Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

Lovely chat with a good friend, one who shares my passion. This always puts me into a contemplative and thoughtful mood. My morning started with the amazing news that my friend, a mother of many, walked across the path to grandparenthood today! Her beautiful daughter graced her with a grand daughter--and I wish them so very many blessings! Girls are such a delight! They grow into women, which is even more amazing. The lives of women, life-givers. I spent time chatting with yet another blessing in my life, another mother of many, discussing our design, our gift, that of child bearing and the decisions a modern woman is faced with so often. It is one of those times that women are faced with the choices that can affect their unborn child, the one they hardly know and yet know so intimately. How can we teach women to know themselves, to trust their inner wisdom and the Designer who made us so very well, fearfully and wonderfully? Where do we find accurate information in this world of too ...

Program days leave me pretty much wiped out. Today, participants made and canned salsa. Lots of laughing and learning together. The together part is the fun! A kitchen full of laughter helps good digestion, of this I am sure! Good news of new babies, new pregnancies, new homes, new skills learned, so much new to celebrate. I do love Thursdays. Coming home today, my lovely momma-daughter blessed me with a delicious dinner made. Spaghetti squash with her fantastic sauce, always a treat. Last night we celebrated with a friend who has been away on a sailing ship for a year. She spent some time in Ireland as well, so celebrated our journey with us, just as we were thrilled to hear of her tales and adventures. Dinner together with pasta and creamy seafood sauce, corn on the cob, salad and dessert of ice cream, it felt like a fine evening of enjoying each others' company, very nice for a Wednesday. For me, celebrations and food are so intertwined, so closely connected. Hearts pour out o...

Finishing Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts  is leaving me with a profound sense of introspection. Her inspired words make me think about living fully, an abundant life. Please do take a moment to check out the link to this book--this way of life! Her book came from a heart full of fear, full of unresolved pain and now, through thankfulness, she is being transformed daily into a new way of being. Her shy, thoughtful, humble prose carries one through her journey, giving an opportunity for the transformation to become intensely personal. When I started my cancer journey, the word that came to me for the journey was gratitude . I had not read any of  A Holy Experience  yet--and who knew that this word would become a gift to me. I became acquainted with this daily blog and joined her community of gratitude. So many who know me, so many who have followed me through my journey, have remarked on my positive attitude. They have noted that even when I was down about as far as I could go, ...

I continue to read 1000 Gifts. Ann Voskamp knows how to spin words magically. Her thoughts resonate deep within, making a mark deep in my heart. They way she writes, her thoughts mirroring some of my own, gives me something to ponder deeply. Looking with gratefulness, fostering an attitude of gratitude, whether it is something difficult or easy, it still creates an abundant life. It fills life to the fullest. One of my off-spring is dealing with issues of the heart. Literally, the heart is creating a problem deep within. It is a problem waiting to be solved, waiting for an answer. Understanding body systems, I am so impressed again with the miracle of how our Designer created us, not randomly, but with minutely detailed purpose. Adrenal glands are on top of the kidneys. Yet, we know adrenalin affects the heart, creates a quick-step of beating to pump the blood through more quickly, giving us an opportunity to flee if needed, to think more acutely and clearly or to fight for s...

It's late. I am avoiding chores. I am being seduced once again by the light of my computer. I have done a number of little things today and am pleased by my solitary process, but keep on being drawn in. My man is away for an overnight reconnaissance trip with his brother, to set up their hunting trip. I have two days to myself and a small list of things to keep me quite occupied until he returns. What I do not have is anyone expecting anything of me, no time table, no schedule of events, no meals to make or people to take care of. And you know what? That is working!! I spent part of the afternoon having coffee with a friend. Friends put life into perspective just when you think something is off kilter. It helps to hear from someone else just what makes life work well. Part of this day was spent in discovery of a large number of things under the stairs.  Do you have a space like that, one that spells its name in italics?? Words that you don't care to say often? For me, this c...

We have been home just over 2 weeks. This has been enough time for me to be busy at work, creating a new bedroom, decorating and crafting. Time to visit new moms, encouraging and supporting. Time to visit long time friends, share in good news, triumphs and difficulties. Time to spend with my husband, my friend. We had 250 pictures of our recent trip printed yesterday. These were culled from 2000. I have a photo album that will fit 100, allowing space for comments beside pictures, notes to remind us about where we visited and who was there.The notes will be a good thing--my brain forgets details faster than it learns them! In his guest posting, my husband shared about his memories of the trip--and even some of his details have become slightly hazy already! I am glad we have so many pictures, so many reminders of the memories we want to cherish. I will put a few highlights below. This is a picture of the pipe organ in St. Patrick's cathedral in Armagh. Patrick, before he was a sain...

Today just might be a birth day. It is certainly a nice date. A birth day for a few things--one for babies, but two, for one woman's journey to motherhood itself. For my baby girl, it is also the birth of a god child, one borne into her scope of responsibility. She is a loyal friend, the kind of friend anyone would be happy to have- fiercely loyal! That loyalty sometimes has her frustrated at others lack of the same fervour, but I hope she doesn't lose it. The hospital is bound to be a busy place tonight--and I will be praying for safe deliveries! So, today is Monday and because it is, I have a few things to list on my Gratitude List! ~my sweet grandson ~work for his momma, in abundance, exciting and fulfilling and interesting! ~love, infinite and exquisite, timeless; believes all things, bears all things, endures all things, never envious or jealous, never me-centred. ~physician's skilled hands and a healthcare system not to be taken for granted ~the pain of healing...

Today is a guest posting written by my husband---for me to share! He has put together this short summary along with 51 pages of pictures, formatted like a collage, for our own memory banks. It is amazing how quickly the details start to blur!! Enjoy! Our trip to Ireland was three weeks and during that time we drove around the entire island in a clockwise direction mostly following the coast but occasionally cutting across country to shorten the route which would see us put over 3,000 km on our little rental car, a Nissan Micra. Judi and I flew into Dublin ( 2 million+…Ireland = 8 million again which equals the pop prior to the historic potato famine) July 12, a Tuesday after being “enroute” for 20+ hours including a five hour delay in Toronto which dropped us in Dublin just before noon their time (+8 hours from ours…or 4am our time :( Although we had a car booked (push for an automatic-very rare!…in case the big new city and wrong side drive isn’t enough for you-y...

We have been home for over a week. Jetlag has died down and life is getting back to 'normal' whatever that is. I am riding on my man's holidays some, glad that he is a teacher and still has another 3+ weeks of holiday time left. No rush to end what has been one of our most enjoyable summers. Many have asked if I would go to Ireland again and I would say most emphatically yes!! I mean, look at this place!! Some who know me well have not seen me looking this relaxed in quite some time!! But life goes on, like I was well reminded today! I met with a new mother to be. Have I ever mentioned before how much I love what I do? Getting to know someone, her wishes and desires for her birth day and how I can be used in it. Talking about what matters most on what could arguably be one of the most life-changing days of a woman's life--and being an intimate part of it. It is such a gift to me to be part of it, time spent watching a miracle unfold, the full drama of life. I don'...

Must still be in the 20's outside. Today was what a summer day should be! Lakeside, kayaking, ice cream and a sunburn. Putting a camper together is a team effort, one shared by everyone, whether painting, crafting shelves, tearing down, building up or sewing curtains. The cushions have been re-covered, walls have changed colour, roof has been redone and fresh fabric hangs inside too. This is our old camper, the one our tree-hugger is renovating to be his new temporary home. So many things for him are becoming new, including his collar bone! He will live in the camper while healing up from a significant surgery to take place next week. Have you ever lived one-handed? What were some of the challenges? We have enjoyed our busy home over the last few days, having adult children in our midst. Music playing, trips to the lake, BBQ's and dinners made together. We are feeling some freedom, no one to check in with when we feel like taking off. I am still very much in holiday mode, tho...

If there were one treat that is a family favourite, this would be it! It is a reminder of hot summer afternoons, visiting with grandparents and family, the cool of the morning before the wasps and too much heat spoil the mood. The smell is reminiscent of sea breezes and tarmac, hot oil and wafts of chlorine. We used to go out to our back lane, where it had been freshly oiled in the summer, hot on our legs, to pick berries for this wonderful dessert. Cobbler seems easy to make, often when one has very few ingredients on hand for anything more fancy, yet it tastes as good as any fancy offering. Here is my recipe: 8 c blackberries (fresh or frozen) 2 c sugar 1/3 to 1/2 c Bird's custard powder (1/3 if fresh, 1/2 if frozen) Let the berries thaw if you are using frozen. They don't have to be soft, just not packed together. Mix the sugar and powder together, then sprinkle it over the berries and stir it in thoroughly. Pour this into your baking dish. For the topping: 1 1/2 c flo...

Holidays. Vacations. Traveling with my best friend. Lands before time, rocks in buildings, rocks on land, rock rock everywhere! Aran Islands, sunrises, relaxing, coastlines and rugged beauty Best friends, exploring and driving, over 3000 km!!   I will post more in the next days!!