Finishing up June

It's 5:30 a.m.

I awoke about an hour ago and my body started jumping around so I got up, put on the cool air as it was warm and repositioned, hoping to fall back asleep curled into a ball on my back.

It hasn't happened yet so I've been listening to a sermon and reading blogs and making a list of things to do this summer.

A snoring ladybug is pressed right into my side and I can feel her soft body against my arm.

So comforting.

I went to a school grad ceremony last night and sat with a dear friend and her precious daughter who has also become a dear friend. Oh the amazing passage of time - I remember visiting her in the hospital when she is a newborn. Just look at the radiant beauty she has become!

Strange, this passage of time. This conveyer belt moving us all swiftly along.

Trying to make sense of all the awards and speeches.

...and now I will show you the most excellent way - now abide faith, hope and love

And the greatest of these is love.

There will be another awards ceremony.

I just want to figure out how to live love before I get there.

I've got a long way to go, but more of Him and less of me will get me there sooner.

For me, I know the end of the conveyer belt shoots me into another most wonderful realm and this thought carries me through many trials. Physical, mental, emotional.

I just know where this is all going, even though I keep screwing up along the way.

When I remember His grace and kindness and that I'm tucked into Him and covered, it's good.

Had the loveliest birthday celebration for my sister at her place the other night.

Really simple and sweet.

Family and two friends gathered in her place surrounded by the art and creativity and color that is her.

We shared a meal and cake and sat admiring the indoors and the summer growth outdoors.

My teaching is finished for the year. I attended a seminar this last weekend on Irlen syndrome, giving me more hope to help the kids I work with.

The other really cool thing?

The tab was paid by the school as I'm employed and will continue to be. Just like a real person.

I even have an ROE. My boss explained it was a record of employment.

It's been a long time.

Next on the agenda is THE WEDDING.

My dear future daughter brought her dress by today and modeled it for us.

Wow. It's going to be a party!!

My emotions will catch up sooner or later.

For now I will rearrange my jumping body and try once again to fall asleep before I embark on the waking part of this last day of June.

For the record, I'm taking lots of antihistamines these days. It's all just so itchy.

Wind & Rain & Wedding Bells

This past weekend my brother got married.

Words can barely express my delight at this most marvelous event.

Seriously - it was so much redemption all packed into one occasion that the wind and the rain and the cold that raged on that day could not dampen any of our spirits!

The exquisite joy and peace that radiated from both the bride and groom was, just...

Heavenly!!

My brother related to me how he had tried a few dates through the internet route after his heart had a few years to heal up, but it just didn't feel right so he told God to look after things.

And God sure did just that.

I am so happy to see what a lovely companion the Lord found for him and vice versa.

They are like two peas in a pod and thankfully we've all had a chance to get to know her over these past 10 months or so and to know her is to love her.

God does all things well.

The wedding was just lovely.

Two grandchildren as ringbearer and flower girl stood as still as soldiers throughout the entire ceremony. One smiled unceasingly and the other grimaced with great seriousness until we all pretended to pick our noses in the front row getting him to crack a smile.

The wedding went off without a hitch.

Sixteen and a half minutes long according to someone. Smile.

But the message in those sixteen minutes was powerful.

The gospel. In all it's beauty.

We must remain in Christ if we are to be the lovers, friends, spouses, people we want to become.

The small reception following was full of fun reunions, pictures, laughter, trying to recognize faces that have aged as much as mine has, and of course the requisite cake, punch and fruit.

An intimate reception for family members was later held at an Italian Restaurant and the fare was most scrumptious. Great fun was had by all as we held up our moustaches and eyeglasses for pictures.

I just love Jesus and the parties that flow from His workings in our little humble lives.

I am incredibly happy for my brother and for the whole family.

We have been gifted with a new member and for this we rejoice exceedingly!

Pictures to follow when I get them out of my dear daughter's camera as I managed to forget mine!

That is very unlike me, but I have grace for myself. (...got them!)

I love the Sunshine

I am so happy that the days have been warmer.

The sun is shining and is so much closer to our corner of the world.

It is bringing life to my flowers - bravely they are opening their little petals after being somewhat traumatized by the cold rainy windy spring.

And I'm terribly excited about my teensy weensy little sunflower sprouts.

They are my babies and I go from place to place checking on them.

I don't think even ten percent of them have come up but the ones that have are bringing me immense happiness. Little green arms growing wider and taller and reaching for the sun.

Such a nice name they have too, SUNFLOWERS... no wonder I am so fond of them.

Last summer I planted some and the word Mammoth was on the package.

And rightly so - they grew to gargantuan heights, their stalks as big as tree trunks!

Their heads were ginormous and then a big wind came and they toppled over.

Just like that - after all that furious growing, higher higher, past the edge of the roof

and BOOM, it was all over. They were laying on the cement like felled trees.

Anyways, this year I carefully read the packages and made sure to buy ones other than the mammoth variety.

My pansies have also been incredibly cheerful and sweet with their purple and yellow little faces smiling up at me and the sun.

Of course I have faithful, colorful steadfast geraniums to supply that burst of bright red and the most delightful hues of blue lobelia. Flowering baskets full of color and variety are warmed by the sun and are putting on a most delightful show.

Oh wonderful warm blessed sun. Even my normally red chapped wrinkly hands are looking so much happier now that they are warm and turning brown from my outdoor ventures.

And my face has lost that sickly winter whiteness and is happier with it's summer color.

Looking forward to the months ahead - kissed with summer sunshine.

Butterflies Regroup

Another sweet evening, this time with my butterfly friends! We were instructed at the last minute to come dressed in Indian attire with lots of color. Not everyone got the notice. Unfortunately I did which might explain the gold decoration on my forehead and the red dot on Lora's! But don't we just look so flippin happy?! What a delightful bunch of friends....

Color, flavor, voices, laughter, pictures, wine and reconnecting.

Cozy around an elaborately decorated table while the rain poured down on the green green hills outside the big windows.

So many stories were shared over a table set with gold rimmed plates and scrumptious Indian fare. Greek salad and chocolate fruit fondu with wine from Australia. We were all over the map in our culinary experience. Wonderful, extravagant, delicious goodness. MMMmmmm!

Dear Lora took the time to type out our names in an Indian style with meanings attached - and we were allowed to pick whichever one we pleased. I liked them all!

Taking turns relating the events of the past year as its just been soooo very long since we've all managed to come together at the same time.

It's so precious to see the faithfulness of God in our lives, even though the stories are hard and funny and sad and so very real.

So very real.

We get older together and now are in the phase where our parents are becoming the ones we must look after.

The phase none of us was looking forward to, yet life marches on and asks no questions.

One dear friend shared the details of losing her father just weeks ago.

Absent from the body yet present with the Lord.

And we march on towards that sweet hope. The coming reunion.

Tears mingled with hope. Sorrow and gladness.

I'm so grateful for these friends.

We have wings

We have color

We are beautiful reflections of the Creator who shines out of our eyes and inhabits our bodies that are not quite so energetic anymore, but still able to serve one another in love.

A Bridal Downpour

I spent much of yesterday and this morning preparing for a wedding shower which was to be held on my beautiful patio. Flowers were bought, planters were hung, extra chairs obtained and general tidying carried out.

The weather forecast didn't look so promising but it has been wrong before.

So I hoped and prayed for an opening of sunshine for the evening.

It was not to be.

Wind turned to showers which turned into more wind and finally a long hard downpour.

The ground is incredibly happy and wet.

My patio was very wet too...

We had quite a literal bridal shower.

So, blessed are the flexible for we will not be snapped in half!

We brought the outdoors indoors as well as we could, put out dozens of tea lights, set the table with lace and flowers and covered it with cakes, fruit, vegetable platters and other goodies fit for royalty

Beautiful friends arrived with gifts, laughter and happy hearts.

We just love a good reason to gather around food and with Jesus in our midst. Of course I made sure to invite Him to come because His presence is essential.

My dear future daughter shone with delight and treated the guests with such kindness, extending hugs after every gift opening. The theme was garden and kitchen and there was plenty of both - big pots of lavender, bleeding hearts, a golden tomato plant and thai basil.

Towels, mugs, baking ware and wooden trays.

A plethora of goodness was shared and received with joy.

My heart is full of relief and gratefulness.

Relief for a happy party that honored my girl to be.

Gratefulness for my own daughter and dear friends who made the evening what it was with their acts of service; baking, cleaning, decorating and preparing.

I am surrounded by love and goodness.

And there is more to come.

Where the enemy has sought in recent days to bring division and strife and fear and anxiety, the Lord has brought peace and the power to overcome.

The other day He gave me 2 Chronicles 20 and I am choosing to live it by faith.

english standard version
5And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

Thus says the LORD to you,'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you."

He has been with me and will continue to be.

For now and forevermore.

Amen and Hallelujah.

Cosmopolitan

I'm feeling all cosmopolitan.

Sitting here in a coffee establishment on the corner of Bute and Robson with my dark chocolate mocha topped with whipped cream.

This venture into the metropolis of Vancouver came about rather suddenly, as is often God's way. I called about appointments for the dear daughter yesterday morning and by the afternoon we were zooming over the mountains, through intense clouds and rain and finally into the beautiful green green green fraser valley.

Our attempt to check into the hotel I had booked earlier proved to be rather arduous as their interpretation of "accessible" once again was unlike mine. No bars by the toilet and a squishy room. However, there was virtually NOTHING ELSE AVAILABLE due to the frenzy of the hockey playoffs here the following night. They said it was worse than the olympics. And we, who are so "not in touch" with the world of hockey obsession were completely oblivious that we were entering the city along with crowds of Canucks fans.

So, upon the dear daughter's recommendation we gave the room a try and lo and behold, I managed to make it work. She was completely exhausted and fed up with the whole "handicap" fiasco as she has put up with it for so many years already. I'm sure God will reward her for her patience with this extra trial placed upon her already burdened soul.

God in His great kindness gave us both a good night, amazingly enough, as my nights have been crazy due to increasing spasticity, day and night.

So, with that kind woman in our GPS directing us, we made it to the city center and have both been enjoying the benefits of biofeedback to balance our brains. We had a six hour break in between appointments which gave us a lovely opportunity to explore Stanley Park and to take in the magnificent baluga whales and other sea mammals. Oh my word - those balugas are just the loveliest soft slippery looking blubbery beauties! Seriously, I can sit there for so long watching them glide by with their gelatinous forms quivering.

There was rain forecast but we have even enjoyed bits of sunshine and the drive through Stanley Park was gloriously green and gorgeous. Huge trees, thick undergrowth, beaches, ocean, bikers, walkers, marinas and wildlife - a racoon! On and on the sights were simply soothing and sumptuous. Haha - I'm on a roll here. And now as I sit in this coffee shop sipping my chocolately drink I am watching a constant flow of beautiful people of all varieties, many of them with dogs on leashes pass by the large windows. The dogs are just delightful.

City dogs. Smile. I wonder how my country dogs are doing back home.

How nice that I have housemates looking after them.

Meanwhile trusting God to do what we are unable to do.

Great glorious God who cares about us.

Kind shepherd, leading us beside quiet waters.

Mighty warrior protecting us as we navigate the crazy streets in this metropolis!

Trusting. Trusting.

Looking forward.