Dear Mom, you'd be so amazed!

Dear Mom,

Today I was thinking about you as I cleaned house.  So much has changed in our Western Canadian world since 1987 when you departed this earth and even more of course since your early years spent on the Prairies before I was born in 1948. It would boggle your mind – it boggles my mind too!

For starters, keeping house no longer takes every day all day!

You'd be so amazed!

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Did you watch the final episode of Downton Abbey? A lot was said about adapting and moving forward into the future and I picked up on it right away since that's where my mind is right now.  And besides, who can argue with the family of the Earl of Grantham?! This conversation takes place on New Year’s Eve--

Lady Cora, "The more adaptable we are, the more chance we have of getting through [meaning the future]" 

Husband, the Earl replies,  "We never know what's coming of course. Who does?"
The Dowager Countess says, "Makes me smile how every year we drink to the future ..."

and the response from Cousin Isobel was, "Well, we're going forward to the future not backwards to the past!"

To which the Dowager replies cheekily with a chuckle, "If only we had the choice!" [Some days I'm with her!]

The fictional story ended with an unspoken but definite nod to...

Since we don't actually live in a fairy tale world, we are perfectly aware that happily ever after is dependent on circumstances and wishful thinking.  But we also know that God’s Word tells us that joy is readily available in all circumstances.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him" (Romans 15:13)

Looking for blogs

I’m sure you’re surprised to receive this after such a long hiatus but I have a question….

Does anyone know of blogs or devotionals being written by Christian women of - shall we say - mature age?

[PS doesn't usually come first in a letter, but it does today.  If you don't want to continue getting my blog you can unsubscribe without hurting my feelings. The list is maintained by a third party and I do not know who subscribes and who doesn't.]

We have some excellent young women writing very well but I crave input from my own generation. The young use examples of pregnancy and child raising, career problems, buying first house, conflicts arising in a young marriage, how to cope with too much to do, etc. I can relate because those are part of my past. Been there. Got the T-shirt. Survived. But now my concerns include career gone, downsizing of home and belongings, losses of all sorts, relating to grown children and their children, having husband home all day because he's retired too, having to manage unscheduled time, etc. I know there are very good blogs and devotionals suitable for all ages and stages and I subscribe to a few. However, I feel the need for some closer camaraderie and I have found very few that fit the category.

LAUGH

I'm talking about side splitting, cheek hurting, can't stand up straight, all out guffawing!

On a few occasions lately, I have found myself laughing heartily.  After the last one, for some reason, this thought popped into my head - that was such fun, I feel 12 again! – well, maybe 18 but certainly younger than I'm admitting to these days. As the most recent laugh-fest was winding down, I found myself looking down, noticed the backs of my age spotted hands and was instantly struck by the paradox of it.  A complete disconnect. In that moment I was young but my hands were spoilsports!

So I decided to do some research - that is to say, I googled it. After reading a few articles, some pretty scholarly, I decided this fellow summed it up well enough for me:

"No one really knows what laughter is, we know what causes it, but not much more."

I wouldn’t want to get too serious about laughter – that would be oxymoronic, wouldn’t it? By the way, look at the spelling of the word – isn’t that weird enough to cause you to laugh?! 

Un-tired!

     Earlier this week I spent the day in the company of my granddaughters, ages 3 and 5. They had been twirling and plie-ing at dance camp all morning where I picked them up (complicated by an hour's lag between their finishing times). Then a quick stop for a happy meal to eat in the car. We then stopped by and picked up grandpa and were off to the outdoor old-fashioned Burnaby Village Museum.  We walked through and looked in the buildings exclaiming over this and that – the one room schoolhouse, the general store, barbershop, etc - we did the scavenger hunt, and had an ice cream break in the café. This was followed by a ride on the historic carousel before walking across the little bridge back to the parking lot. We had had a lovely time and were all moving just a bit more slowly than when we arrived.

However, almost immediately the 5 year old said eagerly,

  "What are we going to do now, Grandma?"  

  I said, Taking you home. 

  Her response was a gloomy, "Awww, but I want to go play at your house. And we haven’t even gone to the farmer’s market yet”!

     During the drive home in the car she declared she was tired. No doubt. She'd had a busy day!  However, I figured in an hour she'd be rested and rarin’ to go again. 

     Me?  not so much!

     The same day I read the following by C.S. Lewis which sums up exactly how I feel quite often—

... I am frantically busy: and though I get no more tired now than I did when I was younger, I take much longer to get un-tired afterwards.

(From The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III
Compiled in Yours, Jack)

What's in a name?

Recently I visited an old - at least a former - workplace.  Not many “old” staff members are still working there but a handful of us chatted, caught up with each other’s lives and of course the conversation turned to reminiscing about old times and former coworkers. In the midst of it all, it really struck me how intensely memory was attached to a name - for instance, three little letters spelling “Liz”.  I was instantly flooded by remembrance of her face, her voice, how we shared with each other and talked about her pets, family, and vacations. I instantly remembered her personality, her hearty laugh, her kindness and dedication to her work, and certainly how sad I was when she moved away.  I've been musing on this ever since. 

What's in a name? I say -- everything!!

First names, family names, business names, nicknames – all!

All the Tomorrows

This morning, through the words of a song, I had a delightful experience in a very special way – in fact, in two ways.

Now that I am this certain age, I have been fretting more than I should about growing older, about all the changes, losses, and concerns that already have begun and that could possibly affect me soon.  I have mentioned previously that what I see when I look at older people is my own fearfulness. I know I'm not alone in this. Had a conversation with a friend this week who just hit the Golden Years and she expressed the same concerns. I've been stuck there in spite of knowing I need not be.  The chorus of the song below that we sang in church this morning affected me to the core!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living…

PRESENT TENSE

The lesson to my heart lately has been on living in the present, neither preferring the past nor fearing the future.  

 The past is gone - the future is not yet come - and the present?

 Well ... that's the problem.  

The Past.. Because of recent moves, I have found myself wishing I could go back to the way things were.

The Future.. Because of being a certain age, I have found myself looking at the elderly and worrying about how things will be.

The Present.. Because of the routine nature of daily life, I have found myself examining and questioning the way things are.

Part of my experience is that friendships define this linear look at time. In fact, that's how these thoughts started to coalesce. 

Getting emotional over rhododendrons

What a difference a few days can make!  Feelings are so changeable! 

Spring gloom, make way for Spring delight!

Is it just me or are the trees and shrubs putting on an especially good show this Spring?!

A recent walk through the neighbourhood had me marvelling. I was especially oohing and aahing over rhododendrons of every hue and size - they seem to have a magical brightness about them - this one looks like mine in my little front yard.  Many neighbours have hung flower baskets by their front doors or set out pots of bright blooms. The intensely green tips on the ends of the evergreen boughs are evidence of their health and growth. The deciduous leaves are still that fresh new colour. The grass is green and I can smell someone's new mown lawn. 

Spring Gloom

I haven't written much lately.  Have been in a bit of a funk.  

Blame it on... what...??

Spring has never been my favorite season. That’s the bare truth of it. In past years, living on the prairies, snow and cold cycled in and out. Usually there was a cold wind blowing across the still hard ground and frozen sloughs even on sunny days that beckoned you outdoors. Memories of planting garden on the May long weekend wearing coat and boots co-exist with memories of the same while sweating and getting a sun burn. Spring is fickle. Slow to deliver Summer.

Is my real self there somewhere?

I have always looked young for my age…

Every once in a while

I looked forward to retirement.  Really I did! Freedom!  And it happened - slowly in a sense, moving from full time to part time to casual and finally to naught.

But I must admit - every once in a while - I miss the hurly burly of the work-a-day world.  My current retired life is lovely, having filled it sensibly with family, travel, volunteering, hobbies -livin' the dream! some might say. But just now and then I miss things like -- winning the job posting, accomplishment resulting from the effort of doing a job well, being sponsored at seminars and conferences, the camaraderie of co-workers, the make it or break it, do or die, climb the ladder of success type of challenges.  Vacations and long weekends had more meaning.

Views from a Caribbean vacation

During a recent Caribbean vacation, I found myself noticing clouds and shoes!  Of course, palm trees and beach and waves and even fish in the shallows, but most definitely clouds and shoes! 

DIALOGUE

Occasionally I'm involved in conflict - now don't tell me I'm the only one!

There's the spouse, the children, the grandchildren, work, volunteer activities, etc  

We don't always see eye to eye (surprised??!!)  

Interactions sometimes result in...

"Dialogue"

(what a nice way to say it!)

Recently I was struck by this comment--

"Dialogue should never degenerate into WHO is right,

but should focus on WHAT is right."*

And how do we know WHAT is right?  

Because we know WHO wrote the Good Book.

And why do we focus on WHAT is right?

Because God is RIGHT-EOUS.

(*Beth Moore, So Long Insecurity, p. 254, quoting Rob Jackson, counselor)

Who do you follow?

“Who do you follow?”

The question was asked of all of us in the room.  I immediately thought, a bit defensively, I don’t follow anyone! I'm not a groupie!  But the question has resonated with me.  Has demanded a response.

Do I Tweet?  Nope. No following or followers there.    

Facebook?  My skills are pathetic but I’ve been known to do a few “likes”.  

Pinterest?  Nearly as pathetic as Facebook.  

RRS? or is it RSS?  'Nuff said.

Do I follow any blogs?   Got me there!  

That kind of following is 21^st century but the concept is not new.   

Very Grand Birthday Party

It'll soon be my granddaughter's 3rd birthday.  She's been putting together her guest list:  Barbie, Cinderella, Aurora, Monsters Inc, Dora, Caillou, Madeline, Minnie Mouse and certainly Sophia the First.  If you don't recognize any of the above, you haven't spent enough time around little girls lately!

Before my recent birthday, the same little girl asked me who I wanted to invite to my party.  That got me thinking and I've decided it would be large and very grand.

Reflecting upon what passes for normal

Ta! Da! I am ushering myself into the blogosphere!

With some trepidation and lots of excitement!

Welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by. Please come back often.

In my 'what passes for normal' life, I have lots to reflect upon - things of yesterday, tomorrow, not to mention today.