Category Archives: Day to Day

Here I sit on a beautiful Spring day isolated (by choice or necessity) in the prayer room at church writing.  One of the reasons I chose this place is that when I write I need quiet and solitude.  I especially need to be able to listen for God’s voice to me as I review the studies I have taken part in over the past year. 

Homework. 

It is that but in my quiet reflection over the year, I can see places God has been present. 

I am not the same self as the self that set out on this spiritual journey.  I know myself better now than at the start. 

Although I think I am more than ever aware of my weak places, especially personality wise. 

I am also becoming more content just with who I am.  God dosen’t require me to try and be anyone else.  I think he rather likes this creation of his.

So if he’s OK with me, who am I to stress out over it?

The paper is going well.  I have one more week to finish it. 

I am going to spend some time outside now.

I woke up for the first time about 4 am.  Lying there in bed listening to Leo, newly diagnosed with sleep apnea, snore.  And stop.  Yeah, I can see where he stops breathing for 70 seconds at a time. 

I guess he will get the magic gadget to keep him puffing more regularly. 

I wonder if I will sleep better as a result.

Anyway, I really am sitting here thinking over the past year.  You see, I have a paper to write to kind of reflect and sum it all up. 

I am having trouble getting started.  Maybe there is just too much to think about; too much to remember and try to make sense of and draw significance from. 

And I need time.  Two weeks to do this.  But no scheduled time to just be quiet and listen to the voice of God pointing things out to me.

At the beginning of my journal I have written a prayer:

In the name of God
Who gives me life
May I nourish the lives around me.

In the name of Jesus Christ
Who exemplifies God’s love
May I grow closer to his example
And look more like him.

In the name of the Holy Spirit
Who empowers and enables me
May I become more aware of God in me.

It still is a good prayer for me as life continues and as I move along with it. 

Early mornings aren’t for everyone but they sure are good times for me.  Good times to think and listen.

I am so tired tonight.  I guess I am still recovering from my cold and at the same time trying to do too much.  And having the house is such disorder from ripping out the kitchen…. well I think it is safe to say we will not do another kitchen renovation in my lifetime. 

Last night David and his helper worked till 4 am to get the drywall up so that the guy who is mudding it could start today.  They did it and he has started it tonight. 

Things are moving along.  I can’t say that I like washing dishes in the bathtub, but at least we have hot water.  I’m trying to look for some positives here.  Mostly I’m just exhausted at all the extra work it is to live in a house that is in disorder.

Today I made a  trip down to Saskatoon to finalize my choice in countertops.  We are going with concrete from Sand and Stone by Rempel.  I chose a dark colour – Ebony.  The edges will have exposed agregate so that will pick up the colours from the floor and the cabinets.  The island will show the agregate and we have added some amber colored glass to pick up the light.  Thle guy that does this says that the glass particles add some sparkle and depth to the surface.  It will look pretty great I think.  It will resemble granite a lot but has some advantages over it.  For one thing, it resists heat very well so hot pots placed on the surface will not harm it.  Just can’t cut directly on it.  A bit cheaper than granite and a lot more custom made as far as the colours and the choices of agregate additions.  I think it will really suit our house.

Then I went and ordered and paid for our floor tile.  Visited a couple of lighting stores and ended up with the lights I wanted from Home Depot for a very reasonable price.  Sinks are ordered.  Just have to get paint and pick up an over the stove microwave.  Still have to choose what to use for the backsplash – maybe an amber tinted glass, maybe clear, maybe glass tile or something.

So much work.

And meanwhile, back here in PA. a new life is welcomed to the world over at the Vandersluys’ – Olivia Kate.  Can’t wait to see her.  Check out the details over at Marc’s blog.

Sara turned 18 on Monday.  This was my ditchen.

So we did not have any big celebration here.  Instead last night we went to BP’s for supper to celebrate it our proper low key style. 

Sara is a sweetheart.  Unfortunately, I think my gift to her this week may have been this cold.

This week I have been recovering from the conference weekend. I knew that I was exhausted at the end of it.  Exhausted enough to make me vulnerable to a nasty virus that has made me feel pretty miserable with a cold.  In fact as far as I can remember, this is one of the worst colds I’ve had in ages. 

Oh, yeah, I kept right on working.  This week I have been grateful to those patients who have not shown up for their appointments, giving me fairly light days for the past three. 

Now my nose is red and sore but at least I can breathe again. Last night I slept well for the first time all week.

I think I am on the mend.

One of the things I learned this weekend during the conference — sometimes I need to just serve.  I do not have to pack my head full of the latest information.  What I need to hear, God will make sure I hear.  I just need to be ready to listen.

So this weekend, I missed most of the meetings.  But I heard the real story about the escape from the fighting in the Congo by my friend Dr. Roger.  I needed to hear that. 

I heard stories of people I got a chance to listen to.  I made some new friends.  Some of the friends I made were under five years old.  They gave out the best hugs.

I also learned that doing a conference like this is a lot of work.  More than I thought.  But it was good work and when a good job is done and you are given compliments, it feels good.  Exhausting but good.  That was the weekend.

Now on with the kitchen reno.

And for the past few days I have been busy with my part in what has been a great Covenant Annual Meeting.  My part has been to organize and see that childcare happens.  For the most part it has and has gone well thanks to all the volunteers I had help from.  Today was long though.

Tonight we had a great banquet and final concert put on by the students of Covenant Bible College. 

We were up at the Art Hauser Centre in a room off the main room where we had our banquet and the kids seemed to have a good time.  I borrowed the toys from the waiting room at my office.  The slide was a big hit and it is amazing what entertainment kids can get from a few blocks.

We did have to close the door to the room though.  Blocks make a huge amount of noise when they go crashing to the ground. 

Anyway, here I am listening to some smooth jazz at the Cafe Randall.  It is late and I should go home to bed but I like the music.

To Leo, who has finally chosen to read my blog. 

Reason – not for me.  For the pictures of the grandchildren.

So click here Leo and you will find a few.

….leading into an even crazier busier weekend.

Leo is off on one of his cross Canada tours.  In Ontario right now.  That actually frees up some time.  My meals get sort of skimpy bordering on fast food.  Cause I have lots to do.

Today started out with another very difficult procedure that took two hours instead of the scheduled one.  What a start to the morning!  Then working hard to catch up all the rest of the day.  We had by noon so thank you to the one patient who did not show up. 

Then home and music lessons.  Packed up all my recipe books before the lesson while I was making supper. 

Then after lessons, packed up the stuff in the main floor bathroom cupboards.  Took a huge bag of junk out to the garbage.  The cupboard was long overdue for a thorough overhaul.  And then up to the loft to see what things look like up there and began to clean that space up for our guests coming for the Canadian Covenant Annual Meeting.

I think I chose a crazy time to begin renovating the kitchen.  I have to have everything out of it by Monday morning.  My guests leave on Sunday.  But we have to fit it all in before landscaping season starts for David who is doing all the reconstruction work but the cabinets.

I suppose we will all survive.