The days are lengthening...

Look ma....more light!!!

The sun rises now at 9:05 a.m. and sets at 5:22 p.m.

That is cause for whooping it up.

We're on our way to the longest day
And that makes me quite happy
There's Valentine's, Easter and Mother's Day yet
And don't forget your pappy!

The sun will rise as we get to work
More daylight will make us have bare toes,
It soon will be that we'll shed our coats
The sun will have much shorter shadows.

In the meantime we must remain totally calm
While February and March bring us snow piles
But we know what cold is and so we'll all see
Frost, sun dogs and snow drifts for miles.

 Happy continuous winter!

How about a year and 6 months...???

You know how sometimes you plan something.....and the reasons why you planned it like you did, make sense at the time.

Then over time, various circumstances occur and you find out you have to change your plans.

So, as of today, I'll be adding another 6 months to that year before I retire....so far.

Ya.  Only 497 days now....as opposed to the originally planned 327 days!  But who's counting???

So much can happen in 497 days.  My teeth could fall out.  I could break my leg.  Technically, I could become a great-grandma....technically, of course....or even a grandma again....should some miracle of the heavens occurred.  I could become mayor of Prince Albert or climb Mount Everest.  I could become a better person.  Perhaps I could become a worse person...mercy!   I could lose weight and shrink in height.  What about the old "becoming a millionaire"!  I could also lose everything I possess...which isn't much, come to think of it, but a whole lot more than some folks.  I could have a vision and see it through.  I could become closer to my God, which would do me a lot of good!  I could go bungee jumping or take a chair, sit in the Gobi desert and tan my legs.

Sky is the limit, as they say.

Hmmmm....let's see.  So many possibilities in those 497 days.

Oh....and I could of course, be in heaven tomorrow.  Can't forget that one.

Think I'll start out by going to work tomorrow.

I'll see after that....'nite.

A week of grieving...

I think that it would be honourable to have a week of grieving just to honour my dear friend, Florence, who died Saturday night.

I suppose I could do it myself in various ways.  I could fast, in order to concentrate on her life as she lived it here on earth.  I could listen to some grand music of the Masters on BBC radio.  Perhaps I could wear black each day to remind me of her death.  If I had some kind of flag, I would lower it to half mast, as my way of saluting such a regal lady.

But of course, knowing my friend, she would have none of this.

She would want me to celebrate the fact that God was gracious to her in this life and blessed her (and I know it would be because of her faithfulness).  No fasting!

She'd want me to listen to some good music too.  We used to sit beside one another in the church choir as sopranos...with Wendell leading us.  She'd hit all the "E's" while I attempted to squeek up to the much lower notes!!!  She loved music and loved to sing....and sing together, we did!

She wouldn't want me to wear black either.  We spoke about death quite often, actually.  She was my friend when I grieved the loss of my brother, my father and my mother....and I to her, at the loss of her dear parents.  We shared grief.  We weren't afraid of death because we knew after this life, there is something much more exciting!  So we often would speak of the great celebration with God when we leave this earth.  I think she wouldn't mind if I wore bright colors this week, to celebrate her entry into Glory!

And lowering a flag in her honor????  No.  She was much too humble a servant for that kind of thing to ever happen in her honor.  Humility was such a part of her but she, of course, would never recognize that part of herself....but humility is just that, isn't it.

I remember the last time I sat with her in the foyer after church a few months back.  She remembered my name but was unable to recall any of the things we did together over the years...so, we just sat together and I held her hand and looked at her and smiled and she would smile back.  The spirit we had between us had never left and there was a "knowing" and a "sharing" even in the midst of her memory loss.

There is something about God's Spirit that transcends all our physical-ness.  It goes deep into the soul and allows us a sense of joy, of contentment, of something "other" from this world.

And that is where I am today.  I feel her presence with me...with us...encouraging me to go on and get God's work done here, while I am able.  There is much to be done.  People need loving and to be cared for and to be heard and helped along the way.

May God allow me a sense of Florence's joy and contentment as I celebrate her life in these days.

Here is one of her favorite hymns...sung by Chris Rice...enjoy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o

My Tribute...

My dear friend in the Lord and former co-worker, Florence Dice, went from this earth last night, and on to enjoy her eternal reward that God has prepared for her.  To say she will be missed is an understatement.

I recall the first time I met her...at church.  She was gentle and soft-spoken and sincere.  She truly listened...and remembered not only my name the next time I saw her, but what our conversation had been about.

She and I worked together every day for nine years at the Bible College.  That's a good long time to spend with a person and her sweetness was evident with every single person she spoke with.  Nothing was too much for her to do when asked....and often she would offer before she was asked.  She saw needs around her and met them with a joyful spirit.  She was my mentor and taught me about patience and kindness and genuine love for others. We laughed together every day...or cried...depending on the circumstances.  But she took on the emotions and feelings of those around her and empathized. 

She had little, in the eyes of the world but she gave sacrificially not only to her church but to those in need.  I do not believe she said "no" to anyone.

Never once did I hear her raise her voice to any one or any thing....other than raising her voice in song and praise to God!

She remembered not only my birthday each year, but everyone I knew, including all of my own family members.  I have kept some of those cards with words of encouragement and friendship and love.

She worked hard and tirelessly in her positions both at the Bible College and in her capacity as Canada Conference Secretary....and her work was meticulous. Our motto together as we worked was "Great life, if you don't weaken!"...and then we'd laugh.  After talking about various things that needed to be done in the Bible College office, we would look at each other and say "Well, let's have a go!" (in an English accent, of course, as both our fathers were Englishmen)....and we would make our way to our respective desks with a set determination to get the job done.

She was a friend to everyone.  I don't mean "friend" as in, a person whom you are acquainted with, but "friend" as in "one who goes the extra mile"....as in "one who remembers you in special ways"...as in one who sends Christmas cards to you long after you have moved away....year after faithful year".  Some of you know what I'm talking about here....

Florence had a heart for God.  She was the closest to being a saint as anyone I have ever known.  She loved Jesus and it was evident that she followed after Him in all she did and said.  A true believer.  A faithful one.  A saintly one.  A beloved one.

Florence has left a legacy to everyone she knew...a legacy of grace and compassion and love.  I know there will be many, many tributes offered to her memory as the days pass.

I could write pages on this dear, fragile, gentle woman but even that would never do her justice.

She will now be enjoying the rewards that God has said would be waiting for her.  How happy I am that this has come about...free of pain and suffering.

Today, I offer a heartfelt tribute in memory of this marvelous lady, my dear friend, Florence.  A life well lived.  A life that changed many lives for the good.....of which I am blessed to say, I am one.

Florence had a favourite Bible verse and it read:
"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."  I Peter 5:7

Her favorite color was pink...she loved pink roses.  These are for you, dear friend....

Florence in her last "official" capacity of service to her church...

Gateway Covenant....the lighting of the Christ Candle

in the Advent Wreath, Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

 2009 while her great-niece, Sara, read Scripture

and dear care-giver and special niece, Linea,

helped her along.

Peace to her memory.....

Now what???...

When one has been challenged to be better, we can either rise to that challenge or go for an extended trip to the Sahara.

I suppose we can all do better at most things but to be passionately challenged in such a way as we were this weekend is to know there really are things that can be improved upon.

I know I am beginning to think a bit outside the box lately when it comes to religion and church and I think that is OK.  I want to be able to change so that I can be of more help to more people....not to compromise my beliefs, although to some, that may appear to be the case, but to be able to really love people...not allowing room for  "religiousity".  I don't need any more of that stuff. 

What I need is a desire within me to be led by Holy hands...into newness and life.

Sounds like a piece of cake.

In the challenge that was presented us, as we sought to find out exactly where our own church was, we came away having various thoughts and emotions that were uncomfortable.  Uncomfortable because it means we have to do some hard work and we wonder if we are up for this challenge.

I think we are on a presipice.  We can jump and trust in The Arms at the bottom to catch us and hold us.  We can also stay there on the ledge, sit down and be safe....immovable.

A choice.

I dislike choices.

A lot.

So, I sit and ponder and read and re-read and think about all the ideas, concepts and truths that were offered by so many dear friends.  I sit and think about the difficult choices that churches must make in order to be of more service and help.  I think about how vital it is to be more closely linked to the Spirit of God in order to accomplish anything.

God, may I have enough passion for how Jesus went about ministering to folks that I would become like him.

Discussions

Reacquainting with old friends.

Dr. Curtis Chicoine....our friend.:)

The guest lecturerer - Dr. John Wenrich

"Where are you, as a church, on this picture?"...was the question posed to all.

Folks shared deeply...their hopes and failures.

Charlie and Sandy Chicoine ...and their son, Clinton.

Julia - our Conference Treasurer from Winnipeg.

Some of the folk from Gateway.

Melody....listening....

Phil Loseth and Judy Nelson

We drove home and stopped into our friends place to see their new cat, "Boots".  We were amazed to see how much he looked like our old cat, "Chiang".  Same markings, same sweet disposition.  That made me happy!

And now for a good rest.

It was a birth day....

My super great co-worker had a celebration today....she celebrated the day she was born!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TWILA!!!

She received these roses from our boss and his assistant plus had a visit from her mom and dad who came bearing gifts too!  The Birthday Song was sung by co-workers and all-in-all, it was one terrific day!  She deserved it!

Forgiveness...

I think I'm beginning to understand why Jesus said we are to forgive 70 times 7.  That's a whole lot of times!

It's because we mess up constantly.  We flap off at the mouth.  We let our baser natures take over and we think we are the only person worth listening to.  Our ego tells us that what we have to say must certainly be correct and more important than what anyone else has said....after all, WE said it, therefore, it must be true AND important.  And we raise our voice to make it stand firm.

How very silly.  It even looks silly to bystanders.

When a person acts like that, they need to be forgiven.  They need to be shown another way.  They need to be led by example.

How do we do that.

I think it takes letting the Spirit of God mix it up a whole lot with our spirit, to infuse our beings with extra-ordinary love...and only then can we truly forgive for the sake of the other....and not go the route of anger and bitterness.  We can.  But love allows for the better choice.

Forgiveness = Love = Forgiveness = Love.....get the picture?   Ya.

Speaking of pictures....here is the home of the Narrows otters of Waskesiu...both summer and winter.

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