Life as it happens, sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

Well, it has been quite a week.

I wasn't able to go to a old friends' brothers memorial this past Saturday as I already had an obligation out of town for the weekend. He was young, a father, a son, a brother, a friend, an uncle and a husband. Thursday evening I got a call that a lovely man, the father/father in law of very close friends had passed away unexpectedly. His memorial is this Saturday. Today I rec'd an email letting me know that a very dear lady who volunteers at my work has passed away and her memorial is on Thursday. Her passing is not completely unexpected, but sad for those left behind none the less.

What is it about getting a few years under our belts that seems to increase the ration of memorial invitations? Is it that we know so many more people or is it that time passes and it is just an inevitable part of life? I have pondered this for years.

Figuring it out isn't the goal, but understanding why has always been part of my thinking. DNA I suppose.
I have a strange affinity for death, dying, memorials, and funerals. There is no way to explain how this has come to be a part of my life. Even I do not understand it. My desire to support those in times of loss is huge. In 1986, when my aunt passed away in her 30's, I was 20 years old. It became apparent to me at that time that no matter how much people genuinely cared, there was nothing that they could say that was going to change the way I felt or bring a loved one back. It's true isn't it? Yet we strive, as humans (in general) to offer the very best of condolences, almost as if it will brighten someones day.
Hmmmmm, while I appreciate the gesture of compassion, it usually seems to fall a little flat of what the intention behind it was. While we are grieving, in the early stages, when it is still raw and ragged, really all most of us want to do is just hunker down and hide out, or snuggle under big duvets and sleep, or tune out via television or movies... or maybe sort through our loved ones personal effects, languishing in the memories and heart stirrings that are prompted by a smell or a photo, or the feel of something left behind.Not for a moment am I suggesting that we should not reach out, no matter how awkwardly, with a hand of compassion, a tender look, a loving word, or even food. I am merely trying to acknowledge the reality of what these situations create.
Stirrings of emotion, or even whelms of emotion, insane laughter sometimes, desperate tears and anguish other times. One may follow closely upon the heals of another with out warning. We may feel foolish, or angry, relieved or sad. Although we may laugh, I do not have a personal experience of being happy in these times. Deep seated joy may reside within us upon reflection of special times, when the one we loved was well and we shared something together that caused us to reflect upon that joy.
It is an exhausting week for many in our Valley, 3 families that I know of in particular are suffering the aftermath of loss even as I type this.

My heart goes out, sincerely, to the families of Chris, Bob, and Lorraine. May God cover them all with His peace that passes all understanding. Oh let them have moments of reflection of that deep seated joy I was referring to, enough to allow them to come through to the other side of the pain. In the mighty name of Jesus, I cry out for them. Beloved, let us love one another. We all have our gifts, let's use them to bless those that are hurting right now. Even if it feels unnatural....stretch out your hands. You may be surprised to realize a blessing of your own when you do.

Bless you my friends.

Love in a Bucket

Have I ever shared my Bucket Theory with you? some of you will have heard it for sure. I have about 5 mins before I need to carry on with the rest of my wildly crazy busy weekend.

So the Bucket Theory has been in my life for many years, at least ten I think. Oh wait, more, 13? Long enough for me to think of it familiarly...and fondly.



We have only one life on this earth. If you look at it like a Bucket, it is easy to see that only so much can fit into the Bucket. We choose what we put into it. We can fill it with all kinds of so-so stuff .....leaving no room for the incredible, amazing and awesome things that are just waiting to fill our Buckets... or we can leave room. Wait. Don't just fill.
Recently my Bucket tipped over, everything that was in there got sloshed around and some of it spilled out.

Guess what? God has put some pretty crazy fantastic breath taking stuff in there since then.
One of the things is my Beloved, all of you. I recognize that I, at 45 years of age, have been blessed with the priceless gift of LOVE. All of the people in my life who love me, show me love, speak love to me, write me love on my FB wall, in emails, via text, hug me, share with me, are real with me, you are all my priceless Gift.
Hallelujah for revelation of the priceless gifts available to me , I believe as a result of trusting and obeying the leading of my Great Big God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you Beloved for being in my Bucket, it is full and doth runneth over at times, wow.


P.S.
These exquisite roses were a love gift from my beautiful friend Claire in June.....tears well in my eyes at the beauty behind such gifts.

In Light of New Friends

Life has been happening steadily since my last post. There have been a few inquiries as to when I would resurface. Well... here I am! As far as new material goes, there has been no shortage. Many of your heads would spin just in the retelling of my daily adventures, let alone the living the really wild stuff. I am here to be your buffer. Oh don't I make the mundane of life sound wonderful? Ha ha ha!

I have made a new friend and that relationship is what prompted me to write a more current blog story. Fathers day was great and all but really- June? More than a few days ago for sure! (I Love you Dad!)

Since my last post many big things have happened in my daily life. The biggest and most exciting of which is my twin grand-boys! Seriously! Julia is having twins and we know they are boys. I am so excited. I was sharing with my friend today that as I watch her, and feel the babies move from inside of her beautiful burgeoning tummy, my heart wells up and comes right out of my eyes. True story!

My other children are all very excited. This is a big event for all of us. First grandbabies, first nephews, first Great grand babies. Wow. God is so good, we are blessed. Okay so maybe we are still reeling a little, but we know we are blessed none the less.

I have been spending quite a bit of time with friends lately who have 3 boys, all under the age of 10. They are beautiful, lively, and ALL boy. While I was over there this morning I mentioned to their mom that I could just see the time when the twins are about 5 yrs old and they are looking to her boys as the heroes and role models... how amazing that is going to be. As a parent, I have seen so many layers of this process. So now I am looking forward already to the next layer.

In my office I have 2 pairs of Crocs, size 6 months, they are hanging beside the art cards that we have for sale. Many a conversation has begun with , "whose are these?" Oh, let GiGi (double gramma) tell you about these cute little crocs! and on my desk are 2 pairs of the cutest little socks with little bear faces on them, they are formed with cardboard support shaped like little feet, on the top of each of them is a little tiny hat. Can you say CUTE!? I am hooked. Before they even arrive I am in love with them. Praise God for His perfect timing... I certainly hadn't entered this on my calendar yet! I actually blogged sometime ago that I might be ready in 10 years... okay, so I have adjusted my calendar! Bring 'em on.... I am ready.

The people who already know me are not surprised at my enthusiasm...but for those who don't know me, you may wonder how I can be so excited when not all of the details in this "fairy tale" are perfect.

Hmmmmm, could it be that I recognize that we are only in control of so much in our wordly lives? and the rest is given to us for us to choose how to embrace it or not? I choose embrace. I choose Love no matter what. I love these babies. Thank you Jesus! Oh I wish I could describe my emotions effectively in words. You would squirm!!

I have 4 children, and to be quite honest, having any children was not at the top of my "wanna do" list. Over the years I have commended God for saving my life by giving me these 4 incredible miracles. They have saved me time and time again. Just by being. Hallelujah! by Loving those little beings that came from within my broken and battered physical body, I have realized a capacity to love that I could never have known.

The end of my sharing today is followed with a photo of me and my "little" brother Kelly. The funny part is that Kelly is 2 yrs, 2 mos & 11 days younger than I am... but at this point he is about 10 inches taller! This photo was taken in about 1969, we lived in Victoria, B.C. My amazing and loving mumma woke us from a nap to shine for the photographer. This is the DNA line that precedes my grandboys. It makes me happy and it makes me smile as I recapture the memories. Family...isn't it just the most incredible gift? Not always what we think we want, not always easy or what we would choose....but oh, how unforgettable. I am thanking my Great Big God. A gift I may not have chosen. Priceless. Thank you Jesus. I love my family. Unconditionally. Forever.