In Memory of Our Loved Ones

We always keep the memory of our loved ones in our hearts, and remember them all, however it is 52 weeks ago this evening that will be remembered in our minds for a long, long, time.
Our morning that day even started on a sad note in that we, along with Ada McBride and Gladys Weis were on our way to Mankota to attend the funeral of our cousin Shirley’s husband.
When we were on our way home, about Gravelbourg, our cell phone rang with Lew inquiring as to our whereabouts. Lew usually phones when we are travelling, so this phone call was not out of the ordinary, although I did detect some urgency. About twenty miles south of Moose Jaw, another call came from Lew, this time he indicated to me he had bad news, but please don’t say anything in the car, and that he would meet us at Ada’s house. If you know me (Irene),(which you do) every possible thought was running through my head, but not of what we were soon to hear. I know no words to express my feeling, some might say I appeared to have no outward feeling, but I know I was numb, in a state of shock and disbelief. From Ada’s house we all went to be with Calvin and Mary, and even though it was difficult to see the grief that Calvin and Mary were facing, what a welcome site to find our Kathy there trying to ease everyone’s pain with hugs, a hot cup of tea, and then Brett and Beckie bringing in food, although there were no appetites Kathy and the kids encouraged us to try and eat something. Lew of course was trying to assist Calvin as concerned family, but then at times his proffessionalizm was needed. What a blessing to have family concerned for each other, and our families are most blest.
I know the grief we had that night, but for my nieces and nephews, I can’t imagine yours.
However as we all have said, we don’t understand the events of life, but life goes on, and we live with our many memories.
I would like to end this posting on a lighter vain with two pictures that hold memories of a special vacation to Walt Disney World that we, Ed, Helen, Paul and Marg enjoyed together in 1991, plus so many Canasta Games.
Although fifteen years plus have passed we often recall the good time we had, and of course you will notice it does hold a memory of Marg as well. After all "memory is remembering"

















Pictures taken at Epcot and Cypress Gardens

Some things are hard to understand

Yes I do realize it is seven days since I last posted, however my absence wasn't intentional. In the midst of this past week it seemed to do a posting was rather insignificant as we (both of us) have observed a situation of senior "adult abuse" being carried to the extreme. It has caused us to be emotionally shaken by what we have noted that took place. Yes there have been media reports of senior abuse taking place in some care homes, but in my mind this is far worse in that the abuse in question is being asserted to a parent by an only child who has legal power of attorney. No, I am not talking physical abuse, but there are other kinds, one being the denial of medical treatment and the refusal of proffessional health care.
During previous months help for proper care was sought out by our health care system, and by concerned family and friends, only to be denied by the one holding the power of attorney.
This past week the medical system once again made provisions for proper care to be provided, and also told the one holding the power of attorney, that they would not release the parent from hospital back into that individuals care
However, after defying all medical demands, and with much conniving by this Son/Daughter, the parent is now once again back in this undesirable situation, which for family and friends are left with, "how could this happen" and with few options, if any.
Concerned people, that include extended family, even to the health professionals and law enforcement have indicated that under our present laws their hands are tied. If this was a child who was suffering abuse from a parent or adult, the laws are such that the proper officials can remove the child from the situation. At first I was surprised that the law only protected the child, but then I thought its likely because parent abuse is very rare, now I am told that it is not as rare as we might think. So when it comes to dealing with senior abuse, apparently this can only be done by going through the legal system to obtain a court order, etc.
As you know I can not give specific details, and perhaps I have given more than I should have, but although adult abuse may be still somewhat rare, I think we all (no matter what age we are) need to realize that it is alive and active here in Moose Jaw. Perhaps some one may be able to influence our law givers to re-think the existing law.
So my reason for this posting is that it might sound some alarm bells, and cause us to have heads up to any kind of abuse that we may encounter, and also to have some feelings for the rights of the victim and less for the victimiser.(which is this case)
This has been a real live world reality check for us, that there are really people living about us who seem to have no concern and compassion, but rather would do harm rather than good.
I'm sure there is no parent or adult desiring any preferential treatment from their family, I know my parents didn’t, and neither do we, but treatment with respect and dignity will always be appreciated.

So my thought for the day "Remember that each of us in due time will advance to that stage of our life where we may require care that we can no longer give ourselves, when it comes, hopefully those needs will be met with compassion." (IY)

Yes I Missed a Day.

This daily posting has turned out to be something like a New Years resolution, easier to say, than to do, especially when you go visiting and don't get home in time.
So seeing I missed once it will be easier to miss again as now the pressure is off :)
Of course yesterday was Sunday with an opportunity to attend worship, and for those who heard Darin's message you know doubt took various thoughts home with you. For me it was "Things are not always as they appear to be". As I have thought on that, it really is true, and if we omit the word "things" and insert "people" that also seemed to apply, and then I put " I am" to read " I am not always the way I appear to be", this was getting too close personally and left alot of room for my own soul searching.

As for the "Survival Kit" posting, it was interesting to note from Brett that this had been used before, and Crystal, if you are thinking of using the illustration with tangible items, I have used the Hot Chocolate packet taken from a box of individual packets of Hot Chocolate.
Nothing too exciting happened today, unless removing unwanted items from dresser drawers and shelves is it. So as a result the spare bed is the resting place of some of those items, hopefully tomorrow I'll finish todays project.

So to close my post I will reflect back on my soul searching and leave with this thought. ( IY)
" It is far more impressive when others discover our good qualities with out out help"

AN EVERYDAY SURVIVAL KIT

This past week we have endured some severe cold weather, and the media has often been reminding their listeners to plan ahead, and carry a Survival Kit .Of course this is only for seasonal use, but here is a Survival Kit" for daily use, and it contains these items.
A Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others, Matt 7:1
A Rubberband - to remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out...Rom 8:28
A Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings yours or someone elses... Col 3:12-14
A Pencil - to remind you to list your blessings everyday....Eph 1:3
An Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and its okay...Gen 50:15-21
Some Chewing Gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything....Phil 4:13
A Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint to your heavenly father....John 3:16-17
A Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday ...1 John 4:7
A Cup of Hot Chocolate - to remind you to relax daily and go over the list of Gods Blessings....1 Thess 5:18

Question

Yes I do have a question that I need to ask the experts. If by chance you checked out my post yesterday or should I say last evening, everything seemed to post OK until it came to my thought for the day. When I bring it up on my computer I get a very small line of nothing. I have tried to edit the post and when I view it, all seems to be fine, but when I re-publish it there doesn't seem to be any improvement. So experts what did I do wrong?????
Here it is Friday, and nearly ending the second week in January, hopefully our cold spell has past with warmer temperatures on the way.
This was another stay at home day,catching up on some household chores, and this afternoon, and this evening both of us worked on updating some computer files in the office,. Doesn't that sound like a full days work ???(IY)
Our thought for January 12th is " We never know which of the things we do will stay forever in our minds, so it's best to choose each action carefully"

We are in a "Deep Freeze"

I liked Beckie's title on her blog today of "Brrrrr". as by the Weather Network and of various comments by those who braved the elements it was really the kind of a day that we were glad that we could stay in.
My day was a normal Thursday as that begins with "laundry" seeing that is my scheduled time.
While I was making my way back and forth to the laundry room, I began to sense the smell of "Chili" cooking, to my pleasant surprise I soon found out that aroma was coming from our kitchen. Sure enough my better half was in the cooking mood, so now we have something on hand to pull from the freezer in a hurry.
Lew, as we read your blog today, we both thought your tribute to Tib was very nice, and again our thoughts, like the thoughts of her family reflected back to her, and of the changing scenes of life, even in death. So I'll sign off for tonight with this. (IY)

The changes in nature remind us of the glorious transformation that's coming for all believers. 1 Cor. 15:51

Winter is still here

This is not a very nice evening weather wise, we made a judgment call not to venture out tonight and we are glad that we did. It's not our cup of tea any more to be out after dark with unfavorable weather conditions. Perhaps getting old is the term some may use to describe this action, and that is probably more true than fiction.
Today was the day that Crestview's festive decorations made their way back into the boxes for another year, and it left the hall ways and lounge looking bare, but that won't last for long, February 14th is just around the corner.
" Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply" ( IY)

Tuesday Evening

Seeing we are late with todays posting, perhaps we may choose to do it this way, and that way the day and it's activities are near done.
Being we live in a Co-op Housing Complex, "Crestview Manor" we are very much involved in the daily operation, so today was no exception as Cal attend a Maintenance Meeting, and he again helped with the delivery of recycle items to the "blue bins" plus other chores he saw needed to be done.
As for me, my day, was mostly spent in sorting through Computer files and entering them on the NEW computer in Crestview's office.
In closing the days post, here is our thought for the day
" We live in the present, we dream of the future, but we learn eternal truths from the past." (IY)

Our Thought For Today

We can expect big trouble when we try to answer our own prayers.

For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Matt: 6:8

CY

Monday January 8, 2007

We are officially beginning our adventure in the blogging world, there will no doubt be some challanges as we learn how to add in a few pictures, etc., now and then .

Being retired we do not have news to share of our experiences in the work a day world, but we will share some of our daily activities, and our hope is that we can share a thought for the day that will be of encouragment to us, as well as those who may read our post. This will also serve as a Diary for us to reflect back at years end.

Seeing this blog belongs to both Cal and Irene and both have access to post we will end our individual postings by using our intials ( IY or CY)

Something Happened

Well I really did succesfully accomplish my entering the blogging world at least long enough for me to post something, but then receiving a message that if I wanted anyone to comment I needed to go into settings and make that request, so as a result of something I did, I ended up with no previous post. So here goes again and I'll see if the problem has now been fixed.