Remembrance....

Today, 35 years ago, my best friend died.

He was 21.

He was my brother.

I often think about what it would have been like had he lived and been a part of my life and the life of our children.

Our son is very much like him....in so many ways......quite uncanny.

But I remembered Frederick Dale Benson today...remembered his laughter, his genuineness, and gentleness....his compassion for people and love for them.....his great sense of humor and sense of service to others....his humility and kindness....a godly man, dare I say, at that young age. You rarely get all those traits in one human being which is why so many people counted it a great loss for him to die.

I was no exception.

But life continues on even in our grief and as it does....time begins it's healing on our souls.

For that I thank God.

My voice....la...la..la...la...

Am I getting a cold?

Am I getting old?

I think I'm just bold!!

But I'm not quite sold

That my voice will hold

Like a note of gold

Before I'm told

That I should fold.......

My voice up in a brown paper bag and silently seel away into the night, never to be heard again until I take up voice lessons in heaven.

Cough....sputter.....hack......bark.......don't think I have a cold.

Guess it's just my age.....can't sing like I used to....and "like I used to" wasn't all that great either.

Like I said, heaven should be good for voice lessons, but quite frankly, I don't even think He cares one way or another whether I'm singing on tune or off. He just enjoys me singing. Ya.

Worship practice, in case you haven't connected my thoughts here, was...i n t e r e s t i n g.

Queen City trip...

Pink roses surrounded Queen Elizabeth's statue..
I waited around for him to enter but alas, he did not......:-)

A very young Queen Elizabeth on her mount.

Family enjoyed the beauty of the legislative grounds too.

We watched the sun go down on our way to Regina.

Portion of the Legislative building...and rotunda.

I went to visit my boss, but he wasn't in....

I'm thinking.....Rome??? Regina???? Ya, beautiful architecture!

What's a prairie sunset without grain bins in

the foreground?

Mr. Moon travelled all the way with us.

Coming home today, fall was showing off.

It was a grand trip to the Queen City. I enjoy snooping around for various types of architecture wherever I go, but our Legislative buildings are quite spectacular when you get right up close to them. It was fun to capture various sides to the front of the building, at least.

The grounds are immaculate and still very lovely as there has been no frost as yet to fade their beauty.

It reminded me again too, of our deep connection to the Monarchy. It gave me a personal connection as well, with my half British roots........me being just first generation Canadian and all. The internet picked this up regarding her statue:

"The Queen, in regimental dress, sits side-saddle on her horse, as though she is reviewing the guards. Queen Elizabeth II Gardens is just one of the many beautifully landscaped areas around the Saskatchewan Legislative Building which overlooks Wascana Lake. In 1962 the Wascana Center was formed as a 2300 acre park where visitors and residents can visit the Legislative Building, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the University of Regina and other interesting buildings."

And it was a very grand time to be with our daughter and family. They are constantly in our hearts and our prayers......as is our son.

This post is a little disoriented but that's OK.....at least you get an idea of our weekend.

Yikes......

Gram and Gramps were driven around Regina by granddaughter!!!

She's doing very well, I must say....for driving only once before with her instructor.

One tends to forget the things one must learn when they begin to drive.

Judging distances especially....you know, if you have time to make a left turn before you get crunched by the oncoming car..... or time to make a right turn when a car is coming down the street.......... or how far into an intersection you should go before you end up being stranded in the middle of a red light situation......... or how far to go out into a right hand turn so you don't hit the curb.

Stuff like that.

Experience.....it's just one of the facts of life we must endure...good, bad or otherwise.

I don't think I would have been driving in a big city with my learners license, that's for sure!!

She's one brave cookie, our girl is!!!!

We're in a weather change....

Kind of interesting seeing fall make its grand entrance.

First the cloud comes edging its way over this huge expanse of prairie.

Then the wind comes whirling and ploughing through the fields of grain, bending and pushing the stocks into submission. The combines try frantically to beat out the wind...going all day and into the night..swathing and gathering all the grain they can before the killing frost.

But it isn't just an ordinary wind either. This wind that howls and roars into the Queen City comes from the great North where cold has become the norm. It makes you want to wear socks and a jacket...dare I say....mitts. It makes you close your windows at night. It makes you want to turn the furnace on.

They say now rain is expected during the next few days too.

I'm wondering if it will turn white......

Oh, and we spoke with son this morning on Skype. He doesn't have a web cam yet but it was great to hear his voice nonetheless. There's just something about hearing a person's voice instead of communicating through email and such and perhaps next time he'll have a web cam up and running. Being that we were all here together, we could speak with him and at least he could see us. It was all very good.

Good night all. I trust the church supper tonight was successful too....raising money for a church in the Congo. Great job Patrick!!!!

Familiar...or not......

On the way to Regina, the setting sun was beautiful. I took some pictures of that prairie sunset but we were traveling 120 kph, so they may not have turned out. I'll show you once we get home.

We arrive (in the dark) at daughter's place. Their little cul-de-sac is quite dark and I'm sure their house number is 214. I ring the door bell...no light on outside.....or in any of the condos on the whole street! Ringggggg......ringggggggggg........ringggggggggggggggggggggggggg No one.

Are we on the right road???? Yes.

Please God, don't let it be like the next to last time we came here to their other condo, where we were at the wrong place.....thank goodness no one came to the door THAT time.

Oh, wait. Someone is coming down the stairs.....finally. And they didn't leave a light on for us. Anyway, here we are dear, suitcases in hand and bags as well! We're just two weary travellers from the north country, ready to flop down on your couch and give you big hugs.

Door opens. Big fella......and not OUR big fella!!!

"Oh my!"...says I. "We're so sorry. We're at the wrong house." (I wanted to say "again" but was much too humiliated).

Picked up bags and suitcases and walked back to car.

Look in huge purse for daughter's address.

Blast.

Missed it by two numbers......2...1...2

So, here we are at last. Tired. Embarrassed. Comfy.

And in the morning we get to "see" son on Skype.

I better get to bed so my face will look as fresh as a daisy when he greets me on the web cam. I surely don't want to look like one of those "old ladies" who go around ringing unknown people's doorbells....now do I???

'nite all......

Where is he??

"Where's my Baby??", asks Mother Mary

to one of the wise men. I guess a Lamb will suffice.....

Where's MY "baby"? I guess the tree
with his picture will have to suffice.....this year....

But, the Tree WILL be here...small comfort....

September 24....

Three months from this night will be Christmas Eve...

Someone we love won't be joining us this Christmas...

Lord willing though, we will all have opportunity to celebrate His birth....wherever we are.

I'm looking forward to it.......

Oh my, there are only 91 days left.......thought you may want to know.

Reflection on reflections...

Can you tell I love clouds....especially reflected ones?

I thought so.

Hope you enjoy them too.....

When is it???

We go through life surrounded by changes. When we're young, we welcome anything different. It's new and exciting. The change challenges us to go forward, to learn and become something we didn't think we could become. Exciting times.

But when or at what point in our lives, do you think change becomes something not to be sought after....when it becomes arduous and an uphill climb, a time when it's not worth the effort to see it through???????

I took a picture of that old fella up there during our time this summer at Waskesiu. It looks as though he was a "regular" at this resort. Perhaps he was even here when that bandstand was in it's glory, when people were out having fun and looking for romance. I suppose some things just don't change, do they? But that entire beach area by the breakwater is all different now. It's all been changed. Now, there is no marina. ..moved to the other side of the lake. Now, there is no bandstand...but a reminder in a plaque as to where it once stood. Now, there is pavement and cement and new hotels and beach facilities and volleyball nets and garbage containers and new homes and cabins. It's very different, to be sure.

Change.

If we don't grab onto it, it leaves us in the dust, wondering what the heck happened. It's inevitable.

So, in answer to my question, I do believe change is always to be sought after, until our dying breath. We must embrace it and then let it go to be transformed into the future.

Inner clock....

As I sit here, foot propped up, enabling the swelling to secede, there are all manner of fall noises outside.

Geese are beginning to fly in uniformity. All summer they have been taking wing at various times but mostly they've been with their young, teaching them the finer points of survival. Now, they are gathering families together to get ready for their flight south.

They begin with small jaunts. From water where they rest and swim.... to fields that offer a source of food - perhaps grain or vegetables. Once they've eaten, it's flying back to their water source again. Whole families go and others join them in this ritual, until huge flocks can be seen taking off or landing....depending on the time of day.

They honk and make all manner of noises, communicating to one another. As they rise and take flight, their formation takes on the well-known "V". Not sure when they have meetings as to who does what and when but at some point, communication is spread that Goose #343 will lead the flock on it's evening flight to field 12-43-W2....and back again. They're giving their young a taste of what is to come and how the whole migration thing will happen. They must all take turns and give those young ones a bit of practice. Not sure. It's fun to think about though.

I find it all totally amazing!!!

Some days I wished I had an inner clock that would make me want to head south...but I suppose some of us have to stay around and shovel.:-(

A spin....

Husband and I took a spin this afternoon. We drove north of the city and down the old highway west.

Huge changes out there. Huge houses being built. Huge areas of land for sale.

Then we drove over to the Little Red River Park. It was hot and quiet and lovely. We saw only a handful of folks. There were trees turning color and the Little Red was slipping it's way over rocks and around fallen trees. The squirrels were frantically storing up for the winter by...you guessed it....squirreling away some pine cone seeds. No sounds were heard. No cars roared or honked. No one was yelling or calling out or laughing. No one. Nothing.

Just nature doing what nature does.

In stark contrast to where son now lives....with constant noise, people and people and more people - shoulder-to-shoulder, cars and taxis and cars and more taxis. No little parks with fresh, clean water running through it....without a myriad of people to drown out natures little whispers.

I guess 15 million people can do that to a city...

Plans gone south.....or not....

I feel so disappointed when plans fall apart....when I'm the cause!!

A beautiful trip all planned for Regina this weekend and I go and become malfunctioned at the junction.

There are other weekends, I know. But there won't be many weekends with nice weather. Those will become fewer and fewer.

But the weather will be nice here in P.A......... if I make it outside at all :-(

I won't be with my kids though.....that's what makes it so disappointing.

Time spent with those you love.....there is really nothing quite like it, is there....ya, I've got husband with me, and that's a gift in itself.

Hope you all enjoy YOUR weekend.....get out there and count yellow leaves or something.

Feat....feet.....

Having feet carry one around all day, day in and day out, is a feat in itself, don't ya' think???

Some of them have a harder time of it than others.

Some have spiked heeled shoes flung on them for the day.

Others have to deal with spurs or warts or callouses or corns.

And others yet, get healthy doses of athlete's foot, a grim reminder of public washrooms and showers.

Some too, have the beastly honor of carrying way too much extra weight....aaaahemmmmm.....

Then in some folks, the old arthritis rears its ugly head and feet get twisted and swollen and sore.

Others get bunions and have to have surgery....some get heal spurs and have to wear orthodics in their shoes.

WHAT ABOUT THE ONES THAT GET GOUT????? Ya. We're talkin' pain here folks...and swelling and misery.

Then after taking the anti-inflamatory drugs to get rid of the dang gout, you get so sick you wished you were back to simply having a sore foot!!!!! It's a great way to be thankful for small mercies, like having a pain in the foot, though.

So, thank you God for a sore foot....but would you please take away my nausea. Please. I'd rather suffer from the former than the latter....but, there are so many others folks worse off than me at this moment!!!!! How dare I complain...about anything!!!!

Update: Much to my horror, after re-reading this post, I totally neglected those feet that were unable to walk at all, those damaged by disease or illness or defects. See, I really am so blessed...and humbled....

Oh, the movements.....

In memory of a fellow who melted hearts, got us moving to more than just a sexy beat, and showed us a bit of freedom of expression in lurid body movement.;-)

Here's to Mr. Swayze.....the heart throb, good looking, macho, sensitive man of many talents!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo

I really believe he did have the time of his life!

Blessings on his memory.

Some words to think on....

I've been reading these words many times over and thinking about them and realizing just how far away I do stray from what God wants me to do and be....

Hebrews 12:28 to 13:3
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

Those words are a whole truck load to take in all at once. They give us an idea of God's holiness and reverence....but also they show his desire for us to help one another out in this life he's given us to live. Being hospitable to strangers?????!!!! (Not sure if I'm even hospitable to those I know, let alone strangers). Remember those in prison????!!!! (What better city than P.A. for that one!!) Those who are mistreated???!!!! ( I know of some folk who really are mistreated and neglected, so in that sense I actually can empathize).

See what I mean. I have a very long way to go in "being all I can be" for the sake of Christ.

May God help me on my journey......

A stroll......

Thanks for coming with me.....I just needed a walk through the flower garden today......

the catch......

I know my fishing days for this year are most likely over. That's kind of sad to me.

But it's really not the actual fishing I enjoy.

It's being on the water with the sun beating on my face.

It's the stillness and quietness and softness of a summer day.

It's the mirror-image reflections of trees and clouds and fish hooks.

All of these things are embedded and seared into my memory bank as fall and winter approach.

But the thing that will be remembered the most will be time spent with husband.....he, on the starboard, and me on the port bow.....sharing a jam and peanut butter sandwich, some grapes and a jug of water..........and once in a while.......a kiss..........

Fishing isn't always about catching fish.....;-)

Soup kitchen tomorrow...

It will be good to serve, to be a servant to that part of humanity that does not have the "things" I have and to allow myself to love without judgement.

I haven't been feeling well this evening. I trust it will clear up by morning.......in order to fulfill my commitment to help.

May God heal and give me rest this night....and may He watch over Matt, in his new surroundings, in getting climatized and getting to know his new city. I wonder if he has a Hindustani/English translation dictionary in his back pocket???.....probably not....:-)

Tomorrow we get the old web cam/microphone bought and hitched up.

The mission...

Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in response to Christ's plea that she make Him known to the poorest of the poor by her humble service of love. She envisioned a congregation of women and received her first companion in March 1949. The "little Society" of twelve members was officially established on 7 October 1950.
Mother Teresa's Successor Sr. M. Nirmala MC, Superior General of both the active as well as the contemplative branch
ADDRESS:
Motherhouse, c/o Sr. Mercy-Maria MC

Missionaries of Charity

54 A AJC Bose Road

Calcutta WB 700016

India

That's just a little blurb about the place where Matt will be volunteering in Kolkata (Calcutta).

The building above is the home of the Missionaries of Charity, the headquarters, as it were, where he will also be picking up his mail, etc. The group of folks in above picture, are people who are/have been there working and volunteering with the Sisters.

If you wanted to send him a greeting via mail, to a poor, lonely, fellow in the middle of 14 million people, you can at the address above. The mail comes to the kitchen area in that building where he'll eat his one provided meal each day - breakfast. He'll have to fend for himself for his other meal time.

As of now, 7:40 p.m. he was scheduled to arrive in Kolkata from New Delhi at 8:20 a.m. Friday (7:50 p.m. our time today). Not too sure if his last flight was delayed or not. Perhaps he'll let us know as he has opportunity.

If you have a Facebook account, he'll be posting various things there as well.

His email, should you wish to send him a message once in a while is:

matthewphilipdalekent@hotmail.com

Good night all.....and may God watch over this son of ours half way around the world.....