To Life!

Even though I've now just got the one guest bedroom it has been amazing to see how visits have worked out.

Anita left for Creston and the next night my dear Lana Mercedes arrived with her sweet friend for a couple of nights.

We did some sightseeing up Knox Mountain and visited the ever popular Mad Mango restaurant for a delicious lunch.

These girls are both such lovers of Jesus and it was an absolute delight to share this snapshot of life with them. They were aware of the battle raging over my dad and were right in the trenches praying along for his salvation.

The day after they arrived I was in my bedroom talking to my Dad on the phone and he shared with me a beautiful dream he had.

He was walking in beautiful lush green fields and there were little "weasels" squirrelling around him on the ground.  

I encouraged him to ask Jesus to take him home if he was so tired of life.

I said that Jesus loved him and that he should just humble himself and pray.

Sooooo, before I knew it Dad was asking Jesus to take him home so I quickly got him to also ask Jesus to forgive him for his sins since he was in  "prayer mode".

I've NEVER heard my father pray so this was so very surprising and wonderful.  

Lana and her friend came running in when they heard this conversation going on and after I got off the phone we spent a long while worshiping and continuing to pray.

Such a momentous day.

So grateful that my kind Father sends friends, new and old to wage war with us for our loved ones.

Since Lana and I have a tradition of clinking glasses at Christmas and crying out "La Chaim" we did so once again.

With a little Bailey's nightcap.

YES!!

To life, to life, to life!! 

Elder Care

Anita loves having her Dad up for a BBQ and fresh veggies when she is home so we had the "elders" over for dinner.

Unfortunately it was too windy to eat outside but we managed to have lots of fun indoors.

We played piano and sang songs and just enjoyed being together.

Meanwhile back at the Village things have been difficult, to say the least.  Poor Dad has been struggling with all of the losses that have come along with aging, and when his fingers weren't able to open buttons or do small tasks anymore he decided it was time to end things.

He has been in conversation with his Dr. and has been moving towards getting some medical assistance to bring about his end more quickly.

This has not gone over well with any of us, especially Mom.

It's been a heavy, difficult season emotionally for all of us.

Anita got wind of Dad wanting to end his life so she dared to enter the fray.

As a Physician and as a Christian she feels strongly about this issue.  She has seen the devastation that suicide wreaks on those who are left behind as she encounters this scenario all too often in her work.

Very lovingly she presented the gospel and gave her testimony because she also knows what it feels like to want to end her life.

Even though she has been trained in science and medicine, she had a powerful encounter with God in her bedroom in her early 20's where she was healed and delivered and saved.

Previous to this she thought Christians were "brainwashed".

So, she understands where Dad is coming from.

Dad listened politely but was not persuaded.

Thankfully Anita does not give up so easily.

She said she'd be back for Part II upon her return from Creston where she and her father were going to visit family.

Gardening and Gardens

Here is one of the parks that Mom and I often stop at after picking up coffee and chicken burgers.

Or, now as the weather is getting warmer we are switching things up with a Mango Smoothie instead of coffee.  

Mom LOVES those! 

We also checked out the park in the neighbourhood we lived at while the kids were little.

We used to walk to this park and admire this beautiful gardens.

So very much beauty and color.

Back home things are so green and fresh as well.

This year I didn't buy any geraniums and so far so good.

Lots of color on the cheap!

I did buy a couple of lovely perennials which are giving me lots of joy.

Hoping they will thrive in their new home.

Anita arrived from Iqaluit at the end of May!!

Here she is soaking up the sun, dispelling the pallor of a long winter in the frozen North.  

I wanted to take a before and after picture because she only needs a couple of days of sunshine before she looks like she's got some Native blood.

Which I think she does, come to think of it...

And here are the newly placed bee hives!

I am so excited to have them on the land but I was a bit nervous when I saw how close to the orchard they put them.

Don't want those precious little bees suffering from any orchard spray since we're not organic yet - at least not the apple trees.

Here, however, we are doing some real ORGANIC planting!

I got all "mother earthy" and joined Jenn in planting some of the tiny seedlings into the next sized container before they go into the garden.

Such a perfect day for patio gardening with a fine friend. 

Check out these little lovelies who will soon be giving life and health to the household.

Amazing how it all works.

Such a treat to be able to work together with our Creator in the garden.

Brand New Bedroom

While I was away at the coast for the concert, something wonderful was happening back home.

After living here for 16 years I decided it was time to update my bedroom carpet.

Having two dogs and using a wheelchair created a rather ugly, permanent mess on the off-white carpet.  No matter how many times we scrubbed the stains or had the carpet shampooed it still looked very dirty.

So I took the plunge and ordered new carpet.

And...

since I was changing up the carpet I decided to go all the way and paint the walls and get new bedding too!  

I am so happy with this fresh new look and since I spend the majority of my life in this room it was a good investment! 

Here are some cute shots of Ladybug enjoying "our' new room.

The chicken even made it onto the new bedding.

And Blue Bird enjoys it too.

This is a difficult scenario for Ladybug - she is exercising a great deal of self-control not to snap at the bird.

So after all the strain of arranging painters, carpets, furniture moving and more furniture moving my world is at peace again.

I love my little sanctuary and am so grateful that I could refresh this space.

Music in the Metropolis

Thanks to Patrice being vigilant on the music front, we got to attend a most stellar performance in the middle of May.

I'm getting pretty good at making this trek over the mountains on my own and have learned how to get through it without my back seizing up by moving my shoulders almost constantly as I drive.

I have such amazing times listening to worship music and praying as I zoom over the mountains and take in the breathtaking scenery.

Daniel popped over from the island and we all drove together to the Roger's arena in downtown Vancouver which was bustling with activity and a million people all going somewhere...

But I'm glad these are the people I got to spend this spectacular evening with.

We had amazing seats and I was blown away by the show.  Paul Simon is truly an extraordinary musician.  

I hardly have words to describe what I was privileged to see and hear.

There's also something about a live performance that is intoxicating.

The energy and the vibes that are created by such a huge crowd all enjoying the music and calling forth the best of those on the stage.

Thankfully there were large screens so we could see what was actually happening on the stage despite being a far back as we were. 

I was also thinking about the eternal glory that is coming and how this is merely a shadow and small foretaste of the kind of music we will be enjoying up there.

And His living, visible, divine presence will blow the top off anything we've ever experienced down here. 

Which means it's going to be worth every hard thing we endure on the road to glory! 

May Marvels

Nicole and I went for a walk downtown one evening and had some ice-cream.

What a lovely thing to live in a city next to a lake.

Especially on evenings like this. 

I was surprised on Mother's Day when Makana knocked on my door wishing me a Happy Day and presenting me with a delicious, healthy bowl of goodness.

Such a treat when nothing is expected! 

God's got so many incredible ways of showing us His love.

Endless and amazing.

*****

I had to go to a hardware store to get something and lo and behold there were flowers!!

So I filled my trunk with some colourful lovelies and brought them home with me, eager to get them planted.

Here are some of the marvels of May around the yard...

The pink Daphne plant smells like heaven!

And Tulips.

Kisses from heaven.

I had a little impromptu supper with these lovely ladies in lieu of Mother's Day.

Afterwards we came out to the patio and the evening was just perfect.

Sunshine splashed about highlighting the lovely flowers.

Elsie and I had took a wander around the yard with the pups enjoying the sights.

Spring & Sunshine.

A glorious combination.

Martha Kindly offered to drive mom home.

They looked pretty snazzy taking off together in Martha's fancy white car.

And the water continues to rise in the valley but thankfully the flooding experienced last year has not materialized.

The creeks are swollen and raging...

This creek below is the one that Daniel's property backs onto.

As you can see the sand bags are in place.

Hopefully these houses will fare better this year!