Thoughts in the Night

Homemade Christmas

2012-01-10T04:51:00.000-08:00

I have been having a lovely time! Both out of town daughters have come to visit .. getting to know Téa has been a treat .. but now it is back to work.

I haven't actually been lazing around for the past few weeks .. in fact .. it has been a very busy time. Rob and I have been working on gifts for friends and family. Here's our list:

Rob made tables and chairs for the grandbabies .. 1 set for Gray & Isabelle and 1 set for Esme & Téa. They were a modified version Ana White's pattern.

For Gray & Isabelle

We made block sets for the 2 newest grand girls.

Each set has photos of their people from both sides of the family .. as well as alphabets, numbers & sayings.

We made 5 nativity sets for little ones to play with. The idea came from Helping Little Hands with pictures from Prepared Not Scared.

Simple but fun for the babies.

We made photo cubes for 7 people.

Pattern on Chica & Jo Website

I sewed aprons for each of our girls.

Retro Apron from Sew4Home

I sewed baprons for the 2 newest grandbabies.

Baprons for Ellie & Téa

.. and Tagxedos for 10 people.

Mich & Ian

.. made from this photo.

The Wait is Over - Téa Marie is here

2011-12-02T01:44:00.001-08:00

We went out with Alain & Kris for supper last night and shortly after we got home, Kris decided it was time to go to the hospital. Things started to roll at 7:10 pm and by 10:50 pm Téa Marie was out in the world. Alida, Alain's mother, picked me up on her way to the hospital. We were going to sit and wait until the baby was born .. BUT .. Kristin made fast work of it and by the time we got to the hospital, Téa was ready to be checked out by Oma and Gramma. She weighs 7lbs 6oz and is 20 inches tall. Esme is fast asleep at our house, blissfully unaware that her world is totally changed.

I will add pictures once Kris and Alain have got the word out. :)

.. and so we wait.

2011-11-29T05:02:00.001-08:00

Any day now our next grandbaby should be popping out to greet us. It is an exciting time!

Gray

Esme

Esme & Alain

Erin & Ellie

.. we will keep busy as bees and quick as a bunny .. that new baby will be in our arms.

2011-09-16T04:23:00.004-07:00

So it is 4:19 am .. I have discovered the joys of Pinterest .. I've been at it for over an hour. Who knew? All the goodies I love from the internet in one place. This is very cool .. already I am an addict.

Just Because ..

2011-09-12T06:21:00.005-07:00

Esme

Gray

Isabelle

Why Blog?

2011-09-12T06:10:00.002-07:00

As I look around on the internet, I see many blogs. Some are out for money .. some for notariety .. some to track weight loss .. some to focus on issues. Why do I blog? At first it was just very COOL! To be able to type in one's thoughts and have them out in the world. Gradually .. it became a way to share pictures and to communicate with family. Now there is facebook .. so really the question is .. why blog? Truth is I don't know .. but I think I will continue to do so.

Still having thoughts in the night ..

2011-08-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

Well .. after many years, I am still having thoughts in the night. I really would like to have sleep in the night but it appears that this is not my lot in life at this time. Have you ever wanted something .. really badly .. so much so that you could hardly focus on anything else in your life? Yeah .. sleep is becoming that something for me.

Back when I was eleven years old, I wanted a red velvet dress that was trimmed with white feathery stuff like the ladies wear in the final scene of White Christmas. It was all I could think about .. even though I knew Mom & Dad could never afford it .. I wanted that dress. One night I dreamed about this most perfect of dresses. In my dream .. I GOT THE DRESS! The dream was so real that when I woke up, I rushed to my closet and was totally shocked not to see the dress there. I seem to recall asking my mother where it was. The disappointment was great .. yet life continued on and eventually I gave up on the dress.

All this to say .. sleep has become the red velvet dress .. I think about it most of my waking hours (which are many). I talked to my doctor about it .. he gave me some little pills that were supposed to reset my system .. they didn't work. So I am back to guarding the family in the night .. which, I suppose, is not a totally bad thing.

A Tiny Miracle

2011-08-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

Today I got to see a little miracle. Rob and I went along to Sneak a Peek at Kris & Alain's new baby. For half an hour we were able to watch our newest grandbaby rolling and kicking inside our daughter. This new baby appears to be somewhat shy .. when there wasn't a hand covering the face, there was a foot in the way. At times, there appeared to be a smile just for Gramma, Grampa, Oma, Opa, Mom, Dad & big sister, Esme. Now we wait another 3 months and we will be able to hold this tiny miracle. God is good!

I Am What I Am

2011-08-18T13:24:00.011-07:00

Living in a society in which magazines on every news stand declare that what we are is not enough, it is sometimes hard to know just who and what we are. We are told how to be thin, how to have silky hair, how to dress, what we should be reading, what our house should look like, how to spend our money, how to speak in public .. the list goes on. The person society values most is unattainable and yet the struggle goes on. The focus is on what people see but not necessarily on who we are.

I think the Psalmist got it right when he wrote:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Popeye was known to say "I 'yams whats I ams, and dats all that I 'yams".

It is, perhaps, better said by John Newton when he said:"I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am."

The focus here being not what one beholds with the eye but rather what one feels with the heart. So though I am not what I ought or want or hope to be, I am what I am and my struggle is how to develop inner qualities that can help me to enhance life for those around me, for example:

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Hebrews 13:2

or

1 Corinthians 13

1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Enough said? I think so.

Isabelle Lleu

2011-06-19T05:04:00.001-07:00

A few pictures from a week in Castlegar:

Sleeping Beauty

First Bath

Mother Love

Just chillin'

Resting with Mom

Dad & Isabelle decked out to cheer for a lost cause.

Tiny Hand

Gray & cousin, Esme, pause in their play to check out Isabelle in her new crib.

Sharing

2011-06-19T04:21:00.001-07:00

I spent the last week with Erin and her family helping them with the new baby. My little buddy, Gray is having to learn a lot about sharing these days. A new sister in his life means he has to share his people, his house ... his whole world, really.

Gray

Gray & his baby sister, Isabelle

I brought along a treat for us to share. Gray taught me that he knew a lot about sharing when I handed him the box of cookies to take into the living room. He would hand us one each time we asked. I couldn't figure out why he bit off half of every cookie he handed me but gave whole ones to his mother. In thinking it through, we realized that Erin simply asked "May I have a cookie please, Gray?" but I had asked "Can you share one with Gramma please, Gray?" I guess it is all in how one asks.

A shared treat

Isabelle- Grandbaby #3

2011-06-09T18:02:00.001-07:00

Gray meets Isabelle

Learning to be a big brother

We rushed to Castlegar last night to watch Gray while Kif & Erin worked hard on bringing home a new baby. Erin's job was the hardest but judging by the picture that was taken just a few hours after Isabelle was born, Erin is one tough cookie to come out of it looking so fantastic. I get to spend the week getting to know my newest grandbaby and playing with Gray .. life does not get better!

It is 5:10 am .. 50 minutes till the alarm

2011-05-31T05:35:00.007-07:00

I have been up for a while now .. thinking about my people .. praying for my people .. wishing sleep would come at night when it comes for others. Life is good! Another grandbaby should be popping out any day now to say hello .. looking forward to that! My Wii Fit tells me I am 54 .. I am okay with that since I am 54 years old. It's a good age to be. Work goes well .. haven't had breathing issues there for a few weeks. Yeah .. life is good.

Esme on the banks of the river in Castlegar with Gray & Co.

Gray helping Dad & Grampa prepare the baby's room

Out for a walk in Castlegar .. missing Mich & Ian

Grandbabies

2011-03-24T07:57:00.001-07:00

We are enjoying our grandboy while his mother has headed off to Phoenix to seek the sun .. and his father plugs away at his nursing courses. While Gray is here .. his cousin, Esme is over keeping him entertained. GOOD TIMES! I am loving the babies!

Esme & Gray

It isn't all just fun & games at Grampa & Gramma's house

Strolling with Great Grandpapa

Note the finger indicating there are more stuffies to love on the shelf.

Spring has definitely not yet sprung!

Our Esme sometimes forgets this is a sandbox .. not a snack box.

Dashing Through the Snow

2010-12-13T04:01:00.003-08:00

We decided that we needed to visit our girls who live off in the boonies to see their homes done up for Christmas. There is just the small matter of the Selkirks and Rockies between us and them. Two weeks ago we headed out to Castlegar .. just a bit of scariness on the road on that one. Well worth it upon arrival.

Gray's photo face.

Doing a Christmas Puzzle

Making Kringle in Castlegar .. again with the face

On Thursday, we set off for Calgary. Our bosses gave us permission to head out early (Thanx Guys!!) and off we went. There was a bit of white knuckle driving but it was well worth it.

Calgary Zoolites with Mich and Ian

Making Kringle In Calgary

On the Journey Home

It is wonderful to be safe at home .. but it was well worth the trip over the mountains and back.

So Thankful for Snowploughs

Also thankful that we don't have to cross any mountains when we make kringle with Kristin & Co.

Busy Weekend and Back to Work

2010-12-06T05:36:00.002-08:00

In a couple of hours I will be back at work. It doesn't seem like I had a break. All weekend was a scramble to get lots of food prepared and in the freezer for when the ladies are home for Christmas .. all 3 will be home with their families .. YAHOO! Rob worked on Gray's Christmas gift so he was busy as well.

I am a bit nervous about work .. I had to leave early again on Friday. The boss got some new office furniture and the packing caused me to lose my voice, in the past it was only paint that caused it but lately it has been packaging as well. I have only had one incident outside of the workplace. What is it about that building? Since this sensitivity (they tell me one has sensitivities to chemicals, not allergies) life has gotten a bit complicated. Drives me nuts! If losing my voice were the only thing, it wouldn't be so bad. My doctor says that the reason I lose my voice is the shortage of air going through the vocal chords. It makes me feel exhausted.

Ah well .. enough with the griping .. Christmas is coming. YAHOO!!!

Oh Yeah .. click here for a reminder of what I am looking forward to.

Praying in the Night .. again

2010-12-03T02:15:00.006-08:00

1:40 am .. I am awake. Praying for my people.

I have a memory of my Dad that is precious to me. My bladder has never been my friend .. as a child there were many visits to the doctor with painful infections. Getting up at least once in the night to use the facilities has been necessary for as long as I can remember. Out on the farm, the washroom was just off the living room. I would stagger down the stairs into the living room en route to the washroom, and there, sitting in his chair, would be Dad, his Bible on his knee, praying for his people.

Last year, Mom was passing away, she was not talking much near the end. Karen asked if she could pray with Mom and Mom wanted her to pray for the family. In many families, this is not much of a task, but in ours with the many, many .. it is sometimes hard to remember all. Karen prayed down through the names she could remember but with the great grands, she forgot a few. Mom spoke up then and said, "All the children". Even as her memory had faded, Mom remembered to pray for each and every one of us down to the most recent great grandchild.

Mom on her last birthday with us holding Gray, the last of the greats to feel her touch.

How blessed am I to have been raised with parents who covered my life with prayer. Now it is my turn to cover the lives of those I love with prayer and continue the task which my parents started. I know the names of each and every one in my parents' list and also those who have been born or have joined the family through marriage since Mom & Dad left us.

Thanxgiving

2010-11-25T04:43:00.004-08:00

I read this today and was reminded of the blessings beyond measure in my life.

Thanksgiving Prayer

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Tiny Things With Wings

2010-11-02T05:08:00.001-07:00

Butterfly Esme

Dragon Gray

Smiling Eyes

Big Brown Eyes

Spreading her wings

Dragon on the move.

The Christmas Cake 2010

2010-11-01T05:26:00.001-07:00

You take a bit of this ..

.. and a lot of this

..bake for a few hours

.. and you get this for "Iron Will Night".

My Blessings

2010-10-31T08:16:00.002-07:00

As the old Irish blessing goes:

May you always have

Walls for the winds,

A roof for the rain,

Tea beside the fire,

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all your heart might desire

I have all of these things and much more besides.

Esme & Rob

Gray & Rob

Although I haven't put pictures in .. I also have 3 gorgeous daughters .. 3 fantastic sons-in-law .. brothers .. sisters .. brothers-in-law .. sisters-in-law .. nieces .. nephews .. friends .. this list is too long. All this to say .. I AM BLESSED! .. I do know it.

Summer is Over

2010-10-31T07:49:00.005-07:00

It is cooling down here ..

.. we are harvesting the last of the garden

.. mostly tomatoes

.. the pepper bed is already empty

the frost is doing its worst to the yard.

BUT .. I love the fall .. it means Christmas is on its way .. and I am loving Christmas!

To Make a Difference

2010-05-03T18:39:00.004-07:00

Making a Difference

by: Unknown

If each grain of sand were to say:

One grain does not make a mountain,

There would be no land.

If each drop of water were to say:

One drop does not make an ocean,

There would be no sea.

If each note of music were to say:

Each note does not make a symphony,

There would be no melody.

If each word were to say:

One word does not make a library,

There would be no book.

If each brick were to say:

One brick does not make a wall,

There would be no house.

If each seed were to say:

One seed does not make a field,

There would be no harvest.

If each of us were to say:

One person does not make the difference,

There would never be l♥ve and peace on earth.

My baby is now married .. does that mean I'm getting old?

2010-03-21T07:57:00.005-07:00

Mich and Ian were married last Monday, the 15th of March.

Mich and her sisters went and got their hair done.

Even the small people in the family had to get fancy.

All the ladies were looking good and ready to go.

A short ceremony .. and then they were cutting the cake.

Congratulations Ian & Michelle!!!!

Esme Michelle

2010-02-21T20:55:00.003-08:00

We're proud to announce that Kristin gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl this afternoon. Parents and grandparents are all thrilled.

Esme Michelle (means "beloved gift of God")

6 lbs. 13 oz.

19" tall

Born at 4:54 PM on Sunday, February 21 (5 days overdue - after just under 24 hours of labour - eased somewhat by an epidural throughout Sunday - after a tiring time last night).

Esme was born with a fever so will spend a couple days on an IV antibiotic drip which complicates feeding and just general baby cuddling. We don't know exactly what this means but the doctor says in her 6 years she has never seen anything come of it. We hope and pray that's the case with Esme. Blood test results expected in two days will tell them more.

.. yet more changes.

2010-01-23T05:22:00.003-08:00

My job involves a lot of talking. Some days I am on the phone nonstop. There is now a wrinkle in my world .. the last 3 days at work .. my voice has stopped working. This effectively makes me useless at my job. BUMMER! On Wednesday I will go to an allergy specialist to see what we can do to remedy the situation. Turns out it most likely isn't perfume that takes my voice away but rather paint. We will see.

Does it get any cuter?

2010-01-23T04:50:00.002-08:00

Life Changes

2009-11-12T03:17:00.003-08:00

Monday started like any other day at work. I was answering the weekend emails and taking messages off the phone. The change happened when I walked down the hall to the washroom. Someone was wearing powerful perfume .. White Shoulders, I think. As I walked back to my office I was thinking "Whoa .. that is some powerful perfume!" I sat at my desk thinking all was well and then the phone rang .. when I answered it, my voice sounded like I had a serious cold. This was not a good thing since I spend a fair bit of my work day on the phone. After some time, my voice was back to normal and then I had to go down the other hall to check for mail. White Shoulders lady had changed places in the building .. I could feel changes in my throat as I walked. This time my voice was gone and it stayed away till around 7:00 that evening. I figured it was pretty weird but nothing to worry about.

Tuesday started the same as Monday. I was doing my job .. a little excited because Tuesday is Timmy's day at the office (although not for Jeremy .. and I do realize how unfair this is) and I was anticipating my coffee. When our staff meeting ended, I went to collect the mail. I could smell strong perfume again. This time it was Patchouli. By the time I got back to the office my voice was gone, I was very shaky and having difficulty breathing. So .. I went outside for some fresh air after taking a rapid dissolve antihistamine. It was decided that I should head for the doctor but that I should report the incident to the health and safety lady at the office before leaving. So this I did. I figured the doctor would say I was over reacting. I was wrong. Now I have 2 puffers and heavy duty antihistimines. Go figure. In 2 days, my life has changed .. I now have to worry about people wearing perfume around me. Later today I go back to the doctor to see if the constriction in my bronchial passages is gone. Well .. at least I am alive and kicking .. that is a good thing!

A Special Visitor

2009-11-01T02:25:00.005-08:00

We opened the door today and discovered the cutest little pumpkin standing there.

He brought his Mom & Dad along as well.

He was having a good day .. and so were we.

Mimi is ENGAGED!

2009-08-30T17:30:00.009-07:00

Our baby is engaged. She started dating Alain's older brother, Ian, in the winter and they have decided to make a life together. We are pleased! It used to be that she would come home and wear my engagement ring around the house. Now she has her very own and it looks very much like mine.

21 August 2009

2009-08-22T03:46:00.006-07:00

When I got up to go to work , I was rather nervous about the day ahead. Next week is teacher training week at the school and I had a lot of printing to do. The plan was to get it all done between 6:00 am and 9:00 am, before the church workers arrived and needed the printer for the weekly bulletins. That plan went down the tubes as I unlocked the door and saw red flashes lighting up the printer. Apparently, after I left work the day before, the printer ran out of toner and there was no replacement. No printing was going to happen very soon. So .. after a little panic session .. I got on with the day's work. Turns out there was no reason for panic. Once the printer had its toner restored, the papers just flew out of the printer and the job was done before I left work at 2:00 pm. A lesser printer would not have sufficed .. this one punched holes and stapled the handbooks together .. saving me hours of work. Yahoo for technology!!!

From there the day just got better. A multi-family garage sale is going to happen at the farm tomorrow and we got to go over for a potluck and first peek. I got carried away with the small boy clothes at Joanne's stall. But I ask you .. who wouldn't go overboard for someone as cute as this?

Yup .. this boy has got me garage saling .. something I have never liked nor even understood why people enjoy it so much.

Of Bobo & Poops

2009-05-16T22:50:00.005-07:00

While taking time off to be with Erin and baby Gray, the subject of what we will be called by Gray came up. We were discussing what other grandparents were choosing to be called when I said to Erin that Gramma & Grampa were fine with us .. even if both sides were Gramma & Grampa .. we didn't need different names and weren't going to be called something goofy like Bobo & Poops. Wrong thing to say .. lately I have been being called Bobo and Rob isn't totally impressed with being called Poops.

Baby Gray Has Arrived

2009-04-22T05:23:00.009-07:00

I am now a Gramma. That is pretty exciting. I have taken the next couple of days off to spend helping Erin as she learns how to be a Mom. Good Times!!!

Grampa Rob with our gorgeous, sleepy baby boy.

Kif & Erin with Gray Elias after a long, difficult day. At 9 lbs. 8 oz. this boy was not easy to push into the world. Even though he is a BIG boy, he still seems very tiny when you hold him.

The Bite In Barq's

2008-04-30T05:37:00.004-07:00

I have rediscovered just what the bite in Barq's is .. it is the bloomin' caffeine. As I watched my Midsomer Murder Mystery last night .. I innocently sucked down a tin of Barq's. This was a major mistake. It is now 5:40 am and I am still twitching .. when will I realize that this body no longer has a tolerance for caffeine? What I really desire is to go back to bed and continue my rest but with this twitching .. there is no sleep for me and probably no sleep for Rob. So I must make a decision .. do I let my good husband continue in his uninterrupted sleep .. or do I do the selfish thing and slide back into bed? Right now I am all for hopping right back in there .. cold feet and all. Yup .. I think that is what I am going to do. And .. if all goes well .. I will actually sleep in until 9:00 am.

Auntie Helen

2008-03-30T05:16:00.006-07:00

I was on the phone with Auntie Helen today .. it was good to talk with her. It is amazing how many memories flooded in on me as I listened to her voice. There were many times as we were growing up that she was there to help Mom & Dad carry the load. It couldn't have been terribly easy for her. When I was about 5 years old .. Mom had to go to the hospital for something . . I don't have a clue why .. but Auntie Helen came out to the farm and helped Dad take care of us. On this particular occasion I gave Auntie Helen a wonderful compliment .. telling her that her nose looked like a strawberry. Now to me strawberries were wonderful things .. but looking back I realize how gracious this lady was when she simply smiled at me.

Later, when I was ten, we moved into a house which had a basement suite .. Auntie Helen lived there. Karen and I had our bed in Auntie Helen's bedroom. We were warned not to go beyond the bedroom .. that was Auntie Helen's home and we could only go in if invited. Sometimes she would invite us in .. it was very different from our place above .. it was a peaceful place with beautiful knick knacks all in order. On the floor above there was the kind of chaos that reigns in a home packed with children. I wonder how Auntie Helen remained so gracious when the thudding from up above must have overwhelmed her peaceful haven.
Yup .. we are indeed blessed to have her in our lives. She came whenever times were difficult and made life easier for us all. So .. thank you Auntie Helen for making this world a better place not just for me .. but for my brothers and sisters and many cousins.

Long Time .. No Words

2008-02-26T20:23:00.007-08:00

It has been a very long time since I last put fingers to keyboard to produce some night thoughts. The mind appears to be numb and unable to make words flow .. thus the silence. Words can be so very powerful .. at times they are scary and to commit them to paper seems to cement them in time. Each person's memory of an event is so individual as to be the memory of a different event.

Coming as late as I did into our family .. my world was not the one my older brothers and sisters knew. The parents I knew had mellowed with the years .. each new child had brought experience so that by the time the 10th one arrived .. all had been done before. By the time my memories were being formed .. the family had grown beyond those who were born into it .. the in-laws were arriving and the new babies. Not that this was a bad thing .. each in-law added a distinct new flavor to the family as a whole. Each new baby was and continues to be a source of joy .. and those babies over time have added their own in-laws and new babies .. and so we continue to grow .. a family .. each member with different memories but sharing a common heritage.All this to say .. although my words have been few over the past while .. my heart remains grateful for the blessing of the family that has shaped my world into one that continually surprises me with joy!

Bedtime for Sniffles

2008-01-12T07:09:00.001-08:00

I have been searching for this video for a very long time. When our girls were young .. we had a copy of this cartoon on a VHS cassette that someone had recorded for us and sent to Pakistan. We would play it on Christmas Eve just before bedtime .. it was very effective at getting the girls sleepy.

Bedtime for Sniffles- Imagined Restored Credits
Uploaded by MatthewHunter

So Ladies .. this one is for you. Sorry I didn't find it before Christmas.

3:19 AM .. And All Is Well

2007-11-02T03:19:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a good day .. not an exciting day but a good day to be alive and well on the planet earth. Rob had his annual physical .. and nothing scary came up. Work went well .. we managed to get our offices looking not bad at all. The house is coming along .. still some work to do in the basement and a kitchen cupboard to install. Rob bought me some lovely flowers .. well .. that was not today but they are still lovely today. We have lots of candy leftover from Halloween .. a total of 5 kids came to the door .. so the sons-in-law will have snackies to munch on when they pop over. The cupboards and freezer are stocked .. most of the Christmas gifties are bought although not wrapped. Yeah .. life is good .. so I guess I can go back to sleep with no worries.

Our World Is Coming Back Together

2007-10-17T03:56:00.001-07:00

We weren't so sure that it was a wonderful thing when we arrived home to discover our world under water one day. Slowly things are coming back together .. and some good has come from the flood. After we had laid the laminate in the kitchen last year Rob went on to tile in both of our bathrooms .. having discovered how nifty the tile was .. we had been thinking that tile would have been nicer in the kitchen. The flood gave us our chance to replace the kitchen floor .. I use the 'us' loosely .. it was all Rob although I did stand close and hand him tiles as he needed them. We are loving the new floor .. which SUPER ROB had laid in time for us to celebrate Thanxgiving with gorgeous new tiles.

Drying Up Our World

2007-09-20T03:01:00.001-07:00

So .. in a mere 24 hours one burst pipe has taken our home from being a place of comfort to a place where there is constant noise from the fans and dehumidifiers.

The kitchen flooring has been removed ..

.. the laminate was floating on a layer of water. It took the flood tech about an hour to remove the laminate that took us a couple of days to put down.

Mich's belonging have been tagged and bagged and taken to a warehouse to be dried out. So very thankful that all is insured and will be put back in place in the next 3 weeks. For now we live with the noise of the machines .. they say that will last for about 3 days.

A small price to pay for the restoration of our home.

It is a little hard to function in the kitchen .. had planned to have guests for supper last night but had to cancel after the flood .. the kitchen is no longer a welcoming place. So extremely thankful that the work is being done by someone else .. there is much to be done!

Underwater Adventure

2007-09-19T01:57:00.001-07:00

Last night Rob and I headed out to do some business and have a meal. Both of us were exhausted so it was a lovely treat to relax while enjoying some delicious curry at our new favorite restaurant .. the Everest. On the way home I asked if we could go to a drive through car wash .. the car was a filthy mess. After that I remembered we needed milk. So it took a little longer to get home than intended but our goal was to veg out once we got there. When we opened the door we heard a weird noise coming from the kitchen. We scrambled in there and looked with horror upon a floor which was covered with water and to make it worse even more water was spraying out around the cupboard door under the sink. BUMMER!!! So much for relaxing! We headed downstairs and found that Mich's room was also soaking wet. There was water on the TV .. the bed was soaked .. the carpet was underwater .. books were soaking up water.

One wonders .. had I not been lazy and prepared a meal at home .. could we have stopped the damage completely? Had we come straight home after supper .. would we have been here when the pipe burst? Did the car really need to be washed? Could we have lived without milk for one more day? Best not to think on these things .. it won't take the mess away. We have a fair bit of work ahead to make our world a drier, happier place. I'm thinking that it would have cost less to go to Disneyland for our underwater adventure .. and that would have been a lot more fun.

Watch Your Step

2007-09-18T01:38:00.001-07:00

We replaced the shingles on our house on the weekend. This job is one that is not for the weak of heart. Shingles are bloomin' heavy!!! The men did all the rooftop work .. and .. because some of us don't care for the high places .. the ladies worked on the ground (although Kif was a major help on the first load to the dump).

This weekend I discovered just exactly why I did not choose roofing as a career. First .. you have to get the old shingles off the roof. Then .. you have to get the new ones on the roof. And what really sucks is that you have to find a place to take the old ones once they are down. And not only that .. the old shingles are filled with nails. All through the weekend .. I reminded my family that they must be careful where they stepped .. the stray nails could puncture shoe bottoms. Then I pulled a Pa Bear stunt .. I stepped down hard and felt a nail go an inch or so up into my foot .. and so we all learned that "this is what you must not do!" Even though the ground had been cleared .. we had used the niftiest tool I have ever come across .. it is a powerful magnet thingie that you roll across the ground and listen to the stray nails ping as they hit the metal .. I managed to find a long, rusty nail to put into my foot.

The roof looks excellent though .. now we just have to get the new eaves troughs on and we are set to go for the long winter ahead. And just a small note on that one .. the winter ahead I mean .. I was horrified last night when my cute husband told me that the forecast is for snow in the higher areas around here. What's up with that? I was told the world is in the midst of global warming and I choose to live in the one place that is experiencing global cooling.

Just A Reminder

2007-09-05T20:39:00.001-07:00

There are less than 4 months until Christmas so if you want to enjoy the season .. it's time to get the planning out of the way.

This is what I am looking forward to:

Does Life Get Better Than This?

2007-09-05T15:42:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about life lately. We have had some changes thrust upon us in the past few months .. our jobs gone in a twinkling .. the girls making the final move from the house. It would not be truth to say that I just went with the flow trusting that all would be well .. that we would adjust. But the truth is that all is well .. we are adjusting. Of course .. it helps that both Rob and I were offered jobs so we didn't have to go out searching for work. It also helps that although Kris and Erin are now in their new homes .. they are in the same town so we can visit. Another big plus is that Mich still has her room here for when she comes home during her breaks from studying .. she was just home so we got to be a complete family again for a brief portion of the weekend.

Yeah .. life is good. I am most richly blessed!!!

Be Careful What You Say

2007-08-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

For our 10th anniversary Rob found me a beautiful gift .. if you have been to our home you will have seen it. It sits just inside the front door in the living room .. a rosewood desk with carvings and inlaid brass. I was not the only one to be impressed by the desk. Mich .. who was 2 years old at the time .. loved the desk as well. She would sit on my knee as I worked on letters to her sisters away in boarding school .. and rub her hands over the wood.

One day we were out for supper and stopped at a handicraft store to look around. There was a desk similar to mine sitting on display. Mich loved it .. she asked if we would buy it for her and I flippantly responded "No .. you can have mine when I die." I quickly forgot all about it until several months later when I was trying to catch some extra sleep. As I lay in my bed Mich came in the room and asked "Mommy .. are you dead?" Thinking that it would buy me some extra sleep time I quickly said "Yes" with the hope that she would leave me resting and go find her Dad to entertain her. I could hear the joy in her voice as she asked "Can I have your desk then?"

I learned a lesson that morning .. one should always give thought before opening one's mouth .. especially when talking with children. So Mich gets the desk .. I am hoping that she has a long wait ahead of her .. but I will keep my word.

Something A Little Different

2007-08-12T05:02:00.000-07:00

Even though there is something nostalgic about tried and true recipes .. one can sometimes desire a new taste to tantalize the tastebuds. So every now and then we check out our vast library of Indian cookbooks and try a new recipe. We have a preference for one cookbook in particular (Foods of the Orient - India, Copyright Marshall Cavendish London & New York 1978) .. Rob gave it to me for Christmas in 1978 .. it is getting a bit shabby now. Anyway .. here is a recipe that Kristin tried first .. then Mich .. and now a favorite.

Madras Chicken Curry

1/4 c vegetable oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 med onions, finely chopped
1" ginger finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp turmeric
1 Tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground chili
1/4 tsp ground fenugreek
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp black pepper
8 pieces chicken, skinned
2 1/2 c coconut milk
1 tsp salt
2 bay leaves
3 green chilies, slit lengthways and seeded
juice of 1/2 lemon

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. When it is hot add mustard seeds and fry until they begin to spatter. Add the onions, ginger and garlic and fry, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft. Stir in the spices and fry for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a tablespoonful or two of water if too dry.
Add the chicken pieces to the pan and turn them over to coat them thoroughly in the spices. Fry until they are evenly browned. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the lemon juice, and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 50 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. After 30 minutes, uncover the pan and, if the curry is too liquid, simmer uncovered until it thickens. Stir in the lemon juice.
Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaves. Transfer to a warmed serving dish and serve at once.
Serves 4-6
Preparation and cooking time: 1 1/4 hours

For those who like the flavor of curry but not the heat .. use only one green chili and cut back on the ground chili to half a teaspoon .. this is a hot curry. Even this may be too hot for some .. so keep some yogurt or cottage cheese on hand to dull the pain. For those concerned about excess fat .. I never use the full amount of oil these recipes call for .. it is your call. The more fat in a recipe .. the more authentic tasting it will be .. the fat carries the flavour.

Celebration

2007-08-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

We went to Vancouver on the weekend to celebrate Kristin's birthday by attending Celebration of Light .. a yearly fireworks competition. It was a fun weekend. Unfortunately .. Mich was at a wedding and Erin was out hiking so they couldn't be there .. although we missed them .. we were ready to party along with Kristin's new family members, Alain, Alida and Caleb. Knowing that the best way to get home after the fireworks is the Skytrain .. we purchased Day Passes and went to town. Our first stop was Science World .. Kristin discovered a room which creates an illusion of height .. the only place in the world where she looks taller than her husband, Alain. There was an exhibit on Grossology .. this would be gross facts about the human body. Let us just say .. TOO MUCH INFORMATION! So many facts that it would have been better to never know .. no longer sure how I can live with myself let alone the other people in my world. Supper was at an Indian restaurant .. where else?

We scurried back on the Skytrain to catch an Imax movie about African wildlife .. aside from the nausea caused by the 3D aspect of the movie .. it was not too bad. When we got back downtown .. the masses of people sort of carried us along to the right place to view the fireworks. There is something exhilarating about being in a large group of people who are filled with expectation. The fireworks met my expectations .. perhaps I am easy to please .. but I think not .. I think that they really were amazing.

On the walk back to the Skytrain .. we were once again carried along in the crowds. The line was excessively long .. but somehow we were close to the front of it. After a cozy ride home .. we were very appreciative of our beds once we hit them. A lovely way to celebrate! So hope your birthday was happy Kristin .. it certainly was for us!

Decisions, Decisions

2007-07-31T03:25:00.000-07:00

After the Pakistan government decided that our work in Pakistan was over .. we had to decide just what to do next. One of the options before us was moving to Afghanistan to work with SP .. yesterday we finally decided that it just was not a fit for us. So now we will be needing to move ahead with life. It has been a busy few months .. we really did not know that when we left Pakistan to attend a conference and our daughters' weddings .. our work there would be over in a VERY short while. Life can throw some surprises at one .. it will be interesting to see just exactly what path we take in the near future. Should be fun .. although right now it is looking a little bit scary.

Sleeping Triple in a Double Bed

2007-07-23T03:58:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about how things have changed in sleeping arrangements over the years. It started when Rob and I went to visit the Biltmore House in North Carolina. We went through room after gigantic room and the thing that struck us was the size of the beds. No matter how enormous the room .. it seemed that the bed was like a 3/4 bed and shorter than the beds we use now.

The average kid growing up in Canada today has their own bed if not their own room. Mom and her 3 sisters shared a bed while they were growing up. Mom slept on the outer edge because she was the brave one who had to check out the night noises. It may have been that sleeping with someone was part of the heating arrangement to guard against the cold Canadian winter. Karen and I always snuggled together for warmth .. she had particularly cold feet .. which she loved to warm against me. In the morning we would pull our clothes under the covers to warm them up before putting them on and making the dash down to the kitchen where the heat would be building up in the wood stove. If we got company .. we moved over and added another to the bed. I have been told that this picture is the Ganes boys with my brother, Paul, up against the wall. No need for extra sheets and blankets when the company came .. there was always space for another to crawl in and share the warmth.
There is a family legend that long ago on a winter day one set of the aunts & uncles got married. A horrible blizzard blew up and that night the bride, groom, bestman and matron of honor all had to share a double bed .. sleeping crosswise on it. Elsie could tell me if this is truth .. but it does go to show that times have changed a great deal. Kris & Alain and Kif & Erin went out to buy their beds after their weddings and they bought queen size beds. When we got married .. a double bed was considered big enough. I wonder just how big the beds are going to need to be in the future .. I know there are several king size beds in the family now. What is bigger than a king size? I think there is something called a California king .. and after that who knows how big a bed can be. It appears that Canadians need their personal space .. even when it comes to sleeping.

Widening the Road

2007-07-20T04:50:00.000-07:00

The city has decided to modify the road in front of our house. Come October .. or November .. we will be located on a small sideroad and the main traffic will be a little ways away. Looking at the plans .. I think this is a good thing for us.I never realized that road construction guys are on time kind of people. This summer I have been discovering that they not only arrive on time .. but actually before they need to be there. Every day before humans were meant to be awake .. it is actually 7:00 am on the dot .. the big machines start their work. You might think this is a good thing .. but they have a couple of machines that do their best to simulate earthquake conditions in our house. I open cupboards with care these days .. one mug has already fallen out on me.With the rain that we have been having .. the road out front is a major mudhole. I am reminded of the farm driveway in the spring. Close to the house there was a section that became boglike each year. Dad would floor the car to get across that section .. sometimes he made it .. but most often he would have to go get the tractor to pull the car out. When we walked down to the bus in the springtime .. the bog was often still slightly frozen so not a problem really .. BUT .. the walk back to the house after school was another story. It was not uncommon to arrive there with one or both of our socks soaked in mud. As we walked through .. the mud would suck our boots right off our feet. I really have to say .. Mom did a good job of keeping our clothes clean .. even though there was no electricity or running water during the time that 5 kids were in the house. In later years .. Dad had a culvert installed .. and we were able to use the road with no problem no matter what the weather.

Under Repair

2007-07-18T03:44:00.000-07:00

The last few days here we have been watching out for a couple of the people we love who have been undergoing repairs. On Monday, Nita had cataract surgery .. Papa and Nita spent the night at our house so we could keep an eye on the situation. Aside from a nifty eye cover that made her look like a pirate .. you wouldn't even know anything had happened to her. It is truly amazing how quickly and efficiently repairing eyes can be done. By the time Nita went home yesterday .. even the eye patch was gone and she called us later to tell us that she had already been out driving to get groceries.

Erin also had a bit of a tune up .. she had all 4 wisdom teeth out on Monday. Her mother-in-law took her home for that day .. but yesterday we got to have her at our house. We kept the frozen vegetables .. corn actually .. coming and going out of the freezer to manage the swelling in her face .. 20 minutes on .. 20 minutes off .. it didn't work. She is looking a bit like a chipmunk .. I don't have a picture .. she isn't really into that look. It appears that it might take longer to get over the teeth removal than the cataract surgery .. there is a whole lot of pain in getting teeth ripped from one's jaw.

While we have been keeping an eye on those repairs .. Rob has been continuing to try to get Mich's car back on the road. I have been helping to bleed the brakes .. since it wasn't going really well .. my legs got a bit of exercise .. I had to switch back and forth because the process went on and on and on and .. I'm sure you get the picture. Pump and hold .. I would pump and hold .. then he would get busy and forget I was holding. It took a fair bit longer than it was supposed to because of a tiny leak that was rather hard to find. Even in my sleep .. I am hearing "Pump and hold!" The good news is that after an oil change .. the car should be ready to ride.

In this "throw-away" world .. it is nice that many things can be repaired and go on for years into the future. Let me rephrase that .. it is nice that people can be repaired .. but I'm thinking that maybe a new car would come in handy.

89 Years

2007-07-12T02:47:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Mom's 89th birthday yesterday .. .. even though her birthday doesn't happen until Saturday. There were quite a few of us .. family and friends. It is an amazing thing to celebrate 89 years of life. Over those years .. so many changes. An example .. photographs .. in Mom's life .. they have gone from black & white to color to digital. The digital thing has made photographers of us all .. we can snap photos to our hearts' content and just delete the lousy ones. And speaking of photos .. I don't have any of this momentous occasion .. note to self - bring camera to functions .. Joanne was taking pictures all the way through the party .. I will ask her to share.

Now on to important issues .. like gifts .. while Mom's children chose to get together to give a practical gift .. a hearing aid headset. The grandkids got together and gave her a nifty gifty .. a digital picture frame that displays a photo slideshow. This is a very cool thing .. Mom can view photos of the bzillion peoples in her family in just one handy dandy frame. A positive change .. now she could actually have all of the family within sight at all times. And add to this .. she can have music playing with the photos. Oh my goodness .. does the technology ever stop? How jealous am I? I was sitting across the room and the photos were easy to view .. at least that is what Mary Joan and I thought. So I am thinking that even with diminished eyesight .. Mom will be able to see the photos quite well.Here I was imagining that there was nothing more one could buy the lady who has everything. Yet again .. I was wrong .. in today's world .. there is always one more thing to tempt one .. that would be me .. into technolust.

PS .. all photos are courtesy of Joannelee .. thanx so much!!

Ladies Moving Out

2007-07-03T04:29:00.000-07:00

It started before Erin's wedding .. the packing .. the sorting .. the loading .. the moving out of all their belongings .. and it is amazing how many belongings there are. The last little while has been spent on getting Kris' stuff over to their new place across the lake. I begin to see why my father would just up and move on occasion .. the move forces one to take things that have been tucked away for years and decide whether they are really worth keeping. My ladies have discovered that many treasures are no longer treasures. Rob and I have discovered places in our home that had previously been buried under mounds of flip flops .. what will we do to fill the spaces? It is possible that we will leave them empty just to marvel at how large our home has miraculously become over the space of 3 weeks.

We are now looking around and realizing that there is still much to do down in the POD (that would be the Pit Of Despair which lies under our house .. for those who don't know). I was able to get much out of there last fall while Rob was in Pakistan .. but there was a portion that I dared not touch .. the MAN section. There is a collection of screws .. and wires .. and useful things that I will never value as Rob values .. thus he must make the decisions regarding their fate. Rob will never value my cloth collection as I do .. he just might be thinking that I should be working on downsizing that particular treasure.

And before the POD .. it might be wise for us to sort out the office. There is a collection of floppy discs that has been saved for some unknown reason (do we even have a floppy drive in our computers?) .. along with these are manuals for oh so many computer programs that are no longer in use. There are mounds of paper that have been sorted into piles and need to be placed in files or binders so that we can access them at will. I am scaring myself here .. maybe I should head back to bed until I get over this organizational kick .. after all .. our girls might just have a need for some of the treasures we have tucked away.

What Next?

2007-06-27T02:41:00.000-07:00

The weddings are over .. according to the original plan we were to have boarded a plane on Monday and headed back to Pakistan. This is not happening .. life is in limbo. So what is next? We haven't got the clue. Right now we are waiting for the big bosses to let us know if there is anything available for us. If there is .. do we want to go there? Ah the questions of life .. does one ever get all the answers one wants? Not in this lifetime apparently.

When I was younger .. I would watch television shows and see families that stayed in one house for a lifetime .. everyone in the neighborhood knew everyone .. this was my dream. The farm was the closest we ever came to that .. I started school there .. but there were some few years when we moved to the city of Edmonton .. not just to the city .. but all over the blooming city. No home was permanent there .. I spent grade 3/4 at Central School .. grade 4/5 at Hazeldean .. grade 6 at James Gibbons .. began grade 7 at Stratford .. finished grade 7 at Mckernan .. grade 8/9 at Westlawn. After moving back to the farm .. the last quarter grade 9 at Onoway .. and was able to graduate from Onoway after Dad seemed to settle back into life at the farm. The moves would not have been so bad .. BUT .. Dad always seemed to want to move in the middle of the school year .. for an extremely shy person .. this was not something I particularly liked .. if fact .. you might say it filled me with dread.

Strange then that after marriage .. Rob and I should choose a lifestyle that dictated frequent moves. How weird is it that I .. with a phobia of all things new .. should be moving around the world from country to country? It was not intentional .. the plan was to minister in one country until retirement .. but somehow things just worked out that we should be world wanderers. I have NO sense of adventure .. and yet we lived in India when Indira Gandhi was assassinated .. in Pakistan when President Zia died in an unexplained air crash .. in Cambodia weeks before a coup .. in Uganda while the north was in turmoil. What is up with that? Why on earth would God choose to place someone whose life is dictated by fear in places like that? I have no idea really .. someday perhaps I will find out. And now again we face uncertainty .. what are we going to do and where on this planet will we end up? Perhaps .. if you know .. you could give us a small hint .. because I would really like to know as well.

Kif & Erin Are Married!

2007-06-25T02:46:00.000-07:00

Unlike the day before and the day after .. the day of Kif & Erin's wedding was gorgeous! The wind died down .. the sun shone .. families & friends gathered together .. an altogether glorious day!

The Day Before The Second Wedding

2007-06-22T04:07:00.000-07:00

Yet another lingerie shower last night .. Erin was trying on her stuff for us and once again I was struck with the thought "Baby no more". So many lovely outfits on such a gorgeous girl!Somehow this picture does not fit with the woman I was seeing last night. There was a time when the girl's face was covered with whatever she was putting into her mouth. It didn't really matter what she was eating .. a good portion of it ended up in her hair, eyebrows .. well .. actually anywhere on her head .. or any other part of her body. You might think that I am referring to the distant past .. but it doesn't seem so very long ago.
Today when we all get up and start the day .. we will go to breakfast as a group along with the in-laws. Then each of us has our particular duties to perform. Rob and I have a trip to Costco .. it's a hard job but someone has to do it. We have a rehearsal .. and a dinner to go to. At Alain & Kristin's rehearsal .. I had a hard time holding myself together .. did a bit better at the wedding .. so I will go to Kif & Erin's rehearsal armed with a very large packet of Kleenex. I am not wanting to have to use my sleeves for wiping my face this time.

These outdoor weddings cause a bit of stress .. BUT .. the weather promises to be good for the wedding .. there is a 0% chance of rain .. no wind .. with a temperature of around 25C. This is what the weather sites are telling us right now .. unlike the 60% chance of rain which had us rather discouraged .. I am so glad they have changed their minds.

The Calm Before The Storm

2007-06-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight will be a quiet night .. 2 of my ladies just want to veg before the next wedding. Tomorrow the bustle starts in earnest. Alain & Kris get back from their honeymoon in the afternoon .. Rob gets back from Pakistan quite late at night ( I just had the last phone call he will make before boarding his plane today). There are things to do on Thursday .. showers and manicures. Friday is the rehearsal and dinner .. the gathering of the final bits that need to come together for the wedding. The weather forecast for Saturday is looking better than it did yesterday when it said there was a 60% chance of rain .. this is a good thing!!

Once the wedding is over .. Rob and I have to plan the next step in our lives. It is difficult to have one's plans changed by a single phone call. Now 3 weeks later .. Rob is returning home with all our belongings .. having done the major business of shutting down and exiting. I am feeling very unsettled .. not sure about the future. I sometimes get spiritual about it and decide that God knows what He is doing. Other times . . I have to focus on breathing evenly .. in an effort not to panic. The good times outweigh the bad .. so far.

For today until Saturday .. I have the wedding to distract me .. so yahoo for a brief reprieve from the realities of life.

Alain & Kristin's Wedding

2007-06-11T05:37:00.000-07:00

The day could not possibly have gone off better .. shining sun .. magnificent setting .. beaming bride .. handsome groom .. beautiful ladies .. good looking men .. glorious food (Thanx Suzy!!) .. gorgeous cake (Thanx Joannelee!!) .. fantastic flowers (Thanx Anne!!)

The Day Before The First Wedding

2007-06-09T04:35:00.000-07:00

It is early in the morning .. tomorrow is Kris' wedding. Last night we had a lingerie shower .. whoa .. my baby has grown up.We brought her home from the hospital and realized that our lives had changed forever. By midnite I was calling Mom trying to figure out how to stop the crying .. wondering what kind of idiot lets someone like me take an innocent child home. We soon figured out that if we held her 24/7 .. the crying would stop .. it was a simple solution .. and fortunately she was tiny enough that carrying her around was not too difficult. I don't think we actually slept the first year of her life.

Six months ago when we decorated our Christmas tree along with our future sons-in-law .. the thought that these 2 would decide to spend the rest of their lives together was in the realm of distant possibility.I'm glad they have made that decision .. and now I begin a new life as well. I discovered as we decorated that tree .. that life with males is a whole other ball game. It should make for some interesting times in the days ahead.

But there is much to do today .. in fact .. instead of working on this .. I should be getting the bulletins in order. So I will go do that even though it means going and getting them off my computer on the kitchen table .. which will disturb Mich who is sleeping on the living room floor. And actually .. I am needing a cup of tea as well .. so I am going to have to disturb the girl and be responsible about the bulletins. If I didn't want the cup of tea so badly .. I probably wouldn't go into the kitchen .. but when I accidently wake her up .. I can say that I really had to get my computer and I think I won't mention the tea.

Uncertainty

2007-06-06T02:18:00.000-07:00

We received news just as we left the country for the conference and the girls' weddings that the government had refused to register the organization we work for .. we did not have enough information to know just exactly what this would mean. On Monday .. we talked with the guy we left in charge out there .. it would appear that we are a threat to national security and unless we are successful with an appeal .. we will have 15 days to clear out of the country. That 15 days starts once we receive official documentation and our visas are cancelled.

It is rather an insecure feeling .. although we have finished building 300 houses .. we are in the midst of several other projects. There are 5 schools left to be finished.We are praying that we can get permission to stay until the end of our visas .. this would be mid July .. by that time we could wind down the majority of our projects. As it stands .. Rob and I will not be able to go back to help wind things down .. this leaves our very young team in charge of the heavy responsibility of halting projects, disposing of assets (of which there are fortunately very few), and ending our work there. If we are allowed to finish out our visas .. Rob & I could go back to help out.

Billy Graham

2007-06-04T13:19:00.001-07:00

We have been incommunicado for the last four days at The Cove .. a retreat centre of the Billy Graham Association. It is beautiful .. totally buried in trees. From the balcony of the dining area there is a view of mountains that is breathtaking. It is a truly a gorgeous place to rest and rejuvenate!

On the Thursday we arrived at The Cove .. Billy Graham's new library was being opened in Charlotte, NC. We couldn't be at the opening but 3 former US presidents were there .. George Bush Sr, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton .. as shown in the Charlotte Observer photo below. Our turn to see the new library came on Saturday .. inside is a tour which has videos of Billy's life. It was very touching! The house that Billy Graham grew up in is on the same property. Inside the house .. things have been restored to what it would have been when his parents were living there .. a very nifty kitchen stove and refrigerator .. but the tour guide said the originals were no longer around .. so they researched and found the items that would have been there .. they still function. My favorite was the study .. although all of the rooms were beautiful. I wouldn't mind living in the house now. The highlight of the afternoon was when Billy Graham popped in to the picnic. He has gotten very old and frail .. but he came out to see the folks anyway .. that made the day a little bit more special. He is a bit of a long haired yahoo these days .. but a man that I deeply respect.

Call To Prayer

2007-05-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

It is 3:23 am .. the call to prayer is going out to the neighborhood. I haven't thought about how early it starts each day. Perhaps this is why the chai was being made so early the other day. It is a good thing .. to be starting the day with prayer. Being reminded at regular intervals that we need to be in touch with our Creator is a part of life here. Often the rush of life pushes prayer aside .. it should not be this way .. but it happens. So I respond to this call .. not in the way that it is intended here .. but rather using it as a reminder to keep in regular communication with my God.

Early Morning Rain

2007-05-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

A gentle rain is falling outside .. it will help to cool the day tomorrow. Temperatures have been fairly high .. although with air conditioning .. life is certainly easy enough. The birds are loving the rain and making major noise. Someone outside is doing dishes .. probably working on the morning chai. I am jealous about the chai .. not about the being up before 5:00 am doing dishes.

Have been working on getting clothes ready for the trip .. how many clothes does one need for a conference .. 2 weddings and the time in between? Not really sure. The suitcases will be full .. the ladies have asked us to bring home many things .. and we have bought some things that weren't asked for. It is not going to be our lightest trip home.

I can get another 2 hours sleep if I head off to bed now .. so I think that is what I will do. I may be kept awake contemplating how I will live without the internet for 4 whole days .. on the other hand .. I might just fall back to sleep.

Heading Back To Canada

2007-05-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

I was blown away yesterday when Rob reminded me that we had 3 'sleeps' until we head back to Canada. I hadn't actually looked at it in terms of 'sleeps' .. now one of those 'sleeps' is over. I have a fair bit to do before we head out. Most things are purchased .. nothing is packed .. although we have put things in the bags to make sure everything will fit. I still have a few jobs in the office to complete. There is a tendency to think that things won't continue effectively once I am out of the office .. but I realize no-one is indispensable .. even if I don't get everything I want in place .. life will go on.

On the way home for the weddings we stop in Charlotte, North Carolina for a meeting with the big shots. There will be a time of relaxation at The Cove. It should be a good time .. although I am rather anxious to get home to the girls. One of the special features of The Cove is no internet access .. I'm wondering "WHAT ARE THEY THINKING??" How on earth do I cope with 4 days incommunicado? I believe they want the time spent there to be free from outside distractions to enable comtemplation. I am thinking "Who wants to contemplate .. I just want to get home!!"

We have to change airports in New York .. I am sort of nervous about that. After being awake for many hours .. the flight from Dubai is very long .. I wonder how alert we will be in the big city. There is .. apparently .. a bus which goes regularly between the airports. Here's hoping for no traffic jams in the Big Apple.

Soon the day will start here .. the birds are already making a lot of noise outside .. someone next door is making chapatis .. I can hear hands slapping together as they are shaped without a rolling pin. I wouldn't mind a fresh chapati with some chai right now. I think I will have to settle for a leftover Dunkin Donut and some coffee .. but not now .. I will head back to bed for a short while and plan the day.

Views From The Rooftop - Of Our Home - Of The World

2007-05-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

We can see quite far into the distance from our rooftop. There are some major contrasts. In one direction we see glorious houses .. .. in the other .. .. the mud homes of those who work in the glorious houses. The sky these days is most often hazy with smoke from the wood fires of the poor .. smog from the masses of vehicles that clog the roads. Occasionally the sky is clear toward the mountains .. but never in the direction of Islamabad or Rawalpindi .. they remain covered with a haze of grey.

Once a person gets beyond the cities .. .. the country is beautiful. Although getting to the beautiful places can be a bit difficult. Roads are hard to build and maintain in the mountains. Still once you get there .. it is definitely worth your while.

The Love Of Books

2007-05-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was in my bedroom today looking at all the books that were scattered about the headboard of our bed .. and I realized how blessed I am to have a mother who loved to read and who passed that love on to her children. Mom didn't often have time to herself when we were growing up .. but one thing she could do to get away was to read. I remember sliding my hand down her page until I covered the words she was reading to get her attention .. probably should have left her alone to enjoy her story .. but .. being a kid .. I figured my need for her services was greater than her need for a break from the reality of raising 11 kids.

Not everyone has grown up with this privilege .. especially not here in Pakistan. While talking with the lady who cleans our base house/office .. I was once more faced with the reality of the great many people who can't read or write .. who really wish that they had been given the opportunity to learn. Not an earth shattering discovery .. but rather a fact of life that isn't given much thought in my world.

I used to sit in school .. kicking my feet under my desk each September as I got used to wearing shoes after a summer of bare feet .. thinking that anything would be better than sitting in class listening to another teacher. I was wrong .. my life has been greatly enhanced by the ability to read .. and not only to read .. but to love to read. So another thank you goes out to Mom whose love of reading was handed down not only to her children but also to her grandchildren .. and possibly .. I am thinking .. to a few of her great grandchildren as well.

It is 3:26 am and the car alarms are sounding off in the neighborhood

2007-05-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

We are having a major thunderstorm .. so along with the VERY loud thunder .. we have the car alarms going off at regular intervals. One appears to be stuck on somewhere close at hand .. I wonder how long they can go off before the battery dies. The last crack of thunder had me flying out of my chair. It seems weird to have this major of a storm .. yesterday the temperature hit 40 degrees .. things should be cooled down a bit today when we finally get up. I haven't figured out how Rob is sleeping through all this .. now we have the call to prayer in the mix. What a night .. or morning actually!

Life in Islamabad appeared to be back to normal .. aside from a strike by the owners of computer stores .. go figure. Not quite sure what their issue was .. but the shop owner who had our printer cartridge for refilling .. gave it to the store next door so we could pick it up .. didn't want his business to be hampered by the strike.

The newspapers indicate that other areas of Pakistan are not quite so fortunate .. Karachi still has issues. This country needs some major prayer .. the need for revenge is fuelling the violence in Karachi. A major bomb went off in Peshawar yesterday .. doesn't seem to be connected to the political issues that blew things up in Karachi. We will see what the new day brings .. hopefully .. peace throughout the country.

The Turmoil Continues

2007-05-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

Today the papers were filled with Karachi .. the unrest is spreading .. shops in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were shut in the afternoon. Our guys went out to place orders for building materials this morning .. and the shops were being forcibly shut .. not by the police but by the protesters. We sent the guys home early .. don't have any news .. the television isn't working .. our guys say that it has been shut down by the government. Not sure I believe that because the internet is still working. The last time the government shut down the country .. they took out the phones, internet and television .. so I'm thinking that maybe our neighborhood might just have a cable problem.

We were supposed to go out after work to get our cloth to the tailor .. but when I called the shop .. no one was answering the phones .. their shop must have been shut as well. This is a bummer .. we don't have a lot of time left before we head home .. we need the clothes sewn.

But .. more important than our clothes is the country of Pakistan .. people are dying .. and the protests are getting violent. Pray for peace!

Pakistan In Turmoil

2007-05-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (today according to the post date) Rob and I went out to buy some cloth to get sewn into wedding clothes. While driving we noticed that maybe we should not have been out. There were police everywhere .. even the special guys who only come out when things are very tense. We saw the normal traffic police .. .. the guys who wear black shirts .. the guys who wear white shirts .. the elite guys who wear green polo shirts and baseball caps. Lights were turned off .. and all the main intersections were manned by police .. usually 2 varieties. There were buses loaded with people carrying flags .. just as we turned onto the main road to the cloth shop .. we noticed a massive procession moving toward us .. but thankfully they turned the opposite direction. We knew there were things going on in Karachi but since Karachi is very far away .. we didn't think before we went out. Upon arriving home .. Rob discovered a warning from the US embassy .. ah well .. all is well. No news of any violence in Islamabad .. so perhaps it was averted.

Saturday Morning Breakfast

2007-05-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday morning .. maybe not according to the post date of the blog .. but in Islamabad it is Saturday morning. Those who know me could tell you that going out for Saturday breakfast is essential for my well being. It is a time to escape the list of jobs that need to be done in the house. It is a time for hash browns (the shredded type) and bacon. It is when we visit A. Shay & U. Tim .. as our girls call them .. .. and if they aren't around .. we just visit with our girls .. which isn't so "just" really .. it is a good time!!

Here I am in the land of "NO PORK" .. so no bacon for breakfast. We found a place that does a breakfast .. but chicken wieners just do NOT replace bacon in my world .. not in anyone's world really. So today .. I will choke down a bowl of cereal .. and dream of another life in which I could go eat bacon .. drink coffee .. and discuss the happenings of the week with my people.

Thinking of Mom

2007-05-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

I first came to know Mom many years ago .. she came into my life in her own quiet way. In fact .. I don't remember a time before she was in my life .. a constant .. just being with her made me feel secure. Whether it was when the brothers came home and I clung to her legs under her skirt .. or when I brought my firstborn home and didn't have a clue what to do .. Mom was there to give advice and the feeling that all would be well.

Mom was not a gourmet cook .. but she could make comfort food better than anyone on this planet. Her roast, her meatballs, her stew beef, her bread, her egg custard (done in a giant black baking pan) .. don't get me started .. eating at Mom's was a good thing. Dessert was not for every day .. but for special occasions there were desserts that made you not just want .. but need .. more. Most often she made pie .. and with the size of family she had .. she made much pie .. it always started out with the following crust.

PIE CRUST:

5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. (2cups) lard
1 egg
1 Tbsp. vinegar
water

Rub together or blend with pastry blender - flour, salt & lard. Into 8 oz. measuring cup - break egg, beat well with fork, add vinegar, then fill cup with water, and add to flour mixture. Chill for best results. Roll to fit pie plate.

The brothers .. for some reason unknown to me .. seemed to love :-

SOUR CREAM PIE

Filling:

2 egg yolks
1 whole egg
1 cup thick sour cream
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Prepare a baked pie shell from the crust recipe. Combine the above ingredients (saving the egg whites for meringue), stir well and cook over low heat until thick, cool slightly, pour into pie crust. When set .. cover pie filling with meringue.

Meringue:
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup white sugar

In large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture forms stiff peaks. Cover pie filling .. bake at 350F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Mom often made my favorite for my birthday .. instead of cake :-

RHUBARB CUSTARD PIE

Filling:
2 cups rhubarb
1 cup sugar
2 eggs (separated)
1 heaping Tbsp. flour
3 tsp. water
2 tsp. butter

Pour boiling water over finely cut rhubarb. Let stand for 5 minutes, then drain well. Mix and add the sugar, flour, egg yolks, water and butter to rhubarb. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake until custard is set - approx. 30 minutes at 350 F. When set, cover with meringue .. and bake until brown.

So Happy Mother's Day Mom .. thanx for making growing up a special time to remember.

"Flowering Trees"

2007-05-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

Many years ago now, Rob and I moved to Rawalpindi, here in Pakistan. The yard seemed rather barren so we headed off to a nursery to find something to fix up the yard. There was a large variety of baby shrubs and we really had no clue what was what .. so we asked the gardener about the various shrubs we were looking at .. and if they had flowers. Invariably he would tell us a color and then add "flowering tree". So we went home with a white "flowering tree", a pink "flowering tree" and a purple "flowering tree." As they grew .. and they grew extremely quickly .. we discovered that the white flowering tree was jasmine .. the pink was hibiscus .. and the purple was bougainvillea .. all excessively beautiful and full of flowers. Later we moved to Islamabad and bought a red "flowering tree" which turned out to be poinsettia .. it grew to provide shade to the second story of our house and every Christmas was red with flowers.I have been admiring a small tree outside Rob's office window ever since it started to heat up around here. It was covered with beautiful orange flowers .. I thought it was just another of the "flowering tree" variety. Today I got a surprise .. Rob showed me that there was fruit growing .. it is no ordinary "flowering tree" .. it is a POMEGRANATE tree. How cool is that .. in Canada I can reach out my kitchen window and pick plums for breakfast .. and here in Islamabad .. I will be able to step out in the yard and grab a pomegranate. Does life get better than this? I think not!!!!

Pakistan Contrasts

2007-05-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Pakistan is a country of contrasts .. the beautiful is so very beautiful .. even those things which have survived from the long past.and the ugly is so much more accessible here.For those with money most anything is available.. for those without not so much really. Attempts are made to make life easier for those in hard places .. but so much more needs to be done.

Sick - Again

2007-05-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

I sit here in the middle of the night with my stomach churning .. and evil thoughts about the base cook running through my head. This is yet another night when I could do with some sleep rather than feeling like someone has jammed a knife in my gut. It has been many days since this started .. at least the fever is minimal right now. Tomorrow I have to go out for business but staying close to the toilet would seem like the wisest decision. So I am feeling sorry for myself .. thinking about how I got colds in Canada .. and how pleasant a cold would seem compared to this. I include a photo .. it shows the depth of my despair. Tomorrow is another day .. it better be better than today .. or there is going to be one extremely sorry cook in the world is all I have to say.

How To Make The Most Of Your Vehicle

2007-04-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

The true test of a vehicle in this part of the world is just how much it can hold. Whether it is in Nairobi .. where a whole house full of furniture fits on a pick up truck.Or on a remote mountain road near Islamabad .. where the entire vegetable supply for a village fills the vehicle. No vehicle is fully loaded until you have everything on it that you have to put on it. Every vehicle is used to capacity .. whether it is a tonga .. .. a pick up truck .. .. or a motorcycle .. you really don't know how much can fit on until you try it.

Of Houses And Schools In Faraway Places

2007-04-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

Things are moving along on the houses here .. we are completing up to 6 houses a day. The neat tin roofs are the houses that we have been building. As of yesterday .. .. 149 houses are fully completed .. 300 foundations are poured .. and other houses are in various stages of construction. The schools are moving along as well .. 4 of the schools have had opening ceremonies and are being used .... the fifth should be open by April 30th .... we are pleased.

The News on Chocolate

2007-04-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

I am loving the news these days .. well .. not all of it .. but the BBC has an article on chocolate that clarifies why chocolate is addictive. Not all chocolate really .. but if you have ever had a dark chocolate Zero bar you will know what I mean. These are not always available .. but if you are lucky .. London Drugs will have them in the candy aisle. They would not survive in Pakistan .. the temperature today was 40 degrees Celsius. Thankfully .. we have excellent air conditioning so I will survive .. and if I had a Zero bar .. it could possibly survive the heat .. but its chances of survival around me are pretty well next to none.

A Wee Tiny Man

2007-04-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

We have a new tiny man in our world. Kegan was born on March 23 to my niece Jacquie and her husband .. but he arrived 10 weeks early .. so he is a wee little fellow. He started life at 2lbs4oz and is now up to 3 lbs .. this is a good thing. We are praying that he will continue to grow and that his family will feel peace as they do what they can to make this world a friendly place for the little guy. There is nothing more exciting than a new life .. so we are saying Yahoo and PRAISE THE GOOD LORD JESUS for this gorgeous little man. Pray with us that he will continue to grow into a big hunk of chubby baby boy.

Chai - More Than Just A Drink - It's An Experience

2007-04-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

When I married Rob .. he introduced me to the joys of curry .. but he didn't tell me about the ultimate Indian experience which .. of course ..would be CHAI. This I discovered when we got to India. We moved to North India for language study .. and because I was in full time study .. a cook was part of the deal. He is the one who introduced me to chai. The ordinary stuff without spice as served in many Indian homes is pretty good .. but Diwan changed it from a nice cuppa .. to a pleasure for the senses. After a day in class .. I would come home to a glorious cup of spiced chai .. a mingling of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black tea, sugar and milk. The smell and taste became .. for me .. the best escape from the stresses around me.

I was expecting our third daughter at the time and my niece, Suzy, kindly consented to join us there to help with the whole new baby thing. She was the first of the family to enjoy this experience with me. We would buy bulk digestive biscuits at the local store to enjoy with our chai . A few years later .. another niece, Joanne, joined us in Pakistan where she learned the joys of chai. Her husband would come to call it "pumpkin pie in a mug". While in Pakistan I discovered the perfect teapot for chai. It is enamel and can be used on the stove .. and it is very hard to find in Canada. I found a few similar teapots in Africa .. and Kristin got her lovely red one while she was living there. So here I am back in Pakistan .. once again I have found the teapots .. and I am collecting them .. because life without chai just isn't worth thinking about and my recipe for chai works best in one of these.

I am including the recipe once again in my blog .. because it really is worth it.

Chai
3 cups water
3 tsp black tea
6 green cardamom
6 cloves
2 - 2 inch cinnamon sticks
1 star anise (optional)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tin evaporated milk
Bring water, tea and spices to boil .. boil for 3 minutes. Add sugar and milk .. bring back to boil. Take off heat and allow flavors to blend for about 5 minutes.

Kristin is Engaged!

2007-04-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Well .. although it happened on April 1st .. it is no joke. It is exciting and we are thrilled for Kristin and Alain!!!!!!!! Alain called Rob on Friday so we knew what was in the air .. but still it was exciting to get the call from Kris this morning. She sent us pictures of her new ring .. it is really lovely! I can hardly wait to hold her hand and get a better look. It's looking like we will be coming home to 2 weddings this summer. How exciting is that!??!

Of Traveling and Toilets

2007-03-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

As a kid .. every trip Mom would ask if we had used the toilet before getting in the car. My girls will tell you that before every trip .. I would ask if they had used the toilet. It was very important because while traveling in countries that are somewhat underdeveloped .. one must take advantage of every toilet .. there may not be another one for hours of the journey .. this was a painfully learned lesson.

While living in Uganda .. I developed a bit of a phobia of public toilets. We were eating at a hotel in Entebbe and I needed to use the toilet .. when I went to leave the cubicle .. the door would not unlock. In another place there would have been space to crawl under the door .. but this was one secure toilet .. there were concrete walls with a fitted door .. no space under and no space over to crawl out. I wiggled the door knob and nothing moved .. so I had to yell out the window .. which happened to face out into the restaurant where we were eating. Rob noticed that I was taking an exceptionally long time in there .. and then he heard me yelling. He brought a staff member to the ladies' room .. and they worked for many minutes to get the door knob off .. and get me out of there. The next time we were in Entebbe .. we ate at the same restaurant .. I was careful to use a different cubicle .. but what do you know? It happened again .. although my release was quicker this time.

For a female with a weak bladder .. traveling in Pakistan can sometimes be difficult .. in fact .. it can seem like a type of torture. Gas stations are not set up with washrooms for women .. and what is there is usually a skuzzy hole. Since we have come back to Pakistan .. I have noticed things have much improved in this area. There are now motorways with special rest areas .. these have large washrooms .. and are much like home .. aside from the squat pots and the no toilet paper aspect. On our weekend journey we went on a scoochy little road that must have been much used by truckers .. there were a bzillion gas stations. We stopped at one of these and when I went to use the facilities .. there were men crowded around the ladies room. I went back to the car without accomplishing my mission .. the gas station attendant noticed and motioned me to go behind the station to a special washroom. I have never .. not even in a 5 star hotel .. seen such a clean bathroom in this part of the world. The tiles gleamed .. there was a western toilet that gleamed .. the sink was not clogged and it also gleamed .. there was toilet paper .. there was clean soap .. the locks worked .. there was no smell. It was like going into another world through a secret door .. I didn't want to leave it but we had places to go and things to do. A special memory to treasure for a lifetime.

Sad

2007-03-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Part of Rob's job is to assess project proposals that we receive from various places around Pakistan. On Friday and Saturday, Rob and I traveled to Lahore and Faisalabad to see a couple of ministries that have requested funding. I saw things this weekend that would break your heart. There was unimaginable filth .. in one area we drove along a canal that could have been a part of a Charles Dickens novel .. the water was black .. and thick .. and smelly .. and every once in a while .. large bubbles would blurb out on the surface.

3 of the projects we looked at involved setting up schools for children whose parents are too poor to put them in school .. or for those children who are busy working themselves so cannot attend regular school. The children were mostly from Christian homes .. so were among the poorest families in Pakistan. Most Christians in Pakistan are descendents of those who came to Christ in a people movement early last century .. the majority of these were of the Hindu sweeper caste. The schools are already being run .. but with minimal supplies and teachers who are volunteers. The children seemed quite happy although very dirty and very poor.

The last project we looked at was the heartbreaker. It was for children who are carpet makers .. Rob asked to see these children .. the last time he had been to that village he had been told there were no carpet makers in the area .. so wanted to verify that this was a real need. We were taken to the home of a Christian family. It was an average village compound. Several adults were hanging out .. the children of the family were playing together with the goats and chickens .. running around the courtyard. Then we were shown a tiny shed like shelter .. all we could see was a very large loom .. we were told to look behind it. In a space about 2 feet deep .. crouched on a bench in behind the loom .. were a little boy and girl tying knots in the carpet. Children are used for this job because their tiny hands can make tinier knots for fine quality in the carpets. Judging from their size I would say these kids were between 7 and 9 years of age .. they were not family members .. but rather orphans or possibly children whose parents had no other way to make money.

We were taken to another home .. there was another set up the same as the first .. we could have seen more but chose not to. I have no pictures .. I don't actually believe it would be appropriate to use pictures .. it would be a further exploitation of these tiny ones. My heart is heavy .. what would a school for these kids do .. would they be allowed to attend? It is the adults who need to be educated .. they need to allow these children to be children. How does one set up a project for that?

Rain

2007-03-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

It has been raining in Pakistan .. the thunder set off the car alarms in the neighborhood cars many times the other night. Not one of our staff made it to work on time .. "water on the roads" was the excuse given. It stopped raining in the afternoon yesterday .. when Rob and I went out in the evening .. there were pools of water everywhere .. so I am guessing that "water on the roads" was a valid reason for not arriving on time .. rather than an excuse.

Rain here is not quite like the rain in Canada .. it means business. So it can do a whole lot of damage. We are trying to get necessary materials to our building sites .. but .. several of the roads have been messed up by landslides. The work had been going on quickly and efficiently .. it had to stop for the afternoon yesterday .. and will be stopped for some places until the slides are cleared. The trucks of insulation and plywood we sent from Islamabad earlier in the week have not made it to Balakot yet .. the rain wreaks havoc with schedules in this part of the world. The best laid plans have certainly gone awry. Ah well .. the good Lord knows .. so not going to flip out about it.

Sunday - Rich Valley Style

2007-03-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Long ago .. so long ago that I sometimes wonder if it was a dream .. we used to go to Rich Valley Church each Sunday. It was a cute little one room church with a wood stove in the centre aisle. There were long wires for pressure lamps that hung from the ceiling for evening services .. I don't actually remember any of those .. it is possible that I slept through them. The toilet facility was a little outhouse nestled in some bushes .. on the other side of these was the cemetery .. I wonder if they did that on purpose so that the kids would be afraid to skip church to go to the toilet. The pews were very nifty wooden chairs that someone had joined together with planks underneath .. until it was decided that real pews would hold more people. There was a pump organ .. that was later stolen by a gang who went from church to church in the countryside taking all the organs to sell as antiques.I don't remember much about happenings in the church .. except that one Christmas the pastor gave each of the children a missionary biography. That meant that our house got five of them .. there are benefits to large families. I got the biography of Amy Carmichael .. I loved it. It was reading these books that made me realize that the world out there is so very big .. with so much to be done to make life better for those who cannot find a way themselves. It is possible that the pastor never preached a decent sermon .. I don't actually know .. I was always asleep on my Mom's shoulder .. but I do know that there were at least 3 missionaries from that little tiny church .. some of us directly influenced by the books we got that Christmas. A small thing really .. but even the small things you do can have a real impact on this world. So thank you Mr. MacKee .. wherever you are.

Saturday in Islamabad

2007-03-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

We didn't see it .. but apparently there were some major protests in Islamabad yesterday. The president kicked the chief justice out of office and people are not happy. There were major protests all over Pakistan .. some of them not terribly peaceful. I know this because I read BBC news each day. Our home is far from the action .. this is a good thing.The staff are buzzing with all manner of info about the situation. The cook says that martial law is going to be declared .. he saw this on GEO .. the television station that was messed up by the police yesterday .. Musharraf (the president) apologized for that. The warehouse manager says that Musharraf kicked the chief justice out because there is a case being brought up in court against the president's son. We read in the paper that the chief justice gave some favors to his own son that were against the law so that is why he was kicked out. The internet provider told us that our internet was down yesterday because the government cut lines between Karachi and Islamabad. The purchase manager says that people will just accept whatever happens in the country and get on with their lives. We don't actually know what it true .. we don't feel like we are in any danger at this point.

It is 4:38 am .. all is well.

2007-03-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

It is 4:38 .. the rain is falling outside .. it is rather cool here now. We turned off the heating system in the house because things were getting warm enough .. then the weather turned on us and it is cold in our concrete house. Ah well .. no going back .. we have sweaters and blankets .. and before long we will be wishing that it could get cold again.

This morning I find myself thinking that possibly someone else could be doing what we are doing out here in Pakistan .. then we could go and see our girls again .. and live in Canada where there isn't a day to day struggle against corruption. Suzy had a birthday party on Sunday .. I missed out on the cream puffs, strawberries and blueberries and coffee with some of my people. I'm rather homesick .. once work starts in the morning .. I will be busy and forget for a while that I am missing everyone. So enough whining. The houses are going up faster now .. workers have learned the easiest and best way to put them together. Soon there will be 3 a day being finished .. the hope is that it will be 4 a day very soon. So we will have made a difference in the lives of some. The need continues to be great .. we continue to look for other ways that we can improve life for those who lost so much.

Looking at their loss .. kind of puts things in perspective .. I am so richly blessed. Sometimes I forget how good life is .. now I have remembered so I think I will go and schnuggie down next to Rob and thank the good Lord that I have a family to love .. and another 2 hours to rest before the day starts.

On The Border And On To Lahore

2007-03-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

We went to Lahore on the weekend .. it was actually rather fun. We drove to the India border to watch the flag lowering ceremony .. I had never thought about how close the border was. Crowds built up on both sides of the border to watch the ceremony. They sang patriotic songs and shouted Pakistan Zindabad .. which means Long Live Pakistan!! On the other side of the border the same thing was going on .. only it was multiplied in numbers. The roar of the crowd was almost scary at times. We went to Lahore and spent the night there .. got up and went to see the Lahore fort .. which is very, very old. The work there was amazing .. especially in the Shish Mahal .. that is the Mirrored Palace. The guard there held up a small torch and it reflected in every piece of glass on the ceiling. It was amazing to think that many hundred years ago they made something this elaborate and beautiful .. and that it is still there. The Badshahi Mosque is on the same piece of ground .. it is huge and beautiful .. rather awe inspiring really. Yeah .. we had a good time in Lahore .. it really was worth the trip.

Sitting in the Hong Kong Airport

2007-01-02T21:00:00.000-08:00

After a 13 hour flight we are waiting for our 3 hour flight to Bangkok and then our 5 hour flight to Karachi. My butt is in a coma .. I hope that some day again in the near future it will go back to normal. Although it is 9:05pm on Tuesday back home .. it is now 1:05pm on Wednesday here. Time flies when you are having such incredible fun.
We have been able to use a special lounge here in Hong Kong so I have had a refreshing shower and Rob is in the shower right now. After about 2 hours we will head out and board the next plane. I have come to feel sympathy for sardines on this journey. I have also learned to contort my body to enable it to use the miniature toilet facilities on the plane.This may be my last post for a while .. I need to figure out how to get past the blogger ban in Pakistan. Will do what I can to keep up the blog. Now I must go and sleep a little bit .. it is over 24 hours since we headed for the airport last night .. both planes have been late so we have had long waits. So far there is no delay on the Karachi flight. Looking forward to sleeping in a bed there .. only about 15 hours till we hit the hotel in Karachi.

The Christmas Photos Are On The Computer

2006-12-29T04:01:00.000-08:00

We are still celebrating being together .. it has been a difficult year .. and yet .. it has been good to live together. We have been playing games .. Erin taught us Skipbo golf the other night .. I just watched .. but Rob was in there like a dirty shirt. We have been watching movies .. Rob had not seen Nacho Libre .. so we watched it last night. It is funny even on the second time around. We are doing laundry .. five people can mess up a whole lot of clothes. We are still eating turkey leftovers .. I think I need to cook something else for a change.Too soon we will go our separate ways .. Kris, Erin & Nigel will hold the fort for us. There is a fair bit of packing to do still .. but .. I think we will manage it all. Family is a good thing .. we will be missing people .. but .. thanx to the latest and greatest advances in communication .. we will not be cut off from those we love. Thanx to phone cards .. it is cheaper for us to phone home from Pakistan than it is to phone people in close places like Grindrod. The cheap phone cards make learning how to use Skype a lower priority than it was in the past. So Yahoo for that .. life is good.

Christmas Is Over .. and We Are Snowed Under

2006-12-27T05:18:00.000-08:00

It has been a hectic week .. Rob came home .. YAHOO .. and we prepared to celebrate Christmas. And celebrate we did .. first we got together at Anne's for a komlefest .. the next day we had the grandparents from both sides and a few others we love over for a Christmas dinner. It was a time to thank the good Lord for the wonderful families we have the privilege of being a part. It was also a time to reflect on how much we will miss these people as we head off to Pakistan.

Kelowna is giving us a wintry send off .. the snow has been falling steadily since yesterday afternoon. There is a snowfall warning here and regularly throughout the evening we have heard the snowplough going by .. in fact .. it just went by now again at 5:27 am. It is not terribly cold .. just rather white here. Hopefully .. January 1st will be free of weather issues so that we can fly out of here safely and on time.

There is much to do between then and now .. bags to pack .. last minute essentials to pick up .. people to say good bye to .. the list is unending. We are torn between excitement and panic. It is a wonderful thing though to have all of our girls with us this week. They are a continual joy in our lives .. God is Good!

I've Done It Again

2006-12-19T03:23:00.000-08:00

You would think that after years and years of experience .. I would learn never to take night time cold medicine. Nope .. I appear to be an extremely slow learner .. I always have this hope that just once I will sleep in spite of the medicine. So .. last night .. I just wanted sleep instead of horking and snorting the night away .. and I gave in. It is now 3:26 am and I am AWAKE! .. and not just AWAKE .. but AWAKE with that eye sproing open never going to shut again in this century sort of AWAKE. Bummer! I have much to do tomorrow.

Rob should be arriving in London any minute now .. then he heads for Seattle and will get home to Kelowna at 11:00 pm. We are excited .. but there is much to be done. The groceries are all in the house ready for Christmas .. the tree is trimmed .. most of the presents are taken care of .. BUT .. I need to basically clean out our room. When I leave on January 2 .. the room has to be clear of our stuff .. so there are decisions to make. Do I discard or do I save? How much does one put into the POD? And if one puts something into the POD .. will it just be thrown out in the next major POD clean out? Ah the heavy decisions of life .. if the cold medicine wasn't keeping me awake .. the worry would be.

But for now .. I think I am just going to be excited .. Rob is getting home after 3 L .. O .. N .. G months. Yahoo! is all I have to say to that.

Photo Effects

2006-12-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

I have been busy with the new computer .. have had a few guests who are enjoying the effects feature on the computer's camera. I name no names but .. we have been having good times.

Merry Christmas To Me .. Happy Hanukah Marv

2006-12-04T03:40:00.000-08:00

I used to mock my Rob about his "need" for the latest and greatest technocrap. It seemed that no sooner had he bought an item .. than he "needed" the next upgrade (not that we could afford to buy the next upgrade but he did definitely feel the "need" for it). What I did not know was that that I was soon to be overwhelmed by this same technolust.

It started when Kris needed take her music, photos, dvd player, tv and a way to communicate back to Sudan in an extremely compact manner. Her job involved going into a very isolated spot with limited access to the amenities of life .. having her own entertainment center and communication ability would make life easier. She found a gorgeous little Mac Book Pro .. it was silver .. and could do wonderful things. She could take it anywhere .. it only weighed 4 lbs .. so was no issue on her frequent flights in and out of Sudan.

Then Erin got a job teaching at an online school .. she "needed" her own computer to be in contact with her students over the internet. She got a wonderful little white iBook .. it shone as she sat on the couch doing her important work. She could listen to her music .. and when the TV was busy she could watch dvds down in her room without disturbing us.

Even the baby .. Mimi .. "needed" a laptop to take to and from university with her. It had to be compact .. of course. Apple has a wonderful education discount .. so Mim got a white iBook as well.

The 3 of them would sometimes sit in a line on the couch .. working on their own things .. a dvd playing on the television in front of them. I would see my gorgeous daughters all in a row .. heads down .. fingers flying over the keyboards. These should be moments that any mother would savor .. but .. my focus was not on the beautiful girls .. it was on the wonderful little computers on their knees. I would hike to the office .. sit in front of my perfectly adequate giant, ancient PC and long for the sleek petite laptops all of my daughters owned.

For my birthday last year .. they tried to sate my technolust with an iPod .. and although this was a wonderful gift .. it was not what I desired. I "NEEDED" an iBook.

This year around my birthday Rob took his job in Pakistan .. with the plan of my joining him in January .. it was decided that we would need a family laptop to travel with. He was provided with a laptop to do his work .. but .. what to do about personal family stuff? Some genius in the family came up with the most perfect plan .. I needed my own Mac Book. This meant that I must forego gifts for my birthday and anniversary .. the girls and Rob were to stack their monies together .. and .. come Christmas .. I would get my own glorious little computer.

Well .. Christmas came early this year. It was decided that I must have my Mac Book before Christmas so that it could be loaded and checked out thoroughly before heading off to Pakistan in the new year. On Saturday .. the girls came and presented me with my very own white, petite, sleek, brilliant laptop. Does life get better than this? Well .. Mich has this wonderful, petite digital camera with all the features I "need". I am beginning to know what Rob has known for some time .. technolust is never sated.

Randomness

2006-11-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

It has gotten rather cool and the snow is deep enough .. the drive is nicely covered in ice. Gonna have to do something about that tomorrow. As pretty as the snow is when it first falls .. the passing vehicles take the shine out of it. No matter .. the backyard is still pure white and sparkly. More snow is forecast for tomorrow evening. We are just about breaking records here. When I left Alberta .. I thought the deep freeze was a thing of the past .. fortunately the icy temperatures haven't lasted terribly long .. certainly make the world look Christmasy. I don't think anyone here is going to be golfing around Christmas time this year though.

The only Christmas decoration I have out so far is the advent calendar. I had it up for Jack on Friday .. he opened the door and found CHOCOLATE! I knew he would like it .. but .. I didn't know that he would spend the rest of the day asking to open number 4 .. the date of the next day I take care of him. Every 10 - 15 minutes he would drop whatever he was doing to ask "Auntie Donna .. I open 4?" Over and over I would say "Only one door each day Jack." The kid definitely can keep his mind focused .. a little too focused I'm thinking.

I am making a curry fest tomorrow .. got the company coming and they want curry. I am looking forward to that (gotta make lots so there are leftovers .. curry gets better as the flavors blend). Rob introduced me to some pretty fantastic food when he came into my life 30 years ago. I liked it the first time I tried it .. over the years living in India and Pakistan .. I have only learned to enjoy it more. Wish Rob was home from Pakistan to enjoy it with us .. only 16 sleeps until we are together again. Yahoo!

Although the top of this post says it is Tuesday .. the 28th .. I am finally posting it at 2:27am on Sunday .. the 3rd. I was trying to get some pictures done .. have some lovely ones of the snow .. but the wires to get them out of the camera and onto my computer are in Kris' room outside.

Erin Is Engaged!!

2006-11-26T19:33:00.000-08:00

Erin is officially engaged .. we are thrilled. (For those of you who don't know .. the baby picture on the wall is Erin at a year)Chris asked Rob for permission before Rob left for Pakistan in September .. and we have had to keep quiet waiting for the moment. He told Erin that he couldn't propose without talking to Rob face to face .. but he didn't say that it had already been done. She figured it would have to wait until Rob got home .. so it was the major surprise for her. Last night at a family supper .. I had to try to throw dust in the eyes of those who were wanting the scoop .. Chris had told me earlier in the week .. it has been a tough week. Now the news is out .. rather an exciting happening for us all .. but .. especially for Erin.

Yesterday - Best Forgotten

2006-11-21T19:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a day that could possibly have better if it had not been a part of my life. I woke up tired .. back still aching from the POD (Pit Of Despair) work we did on the weekend .. the babies came ready to be entertained .. and I just wanted to sleep. I did okay but at about 11:00 am .. Jack said his tummy hurt. I didn't know that this meant he wanted to woof .. I now know this. He left a portion of his stomach contents on the office carpet .. we had been playing on the computer .. so glad it was the carpet not the computer. A little later .. he left a bit more on the hard wood .. but .. after the third time .. I was wanting out of there. I never knew that a 3 year old's stomach could hold 20 gallons .. possibly not 20 gallons but pretty darn tootin' close to it. It was all I could do not to add to Jack's floor decoration .. I whipped a towel over it so that I couldn't see what I was trying to clean up. Jack was pretty tired after that so I put him down for his nap .. when he woke up .. he was completely recovered but I am still recovering. It is a very good thing that I realized early that I could never be a nurse.

It is less than a month until Rob gets back home .. I am not enjoying this being alone business. I could go out and be with people but I don't have the heart for it .. I've hunkered down waiting for his return. Communication is so much better than in the past .. we talk every day .. but .. talking isn't the same as having someone close at hand. In the aloneness of yesterday .. I became overwhelmed with the whole moving to Pakistan thing .. leaving the girls (I am aware that they are fully grown) .. leaving the rest of the family .. Mom .. in particular .. 88 is not terribly young. And while I am somewhat stressed about it .. I am fully aware that it is the next step forward for me. Rob has already taken that step .. and it is a good thing.

Today life is going pretty okay .. so I guess I survived yesterday and now I move forward knowing that I am .. and have been for many years .. completely blessed.

The Incident of the False Teeth

2006-11-20T04:28:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about life in Canada .. perhaps the long Canadian winter .. which necessitates humor as a survival tool. And there are those among us who from infancy .. it would seem .. have a sense of humor which cannot be tamed. Indeed .. it is this sense of humor that gives some relief as the bleakness of winter threatens to overtake. Now Uncle Maynard was part of an earlier era .. on the outside .. a mild, wise pastor .. but one who could not resist that inner genius which prompted him to mischief .. never unkind .. always untameably funny.It was a time when false teeth were seen as the ultimate solution to all the evils of natural teeth .. they were beautifully white and straight .. they never had cavities so toothaches were a thing of the past .. and since they were kept in a glass at night .. there was no more irritating teeth grinding in one's sleep. The family had gathered and as each went to bed .. their teeth were put in a recognizable glass to soak overnight (I don't know why this was necessary .. but I know it was .. because I remember my mother's teeth being put to bed each night in a glass in the bathroom.) Uncle Maynard must have gone to bed later than the others .. or perhaps he just waited until all were at rest .. when he switched the teeth in the glasses. In the morning .. there was mass confusion .. Uncle Sam being rather tiny .. Uncle Alf being a giant among men .. the teeth just didn't fit .. and so .. they had to figure out .. by trial and error .. whose teeth were whose. This sense of humor was a gift that blessed those who knew Uncle Maynard .. although I imagine that on that particular morning .. there were those who didn't feel particularly blessed.

Journey Mercies

2006-11-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

An engineer has been visiting the team in Pakistan .. he is giving them help on the homes they are building. Getting him to the various places he needed to see has involved a lot of driving for Rob.We have been praying for his safety .. and it is a good thing. While traveling to see the Balakot building site .. they noticed that the truck wasn't cornering well and there were some weird noises. They had been going at highway speeds but slowed down to go through a town .. and then it happened .. a wheel flew off the back of the truck.Praise the good Lord Jesus that Rob was able to pull the truck over to the side of the road (in front of a tire shop .. no less) .. and although the wheel went flying .. there was no one in its path to get injured. The wheel rolled into a ditch and a passerby handed Rob a few of the lug nuts that had come off along the way.They were able to get things back together and continue on their way. Now the team is safe back in Islamabad .. but do continue to pray for their safety .. the roads are dangerous enough without mechanical problems.

Wake Up and Smell The Coffee

2006-11-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to the smell of coffee .. Erin was up early working on report cards. She needed the caffeine burst to get her started (I only use decaf .. but she has her own stash of Tim Horton's caffeinated coffee). Usually I am the person who makes the coffee so I don't get to wake up to the smell. It took me back to the farm .. the sound of the lids on the cookstove .. then the smell of the fire being started and .. finally .. the coffee as Mom started the day.Coffee flowed in Dad's veins .. I don't know anyone else who could down a cup of boiling coffee like old Sofus. There was never a time that there was not a pot of coffee on the stove.

Scenes like this coffeefest celebrating Auntie Alma, Karen & Keith's birthday were a regular part of growing up. For company .. we had buns & coffee .. after school when we walked in the door .. there were buns and coffee .. at night before we went to bed .. again with the buns & coffee. We kids weren't allowed coffee until we were 13 (I think that was a money saving issue rather than a health issue).. but .. if we hung around Mom's chair she would dip a spoon of sugar into her coffee and let us eat the coffee flavored sugar. On rare occasions .. we had sugar cubes .. then we could dip them in her coffee and chow down. Good Times!

Excuses and Things

2006-11-09T03:20:00.000-08:00

I have a small friend .. Aly .. although she is only 2 years old .. she is a master at excuses. Yesterday she outdid herself in the number of "owies" she presented as excuses not to do her various chores. Aly is not lazy if there is something she wants and doing a job will help her attain it .. but .. cleaning up toys just to make order is not a priority in her 2 year old life. So yesterday she had an "owie finger", an "owie leg", an "owie tummy", and various other "owies" in places not generally mentioned in polite company.

She reminded me of the lame excuses I have pulled out when asked to do something I am not particularly excited to be doing .. or the lame excuses I have heard others pull out during my 50 years of life (such as a certain niece who had "a headache in her toe" when asked to take out the garbage). Aly bears witness to the fact that excuse making starts early in life .. I even bet that some of the excuses are real enough .. but possibly .. just possibly .. the task could still be completed in spite of the reality of the excuse. Just a thought really.