Because I Love You

In a few short weeks, we're going to have several visitors ~ some just staying a few days and another staying for a couple of months.

I decided I had better organize the stacks of vintage books I've been collecting to use for some of my whimsical collages and 3D paper art creations.

Well, in the process I came across this Max Lucado book called Because I Love You and as I sat there on the carpet, I read the whole book!

I won't give the story away but suffice it to say that the story and how it made me think of God's love to me personally, brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart!!

If you have young children or grandchildren, read this book to them and if you don't, get a copy and read it to yourself --- trust me ... you'll be blessed :)

Prayer Request

It is with a heavy heart that I am posting this request today.

We received a phone call in the middle of the night from our very distraught eldest son saying that our 5 year old grandson is in the hospital in Intensive Care with pneumonia and that the doctors are giving him steroids.

He promised to phone again if he had any news ~ in the meantime, I would appreciate prayer on our grandson's behalf ~ that the doctors be given wisdom from the Great Physician to do all they can to help him and his parents' behalf ~ that they be strengthened in the midst of this and that they lean on the Lord and His strength.

Blessings to all of you,

Sharing Your Own Story

Louisa May Alcott ~ The Children's Friend

Someone once told me that they once *came upon* a notebook that told the story of their dead great grandmother. It was all in her own handwriting and began by recounting what she could remember of her childhood, her early married days and years as a mother as well as tidbits of her day to day life.

They were overjoyed and thrilled to have discovered this old notebook and now treasure it so very much.

All this got me to thinking that writing such a notebook or something like it would be a gift that those of us with children could leave for future generations as there is always at least ONE person in each generation that is yearning to know their family's story :o)

Just think about what you could share about yourself and your own childhood and early married days and your experiences as a mother!

Imagine the privilege of being able to share YOUR story of how you came to know Christ as your Saviour -- of being able to witness to your future descendants so that they realize how much importance you placed on being prepared for eternity and in pleasing God in your day to day experience!

What are YOU waiting for?

Extra Special Afternoon

Two of a Kind by Donald Zolan

What makes a Sunday afternoon EXTRA-special?

Chatting with my 4 year old grandson and
hearing his smile as he sang
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star to me :o)

Memories of My Grandma

When I think of my maternal grandma, I always think of shelling peas while sitting in her backyard on a comfy lawn chair, picking rhubarb right out of her little side garden and dipping it in sugar to eat on the spot and baking shortbread cookies.

My grandparents' last little home had a front porch just large enough to hold a double bed and a walkspace between it and the wall. I always enjoyed the privilege of sleeping in it because it made me feel special.

One of my most vivid memories of that porch was laying in the big bed watching a lightning storm outside and seeing the sky light up every so often ... I can still see it in my mind's eye!

Across from the bed against the other wall, stood a beautiful cedar lined hope chest that I dearly loved and which my grandma had promised I would receive one day.

She came to live with us after my grandfather died and brought her hope chest with her. She was only with us a couple of years and true to her word, she left me that cedar chest which brought back so many wonderful memories for me of times spent in their little home.

Because of some unfortunate circumstances a couple of years after we were married, I lost that precious heirloom when it was badly damaged during shipping via Air Cargo, a method I had used in ignorance and would NEVER use again :o(

I was sad for awhile, then reminded myself that my memories were locked away in my heart and whether or not I had something tangible to remind me of my grandmother, I would never forget her!

Blessings,




The hope chest pictured above is from GOOGLE Images.

A Busy but Delightful Day :o)

My Monday got off to a slow start since I slept in longer than I should have :o(

I had an eye on my watch during the latter part of my grocery shopping because I was looking forward to the magical hour on the clock in the afternoon when I was going to phone my 27 month old grandson.

Because of the time difference, I had to remember to call before his nap! I made the mistake last time of forgetting and waking him up :o( He was too cranky to talk so I defeated my purpose.

Today's phone call was even more delightful because he's jabbering in short sentences now and as long as his Daddy has me on speakerphone and can 'translate' for me, it's fantastic!

It was so cute! When I found out he was playing with his hockey stick, I asked him if he was also wearing his favourite hockey jersey and suddenly he dropped the phone and began talking away as he left the phone. My son told me he was running to his room to look for something!

He came running back from his room all excited, asking his Daddy to help put his jersey on! When he picked up the phone again, he told me, "GOT ON!!" = "I've got it on!"

My middle son got on the extension and we both listened .... his Daddy asked him something about a favourite of his and it was about 'bees' so we both began to make buzzing sounds like bees and it was really neat to hear his little excited voice at the other end, laughing and telling his Daddy, "Funny!!" = "They're so funny!"

Just before he was to go down for his nap, I said "Bye" to him and he aswered back: "Bye, bye!" I always tell him I love him and then make big kissing sounds and when I asked if he could do the same, I heard the little kiss sound and when I said, "Night-night" ... he merrily called back the same :o)

I wonder if he really realized where he was headed for a couple hours?

I love those phone calls! I love hearing him chatter and laugh and making comments but they also remind me how much I am missing and how blessed and fortunate grandparents are who have their little ones close enough to at least visit regularly.

I try to be matter of fact about it and realize that for whatever reason, that's the way it is. Most times, it is easy to accept. But sometimes, I feel envious of those who can be a regular part of their grandchildren's lives ... where they really get to know each other!

"Vera Mouse Helping" © Marjolein BASTIN

BUSY DAYS

Our mini-mountains of snow were washed away yesterday by torrents of rain which began falling Sunday night. The sky is blue and the sun is shining .... of course, with at least 6 weeks of winter left, this is only a temporary reprieve but all the same, I'm enjoying it :-)

Yesterday I received 2 phone calls, both with very different messages!

The 1st was from our daughter who lives across the country in a basement apartment and only moved there last August. After enjoying a weekend of ministry and preaching at a special series of meetings for Christian Youth, she returned home to find that EVERYTHING in her bedroom was soaked because the landlord's hot water tank leaked and caused flooding.

She was SO upset and wondered WHY? I could offer no explanation and tried only to sympathize with her and encourage her.

The 2nd was from our eldest son's number. When I picked up the receiver and heard only silence, I realized that our 26 month old grandson was listening at the other end. Because I have only seen him twice, when he was 3 months old and 14 months, I was pretty excited for this opportunity to hear him say a few words and listen to any comments he made to his Daddy.

At this age, it's difficult for him to figure out who we are .... 'Grandma' to him is his mommy's mother that he sees every weekend. At one point during the conversation which my son had put on speakerphone, I laughed out loud and suddenly I could hear the little one laughing back.

Well, that made me really laugh and he turned to his Daddy and said with a big smile - "Funny!"

Maybe that's how I'll be known to him ~ the one who's funny! I don't mind that at all ....

This morning meant that I had to take our car in for a service maintenance appointment and had the opportunity to chat with the fellow who sold us our car a couple of years ago and congratulate him on his 1st grandchild.

As I began to crochet to pass the time while waiting, an older gentleman came in and sat down. He picked up the newspaper but at the same time, started a conversation with me. He told me he was trying to decide whether or not to move back here and from there, we had a delightful conversation about his family, newest grandchild and he told me that he had been a deacon in a large church here for 27 years. I told him that was wonderful and asked him how old he was when he was first "saved".

"Well", he said, "When you put it like that...Oh, I don't know. Guess I always was, so far back".

So, I took the opportunity to share with him how God reached and saved my precious soul at a certain time in my life. First He had revealed to me my sinfulness, my helpless condition and then revealed Himself to me as the Saviour of sinners.

Now, salvation is not something we 'grow into' and it doesn't just happen to us without us knowing!

I pray that my question about how old he was when he was "saved" will be one that in his heart, he contemplates, and if he cannot remember a time when the Lord dealt with him personally, that he might realize it and be sure.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again.

John 3:6-7

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

John 3:16, one of my very favourite verses!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY to My ONLY GRANDCHILD

We are amazed to realize that 2 years have passed since our dear little grandson's birth!

He's grown from a tiny helpless baby to our own "little man", complete with his own personality and he is loved by us all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sweetie-Pie!

[Image by Bessie Pease Gutmann from All Posters]