It was extravagant, elegant, extraordinary, excellent and all around the epitamy of entertainment.
That was my retirement party.
Never in all my life have I experienced four hours of total unabashed joy and thankfulness. I cannot even describe my feelings and thoughts...so I won't even try....not yet anyway. Perhaps some day all the right words will come out here to tell you all about it but for now we shall say it was totally wonderful.
But it's now a matter of getting myself into some form of.....something.......something I've never experienced before either....I feel like I'm expected to be somewhere but I don't know where that somewhere is. I must find out about it all. Can't quite describe this feeling either.
I think I'm in some kind of nether world where I don't really fit anywhere but must just go along with my moments until they seem to fit into something concrete. Does that make sense??? If it doesn't, I can understand that, 'cause I really don't understand it all yet myself.
Go with the flow....go with the flow.....it usually ends up in the ocean....really BIG ocean. We shall see.
One day left to get trailer packed, and get everything ready for the big trip Wednesday morning. It should take us at least an hour to get there:)
Now, for another retirement luncheon tomorrow for our good friend, Brian. Another one bites the dust....heeheehee
Hope they're all managing at work without me....not sure I am without them...:(
Nite all...I'll be taking my laptop with me so I can keep in touch. Ta ta then dear ones...I shall catch a fish or two and all will be well with the world.....nite...
Monday, June 18, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Excitement.....
I'm so excited I can hardly stand it...like a kid....at Christmas....
Lord, give me grace to accept it all.....
Lord, give me grace to accept it all.....
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Miracles still happen....
Today we had the wonderful opportunity of welcoming a church member's daughter as a guest to the worship service. Now that in itself isn't really earth shattering or abnormal. We welcome all kinds of visitors to our worship time each Sunday.
But this daughter was diagnosed with cancer...in several areas of her body. I must confess, when I heard of the diagnosis, I didn't have much faith that this person would make it through the month!
Many months later, there she sat amongst us....not only alive, but healthy and looking beautiful and happy to be with her parents for a few days. The family is grateful for the prayer support they found at Gateway...even with the daughter not being present for all the time she was sick....still we prayed for God's mercy and healing.
Funny.....and miraculous....how that goes.
God wants our full attention and sometimes it takes unusual circumstances in order for us to pay attention.
Today was an encouraging day to watch the mercies of the Lord unfold.
I was grateful to have been there to see it. Just another small step forward on my journey towards God.
But this daughter was diagnosed with cancer...in several areas of her body. I must confess, when I heard of the diagnosis, I didn't have much faith that this person would make it through the month!
Many months later, there she sat amongst us....not only alive, but healthy and looking beautiful and happy to be with her parents for a few days. The family is grateful for the prayer support they found at Gateway...even with the daughter not being present for all the time she was sick....still we prayed for God's mercy and healing.
Funny.....and miraculous....how that goes.
God wants our full attention and sometimes it takes unusual circumstances in order for us to pay attention.
Today was an encouraging day to watch the mercies of the Lord unfold.
I was grateful to have been there to see it. Just another small step forward on my journey towards God.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Too busy for a countdown...
Yes, I do change my "countdown to retirement" each day at work and we're down to 9 days remaining.
But I feel too busy to think about how few days are left at work.
Why am I feeling so completely overwhelmed?
I feel like I'm not quite in control of the situation...but the days tick away anyway.
Last minute things to get done before the 15th, people I want to speak with because I know it won't happen to any great length on the night of my party. I feel I owe it to people to sit and chat a bit and let them know how important they've been to me over these many years. Family members do that when they leave home.
So, I shall attempt...in the next few days, to make these last days count for something, other than having a clean desk and wiped out computer. It is possible...I shall make it so.
When I recall the many people that have entered into my life over these years, I know I am a blessed person. Some folks I haven't seen in a very long time, some I wished I could see again but I have let our friendships lapse....for whatever reason. Guess I'm thinking of Eunice right now...someone I love and appreciate but haven't made a purposeful effort to get in touch with again. Folks that have meant a great deal to me over these years but our paths haven't crossed for a time. Perhaps in my retirement I will again make time for important things in life...connecting with people I care a great deal about.
That will be one of my goals!
Onward and upward, as they say!
Tomorrow we will say farewell to another co-worker, Dave D. He is missed already. A very fine fellow, and a superb artist not to mention a "family man".
My, there are a lot of folks retiring....and Brian H. will be the week following my party. I think I started an epidemic in February when I announced my retirement! Great balls of fire!
Sleep well, dear friends! May God give you rest....and good health....
But I feel too busy to think about how few days are left at work.
Why am I feeling so completely overwhelmed?
I feel like I'm not quite in control of the situation...but the days tick away anyway.
Last minute things to get done before the 15th, people I want to speak with because I know it won't happen to any great length on the night of my party. I feel I owe it to people to sit and chat a bit and let them know how important they've been to me over these many years. Family members do that when they leave home.
So, I shall attempt...in the next few days, to make these last days count for something, other than having a clean desk and wiped out computer. It is possible...I shall make it so.
When I recall the many people that have entered into my life over these years, I know I am a blessed person. Some folks I haven't seen in a very long time, some I wished I could see again but I have let our friendships lapse....for whatever reason. Guess I'm thinking of Eunice right now...someone I love and appreciate but haven't made a purposeful effort to get in touch with again. Folks that have meant a great deal to me over these years but our paths haven't crossed for a time. Perhaps in my retirement I will again make time for important things in life...connecting with people I care a great deal about.
That will be one of my goals!
Onward and upward, as they say!
Tomorrow we will say farewell to another co-worker, Dave D. He is missed already. A very fine fellow, and a superb artist not to mention a "family man".
My, there are a lot of folks retiring....and Brian H. will be the week following my party. I think I started an epidemic in February when I announced my retirement! Great balls of fire!
Sleep well, dear friends! May God give you rest....and good health....
Monday, June 4, 2012
Upright n' barely breathin'.....
Hey, I actually made it through last week fairly unscathed...other than a stitched up side where doctor "surgically removed" some scary looking moles and shipped them off for a viewing. Well, then of course, there's the regular tendinitis in my left Achilles heel and my right wrist....at least it seems to balancing itself out some. Nothing to really complain about, that's for sure.
Relay for Life was terrific....other than a car mishap by one of our teammates (wasn't hurt or anything); some sad recollections of those who have passed away recently from cancer and a general feeling of lethargy which seemed to permeate the team this year. Perhaps we're running out of steam. We came in 4th place and raised over $9700.this year so we are very grateful to folks for supporting our team in the many and various fund raising events that took place in the Forest Centre building. (Many are already complaining that there won't be a cookie day until the fall!!!!)
Then we attended a funeral for a very old friend of the family and caught up with that family...some of whom I hadn't connected with for close to 50 years! It was a great celebration of his life, a life rich with dedication and 'joi de vivre'....a fun person with a laugh you could hear over everyone else's. He was a man of integrity and a man who loved his wife and family...and it showed! May God bless the memory of Edgar Wood.
A dance recital followed the funeral. Ya, the weekend was like a roller coaster of sorts...screeching around corners.....slowly climbing the next hill only to find another crashing downward loop to take your breath away. The recital was like that...breathtaking! Had to wait until almost the end before our ballerina made her debut with seven other young beauties. She danced and leaped and bended and bowed all to the music of "Love Story"...ending with a presentation of a rose which she gracefully clasped in her willowy fingers....and it was over. I applauded long and hard for my ballerina, for my darling Brittney and presented her with one rose from each of us...Gram, Gramps and Mom following her performance. She came back to our place and I took a few more pictures.
It was all quite grand and glorious! Her mom and grandpa and I were so proud of her!
Sleep well, friends...another week is upon us. If today is any indication, it should be a gooder!
Relay for Life was terrific....other than a car mishap by one of our teammates (wasn't hurt or anything); some sad recollections of those who have passed away recently from cancer and a general feeling of lethargy which seemed to permeate the team this year. Perhaps we're running out of steam. We came in 4th place and raised over $9700.this year so we are very grateful to folks for supporting our team in the many and various fund raising events that took place in the Forest Centre building. (Many are already complaining that there won't be a cookie day until the fall!!!!)
Then we attended a funeral for a very old friend of the family and caught up with that family...some of whom I hadn't connected with for close to 50 years! It was a great celebration of his life, a life rich with dedication and 'joi de vivre'....a fun person with a laugh you could hear over everyone else's. He was a man of integrity and a man who loved his wife and family...and it showed! May God bless the memory of Edgar Wood.
A dance recital followed the funeral. Ya, the weekend was like a roller coaster of sorts...screeching around corners.....slowly climbing the next hill only to find another crashing downward loop to take your breath away. The recital was like that...breathtaking! Had to wait until almost the end before our ballerina made her debut with seven other young beauties. She danced and leaped and bended and bowed all to the music of "Love Story"...ending with a presentation of a rose which she gracefully clasped in her willowy fingers....and it was over. I applauded long and hard for my ballerina, for my darling Brittney and presented her with one rose from each of us...Gram, Gramps and Mom following her performance. She came back to our place and I took a few more pictures.
It was all quite grand and glorious! Her mom and grandpa and I were so proud of her!
Sleep well, friends...another week is upon us. If today is any indication, it should be a gooder!
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
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
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