January 2011

How can this be, another year passed! The Christmas season over again for another year. To me it seems fitting to celebrate together with family as a new year begins. Somehow making those family connections brings a stability before facing the rest of winter and new territory.

Christmas was different for the JD Salesman and me. We celebrated with my siblings and some of their adult children. Quiet with a small group of 'old people' together! I would apologize to my niece and nephew for calling them old but they are less than a decade younger than I am so they will be included in that category. On Boxing Day Mr. JD and I ventured to Cross Iron Mills to check out what this shopping experience was all about. I really doubt we will try that again any time soon. It was amusing and a little sad. I looked around and wondered how we could possibly consider that our country is experiencing economic problems. I wondered how we as a people could be so consumed with 'stuff'. Do we worship things? Do we really think all this will satisfy? Maybe that sounds judgmental but I don't mean it that way. I had to talk to myself as I wandered around and remind myself of what I was there for, clothes for a baby gift, for coming birthdays and not to buy just because it was on sale!

Back to a more pleasant topic..... family. They began to arrive on the evening of the 29th, driving over miles of ice and barren sanded roads. A record time for one family driving from south of Winnipeg but oh they looked weary! After a good night's sleep we were ready to enjoy the season. The last family came late the next night and tucked sleepy kids into the beds made up on the floor.

So many memories were made. We celebrated new years with gift giving or merry new year or just a late Christmas. Seven beautiful grandkids, excited and full of energy playing dress-up, cars, table games with the adults and outside in the cold and in the shop where Grandpa had put the trampoline along with other toys. Meals prepared together, each family taking a turn to make a meal. Santa came on New Years day this year and now we are down to 2 grandchildren who are still in awe and wondering who this Man might be! The memory of those two standing and looking up at him, waiting for their turn to get a gift will be one to make me smile for a long time!

I loved the early morning cuddles with the grandson who came upstairs before anyone else. He sat on my knee and whispered all kinds of things including his scary dream. Then two more little ones came to sit at the counter and eat their breakfast. Gradually the other sleepy faces would appear and the days would begin. It can get rather noisy with 15 people milling around the kitchen table. But it was happy noise as Grandma sugared up each one.

I could go on and on because there are so many happy things to think about and this is a good way for me to add them up and mull over all the goodness we enjoy.

Lest I give the impression that it was perfect I will be quite emphatic that it wasn't. The JD salesman spent a day in bed with a bad back. He was in tears with the pain at one point. One Mama spent New Years day in bed with a raging flu. She was such a brave soul sitting through all the opening of stockings and 'under the tree' gifts without letting anyone but the Papa know how crummy she felt! There were misunderstandings, hurt feelings and some time outs for small people. Grandma put herself into a timeout once or twice. She snarled a few times at the JD Salesman! But there were no out and out wars that destroyed the good time together. I am thankful that all chose to set these differences aside and see the good, make the best of what is good.

When the last vehicle left the yard in the dark yesterday morning we stood in the doorway and cried. I muttered 'why did we have kids?' a question that comes out of the sadness of separation. The paragraphs above tell a little of why.......

Last night as I lay in the darkness, in those very few minutes before I fell asleep I thanked God that each family had arrived safely at their destination. And I thank Him too for this family that we are blessed with, that we enjoy together.

More..... winter wonderland!

Caraganas

It seems to me that we who live on the prairies of Western Canada have this 'love/hate' affair with caraganas. I know that years ago many were planted in fields all over these flat lands to stop soil erosion. They did a great job but after awhile they become unruly and dominate the landscape. But we love them! Well, some people don't and I read that those that don't in the Outlook SK area have been removing miles of them much to the chagrin of the general populace.

When we first moved to this part of the world we decided to get rid of these lowly bushes. But for some reason we changed our minds. We have trimmed a few, getting rid of the older growth and where we did make an attempt to 'destroy' we have a nice hedge of fresh growth. Yes, they are tough!

But after the days of fog last week I realized how gorgeous these dry old sticks can really be. I marveled at the beauty and tried to capture some of it. Pictures don't do it justice but I will share a few anyway.

Besides, I am learning a new camera, my early Christmas present!

November 16: Wallace Armstrong

Yes, I realize that today is the 17th but yesterday brought back memories of 15 years ago...

It was a typical Alberta November day; overcast, cool, threat of snow. The JD Salesman ( then the JD Farmer:) ) and I decided to take a drive to the city. His Dad and Mom were there having traveled from small town BC to the Foothills hospital. Dad was having more problems with his heart and this was the closest place for treatment.

We went expecting to have a good visit with both of them as they waited for possible surgery. But when we arrived we found Mom sitting alone. Dad was in surgery that day for bypass surgery. So we visited, met people who were also waiting and Mom comforted and prayed with a lady whose husband was also in surgery. The afternoon became long. I was uneasy. Then the doctor came looking for Olive Armstrong. He told her they were having problems, Dad was not breathing on his own. The strength and calm of my mother-in-law is something I will always remember. The doctor said they would try again. Mom said that he wouldn't want to be an invalid, to have half a life. She said she trusted God for him. There was no drama. Just calm.

I have no idea how long it was until the doctor returned and said "I am sorry. We did all we could."

Mom and her eldest son went to see the shell that was once a husband, a father, a grandfather. I will never forget the loud sob that tore through my husband......

In church the following Sunday we sang the song "My Jesus I Love Thee". Later that day Mom said that the line about "death-dew lies cold on my brow" is true. She saw it. She felt it.

Dad was a kind good man who believed he was a child of God not because of anything he could do but because of the grace of God. He lived his life holding to his beliefs and principles of obedience to God. His generosity touched so many lives and Mom told us that when he said he thought they should give to someone she always agreed having learned that Dad heard God when there was a need that should be met.

He never quite recovered from the grief of the accident that took the life of his oldest daughter and her oldest son ten years earlier. Something died inside and he was never quite the same. And yet, a softness moved in, emotions were acknowledged and hugs were accepted more readily.

To me it was a tribute to a good man when our youngest grandson was named Beck Wallace.

Words of Wisdom

Well, I should qualify that..... Words from Maxine.....

"be who you are and say what you feel, because those that matter, don't mind and those that mind, don't matter".

I am a strong supporter of Maxine-isms ........ hey it IS Monday isn't it!

It's a small world

Yes, it's a small world after all and I am not referring to the Disney song!

We were invited to a birthday party this afternoon, the connection being the man's interest in flying. Now pilots have a culture of their own and one of their events is to attend "fly-in breakfasts". This is where the JD Salesman and the honored Birthday gentleman met. So the next time we hosted a breakfast this Birthday gentleman was invited and was a faithful attender there after.

So that sets the stage for the story I wanted to relate.

I went because I am the wife of the pilot. I have met the family that was honoring their Father but only at these breakfasts where I am busy cooking and not really doing much visiting. So I KNEW that I wouldn't know anyone. I would just be there.......

Well, one of the other guests had gone to university with the honored Guest and we discovered he had relatives who had lived in the community the JD Salesman was raised in. Not only that but this man's parents were a couple that my parents used to talk about! The communities involved are spread over Alberta, Valley Center, Delburne, Lousana, Youngstown. When I asked him about his wife I learned that she had been in grade 2 with me oh so long ago! She had only attended my school for one year and I had always wondered what had happened to her.

So, one never knows who one will meet when one attends a birthday party.

All this seems rather boring as I relate it now. But it truly was fun to connect with Sue. And besides, I can't seem to get to sleep tonight so I thought I would ramble a bit.

The wind is starting to blow and the forecast is for possibilities of flurries or rain. I would sooner have sunshine tomorrow. But, hey, it is November and we haven't had any winter yet! I best not complain!

How does the weather relate to my title? It doesn't but it is waaaay past my bedtime...... and I don't think I can take responsibility for what I might type after 10 p.m.

Presenting......

I am rather pleased to announce our son's accomplishment. After rejections from various publishers and then much 'blood, sweat and probably tears', Kurt has his first book in publication.

Because of my ineptness with computers I don't know that I have the best picture of it for you but such as it is.....

publisher's website is where you can learn more about it.

Yes, we are pleased and proud.