Just take it off....

My foot, that is.

Pain.

S O M U C H P A I N

I may take another stab at the doctor, so to speak. Perhaps there are drugs I should have to get this foot in better shape...a bit more quickly.

Owwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Imagine a part of your body that seems like it's going to blow up into minute pieces any minute because it's so swollen....but not before a hatchet man comes along with his set of torture needles that he uses to stick people with and jabs all 25,000 of them into the large toe joint on my right foot.

It's the best I can do to explain it.....:(

The pain of it all...

Six women gather every Sunday night to read a book and study it.

We're watching DVD's and reading the book entitled "The Shack" by W. Paul Young. It's all about facing our pain and what happens when we don't....when we hide it or keep it all stashed away in our little "Shacks". The book is a marvelous analogy of a man and his place of "great sadness" and how he journeys out of that place and what it takes for him to do so.

We talked about how relationships are vital with others...others whom we can love and trust enough with our stories. It takes a lot of courage to do it, but it needs to be done in order for our lives to become pain-free...for them to become 'real'....genuine....authentic.....no facade....

I expect this book will change all six of us. When we look at our faults and pain objectively, yes, it usually changes us...for the better.

I have an extra copy of the book, if any of you would like to read it.

Let me know.....

Good times....mostly....

We had a good time this morning at our women's "Progressive Brunch". Had breakfast at Tracy's home, did a good amount of visiting together and off we went to Mary Jane's place for the main course lunch.....with more visiting and connecting.

Those become special moments in my life. It's times like that where we learn a bit more about each other and see where each other is heading or what we are experiencing at this particular time.

We missed quite a few of our church women today too. People have other commitments and cannot be everywhere, which is why these times are precious when we are able to visit.

Since this gout thing is coming back with a vengeance, I actually sat with my foot up for part of the time. I hate drawing attention to myself like that....so silly....but when that foot gets swelling and the pain is unbearable, you just do what you have to do. So a foot rest was really helpful!!!

Now to make it through our Sunday worship gathering in the morning at church. I won't be putting my foot up while I attempt to lead the singing, THAT'S for sure. :-(

Nite all......

Keep it shining...

Here is my daily view from where I sit at the Forest Centre and my "work" workstation.... compelte with flat screen monitor! My co-worker and I believe we are the most fortunate people in the entire city to be able to look out onto what many people consider the most beautiful of all buildings in the city of Prince Albert. There is no other window in the whole building that looks out on the front grounds as well as the architecturally spectacular atrium. Twila and I have it all. We are the lucky ones. Just the two of us.

When we first moved into the building, we were always shining and cleaning and keeping it looking spectacular. But like most things our eyes became accustomed to this beauty. We began to take it for granted. It was just always there....with the sun beaming in and casting shadows from one season to another. We saw it but we didn't see it...if you know what I mean.

I think that's true with people and relationships too. Anything actually. When something is new we stare at it and expound on its qualities and lovliness. We give it compliments and talk about it and keep it always in the forefront of our minds. We enjoy being around it and giving it great care. We get out the soft cloth and shine and shine and shine until it glows.

After a while we get a bit busy and we kind of ignore it for a few days...then those few days turn into weeks and months, perhaps even years. One day we look at it and wonder why it looks so dull, unpolished, unkept.....old....and we realize that we were neglectful. We didn't do our part to keep it brilliant and new. The dust settled on it. Things had piled up on it and it began to look cluttered and worn.

What does it take to refurbish a relationship, you ask?

Ya. It takes work. You have to get rid of the stuff that keeps sneeking up on it to make it look unhealthy. The cob webs have to be vacuumed. You just have to take out your best polishing cloth and start to give it the ole' shine-o-la....on each other. Once those things that hinder the relationship are swept away, we can once again see the initial relationship with all its beauty and love. There may be a few scratches now but that's OK. Gives it character!

So, remember to keep that polishing cloth handy. Relationships need constant care and a bit of a shine-up too!!! It's never too late to refurbish....

For the birds....

If I had a whole whack of time, I'd spend it watching birds. I love how they hop and peck and peep and screech and do all manner of things worth viewing.

Sometimes they even dig into the grass. I suppose they're eating bugs or perhaps seeds but they almost get covered up they dig down so deeply. All that digging I think, makes them stronger and enables them to provide for themselves........they must persevere and work hard or go hungry. However, there always appears to be an abundance of what the birds need for nourishment....everywhere.

I do wished I could get a bit closer to that Blue Jay though. He's a crafty one...or perhaps he's a tad shy, although hearing him one would not believe him to be a shrinking violet! A simple little movement has him scurrying to attempt to hide his outlandish bold coat of blue. I have yet to get a decent picture of him!

The most important thing about them though is the fact that they are provided for...and so am I.......constantly. I was reminded of that when I read:

Matthew 6:25, 26 (The Message)
"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds."

I sometimes forget that part....

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.