Facing the Future with Hope
The first day of 2020 we woke up to see a beautiful deer resting in our back yard. In fact, he stayed for much of the day, to our delight. We have not seen deer in our neighborhood for quite a while, but this morning as I write...
When Christmas isn’t so Merry
It is the Eve of Christmas Eve as I write this. A day historically filled with anticipation, last minute preparations, deliveries and cheer. We experienced some of that today as we set out to deliver some Christmas packages. But I’ve been keenly aware that this year,...
Love, the Greatest Gift of All
As we approach the fourth Sunday of Advent our hearts turn toward love. Love is essential. We wither without it. I am uncertain about many things but on this I am sure. We are loved. And in this season of Christmas we remember that Love came. I wrote a simple poem as...
Joy intertwined with Sorrow
As we prepare for the 3rd weekend of Advent, we ponder the word joy. Joy wasn’t my strongest emotion this week, the week they cancelled Christmas. At least that is what a nurse told me when I asked where the Christmas trees were. Didn’t you hear? She asked... Yes,...
Seeking Peace
Peace Peace is not found In the war-torn In the arguments. in the pain. It is not found in those who are certain they are right or in those who dominate and seek control. Peace is not found in over-stimulation over-indulgence or hoarding treasures. Peace is found deep...
Expectant Hope
This is an advent like no other in my memory. All over the globe, we are finding creative ways to live, in the midst of holidays and celebrations, birthdays and anniversaries, significant events that bring meaning to our lives. Advent has a special place in my heart,...
A sacrament of Suffering
A sacrament of suffering I don’t use the word sacrament lightly. Sacraments speak of the sacred, something holy and precious, and often refer to Christian celebrations of baptism, Eucharist (communion) and marriage. God with us in the sacredness of life. It seems to...
Pursuing a Gold Star
Pursuing a Gold Star Stickers have become more fancy these days. I have a variety of them for when the grandkids come on their school days, it is great motivation. I realize I like stickers too; there are lovely stickers for adults and i like using them in my...
Gifts of Good Words
Gifts of Good Words Follow the Gifts of Good Words Blog Hop taking place from November 4-18, 2020, and find quality Canadian Christian books for those on your Christmas list! Then on November 18th, join the Good Words Virtual Book Fair on...
The Gift of Community
The Gift of Community It was around 1993 when my then husband Andrew, who loved computers, introduced us to the emerging Internet. I remember it was slow and tedious and amazingly fascinating. We had so little idea of how it would change our world. After he died, in...
Holding my Breath
Holding my Breath No, I don’t have the hiccups. We use funny phrases in our English language, challenging for those who are learning how to listen to it and speak it. We were talking about the upcoming US election last night and I said “I’m not holding my breath”,...
Ode to the Sloth
Ode to a Sloth It is difficult to feel sidelined. This is a typical feeling of those who are sick, or even hospitalized. What is scheduled often has to be cancelled or postponed. Of course this is not limited to illness. Our lives can come to a full stop when...
Hand Washing Day!
It is Hand Washing Day! (If you are reading this on October 15). Who knew . . . Well, I didn’t. I suppose you could still wash your hands if it is past the day . . . October 15 is officially hand-washing day. I found out this morning, October 15, as I listened to a...
Prayers for when you are Stuck in the Muck
I took this picture of this cow last week on our Sunday walk. I was a bit concerned, actually, not knowing much about cows, for he... or she, seemed quite stuck and was drinking the muddy water. When we returned that way, she was still there, but faced in the opposite...
Ode to October
For the second year in a row, I'm marking the first of October by a visit to our local pumpkin patch, which also has a wonderful array of squash. I can taste the soup already, and if you haven't had butternut squash soup, smooth and creamy with coconut milk, you are...
On This Day
We've been listening to the morning prayers posted in Canterbury Cathedral in England, hosted by Dean Robert who often begins his time with a history lesson of this day. Today I am back in time with my own memories of this day, for today, September 23, marks the 25th...
Lifting Prayers in Troubled Times
I was asked to offer the prayer for my church community's on-line service for this coming week (First Baptist Vernon) and I realized again what a privilege it is to pray with and for my faith community, as we also remember needs in our city and around the world....
When I am Afraid
It is hard to admit when one is afraid. It can be seen as a sign of weakness, by others, by our own self-judgement. There are a lot of declarations out there - and a lot of "fear-mongering", another term that seems to be gaining in popularity. While I don't want to...
Observation
Observation. An invitation to be still. My body. that is. My senses, however, are alive as I watch and look and pay attention. Not only to what swirls around me . . . the clouds the deep blue sky the droop of the tired sunflower. No, I also feel the...
Would someone get me a road map please
Would Someone get Me a Road Map, Please My kids don’t understand roadmaps. Or perhaps what they don't understand is my generation's need of them. They are antiquated, hard to fold, often outdated pieces of paper stuffed in those side pockets of your car. On our trip...
Out of Focus
Out of Focus I often take pictures or create art to illustrate what I write. More often I take pictures for pleasure capturing what I see. Sometimes those pictures speak to me, like the one I took on a walk this last week. The shaft of sunlight seemed to beam upon...
All Will be Well – Be Still
I've written about this saying before, "All Will be Well". It was coined by Julian of Norwich in the 14th century, a deep thinker and woman of prayer. It is a phrase that surfaces with me often and I've been pondering it more closely as of late. It is not a blithe...
A Rule Maker or Rule Breaker?
I have a confession to make. Most of the time I really like to keep the rules. I pay attention. This has been particularly true in this time of Covid where I have looked to our top doctor in BC (Dr. Bonnie Henry) and tried as best I can to follow her advice. It...
Live, Love, Laugh, the stuff of Memories
We are entering a long weekend where I live, in holiday land. Coming home from work today, I could scarcely drive for the traffic. So many people, all going somewhere, creating summer memories. Last weekend, as I wrote about, we went back in time and visited some of...
A trip down Memory Lane
We took a few days, my hubby and I to visit my childhood town, namely Harrison Hot Springs. It always feels like coming home, and I feel the rhythms of the lake, the familiarity of the hills and mountains, even the smell of the air. We walk by the post office, my...
Behind the Mask
Behind the mask I wear one, a mask. Some sewed lovingly by friends Another designed by me. Others hospital grade worn by necessity. We are getting creative in this covering up. What do my eyes reveal? Is it compassion or fear? In the unknowns the uncertainties I...
Absolutely
I have found myself using this word absolutely quite frequently as of late, much like an overused exclamation mark. But I like it. It has a ring of agreeable pleasure, of a hearty yes, of an “I couldn’t agree more” Absolutely! Perhaps I should have just written an...
Who’s in Control, anyway?
Below is a poem I wrote earlier this week about control. Because in so many ways life has felt rather out of control in the past weeks and months. More thoughts below. . . Control Control is an illusion desiring to arrange my world much like I do my space but...
Beauty Grows in Broken Places
Beauty grows in broken Places Take the rose for example: furled petals releasing scent, swaying in the breeze. Opening to stunning perfection, delicate beauty. I angle my camera to shut out the weeds. I don’t focus on the ragged earth littered with dead leaves. No. I...
Lookin’ for Joy
I knew after writing about wailing last week I wanted to balance it a bit with a dose of joy. Although the feedback from my post on wailing has taught me to listen, it was a post I was compelled to write and felt deeply about. Thank you for your feedback! What I...
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