A beautiful day today and yet a friend is going through a difficult time with her mothers health and another friend struggles with get husband's health issues.
Prayer is needed for them both ...and so many others. Problems we are not even aware of.  things people keep to themselves.
On this beautiful first day of Fall I pray for the hurting..may God meet you in your trial and may you rise up and praise His name.

The last week

Had a wonderful time camping a week ago. Hot weather but nice when you are in the trees. Very few mosquitos as well. We did a little 'driving around' the area to check out the small towns and countryside. Otherwise, we just relaxed around the camp, enjoyed the fire in the evening (as it was too hot during the day) and played a lot of 'Rummy-O'. I have to say, I love that game, mostly because it is one that I often win. Cards I usually lose at, crib and backgammon are lossss too but Rummy-0 ... it seems to be my game. Not to say that John didn't win (as he did) but I won more! This time anyway!

Came home to more hot weather and some strange cloud formations. They call them Undulatus Asperatus and they were beautiful to watch. I checked it out on the web and found this youtube video of them last year in Lincoln NB. Just so you know what they look like. I have attached my own picture of them too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz7BgxrVmiQ

My flowers have been really nice this year too. Guess the heat helps and regular watering! My sister in law would have been proud of me to see her flowers this tall - I got them from her before she moved to the Coast.

Not too much else happening. Pretty quiet summer so far. Looking forward to camping in a few weeks. Only one night confirmed so far, and the rest of the time we will be 'winging it'. A new practice for us! Retirement...don't you just love it!

June 10

It is a beautiful morning. It was a nice day as well 23 years ago. I was riding on the bus to go home to see my dad as he was not doing well after his stroke. All the way there (3 hours or more) I kept thinking, he could be gone and I wouldn't even know it. The bus drove right past the hospital but I was unable to get off until it came to a stop at the bus terminal. My brother picked me up there and told me the news. Dad had passed away. Somewhere along that trip, he was gone. Was it while we drove through Ponoka? or Red Deer? maybe Olds or Innisfail? Perhaps just as I drove past the hospital, his spirit said goodbye? 

I had seen him on the weekend and this was Wednesday morning. He had hung on for quite a while. Perhaps it was the best thing for him to have slipped away before I arrived. I'm not sure I could have stood watching him leave me. I know he loved me. That's all that counts.

Miss you daddy...love you.

In your chair with Father's Day hat ~ E.R. Field ~ 

I have just returned from a visit with my brother and his wife in the States. "It was a delightful time. I was happy to just sit and relax by the pool side, chat over coffee and go for walks. Nothing too strenuous, "just enough".

It's funny, well, maybe more strange, that as kids you are 24-7 with your siblings for years on end! Then you 'fly the coop' and see each other occasionally - usually as you 'gather up' at the home residence of your parents on special events or holidays. You seldom get the opportunity to be together in the same way again in your life.

My visit, albeit short, was a bit like 'the old days'. Breakfast with my brother, lunch with my brother, supper with my brother. Watching t.v. together, talking together, having coffee together (something we didn't do growing up!!). Along with the time we spent alone 'catching up' I also was able to share with my sister-in-law special moments in time as well. It was a 'no pressure' few days of rest and relaxation, and a gentle reminder of family and friendship.

Enjoying a cup of java in the early morning sunshine

Time is short. It seemed like 'just yesterday' we were both growing up in our parents' home. As the bible says, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes away." James 4:14. I do understand that it is important not to waste your 'short time' on earth but rather be productive and useful...but it was nice to sit and reminisce about our childhood together.

Lots of love being sent and thankfulness for a great time ...

Me and my brother

Friendship

I was at a luncheon this morning with a small group of women which meet as friends every 4-6 weeks or so. This has been going on for about 7+ years. Things happen in each of our lives - good and bad - and we have been there for each other to offer support - both physical, spiritual and emotional - as well as provide encouragement to each other. You would think by now we would have solved the world's problems! Not so, we have enough concerns of our own, in our own little life situations. This visit today proved to be encouragement and divine vision to 'do for others'. Many spoke of their thankfulness of having a group of women  who 'know' them and their situations and who pray for them and encourage them when needed. To have a community of friends is unique. Many of us have friends but there are many who don't. To be friend-less is to be without. Awareness of our unique group became the discussion today of going out into the world to be-friend others and offering an encouragement and prayer support where there currently may be none. It's a challenge...one we all see as an opportunity to be used by God for the good of others.

To add some levity to my comments, I must say that along with the great conversation, we also enjoy way too many goodies which could possibly be the undergirding of our consistency in visits over the years!

Leftovers

Hair Cut

Today was hair cut day. I have decided not to do the highlights or colour for awhile. It is taking time for the natural color to grow in and the fake one to get cut out. I am interested to see the 'real' me!

In the meantime, it is cheaper..that's always a nice thing. A few pennies here and a few dollars there... it all adds up!

May 20

Happy Birthday to my mom who would have been 96 today! May 20 has always stood out in my mind and continues to do so every year. You know how some dates stick better than others! March 16, 2001 she passed away at the young age of 81, not seeing her 82nd birthday. Where did all that time go? Slipped away like a mist or vapor (James 4:14 What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes).

Happy Birthday Mom. We love you and miss you.