Weekends

I'm so happy when there are events on weekends.

To keep me busy and connected. This past weekend was really great that way!

Friday night was deliciously full - two big events that I wish hadn't happened on the same night but I'm just glad I got to attend each.

First it was a good bye dinner for a dear friend's daughter. Our sweet circle of three families were delighted to gather around this dear girl to bless her and celebrate her setting sail - off to Nova Scotia to do University. We enjoyed delicious salmon, greek salad, rice and fresh bread...always a gourmet spread at this cozy home. I was sorry to kiss the dear girl goodbye and head off to the next event. It would have been lovely to spend the whole evening with these dear friends. BUT...

I just COULDN'T resist the pull of the next outing. Free tickets for me, the son and his girlfriend to Cirq de Soleil. Oh my goodness!!! It didn't matter that we got soaked in a downpour on the way out of the car and into Prospera Place. We were met and greeted by two sweet daughters of another friend who escorted us up to their private "box" where we got to enjoy snacks and drinks while we were mesmerized by the most amazing dancers, singers, gymnasts and clowns. It was like we were swept away into some other world for a few hours. And I got to sit next to my dear friend whom don't see nearly often enough. She is like honey in the tea of life for me.... does that even make sense? Such a lovely, gentle, meek and humble lady. We just love our little times of connection where we remind each other of the goodness of God and share our ongoing stories of His faithfulness even when life hurts.

Saturday was full as well - took Moose to a free vet visit. He is a little out of control with me when he's on a leash. I end up getting pulled to and fro till I finally give up and just let him go into the store on his own. His ear has been so bad all summer and most of the Spring despite two rounds of ear drops. So hopefully I have a new idea that will get rid of his ongoing ear trouble.

Home to vacuum my car which was a very great delight. I watch how grubby my car gets throughout the year and long to get all those little corners sucked clean and this was my big opportunity. I could finally reach the vacuum plug and I had the energy to tackle the job.

The satisfaction of a well vacuumed car is just beyond words. I'm going to be happy for quite some time now.

And then my dear friend Carlyn came and we spent the afternoon on my bed sharing stories. The son and his girlfriend came over to make me supper and they so kindly invited her as well. We thoroughly enjoyed the Laksa with wine and the company was super sweet. Now that my son is so in love I realize how valuable it is when they fit me into their schedule and even come up to make me a meal. And I got a little skype visit with my dear daughter who is in California. So good to hear how her Bible School experience is unfolding. I'm pretty blessed. On so many levels.

Sunday was go-go-go!! Church, shopping, dropping off a wedding shower gift, visiting Oma and Opa for an after church casserole and visit and then home for a quick nap. I sure needed that nap because I had invited two women with astounding numbers of children for dinner!! Their husbands were both out of town so it was a bit of a hen party with loads of kids swarming around. The one mama told me this was a bit easier for her, to only have her five daughters to look after (two of which are in diapers!). We had chili, rice and chips and pie for dessert. Thankfully the rain cleared up so we could enjoy some time out on the back patio while the kids ran and played and jumped on the trampoline. Don't even ask me how many kids were all on the trampoline at the same time... I thank God for sending His angels! I think there was a total of 11 or 12 kids between the two of them!! (and five kids were missing from the crowd!) The weather was definitely cool though. Summer seems to be backing out of the picture awfully quickly and I'm sad to see it go.

So after washing floors and doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen I dropped into bed, satisfied with the richness of my life. I do love having my house full but I had almost forgotten the chaos that ensues with so many littles!! Good chaos, of course.

It was a good weekend and I am grateful to my Big Beautiful God for filling my life with wonderful friends and family.

A Comedy of Challenges

I took a short road trip to the island this week. I wanted to get certified to do a rather comprehensive, complicated test for dyslexia.

This road trip was way off the richter scale in challenges. Beginning with us leaving about three hours late with my colleague's three children and their three legged dog following us in their van. When stopping to use a washroom at the first turnoff the daughter put the wheel of her van right over the edge of the road and was stuck there quite firmly. We asked a carload of young adults nearby for muscles which they happily provided. They high fived the daughter for finding the one place where she could stick her tire over the edge. Funny.

The toilets were locked so we took a detour into Merritt. Unfortunately we missed the turnoff only to discover that it was the last turnoff into the city. We pressed on, certain that there would be another. There wasn't. So we looked for roads across the ditch. We drove many miles before we realized they were few and faaaar between! Having passed the second one due to the darkness, I just made a corporate decision that our travel convoy would drive the wrong way down the highway back to the passover. The daughter thought this was naughty but she looked delighted. We got some honking as we slunk along the edge of the road but soon we were on our way back into Merritt. It was a detour we surely didn't need but I had told Darla at the outset that we were off on an adventure...

Little did I know.

We had hoped to spend our first night on the island but by midnight we were exhausted and needed to bed down in Langley. We had to be up by 6 to catch the 8 o'clock ferry.

Getting to the ferry was a cinch and the ride across the ocean was lovely - crisp morning breezes sent our hair flying in all directions as we gazed out over the water hoping to see a whale. We had to settle on jumping fish. The youngest said he saw a lion fish and an eel. He was so serious. Imagine that I missed seeing them - I only saw the splash. This young man is an absolute delight and I've had the pleasure of teaching him the reading program three times so we're fairly much bonded for life.

Amazingly enough, we arrived at my instructor's place in Sooke only half an hour late. The daughter followed us so that we could show her where we would be and could give her the GPS. My colleague claims she and her daughter are directionally challenged. I thought the guy on the GPS was challenged with the crazy long slow routes he advised us to take. He seemed to really love residential areas. I wanted to throw him out the window. By the end of this short road trip it seemed I had joined the ranks of the directionally impaired. I don't know how it happened...

The washroom at my instructor's place was not wheelchair accessible - not for me at least. After hurling her toilet seat onto the floor and nearly landing there myself, I found the nearest McDonalds and that's where we made frequent stops. I am eternally grateful to that fine eating establishment for providing wheelchair accessible washrooms.

Finally we settled down to begin the course. The instructor did a rather lengthy "preamble" and we did bits of reading in between her running out to help her husband who recently had a severe stroke. Meanwhile my colleague was getting frantic text messages from her daughter saying the van caught fire and they were getting it towed to a garage. Therefore a rescue mission ensued and my friend went off to get her children. Three hours later we reconvened, thinking we'd be able to actually get some work done on the course as it was already 5 pm.

However, at this late hour my instructor very suddenly decided we were all going down to the ocean side (Whiff n Spitt) to have our class. Her husband in his wheelchair and his attendant were also coming. My colleague and I were somewhat confused over this sudden turn of events and laughed over the strange day that was progressing along with very little of the seminar actually taking place. So we had a short session down at the oceanside in the dusk. It was very beautiful and I am so grateful that I at least got to sit by the ocean for this hour after spending hundreds of dollars going to the Island. We got stuck due to road construction for quite some time on the way home. No surprise there...

I had a horrible run in with the washroom at the cabin as well. I was unable to close the door and could not get close enough to the toilet to safely transfer. Thankfully my colleague was able to help me. I lay in bed that night wondering how early McDonalds opened in the morning. Darla gave me wine to help me sleep. I really needed to sleep. We all did.

The next day we actually made progress in the course. It felt like a little miracle somehow, considering the day before. The day consisted of lots of practical work with the assessment of students that arrived for our benefit. We used my colleague's kids as extra guinea pigs. Handy to have so many dyslexic people in one crowd. We didn't bother with the dog. To think that he would be struggling with dyslexia on top of only having three legs was too much to bear. So we avoided the subject completely with him.

We were all getting a little giddy with relief by the time the end of the seminar rolled around. My instructor was calling me a shuffling buzzard and she dubbed my friend the dumbfounded dodo bird. This woman, despite her quirks is an absolute genius and one of the Godliest women I know. She could be incredibly wealthy considering her gifts and what she has accomplished, but she only considers herself a missionary, fulfilling her purpose her on earth to help others.

I can't quite figure out why God would choose me to sit under her tutelage and be given such great opportunities that feel too lofty for my capabilities. I am amazed that I should have the privilege of being chosen and loved by this woman. I will try to prove myself worthy and use these gifts to help others even as she does.

The six of us jammed back into my little red car to zoom back to Victoria where we picked up Darla's partially fixed van. We dropped by her grandparents to say hello and then were on the ferry and happily on our way to Kelowna. Or so we thought. I missed a turnoff and suddenly we were headed for the border. Mr. GPS didn't help and we stopped at a gas station. I missed yet another turnoff further down the highway which added to my general misery and the length of the already ridiculously long journey. We didn't get home till 3:30 a.m.

Exhausted.

But we have a certificate.

The bumbling buzzard and dinglebat dodo bird succeeded in their mission

Good Bye Again!

The dear daughter is now in California, over halfway to her destination point. Calvary Chapel Bible School in Murietta California.

And I'm doing just fine on the home front. So far, anyways!!

I had my some tearful moments yesterday before she left and after she left, but there are so many emotions just under the surface that it's almost a relief to have an obvious reason to cry!

So many changes are looming on the horizon and the dominos have begun to fall.

But nothing happens without being filtered through my dear Father's fingers so I can rest assured that all will be most well.

I want to remain in the moment.

Not worried about tomorrow and trusting God with yesterday.

Enjoying what is before me or trusting with patient endurance that which is difficult.

My mom just has a way of putting things into perspective in her no nonsense, faith filled way.

When I was bemoaning the fact that my dear niece and her family were probably moving soon, Mom just responded by saying how it had been a nice season when they came and when they go it will just be a different season starting.

So practical. I don't know how she does it.

Honestly.

She has the most steady, dependable, sensible personality and such a lovely, easy laugh to go along with it. It is blatantly obvious that she is standing on the Rock and trusting Him with her every breath and with all of ours as well!

Such glory in such an ordinary place.

I think God must be over the heavenly moon with pleasure over my dear mama.

She's just beautiful in so many ways and I am blessed to belong to her for this time here on earth. Wish I could show it to her in more ways.

Here's a little picture of a trip we took last week with her to the border to process some papers that the daughter found out she didn't need processed. We just chalked it up to a nice road trip and it was so worth it to hear my mom exclaiming over the beautiful scenery from the back seat and then to pick up ice cream which we all enjoyed from the famous Tickleberry's near Okanagan Falls.

Anyways, this week just skittered on by without me accomplishing much, but I did help the daughter get ready for her California adventure. and then put on a farewell party for her. It was a blessing to see her surrounded by so many loved ones and to cover her with our prayers.

I'm excited to communicate with her and to hear of her adventures and what the Lord will reveal to her and teach her as she pursues truth and righteousness.

I'm so proud that my girl has chosen Jesus.

The Word became Flesh.

May she discover more of His beauty and fall more deeply in love with Him as she studies the living Word.

Glory Lingers

I've thought about telling some stories here of the last two weeks with friends.

Just the word makes me happy...

fRiEnDs

Family friends. Which is even better as it's multiplied in so many wonderful directions. We all bring out different rich parts of each other and ourselves!

Friends from a precious, rich, defining time in our lives.

When the kids were small and we went out on a venture together.

It started with notes being sent in the lunch boxes of our very little boys.

And from there we ended up around our kitchen table praying, asking God about going to Hawaii to do a discipleship training school.

Landing us in Kailua Kona for several wonderful months of teaching and community built around our common belief in Jesus - the power of knowing Him and learning how to make Him known. Followed by adventures in other countries, the Philippines and Thailand where we put into practice what we had learned.

At least that was the idea.

I thought it was a very grand adventure.

Very grand indeed!!

I trust that we were a blessing wherever we went, because we were sure blessed to be able to go and meet all those amazing people in all those amazing places!!

Especially me - being able to do this in a wheelchair was it's own sort of miracle.

And there have been many adventures since that time. Sometimes just two of us meet, sometimes more and this last time we were all together again.

Super Sweet.

This time the boys each had a girl clinging to their arms and their are some wedding bells coming up for the other family. My boy is still silent on that front, but things are looking pretty positive.

Anyhow, the togetherness was awesome. A picnic at the beach, everyone at the boardwalk and meandering through the bird sanctuary. Leisurely breakfasts and visits on my bed in the evening to catch up with our days. And of course patio church and other times of spontaneous prayer.

And a bonus "one on one trip" with my dear adventurous friend.

Just the two of us to bring the holiday to a most fitting and suddenly surprising close.

At the last minute another friend could not join me at a "Gathering" of believers held several hours from here. She was booked to go with me and ended up in the hospital waiting for surgery instead. Poor dear. Such a huge disappointment for both of us, but I decided to brave the journey and go anyways.

These gatherings are a highlight in my life.

They give me amazing perspective and fill my cup full to overflowing.

And suddenly there was my adventurous laughing friend wanting to come along.

God with skin on once again.

Did I ever need her too!! To help me with my wheelchair which wouldn't properly attach to my lift without extra hands to lift it. To help me open the hotel door which was at the top of a steep ramp. To keep me from falling when I was trying to adjust to some crazy misplaced handrails in my bathroom. To help me to move beds so I was able to get into mine at night.

Seriously, God was showing up big time through this dear friend and we had the time of our lives at the gathering.

Both of us in our absolute glory.

Worshiping with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Loving what God is doing in the Middle East and in our hearts towards other nations.

Seeing the miracle of what repentance can accomplish not only between brothers, but between nations.

It was over the top

Wonderful

Amazing

Mind Boggling

HOT HOT HOT (a non air conditioned gym)

Inspiring & Challenging (I went forward and prayed one of those radical prayers that actually scare me, but I want more of Jesus so it'll be worth it...yup it will!) Gotta be willing to die for the gospel as this fellow is who challenged us:

Anyways, that's a long story that could be even longer but I must go to sleep.

Just had to share some of the glory that still lingers in my heart.

So thankful to God who looks after me and allows me to be witness to and somehow a part of these events that I know will change HiStory.

Patio Church

Had a cool experience with some dear friends that have been staying with us. Lots of time spent visiting around the table, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, eating and catching up. But when Sunday morning rolled around a corporate decision was made to stay home and do church out on the back patio.

So sweet to pull out my guitar and sing old worship songs. Even if I was almost the only one singing - this new generation isn't so familiar with the golden oldies... And the golden oldies are Vineyard songs - not even the old hymns or anything.

But what a blessings to sit under the umbrella with summer breezes rustling in the leaves of the trees surrounded by the bright flowers that have survived the summer heat.

Sharing scriptures, praying, singing, a small devotional read by Steve and communion.

Ah, the glory of communion.

Sharing the bread and the wine - the body and the blood of our precious Jesus.

Who, for the joy set before Him endured the cross.

We are the joy that was set before Him!!!

And now He is our joy unspeakable and forever!

Smokey August Warmth

The days have been smokey from all the wildfires creating a strange landscape that looks almost foreign at times. The red sun in the evening glows with intensity and the lake is often hidden from view in the haze. We've had some respite with the blue skies returning and the lovely warmth of the valley sending the tourists to the mall or to the lake.

I've had company this week - a friend of the son and his fiance have been a welcome diversion in our home. He's chatty like his mother and it's been delightful to sit over breakfast reminiscing over years gone by. The cute, likeable, energetic boy has turned into a handsome man, and most importantly a disciplined follower and lover of Jesus Christ. I am inspired by his diligent study of the Word, his pursuit of God and ability to mentor and disciple others even in the midst of a busy university schedule and honorable pursuit of a beautiful young woman who is to become his bride.

Meanwhile the son is pursuing his love with great intensity as well. Thankfully he still lives at home so I am able to connect with him early in the morning or late at night if I haven't arranged a gathering around a meal where he joins in.

We had a wonderful BBQ the other night since my dear brother is in town and it was once again a delight to eat and laugh and watch the children enjoying their cousins with wild abandon on the trampoline or out in the field. The girlies spent time creating artwork in the living room but were lured out by delicious desserts and a birthday song for my neice. The poor dear looked stricken for most of the evening as her husband was planning on quitting his job that very night thereby signaling the end of their time in Kelowna. This heartbreak was shared with all of us as we most definitely don't want this bunch to leave our community. Heavy Sigh.

BUT GOD!! Great and Glorious King. Redeemer, Friend and Loving Savior. He has a plan. And as hard as that theif and liar is trying to rob our joy we will believe in the kindness of our God. The evening ended with my mother, auntie, sister and I all joining hands in the kitchen and committing all of our worries and sadnesses to Jesus - asking again for salvations, healing and help for us in our various trials. We only see a very small part of the picture right now and are tempted to believe this is the end of happiness as we know it! Ah, weak little beings are we - but dust - but He reminds us to take our thoughts captive and proclaim His lifegiving Words into all of these situations. We will look back and wonder why we ever bothered to worry.

It's kind of funny, I'm sitting here typing this in the Mazda parking lot while having my oil changed and have somehow managed to get internet connection through the Honda dealership next door! I was going to spend this whole time reading my new chronological Bible but of course the lure of internet pulled me away from Joseph and his impending doom and ultimate redemption.

And isn't that just life in a capsule right there? What feels like impending doom, ultimately does turn into a grand story of redemption if we listen to the call of God, answer and obey with all of our hearts.

So Lord Jesus, in the midst of what feels like gloom and doom in this little piece of paradise I will keep on hanging on to you and your promises for abundant life. That you will put the lonely into families and watch over the fatherless and those without husbands.

The Plunge

It's strange how this rollercoaster ride can take you on exhilarating lifts and spins right before plunging you into a swift and precipitous fall.

I was able to forget some of the issues that were plaguing me prior to the cruise - at least to some extent. It was a beautiful thing to experience the distraction and escape provided and to enter into that whole other surreal world.

Because my own personal world is feeling like that plunge into a dark and scary place. I know the melodrama is almost too much, but it is seriously a new and terrifying experience to have both my son and my daughter leaving at the end of summer and to be having regular visits already from this horrible entity which I have named "ALONE". It is an entity which has been growing and threatening to take over my whole life.

Hahaha... Okay - I'll admit that last statement is pure melodrama and a lie from you know where.

But it is a lie that has felt unbelievably real. Because it's not just my own little personal alone story. There are other factors playing into it such as the age of my precious parents and the stable rock of existence they provide that is always within immediate reach. This feels threatened as well. I realize the fragility of life and how quickly it is passing. And there is the possible relocating of more family away from town that have made family gatherings a delight and have added a hugely missing element - namely children and the joy that accompanies them. And my dear sweet sister having her own personal ongoing battle with the same entity.

And this entity reminds me of how very hard and lonely paralysis can be. I don't notice so much when I'm kept busy and have loved ones surrounding me.

So, three nights in a row after arriving home were pure torture. I was awake for long periods of time with far too much time to ponder the rather bleak future that is gazing straight in my face with a hard unblinking stare. The hours spent looking in every direction for hope and seeing how my life has become a barren place.

Looking for hope and finally crying out once again as the morning light began to appear for God to show up with skin on. Touch me or the heaviness and tangible sadness with press me into the earth.

And of course He has been showing up - with skin on again.

And with words and pictures - I am a little lamb carried, amazingly enough, on His shoulders even though it feels like I've been left on a precipice.

Covered with prayers and hugs and words of restoration, restoration, restoration at a place where I have been afraid to go because it too has become a threatening world when it was once a place of hope. And it is obviously still a safe place in that way that only God is safe.

Safe and terrifying all at once.

And I will end this peculiarly sad little missive with wonderful Words given by that kind Shepherd who said I'm on His shoulders. I figured I needed some pure Word and He told me to read Psalm 121.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Oh my goodness. I wept again after reading these words, but the tears were different than the ones I had awoken with. Oh ya, He's going to look after me for sure. As much as that creepy lier has been throwing out the nets to capture me with fear, anxiety and despair, there is a LOVER who has stolen my heart who will never let me go. He will never leave me alone. He will be my fortress, my shield and my very great reward.

So, even though He is allowing me to plunge into dark places, He's there with me and He will bring me out again. Of course He spoke to me through my mom last night too. Reminding me of these things in no uncertain terms.

This too will work out for great good. He has plans for me. Not just for more and more hardship.

But for RESTORATION.