Wednesday, May 30, 2012

So far, so good.....

Hey, I've actually made it to the end of Wednesday without a serious melt down, heart failure, seizure or the like.

Maybe I'm not quite as busy as I figured I'd be.  It's all funny to look back at my last post and see how anxious I was about this week....fretting about not having enough time to do anything, about how much stuff I needed to pack into these seven days.  I know.  I know.  The week is only half over.  But now that I'm facing each day purposefully and making sure I've read my calendar for the day each morning, it's not really all that scary.  One thing at a time.

Good thing I don't have a very stressful job at work, otherwise, I probably WOULD become a well woven basket(case).

This week has been difficult and different from what I had envisioned on so many levels.  After attending a funeral on Monday, I think I'm again beginning to see life differently.  Perspectives abruptly change when something unforeseen is thrown into the mix.  We put on different lenses.  We become a bit more thankful....for life and health and family.  We see our moments as gifts that have been offered to us with love.  Accepting these gifts of time can be just as difficult as living them out....especially when we observe others who haven't been given the opportunity of breathing another breath.

OK I won't go all philosophical on ya!!!  But you see where I'm going with this. 

I forget to be thankful.

So, I shall attempt to do just that.  Be appreciative of everything that I have and all that I am.  A small thing.  Let's try this together, shall we?

Then there's the grim yet exciting reality of having only 16 days before retiring from my job. 

Whooooohaaaaaa....and only 20 days before we head to Waskesiu and 28 days until Brittney's grad.  And on and on it goes....my days....all numbered in a sense.....all a gift.

Sleep well, my friends.  I'll be dreaming of sun and boating and water....ahhhhhhhhhh

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Too much for one week....

Seems like there is simply too much happening this coming week and the next several, for that matter.

There are times when there is just so much going on that I'd love to find a hole and crawl in.

But I don't imagine I'll be finding a hole to hole up in, at least my size, any time soon.

I shall instead, face each day with determination and courage.

I've been thinking of friends, who today are suffering in their grief and the funeral that will be happening on Monday in that regard.  Pain.  Death.  Bleak realities of this thing we call 'life'!

So, besides a funeral, there will be another co-worker's retirement, a music practice,a Relay for Life walk, a wedding, a dance recital, a reception, a leading of worship....not to mention a dental appointment and minor surgery.....and that's just next week.  Oh, and then there's my job thrown in there too!

I shall begin breathing deeply, thinking purposefully (so I don't forget stuff), getting enough sleep and trying to be helpful to others in the midst of busyness (something I tend to fail at).

Then, of course, there is the "being a mom and grandma" and all that it represents...more failures and more disappointments (on my part).  Some days you just want to ask that all important question...."What the heck am I here for anyway????"  and when I ask that question, I tend to focus on all my inadequacies and "screw-ups" than anything else.  But that, of course, leads to a downward spiral where I'm not good to anyone....so I shall attempt not to focus on that.

"God, I just need to refocus, not to think negatively, and to be of some help....to someone.  That's all I ask.....today........thanks."

Sunday, May 20, 2012

The death of a dock...

We visited Waskesiu this afternoon.  Daughter was good to take us up there...just to check things out and have a look around.

The lake was down close to 6 inches.  That's good.  Leaves more room for an already over crowded beach.  Also, we found we can now walk on the breakwater without having to get our feet wet.  The boardwalk however, is another story.

Last year during the most savage of all the summer storms, it nearly tore that lovely old boardwalk apart.  It clung hard and fast to the shore as wave after wave took aim and attempted to crush it in a merciful death blow.  It succeeded just enough to cripple it for life.  The far end was left crumpled and torn apart, unable to welcome visitors on it's deck as it had for many decades. 

By the sound of it, there is no hope for it's restoration.  It will be left to drag it's sunken self piece by piece into the depths...perhaps to wash up on some far flung shore as a hefty chunk of drift wood.

A sad scenario...

Other than that sad bit of 'dock news', Waskesiu is still as lovely and refreshing as it has been for the past 50 years.  May it ever be so...


The Boardwalk - after the storm - 2011

No improvement - 2012

I found some other pictures on my camera too.....

 Pastor Stacia telling the "children's story" last week.

Brittney in her "work-out" ballet duds.

I like the leg warmers....reminds me of the '80's:)

So, all in all, other than the death of a dock, it was a deliciously delightful day to doddle.


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Speechless...

It's almost like I've run out of words.  Is that possible when there are so many things rolling around in my brain...conversations about this and that and mostly about my family and my upcoming retirement and all that it represents.

I never have been one to express myself verbally...I'm kind of the silent type.  But words always seem to be able to flow when I get typing.....but not right now.

I think I'm beginning to let things settle in my mind a bit before I get to letting those thoughts come out on the written page. 

One of the things I'm thinking about though is the gift my co-workers want to get me.  It's all very lovely but I really don't know what to tell them.  They asked me what I wanted but I feel a bit embarrassed by giving them an answer.  They know I like photography and I do think I'd love to upgrade a little bit just to take some better quality pictures but those new babies are a huge chunk of cash.  Perhaps the money they collect could be put towards something like that.  I feel it to be a privilege to accept a gift from my co-workers and I want them to be blessed by their giving but I know I also will be blessed in receiving.  Giving and receiving are reciprocal...both parties end up being blessed.

I've also been wondering whether I should buy some flowers for my deck since we're going to be away, Lord willing, for a lot of the summer.  I remember last year's flowers with much fondness....



So stay tuned...I may find something worthwhile and intelligent to speak about in the coming days.  Just don't hold your breath:)

Monday, May 14, 2012

My sunny flowers....

By now, if you haven't yet figured it out, I love flowers.

Roses are my numero uno...but I think daisies are pretty close to the top.  They were my flower of choice on my wedding day...some( almost) 44 years ago.

The managers and boss at our work place bought us flowers for Administrative Assistants day a few weeks back.  Here is how they looked, sitting prettily in a sun-filled window sill.  Beauty....






Light really does make all the difference when attempting to capture the subtleties of a white flower.  I could look at these for hours and hours and hours....

I liked my other flower too...









In this one there was an 'almost' ballerina face plant!

Both flowers are beautiful.

Both flowers are gifts.

What more could a person ask for.

Sleep well....the retirement is T minus 32  and counting.....not sure what the T stands for but it sounds good when they blast the space crafts off into space!  Thought I'd use it too...kind of like I'm being blasted off into another world:)

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The beginning of the end....

Today at work, I took everything that belonged to me off my bulletin board and wall.  It looks bare.  Trying to make space for someone new to move in...whomever that may be.

It left me feeling uneasy, dare I say....sad.  I think if I do these things little by little, the leaving part won't hit me quite as hard.

Ya.  Who am I kidding?

Change can be like getting it over the head with a 2 X 4.

I had better start practicing what I've been preaching for months.  Change is good, Donkey.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

There was a surprise party...30th wedding anniversary party for Randy and Teresa Collins. (Ken worked with Randy for a good many years at SaskTel.)  They were totally caught off guard with the typical 'deer in the headlights' reaction....if it wasn't a surprise, they were pretty darn good actors!

An evening of visiting, eating, dancing, drinking and the general good times that wonderful people have for their friends!  We didn't know anyone there really, but we enjoyed watching it all shake down as the evening progressed.

The "Goodie" table!

Their sons, Bradley and Jason patiently waited for mom and dad, corsages in hand!

A nostalgic look at family photo of their 'younger' years...

Pinning on the corsages was a bit iffy...:)

Randy's folks took to the dance floor.

After 30 years there is still that look of love....

There was even a cake cutting...yummy!

It was good to be surrounded by a family that new the art of hospitality, of caring for their guests and making them feel welcome and special.  Randy and Teresa are like that...good, amazing people!

Ken and I really appreciated all the work that the family did to make this happen too.  Many people worked hard and it turned into an evening we....and I'm sure everyone else will remember for a good long time...especially the guests of honor!

May God bless their marriage in wonderful and exciting ways.  Perhaps we'll get invited to their 40th!!??

Saturday, May 5, 2012

My lovely....

She sprung into the apartment, this long willowy teenager, disappeared and reappeared as this:





She was so excited to have her new ballet recital costume and had to show us.  There were pictures taken this morning at the dance theatre but following that she headed for our place.

We're glad she did.

I will miss her when she heads off to Montreal to attend Concordia University this summer.  She is a part of our lives...but as I've said before, life just continues on it's neverending journey of change...revealing new and exciting places and experiences.  And that is what it will be for her too.

In the meantime, she has many things to experience right here....a dance recital for one!!!  Now that should be a whole lot of fun to see!  Looking forward to it at the end of the month.

We are proud of you, darling Brittney!