I took the doggies out for their nightly constitutional and decided that I am just so glad that I have them to get me out of the house so often.
Tonight the sky was purply dark and the moon so bright - highlighting the clouds beneath it and creating an immensely beautiful canopy. The air was crisp and fresh and I was so grateful to be capturing that moment with God.
Nature singing the glory of our Creator
Lord of the starfields...
The dogs run across the grass looking for the perfect spot.
Moose squatting in his awkward pose, his white coat shining in the moonlight while Ladybug leaps happily about celebrating her momentary victory. She is lithe and graceful.
They are beautifully comical.
And my heart is full and happy.
Have had such sweet times with the son.
"A Taste of the Town" yesterday after church.
Moments shared in my room and meals around the table.
A text message thanking me for supper and the lifegiving words "I love you".
Super good news that the girl is back in the country.
A sweet reunion will be enjoyed so very soon.
She is well and she is safe.
Full of adventures and stories and life changing experiences.
So for now I will rejoice.
I will enjoy the moment of contentment and anticipation.
Gratitude fills my heart.
No fear, just joy in the moment.
I don't have to solve any big problems right now.
Just enjoy the present and trust for tomorrow.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
So many Favorites!
Just noticing how many favorite things I get to enjoy... all in one day even!
Like having ready made food (as in leftovers) in my fridge.
And having a wonderful (dangerous?) microwave to heat up those tasty leftovers!
And of course my favorite heat bags. OHHH how I love, love, LOVE my heat bags.
Which also take their turn in the aforementioned microwave. Giving me long cozy warm episodes in my bed so I can enjoy my open bedroom window DAY AND NIGHT without freezing.
Speaking of my bedroom window - I think it is in my favorite room in this house! Looking out over the prettiest view, day after day, season upon season. Laying on my comfy bed under those heat bags with my FAVORITE DOGS keeping me company.
A short phone call from my most Favorite Mom - a blessing beyond measure.
Sweet reassuring voice. Truly a favorite if there ever was one.
And I must also mention that I had my absolute favorite drink this afternoon - a big glass full of coke on ice. While reading a wonderful book - one of my favorite activities that I haven't done alot of because of all the homework from college.
Plus I got to teach an eager, hardworking student today which is another one of my favorite things to do! And I got a phonecall from my favorite son who is on his way home from Hawaii. I'll get to see him tonight, God willing. And my favorite daughter will be home next Monday and just thinking about her makes me happy.
It's almost unbelievable when you start counting your blessings - even your favorite ones. Because if I started listing my blessings (not just my favorites ) this would be the longest blog in history!
Seriously.
So I know God is listening and I just want to go on record as saying a HUGE THANK YOU for putting so incredibly many favorites into this particular day.
Playing outside with the dogs who make me smile soooo much. They are absolutely delightful with their unceasing eagerness to play. It is getting to be one of my favorite times of the day to be outside with them playing ball.
Yes, HE DAILY LOADS ME WITH BENEFITS - His unceasing kindness, grace and mercy and love are very favorite things that I often forget to even acknowledge.
But God is about as favorite as I can get so I'll go out on that fantastic note.
GOD WITHIN ME -
GOD AROUND ME
GOD BEFORE ME
GOD BEHIND ME
my Favorite who delights in giving good gifts to me!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Bath Seat
It's been a bit of an odd day here in paradise. I had a nice morning teaching my one student and then driving out to pick up my newly reupholstered bath seat. This is a big deal in my life as I NEED that bathseat if I ever want to shower. It felt like a huge event to get new wood pieces cut by the son, to get the nephew to drill the holes and insert the special metal pieces the son had purchased at Rona, to obtain the white vinyl for reupholstering the cushions and finally to bring the whole shebang into Expert's Upholstery waaaay out on the highway.
Therefore I felt highly accomplished as I drove happily away with my bathseat tucked into the back of the car when I suddenly noticed through my rearview mirror that there was exposed wood underneath the cushions!! YIKES!! They should have been completely covered to prevent water from leaking in and rotting the wood and foam. Oh BOTHER. So now I am hoping for some kind of a miracle material that the nephew was telling me about that we can spray the whole bath seat with to seal it. (hopefully this will occur before I start smelling too badly as it's already been several days) Things like this always feel so big and daunting to me - I'm not exactly sure why but it's all way out of my comfort zone. I want somebody else to look after it, but now there is just me. I need to be a big girl and get these things done.
Anyways, the story got slightly more exciting in that nervous sort of way way when I got home and started feeling not so good. My stomach was gurgly and oh dear, oh dear. Yes, indeedy my intestines were busier than usual and this can lead to...well, potentially the need for showering. I like to have my bathseat very handy during such unfortunate times. Thankfully I have made it through the day without any major events. I was sorry to miss my TESL class tonight at the college. I wanted to find out if I am on track with the paper I am writing and how to prepare for the big presentation day on Saturday by which time I am supposed to have figured out how to do power point! Oh well.
I was going to write tonight about my sister's wonderful spiritual encouragement and the miracle dreams she's having about my dad's soon and coming salvation, but i've used up so many words about a much less interesting topic. How does that happen? As if anybody needs to read about my shower habits and needs?
Oh my, that's a little pathetic.
Therefore I felt highly accomplished as I drove happily away with my bathseat tucked into the back of the car when I suddenly noticed through my rearview mirror that there was exposed wood underneath the cushions!! YIKES!! They should have been completely covered to prevent water from leaking in and rotting the wood and foam. Oh BOTHER. So now I am hoping for some kind of a miracle material that the nephew was telling me about that we can spray the whole bath seat with to seal it. (hopefully this will occur before I start smelling too badly as it's already been several days) Things like this always feel so big and daunting to me - I'm not exactly sure why but it's all way out of my comfort zone. I want somebody else to look after it, but now there is just me. I need to be a big girl and get these things done.
Anyways, the story got slightly more exciting in that nervous sort of way way when I got home and started feeling not so good. My stomach was gurgly and oh dear, oh dear. Yes, indeedy my intestines were busier than usual and this can lead to...well, potentially the need for showering. I like to have my bathseat very handy during such unfortunate times. Thankfully I have made it through the day without any major events. I was sorry to miss my TESL class tonight at the college. I wanted to find out if I am on track with the paper I am writing and how to prepare for the big presentation day on Saturday by which time I am supposed to have figured out how to do power point! Oh well.
I was going to write tonight about my sister's wonderful spiritual encouragement and the miracle dreams she's having about my dad's soon and coming salvation, but i've used up so many words about a much less interesting topic. How does that happen? As if anybody needs to read about my shower habits and needs?
Oh my, that's a little pathetic.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Light Show Just for Me
So I got to the hospital thinking it would be no big deal, and it wasn't really.
The EEG.
I'm usually up for an adventure. And I am quite enthralled with medical things for the most part.
As long as I don't have to take my clothes off or use the washroom it's all good.
And when I saw the comfy bed over by the wall I knew things were going to be all right.
I had a student assigned to me and he began to measure my head, very methodically, with a measuring tape. Then with his marker he scribbled on my head repeatedly saying this would take about a half an hour.
It did.
Then his supervisor (who looked younger than he did) had to check every mark with her measuring tape to make sure they were in the right place. Again, this took some time. The student was only off in a couple of places to his credit. And the supervisor girl gave him bonus marks for managing with my massive head of hair.
At this point I was beginning to realize how wise I was to insert enough coins into the parking meter to cover me for a good two hours.
Then with Q-tips and cleaning solution they vigorously scrubbed every spot they had colored onto my head and face and forehead.
I was instructed to lay on the soft bed and I impressed them with the skillful way I maneuvered myself onto it.
They proceeded to attach 20 leads with some rather sticky solution to the aforementioned spots.
My head was covered with glue and wires and they had a big mirror beside the bed so that I could admire the final product. I felt much younger than I looked when I took a peek.
The next hour was interesting.
The lights were dimmed and I was tucked in with pillows and a blanket.
A strobe light was positioned right over my face and they made me open my eyes and close my eyes as they switched the machine on and off causing explosions of brightly colored designs to burn themselves onto my eyelids, or brain or something. I'm not quite sure where I saw those things cause I saw them with my eyes shut - geometric designs, movement, lots of red and yellow bursts The designs changed every time the fellow turned the machine off and then on again.
The breathing exercise was a new one I've never done before.
Deep breaths in and out of my mouth for three minutes.
Three full minutes.
Try it some time.
Your mouth will get very, very dry.
The room was still dimly lit and I do believe that sometime after this strange breathing exercise I actually fell asleep. In between hearing them whisper in the dark corner and type things into the computer and give me occasional random orders like, open your eyes, now close them again and keep them closed. Gladly.
I saw little people down a long road so far away and it was black and white I think, and old fashioned.
I wondered if they were feeding things into my brain through the wires but I didn't think it was possible.
The whispering continued, the light show was repeated and I was released after the woman washed my face and pulled most of the goo out of my hair.
I hope they don't find anything bad.
It might be nice to have an excuse for my terrible memory though!
Oh, and I spent some of the time talking to Jesus and I wondered what that might look like on the machine.
I hope the neurologist will let me look at the results.
That would be interesting!
I am really, really looking forward to taking a shower tomorrow morning.
My head feels incredibly gross.
Oh, by the way, I had the sweetest evening with Daniel yesterday.
He took me out to the 3D movie Avatar and it was spectacular.
Between that and my personal light show I have seen some unusually amazing things in the last two days.
The EEG.
I'm usually up for an adventure. And I am quite enthralled with medical things for the most part.
As long as I don't have to take my clothes off or use the washroom it's all good.
And when I saw the comfy bed over by the wall I knew things were going to be all right.
I had a student assigned to me and he began to measure my head, very methodically, with a measuring tape. Then with his marker he scribbled on my head repeatedly saying this would take about a half an hour.
It did.
Then his supervisor (who looked younger than he did) had to check every mark with her measuring tape to make sure they were in the right place. Again, this took some time. The student was only off in a couple of places to his credit. And the supervisor girl gave him bonus marks for managing with my massive head of hair.
At this point I was beginning to realize how wise I was to insert enough coins into the parking meter to cover me for a good two hours.
Then with Q-tips and cleaning solution they vigorously scrubbed every spot they had colored onto my head and face and forehead.
I was instructed to lay on the soft bed and I impressed them with the skillful way I maneuvered myself onto it.
They proceeded to attach 20 leads with some rather sticky solution to the aforementioned spots.
My head was covered with glue and wires and they had a big mirror beside the bed so that I could admire the final product. I felt much younger than I looked when I took a peek.
The next hour was interesting.
The lights were dimmed and I was tucked in with pillows and a blanket.
A strobe light was positioned right over my face and they made me open my eyes and close my eyes as they switched the machine on and off causing explosions of brightly colored designs to burn themselves onto my eyelids, or brain or something. I'm not quite sure where I saw those things cause I saw them with my eyes shut - geometric designs, movement, lots of red and yellow bursts The designs changed every time the fellow turned the machine off and then on again.
The breathing exercise was a new one I've never done before.
Deep breaths in and out of my mouth for three minutes.
Three full minutes.
Try it some time.
Your mouth will get very, very dry.
The room was still dimly lit and I do believe that sometime after this strange breathing exercise I actually fell asleep. In between hearing them whisper in the dark corner and type things into the computer and give me occasional random orders like, open your eyes, now close them again and keep them closed. Gladly.
I saw little people down a long road so far away and it was black and white I think, and old fashioned.
I wondered if they were feeding things into my brain through the wires but I didn't think it was possible.
The whispering continued, the light show was repeated and I was released after the woman washed my face and pulled most of the goo out of my hair.
I hope they don't find anything bad.
It might be nice to have an excuse for my terrible memory though!
Oh, and I spent some of the time talking to Jesus and I wondered what that might look like on the machine.
I hope the neurologist will let me look at the results.
That would be interesting!
I am really, really looking forward to taking a shower tomorrow morning.
My head feels incredibly gross.
Oh, by the way, I had the sweetest evening with Daniel yesterday.
He took me out to the 3D movie Avatar and it was spectacular.
Between that and my personal light show I have seen some unusually amazing things in the last two days.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My Mount Everest
Honestly, when I signed up for this TESL course I had NO IDEA what I was getting into. It's been like climbing Mt. Everest. And my life has been so without this element of stressful academia for so many years that I am almost in shock. My head feels incredibly full and I have to keep putting off doing little things because there is something bigger looming. LOOMING!
I sat at the back of my practicum class today watching my fellow student rattle off intelligent sentences while looking completely composed. Her vocabulary is very academic and she comes up with THE greatest ideas to make her lessons fun and exciting. She is artsy and thinks entirely differently than I do. It's actually been fun working alongside her on the lessons we have to teach together because I get to glean so much from her. She is one of several brilliant students in my class (I sit beside one every week as well).
Next to them I feel like a little country bumpkin!
With a little brain.
But somehow I am managing to pull off high marks.
It surprises me, let me tell you!!
Tonight, apparently, my marks were even higher than the brilliant, high achieving , degree possessing student beside me. We have had fun comparing marks as we've been fairly close all year. Last time she beat me.
I was dreading getting this particular module's marks back because I felt I hadn't done very well.
And there it was, a 96%.
Shocker.
Anyways, back to my Mount Everest.
Today was my turn to teach for my practicum.
In front of real students while being evaluated by a real teacher.
I only taught for one hour and it seemed to go well.
But.
I can hardly even rejoice.
I am only 1/10 done my practicum and the worst is yet to come.
I know that sounds overly dramatic but I don't know if I'm cut out for this kind of stress.
I still have to write two three hour lesson plans. And teach them.
AND write an essay on something profound having to do with cross cultural issues and teaching.
(Using 4 references with APA reference citations - what the heck??)
Ok, it may seem that I am over-reacting, but this is on my mind ALOT.
A LOT.
When I told my son yesterday that I will be so glad when this week is over, he promptly informed me that I say that every week.
Has it really been that bad?
I've ordered books on grammar from AMAZON so that I can learn grammar.
I am supposed to be able to teach grammar!!!
Well, I am going to push through.
That's all there is to it.
I will keep climbing higher.
I will make camp, rise the next day and go forth to greater heights.
Somewhere, in the misty blue yonder I will suddenly find myself at the top.
I will plant my little flag of victory and say "THANK YOU JESUS!"
I'm sorry for all this whining but somehow it feels better to get it down.
Better to write than to eat.
Which I want to do alot of these days.
The nervous tension make me want to chew.
Good night.
I sat at the back of my practicum class today watching my fellow student rattle off intelligent sentences while looking completely composed. Her vocabulary is very academic and she comes up with THE greatest ideas to make her lessons fun and exciting. She is artsy and thinks entirely differently than I do. It's actually been fun working alongside her on the lessons we have to teach together because I get to glean so much from her. She is one of several brilliant students in my class (I sit beside one every week as well).
Next to them I feel like a little country bumpkin!
With a little brain.
But somehow I am managing to pull off high marks.
It surprises me, let me tell you!!
Tonight, apparently, my marks were even higher than the brilliant, high achieving , degree possessing student beside me. We have had fun comparing marks as we've been fairly close all year. Last time she beat me.
I was dreading getting this particular module's marks back because I felt I hadn't done very well.
And there it was, a 96%.
Shocker.
Anyways, back to my Mount Everest.
Today was my turn to teach for my practicum.
In front of real students while being evaluated by a real teacher.
I only taught for one hour and it seemed to go well.
But.
I can hardly even rejoice.
I am only 1/10 done my practicum and the worst is yet to come.
I know that sounds overly dramatic but I don't know if I'm cut out for this kind of stress.
I still have to write two three hour lesson plans. And teach them.
AND write an essay on something profound having to do with cross cultural issues and teaching.
(Using 4 references with APA reference citations - what the heck??)
Ok, it may seem that I am over-reacting, but this is on my mind ALOT.
A LOT.
When I told my son yesterday that I will be so glad when this week is over, he promptly informed me that I say that every week.
Has it really been that bad?
I've ordered books on grammar from AMAZON so that I can learn grammar.
I am supposed to be able to teach grammar!!!
Well, I am going to push through.
That's all there is to it.
I will keep climbing higher.
I will make camp, rise the next day and go forth to greater heights.
Somewhere, in the misty blue yonder I will suddenly find myself at the top.
I will plant my little flag of victory and say "THANK YOU JESUS!"
I'm sorry for all this whining but somehow it feels better to get it down.
Better to write than to eat.
Which I want to do alot of these days.
The nervous tension make me want to chew.
Good night.
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