It's raining......it's raining!!!

I love the rain.......it makes everything smell so clean.......and especially now when I have just planted my containers and flower beds.........We made a little patio this year for our discussion bench...I refuse to call it a gossip bench.......it is under my lilac tree and the grass did not grow there so we cleaned it up a bit with sand and blocks. Looks ever so much better!!! The lilac tree is higher than the house and it is special because it came from my mother's garden many years ago. The little runners that come up every year drive me crazy but I would not get rid of it. The smell from the blossoms in the spring is just out of this world and the birds love to chatter together in the branches!!!!! And their chattering gets even louder when an enemy comes to visit......the magpie!!!! They have, of course little ones in a nest in the bird house and boy do they get mad at that particular bird!!!!! I guess it is going to continue raining tomorrow as well. It is cozy to hear the droplets hitting the house and know that the coffee is on and there is a good book sitting nearby..........and to top it all off, two little girls fast asleep in bed at Gramma's house!!! What could be better than that!!!!!!

Back to Reality!!!

It has been a week and a half since flying back from Oahu, Hawaii and I really didn't want to leave!!!! I could have stayed another two weeks easily. I can see where friends of ours go for a month at a time and still want to stay longer. I miss the mornings having breakfast on the lanai, the sound of the surf, the flowers - brilliant and beautiful, the air - balmy, the breeze that cools and the people, gracious and friendly! And yes, even Garth - our resident gecko in our cottage. He would wake us up in the morning with a sound almost like a cricket and we would see him peek his head out between the crack in the ceiling! I even was able to get a picture!!!! It freaked me out a little the first time I seen him but they told us that geckos eat pesky insects (almost like our Saskatchewan dragon flies!!!!) and are considered good luck if you have one living in your house. So he was a friend!!! (I did empty our my purse one day just to be on the safe side!!!! I didn't want to open it up and see him peeking out from there!!!) We ate shrimp, mahi mahi fish, pineapple, mangos, papayas, even tried mashed taro root called poi (yuck). It is a staple in Hawaii - they even have it at MacDonald's like apple pie!!! And of course, macadamia nuts which are just too yummy!!! Another thing that we just loved was pineapple whip which is a little like frozen yogurt and it was very refreshing and to top it off, it was low fat and not that many calories!!!! We walked and walked and walked, downtown, the beach and if we didn't walk, we rode "the Bus"!!!! Their bus system is excellant!!! And we sat in the park just watching people - families, newlyweds, grammas and grandpas. We would think of our families back home and think how fun it would be to all go to this island someday!!!! We were on the 11th floor of our condo in Waikiki and every morning (like 6:00 A.M.) we would be out on our balcony having our coffee and poor fellow that moved very slow but had his grocery cart and all his belongings would come and make a little bed under a tree and go to sleep, obviously didn't have a home to go to but considered the park as his home. The second week we had a car so we explored the island from one end to the other. It is beautiful, hiked up to some falls at Waimea Park on the North Shore, saw the surfers ride some huge waves there - they are very dedicated these surfers - they go from morning to night riding the waves!!!! Sundays, we went to a church on the beach which was so interesting and inspirational. This particular group have been there in front of the beautiful Hawaiian Hilton Hotel for 35 years singing, speaking and sharing just a simple message of faith, love and hope in Jesus. We enjoyed it so much. I could go on and on about our trip. Did we enjoy ourselves? How can you tell!!!! We would go back in a heartbeat!!!! Aloha!!!!

ALOHA!!!!!

Aloha from Hawaii,
This is absolutely amazing to be sitting here on this beautiful island enjoying the sunshine, the sound of the surf, the birds, the flowers, the palm trees, the sunsets, the air. I still can hardly believe that we are here. God is so good and He has created all this!! Will blog more later when we get home and then I will have time to write about what we have seen. Aloha!

ALOHA KAKABIAKA (Good morning)

It is almost time to leave and we are doing the last minute things, like watering plants, etc. I woke up this morning and as I got up, I said to Jim "I don't know about you but I'm going to Hawaii!!!!!" To my 'OHANA ( family, extended family and friends) I just say this, have a great day and ALOHA AU IA 'OE which means I love you. Blessings.
ALOHA NUI LOA (Much love or fondest regards)
TUTU (gramma) I couldn't find the word for mom

Gardening....gardening....gardening.....

It is almost as addicting as chocolate......I love to see the plants peeking their heads through the soil in the spring, I love the buds coming out on the lilac bush (which by the way is very, very special to me because it came from my mom's garden), I love the birds even the sparrow (You know God sees the little sparrow fall....it meets His tender view) as they busily prepare their nest in the bird house for their little ones, I love the fresh, young, vibrant green of the grass and the softness of it under my bare foot, I love the black dirt, yes to get my hands dirty... digging and preparing the soil is fun and even therapy for me, I love the sun as it warms the earth and is so important for the plants to grow, I love to see the robins happily singing as the rain gently falls and as they are so industrious trying to pull the worm out of the ground, I love the beautiful smells of the flowers and their gorgeous colors as they grow throughout the spring and summer, I love going to the Garden Centers and seeing what new things they have this year, and after all is said and done, the pots planted, the seeds in the ground and the grass freshly mowed, I love sitting out under the lilac bush in our wooden chairs, drinking coffee on a Sat. morning just looking around our little back yard, (our outdoor room, I call it) or if it is later on in the evening, sitting in front of our fire pit, watching the logs burn and enjoying a "Screamer" (which is a slurpee and soft ice cream put together in layers in a cup.....very refreshing to say the least!!!) So you see, it isn't almost addicting as chocolate, it is as addicting as chocolate.......

"Honolulu Hula" or "Aloha Hawaii"?????

Which one should I play today? As you can guess I have been playing Hawaiian music these last few days!!!! a CD we got from you, Sus! Only 5 more days til we go and now I am getting very excited!!!! Our suitcases are packed and as usual I think I packed too much!!! They say to pack what you think you need, then take out about half!!!! I got a couple of good books to read - you know that is something else I am looking forward to...... is reading. We have been told by so many people that the thing that will forever linger in our minds is the feel of the air as we step off the plane and the smell of the flowers. Mmmmmm.....too good to be true........I want to enjoy and capture every minute of this trip! How does one do that?

Here comes the bride.......

Can it be almost a year already? This time last year, we were getting ready for a wedding in our family!!!!! How exciting!!!! Nanc, you were busy making invitations, decorations and who knows what else!!! I was baking, baking, baking. How fun and with mixed emotions......here our baby was getting married to the love of her life, this man who loves her and makes her feel so special.....her and her sisters and her best friend were finding bridesmaid dresses....her sister was able to go with her to look for her dress and they found a beautiful one, the details got all looked after. They got married at the School in the chapel there and had the reception in the gym. What a fun time square-dancing the night away!!! Her uncle married them and a good friend in the seminary had the meditation. A very meaningful and God honoring ceremony. One of their best friends sang and played his guitar. It was a beautiful day!! And a fun day!! Eric took some fantastic pictures both at the wedding, down by the river, on the railway tracks, back of the school and at the reception. It was a small wedding ceremony and the fun part was that she had all her nieces and nephews as well as Diane's two boys involved. 10 children......... from age 10 down to age 1. It went so well and was so wonderful to be able to be there helping where we could and just seeing the love these two have for each other. So now Nanc and Wayne, enjoy your very first anniversary. We love you and pray that God will continue to be with you as you look for a house and then as you open up that home to reach out to others.

Fill our home, dear Lord, we pray
With blessings from above,
But......most of all....we ask that it
Be always filled with love.

May those who step within our door
Find happy hearts inside,
And, Lord, please may our door and heart
Be ever open wide.

May all who gather round our hearth
Find kindness glowing there,
And may each soul who dwells within,
Love and contentment share.

So, bless our home and bless each one
Who dwells or steps inside,
And may we find beneath our roof
That peace and joy abide.

Gramma....

My husband's mother lives in a beautiful Care Home not too far from where we live. She has a cozy, big room which she calls home, has found some good friends, and loves the nurses and care-givers. They are good to her. This week was her birthday so last night, we asked her what she would like to do. She replied, "I would like to have Chinese Food, real Chinese Food." So that is what we did. And she enjoyed it so much, she enjoyed just getting out .... it was a beautiful evening. Her daughter also came and we had a good time. Later on in the evening I went back and washed and put curlers in her hair because tonight, she and her friend, Irene from another Care Home are going to the Ice Capades!!!!!! Isn't that cool! And she needed her hair done for that!!!! I think it is so great when older people do not lose that sense of wanting to do new and interesting things for as long as they can even if they are in a wheelchair. Her daughter and her also work together selling jewellery and perfume, etc. from an organization that does the Home party idea which is great for them and it has been good for them to work together. She just had laser surgery on her left eye as well and I think that is going to be good because it will allow her to read more. We have to wait three months, then have a follow-up check on her eyes, then she can get her new glasses. She turned 86, still loves to sing and knows by heart many of the hymns plus other cute songs from her childhood, plays scrabble every Wed. with another resident and his caregiver. More often than not, wins hands down!!!!!! More than anything, her faith and family are so important to her and loves when we come, loves to hear from her children and her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. She shares her Faith in God and prays about everything. Her prayer list is very long!!! That is just what you do, according to her when problems come is to take it to the Lord in prayer. We are blessed to have her in our lives!

Speaking of Mother's Day.......

Might I say that I have two daughters who are wonderful moms and another daughter who is going to be a fantastic mom someday. I am amazed so many times when I see them interact with their children. I honestly don't know how they manage it but this, folks, is a 24-7 job and not much pay in terms of money but oh the rewards that come with the hugs and kisses and the realization that these precious children are happy, adjusted..... monkeys....yes sometimes......, whiney......yes, sometimes.....funny, yet with hearts of gold and so special in the eyes of God, their parents and their extended family. They know they are loved!!!!! Back to you, my daughters.......just know this that your dad and I have you in our prayers daily as you face the awesome privledge of raising those children and to you, my youngest daughter, know this that we are already praying for the children that you will have eventually. Happy, Happy Mother's day to all three of you.........

12 days and counting......

Whenever I think of May 14th, which by the way is mother's day, I get goosebumps because now I am thinking that it is going to happen.....our going to Hawaii, I mean!!!! What to bring, how much to bring, and do we have everything that we need to have in order to go across the border. Passport, travel and medical insurance, money of course, our reservation papers for the condos and the car, and COFFEE!!!!!! What else do we need? Maybe an extra bag in case we bring back some extra things!!! Who knows!!! But before we go, we have birthdays to celebrate, a mother's day tea to go to, a craft and garage sale at our church, singing at the Care Home, a dear friend in the hospice that I would like to visit before we go and another one that just came home from the hospital.....whew....lots of things to pack into these few days. Makes life interesting!!!!!

My mother's hands..........

To me they were beautiful, to her they were gnarled and wrinkled.........but the fact that they were gnarled and wrinkled just spoke to me how hard she had worked all her life. And lots of times did not have the money to go out and buy clothes for her children (her and dad raised 12) so she would sew on a Singer treadle sewing machine often into the night creating beautiful clothes for us from hand-me-downs. I remember my Gr. 12 graduation dress. It was pink with white polka dots and it was my older sister's bridesmaid dress that she had worn for a wedding years before and my mom made it over for me. Do you know what? I felt like a princess. With her hands, she would create beautiful crazy quilts she called them.... from scrape material. With her hands, she scrubbed on a wash board heavy woollen underwear and pants and dresses and hung them out to dry and in the winter they would freeze on the lines and she would have to bring them in to dry. With her hands, she tended and nurtured a beautiful flower garden as well as a large vegetable garden and in the fall, we would can veggies and more veggies as well as berries of all kinds. Chokecherries, gooseberries, cranberries, raspberries, pincherries, you name it, we had it! Her hands made the best bread in the world, cookies would be just out of the oven when we would come home from school. I remember one time when I had the measles and was so sick ... how much comfort and love I felt from my mother's hands as she would wash my face with a cool cloth to take down my fever. O there were times too when I was naughty that I felt a hand on my backside, not very often but I knew that I had it coming and realized it was not worth it to disobey my mother. How thankful I am today that she not only taught me through example but wanted me to be the very best I could be so she was not afraid to discipline me. My mother's hands folded in prayer many times for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. How thankful I am for that.
I held her hands in mine and they were very thin and worn,
But they held mine just as tightly as the day that I was born,
These tender and expressive hands etched by work and care,
Have folded o'er my bedside many times in humble prayer,
They've washed for me, they've fed me, they've helped me be a woman,
There's a little of our Lord Himself in every mother's hands.

And my dad said......

Another one that he would like to recite.......

Said the robin to the sparrow,
"I would really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings
Rush around and worry so!"
Said the sparrow to the robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."

Then when he and my mother would come to our place, I would ask him, "Would you like some coffee?" and he would reply, "Can a duck swim?" Such precious memories!

"O what a beautiful morning!"

"O what a beautiful morning,
"O what a beautiful day,
"La, la, la, La, la, La, la, La,
"Sunshine is coming my way!"
O.K. so I made up the last two lines. I can't remember how it goes. Anyway, that song came to my head this morning as I looked out the window, seen a curious robin on the lawn looking for worms, seen the kids across the street playing in the warm sunshine, seen the blue sky and I can't see them yet but will later on, the snow-capped mountains in the distance. It is just a gorgeous day in this city and I plan to be outside as soon as I can going for my walk. When I came home from work this morning around 5:30 A.M., the birds were already singing their song anticipating the sunrise and gradual waking up of the neighborhood. This morning also reminded me of when my daddy used say to me when I would finally come downstairs in the morning, "Good morning Mary Sunshine, why do you wake so soon, You'll scatter all the stars above and scare away the moon." Do you have any idea how much I love spring!!!!! I love it, love it, love it!!!!

I can do all things through Christ.......

This one is for you, my Sus. When we feel weak, that is the time that God gives us His strength and His Peace!! Claim that verse that you love so much every morning when Eric is gone. Pray Christ's peace over the children as they go to school, as they play, as you go about your daily duties, when you are working both at the restaurant and at the Studio and at home. And we will be praying for Eric and Nanc and Wayne as they go with the students to Mexico that it will be a life-changing experience for them, a realization that God is with them every step of the way. I wish so much that I could come and be with you to help you at this time. Remember God is with you too. Take one day at a time. I love the verse to this song......
"All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you,
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you,
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.
Thru every day, O'er all the way.
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.
Love and so many prayers for all of you, Mom

Easter Weekend!!!

It has been a wonderful weekend starting with the Thursday night communion service at the church, then the Good Friday service in the morning. Friday afternoon, we went up to Gramma's to do her hair and to have supper with her. Aunty Ida was also there. My friend, Carol picked me up there and we went to Ken and Bev's for Praise and Worship practise. What fun!!! Ken on the guitar, AJ on the bass guitar, Ernie on the drums, Karen playing the keyboard and Carol playing the piano. They love to jam and it was great just to sing and sing! We practised 4 songs for Sunday morning all about "Our Risen Savior". This special weekend and what it means has to be the cornerstone of the Christian faith!! Then this morning was our Easter service which was awesome as usual. The choir sang, the children sang, they did so well. About 3:00, we went over to Heather and Duane's for an Easter egg hunt and a walk to the park. Got some great pictures. Then after supper, we spent some time with Gramma again. Got a phone message from our grandchildren in the States. We miss you all down there. We hope you had a blessed Easter.

Never in a million years!!

Never in a million years did I think that one day Jim and I would be flying off to the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii!!!! Yet miracles of miracles, we leave in exactly 41/2 weeks!!! I still can't believe it and probably won't believe it til I get on the plane!!! Our kids have encouraged us many times to take a vacation, just the two of us but you know how it is when your children live so far away and even if they are in the same city, that any chance you get - you go to see them!!! And we absolutely love it and have so much fun when we get together!! Plus in the last few years, it has been birthin' times in the Archie family and boy there was not any other place to be then..... than with our kids having their kids - our grandchildren!! How very special that has been!!! There is absolutely nothing more wonderful than seeing these precious children right after they have been born, in their mommy and daddy's arms!! My heart is full to bursting just thinking about it. And now to see them growing up - it is just one of the joys of being a grandparent........But back to Hawaii.......both if us turn 60 this year and we thought....that would be such a good way to celebrate so "Aloha, Hawaii " here we come!!! We have taken books out of the library, we bought the book "Hawaii for Dummies" ( a book just for us) and read up on the history of the islands - fascinating!!!! So we kind of have an idea what we want to do when we get there. There are lots of beaches, hikes, a zoo to see and explore, museums, all kinds of things but do you know what I look forward to the very most........ is getting up early, taking my good "Kona" coffee, slipping out on the "lanai" to watch the sun rise, smelling the air and the flowers and listening to the sound of the waves as they come crashing to shore!!!! Beachcombing, looking for shells, walking along the beautiful trails, just drinking in God's glorious creation.....We have one week in a condo on Waikiki and then we move up the Windward side of the island and there we have a cute little cottage right on the beach!!! I can hardly wait........

Still celebrating!!!

Last night my two brothers and their wives, my daughter and her family and my sister-in-law came over for cake and ice cream so we celebrated some more!! I made a "Better than _____" (and you can fill in the blank whatever you like) cake and it was yummy!!!!! Heather brought some Breyers ice cream and that made it even better!! German chocolate cake with carmel and cool whip topping and crushed scor bars on top of that!!! Not many calories at all!!! I just had a small piece!!! It is so good to get together and connect again with my siblings. It is hard sometimes to get together because my brother's kids and their families live close and they also have lots of grandchildren and the grandchildren have things going on that they like their grandparents to attend and that is very important! We all go in different directions and that is the way life is and that is the way it should be!!! Another great day!

Turning 60!!!!!

My husband asked me this morning, "Do you feel any different now that you are 60 years old?" I didn't even have to think about it - I said "it feels wonderful!!!!" Age is just a number and I guess I want to grow old like my mother - graciously..... full of fun.....interesting and interested in people..... with a gift of making every person that came into her life feel special and loved!!! She knew where her strength came from, she also knew that she wasn't perfect but knew she was special in God's eyes!!!! She did not have the education most of us have but was so very wise. I loved her so much and still miss her. Thank you, Mom for being my role model!!!!
I had a good day. First thing that happened - I came home from work this morning and here was a beautiful bouquet of long-stemmed red, white and pink roses - 14 of them sitting on the dining-room table and a card that warmed my heart.... from my husband. Now you have to know him - he was not one to bring me flowers every week so when I do get them, it is just so lovely and special!! The next thing that took place was my grandchildren coming to sing Happy Birthday!! What could be better than that, I ask you? Then the doorbell rings and here it was one of my best friends with a beautiful plant in her hands just for me!!!!!! So she and I had coffee together!!! Then another friend came by and finally my sister-in-law and in between all of this was phone calls from my sister from Saskatoon, brother from California, my mother-in-law, and my youngest daughter, emails from my daughter in Fergus, my cousin from Birch Hills and another friend from Okotoks!!! All this just made me feel blessed beyond measure so you see, I had a good day!!!

Camera!!!

We finally purchased a digital camera at Best Buy!! I don't really know how to use it yet but am learning and having a blast!!!! A Canon 610, 5 megapixal and that is all I know except that it has a flipout screen!!! So once I get more computer, camera smart and how it all works, I will post some pictures!!!!! Family and friends, HELP!!!

Crows are back!!!

I heard a crow this morning and I thought to myself as I was walking, "Yaaaay, spring is on it's way!!!" Even though crows are not the nicest bird around, they bring back memories of my childhood and walking to school in the spring, with the creek full of water, and the meadowlarks singing their hearts out and yes the sounds of the crows in the background. My brother and I would pretend we were explorers to a new land and we would have to survive the best way we knew how!!! We had a tall tree in the bush along the road to the one-room school that we went to. We would climb that tree pretending it was our lookout tower making sure there weren't any scary animals around!!!! The scariest would have to be a skunk!!!!! That day on the way home from school, we decided to make a campfire in an old can!!!! We were not allowed to play with matches but that day, Larry had some matches and made a fire in this can. I was not too bright, I picked up the can when it was hot and burnt the ends of my fingers!!!! Then to top it off, I went home and told my mother that I had burnt them on burning nettles (she knew better) but she did not say anything!! I did not want to get disciplined!!!! It bothered me for weeks that I had told my mother an untruth!!!! So one day I couldn't stand it anymore, I had to tell her the truth. She had been waiting for that!!! Guess what.....she forgave me and what a load rolled off my shoulders!!!!