It's been a while...

How on earth can I be so busy in this retirement mode????  It's totally crazy!

There are things going on every day...good things, mind you, but it all takes time.

Today, just as an example, we got up.  That in itself is time consuming.  After we did the bathroom sashay, you know where two people have to share the sink, toilet, shower space, moving from one spot to another so as not to greatly disturb the balance of the early morning....we got dressed and sauntered out into a chilly March morning to have coffee at A&W.  Won't it be grand when we can just leave the apartment sans winter coat/boots/gloves/scarf???  Ya!

Well that takes us up to mid day.  Afternoon finds me checking emails, doing any typing I may have to do for various reasons, then I relax a bit with my feet up and my iPhone on my lap...until husband calls us to our next coffee break for the afternoon.  On with coat/gloves/boots/scarf and off we go to a different coffee destination.

Did I mention that these coffee destinations aren't just time out of the apartment!  No!!!  They are opportunities to run into old friends, meet new ones, watch people interact...and of course, a time for the two of us to chat about various things...or not.  Sometimes we even have a disagreement while sitting having coffee which makes for a great time for others to do some people watching.  Oh, we don't punch and kick and bite but we surely can make some unusual body gestures.  I think we could be hilarious to watch.  Anyway, by the time the coffee/tea is completed, the disagreement usually is also.

Then it's home time again, after picking up necessary items at the grocery store for supper, or whatever.

Supper comes and goes...with the "Easy Listening" channel on during our fine dining.  Husband makes the supper, I set the table and do the dishes. Sometimes he helps...but I don't let him wash!!!

Then the evening is upon us where we watch some telly, ready ourselves for a meeting if one has been scheduled, or just sit and read....or get to this computer.

The "heart fit" program is now on hold as husband is simply in too much pain from his arthritic hip to do much walking.

By ten-thirty, we are usually in bed and attempting to get comfortable with all of our aches and pains...and taking the odd pill or so to ease that pain.

During those events, there are times of thinking and reflecting and praying too.  Our lives are so interconnected...family, friends, acquaintances...that we are constantly having others in our thoughts as we go about our day.  Ya...others.  Husband and I were chatting this afternoon about the legacy we will leave behind...not financial or material...but our legacy of care, consideration, love and availability to others.  I realize there are those who would prefer not to be in my company but I would like to be at least available to them, just in case. Those are the things that we will hopefully be remembered for.  Then we spoke of the times when we loose patience, speak rudely, have a lack of respect for others and if that is what we portray, then that too will be our legacy.  It's a decision making thing.  We can choose to be positive rather than negative.  Sounds simple.  But you and I know there are folks who tempt us into negative conversations, ones that hurt others.  These are the things we must be constantly aware of...to now allow our tongues to become poisonous by negativity, thereby, infecting anyone who hears us.

See, I tend to get on these rants now and again.  But they are heartfelt and I need to constantly remind myself of these things.

Anyway, that's my day in a nutshell.  Some may call it boring...and you may.  I call it living life and waiting on God to use me wherever and whenever he thinks is best...if I'm willing, of course:)  That's another thing I'm working on!

9:30 PM.  Time to head to the shower, nurse this 5th cold of the season with some Tylenol and Benylin and thank God for today.

Nite!

 And as we enter Holy Week, may we all enter it with a sense of anticipation and hope.  Hope was offered to us...how shall we respond?

Stood up....

Yep...I've been stood up.

Had planned on Skyping with son and coffee-ing with daughter, not to mention go grocery shopping with husband today.

All of them copped out!

Each had really good reasons for doing so, though.

Son forgot he had a farewell party to attend this evening.  Forgiven.

Daughter was tired, not to mention having a crisis regarding something to do with car and keys and well, you know....we've all been there at one time or another:)  Forgiven.

Husband and his friend had planned on sausage making this morning, which included an afternoon session of smoking all of them as well.  No grocery shopping.  Not Forgiven....just totally overjoyed...yay...no grocery shopping....yipppppeeeeeee.....we went for coffee instead.  I hate grocery shopping!  I love my husband!

Granddaughter didn't get into any of this.  She is so busy with three jobs, she doesn't have time to even spit....not that she would.....but you never know girls these days. Guys don't have dibs on everything gross!

It was a good day nonetheless.

Perhaps tomorrow will bring about another good day.

I'm beginning to actively hope for spring now....even though it snowed today.  At least it was bright...a spring bright where you felt better wearing sun glasses even though it was cloudy. Ya, you know...a Saskatchewan Spring Bright!

Hope those of you who are away are enjoying warmth and sun and just everything good....

Pretty soon...these fellows will show up and we will know winter is over!

It's acting like March....

First we have the sun rising noticeably earlier each day, not to mention eating supper in full daylight!

Then we have the usual snow at 10 AM, sun and melting at 2 PM, snow again at 5 PM and perhaps a tad bit of rain in between....the same day, of course.

The wind is picking up...considerably!

Folks are walking outside without mitts or toques.

Vehicles look like they've just come from back-roading:)

People seem to smile a bit more than a month ago when it was minus 38 C.

Pot holes have swallowed up half the population...I'm one of the few left to tell the tale!

And on and on it goes...until we see a crow...then we know, for certain, spring has arrived...not to mention the crocuses soon to flaunt their silvery blue shawls on those first warm days out on the prairie.

Yes, I'm gearing up for a weather change...oh shoot, just read the weather forecast.

Fifteen cm. of snow are heading this way on Sunday.  But, hey, that's March, right?

So, dress in layers for those sudden balmy afternoons of plus 3 or so.  And keep in the middle of the streets, if you're driving.  Sure, it may cause a head-on collision but at least you won't disappear into the endless depths of pothole hell.

Enjoy your winter/spring/whatnot kind of day out there.

I love these short months and long icicles!

Family Day...

Today, being a holiday and all, we decided to take Shannon out for her birthday supper today, rather than her actual day tomorrow, February 19, as it will be a work day for her. We went to Sopranos.

We couldn't eat fast enough!

All the guests in the restaurant had their coats on, eating their expensive meals.  None of us could enjoy the lovely cuisine as we were dealing with frost bite and lowering blood pressure due to hypothermia.

A slight exaggeration but you get the picture.

You would think that in a country where well below freezing temperatures are a daily occurrence,  establishments would see to it that guests didn't have to endure that inside as well.  I wouldn't mind paying close to a hundred bucks in say....Jamaica...or Cuba...or some other hot place...but here in Saskatchewan?  It shouldn't happen!  Who wants to pay big bucks to eat in a refrigerator...other than those ice hotels in Scandinavia?  And even then, you'd have to pay ME to go there!

So, next time you eat out at Sopranos this winter...wear your toque, muck-lucks, mitts and fur coat.

Rant complete!

After that we came home to our apartment to thaw out and eat birthday cake.  It was a good time.

She simply becomes more and more lovely with every passing year..lovely in every way...

Happy Birthday, Shannon!

A Valentine's Day update...

I woke up this morning....next to my man.  That, in itself, is a lovely gift.

Had a phone conversation with a friend....by accident. I had wanted to reply to her text but instead ended up pressing her phone number....you know, on this stupid, new cell phone that I'm failing miserably at in learning about. So when I saw my cell was making a call to her...I quickly ended the call.  Five seconds later she phoned me back on my cell.  I had never yet answered a phone call on my new phone!  After fumbling and talking loudly into the screen, forgetting to put it up to my ear to hear who was calling, I managed to get the dang thing where it should be...screen in my ear and the end of it by my mouth.  Just typing that makes it sound totally ridiculous. Anyway, the conversation ensued without too many more problems. Technology is not going to get the better of me!

As the day progressed, Brittney came over for lunch where she, Ken and I exchanged Valentines.... then it was grocery shopping...being Thursday and all:)  I won't go into details on that project...

In between, we took some Tim Hortons heart donuts to Brittney at her work and dropped off a few dozen at Shannon's dental office work place.

After the groceries were purchased, we had a cup of tea at McDonalds.

Came home and put groceries away.

Had a headache all day so took some Tylenol.

Ordered pizza.

Ate pizza...and Brittney came over for a few slices after work.

Now we wait to Skype with Matt.

And while we wait, we are entertained by the international dog show on the telly.

See.  Valentine's Day is not always the romantic, exciting day that all the ads make it out to be.

It can also be a regular day of simply living life...with those you love.

Love week...

Lots of love a goin' around
Pullin' at the heart strings
So I've found
Ya, lots of love a goin' around.

Shannon's chocolate drizzled pumpkin hearts complete with candy!

Even pastors get into the act!

Love shows itself in all kinds of ways...

in nature...and in people...people you care about a great deal.  Hey, I could post pictures 'til the cows come home here of folks I care about, but thought I'd stick with my family for today.

And then there's husband...

who, in his own unique way, shows a great deal of love to me and his family.

So, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you.  A simple smile to someone who may not deserve it, in your estimation, is a great way to show love and all we need to do is curl our lips upwards...not difficult for the most part:)

And so the Season of Lent begins...

Wowzers....

Now THAT was some worship practice!!!!!!!

Church now has a new sound system.  Husband has worked diligently in getting everything organized for this to happen...many, many hours of planning with Spectrum Sound and Church Council and the Worship Team, not to mention the pastors.  Not sure if folks really realize how much work he has done on this, but I know!

Music practice this evening was the proof in the pudding!  We could actually hear ourselves sing (which, at my age, can be a scary thing!!) and the music was profound!  Guitar with Dave A. and piano with Janet L. rocked!  The organ brought up the rear!

And husband sat in the sound booth getting everything sounding just right (as much as he can with a hearing impediment!) But he was blown away by the excellent sound coming from those long, lanky, beautiful, unassuming Bose speakers.  All of us were!

But as I said, with my throat still stinging from my last cold, the notes aren't rolling from my throat as they normally would...allowing any squeaks, squawks, yowls and hisses to be clearly heard.  As I previously mentioned, that's scary!

Not to repeat myself but the new sound system is most excellent and we are all gratefully appreciative of it.



See, she doesn't look like much but she sure packs a heavy sound.  Now, put two of those babies on either side of the platform and you've got class.

One will be in the space where the drums are on the right in this picture and the other is by the chair on the left.  Poor drums have been temporarily banned to the back of the sanctuary as we don't presently have a drummer.  They said they didn't mind, but they did miss Dixie!

So, if you want to hear some cool sound, drop by Gateway on Sunday around 10.  Your ears will hopefully be glad you did:)