www.mwpa.com/ (click Change Point 1, Listen, Sunday Sermons, Audio Messages, Life as We Know It, When Life Gives You Lemons, June 10). It may not be uploaded till Monday but check it out later.
The other thing we are planning is our next trip in our new trailer. I said to John last night that our neighbors must wonder about us. We go out and buy this unit and then it sits in our drive-way. They must wonder when we are going to actually use it!! Well, that would be in the next few weeks when we are slated to go for a short trip. We are so looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather will be nice (no rain). Just a few days ago, the Parks people emailed us to tell us there was a fire ban in the park we were booked at. We just got a new email telling us the ban was lifted! Great news. No fires in the area but Rain, rain, go away...or at least be gone by the time we head out on our trip!
 |
| My favourite spot |
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| Raining hard |
We had an interesting sermon this morning. It was titled "When Life Gives You Lemons". I am sure many people know the expression that when lives gives you lemons, make lemonade but that is NOT the message of this sermon. The theme of this one is that the teaching that is least attractive to you is often the one you need most. Reading from the old testament book of Nehemiah 1:1-2:5 we discern that lemons can be inherited (meaning it wasn't his fault but rather, the actions of his ancestors which resulted in him being born into slavery). Our reality is often unfair. The big mistake we often make is to get bitter over it. In many circumstances, life could be easier if you didn't care - but if you do...eg. if you care enough to get involved, you may find yourself cultivating lemons for yourself. Sometimes our consumerism attitude in North America causes us to believe in some sort of entitlement - "not in my backyard".
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Granted, some things and people are beyond our control. Some people won't like you for who you are or what you stand for or for no good reason at all. However, don't be like them.
You can catch the whole sermon at http://www.mwpa.com/ (click Change Point 1, Listen, Sunday Sermons, Audio Messages, Life as We Know It, When Life Gives You Lemons, June 10). It may not be uploaded till Monday but check it out later.
The other thing we are planning is our next trip in our new trailer. I said to John last night that our neighbors must wonder about us. We go out and buy this unit and then it sits in our drive-way. They must wonder when we are going to actually use it!! Well, that would be in the next few weeks when we are slated to go for a short trip. We are so looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather will be nice (no rain). Just a few days ago, the Parks people emailed us to tell us there was a fire ban in the park we were booked at. We just got a new email telling us the ban was lifted! Great news. No fires in the area but Rain, rain, go away...or at least be gone by the time we head out on our trip!
 |
| A few days ago in the sunshine... |
Friday, June 8, 2012
A BIG Thanks
I just want to thank the person 'out there' who found my purse and delivered it (intact) to the Costco store which I had been shopping at yesterday.
Yes, it was one of those days where I was rushing around and the last thing I wanted to do was shop at Costco. The line-ups were long and I only had a few items. Finally, upon completing the shopping list, I went to my car and put my groceries in the trunk and then proceeded to stack the grocery carts together instead of leaving them all askew in the parking lot. (I do that in shopping centres when I see clothes on the floor, hangars out of sequence and often I fold sweaters as well). Without really thinking too much about it, I guess I had placed my purse in the seat of the cart and then pulled the three carts together and promptly walked away and got into my car.
Upon arriving at the next shop about 2 miles away, I parked the car and absentmindedly reached for my purse which of course was NOT there. Oh my gosh! I looked on the floor, in the backseat, got out and looked into the trunk (twice) and in the backseat again and on the floor in the front passenger side...full well knowing (in the back of my mind) that I had left it in the shopping cart at Costco!
I raced back to the store and to the exact location where I had parked. The grocery carts were still there - all three of them, packed nicely together as I had left them. One difference....no purse! My heart raced. As I headed toward the store doors, I offered up this prayer: "Please God, may some honest individual be the one to find my purse and turn it in." As I stood second in line at the admin office, I spotted an employee talking on the phone. "Oh, that she could be calling my home about my purse" I thought to myself. As the woman in front of me proceeded to the desk, I noticed a brown purse sitting on the counter. I uttered softly under my breath "That's my purse". She turned and looked at me with a question on her face saying "Is that your purse?" to which I replied "YES!" You cannot imagine how relieved I was! The woman on the phone WAS speaking to my husband and had left a message for me to call the store. She told me that she did not tell him the reason for her call. I guess that meant I could keep this as 'my little secret'! But you know what? I was so happy to get that purse back (with all my credit cards and money inside) that I felt like screaming it out to the world that there ARE honest people still around! Thank you ' whoever YOU are! God bless you for being honest and turning in my purse. I look forward to 'paying it forward' in whatever way that turns out to be.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
Yes, it was one of those days where I was rushing around and the last thing I wanted to do was shop at Costco. The line-ups were long and I only had a few items. Finally, upon completing the shopping list, I went to my car and put my groceries in the trunk and then proceeded to stack the grocery carts together instead of leaving them all askew in the parking lot. (I do that in shopping centres when I see clothes on the floor, hangars out of sequence and often I fold sweaters as well). Without really thinking too much about it, I guess I had placed my purse in the seat of the cart and then pulled the three carts together and promptly walked away and got into my car.
Upon arriving at the next shop about 2 miles away, I parked the car and absentmindedly reached for my purse which of course was NOT there. Oh my gosh! I looked on the floor, in the backseat, got out and looked into the trunk (twice) and in the backseat again and on the floor in the front passenger side...full well knowing (in the back of my mind) that I had left it in the shopping cart at Costco!
I raced back to the store and to the exact location where I had parked. The grocery carts were still there - all three of them, packed nicely together as I had left them. One difference....no purse! My heart raced. As I headed toward the store doors, I offered up this prayer: "Please God, may some honest individual be the one to find my purse and turn it in." As I stood second in line at the admin office, I spotted an employee talking on the phone. "Oh, that she could be calling my home about my purse" I thought to myself. As the woman in front of me proceeded to the desk, I noticed a brown purse sitting on the counter. I uttered softly under my breath "That's my purse". She turned and looked at me with a question on her face saying "Is that your purse?" to which I replied "YES!" You cannot imagine how relieved I was! The woman on the phone WAS speaking to my husband and had left a message for me to call the store. She told me that she did not tell him the reason for her call. I guess that meant I could keep this as 'my little secret'! But you know what? I was so happy to get that purse back (with all my credit cards and money inside) that I felt like screaming it out to the world that there ARE honest people still around! Thank you ' whoever YOU are! God bless you for being honest and turning in my purse. I look forward to 'paying it forward' in whatever way that turns out to be.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Food for Thought
I was speaking to some friends recently who have aging parents. The emotional rollercoaster that they are on is not unusual, as it seems we all have been or will be on it ourselves one day. One friend said to their parent "What do you mean this 'aging' came as a surprise to you? Did you never think about what you would do when you were older?" and the reply came as "No. It has all come too fast."
Too fast. When you are 12 and waiting to become a 'teenager' it seems like it will never arrive. Or when you are waiting to turn 16 so you can go for your drivers' licence or turn 18 to be of legal drinking age. 21 used to be the legal voting age (and drinking age in my day). We always seems to be waiting to get older and when it finally arrives, well, as my friend's parent said "It has all come too fast".
As we each discuss the situation that many middle-agers or baby-boomers are now in with their aging parents, we should realize that we are nearing the top of the hill ourselves. But...do we think of making changes right now? Do we consider downsizing or putting away finances to cover our hospital or nursing home expenses of the future? Do we think government will cover all that for us? I doubt it. I doubt there will be a nursing home or age-in-place facility that will suit us or meet our expectations. I think we are ALL going to be in for a big surprise and it ain't gonna be pleasant!!
Having raised these questions, I do not have the answers. Both my parents are now gone. In our story, we did 'add the railings in the bathroom, the support railings along the hallways and steps', and then, when my dad died, we cleaned out the basement and cleared away things for my mom, until we finally had to move her out of her home and into a new city to be near someone who could look after her, take her to appointments and be near her for that time when her life would be in jeopardy as well.
Having gone through it, and realizing that as I get older, I too should be making changes in my life to help our daughter be less impacted by our health and personal situation in the future. But what does that mean? What does that look like? Isn't that a long way off yet? Aren't I too young to be looking at lodges or retirement villas? Even my 103 year old mother-in-law said that the lodge she moved into had only old people in it. She was 95 at the time and thought that 80 and 85 year olds were old but she didn't think that 'she' was one of them! I guess we all feel that way.
Since we are now living longer than the 'old statistics' of our parents, perhaps this will soon become a standard "to-do" thing for the future. It will be part of our checklist as we are not going to want to settle for a little 8x10 room with a tiny bathroom attached or even shared. We will want our own 'area' to be just like home (whatever that means to us individually) and we won't be so willing to be 'moved' as we have moved our parents and grandparents. It is a moment of recognition that we do not live forever and our time is coming.
Eccles 7:2 Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.
Too fast. When you are 12 and waiting to become a 'teenager' it seems like it will never arrive. Or when you are waiting to turn 16 so you can go for your drivers' licence or turn 18 to be of legal drinking age. 21 used to be the legal voting age (and drinking age in my day). We always seems to be waiting to get older and when it finally arrives, well, as my friend's parent said "It has all come too fast".
As we each discuss the situation that many middle-agers or baby-boomers are now in with their aging parents, we should realize that we are nearing the top of the hill ourselves. But...do we think of making changes right now? Do we consider downsizing or putting away finances to cover our hospital or nursing home expenses of the future? Do we think government will cover all that for us? I doubt it. I doubt there will be a nursing home or age-in-place facility that will suit us or meet our expectations. I think we are ALL going to be in for a big surprise and it ain't gonna be pleasant!!
Having raised these questions, I do not have the answers. Both my parents are now gone. In our story, we did 'add the railings in the bathroom, the support railings along the hallways and steps', and then, when my dad died, we cleaned out the basement and cleared away things for my mom, until we finally had to move her out of her home and into a new city to be near someone who could look after her, take her to appointments and be near her for that time when her life would be in jeopardy as well.
Having gone through it, and realizing that as I get older, I too should be making changes in my life to help our daughter be less impacted by our health and personal situation in the future. But what does that mean? What does that look like? Isn't that a long way off yet? Aren't I too young to be looking at lodges or retirement villas? Even my 103 year old mother-in-law said that the lodge she moved into had only old people in it. She was 95 at the time and thought that 80 and 85 year olds were old but she didn't think that 'she' was one of them! I guess we all feel that way.
Since we are now living longer than the 'old statistics' of our parents, perhaps this will soon become a standard "to-do" thing for the future. It will be part of our checklist as we are not going to want to settle for a little 8x10 room with a tiny bathroom attached or even shared. We will want our own 'area' to be just like home (whatever that means to us individually) and we won't be so willing to be 'moved' as we have moved our parents and grandparents. It is a moment of recognition that we do not live forever and our time is coming.
Eccles 7:2 Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.
Friday, June 1, 2012
JUNE
Well, today is the first of June and I was remembering that as a kid, I was excited for the month of June. It meant 'wind'up' for the school year. Usually we were finished with our subjects and were doing 'review'. I loved review. It meant, I could pick up anything that I had missed on the first 'go-around'. You could ask questions in a general sense and get a specific answer for that question you were always wondering about but everyone said they understood so you never brought it up again! June is when you found out all the answers!! At least in my world.
I loved June as you got to go through your scribblers and text books again to review your work. I loved re-reading what I had written. Maybe that sounds a bit - what's the word? - ecocentric - but actually, it was more that I better understood the info the second time-around! I do remember thinking that I really enjoyed reading the text books and why didn't I pay more attention the first time. I liked re-organizing my papers and putting them in neat order. I probably spent more time 'organizing' than I did actually studying! I know that anyone who knows me now would likely say 'Oh, that's why you are the way you are today'!
So, June now is not only a beautiful month but I can actually enjoy it and not worry about 'writing exams' anymore. I get to appreciate it and as I look at the kids heading off to school (to write exams), I can sympathize but enjoy my walk down 'memory lane' as well. The birds are singing, the flowers are growing, the grass is turning green and one more school year is drawing to a close. It's too bad the kids can't appreciate it in the moment but have to wait forty years and 'look back'. Ah life....ain't it grand!
I loved June as you got to go through your scribblers and text books again to review your work. I loved re-reading what I had written. Maybe that sounds a bit - what's the word? - ecocentric - but actually, it was more that I better understood the info the second time-around! I do remember thinking that I really enjoyed reading the text books and why didn't I pay more attention the first time. I liked re-organizing my papers and putting them in neat order. I probably spent more time 'organizing' than I did actually studying! I know that anyone who knows me now would likely say 'Oh, that's why you are the way you are today'!
So, June now is not only a beautiful month but I can actually enjoy it and not worry about 'writing exams' anymore. I get to appreciate it and as I look at the kids heading off to school (to write exams), I can sympathize but enjoy my walk down 'memory lane' as well. The birds are singing, the flowers are growing, the grass is turning green and one more school year is drawing to a close. It's too bad the kids can't appreciate it in the moment but have to wait forty years and 'look back'. Ah life....ain't it grand!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bah, Hair Cuts
It looks like it will be another nice day. It is 14 C already and it is only 9 am. Not sure if that is any real sign of the weather but it always seems like the 'start of a good day' to have sun shining, blue sky and a decent temp.
I had quite the day yesterday as my hair dresser had called the day before and left a message that she had 'double-booked' me and was NOT able to do my hair this morning. "Please call me so that we can work something out" she said. To me, that only meant 'another day', not today, and likely next week! Yikes. I know when I had booked with her 6 weeks ago, she had said "Oh, you are already booked. I guess you did that at your last appointment." Then she second-guessed herself and said that maybe it was her 'other Linda'. She was going to check it out and would call me if there was a problem. I didn't like the sound of that.
So, she did call me and there was a problem. Unfortunately, she didn't call me until she got the call from the 'other Linda' who called her to confirm her own appointment!! I guess I was at the end of all that confusion!! Fortunately, and to make a long story short, I was able to make an appointment with her cousin who I have had occasion to use before. She does a good job as well, so I am not in a bad spot - really. However, I could have been, if she was unable to do my hair at this last minute!!
Again, rather than dwell on the negative, I am being thankful that I have an 'alternative' that worked out well. However, it will cause me now to likely 'phone ahead' to confirm the appointment. At least for the next few! I think I have said this more than once (if not in my blog, at least to my hubby and friends) that being a woman and having to worry about hair cuts, hair styles, hair colour, hair products and now....even hair loss....that I do wish that I could have been 'a man' and had less worry, less work, and less cares. He does not agree with me on that but that's a whole different story!
Carpe Diem!
I had quite the day yesterday as my hair dresser had called the day before and left a message that she had 'double-booked' me and was NOT able to do my hair this morning. "Please call me so that we can work something out" she said. To me, that only meant 'another day', not today, and likely next week! Yikes. I know when I had booked with her 6 weeks ago, she had said "Oh, you are already booked. I guess you did that at your last appointment." Then she second-guessed herself and said that maybe it was her 'other Linda'. She was going to check it out and would call me if there was a problem. I didn't like the sound of that.
So, she did call me and there was a problem. Unfortunately, she didn't call me until she got the call from the 'other Linda' who called her to confirm her own appointment!! I guess I was at the end of all that confusion!! Fortunately, and to make a long story short, I was able to make an appointment with her cousin who I have had occasion to use before. She does a good job as well, so I am not in a bad spot - really. However, I could have been, if she was unable to do my hair at this last minute!!
Again, rather than dwell on the negative, I am being thankful that I have an 'alternative' that worked out well. However, it will cause me now to likely 'phone ahead' to confirm the appointment. At least for the next few! I think I have said this more than once (if not in my blog, at least to my hubby and friends) that being a woman and having to worry about hair cuts, hair styles, hair colour, hair products and now....even hair loss....that I do wish that I could have been 'a man' and had less worry, less work, and less cares. He does not agree with me on that but that's a whole different story!
Carpe Diem!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Appreciation
At a meeting recently, we were talking about 'appreciation'. The leader read a few lines out of a book which caused me to go out and buy the book. It's called 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp. It did not turn out to be the kind of book I thought it would be. It's funny how your mind interprets things. Anyway, not to say that the book is not good...it is...it's just that it 'reads' differently than I was expecting.
Having said that, so far, one particular thought she expressed stood out to me. Now, I am taking it a bit out of context, but it has a significant meaning in the way I want to express it. Here goes...
"Do not distain the small. The whole of the life -- even the hard -- is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole."
Now she was talking about something different, but the thought remains intact. Think about the small things in your life, appreciate them and give them their proper recognition. The small things add up to the whole.
How is your life going? Perhaps if you are complaining, or feeling let down or sorry for yourself, take a moment to look at the 'small things' and begin the appreciation there. Giving thanks for them and building on them for a better and deeper appreciation of all that happens in your life. Even the valleys in your life can be appreciated later from the mountain tops.
As I sit at my kitchen counter, looking out my full screen door at the lush green of my backyard, listening to the birds chirp and the sun cast shadows against the fence, I so appreciate the freshness and newness of the morning. I will start my day with these 'thankful' thoughts and try to appreciate each new experience as the day goes on. How 'bout you?
Having said that, so far, one particular thought she expressed stood out to me. Now, I am taking it a bit out of context, but it has a significant meaning in the way I want to express it. Here goes...
"Do not distain the small. The whole of the life -- even the hard -- is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole."
Now she was talking about something different, but the thought remains intact. Think about the small things in your life, appreciate them and give them their proper recognition. The small things add up to the whole.
How is your life going? Perhaps if you are complaining, or feeling let down or sorry for yourself, take a moment to look at the 'small things' and begin the appreciation there. Giving thanks for them and building on them for a better and deeper appreciation of all that happens in your life. Even the valleys in your life can be appreciated later from the mountain tops.
As I sit at my kitchen counter, looking out my full screen door at the lush green of my backyard, listening to the birds chirp and the sun cast shadows against the fence, I so appreciate the freshness and newness of the morning. I will start my day with these 'thankful' thoughts and try to appreciate each new experience as the day goes on. How 'bout you?
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